Cordless hedge trimmers have all but replaced petrol for home use. Modern brushless 40–60V models cut as fast as the old 25cc petrol units, weigh half as much, and don't fill the garden with two-stroke smoke. The only real choice now is bar length — match it to your hedge, not to your enthusiasm.
Our team’s top picks
EGO Power+ 24" Cordless Hedge Trimmer
- 56V battery, brushless motor
- 24" bar with 32 mm tooth gap
- Quiet enough for early starts
- Long runtime per charge
Greenworks 40V 24" Hedge Trimmer
- Solid 40V power
- Honest pricing
- Battery shares with Greenworks tools
- Light enough for long sessions
Stihl HSA 130 R Cordless Hedge Trimmer
- AP-system pro battery
- 600 mm bar, 38 mm tooth gap
- Built for daily commercial use
- Quiet at 81 dB
Worx 20V Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer
- Telescoping pole reaches 8 feet
- Pivoting head for top cuts
- Light for one-handed use
- Detaches into a regular trimmer
DeWalt 20V MAX 22" Hedge Trimmer
- Compact, balanced
- 22" bar handles most hedges
- Charges fast on the 20V platform
- Strong reviews for reliability
What to look for in a cordless hedge trimmer
- Bar length: 50 cm for box and lavender, 60–70 cm for typical privet, 70+ cm for tall conifer screens.
- Tooth gap: 24–30 mm for soft growth, 30+ mm for thicker shrub stems.
- Brushless motors run cooler and longer than brushed.
- A pivoting rear handle is genuinely useful for vertical cuts on the top of a hedge.
- Battery weight matters — keep total tool weight under 4 kg for comfortable extended use.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a cordless hedge trimmer last?
On a 4 Ah battery, 40–60 minutes of continuous trimming. That's 80–100 m of typical privet hedge done at a steady pace. With a second battery you're comfortably set for any home job.
Cordless or petrol hedge trimmer?
Cordless for everything under 1 hour of continuous use. Petrol only earns its keep for paid contractors who run for 4+ hours a day.
What bar length do I need?
Match it to your tallest, thickest hedge. 50 cm for box and lavender, 60 cm for typical privet, 70+ cm for conifers and tall screens. Too long is harder to handle; too short makes long hedges glacial work.
How do I keep the blade sharp?
Wipe sap off with kerosene at the end of each session, run a diamond card down each tooth bevel once a season, and dab oil on the blade rails before storage. A sharp trimmer cuts cleaner and pulls less battery.
Bottom line
If you only take one thing from this guide, it is that quality matters more than spec on paper. The picks above have been chosen because our team uses them or trusts them — not because they are the most expensive or have the flashiest marketing. Buy once, garden often.
