Best Cordless Battery Powered Hedge Trimmers

Looking for the best cordless hedge trimmer? Look no more. Checked out loads of models, and found the top battery-powered hedge trimmers just for you.

If you are in a hurry, check out our top picks below or read on for our full research and analysis….

The 5 Best Cordless Hedge Trimmers Reviewed

1. BLACK+DECKER LHT2436 Cordless Hedge Trimmer (Best Overall)

This our top pick among all the cordless hedge trimmers on the market right now. That’s because it perfectly balances power, run-time, weight and versatility. Whatever job you need this hedge trimmer for, it will get it done.

• This hedge trimmer is durable and should last you quite some time, if not there is a 3 year warranty so you can always trade it in if you need to.

• The 24 inch blades are long enough to cut through most small branches and will allow you to trim the top of your hedge with ease.

• I particularly like the ergonomic handle which makes it easy to cut at most angles and for a long duration. What’s more, it is extremely light-weight making it easy to use and maneuver.

• The battery will last you 2 hours and only has a one hour charge-time, making it easy to use throughout the day.

• If you have an existing Black and Decker 40V cordless tool then the batteries are interchangeable, meaning you can buy the cheaper version with no battery included.

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2. BLACK+DECKER BEHT Cordless Hedge Trimmer (Budget Option)

If you only have light trimming to do on your property, then paying the extra money for more power may not be worth it. In addition, with more power comes more weight. Sometimes the right tool for small jobs is not the most powerful tool in the shed.

This hedge trimmer from Black and Decker is not the most powerful cordless hedge trimmer or the longest lasting in terms of run time on a full charge. However, it has some seriously strong sides to consider, particularly if you are only worried about maintaining a few bushes.

The first major upshot to this cordless hedge trimmer is the price. This thing is very very cheap.

A second consideration is weight—at under 6 pounds with the battery installed, almost anyone will be able to manage this machine. If you don’t need the power of the heavier machines, why wear yourself out with a heavy machine on a quick and simple trim job?

For the right homeowner, these popular cordless hedge trimmers are going to be a great fit. They have plenty of power for the most popular landscaping shrubs that don’t tend to get thick dead wood such as forsythia, juniper, laurel and boxwoods. They are still fast and efficient as long as you don’t have branches over ¾”.

In terms of overall design, this model has some nice features. A front hand guard will protect you from thorns, and a wide, soft grip makes these easy to handle. Another benefit of going with Black & Decker is that if you have other equipment that uses the 20V Max Lithium Ion batteries, they are interchangeable.

If you’re not quite ready to invest in more expensive gear, this budget pick may be the right choice for you.

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3. Greenworks PRO 24-Inch 80V Cordless Hedge Trimmer

First, a little bit about Greenworks®. They were founded in 2007 and from the start have been focused on building residential and commercial grade outdoor equipment making use of modern Lithium-Ion battery technology. Fueled by consumer demand for odorless and quiet landscaping equipment, this brand has quickly become a leader in this product sector.

To be clear, this cordless hedge trimmer has a 24” blade length, despite the product title which is in error. That being said, it packs plenty of power that easily competes with homeowner grade gas motors in its class, a commendable achievement.

Another added feature that we found to be very helpful is the rotating handle that gives you some extra versatility to maneuver the blade for efficient trimming and getting into tight spots.

The biggest drawback of this cordless hedge trimmer is the weight. According to the spec sheet for this product, the weight includes 8.7 pounds for the machine plus 3.3 pounds for the battery, bringing the total to a whopping 12 pounds.

While 12 pounds may not seem like a lot, for all but the seriously in shape, this will become a burden pretty quickly. There is a tradeoff to consider, however. These powerful trimmers will move through hedge work fast. If 12 pounds is manageable for you, then the extra weight may be worth it for the faster job times you will get.

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4. Greenworks Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer

If you are looking for a cordless hedge trimmer that will give you the reach you need for tall shrubs or light trimming under trees, this Greenworks is a top choice. It features a head that has three fixed positions for easy angling and stability. Steel blades give you plenty of cutting power for branches up to 5/8”.

