10 Best Hedge Trimmers of 2026, Cordless & Petrol Picks Ranked
The laurel along our shared back fence grows faster than I can keep up with in a wet British June, and by August it leans over the patio as if it pays rent. For most gardens the best hedge trimmer is the Stihl HSA 56 36V AK Cordless Hedge Trimmer, a light machine with a 45cm blade on Stihl's AK battery system, although it's sold as the bare tool, so you'll need to add a battery and charger.
I haven't run all ten along my own hedge, and this list doesn't pretend otherwise. It's a research ranking built from UK roundups, spec sheets and amazon.co.uk listings, weighing cordless, petrol and the case for corded. Want a pick that arrives ready to cut? Start with the Ryobi kit.
- Clean cutting action: Teardrop-shaped teeth on a 45cm blade. Neat on privet.
- Branch-cutting capacity: 20mm tooth spacing. Right for a regularly trimmed hedge.
- Comfortable to handle: Listed at 2.9kg with battery. Easy along a fence.
- Battery or fuel setup: Stihl's 36V AK system. Packs shared with other Stihl tools.
- Handy extras: No engine or pull cord. Far quieter than petrol.
- Safety and storage: Battery motor, no fuel to store. Tidy in a small shed.
- Body only: Battery and charger are sold separately. Budget for an AK pack.
- Clean cutting action: Diamond-ground 55cm dual-action blades. Crisp edges along a fence.
- Branch-cutting capacity: The listing quotes a 24mm blade gap. Enough for most hedges.
- Comfortable to handle: Listed at 2.8kg with battery. In-line handle keeps balance.
- Battery or fuel setup: 2.0Ah One+ battery and charger included. Ready to cut.
- Handy extras: HedgeSweep attachment in the box. Clears clippings off the top.
- Safety and storage: Comes with a 3 year warranty. Reassuring for a first trimmer.
- Small battery: The 2.0Ah pack runs down on big hedges. A spare helps.
- Clean cutting action: A 45cm blade on this listing. Easier to steer than longer petrol models.
- Branch-cutting capacity: A quoted 28mm cutting capacity. Takes stems most battery models avoid.
- Comfortable to handle: LowVib anti-vibration system. Kinder to hands on long sessions.
- Battery or fuel setup: 21.7cc two-stroke engine. Runs as long as the fuel lasts.
- Handy extras: Needs no socket at all. Ideal for allotments and rural boundaries.
- Noise and fumes: The two-stroke engine is loud. Ear defenders and fuel mixing needed.
- Clean cutting action: Counter-rotating laser-cut and diamond-cut blades. A clean, even cut.
- Branch-cutting capacity: A 15mm cutting capacity. Fine for privet trimmed twice a year.
- Comfortable to handle: The hedge trimmer is listed at 2kg. Light for shorter sessions.
- Battery or fuel setup: 2.0Ah Power X-Change battery and fast charger. Shared with the strimmer.
- Handy extras: GC-CT 18 Li grass strimmer bundled in. Hedge and lawn edges sorted.
- Thin-stem limit: A 15mm cutting capacity. Woody laurel and old conifer are too much.
- Clean cutting action: 61cm dual-action blades at 3000spm. An anti-jam system is fitted too.
- Branch-cutting capacity: Listed to cut stems up to 27mm. Good for neglected hedges.
- Comfortable to handle: Weighs 2.8kg. The head pivots 125° for easier top cuts.
- Battery or fuel setup: 40V 2Ah battery and charger included. Fits other Greenworks 40V tools.
- Handy extras: A 3 year guarantee on the tool. Battery covered for 2 years.
- Short runtime: A 2Ah pack on a 40V motor. Expect to recharge mid-hedge.
- Long blade: 61cm takes some steering. Awkward in tight front-garden corners.
- Clean cutting action: A 55cm dual-action blade. Clean cuts on medium-sized hedges.
- Branch-cutting capacity: An 18mm cutting capacity. Suits hedges that are trimmed regularly.
- Comfortable to handle: The handle rotates 180° to three positions. Easier side cuts.
- Battery or fuel setup: 20V 2Ah battery and charger included. Quoted at 40 minutes.
- Stem capacity: Only 18mm cutting capacity. Not one for a neglected hedge.
