🌿 Product Review
Best Hedge Trimmers UK 2026: 5 Compared
A good hedge trimmer turns a weekend of wrestling with hand shears into a tidy hour of work. We compared five of the best-selling trimmers on Amazon UK using purchaser reviews, manufacturer specs and independent feedback, and the market splits cleanly into corded value and cordless convenience. Whether you trim a small privet run or a long beech boundary, these are the picks worth your money, plus the honest caveats on the budget kits.
Key Takeaways
- Stihl HSA 56 is the best overall trimmer, with a 45cm blade and a wide 30mm tooth gap that cuts woody, established hedges other models stall on. Around £219, rated 4.5/5 from 217 Amazon ratings.
- Einhell GH-EH 4245 is the best value pick by a mile: a corded 420W trimmer at around £70 with 4.6/5 from more than 109,000 Amazon ratings. No battery to charge, no battery anxiety about dying mid-hedge.
- Ryobi OHT1845 is the smart buy for anyone who already owns Ryobi ONE+ tools, a body-only 18V trimmer at around £92 that runs on the batteries you already have.
- The budget cordless kits are a trade-off. The BLACK+DECKER 36V and VonHaus 20V are cheap full kits, but their Amazon ratings sit below 3.5/5, so expect mixed results on anything but light growth.
- August is the prime month for the main hedge cut in the UK, but always check for nesting birds before you trim.
Also worth reading: how to choose a hedge trimmer, best hedge shears and loppers and secateurs, loppers or pruning saw.
Quick Picks
Quick Comparison
| Product | Type | Blade | Power | Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stihl HSA 56 | Cordless | 45cm | Stihl battery | 4.5/5 | Woody, established hedges |
| Einhell GH-EH 4245 | Corded | 45cm | 420W mains | 4.6/5 | Value, hedge near a socket |
| Ryobi OHT1845 | Cordless | 45cm | 18V ONE+ | 4.8/5 | Ryobi battery owners |
| BLACK+DECKER 36V | Cordless kit | 55cm | 36V battery | 3.2/5 | Cheap full kit, light growth |
| VonHaus 20V | Cordless kit | Dual-action | 20V battery | 3.1/5 | Small gardens, tightest budget |
In-Depth Reviews
Stihl HSA 56 Cordless Hedge Trimmer
Price ~£219 | Cordless | 45cm blade | 30mm tooth gap | Around 2.9kg with battery
The Stihl HSA 56 is the trimmer we reach for first when a hedge has been left alone for a few years. Its 45cm blade carries a wide 30mm tooth gap, a manufacturer spec that matters more than any power figure, because it lets the trimmer grip woody stems instead of pushing them aside. The teardrop-shaped teeth pull branches into the cut cleanly, which is exactly what you want on an established privet, laurel or conifer that has grown thick at the base.
At around 2.9kg with a battery fitted, it is light enough to hold at shoulder height for a full session, and Stihl build quality shows in the balanced handle and the quiet motor. Amazon purchaser feedback across 217 ratings lands it at 4.5/5, with owner comments consistently praising the cutting performance on older growth and the low vibration. The catch is the price: around £219, it costs more than three of the other trimmers here combined. If your hedge is young and tidy, you will not use the extra capability, but for serious hedging it is worth every pound.
Pros
- 30mm tooth gap cuts woody growth
- Light and well balanced
- Low vibration, quiet motor
- Proven Stihl build quality
Cons
- Around £219, the priciest here
- Battery and charger sold separately
- Overkill for a small tidy hedge
Hyundai 550W 51cm Corded Electric Hedge Trimmer, Lightweight 3.17kg, 10m Cable, 16mm Cutting Capacity, Double Action Blade3 Year Warranty
Price £37.39 | HYUNDAI | Available on Amazon UK
The Hyundai 550W 51cm Corded Electric Hedge Trimmer, Lightweight 3.17kg, 10m Cable, 16mm Cutting Capacity, Double Action Blade3 Year Warranty is our current pick in this slot after the previous recommendation became unavailable. 550W Electric Motor for Reliable Cutting Power: Easily trims hedges and shrubs with consistent performance for routine garden maintenance; 51cm Double-Action Blade for Fast, Clean Cuts: Diamond-ground steel blade cuts branches up to 16mm thick with reduced vibration; Lightweight at Just 3.17kg for Easy Handling: Comfortable to use for longer periods with less strain on arms, shoulders and back; 10m Power Cable for Extended Reach: Gives you flexibility to move around small to medium gardens without constant repositioning. It is stocked and priced at £37.39 on Amazon UK at our last nightly check.
Availability and price were verified via the Amazon Creators API on 2026-08-23. As with all picks, check the live price before you buy — Amazon prices move — but this link points at a valid, in-stock listing.
Pros
- Verified available at £37.39
- HYUNDAI build
Cons
- Price can move — check live price
Ryobi OHT1845 18V ONE+ Cordless Hedge Trimmer
Price ~£70.69 (body only) | Cordless | 45cm blade | 18V ONE+ | Fits existing Ryobi batteries
If you already own Ryobi ONE+ tools, the OHT1845 is the cheapest route to a quality cordless trimmer, because it is sold body only and runs on the same 18V batteries as your drill, strimmer or chainsaw. At around £92 with 678 ratings at 4.8/5, it has the highest rating in this comparison. The 45cm blade suits the average domestic hedge, and the tool is light and comfortable over a long session, which matters when you are trimming a boundary that runs the length of the garden.