One of the innovative features of the Greenworks product lines is that they are designed in “families” that utilize interchangeable batteries. Since 2007, this company has been leading the way in outdoor electric equipment, advancing the use of Lithium Ion technology in the entire industry.

This cordless pole hedge trimmer is designed to optimize precision work trimming in hard to reach places. If you have small to moderate amounts of tall hedges on your property, you will find this to be an ideal solution. It is lightweight, easy to use and maintain, and offers reliable power for up to about an hour on a single charge.\

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Should You Buy a Cordless Hedge Trimmer?

Until relatively recently, pretty much the only way to get enough power for really tough trim jobs was to go with a gas engine. However, Lithium-Ion technology has all but closed the gap in the last few years, opening up the door for the cleaner and quieter operation of battery powered hedge trimmers. No fumes? Yes, please!

You also don’t have to worry about cutting any cords while you work (a major safety hazard with corded models) and you get to opt out of the regular engine maintenance that it takes to keep gas engines in working order (winterization, gas additives, spark plug cleaning, and so forth). For most homeowners, the ease of maintenance is a major advantage of going with battery powered hedge trimmers.

The biggest downside of batteries these days is the limited run time. On the one hand, you will probably wear out before your battery anyway, so maybe breaking the job into a few sessions is for the best. You can also mitigate the downtime for charging by either buying additional batteries or purchasing different tools within a certain product line, thus having spare batteries to charge while you work.

Important Features of a Cordless Hedge Trimmer

Power

To get a sense for the overall power of any battery-operated hedge trimmer, there are several interrelated factors to consider. To help you understand what the different power specs mean for your next purchase, we have put together this handy guide:

Voltage

You will notice that battery operated hedge trimmers come with a variety of different sized batteries by voltage (ex. 20V, 40V, 80V). Although voltage is part of the equation in determining the actual force delivered at each cut, this spec is most helpful to get a sense of how much run time you will get between charges. Higher voltage batteries tend to be heavier, so think of it as a tradeoff.

Strokes per Minute (SPM)

Hedge trimmers work with two layers of blades that reciprocate on top of each other. SPM represents the speed at which the blades go back and forth, and it is optimized to the product’s tooth spacing and motor power. A higher SPM is one indicator of a more powerful motor although blade sharpness and length also play a role in overall cutting power.

Lithium-Ion vs. Ni-Cad

The industry standard is rapidly moving to Lithium Ion batteries. This improved battery technology offers more stored power per ounce and holds a charge better than older style Ni-Cad batteries that are pretty much on their way out.

You may have some other tools, such as a cordless drill, that use the old-style batteries. You have probably experienced pulling it out of your toolbox to find it is not holding a charge, or even when fully charged, only runs a fraction of the time it did when it was new. 

This is known as “battery fade,” and it is something that just isn’t as much of an issue with Lithium Ion technology.

By the way, all of the products that made our review of the best cordless hedge trimmers feature Lithium Ion batteries.

Charge Time/Run Time

We have included the average time it takes to charge and the average run time for each of the machines we have featured when we could find reliable data. It is important to note that the toughness of the job will significantly impact runtime. That is, thicker branches will wear out your battery faster than light foliage, so the runtime spec is highly variable.

Blades

Here is what you need to pay the most attention to with blades:

Cut Capacity or Tooth Gap:

Both of these specs pretty much refer to the same thing: The max diameter of branch the machine is rated for.

Of course, if your battery is running low, or the machine is poorly designed, you may not actually be able to cut branches of the maximum cut capacity.

The standard for residential hedge trimmers is ¾”, although you can also find 1”. Honestly, it just isn’t safe for homeowners to operate hedge trimmers with a larger tooth gap anyway—for those jobs, consider a pole saw instead.

