The best Stihl hedge trimmers, compared.
Top pick: Flymo SimpliCut 450 Best value: Flymo SimpliCut 450 – Lowest complete-kit price at £41.99, with 4.7 from 58 reviews, for a small hedge. Updated October 2026.
A hedge trimmer shears the outer growth: a handheld bar, a short shrub shear or a pole. Check the tooth gap, whether a battery is in the box, the stated reach, and the weight at full stretch. Poles here state about 2.4 m to 2.9 m. If the hedge is still above that, stop, and do not run a live blade from a ladder. Reach and pole weight sit in the [telescopic hedge trimmer](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/telescopic-hedge-trimmer) comparison. A petrol STIHL from a dealer is a different shop. Flymo states 12 mm in the highlight and 15 mm in a bullet.
A hedge trimmer shears the outer growth: a handheld bar, a short shrub shear or a pole. Check the tooth gap, whether a battery is in the box, the stated reach, and the weight at full stretch.
38 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +16,800 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you cutting?
The Flymo SimpliCut 450 is a 45 cm handheld kit at £41.99, with the battery and charger in the box. The highlight says branches up to 12 mm and a bullet says up to 15 mm, so the listing does not settle one cutting figure. Across 58 reviews at 4.7 stars, buyers describe a light trimmer for a small hedge or shrubbery, and they compare the weight with older, heavier tools. Battery life at this price is part of that praise. A second battery is a repeated wish, and more than one review says a larger or thicker hedge needs something more powerful. It sits at rank 2 in Hedge Trimmers on the listing, which is an Amazon sales rank, not the score on this page. For a single small hedge and no battery platform already in the shed, this complete kit is the lowest ready-to-cut price in the set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: One small hedge or shrubbery, soft growth, and no battery system already on the shelf
Less suitable: A larger or thicker hedge, or a job that needs a second battery to finish
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Flymo SimpliCut 450 include a battery?
Yes. The title and bullets say a battery and charger are included.
How thick a branch does Flymo state?
The highlight says up to 12 mm. A bullet says up to 15 mm. Both figures are on the listing.
What did buyers say it is for?
UK reviews describe a light trimmer for a small hedge or shrubbery, and say a larger hedge needs something more powerful or another battery.
The DeWalt DCMHT520N-XJ is a 20 cm compact trimmer for shaping and topiary, listed at 1.38 kg and £93.95 as a tool only. It is a short shear, not a 50 or 60 cm hedge bar. Across 41 reviews at 4.6 stars, buyers treat the laser-cut blade as a shaping tool, and the listing's lock-off is what allows the single-handed use the bullets describe. A blade sheath and a hanging hook are the named box contents. The listing states no cutting capacity, so there is no millimetre gap to compare with the 25 mm on the 60 cm DeWalt. A long privet run still needs a full-length bar. The XR battery is a separate purchase unless you already own one.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Shaping, topiary and detail work if you already own an XR battery
Less suitable: A long hedge, or anyone who still has to buy the 18 V pack and charger
Specifications
Common questions
Is the DeWalt DCMHT520N-XJ a full-size hedge trimmer?
No. The title is a 20 cm compact trimmer for shaping and topiary. It weighs 1.38 kg.
Does it include a battery?
No. The title says tool only. The box contents named are a blade sheath and a hanging hook.
Can it be used in one hand?
The bullets say a lock-off allows controlled single-handed use. That claim is for this 20 cm tool, not for a 50 or 60 cm bar.
