Best Cordless Hedge Trimmer UK Reviews - with
Full Buying Guide
Thanks for taking the time to read my reviews of the best cordless hedge trimmers on the UK market. Hedge trimmers are one of the most popular garden tools that you will find throughout the United Kingdom.
There are three different types of hedge trimmers available on the UK market. These are:
- Electric corded hedge trimmers - these are the type that you plug into the electric main's supply
- Cordless hedge trimmers - these work off a battery that you can charge when it runs out
- Petrol or engine powered hedge trimmers (Usually small 2-stroke engines)
I believe, the main benefit of a cordless hedge trimmer is that you don't have to worry about an electrical lead. That means they can be used anywhere without the need to plug them in. That does make them a great deal easier and safer to use.
An important consideration when buying a cordless hedge trimmer is the amount of hedge that you have to cut, the height of your hedges and the width of your hedges. It will of course also depend on the type of hedge, and how badly or how well that it has been cared for in the past.
- If for example you have a wide hedge, then a longer blade is an important consideration
- Likewise if you have a tall hedge in your garden, then pole hedge trimmers should be an important consideration.
Buyer's Tips
We mentioned earlier that there are four different types of hedge trimmer to consider. Just to remind you those are:
- Electric corded hedge trimmers
- Cordless hedge trimmers (Battery) - covered on this page
- Petrol powered or engine powered hedge trimmers (Usually 2-stroke engines)
- Pole Trimmers (For high or wide hedges) and available as corded or cordless.
The first three mentioned are simply about the source of power that is used to power your hedge trimmer. The pole trimmer should only be a consideration for you, if you have a very wide hedge that can not be reached with a normal hedge trimmer, or a very high hedge. These pole trimmers are available as corded or cordless.
Before you buy a cordless hedge trimmer the first decision should be is will a normal size one do the job or do you need to get the longer pole style. We have explained both just below.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- No electric leads to worry about
- They are more portable and can be used anywhere
- They don't pollute the air
Disadvantages
- More expensive than an electric option
- Batteries can run out in about 30 minutes and then need to be recharged
Pole or Extension Trimmers
Advantages
- These are an option for those with very wide or very high edges
- They stop you from having to use ladders
- They are available with different power sources
Disadvantages
- It is quite difficult to find a really good one
- They can be hard to control and balance
The Important Features
We always start with some buying tips and include the important features. Those are the features that really matter when it comes to buying cordless hedge trimmers.
How do They Work?
Cordless hedge trimmers have:
- A set of blades
- A motor inside a casing
- A Lithium-Ion battery
When you attach the battery then you are then ready to go. Most cordless hedge trimmers use a double start method. That means you will have to use both hands to turn it on. Usually there is a lever on the top handle and then a button somewhere else on the casing. Both have to be operated at the same time to start the trimmer.
This is done for safety reasons, as a one button start could start the blade accidentally which would of course be very dangerous.
Once you start the trimmer, an electric current flows into the motor. The motor is then connected through to the blades and the blades will vibrate backwards and forwards to create the cutting action.
Pros and Cons of a Cordless Hedge Trimmer
Advantages
- The battery means that you can use your hedge trimmer in any location
- You don't have to worry about cutting a trailing electric lead
- You don't need to use extension leads
Disadvantages
- The battery does make the hedge trimmer heavier
- You do have to charge the battery on a regular basis and at some point the battery will need to be replaced
The All Important Battery
Any cordless hedge trimmer will only be as good as the battery that powers it. The majority of cordless hedge trimmers use either a 12V, an 18V or a 20V rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery. The most popular choice remains the 18V battery option.
Understanding Ampere Hours (Ah)
This is actually a very technical explanation, so we have tried to make it really simple to understand. As well as a Voltage measurement on a battery, there is another measurement known as Ampere Hours. This in effect measures the capacity of the battery, which for the user means, how long will the battery last for.