- Battery ecosystem: Fewer garden tools use Stiga's 20V pack. Less battery sharing.
- Clean cutting action: Laser-cut 61cm dual-action blades. Clean lines on wide hedges.
- Branch-cutting capacity: A 27mm cutting capacity. Copes with thick, overgrown boundary hedges.
- Comfortable to handle: A soft-grip ergonomic handle. Comfortable along long boundary hedges.
- Battery or fuel setup: Two 20V 2.0Ah PowerShare packs and charger included. Brushless 40V drive.
- Double charging: Both batteries need charging. Plan ahead before a big session.
- Unclear weight: The listing quotes 2kg to 3kg with batteries. Hard to pin down.
- Clean cutting action: A 50cm blade on an aluminium guide bar. Steady, straight cuts.
- Branch-cutting capacity: An 18mm cutting capacity. Right for regular garden trimming jobs.
- Comfortable to handle: Double anti-vibration structure. Kinder on wrists during long trims.
- Battery or fuel setup: Runs on Makita 18V LXT packs. Ideal if you already own some.
- Handy extras: User-replaceable blade and an LED charge indicator. Built to last years.
- No battery included: Battery and charger cost extra. Pricey if starting from scratch.
- G-Series excluded: Not compatible with Makita G-Series batteries. Check your packs first.
- Little UK coverage: Few independent UK reviews found. The ranking leans on specs.
- Clean cutting action: Dual precision blades on a 45cm bar. A quick, clean cut on low hedges.
- Branch-cutting capacity: A 16mm blade gap. Fine for soft growth and small shrubs.
- Comfortable to handle: A 270° wrap-around handle. Cut comfortably from almost any angle.
- Battery or fuel setup: 18V Power for All battery and charger included. Up to 55 minutes.
- Handy extras: A debris guard and blade tip protector. Helpful close to walls.
- Thin blade gap: A 16mm blade gap. Struggles with thick, woody stems.
- Short reach: The 45cm blade means more passes. Slow on long boundaries.
- Clean cutting action: Dual-action blades that move together. Neater than single-action designs.
- Branch-cutting capacity: Listed for branches up to 14mm. Fine for soft, regular growth.
- Comfortable to handle: Soft-grip handle with anti-vibration. Front safety switch and hand shield.
- Battery or fuel setup: 1.5Ah battery charges in 60 minutes. Fits VonHaus G-Series tools.
- Low-capacity battery: The 1.5Ah pack runs down fast. Long hedges need recharge breaks.
- Conflicting blade spec: The listing quotes both 45cm and 51cm. Hard to know which.
- 14mm stem limit: Listed for branches up to 14mm. Soft, regular growth only.
Other Hedge Trimmers Worth Considering
- Battery and charger come in the box.
- Dual-action laser-cut blades for clean edges.
- A 2-year domestic warranty is included.
- The 18mm capacity limits it to regular trims.
- The listing mixes 55cm and 70cm blade figures.
- A 5Ah battery quoted at around 80 minutes.
- Laser-cut, hardened saw-tooth blades.
- D-handle design for two-handed switching.
- Premium tier for a single-battery kit.
- Spec sources disagree on its cutting capacity.
- Battery and charger in the ready-to-use set.
- A tip protector guards against wall damage.
- Wall hook for upright storage in the shed.
- The 16mm capacity suits soft growth only.
- A mid-range outlay for a modest blade gap.
- Battery and charger are included.
- Up to 48 minutes of runtime quoted.
- A 3 year warranty for peace of mind.
- Few product details on the listing.
- The 16mm capacity is for lighter trimming.
In-Depth Reviews of the 10 Best Hedge Trimmers
Each review explains what the listed specs mean along a real UK hedge and where each trimmer falls short.
#1 · Editor's Choice
Stihl HSA 56 36V AK Cordless Hedge Trimmer
Last September I spent half an afternoon flicking an extension lead away from the blade, which is the chore the Stihl HSA 56 removes. It runs on Stihl's 36V AK system, carries a 45cm blade with teardrop-shaped teeth at 20mm spacing, and is listed at 2.9kg with an AK 10 battery. The limitation is the box: this listing is the body only, so the battery and charger cost extra unless you already own an AK tool. The 20mm spacing also suits regular trims better than overgrown laurel, where the Greenworks G40HT61K2 has more bite.
