For occasional home use, electric hedge trimmers are a better choice than thermal hedge trimmers. Corded or cordless, they come in all brands (Bosch, Makita, Black + Decker...) and at all prices. Faced with this profusion of choices, here is our guide to the best electric hedge trimmers for this year. You will surely find what you need.
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Our selection
"Bring a touch of elegance to your garden with the Bosch AHS 50-20 LI. This cordless hedge trimmer can cut vegetation up to 20mm in…"
"The Bosch AHS 45-16 is faster than the Bosch AHS 50-20. The difference? This one is mains operated. With this hedge trimmer, Bosch has developed…"
"For shaping or sculpting topiaries, this hedge trimmer is a must. The 27 mm cutting diameter alone is enough to justify its purchase. Professionals and…"
"Should the Bosch AHS 50-20 run out of steam, turn your attention to the BLACK + DECKER GTC1845L20-QW. This cordless hedge trimmer with a cutting…"
Bring a touch of elegance to your garden with the Bosch AHS 50-20 LI. This cordless hedge trimmer can cut vegetation up to 20mm in diameter with its 50cm blade. Considering the price, it's a bargain.
120 £ on AmazonThe Bosch AHS 50-20 LI has a 50 cm blade, allowing it to trim vegetation up to 20 mm in diameter. Its SoftGrip handle provides a relaxed grip and the balance needed to trim hedges with minimal effort. The rear handle has a soft grip, while the front handle is multi-positional, which contributes to ergonomics.
The Bosch AHS 50-20 LI weighs only 2.5 kg, despite the presence of the 18 V Li-ion battery for 2.5 Ah. Unlike the Makita DUH523Z+BL1830B, its rival, the battery charger is included. Finally, this hedge trimmer can deploy a power of 700 W and has an idle speed of 2,600 cuts/min. The battery has a life of 60 minutes for 4 to 6 hours of charging.
The Bosch AHS 45-16 is faster than the Bosch AHS 50-20. The difference? This one is mains operated. With this hedge trimmer, Bosch has developed an efficient and simple machine... if you have an extension cord.
59,99 £ on AmazonThe Bosch AHS AHS 45-16 is the smallest and most affordable hedge trimmer produced by the German firm. It is only used for trimming young and sparse hedges. Moreover, its cutting diameter is limited to 18 mm. If you have large, thicker hedges that require regular maintenance, you should skip it.
In addition, the Bosch AHS 45-16 weighs only 2.6 kg, so you can handle it easily. On the other hand, it is a corded tool. If you have a large garden, you'll need an extension cord and prefer the cordless model mentioned above. However, the cutting performance remains exceptional, with an idle speed of 3,400 cuts/min. The 420 W motor provides fast, powerful blade movement.
For shaping or sculpting topiaries, this hedge trimmer is a must. The 27 mm cutting diameter alone is enough to justify its purchase. Professionals and individuals alike will get their money's worth.
136 £ on AmazonThe Worx WG284E is a cordless electric hedge trimmer. Despite its enormous size, it is surprisingly well balanced and easy to use. Among other things, the rear rotating handle and the covered front handle protect you from flying debris. This configuration allows for a comfortable cut, whatever the conditions.
When it comes to performance, the Worx WG284E doesn't do things by halves. It is powered by a 20V, 2Ah battery, which allows the blade to reach a rated idle speed of 2,200 cuts/min. Moreover, the cutting blade measures 60 cm, a rare length on a cordless model. Finally, the cutting diameter is quite high, reaching 27 mm.
Should the Bosch AHS 50-20 run out of steam, turn your attention to the BLACK + DECKER GTC1845L20-QW. This cordless hedge trimmer with a cutting diameter of 18 mm is an excellent tool for trimming hedges.
75,26 £ on AmazonAmong the many features of the BLACK + DECKER GTC1845L20-QW is its excellent 18V battery, offering 63 minutes of runtime. It takes up to 8 hours to fully recharge. This perfectly balanced hedge trimmer has excellent weight distribution. Add to that the SoftGrip handle and you get an idea of how well it handles.
This hedge trimmer has a dual action blade with a length of 45 cm. The cutting diameter is 18 mm. Thick branches, it can not. But young hedges needn't worry! And to make your life even easier, BLACK + DECKER has added PowerCommand technology, which unlocks the blade if it gets stuck in a branch.
