The Best Hedge Trimmer to Beautifully Shape Your Bushes
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HSA Lithium-Ion Hedge Trimmer -
GreenWorks Cordless Hedge Trimmer -
Gardena 7-Inch Cordless Lithium Ion Hedge Trimmer -
Makita Hedge Trimmer -
GreenWorks 2.7 Amp 18" Corded Electric Hedger -
Buyer's Guide
The bad boys of lawn and gardening, gas hedge trimmers will chop through hedges, bushes and even small limbs on trees. All gas hedge trimmers are portable, since they carry their power supply along with them.
Industry standard models are all powered by 2-cycle engines, which means you'll have to supply them with a gas/oil mix, and none of them are particularly light in weight. However, there is one player in the market that offers a 4-cycle engine that makes this list, and it may be a viable alternative for some applications.
Power, ease of use and durability are the hallmarks of a great hedge trimmer. The best hedge trimmers in 2022 we’ve chosen are reliable, thanks to their solid construction by reputable manufacturers, with some of the most well names known for small engines supplying the motors. They’re also easy to start and lightest in weight as well. Price played a role in the selection as well, but there a few featured bang for the buck" models.
Here are the top five hedge trimmers in 2022 so you can shape up your lawn
HSA Lithium-Ion Hedge Trimmer - Best Hedge Trimmer Overall
For no holds barred performance, the Stihl HSA 66 cordless hedge trimmer takes no prisoners and laughs about it. This cordless banshee uses a 36-volt battery (yes you read that right) to manage hedges, bushes, shrubs and just about anything you can get the blades around. This trimmer is so powerful it rivals gas engine trimmers and no other cordless can make that claim. It's so strong that it is considered professional grade for the home and cuts through 1/2 inch twigs with no sweat.
The problem is, you have to purchase the trimmer, the battery and the charger all separately. There are three batteries you can get which will let you cut for one, two or a whopping eleven hours of cutting time with the battery belt pack. This model comes with a two year warranty, ergonomic loop handle and a tip protector. Without question, this bad boy hedge trimmer is the best of the best.
GreenWorks Cordless Hedge Trimmer - Runner Up
If you want the best bang for the buck hedge trimmer, then take a look at the GreenWorks 2200302 G-24 Li-Ion 22-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer with 2AH Battery and Charger. Although it’s one of the least expensive trimmers on this list, the 24 volt battery will give you a solid 40 minutes of run time, which is probably more than adequate for most suburban cutting chores.
The rear handle rotates 180 degrees to get you into tight spots, it comes with a double sided 22 inch blade, and it will cut through 5/8 inch twigs. It also features a superior four year warranty and the included battery works with different GreenWorks lawn and garden tools. There may be better hedge trimmers out there, but for the price, this one can't be beat.
Gardena 7-Inch Cordless Lithium Ion Hedge Trimmer - Honorable Mention
Sometimes smaller is better, and Gardena 8895-U 7-Inch Cordless Lithium Ion Shrub Shears, Comfort Cut proves it every time. When you have a smaller job to do, when a few errant hedge shoots need pruning, or you need to shape intricate patterns, nothing does it better than this. It runs for an amazing 90 minutes on a full charge, yet it is 1/3 the weight of the heaviest trimmer here. The 7 inch double sided cutting blade is extremely easy to maneuver, and you can add on different blades with the quick-change blade system. The hinged handle lets you select the perfect handle angle to cut any way that you need to, and it will slice through 3/8 inch twigs.
Makita Hedge Trimmer - Consider
If you want absolute top quality in a hedge trimmer, the Makita UH6570 25-Inch Electric Hedge Trimmer won't let you down. This trimmer isn’t inexpensive, but it’s one of the highest quality trimmers available. It comes with a 1 year warranty, a big 4.5 amp motor, and will cut through 1/2 inch twigs with ease. Two safety switches allow the unit to run only when the back and front hand guard are grasped. Once you make your first cuts with this ergonomically balanced unit, you’ll be satisfied.
GreenWorks 2.7 Amp 18" Corded Electric Hedger - Best Electric Hedge Trimmer
If you want the best bang for the buck, then you'll want the GreenWorks 22102 2.7 Amp 18-Inch Corded Electric Hedger. The 2.7 amp motor will cut through 3/8 inch twigs in no time, and the 18 inch double sided blade gives you the flexibility to cut from both sides. It comes with an amazing 4 year warranty, and it’s designed to simply trim hedges with no bells and whistles. Nothing fancy here, just a solid model that will get your trimming chores done.
Buyer's Guide
Essentially giant scissors or pruning shears, manual hedge trimmers have been around for centuries with the first “powered” trimmer was invented in 1922. It used a manual hand crank for the power and thus was able to cut faster than regular shears. This type of hedge trimmer represented the cutting edge of trimming technology and it wasn't unit the 1950's that a gasoline engine was married to hedge trimming blades. By then, engines had become small enough so that they could be held in one's hands and maneuvered around fairly easily, (although you still had to be strong enough to effectively employ one.
