The 9 Best Cordless Hedge Trimmers of 2023

Best Overall

DEWALT 22-Inch 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Hedge Trimmer

4.6

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If you are looking for a robust hedge trimmer that easily cuts through branches up to 3/4-inch in diameter, keeps your hedges looking evenly trimmed, chews through tall ornamental grasses such as fountain grass, and helps you shape and prune all manner of shrubbery, then we recommend the DEWALT 22-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer. Our top choice has a 20-volt, 5 amp-hour battery that gives you plenty of power and a long run time. Depending on how you are using the tool, you can get up to an hour or so of battery power before needing to recharge. A battery-life indicator alerts you when the charge is running low. When it's time to recharge, it only takes around 90 minutes before your battery is ready for action once more.

The 22-inch, hooked-teeth, double-sided blades are made of hardened steel to stay sharp longer, so you can keep cutting without worrying about dull blades. The maximum speed of this trimmer is 2,800 strokes-per-minute (spm), but the speed is not variable. It's fast enough for power and slow enough for control, however, allowing you to shape your hedge or shrubs to your liking without accidentally removing too much foliage.

At only 7.5 pounds, this is a lightweight hedge trimmer that won't wear you out before your yard work is complete. It has a comfortable, wraparound handle that dampens some of the tool's already reasonably minimal vibration and provides a secure grip. One downside, however, is that this DEWALT hedge trimmer does not include a blade sheath to cover the blades when not in use, so you'll need to take extra care when storing it. The hedge trimmer comes with a battery and charger.

Price at time of publish: $198

_{Blade Length: 22 inches | Maximum Cut Diameter: 3/4 inch | Weight: 7.5 pounds}

Best Budget

BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX 22-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

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This BLACK+DECKER cordless hedge trimmer combines a reasonable price with quality, making it a double winner. Its 22-inch double-sided blades slice cleanly through branches up to 3/4-inch thick, as well as large hedges and other shrubs. Designed for reduced vibration, the tool has comfortable, textured handles with a large trigger to reduce hand fatigue when your pruning sessions run long. And you'll be able to work for those long stretches without having to recharge the 20-volt, 1.5-amp-hour battery, as it can trim as much as 3,000 feet of hedge on a single charge. However, it does take quite a while to recharge the battery—as much as four hours for a full charge.

The speed of this hedge trimmer is a maximum of 2,400 spm, which is average for these tools and hits the sweet spot for accuracy and power. At 7.8 pounds, it's fairly light, and its compact size makes it easy to maneuver around your hedge. The hedge trimmer comes with a battery and charger, but it does not include a blade sheath, so be sure to store the tool where the sharp blades won't be exposed.

Price at time of publish: $109

_{Blade Length: 22 inches | Maximum Cut Diameter: 3/4 inch | Weight: 7.8 pounds}

Best for Thick Branches

EGO Power+ HT2500 25-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

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This powerful hedge trimmer from EGO has 25-inch double-sided blades with a 1 1/4-inch cutting capacity, so you can quickly cut through even large branches on mature hedges, thick vines, or overgrown shrubs. The tool runs on a 56-volt, 2.5-amp-hour battery (sold separately) that provides up to 40 minutes of cutting time on a single charge. And with two speed settings—the maximum speed is 3,200 spm—you can go faster when you need more cutting power, and slower when you want to extend battery runtime or you are carrying out more precise cuts.

The handle can be rotated 360 degrees and set at five different angles, so you'll be able to adjust it to reach awkward spots or carry out tricky cuts. An electric brake-stop cuts the tool's action off almost immediately for increased safety. And the high-efficiency, brushless motor keeps the power coming until your yard work is done. With a 56-volt battery, the hedge trimmer weighs 12.8 pounds, making it a heavier option than many others listed here, considering that this is a larger tool with a large battery. It's also somewhat more expensive than many of our other picks, but we think the large cutting size and power are worth the price.

Price at time of publish: $230 without battery

_{Blade Length: 25 inches | Maximum Cut Diameter: 1-1/4 inch | Weight: 12.8 pounds}

Best Extendable

WORX WG252 2-in-1 Power Share 20-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

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For trimming the tallest hedges or the largest shrubs, we recommend this offering from WORX, which comes with a telescoping pole that provides up to 12 feet of additional reach. There's an on/off switch at the base of the pole, so no need to bring the running tool back down to shut it off. The head can be set at 10 different angles, and the handle rotated up to 180 degrees, so even when you are trying to reach into tight or awkward spots or trim intricate designs, you'll be able to configure this hedge trimmer just the way you need it. Its slim design makes it easy to maneuver between branches or around trunks. And at only 7.6 pounds, it's light enough so that you won't quickly tire out, even when working above your head.

The double blades are 20 inches long and can cut branches up to 5/8-inch thick. That's not the largest cutting capacity, but it's sufficient for most branches found in the typical backyard. Its top speed is 1,340 spm. The tool comes with a 20-volt, 2-amp-hour battery, and a charger. It also includes a protective sheath to cover the blades when not in use.

