You’ve been trimming hedges for 30 minutes or so. You had to spend a lot of time on the back side of your hedges, the part right up against the house. You also had to lean over the whole width of the shrubbery the entire time, and now your arms are rubber. Want something lighter?
The lightest hedge trimmers are easy to wield, but lightweight construction means they often run out of charge. Our lightest ones weigh in at less than six pounds, and include:
- Sun Joe’s 2-in-1 Cordless Handheld Trimmer – 2.49 pounds (1.1 kg)
- Greenworks’ 2.7 Amp Corded Hedge Trimmer – 5.06 pounds (2.3 kg)
- Black & Decker’s 3.8-Amp Hedge Trimmer – 5.4 pounds (2.4 kg)
Heavier trimmers can exceed ten pounds, which can be a lot, so before you purchase a hedge trimmer, you’ll want to decide what you need it for and to what extent weight will be a factor for you. Read on to see an in-depth comparison so you can choose which one is right for you.
Hedge Trimmers in General
The blades of hedge trimmers usually average about 20” (50.8 cm) long. The two saw-toothed blades sit one on top of the other, and one of them gets pushed and pulled across the other to create a shearing motion. When a twig in your hedges gets between these teeth, it gets sheared off, and your hedges start to take shape.
There are gas-powered and electric trimmers, and the electrical ones can either be corded or cordless. Gas-powered trimmers need gas and oil and regular maintenance, but in general, they provide much more power than their electric counterparts.
But they’re also loud– loud enough to cause hearing damage. So, if you end up deciding on a gas-powered hedge trimmer, pick up some hearing protection, too, like disposable earplugs or those fancy earmuffs that look like headphones found on Amazon.com.
Electric motors run more quietly and come in two models: plug-in and battery operated. Plug-in versions require you to trail an extension cord around the yard, but they are lightweight. Cordless trimmers weigh more than corded ones due to the battery pack, but they’re quiet and can provide enough power to cut pretty much any hedge you face as long as you have a full charge.
What Adds Weight
Many people believe all gas-powered hedge trimmers will be heavier than their electric counterparts because of their combustion engine. This seems logical, but this assumption isn’t always the case.
Since lithium batteries can store up to three times the energy a conventional lead battery can store per ounce, we think of them as lighter than their non-lithium counterparts. Pound for pound, they’re lighter, but in reality, the lithium or other cordless power source you use can often outweigh the hedge trimmer it’s powering.
As a result, two of the three heaviest trimmers on this list are cordless. Although their heavy batteries give you a longer run-time between charges, you have to ask yourself about diminishing returns. If the trimmer and battery weigh too much for you to use for a continuous 45 minutes, does it matter that the charge can last for 2 hours?
The Lightest Hedge Trimmers
Lightweight hedge trimmers can be a terrific option, depending on the job. These are mostly home-use tools- trimmers that you don’t plan on running all day and that you won’t use to cut thick branches.
These lighter trimmers are for lighter jobs like those boxwoods on either side of your front door. They aren’t for your hedge maze that surrounds your 5-acre (8.04 km) property.
Basically, professional landscapers will likely have no use for some of the lightest hedge trimmers that made our list because these trimmers aren’t intended for heavy-duty jobs, but they work perfectly around the home.
All the trimmers listed below (even the ones in the table at the end) are available through Amazon.com.
1. Sun Joe 2-in-1 Cordless Handheld Trimmer
This trimmer looks a lot like what some guys manscape with, but it’s actually a hedge trimmer. And honestly, it’s adorable. Blade attachments let it go from four inches to six inches, which limits the types and sizes of shrubbery it can be used for. The Sun Joe is really more of a touch-up tool than a hedge trimmer, but it still makes our list because of its weight.
It’s the lightest trimmer I know of at 2.49 pounds (1.1 kg), but since it’s so tiny, it just won’t be the right tool for the job in many cases. But if you have a small area with one or two dwarf shrubs, the Sun Joe might be perfect. It’s definitely lightweight.
The Sun Joe 2-in-1 Cordless Handheld Trimmer is available on Amazon.
2. Greenworks 22102 2.7 Amp Corded Hedge Trimmer
As a corded trimmer, Greenworks’ 22102 can be so light (5.06 pounds/2.3 kg) because the power source is in your house, not on the trimmer’s body. It has a 2.7-amp motor, which provides enough power to tackle most home hedge trimming needs.
Its 18-inch (45.7 cm) blades are a little on the short side. Its cutting capacity, which is how thick the branch you can safely cut with a trimmer can be, is smaller than that of the average hedge trimmer.
The Greenworks has 3/8-inch (0.85 cm) cutting capacity as opposed to the typical 3/4-inch (1.9 cm) cutting capacity. Still, for most home landscaping needs, this light trimmer should work fine.