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
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7/10 |
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8/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Bosch AHS 50-20 LI
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Bosch AHS 45-16
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Worx WG284E
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BLACK + DECKER GTC1845L20-QW
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Bring a touch of elegance to your garden with the Bosch AHS 50-20 LI. This cordless hedge trimmer can cut vegetation up to 20mm in diameter with its 50cm blade. Considering the price, it's a bargain.
|
The Bosch AHS 45-16 is faster than the Bosch AHS 50-20. The difference? This one is mains operated. With this hedge trimmer, Bosch has developed an efficient and simple machine... if you have an extension cord.
|
For shaping or sculpting topiaries, this hedge trimmer is a must. The 27 mm cutting diameter alone is enough to justify its purchase. Professionals and individuals alike will get their money's worth.
|
Should the Bosch AHS 50-20 run out of steam, turn your attention to the BLACK + DECKER GTC1845L20-QW. This cordless hedge trimmer with a cutting diameter of 18 mm is an excellent tool for trimming hedges.
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Type
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Cordless
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Wired
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Cordless
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Cordless
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Autonomy
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60 min
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Limited
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55 min
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63 min
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Blade length
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50 cm
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45 cm
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60 cm
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45 cm
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Cutting diameter
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20 mm
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18 mm
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27 mm
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18 mm
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Weight
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2.5 kg
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2.6 kg
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3.9 kg
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2.6 kg
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First, take a look at your garden. Are your hedges short and compact or do they come up to eye level or higher? Electric hedge trimmers with shorter blades are easy to maneuver and allow you to work quickly on smaller hedges and bushes. An electric hedge trimmer with a longer blade is ideal for larger hedges where you want a larger cutting area and smooth, clean lines. If your hedges are very large and overpower your head, or if they grow in hard-to-reach corners, consider an electric pole hedge trimmer to give you extra reach.
The two main considerations for your blades (other than length) are the distance between the blade teeth and whether your blades are single- or double-sided. The distance between the blade teeth, or blade gap, affects how useful your electric hedge trimmer is for different types of shrubs.
Professional electric hedge trimmers typically have blade gaps of an inch or more, but many home users will be satisfied with smaller blade gaps that range from 3/8 to 3/4 inch. One-sided blades are safer and easier to maneuver, as you can easily keep the side of the trimmer with the blade facing you. However, for those experienced with hedge trimmers, a double-sided option can speed up the speed of your trimming job, as it cuts on both sides at once.
Electric hedge trimmers are powerful tools, but the power you'll have available varies by model. Electric models also offer a variety of power levels. Those with high voltage can tackle tougher jobs faster than some of the more affordable models that have lower voltage. The power level you need depends entirely on the types of hedges you'll be cutting, their size, and how much power you're comfortable with for optimal maneuverability.
The
weight of an electric hedge trimmer has a big impact on its ease of use. Heavy models are harder to hold up and can wear out even experienced users quickly, but they tend to be more powerful. Lighter models will be much easier and safer to use in general, especially for anyone new to using a hedge trimmer. Some hedge trimmers have a locking option. This means you don't have to pull the trigger the entire time you are working. This makes it much easier to use. The other factor that impacts ease of use is the ergonomics of the handle.
With a tool as powerful as an electric hedge trimmer, safety should be a major concern. Powerful blades are not to be taken lightly. Anyone new to using a hedge trimmer should take care to choose a lightweight model with good safety features and follow all instructions carefully. Even those who have been using hedge trimmers for years should be careful not to become complacent and always treat the blades with care during use.
Many hedge trimmers have features designed to add some safety to their use. Tooth extensions make it easier to move the blades away from your body. Some hedge trimmers automatically cut off the power to the blade as soon as you release the trigger, reducing the risk of an accident. And some include front handle guards that prevent moving your hand too close to the blade during use.
Another thing to keep in mind when purchasing a hedge trimmer is that some are identified as using a "dual" or "single" cutting action. Novices may confuse this with double or single sided blades, but it is actually something very different.
In fact, the cutting action on a hedge trimmer refers to the way the blades move against each other. So, a double action hedge trimmer has two moving blades, while a single action hedge trimmer will have one moving blade and one fixed blade. Thus, it is possible to have a single action hedge trimmer that still has double sided blades, or a double action hedge trimmer that has a single sided blade.
The difference between the two actions can be summarized as follows:
As the name implies, a corded electric hedge trimmer requires an electrical outlet to operate. Electric hedge trimmers are generally inexpensive and very light. They usually weigh between 3 and 5 kg, which makes them an excellent choice for most people, especially for inexperienced users. They are also sufficient for small gardens. If your garden is a bit larger, you can extend the reach of the electric hedge trimmer by simply connecting its cord to an extension cord.