Various manufacturers make these in a range of sizes ranging from 1.0 Ah to 6.0 Ah. The bottom line is the higher this number is the longer your battery will last. So for example a 4.0AH battery will last much longer than a 1.5 Ah battery. The downside is that the higher this number is the more expensive a battery will be.
For cordless hedge trimmers to last for any length of time we would recommend buying the biggest Ah rated battery that you can afford. If you only have a small hedge then you will be able to get away with a smaller rated battery.
Trimmer Blades
These are of course a vital feature of any quality hedge trimmer. It is these that do the cutting and as such will do the bulk of the hard work. There are two important elements to the blades:
- The length of the blade
- The gap between the blades (Teeth Spacing)
Blade Length
This is the length of the blade from its tip to where it joins the casing of the trimmer. The most common sizes are 45 cm (17.5") and 60 cm (23.6"). That is not that long so just be aware of that. Most people can reach about two feet in front of them (60 cm) so in total the distance you can cut will be either
105 cm with a 45 cm blade or 120 cm with a 60 cm blade.
It is important then to know the width of your hedge. If you have a hedge that is less than 120 cm (4 feet) wide, then these blade lengths will do the job really well. If your hedge is wider than that, then you will need one with a longer blade, and when you do that, your choices reduce quite a lot.
Blade Gaps (Teeth Spacing)
When you look down on a set of trimmer blades, you will see a space between the blades. This is referred to as the teeth space. In principle, the wider the teeth spacing, the thicker the material your hedge trimmer blade can cut. Having a wider tooth gap makes it easier to cut through thicker branches and stems.
We do want to include a word of warning here as in real life, for electric hedge cutters, this honestly matters very little. Electric hedge trimmers are not hugely powerful, and if you try to use them to cut thicker branches, the blades will just get jammed and damaged.
This type of trimmer is designed to trim and not to saw through thicker branches or stems. The bigger heavier duty petrol hedge trimmers can handle that type of cutting. Most standard hedge trimmers come with a 15 - 20 mm gap which is enough to trim most hedges. If you have mature hedges or thicker hedges then look for a trimmer with a 30 mm tooth gap.
Blade Sharpness
The sharper your blades are the better of course. The sharpness also really helps keep down the amount of vibration you will get in your hands and arms when using your trimmer. You can buy trimmers that have laser cut or diamond ground blades which are sharper and will last longer.
Trimmer Handles
This is also an important feature and it refers to the top handle and the rear handle. The rear handle sits at the back of the trimmer and is used to help balance the trimmer when in use. The top handle is then held to balance the trimmer in your hands.
On the top handle there is usually a starting handle as well. Handles are all about giving you a nice balance of the tool when using it and they should feel comfortable in your hand.
Some trimmers use what are called "wraparound handles." These allow you to rotate to the trimmer and be able to hold the trimmer at various angles. The more options your handle offers, the easier it will be to use.
Top 10 List
For now though we will show you the top 10 list of cordless hedge trimmers, that are available on the UK market right now.
Just below you will find our list of the top 10 cordless or battery hedge trimmers. These are based on real life buyer online reviews. On various websites when people buy a hedge trimmer, some of them take the time to leave a review, after they have bought the trimmer and used it.
We then look at all of those reviews and summarise those to come up with our top 10 list. That way we are sure that we have got the trimmers that get the best overall buyer ratings and reviews. We just think that is useful research and good valuable information. It also saves the readers at my website having to do all that work themselves.
1. Makita DUH523Z Cordless LXT Lithium-Ion Hedge Trimmer
- This has a 52 cm blade length with a 15 mm tooth space
- This delivers 1,350 strokes per minute
- It uses an 18V Makita LXT battery
- It has a soft grip that provides comfortable and sure grip
- It uses 5 cushions to reduce the amount of vibration
- The blade can be removed/replaced without disassembling the housing
- There is also a battery capacity warning lamp
- It weighs 3.3 Kg
- It has a 2 handed operation switch
There is no doubt in our mind that this is the best cordless hedge trimmer on the UK market right now. If you already own a Makita 18V compatible battery then this is the one you should buy. If you don't own a compatible battery then this can get expensive as you will also need a battery and charger. A compatible Makita battery (18V 5Ah) and charger costs around £100 which will push the price up.