The Bosch AdvancedShear 18V-10 is a shrub shear and a grass shear, not a 45–60 cm hedge bar. It weighs 1.45 kg, the spec blade is 20 cm, and the box includes a 2.0 Ah battery, an AL 1810 CV charger, a shrub blade and a grass blade, at £107.46. Across 189 reviews at 4.5 stars, buyers wanted that blade swap and describe the tool as light on small hedges, box and shrubs. One reviewer who has the use of one hand said they could use it. The listing itself describes a safety switch and a quick blade change, which is a different claim from a one-hand hedge bar. A longer boundary hedge is the wrong job for 20 cm of blade. One review reported rust appearing quickly, so the blades want to be dried before they go away. Country of origin on the listing is Hungary.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Box, shrubs and grass edges, with a spare blade and a replaceable POWER FOR ALL battery
Less suitable: A long boundary hedge, or blades left wet
Specifications
Common questions
Is the AdvancedShear a full hedge trimmer?
It is a shrub shear and a grass shear, with a 20 cm blade and a weight of 1.45 kg. It is not a 45–60 cm hedge bar.
What is in the box?
The tool, a 2.0 Ah battery, an AL 1810 CV charger, a shrub blade and a grass shear blade.
Can someone use it with one hand?
One UK reviewer with the use of one hand said they could. The listing describes a safety switch and a quick blade change, not a one-hand hedge bar.
The DeWalt DCMHT567N-XJ is a 60 cm dual-action handheld trimmer with a 25 mm blade gap, the widest gap stated in this amazon.co.uk set. Across 33 reviews at 4.5 stars, buyers say it takes a year of growth and thicker woody stems than they expected from a cordless bar. The hedge-sweep plate is the part several of them mention for clearing the top of the hedge. Balance and power come up on first use, and one buyer described the cut as a change from petrol. At £199 it is tool only, so an 18 V XR battery and charger sit on top of that price if you do not already own them. UK reviews also call it heavier than a previous Bosch, and one buyer sold the DeWalt and kept the Bosch Professional. A sample of 33 reviews is thin beside poles in this set that have passed a thousand ratings.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Households that already own DeWalt XR batteries and can reach a year's woody growth from the ground
Less suitable: Buyers who still need a battery, or who found a previous Bosch lighter in the hand
Specifications
Common questions
Does the DeWalt DCMHT567N-XJ include a battery?
No. The title says tool only. The bullets include a blade sheath, hanging hook and hedge sweep, and the included-components field says No.
What blade gap does the listing state?
The bullets state a 60 cm dual-action blade with a 25 mm blade gap.
What did UK buyers say about the weight?
One UK review says it is heavier than a previous Bosch. Another says it is heavy compared with a Bosch Professional, and that buyer sold the DeWalt.
The Hyundai HY20CPHT is a 20 V pole kit at £88.99, with a 450 mm blade, a stated 16 mm gap, a 2.0 Ah battery and a charger. The listing claims a 2.6 m extendable pole and, separately, up to 3.6 m maximum reach, so those two figures measure different things. Across 115 reviews at 4.4 stars, buyers praise the reach and the battery life on high or overgrown hedges, and some, including an older user, call it light and easy. Several others say it is heavier than expected and hard to hold steady. One review says it cannot replace a cable machine and feels weak, and another says it does not cut thick branches. Read the 16 mm gap before you take it to woody stems, and read 3.6 m as a maximum-reach claim, not the length of the shaft.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A tall but not woody hedge, where a 2.0 Ah kit and a strap matter more than a wide tooth gap
Less suitable: Thick branches, or anyone who needs pole length and maximum reach to be the same number
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the Hyundai pole?
The bullets say a 2.6 m extendable pole and up to 3.6 m maximum reach. Those are different claims.
Is a battery included?
Yes. The listing says a 20 V 2.0 Ah battery and a charger, with up to 50 minutes runtime claimed.
What is the cutting capacity?
The bullet says 16 mm. The spec table's cutting width of 450 mm matches the blade length, not that gap.