The Greenworks 22102 2.7 Amp Corded Hedge Trimmer is available on Amazon.
3. Black & Decker HT20 3.8-Amp Hedge Trimmer
Another corded option is the Black & Decker HT20 which weighs in at 5.4 pounds (2.4 kg). A 3.8-amp electric motor drives two 20-inch (50.8 cm) blades, making this appliance of average length.
A no-frills option, this is the first trimmer on our list that’s regular-sized and will cut up to 3/4-inch (1.9 cm) branches, which, again, is the average cutting capacity of hedge trimmers. In that vein, this is the lightest trimmer that is able to provide the average cutting capacity.
The Black & Decker HT20 3.8-Amp Hedge Trimmer is available on Amazon.
4. Black & Decker 20V Max Cordless Hedge Trimmer
The 20V Max is essentially the cordless version of the HT20. The lithium-ion battery adds about half a pound to the unit, which comes in at 5.9 pounds (2.7 kg). Its blades stretch two more inches, and like its corded brother, it has a 3/4-inch (1.9 cm) cutting capacity.
Black & Decker claims that one charge will send this trimmer out to cut 3,000 square feet (278.7 square meters) of hedges.
Another plus with this trimmer is that its battery is interchangeable with all the other cordless tools in the Black & Decker 20V system, so if your already have a Black & Decker home, this hedge trimmer will be a tempting option.
The Black & Decker 20V Max Cordless Hedge Trimmer is available on Amazon.
The Middleweight
The Middleweight class of hedge trimmers provides ample power without too much added weight. Two of the trimmers that made this list happen to be from the same company, so they have many common features. Still, since they’re in the middle, they are both worth mentioning.
To say that these hedge trimmers are run-of-the-mill makes them seem less than desirable, but they are solid choices that bring a lot to the table.
1. WORX WG217 Electric Hedge Trimmer
This trimmer boasts a 4.5-amp electric motor, so you’ll never have to worry about slowing down. It’s electric, but it’s 6.6 pounds (3 kg), which means it’s not weighed down by a battery.
The 24-inch (61 cm) blades need that powerful motor to drive them, so WORX has chosen to keep this unit light and easy to wield by not sticking it with a heavy lithium-ion battery. The big selling point for this one is the ability to turn the angle of the blades so that they sit flat and parallel with the plane of the trimmer or upright and perpendicular to it.
The WORX WG217 Electric Hedge Trimmer is available on Amazon.
2. WORX WG261 20V Power Share Cordless Hedge Trimmer
A 22-inch (55.9 cm) blade provides the business end of this 7-pound (3.2 kg) trimmer. While it’s also a WORX, it’s my favorite of these two because the extra two inches on the blades of the WG217 are, in my opinion, two too many inches.
A 3/4-inch (1.9 cm) cutting capacity is the norm, so it’s unlikely that this rugged trimmer will come up against anything it can’t handle, provided you’ve been trimming your hedges somewhat regularly. Unless you’re trying to cut the whole shrub down at its base, the WG261 will get the job done.
Like a few cordless models, WORX batteries work across the entire tool line, so that can only add to the versatility of your workshop.
The WORX WG261 20V Power Share Cordless Hedge Trimmer is available on Amazon.
3. Husqvarna 115iHD55 Cordless Hedge Trimmer
This trimmer leans toward the heavy end of the spectrum, but we would be remiss not to include a Husqvarna tool on this list. The 115iHD55 weighs 7.3 pounds (3.3 kg), sports 22-inch (55.9 cm) blades, and houses a brushless electric motor. Other than its telescoping shaft, it doesn’t bring anything revolutionary to the hedge trimmer game, but it’s a Husqvarna.
While many people’s initial exposure to this brand is through a chainsaw, they make many kinds of tools, and since they’ve remained in business since the 17th century, they’re obviously doing something right.
The heavier weight means that the battery has larger power storage capacity, so this cordless trimmer will cover larger hedge configurations because it’ll run longer on a single charge.
The Husqvarna 115iHD55 Cordless Hedge Trimmer is available on Amazon.
The Heaviest Hedge Trimmers
It’s important to note that “Heavy” is a relative term, and the heaviest trimmer that made our list is under 13 pounds (5.9 kg). However, compared to the Sun Joe 2-in-1, that’s a substantial increase in weight. Still, if you’ve got wide hedges that cause you to bend over or reach out to trim them, you know that a heavy trimmer will make those tasks difficult. Keep things like this in mind before you make your decision.
1. EGO Power+ 24-Inch 56-Volt Cordless Hedge Trimmer
At 9.38 pounds (4.3 kg), EGO’s Power+ trimmers offer that rare one-inch (2.54 cm) cut capacity that will handle your overgrown bushes and make it less likely to have to break out the chainsaw. It’s got 24-inch (61 cm) blades and a brushless motor pushing them back and forth.