Modern hedge trimmers are powered by small engines or electrical motors. For the most part they’re light and easy to use, especially some of the electrical types. They come in an array of blade size lengths, they can be either single sided or double sided, and they all resemble sawfish in their appearance. By design, they use a reciprocating back and forth motion for slicing hedges, meaning that the blades must be exposed to cut effectively. Therefore, these are some of the most dangerous landscaping tools out there and thus extreme caution must be used when employing them.
All powered lawn edgers use either a gasoline 2-cycle, 4-cycle or electric motor for propulsion. To determine what powerplant is right for you, please consult our lawn equipment power source buyers guide.
Hedge Trimmer Types
Single Sided Blade
Single sided blade hedge trimmers are generally the lightest to hold and the safest to use as only one side of the trimmer is cutting. With one set of blades there is less of a chance of cutting the cord on electric versions as well as a reduced likelihood of nipping clothing or skin. Because they’re lighter, these types of trimmers are easier to maneuver.
The main disadvantage to a single sided hedge trimmer is they only cut in one direction. You'll always have to start from the beginning with each and every cutting stroke, which takes a bit more time and energy overall.
Double Sided Blade
A double sided blade hedge trimmer cuts in both directions so you'll finish any hedge trimming task faster. A double sided blade also makes manicuring a hedge much easier because you can tailor the hedge from both directions for more precision cutting. However, because there are two sides of reciprocating blades, it becomes easier to cut the cord or nick clothing.
Features
Blade Length
In general, the longer the blade, the more even the cut will be. You'll also be able to reach farther across the top of a deep hedge with a longer blade. On the other hand, having a long blade for smaller bushes or basic detail trimming may be overkill. Also, longer blades mean more weight and instability which raises the possibility of operator injury.
Hand Guard
Every hedge trimmer comes equipped with a hand guard. Although they might make the trimmer a bit more unwieldy, under no circumstance are they to be removed for any reason. This is a safety device that must not be compromised or you’ll have a potentially serious accident on your hands.
Blade Gap
Blade gaps range in size from 1/2-inch to 1-inch or more for commercial hedge trimmers. Choose a hedge trimmer that fits your needs by the blade gap. If you have smaller shrubs and bushes, you may only need a blade gap of 1/2-inch. For large hedges with thicker branches, you'll need a blade gap of at least 3/4-inch, possibly more. But remember, the larger the blade gap you're working with, the easier it is to nip clothing or fingers.
Dual Reciprocating Blades
All hedge trimmer blades move back and forth on a metal plate. If both metal plates move back and forth, you have a dual reciprocating blade, meaning they'll cut twice as fast. Trimmers with this blade type will be heavier and be a bit more expensive, but if you have a need for speed above all else, this is what you should be looking at.
Wraparound Handle
This circular handle type allows you to move your hands around while you pivot the actual trimmer blades. You'll be able to keep your hands straight out in front of you even while the blades are cutting at 90 degrees vertical. A wraparound handle means less fatigue and gives you greater control along any horizontal or vertical axis the blades are cutting on.
Lubrication
Hedge trimmers are lubrication intensive. The metal plates which hold the teeth slide back and forth on each other. Although liberally greased from the factory, the grease will only last so long before the plates begin to grind, heat up, and eventually seize. Worse, they can warp and begin to break teeth if not routinely lubricated, and this is especially true on longer bladed types.
For the best environmentally safe lubrication, use a non-stick cooking spray on the blades but any commercial made canned spray will work for that matter. For best results, lube the blades every 5 minutes or so during operation.
You can also use grease, white grease, axle grease or bearing grease, all of which will work equally well. Dip a brush into the grease and “paint” a layer of it on the blades and into the metal plates. Grease lasts longer than spray, so you'll be able to go 10 or 15 minutes before you need to re-lube the blades.
What's Best for You
What's best for you depends on the type of hedges or bushes you have and whether you want to just trim them down so that they look neat, or manicure them into shapes, designs or other artistic forms.
Basic Trimming
If basic trimming on smaller hedges is all you want to do, an electric corded trimmer may be just the ticket. They are light and relatively inexpensive, and you could settle for a single sided blade, since speed would not be a priority. Though they are only rated to be used with only a 100 foot cord, shrubs and hedges which are next to your home won't be a problem. If you have taller hedges or bushes, a cord might get in the way of trimming, so gas power might be a better option.
Manicuring
Longer bladed trimmers work better for manicuring a hedge, and they are available both in electrically and gasoline powered versions. You'll get more even and level cuts with longer blades, and if you have very deep hedges that need to be trimmed, a longer blade will make the job that much easier. Double sided blades will make shorter work of larger hedges while double reciprocating blades will add even more speed to completing the task at hand.
Artistic Trimming
The most important thing for artistic trimming is control so aim for a lightweight trimmer. Electric trimmers are the lightest available, but gas powered trimmers offer more versatility so perhaps a battery operated trimmer would be ideal for you creative types. They’re lightweight, easy to maneuver, and don't include the smoke, fumes, or vibration a gas powered trimmer has.