The MZK listing at £79.99 states a 57 cm blade, a 16 mm gap and about 2.4 m of reach, the shortest cordless-pole reach in this set. The title says two 4.0 Ah batteries. The highlight says a battery and charger are included, so the box contents are not described the same way twice. The listing line is 2,071 reviews at 4.3 stars. That figure is the line on the page, not a count checked review by review. Some owners say it cuts neglected privet and that it is easier than a short trimmer plus steps. Weight returns are in the sample, including buyers with arthritis who sent it back. One review says the blade stopped while the motor still ran, and more than one review mentions a charger that arrived with a broken pin. Two packs would be the useful part of the offer if the tool and the charger both arrive working.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A hedge within about 2.4 m, if you want two batteries and accept a mixed fault record
Less suitable: Taller hedges, or anyone who wants a quieter record on chargers and blades
Specifications
Common questions
How many batteries are in the MZK box?
The title says two 4.0 Ah batteries. The highlight says a battery and charger are included.
What reach and blade does it state?
The title says a 57 cm blade and 2.4 m reach. The bullet says 16 mm cutting capacity.
What faults appear in the UK reviews?
Broken charger pins, a blade that stopped while the motor ran, and weight returns. The 2,071 review count is the listing line, not a count checked one by one.
The Ryobi OPT1845 is an 18 V pole sold as a bare tool at £106, with a 45 cm diamond-ground blade, an 18 mm gap and a removable shaft for a stated full length of 2.9 m. The comparison weight is 5.6 kg, the heaviest stated weight in this set. Across 2,059 reviews at 4.3 stars, heavy is the main complaint, including at full extension. In the first 50 UK reviews, owners who already had a 4 Ah or 5 Ah ONE+ pack were glad they had bought the bare tool. The shaft is too long to use as a handheld trimmer. Some buyers say an older or lighter person will struggle with the weight at the top of the hedge. Ignore the spec-table width of 215 cm. It is not a credible pole length.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A hedge around 2.5 m to 2.9 m when you already own a Ryobi ONE+ battery and can handle 5.6 kg
Less suitable: Anyone without a ONE+ pack, or anyone who wants a light overhead cut
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Ryobi OPT1845 include a battery?
No. The title says battery and charger excluded, and the bullets call it a zero tool.
How long is it?
The bullets say a removable extension shaft for a full length of 2.9 m. Ignore the spec width of 215 cm.
What do the reviews say about weight?
Heavy is the main complaint. Owners who already had a 4 Ah or 5 Ah ONE+ pack were glad of the bare tool.
The Worx WG252E is a cordless pole with a 45 cm blade, a 16 mm gap and a stated reach of up to 2.8 m, sold with a 2.0 Ah battery, charger and shoulder strap for £129.99. Across 479 reviews at 4.3 stars, the reach is why people buy it: they stay on the ground instead of a ladder. Weight is the complaint that keeps returning. Owners call it heavy or top-heavy once the shaft is extended and held overhead. Some reviews say it is not enough for mature privet or a lot of leylandii. One buyer put runtime at about an hour on the included 2.0 Ah pack, which is that reviewer's figure, not a lab test. The adjustable head and the strap are what those same reviews say makes the overhead cut workable.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Tall hedges you can finish from the ground within about 2.8 m, if you will wear the strap
Less suitable: Mature privet or a lot of leylandii, and anyone who cannot hold a top-heavy pole up
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Worx WG252E include a battery?
Yes. The listing includes one 2.0 Ah battery, a charger, a blade cover and a shoulder strap.
How far does it reach?
The bullets say it reaches up to 2.8 m, with a 45 cm blade and hedges up to 16 mm thick.
What do UK reviews say about weight?
Weight is the main complaint. Buyers call it heavy or top-heavy at extension, while many still say the reach beats a ladder.