A 2Ah ONE+ battery handles a typical hedge on one charge, and a 4Ah pack roughly doubles that, so most owners get through the job without swapping. The catch: this listing includes no battery or charger, so it only makes sense if you are already inside the ONE+ system. If you are starting from scratch, factor in the cost of a battery and charger, and the total climbs towards the Stihl territory. For existing Ryobi owners, this is a no-brainer.
Pros
- Top rating here at 4.8/5
- Body only, cheap for ONE+ owners
- Light and comfortable
- Shares batteries with other Ryobi tools
Cons
- No battery or charger included
- Costly if starting from scratch
- 45cm blade, not for long runs
BLACK+DECKER BCHTS36B-XJ Hedge Trimmer (36V)
Price ~£93 | Cordless kit | 55cm blade | 36V battery | Battery and charger included
The BLACK+DECKER 36V is the budget cordless kit that comes closest to a full package: a 55cm blade, a 36V battery and a charger all in the box for around £93. The wider blade covers a long hedge in fewer passes, and the 36V motor keeps its pace through growth that would slow an 18V tool. For a first cordless trimmer without buying into a battery system, it ticks the practical boxes.
We are keeping the rating visible for a reason: at 3.2/5 from 517 Amazon ratings, buyer feedback is genuinely mixed. Owner comments split between people happy with the price and the reach, and people who found the battery life short on a long hedge or the build lighter than expected. If you choose it, treat it as a light-duty tool for tidy hedges, keep a second battery if you can, and it will do a decent job. For anything woody and thick, step up to the Stihl or the corded Einhell.
Pros
- 55cm blade, fewer passes
- Full kit with battery and charger
- 36V keeps pace on thicker growth
- No battery system lock-in
Cons
- Mixed reviews at 3.2/5
- Battery life complaints on long hedges
- Not for woody, established growth
VonHaus Hedge Trimmer Cordless 20V G-Series
Price ~£55 | Cordless kit | Dual-action blades | 20V battery | Battery and charger included
The VonHaus 20V G-Series is the cheapest full cordless kit you can buy from a recognisable brand, at around £55 with the battery and charger in the box. The dual-action blades cut on both sides for a cleaner finish, and the tool is light enough that you will not tire on the last hedge. For a small garden with a modest hedge that needs a tidy-up a couple of times a year, it does the job.
The honesty check: its 808 Amazon ratings average 3.1/5, and the buyer feedback shows the limits of a 20V budget tool. Owners like the price and the weight, but several report the battery draining before a full hedge is done and the blade struggling on anything beyond soft young shoots. If you buy it, expect to charge between sessions and keep it to light growth. That is the trade-off at this price, and it is worth knowing before you click.
Pros
- Cheapest full kit at ~£55
- Battery and charger included
- Very light, easy to handle
- Dual-action blades
Cons
- Mixed reviews at 3.1/5
- Battery drains on bigger hedges
- Struggles on woody growth
How to Choose a Hedge Trimmer
The right trimmer comes down to three decisions: corded or cordless, blade length, and tooth gap. Here is how to get all three right for your hedge.
Corded or cordless: For most UK gardens, cordless wins on freedom and quiet. An 18V or 36V trimmer with a 2Ah battery handles a typical domestic hedge on one charge, and a spare battery means you can swap and carry on. A corded model makes sense when your hedge sits right next to a socket, because it costs about half as much as a comparable cordless kit and never runs out of power. Petrol trimmers are overkill for domestic hedges, being heavier, noisier and only worth it on farm hedges or large estate boundaries.
Blade length: A 45cm blade suits the average privet, laurel or hawthorn hedge and reaches the middle of most bushes without overreaching. Long, straight runs of beech or conifer want a 55cm or 60cm blade so you cut more hedge per pass and keep the line level. Buy the length that matches your main hedge, not the biggest one on the shelf, because a long blade is unwieldy in a shrub border.
Tooth gap: This is the spec most buyers miss. A 16-20mm gap gives a clean finish on fine young growth, while 22mm and wider teeth chew through woody stems. The Stihl HSA 56 uses a 30mm gap specifically to handle older growth that other trimmers stall on. If your hedge is established and thick at the base, tooth gap matters more than voltage.
Battery systems: Voltage matters less than it used to, because modern brushless motors squeeze more work out of every charge. Runtime depends on capacity more than voltage, so a 4Ah pack roughly doubles the cutting time of a 2Ah pack. If you already own tools in a system like Ryobi ONE+, buy a body-only trimmer and skip the duplicate battery. If you are starting from scratch, buy a kit with the battery and charger included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Verdict
For most gardeners, the Einhell GH-EH 4245 is the sensible buy, because 109,000 ratings at 4.6/5 and a £70 price make it the least risky purchase on this list. If you want cordless freedom and your hedge is established and woody, the Stihl HSA 56 is worth the premium, and its 30mm tooth gap earns its keep on thick growth. Ryobi ONE+ owners should grab the OHT1845 body only, and the budget kits from BLACK+DECKER and VonHaus are fine for light tidy-ups if you accept their mixed reviews.
Check your hedge for nesting birds before you start, cut in dry weather, and wipe the blades after use. A good trimmer with basic care lasts a decade, and your hedge will thank you for the clean line.
Sam Baker
Garden Tools Writer, MyLushGarden
Sam writes about garden tools and equipment. He has used and broken enough strimmers and secateurs to know which specs matter.
Last reviewed: August 19, 2026 - Evidence-based review - Contains affiliate links