The verdict: The best hedge trimmer for most UK gardens, provided you're happy to buy into Stihl's AK battery system.
#2 · Runner-Up
Ryobi RY18HT55A-120 18V One+ 55cm Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit
Judge the Ryobi RY18HT55A-120 as a complete kit and it's hard to fault. You get the trimmer, an 18V One+ 2.0Ah battery, a charger and a HedgeSweep attachment, so there's nothing else to buy before the first cut. The 55cm diamond-ground blades cover a long run of fence in fewer passes, and the listing quotes a 24mm blade gap. The thing is, a 2.0Ah battery is on the small side for a big boundary hedge, so a second pack is worth having.
The verdict: The best ready-to-use cordless hedge trimmer here, and a sensible way into Ryobi's One+ battery range.
#3 · Best Petrol
Husqvarna 122HD45 Petrol Hedge Trimmer with 45cm Blade
Noise and fuel come first, because they're why petrol isn't for everyone. The Husqvarna 122HD45 runs a 21.7cc 2-stroke engine, so you'll be mixing petrol and oil, wearing ear defenders and yanking a pull cord, and the neighbours over the fence will hear it. In return you get runtime limited only by the fuel can, a 45cm blade, a quoted 28mm cutting capacity and LowVib anti-vibration. Some spec sources quote a 60cm blade, but that belongs to the bigger 122HD60, not this listing.
The verdict: Buy it for long hedges far from a socket, and only if you're comfortable storing and mixing two-stroke fuel.
#4 · Best Two-Tool Bundle
Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li 18V Hedge Trimmer and GC-CT Strimmer Bundle
If the lawn edges need tidying as often as the hedge, this Einhell listing is really a two-tool bundle. The GE-CH 1846 Li hedge trimmer comes with a 2.0Ah Power X-Change battery and fast charger, a 46cm counter-rotating blade and a 15mm cutting capacity. Alongside it sits a GC-CT 18 Li grass strimmer, supplied without its own battery, that runs off the same pack. That 15mm capacity is modest next to the Ryobi, and the title mixes kit and solo wording, so check the included-items line before ordering.
The verdict: A sensible two-for-one for small gardens, as long as you treat the strimmer as a bonus rather than the main event.
#5 · Best for Thick Branches
Greenworks G40HT61K2 40V 61cm Cordless Hedge Trimmer
Most cordless trimmers at this level top out at around 18mm stems. The Greenworks G40HT61K2 is listed to cut branches up to 27mm, which matters if your hedge has had a year off. It pairs a 40V 2Ah battery and charger with 61cm dual-action blades at 3000spm and a head that pivots through 125° for easier top cuts. A 2Ah battery won't last a long boundary on a 40V motor, though, and that long blade is a lot to steer round a small front garden.
The verdict: The pick for overgrown, woody hedges, if you can live with the long blade in tight corners.
#6 · Most Adjustable Handle
Stiga HT 100e 20V 55cm Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit
You notice the handle before anything else on the Stiga HT 100e. It rotates through 180° to three positions, so cutting the side of a hedge stops twisting your wrist. The kit includes a 20V 2Ah battery and charger, quoted at 40 minutes of cutting, along with a 55cm dual-action blade and a double-switch safety system. Stiga lists rear handle vibration at 1.12 m/s², a reassuring figure for longer sessions. The trade-off is an 18mm cutting capacity, and fewer garden tools share Stiga's 20V pack than share Ryobi's or Einhell's.
The verdict: An easy, comfortable trimmer for medium hedges, best for gardeners who don't own another battery system yet.
#7 · Premium Pick
Worx WG286E 40V Brushless 61cm Cordless Hedge Trimmer
I'll be straight: the Worx WG286E is here for its motor and blades, not its weight. A 40V brushless motor, fed by two 20V PowerShare batteries, drives 61cm laser-cut dual-action blades with a 27mm cutting capacity, a natural alternative to the Greenworks for a wide boundary hedge. Two 2.0Ah batteries and a charger come in the box. The listing's weight figures don't agree, ranging from 2kg to 3kg with batteries, so treat it as a mid-weight tool. Running on two packs also means both need a full charge before a big job.
The verdict: A strong cordless choice for large hedges, especially if Worx PowerShare batteries already live in your shed.