The Bosch UniversalHedgeCut 18V-50 is a 50 cm handheld trimmer with 20 mm tooth spacing, a 2.5 Ah battery and an AL 1830 CV charger, at £139.94. Item weight on the listing is 2.6 kg. Across 235 reviews at 4.3 stars, owners often compare it with older corded tools and describe the bar as enough for a medium hedge. The listing calls the motor brushless and states 1,200 RPM. Some jams still appear in the reviews, and a few returns and early failures are in the sample, though they are not the main theme. One 2.5 Ah pack sets the runtime unless you already own another POWER FOR ALL 18 V battery. Country of origin on the listing is Hungary. For a garden hedge you can reach from the ground, and a gap around 20 mm after a year's growth, this is the highest-scoring handheld in the set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A medium garden hedge you can reach from the ground, with the battery and charger in the box
Less suitable: A hedge above shoulder height, or growth much thicker than the 20 mm spacing
Specifications
Common questions
What blade does the UniversalHedgeCut 18V-50 have?
The bullets state a 50 cm blade and 20 mm tooth spacing. Item weight is 2.6 kg.
Is the battery included?
Yes. One 18 V 2.5 Ah battery and an AL 1830 CV charger.
Where was it made, according to the listing?
Country of origin on the listing is Hungary.
The SuperHandy GBTS034 is the corded tool in this set: 550 W, a 51 cm dual-action blade, four head angles and a stated extension of 2.7 m, at £99.99. A 10 m cable is in the bullets, so the cut is not limited by a battery charge. Across 11 reviews at 4.3 stars, buyers say the head cuts cleanly, the angle is easy to change, and the strap helps the balance. One UK review describes a UK fused plug and a two-pin connector at the tool, which is a review description, not a certificate. The same small sample calls the trimmer awkward low to the ground. Eleven reviews is a thin basis next to poles here with hundreds or thousands of ratings. The lead has to stay behind you for the whole cut, which is the cost of that unlimited runtime.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A tall hedge within about 2.7 m of a socket, where a cable is acceptable
Less suitable: Low cuts, hedges far from a socket, or anyone who wants a large UK review sample
Specifications
Common questions
Is the SuperHandy cordless?
No. It is corded, 550 W, with a 10 m cable in the bullets.
Does it have a UK plug?
A UK review describes a UK plug with an accessible fuse and a two-pin connector at the tool. That is a review, not a certificate.
How far does it extend?
The title and bullets say it extends to 2.7 m, with a 51 cm blade and four head angles.
The Bosch UniversalHedgePole 18 is a telescopic cordless pole at £149, with one battery and an AL 1830 CV charger in the box. The amp-hour figure is not stated on the listing. Across 1,487 reviews at 4.0 stars, buyers praise staying off a ladder. The same reviews often say the pole is heavy, and the Amazon comparison row records 4.12 kg. Some owners still report jams, even where anti-blocking is claimed. Runtime on the single included battery is the other limit on a long hedge. The spec table says the blade is 43 inches, which is not a settled centimetre length, so that line should not be read as 43 cm. Bosch's own page quotes a different weight and a 43 cm blade; those maker figures are a separate source, not a correction of the Amazon row.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A tall hedge you want to cut from the ground, if you can manage about 4 kg overhead
Less suitable: A light pole, a known amp-hour figure, or a blade length stated in centimetres
Specifications
Common questions
Does the UniversalHedgePole 18 include a battery?
Yes. The bullets include one battery and an AL 1830 CV charger. The amp-hour figure is not stated.
How long is the blade?
The spec table says 43 inches. The bullets do not give a centimetre length, so that figure is unsettled. Do not read it as 43 cm.
What do reviews say about ladders and weight?
Buyers praise staying off a ladder. The same reviews often say the pole is heavy, and some still report jams.
For this comparison we scored 11 amazon.co.uk listings dated 15 October 2026. This is not a laboratory test. None of the eleven ASINs is a STIHL machine. The score uses the star rating, the review count on the listing, whether you can cut without buying a battery separately, how much hedge the bar or pole covers, and a sentiment adjustment from repeated review themes.
Stars
40%The amazon.co.uk star rating, scaled to 40 points. A star line is not this editorial score, and Amazon Best Sellers Rank is not this score.