Blade Length:

You will find residential grade blade lengths from 22”-26”. Here is what you need to keep in mind: Longer blades are heavier and harder to control. They are better for experienced users. Shorter blades are better for beginners, but they will make the job slightly longer because you will have to make more passes, especially if you are using your hedge trimmer for thick branches.

Weight

The weight of your hedge trimmers should be a major consideration before you purchase. While an extra pound might not sound significant, it makes a huge difference when you are holding a machine with extended arms, a requirement for any trim job.

The range is wide, anywhere from 6 to 20 pounds, so be sure you pay attention to this vital stat. As you might expect, weight and power are usually directly related, so think of this as another tradeoff.

Reach

Nothing will slow you down more than having to drag a ladder around with you to reach the top of high hedges. Telescoping or extension pole hedge trimmers are critical to getting such jobs done right. However, if you do not need extra reach, then you definitely don’t want the extra weight and cost of these specialized tools.

Cordless Hedge Trimmer FAQ

It’s normal to have questions after receiving a lot of information, but don’t worry; we want you to be sure of your purchases and decisions, so here are some of the most frequent questions that people ask us. 

How Long Does a Battery Last on a Hedge Trimmer?

Hedge trimmers that are battery-powered offer an advantage that other trimmers don’t since you don’t have to carry a cord along with you every time you need to handle tiny details in your yard. However, that means you have to charge them periodically to keep them working; the average hedge trimmer can last from 30 minutes to two hours, having charge times that go from 30 minutes to one hour.

Which Is Better, Cordless or Corded Hedge Trimmers?

That depends on your personal choice and your yard. If you prefer trimmers that are more comfortable to use and don’t need to spend several hours on the job, a cordless hedge trimmer is the best option for you.

However, if you don’t care about having to carry the cord along with the trimmer and need to do a job that requires more substantial power and a long time of working, go for a corded hedge trimmer.

Are Battery Operated Hedge Trimmers Any Good?

Yes! Battery-operated hedge trimmers offer a way more comfortable design that makes the job easier when it comes to cutting through small branches. The only issue about these trimmers is that you have to constantly charge their battery since their working time is not so long compared to cordless hedge trimmers. 

If you like to do your yard chores by yourself, go for a battery-operated hedge trimmer. They are the most comfortable alternative for that kind of activity.

What Is the Difference Between a Hedge Trimmer and a Hedge Cutter?

The main variation is the job that each one is capable of doing. While hedge trimmers handle small details and delicate issues, people use hedge cutters for big workloads that are difficult to handle since they are heavy-duty products. That makes their design different since trimmers are lighter and hedge cutters are way more robust. 

Regardless of that, hedge trimmers can take care of many issues, so if you have a problem that you think needs a hedge cutter, give a hedge trimmer a try! They can take care of bigger problems; you might just need to charge them periodically. A hedge trimmer is probably best when giving your hedge its yearly trim.

What’s the Difference Between 20V and 40V Batteries on a Hedge Trimmer?

Those numbers refer to the batteries’ voltage and their power capacity. The more voltage you have, the more energy cells you can store, meaning that a 40V can stock more energy cells than a 20V one. That doesn’t mean 20V batteries are weaker or less useful than 40V batteries, though; it only means that 40V can go on for longer periods than 20V batteries. 

Are Battery Hedge Trimmers as Good as Petrol?

Yes, they are, but they shine in different situations. While petrol hedge trimmers have longer blades than battery-powered ones, they are heavier, and it’s challenging to manage them, so they are good when you have a difficult day ahead, but bad if you just want to arrange a few details in your yard. 

Get the Right Hedge Trimmer for the Job

There is no “one size fits all” solution when it comes to finding the best cordless hedge trimmers. Since factors such as weight, blade length, power and cut capacity are interrelated, finding the right tool for the job requires thinking through your specific needs.

We hope you have found this review helpful in terms of cutting through the confusion when it comes to the wide variety of battery powered hedge trimmers on the market.

We would love to hear about your latest landscaping projects, so please feel free to tell us about them in the comments below.