#8 · Best for Makita Owners
Makita DUH507Z 18V LXT 50cm Cordless Hedge Trimmer
Buy this one if there's already a Makita 18V LXT battery on the shelf in your shed. The DUH507Z is the body only, with a 50cm blade on an aluminium guide bar, an 18mm cutting capacity, an electric brake and a double anti-vibration structure. The blade is designed to be swapped by the owner. Without batteries it makes far less sense, and it won't take Makita's G-Series packs. I found little independent UK coverage of this model, so its place rests on the spec sheet.
The verdict: Only worth it for existing Makita LXT owners; everyone else gets more from a complete kit like the Ryobi.
#9 · Best for Small Gardens
Flymo EasiCut 450 18V Cordless Hedge Trimmer
This is the one I'd hand to a neighbour with a small terraced garden and a waist-high front hedge. The Flymo EasiCut 450 uses an 18V Power for All battery, included with a charger, which Flymo says runs for up to 55 minutes. Its 45cm blade, 16mm blade gap and 270° wrap-around handle keep it nimble, and a debris guard and tip protector help against a fence or wall. A 16mm gap won't manage woody stems, though. The same battery fits the Gardena EasyCut 55.
The verdict: A light, friendly trimmer for small gardens and low hedges; skip it for anything thick or tall.
#10 · Best Budget
VonHaus 20V G-Series Cordless Hedge Trimmer
Short version: the VonHaus 20V is the entry-level pick for a quick tidy. It comes with a 1.5Ah battery that charges in 60 minutes and fits other VonHaus G-Series tools, plus dual-action blades and a front-handle safety switch with a hand shield. The listing can't decide between 45cm and 51cm for the blade, and it quotes branches up to 14mm, so keep it for soft, regular growth.
The verdict: Fine for a small hedge trimmed little and often; spend more if your hedge is woody or long.
How We Researched and Scored These Hedge Trimmers
This ranking is built from UK editorial roundups, manufacturer spec sheets and amazon.co.uk listings, not a lab. I didn't run any of these trimmers along a test hedge or time a battery against the clock. Instead, we noted which models independent UK reviewers kept recommending, matched each one to its exact amazon.co.uk listing and its contents, and scored all ten on the same weighted criteria. Several picks have little or no independent coverage, and where that's the case the review says so.
What we compared for every hedge trimmer:
- Editorial consensus across independent UK roundups
- Power source: battery platform and voltage, or engine size for petrol
- Blade: length, action and the quoted cutting capacity or tooth gap
- Handling: listed weight, handle design and anti-vibration features
- What's in the box: battery and charger, body only, or a bundle
How we weighted the scores:
- Cutting performance (30%): blade length, action and stem capacity, judged on paper
- Features (20%): rotating handles, pivoting heads, guards and sweeps
- Ease of use (20%): weight, balance, starting and charging
- Build (15%): blade material, gearing and warranty length
- Value (15%): what you get within each tier, judged qualitatively
Where a listing and another spec source disagree, as on the Husqvarna's blade length, the reviews follow the amazon.co.uk listing or say plainly that the figures differ.
What to Look For in the Best Hedge Trimmer
Start with the power source. Cordless trimmers are where most UK gardens end up now, with no lead to cut through and no fuel to store. A corded trimmer is still a light, sensible entry-level option if your hedge sits near an outdoor socket, although none earned a place in this ten; if you go that way, use an RCD and keep the cable over your shoulder. Petrol, represented by the Husqvarna 122HD45, suits long rural hedges and allotments with no power, at the cost of noise and fumes.
Blade length sets how much hedge you cover with each pass. Around 45cm suits a small garden and a low front hedge, while 55cm to 61cm, as on the Ryobi, Greenworks and Worx, gets through a long boundary faster but is harder to steer around the shed. The cutting capacity tells you the thickest stem the blade will take: 15mm to 18mm is fine for privet trimmed twice a year, whereas 24mm to 28mm copes with a hedge left to its own devices.
Weight matters, because you hold a trimmer at arm's length and often above your shoulders; most cordless picks here are listed between 2kg and 3kg. If your shed already holds Ryobi One+, Einhell Power X-Change, Makita LXT, Stihl AK or a Power for All tool, a trimmer on the same system is the more affordable route.
