Pick up a hedge trimmer to keep your yard in great shape. Our guide includes everything from the best cordless hedge trimmers to battery-powered alternatives. Ultimately, the best hedge trimmer for you will depend on the size of the hedge or bush you intend to cut, the type of bushes, where they are located, and how long you will be cutting for. But we’ll help you narrow down your choices.
Bosch 0600847A70 AHS Electric Hedge Cutter
Powerful and lightweight
The best part of the Bosch hedge cutter is it features a powerful 420 W motor while being lightweight enough to keep good control while trimming. The 450 mm blade has a 16 mm opening between the teeth to ensure precise and clean cuts. It also has a cut rate of 3.400 spm. The ergonomic design positions the handles in the best place to keep your hands and arms comfortable and at a safe distance from the blades.
Flymo Easicut Hedge Trimmer
Dual safety buttons
The Flymo Easicut hedge trimmer has a 50 cm long cutting width to cut a good amount of shrubbery at once. It features a 500 W motor and a 10 mm long cable. This hedge trimmer has more than one padded handle, including a centrally-positioned one, so you can grip it in a way that is comfortable while working. There are two safety buttons on the handles that must be pressed together before the blades will move. The Flymo Easicut is great for brambles, bushes, and hedges but isn’t the best choice for branches.
Makita DUH523Z Cordless Hedge Trimmer
Free-range of motion
This hedge trimmer runs on a rechargeable battery, so you’re not limited by a power cord. You do have to purchase the batteries separately, but these are the same Lithium-Ion battery packs used for other Makita power tools. This trimmer has an anti-vibration feature with several cushions to help absorb motion and keep you comfortable and in control. It cuts 1350 strokes per minute and has a cutting diameter of 150 mm. The blade is easy to remove and replace.
NETTA 2 in 1 Hedge Trimmer and Shrub Shear
Two cool tools
This neat little hedge trimmer is smaller to tackle hedges, shrubs, and even grass in a very precise way. The quick action dual blades are is 170 mm long. The handle is designed to give you a natural grip on the trimmer and has a two-way switch and a safety lock to keep you safe when the cutter is in use and stored away. The NETTA hedge trimmer runs on battery power. When fully charged it will run for 50 minutes before needing to recharge. NETTA includes a separate shearing blade with this trimmer.
What to consider when buying hedge trimmers
Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
There is a lot to take into consideration when looking for a hedge trimmer, and all the choices can make it difficult to decide. Knowing what to look for can help you buy the right one. Here are some features to keep in mind:
Power source
To find a hedge trimmer that’s a comfortable weight, you may have to look for one with a shorter blade or consider a corded model, which tends to weigh less than battery-operated machines.
If you need to cut through tough, woody branches that are 3/4 of an inch or wider, a hedge trimmer might not be the right tool for the task. Instead, consider a manual pruning saw or even a chainsaw to groom especially thick-stemmed vegetation.
Blade
Hedge trimmers use blades with sharp metal teeth to slice away at vegetation. The single-sided variety of blades has teeth that face away from you as you work, a worthwhile safety measure. The double-sided models work in both directions, so you must be alert while using them, but they let you complete your task fast.
When it comes to blade length, bigger is not always better. The longer the blade, the faster you can cut your hedge. However, a trimmer with a longer blade is heavier and more cumbersome, so not only do you need more strength to hold it, but you also have to take greater care to operate it correctly to get the results you want.
In general, hedge trimmer blades extend somewhere between 13 inches and 40 inches. Trimmers sporting 16-inch blades are best suited for small or average-size hedges. Eighteen-inch blades are good for grooming average to large hedges, and 20-inch blades are best for big hedges. Since a 24-inch blade can handle a wide variety of plant types, it’s a common length for residential trimmers. If you want a model with a blade that is longer than this, be sure you can maneuver it without difficulty.
Cutting capacity
A hedge trimmer’s cutting capacity depends on the spacing between the blade teeth, or gap. The gap determines the maximum branch size the machine can safely cut. The larger the gap the greater the cutting capacity of the trimmer. Typically, hedge trimmers have a gap of 1 inch or greater, but you can find models with a gap of 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch. For thick, dense, or woody plants, you probably want to opt for a large cutting capacity. For young, leafy hedges with fine stems, a lower cutting capacity is acceptable.
Extra Features
Most hedge trimmers have the same basic design, no matter their power source or blade length. So, it’s the extra features that differentiate them and make them fit specific needs.
Some trimmers come with a shoulder strap, which can relieve strain on your arms during long trimming sessions. Others have ergonomic handle designs that increase comfort and enhance maneuverability. Others still have anti-vibration technology that makes for a smoother, more manageable trimming experience. And the best of the best have laser-cut blades that make clean, straight cuts on every pass. Picking a tool that has one or more of these features ensures you get the most value and power for your dollar.
Why trust us
At Top Ten Reviews we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.