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £115-£120
2. Dewalt DCM563PB-GB 18 V XR Hedge Trimmer
- This is an 18V cordless trimmer
- It uses 55cm dual-action laser-cut blades with a 19mm cutting gap and hardened steel for longer life and lasting sharpness
- You get up to 75min trimming per charge on a 5.0Ah battery
- It comes with a wrap around aux handle for a comfortable grip in multiple orientations
- It has a very strong housing for excellent durability and impact resistance
- This is a compact and lightweight design for less user fatigue whilst trimming
There is also a high quality cordless hedge trimmer. If you already own a Dewalt 18V compatible battery then this is the one you should buy. If you don't own a compatible battery then this can get expensive as you will also need a battery and charger. A compatible Dewalt battery (18V 5Ah) and charger costs around £120 which will push the price up.
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £170
3. Ryobi OHT1845 18V ONE+ Cordless 45cm Hedge Trimmer
- The blade length is 45cm (18”) and the diamond-ground blade will cleanly cut stems up to 18mm (0.7”)
- This weighs 2.5 Kg
- It is part of the Ryobi one+ system – over 100 tools powered by one battery
- It has an over mould and wraparound front handle that provides increased user comfort and manoeuvrability
- It also has a blade sheath for protection when not in use
- All one+ products come with a 3-year warranty for quality assurance.
Many UK buyers like Ryobi tools and this trimmer also gets very good reviews. Like the other brands If you already own a Ryobi 18V compatible battery then this is the one you should buy. If you don't own a compatible battery then you will also need a battery and charger. A compatible Ryobi battery (18V 5Ah) and charger costs around £100 which will push the price up.
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £105
4. Best Value - Bosch Cordless Hedge Trimmer AHS 50-20
- This uses an 18V battery with a one hour charging time
- One charge will cut around 200 square metres from one charge which lasts around 50 minutes
- The blade length is 50 cm and can cut through branches up to 25 mm in diameter
- Weighs 2.5 Kg
- This has a 20 mm tooth space
- It has an integrated tip protector for cutting along walls and fences without damaging the blade
This Bosch trimmer is in our opinion the best value for money as it comes with a 18V (2.5Ah) battery and charger.
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £160
5. Cheapest Option - VonHaus Cordless Hedge Trimmer/Cutter
- This uses a 20V battery
- This trimmer has 51cm dual action precision blades for fast cutting action
- It can cut through branches and twigs up to 14mm thick
- It has a soft grip handle for ease of use
- The battery has a short 1-hour charge time
- It has a safety switch on the front handle and a switch on the rear handle to prevent accidental operation, as well as a hand protecting shield for safe use
This VonHaus trimmer is in our opinion the most affordable and it comes with a 20V (1.5Ah) battery and charger. It charges in an hour and gives 45 minutes run time.
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £90
6. Bosch EasyHedgeCut 18-45 Cordless Hedge Cutter
- This one uses a lighter 12V Bosch battery
- It has a 45 cm blade with a 15 mm tooth opening and is a good choice for small to medium sized hedges
- The 18V / 2.5 Ah lithium-ion battery lasts for around 50 minutes of cutting time
- It also has an anti blocking system that ensures a continuous cut.
- It is one of the lightest cordless hedge trimmers on the UK market at only 1.9kg and as such reduces the strain on the arms and back whilst working
This Bosch trimmer comes with an 18V (2.0Ah) battery and charger. It charges in an hour and gives 50 minutes run time.