If you can't reach the top of a tall hedge from the ground, look at a long-reach or pole hedge trimmer rather than stretching off a stepladder. Wear eye protection and gloves, keep both hands on the handles, and look for active nests before you start in spring and summer. On budget, the VonHaus, Flymo and Stiga sit at the entry-level end, the Ryobi, Einhell, Greenworks and Makita are mid-range, and the Worx and Husqvarna are premium. Want one trimmer that suits most suburban hedges without fuss? Buy the Ryobi kit and call it a day.
Key Specs Compared
| Product | Power | Blade Length | Cutting Capacity | Our Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stihl HSA 56 36V AK Cordless Hedge Trimmer | 36V AK system | 45cm | Not listed (20mm tooth spacing) | 9.8 |
| Ryobi RY18HT55A-120 18V One+ 55cm Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit | 18V ONE+ | 55cm dual-action | 24mm blade gap | 9.6 |
| Husqvarna 122HD45 Petrol Hedge Trimmer with 45cm Blade | 21.7cc 2-stroke | 45cm | 28mm | 9.5 |
| Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li 18V Hedge Trimmer and GC-CT Strimmer Bundle | 18V Power X-Change | 46cm | 15mm | 9.3 |
| Greenworks G40HT61K2 40V 61cm Cordless Hedge Trimmer | 40V | 61cm dual-action | 27mm | 9.1 |
| Stiga HT 100e 20V 55cm Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit | 20V | 55cm | 18mm | 9.0 |
| Worx WG286E 40V Brushless 61cm Cordless Hedge Trimmer | 40V (2 x 20V PowerShare) | 61cm | 27mm | 8.9 |
| Makita DUH507Z 18V LXT 50cm Cordless Hedge Trimmer | 18V LXT | 50cm | 18mm | 8.8 |
| Flymo EasiCut 450 18V Cordless Hedge Trimmer | 18V Power4All | 45cm | 16mm | 8.7 |
| VonHaus 20V G-Series Cordless Hedge Trimmer | 20V | 51cm | 14mm | 8.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best hedge trimmers to buy in 2026?
The Stihl HSA 56 is our top pick for most gardens, with the Ryobi RY18HT55A-120 kit close behind. The Stihl is sold as the bare tool for Stihl's 36V AK batteries, while the Ryobi arrives with a battery and charger. For petrol, choose the Husqvarna 122HD45.
Which is better, an electric or battery hedge trimmer?
For most UK gardens a battery trimmer is the better choice, because there's no lead to trip over or cut through. Corded trimmers are light and never run flat, so they still suit a small hedge near an outdoor socket, used with an RCD. Battery models such as the Ryobi or Stiga win on freedom along long boundaries.
Stihl or Husqvarna: which makes the better hedge trimmer?
Both are respected names, so choose by power source rather than badge. Here the Stihl HSA 56 is a quiet cordless trimmer for regular garden work, while the Husqvarna 122HD45 is a petrol machine for long hedges far from a socket. Most suburban gardens will suit the Stihl.
Ryobi or Einhell: which 18V hedge trimmer should I buy?
Buy into whichever battery system you already own, because a shared battery keeps costs down. Starting fresh, the Ryobi has the longer 55cm blade and a quoted 24mm blade gap, against the Einhell's 46cm blade and 15mm capacity. The Einhell bundle adds a strimmer.
How thick a branch can a hedge trimmer cut?
It depends on the tooth gap, and the cordless trimmers here manage between 14mm and 27mm. The VonHaus suits soft, regular growth, the Greenworks and Worx list 27mm, and the Husqvarna petrol model quotes 28mm. Anything thicker belongs to loppers or a pruning saw, because forcing it can jam the blades.
Can I cut my hedge during bird nesting season in the UK?
You can, but check for active nests first: damaging or destroying one in use is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The main nesting season runs roughly from March to August, so many gardeners save the big cut for early spring or autumn and only trim lightly in between.
The Bottom Line
If you want one cordless trimmer that will see most UK hedges through the season, the Stihl HSA 56 is the one I'd pick, as long as you're happy to add an AK battery and charger. The Ryobi kit is the easier ready-to-cut buy, and the Husqvarna 122HD45 is the petrol choice for long hedges far from a socket.
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