Sometimes the cord can get in the way and be cut by the hedge trimmer itself. So when using a corded electric hedge trimmer, you should always be careful and constantly aware of where the power cord is.
Cordless hedge trimmers are also electric hedge trimmers, but they don't require a power cord. Instead, they use a rechargeable battery to provide the power to operate the blade. This type of hedge trimmer offers the same clean, quiet, and convenient operation as corded hedge trimmers, but also offers additional freedom to move around larger or more complex gardens.
However, compared to regular corded electric hedge trimmers, cordless models are not as powerful. In addition, they need to be recharged after some time of use. Also, if you need to cut large stems and branches on your bushes or hedges, a cordless model will not be the best option; it will never be as powerful as a corded model.
Electric hedge trimmers with double-sided blades are by far the most common type of electric hedge trimmer and generally the best choice for the vast majority of hedge maintenance jobs. They are versatile and can be used perfectly for light trimming in home environments or for precision shaping in formal and ornamental gardens.
Hedge trimmers with double-sided blades are generally easier to handle than their single-sided counterparts, especially since you can quickly change the cutting direction when working on difficult corners or unusually shaped shrubs. Also, the ability to cut with either side of the blade means this type of machine is more effective in tight spaces.
At this point, you may be wondering why anyone would want to use a single-sided hedge trimmer if the models with double-sided blades are easier to use and more versatile. The short answer is that most of the time, you won't. In some situations, however, a single-sided mower offers significant advantages.
This is because single-sided blades are lighter than double-sided blades, so single-sided blade models can be fitted with longer teeth without throwing the machine off balance. This means that single-sided blade hedge trimmers are great for keeping long hedges straight, cutting more with each sweep to save time against heavy workloads. Having teeth on only one side of the blade also makes single-sided blade hedge trimmers a little safer.
Most users will want to purchase a double-sided hedge trimmer, as these machines feature shorter blades for increased maneuverability, allowing you to quickly change the direction of cut. This versatility also makes double-sided trimmers ideal for most home gardens and ensures ease of use when shaping shrubs and bushes.
Hedge trimmers with single-sided blades are specialized machines, usually reserved for trimming long, straight sections of hedges. This is because they can be equipped with a longer blade without causing imbalance. Single-sided hedge trimmers can also include, or be compatible with, cutting headers, making trimming jobs much easier.
Lubricate the blades
Electric hedge trimmers use toothed blades that move back and forth along a cutting bar. For dual action hedge trimmers in particular, two blades move in opposite directions. You will need to lubricate these blades regularly to keep them working properly.
Keep the blades sharp
It's
pretty easy to tell when your hedge trimmer blades are getting dull. Among the first warning signs, the blades will start to catch on branches while cutting. You'll also notice that the motor doesn't run very smoothly anymore. The blades on a hedge trimmer are usually very strong, but heavy use will weaken them and they can be damaged by hitting hard objects like metal fences.
Clean everything
Keeping
your electric hedge trimmer clean is one of the simplest things you can do to extend its life. Wipe off the dust. Remove plant pieces and other debris after each use. Never use water to clean a hedge trimmer, especially electric models. This can damage internal parts.
Replace parts as needed
You
will need to check your electric hedge trimmer regularly to make sure all parts are working as they should. Otherwise, you will be taking an unnecessary risk. Before cutting with your electric hedge trimmer, make sure the throttle trigger lock and stop switch work. And make sure the handle is undamaged and securely fastened.
Store your hedge trimmer properly
If
you store your gardening tools in a shed or garage that is excessively damp or prone to leaks, you are almost guaranteed to shorten its
life.
Moisture will cause metal parts to corrode and this can lead to electrical component failure and, of course, short circuits.
The best electric hedge trimmer depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide for the best products out there.
Electric hedge trimmers are pretty much the same as regular hedge trimmers, except they use electricity as their power source instead of fuel. In order to trim hedges, the blades of an electric hedge trimmer move back and forth at a high speed to generate enough force to produce clean cuts.
If the result of the cut is not uniform, the blades may be dull or loose, or the hedge may be too large to be trimmed effectively with your model of hedge trimmer. Generally, the operating instructions will tell you how to adjust the tension between the blades and how to sharpen them. It is important to wear protective gloves at all times when performing these checks. The blades are extremely sharp.
Electric hedge trimmers can be used by just about any able-bodied adult. Modern electric hedge trimmers are safe and easy to use if proper precautions are taken.
If you are dealing with tall hedges, you may want to consider a long-reach electric hedge trimmer, which will allow you to reach the top of a tall hedge without the need for a ladder.
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