Best Electric Hedge Trimmers for Home Use

Updated for 2026 — This article has been reviewed and updated with the latest recommendations.

Gas-powered hedge trimmers are overkill for most home landscaping. They're loud, heavy, require fuel mixing, and generate fumes that make trimming hedges next to an open window pretty unpleasant. Electric hedge trimmers have gotten good enough that homeowners rarely need anything more. They start instantly, run quietly, and modern battery technology gives cordless models enough runtime to handle all but the largest properties.

We tested eight electric hedge trimmers over an entire growing season on privet hedges, boxwood, laurel, and arborvitae.

Here's what worked best.

Corded vs. Cordless

Corded trimmers are lighter and less expensive because there's no battery to carry or charge. They never run out of power mid-job. The trade-off is managing an extension cord, which gets tangled in bushes and limits your range. For small yards with hedges close to an outlet, corded models are perfectly fine.

Cordless trimmers give you freedom to move anywhere without worrying about cord management.

Battery life on modern 40V and 56V models ranges from 30 to 60 minutes, which covers most trimming sessions. The batteries add weight, though. If you already own tools in a specific battery platform (DeWalt 20V, EGO 56V, Ryobi 40V), staying in that platform saves money since you can share batteries across tools.

EGO Power+ HT2411 Hedge Trimmer

The EGO HT2411 is our top cordless pick.

It runs on EGO's 56V ARC Lithium battery platform, which delivers power comparable to gas trimmers. The 24-inch dual-action blade cuts through branches up to 3/4 inch thick without bogging down, and the cut quality is clean with minimal tearing.

The rotating rear handle is a standout feature. You can pivot it to a comfortable angle for vertical trimming (like the sides of tall hedges) without contorting your wrist.

Weight is manageable at about 6.5 pounds without the battery, and the vibration is minimal. Battery runtime with the included 2.5Ah battery is around 40 minutes of continuous cutting.

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Black+Decker BEHT350 Corded Hedge Trimmer

If you want a reliable corded trimmer without spending much, the BEHT350 is tough to beat. The 22-inch dual-action blade handles branches up to 3/4 inch. It's lightweight at under 5 pounds, which makes extended trimming sessions much less tiring.

The 3.5-amp motor provides enough power for typical residential hedges.

It's not going to power through overgrown privet the way the EGO will, but for regular maintenance trimming it's perfectly adequate. The cord is the obvious limitation, but a heavy-duty 50-foot outdoor extension cord solves that for most yards.

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DeWalt DCHT820B 20V Max Hedge Trimmer

For anyone already invested in the DeWalt 20V Max battery platform, this trimmer makes a lot of sense.

The 22-inch blade cuts cleanly, the build quality is excellent (this is a professional-grade tool), and the hooked-tooth design grabs branches and pulls them into the blade rather than pushing them away.

Runtime depends on which 20V battery you use. The compact 2Ah batteries give about 25 minutes, while the larger 5Ah batteries push past an hour. The trimmer itself weighs about 7.5 pounds without a battery, which is heavier than the Black+Decker but in line with other pro-grade cordless models.

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Makita XHU02Z 18V LXT Hedge Trimmer

Makita's 18V LXT line is one of the largest cordless tool platforms in the world, and their hedge trimmer is a solid performer.

The 22-inch double-sided blade cuts branches up to 3/4 inch, and the three-speed motor lets you match cutting speed to the task. Low speed for light trimming reduces noise and extends battery life. High speed for thicker growth maintains cutting efficiency.

The anti-vibration design makes this one of the most comfortable trimmers we tested during long sessions. The transparent hand guard doesn't block your line of sight to the blade edge.

Build quality is what you'd expect from Makita: durable, well-finished, and designed to last.

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Ryobi RY40630 40V Hedge Trimmer

Ryobi's 40V line offers a lot of tool variety at reasonable prices, and the RY40630 hedge trimmer fits that pattern. The 26-inch blade is the longest on this list, which means fewer passes to cover the same hedge length. Cutting capacity handles branches up to 3/4 inch comfortably.

The wraparound front handle is comfortable and lets you change grip angle easily. At about 7 pounds without the battery, it's mid-range on weight. Battery compatibility with the rest of the Ryobi 40V line means you might already own a battery that works. The included 2Ah battery provides roughly 35 minutes of runtime.

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Tips for Better Hedge Trimming

Always trim hedges so they're slightly wider at the bottom than the top. This tapered shape ensures sunlight reaches the lower branches, which prevents the common problem of hedges dying from the bottom up. Start with the sides and work from the bottom upward in sweeping arcs. Finish with the top, using a string line stretched between stakes if you want a perfectly level top edge.

Trim at least twice during the growing season: once in late spring after the first flush of growth, and once in late summer. Sharp blades make cleaner cuts that heal faster, so check your blade edges at the start of each season and sharpen or replace them if they're dull.