Top 5 compared
The best cordless hedge trimmers
Hedges trimmed neat and square, with no cord to cut through and no gas to mix.
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The top 5 at a glance
A hedge trimmer is a motorized pair of shears: toothed blades slide back and forth past each other along a bar, slicing the twigs that fall between the teeth. A longer bar covers more hedge in a pass, and a wider gap between the teeth takes thicker stems. Anything beyond a trimmer’s limit is a job for a pair of loppers.
Every trimmer here comes with a battery and charger and has dual-action blades; BLACK+DECKER says its own vibrate less than its single-action models. The BLACK+DECKER, EGO and WORX batteries also run other tools in their makers’ ranges. Charge times differ a lot from one battery to the next, so a spare is worth having for a long hedge.
What matters
- Weight with the battery in, as it’s held at arm’s length.
- A rear handle that rotates, for cutting the sides.
- A wraparound front handle, for cutting at any angle.
- A double safety lock against accidental starts.
#1BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX 22-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer (LHT2220)
$75–$100
Dual-action 22-inch blades that take branches up to 3/4 inch thick with less vibration than single-action ones, a wraparound front handle for turning it on its side, and a 20V MAX battery and charger in the box. BLACK+DECKER rates a charge at up to 3,000 square feet of hedge.
What owners say: One charge gets the whole yard done for most owners, and they find it light and easy to handle, slicing through 3/4-inch branches with the power of a corded trimmer.
A closer look: Sweep the blade in slow arcs up the sides, then turn it flat for the top and work from the middle outward. Charge the battery fully before the first trim, and keep it indoors over winter rather than in a freezing shed or garage.
- 3,000 sq ft a charge
- Dual-action blades, less vibration
- Wraparound front handle
- 2-year limited warranty
Best for: Keeping yard hedges in shape
- Type
- Handheld
- Blade
- 22 in
- Cuts up to
- 3/4 in
- Weight
- 6.9 lb
- Battery included
- Yes
#2EGO Power+ 26-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer (HT2601)
$150–$200
A 56V brushless trimmer with 26-inch dual-action blades that take branches up to 1.2 inches thick, the most here, on a carbon fiber rail EGO backs with a lifetime warranty. The rear handle rotates through 180 degrees, so the trigger stays comfortable when cutting the sides.
What owners say: It goes through thick branches and holly with ease, owners say, and the long blade and rotating handle make big hedges quicker work. Some find it light for its size; others feel the weight by the end.
A closer look: The extra length pays off on wide, flat tops and long runs of hedge, though it’s more trimmer than a few low shrubs need. The gearbox opens for sharpening, and the battery fits EGO’s 56V mowers and blowers, handy if one of those is already in the garage.
- 180° rotating rear handle
- Runs up to 60 minutes
- Battery fits EGO 56V mowers
- Gearbox opens for sharpening
- Carbon fiber rail, lifetime warranty
Best for: Big, thick or overgrown hedges
- Type
- Handheld
- Blade
- 26 in
- Cuts up to
- 1.2 in
- Weight
- 10.5 lb
- Battery included
- Yes
#3Greenworks 80V 26-Inch Brushless Cordless Hedge Trimmer (HT80L213)
$150–$200
Greenworks’ 80V battery drives a brushless motor and 26-inch dual-action blades at 4,000 strokes a minute, taking branches up to 1.1 inches thick, close to the EGO’s capacity. The tool and battery are both covered by a 4-year limited warranty.
What owners say: Thick hedges and even inch-thick saplings are no trouble, owners report, and the battery outlasts most jobs. Weight divides them: light enough for some, tiring over a long session for others.
A closer look: Rotate the rear handle when cutting the sides, so the wrist stays straight, then level the top in overlapping sweeps. Greenworks quotes about an hour to recharge the 2.0Ah battery, so a spare is worth having for long runs of hedge or a big yard.
- 4,000 strokes a minute
- 180° rotating rear handle
- Brushless 80V motor
- 4-year tool and battery warranty
Best for: Long hedges and wide tops
- Type
- Handheld
- Blade
- 26 in
- Cuts up to
- 1.1 in
- Weight
- 7.1 lb
- Battery included
- Yes
#4WORX WG261 20V PowerShare 22-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer
$50–$75
At 5.5 lb with its battery it’s one of the lightest trimmers here, with 22-inch dual-action blades, a 3/4-inch blade gap and a D-grip front handle for reaching up to a tall top or down to the base. Its 20V PowerShare battery runs WORX’s other 20V tools too.
What owners say: Light and easy to swing, owners say, and the battery goes a long way: one kept trimming into mid-October without a recharge. Durability and power are less certain, with a few reporting one that stopped after half an hour or felt weaker than a corded model.
A closer look: WORX’s charger takes about five hours to fill the 2.0Ah battery, so charge it the night before a big trim. Afterwards, brush the clippings off, wipe the blades with a little light oil so sap doesn’t gum up the teeth, and slip the sheath back on.
- D-grip front handle
- Battery runs WORX 20V tools
- Blade sheath included
- 2,600 strokes a minute
Best for: Holding it overhead for longer
- Type
- Handheld
- Blade
- 22 in
- Cuts up to
- 3/4 in
- Weight
- 5.5 lb
- Battery included
- Yes
#5MZK 20V 22-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer (ET1609)
$50–$75
A full-size trimmer: 22-inch dual-action blades, a 5/8-inch cut and a wraparound handle, at about 5 lb. It comes with two 4.0Ah batteries, so one can charge while the other works.
What owners say: Light to hold and long-running on a charge, owners say, and it handles mature bushes and branches up to about half an inch. Durability is the worry: a few had the motor give out early or the trimmer break within months.
A closer look: Keep it to regular trims of shrubs and hedges, and take anything close to the 5/8-inch limit with loppers first, which spares the motor. Swap in the second battery when the first runs down, and a long hedge needn’t wait for a recharge.
- Double safety lock
- Wraparound handle
Best for: Regular trims with a spare battery
- Type
- Handheld
- Blade
- 22 in
- Cuts up to
- 5/8 in
- Weight
- 5 lb
- Battery included
- Yes, two 4.0Ah
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1BLACK+DECKER 20V | #2EGO 26 in | #3Greenworks 80V | #4WORX WG261 | #5MZK 20V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | ||||
| Picked Rating | 9.5 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.5 |
| Price | $75–$100 | $150–$200 | $150–$200 | $50–$75 | $50–$75 |
| Type | Handheld | Handheld | Handheld | Handheld | Handheld |
| Blade | 22 in | 26 in | 26 in | 22 in | 22 in |
| Cuts up to | 3/4 in | 1.2 in | 1.1 in | 3/4 in | 5/8 in |
| Weight | 6.9 lb | 10.5 lb | 7.1 lb | 5.5 lb | 5 lb |
| Battery included | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, two 4.0Ah |
| Best for | Keeping yard hedges in shape | Big, thick or overgrown hedges | Long hedges and wide tops | Holding it overhead for longer | Regular trims with a spare battery |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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