Price at time of publish: $150

_{Blade Length: 20 inches | Maximum Cut Diameter: 5/8 inch | Weight: 7.6 pounds}

Best Lightweight

WORX WG261 20V Power Share 22-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

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It might only weigh 5.5 pounds, but that doesn't mean this cordless hedge trimmer is a lightweight when it comes to cutting power. The 22-inch double blades slice cleanly through branches up to 3/4-inch thick, leaving your hedges and shrubs looking well groomed. And since the tool is so light, you can easily lift and turn it to reach even the tough spots near the back of your hedge. The comfortable, thick handle makes it easy to keep a grip on the trimmer and helps reduce vibration. The maximum speed of this hedge trimmer is 2,600 spm.

The battery and charger are sold separately, so if you don't already own a 20-volt WORX battery, you'll need to purchase those as well. While runtime varies greatly, depending on how you are using the trimmer, you'll generally get 20 to 60 minutes on one charge. Be aware that unless you have the quick-charge charger, it can take several hours to recharge the battery. The trimmer does come with a protective blade cover, but some buyers complained that it is flimsy.

Price at time of publish: $86 without battery

_{Blade Length: 22 inches | Maximum Cut Diameter: 3/4 inch | Weight: 5.5 pounds}

Best Battery

EGO POWER+ 56-Volt 24-Inch Dual Cordless Electric Hedge Trimmer

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With a 56-volt, 2.5-amp-hour battery that runs up to 60 minutes before it needs to recharge, along with a high-efficiency brushless motor, this cordless hedge trimmer from EGO has plenty of power. And the 24-inch, hardened-steel double blades let you quickly prune and shape even large, mature hedges without much strain or fuss. The trimmer has a maximum cut capacity of 1 inch, which isn't the highest of our picks, but is certainly enough for most typical backyard hedges and shrubs. You can also use it to slice through overgrown decorative grasses and patches of overgrown weeds.

For extra safety, this hedge trimmer has an electric brake that stops the blades immediately, once you release the trigger. As those blades are moving at 3,000 spm, that's an impressive feature. The tool weighs just a bit over six pounds, so it's quite light for easy handling. It comes with a protective blade cover, the battery, and a fast charger that only takes 50 minutes or so to recharge the battery. Note that a handful of buyers have complained that they have received an older-generation battery that doesn't have quite as long runtime, so check your delivery as soon as you receive it.

Price at time of publish: $185

_{Blade Length: 24 inches | Maximum Cut Diameter: 1 inch | Weight: 6.1 pounds}

Best for Tall Shrubs

RYOBI 18-Inch 40-Volt Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer

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If you have an especially tall hedge or large shrubs, then a regular hedge trimmer might not provide enough reach to prune the tops. And perching on a ladder while working with a bladed tool isn't always safe. This pole hedge trimmer extends up to 8 feet, making it easy to reach up high. Plus, the head pivots so you can angle it just how you need it for reaching awkward spots or shaping your plants. The tool weighs 7.8 pounds, which is a bit heavy, but it comes with a shoulder strap that helps distribute the weight for more comfort when using the tool in lengthy sessions.

The blades of this trimmer are 18 inches long and double-sided, allowing you to work over long stretches of hedge quickly. The maximum speed is 3,000 spm, but with the variable speed control, you can set it to a slower speed if desired when you need better control, such as when shaping topiary. The tool is powered by a 40-volt battery, which is sold separately, so if you don't already own a Ryobi battery, you'll need to purchase one along with its charger. The trimmer has a 5/8-inch cutting capacity, which is not as large as many other hedge trimmers, although it's sufficient for most small-to-medium hedges and shrubs. It comes with a sheath to cover the blades when not in use.

Price at time of publish: $179 without battery

_{Blade Length: 18 inches | Maximum Cut Diameter: 5/8 inches | Weight: 7.8 pounds}

Best Splurge

Makita GHU02M1 40V MAX 24-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer

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If you need or want a professional-quality tool that has exceptional power and can run for up to six hours on a single battery charge, then you might want to splurge on this cordless hedge trimmer from Makita, which is loaded with great features. To start, it has three speed settings with a maximum of a whopping 5,000 spm. Should the blades jam, there's a reverse setting that generally will clear the problem quickly. A tip guard protects the end of the bar from damage. The hedge trimmer is designed to withstand harsh weather, dust, and moisture, and resist overheating or overloading. That means this beast of a hedge trimmer can keep on working without a hiccup, tackling large hedges, overgrown shrubs, too-tall weeds and grasses, and branches up to an impressive 1 3/8 inch in diameter.

At 9.5 pounds with the included 40-volt, 4 amp-hour battery in place, this isn't the lightest hedge trimmer, but the five-position rotating handle and anti-vibration design help keep you comfortable while you work, and the 24-inch double blades get the job done quickly. Once you do need to recharge the battery, the included fast charger takes only 45 minutes or so before the tool is ready to work some more. All in all, this admittedly expensive hedge trimmer is an impressive tool that might be overkill if you only have a small hedge or a few shrubs, but it is a worthy investment if your yard is circled by big hedges or hefty shrubbery.

Price at time of publish: $549

_{Blade Length: 24 inches | Maximum Cut Diameter: 1 3/8 inches | Weight: 9.5 pounds}