That motor moves the blades back and forth at a rate of 3,000 strokes per minute. This is a large tool and heavier than some others. Also, since it’s so powerful, it’s a hedge trimmer you’ll need to pay attention to while you’re using it. Any hedge trimmer can be dangerous, but this one being 24 inches (61 cm) and somewhat weighty, can easily get away from you.
There are many hedge trimmers out there, and there was no way to cover them all. In fact, we didn’t even go in-depth with every trimmer we had to work with, but this list should give you an idea of what you’re looking at when you’re trimmer shopping.
The EGO Power+ 24-Inch 56-Volt Cordless Hedge Trimmer is available on Amazon.
2. Ryobi 22 in. 18-Volt Cordless Hedge Trimmer
Ryobi is well-known for its cordless tools, so it’s no surprise that they would manufacture a hedge trimmer to go with their 18-volt line. It’s also no surprise that it’s a solid piece of equipment. At 10 pounds (4.5 kg), it’s a little on the heavy side, but that’s still not a whole lot of pounds unless you’re having to trim for several hours.
With a 3/4-inch (1.9 cm) cutting capacity and 22-inch (55.9 cm) blades, this is your average, run-of-the-mill hedge trimmer, but that’s not a bad thing. The one distinguishing characteristic is an attachment Ryobi calls a Hedge Sweep, which is just an extension that runs perpendicular to the blade to sweep away the stuff you’ve cut.
Ryobi makes a solid product, and like the Black & Decker cordless listed earlier, its battery works with your other Ryobi cordless tools. Along those lines, you have the option to purchase this hedge trimmer by itself, sans battery, so that’s a potential money-saver.
The Ryobi 22 in. 18-Volt Cordless Hedge Trimmer is available on Amazon.
3. Poulan Pro 2-Cycle Gas Dual-Sided Hedge Trimmer
Now that we’re into the heavier stuff, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that we have a gas-powered entry. Poulan characterizes its Pro hedge trimmer as having a “lightweight design” at 11.1 pounds (5 kg), but again, these terms are relative.
Although the trimmer is just over 11 pounds, you need to take into consideration how long you’ll need to use your hedge trimmers during each trimming session. For example, if you’re going to be trimming hedges at ten different yards in one day, this unit might get a little heavy.
This two-cycle trimmer has a 1 inch (2.54 cm) cutting capacity, and that’s not only rare, but that’s a big branch. Unless your shrubs are horribly overgrown, you’re not going to come up against much that won’t fall to this tool. The 23-cc engine puts power behind the 22-inch (55.9 cm) blades– enough force to shear an inch-thick branch, which is pretty impressive, but not likely something the average homeowner would need.
The Poulan Pro 2-Cycle Gas Dual-Sided Hedge Trimmer is available on Amazon.
4. Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Hedge Trimmer
Weighing in at an arm-trembling 12.8 pounds (5.8 kg), this Makita unit is a big piece of equipment. There is such a thing as too much tool, though, so if you’re the average homeowner with an average set of hedges, this trimmer may be much more than you need.
Still, for those who may need a tool of this size, the 22-inch (55.9 cm) blade runs at 2,700 strokes per minute, which is ridiculously fast, and while the length of the blade doesn’t make this thing such a monster, the battery and the electric motor do.
You need a powerful motor to drive these blades that quickly, and since Makita claims that the battery can go for up to two hours on one charge, and a battery that holds that much energy will have some heft to it. A big plus is that this is hedge trimmer is quiet. Even though electric devices are generally quieter, Makita’s 18V LXT is quiet, even for an electric unit.
The Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Hedge Trimmer is available on Amazon.
All the trimmers below are available on Amazon.com and are in order of their weight from lightest to heaviest:
Sources
- Archute: Best Lightweight Cordless Hedge Trimmer For Your Garden
- Better Homes & Gardens: The 8 Best Hedge Trimmers in 2021, According to Reviews
- Bob Vila: The Best Hedge Trimmer Options for Landscape Maintenance
- Garden Ever: Types of Hedge Trimmers : Know the Best Option for You
- Green Optimistic: 50 kWh Bosch EV Battery will Soon Weigh Just 190 Kilograms
- Hedge Trimmer Zone: Best-Rated Cordless Hedge Trimmers – Top Picks
- Hedge Trimmer Zone: Most Lightweight Hedge Trimmers – Top Consumer Picks
- Lawnstarter: 10 Best Gas Hedge Trimmers of 2021
- New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation: Leaf Blowers
- Popular Mechanics: Best Hedge Trimmers 2021 | Hedge Trimmer Reviews
- University of Washington: Lithium-Ion Battery – Clean Energy Institute