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £95
7. Bosch AHS 55-20 LI Cordless Hedgecutter
- Can cut around 200 square metres of hedge from a single charge
- Has a 55 cm blade length with a 20 mm tooth opening
- Weighs 1 Kg
- Comes with a 2.5 Ah battery and a battery charger
- It also has an electronic “Anti-Blocking System” for continuous cutting ensures
- It also has Quick-Cut Technology that ensures that twigs and branches are cut first time round
- It has Swiss-precision blades that are laser-cut and diamond-ground for clean cuts
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £130
8. WORX WG261E.1 18V (20V MAX) Cordless 45cm Hedge Trimmer
- This trimmer use an 18V battery - the 20V is where the battery charges to so as you get a full 18V from the start
- It usually is sold with 1.5 Ah batteries
- The blade is 45 cm long with 14mm tooth space
- It weighs 3.8 Kg
- It comes with a full-length blade guard
- It uses dual action blades for reduced vibration and smooth cutting performance
- It as a 2 handed multi-grip switch system helps to avoid accidental starting
- It has a multi-grip position front handle that suits to various cutting positions
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £130
9. Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li-Solo Power X-Change Cordless Hedge Trimmer
- This trimmer uses an 18V battery which has an average battery life of 30 minutes for the smaller 1.5 Ah or 2 hours for a 3.0 Ah battery
- It has metal gears for longer life
- It has a 52 cm blade length with a 46 cm cutting length and a 15mm space between the teeth
- It measures 89.2 x 18 x 18.5 cm and weighs 2 Kg
- It has a two-hand safety switch that brings the cutters to a standstill in less than 1 second when a switch is released
- The cutters are protected by an aluminium cover
- The shock guard has a hole for wall mounting
- It has counter rotating blades made of robust laser cut and diamond cut steel
- Buyers stated that this is small and very easy to handle
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £80
10. Terratek 20V Cordless Electric Hedge Trimmer
- This hedge trimmer uses 2 x 20V batteries
- This has a 2.4 metre telescopic reach
- It also has a 45cm cutting length
- This is a good choice for clipping tall, awkwardly-sited or hard-to-reach hedges and shrubs
- This can cut branches up to 14mm in thickness
- It has 45 minutes run-time from one single charge and the charge time is one hour
- It has a 120° 5 position pivoting head that allows for easy trimming at the top or bottom of hedge
- It weighs 3 Kg
- It has a 2 stage safety switch
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £100
Cordless Telescopic Hedge Trimmers
1. Ryobi ONE+ 18V OPT1845 Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer
- You can buy this trimmer as a tool only or with an 18V 2.0 Ah or a 4.0 Ah battery
- It forms part of the Ryobi One+ System of over 100 tools for the home and garden
- It has a 45 cm blade length with a 18 mm cutting capacity
- It has 45cm diamond ground blades for clean cutting
- It has a 115 degrees articulating cutting head with 4 positions for versatile trimming
- It also has a removable extension shaft for full length of 2.9m for extended reach tasks
- Comes with a blade sheath and shoulder strap
- Weighs 5.6 Kg
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £135
2. Bosch 06008B3070 Cordless Telescopic Hedge Trimmer
- This uses a Bosch 18V battery
- It has a height-adjustable telescopic pole with a pivoting head that provides a reach of up to 2.6 m making it a ladder-free experience
- The blade length is 43 c and the tooth spacing is 16 mm
- The stroke rate is 2200 rpm
- It comes with the Bosch Anti-Blocking system that delivers a powerful and continuous cutting performance
- It is lightweight (3.6 kg) and optimally balanced for
comfortable handling - You can get around 2.5 hours of continuous work from one charge of this battery
Check Amazon UK. Average UK Price £200
How To Use Safely
Thanks for visiting our UK gardening website which is made to help any beginner gardener. Many people enjoy their garden and our tips and advice are all written to help you get the most out of your outdoor space.
The website team are a group of experienced gardeners who share useful information and we were all beginner gardeners at some point. Enjoy!
- Enda mclarnon