How to Choose a Hedge Trimmer: UK Buying Guide
Key Takeaways
- August is when UK hedges need their second cut of the year, and a good trimmer turns that into an hour's work.
- Match the blade to your hedge. 45cm covers the average privet or laurel run; 55cm plus suits long, straight boundaries.
- Tooth gap decides what the trimmer can cut. 16-20mm teeth give a clean finish on fine growth, while 22mm and wider chew through woody stems.
- If you already own ONE+ batteries, a body-only trimmer like the Ryobi OHT1845 18V ONE+ Cordless 45cm Hedge Trimmer is the cheapest way into a quality tool.
- Two-stage triggers and a blade guard are the safety features worth paying for, and Briers Multi-Task All Seasons Gardening Glove protects your hands.
Suggested Reading: See our hedge shears and loppers review and complete pruning tools guide.
You spend spring trimming your hedges into shape, then August arrives and everything grows again. A second flush of new shoots turns a tidy beech hedge into a fuzzy mess, and if you leave it now the growth hardens off and the job gets worse by the week. The right hedge trimmer turns that chore into an hour's work.
The market has never been better for UK gardeners. Cordless models now cut cleanly for a full session on a pair of batteries, budget kits cost less than a tank of petrol, and spec sheets are finally easy to compare. This guide covers the three decisions that matter: type, blade length and tooth gap. We also picked five trimmers that cover most UK gardens, from the premium Stihl HSA 56 Cordless Hedge Trimmer down to budget cordless kits at a fraction of the price.
Cordless, Corded or Petrol?
For most UK gardens, cordless is the obvious choice. You get no extension leads, instant starts, and quiet operation that will not annoy the neighbours. 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.
Corded trimmers still make sense if your hedge sits right next to a socket and you own no other cordless tools. A mains model like the Einhell GH-EH 4245 Electric Hedge Trimmer costs half as much as a comparable cordless kit and never runs out of power. Petrol trimmers are overkill for domestic hedges: heavier, noisier and only worth it on farm hedges or large estate boundaries.
Blade Length: Match It to Your Hedge
Blade length is the spec that changes how the trimmer feels. A 45cm blade suits the average privet, laurel or hawthorn hedge and reaches the middle of most bushes without overreaching. If you have long, straight runs of beech or conifer, step up to 55cm or 60cm so you cut more hedge per pass and keep the line level.
For tall hedges, a long-reach model with an extending shaft beats a ladder. Buy the length that matches your main hedge, not the biggest one on the shelf.
Tooth Gap: What It Can Actually Cut
Tooth gap, the space between the cutting teeth, is the spec most people ignore and the one that decides what the trimmer copes with. Fine 16-20mm gaps produce a clean, manicured finish on soft new growth, which is what you want for formal hedges. Wider 22-30mm gaps let thicker, woodier stems drop between the teeth, so the trimmer powers through mature growth without jamming.
A good rule of thumb: young shoots suit a smaller gap, an established woody hedge suits a wider one. The Stihl HSA 56 Cordless Hedge Trimmer uses a 30mm tooth gap specifically so it can handle older growth that other trimmers stall on.
Battery Power and Runtime
Battery voltage matters less than it used to, because modern brushless motors squeeze more work out of every charge. An 18V trimmer handles most domestic hedging; 36V models cut faster and keep their pace on thicker stems. 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 battery system like Ryobi ONE+, buy a body-only trimmer and skip the duplicate battery. The Ryobi OHT1845 18V ONE+ Cordless 45cm Hedge Trimmer fits that approach perfectly. If you are starting from scratch, buy a kit with battery and charger included, like the BLACK+DECKER BCHTS36B-XJ Hedge Trimmer (36V), so you are cutting hedges on day one.
Weight and Balance
Weight decides whether trimming is a pleasure or a chore. A 2.5-3.5kg trimmer held at arm's length gets heavy fast, so check the balance as well as the number. Hold any trimmer in the shop before buying, and if it feels nose-heavy, move on.
Safety Features Worth Paying For
A two-stage trigger stops accidental starts when you pick the tool up, and a blade guard protects the teeth in storage. Beyond that, a decent pair of Briers Multi-Task All Seasons Gardening Glove is the cheapest safety upgrade you can buy.
Our Recommendations
Best Overall: Stihl HSA 56
The Stihl HSA 56 Cordless Hedge Trimmer is the trimmer we reach for first. Its 45cm blade has a wide 30mm tooth gap, so it sails through young growth and woody stems alike, and the teardrop teeth grip branches instead of pushing them aside. It is quiet, light at around 2.9kg with battery, and built to the standard you expect from Stihl. For a hedge you trim twice a year for the next decade, it is money well spent.
Best for ONE+ Owners: Ryobi OHT1845
If you already own Ryobi ONE+ tools, the Ryobi OHT1845 18V ONE+ Cordless 45cm Hedge Trimmer is the smart buy. It is a 45cm body-only trimmer that runs on the same 18V batteries as your drill or strimmer, so you are not paying for a second charging system. It is light, comfortable over long sessions, and body-only pricing keeps it cheap when you already have the batteries.
Best Budget Cordless Kit: BLACK+DECKER 36V
The BLACK+DECKER BCHTS36B-XJ Hedge Trimmer (36V) is the pick for anyone starting from zero who wants a full kit without spending big. It comes with a battery and charger, cuts a 55cm width per pass, and the 36V motor keeps its pace through thicker growth. Not the lightest tool here, but a first trimmer that does the job without breaking the bank.
Best Corded Value: Einhell GH-EH 4245
If your hedge sits next to a socket and you never want to think about charging, the corded Einhell GH-EH 4245 Electric Hedge Trimmer is a bargain. Its 420W motor and 45cm laser-cut blade handle domestic hedges with zero runtime anxiety, at a fraction of the cost of cordless kits. You trade freedom for simplicity, and for a single hedge that trade makes sense.
Best on a Tight Budget: VonHaus 20V
The VonHaus Hedge Trimmer Cordless 20V G-Series G-Series is the cheapest full kit on this list, and it is perfect for small gardens, low hedges and tidy-up jobs around borders. It comes with a 20V battery and charger, has dual-action blades for a clean cut, and weighs so little that you will not tire on the last hedge. Expect to charge between sessions on bigger hedges, but at this price that is a fair exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Verdict
For most UK gardens, the answer is simple. Buy a cordless trimmer with a blade that matches your hedge, a tooth gap that suits its growth, and a trigger that feels safe in your hand. The Stihl HSA 56 Cordless Hedge Trimmer is the best all-rounder if you want to buy once and stop thinking about it.
If you already own Ryobi ONE+ batteries, the Ryobi OHT1845 18V ONE+ Cordless 45cm Hedge Trimmer is the smart money. On a budget, the BLACK+DECKER BCHTS36B-XJ Hedge Trimmer (36V) kit gives you a full cordless setup without the premium price.
Trim your hedges now, while the growth is still soft, and they will look sharp through autumn and winter. For the rest of your cutting toolkit, our complete pruning tools guide covers secateurs, saws and loppers.
Sam Baker writes about garden tools and equipment for MyLushGarden, comparing products on specs, owner feedback and market research.
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Last reviewed: August 2, 2026 Β· Evidence-based content Β· Contains affiliate links