Review volume
20%Under 30 reviews scores 5; 30–99 scores 10; 100–499 scores 15; 500 or more scores 20. The MZK figure is the listing line, not a count checked review by review.
Ready to cut
15%A battery in the box scores 15. The corded SuperHandy scores 8. Tool only scores 3, because a body-only price still needs a battery.
Job coverage
15%A handheld bar of 50 cm or longer scores 15. A handheld bar around 45 cm scores 12. A pole with a stated reach scores 11. A shrub or grass shear scores 5.
Sentiment
10%Worth 10 points here. The working sheet starts the adjustment at 8 and floors it at 0. Deductions cover weight complaints, a tool that is not enough for a thicker hedge, jamming, a part that arrived broken, and a blade that stopped while the motor ran.
Match the tooth gap to the hedge, then check that the battery is in the box and that the stated reach is a figure you can stand under. A tool-only price still needs a pack.
A hedge trimmer shears the outer growth of a hedge. In this set that means a handheld bar, a short shrub shear, or a pole. A petrol STIHL from a dealer is a different shop. These eleven amazon.co.uk listings, dated 15 October 2026, are DeWalt, Worx, Hyundai, Flymo, Bosch, Ryobi, SuperHandy and MZK. Tooth gap comes first. Soft annual growth is about 12–16 mm. Flymo states 12 mm in the highlight and 15 mm in a bullet. Worx, Hyundai and MZK state 16 mm. Ryobi states 18 mm.
None of the eleven ASINs is a STIHL machine. Dealer HSA, HLA and HS prices are not the amazon.co.uk figures on this page, and AK packs do not fit these batteries.
Tool only on the DeWalt 60 cm, the DeWalt 20 cm and the Ryobi OPT1845 means the shelf price still needs a pack and a charger. A body-only price is not a ready-to-cut price.
Hyundai states a 2.6 m extendable pole and, separately, up to 3.6 m maximum reach. Those are different claims. The Bosch pole line of 43 inches is not 43 cm.
The gap decides which stems the bar can take. Soft annual growth is about 12–16 mm. In this set Flymo states 12 mm in the highlight and 15 mm in a bullet, so that listing does not settle one figure. Worx, Hyundai and MZK state 16 mm. Ryobi states 18 mm. A missed year wants about 20–25 mm: Bosch UniversalHedgeCut states 20 mm tooth spacing, and the DeWalt 60 cm states a 25 mm blade gap.
A ready-to-cut price includes the battery, or it is a mains lead. Tool only: DeWalt 60 cm at £199, DeWalt 20 cm at £93.95, Ryobi OPT1845 at £106. Kits: Flymo with battery and charger at £41.99, Worx 2.0 Ah at £129.99, Hyundai 2.0 Ah at £88.99, Bosch UniversalHedgeCut 2.5 Ah at £139.94, Bosch pole with a battery whose amp-hour is not stated at £149, Bosch AdvancedShear 2.0 Ah at £107.46, and MZK at £79.99 with two 4.0 Ah packs in the title.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You have one small hedge and no battery platform in the shed. Buy a complete kit. The Flymo SimpliCut 450 includes a battery and charger at £41.99. Reviews describe it for a small hedge or shrubbery, and the listing disagrees between 12 mm and 15 mm.
You will not use a ladder. Read the pole weight and use the strap. The Worx WG252E states a reach of up to 2.8 m, with a 2.0 Ah battery, charger and shoulder strap at £129.99. Reviews still call it heavy once the shaft is overhead.
You already own DeWalt XR packs. The DeWalt 60 cm is tool only at £199, with a 25 mm gap, the widest gap stated in this set. The battery and charger sit on top of that price if you do not already own them.
For a medium hedge you can reach from the ground, the top pick is the Bosch UniversalHedgeCut 18V-50: a 50 cm bar, 20 mm spacing, a 2.5 Ah battery and charger in the box, 2.6 kg, at £139.94, with 4.3 from 235 reviews. Some jams still appear in those reviews. If you have one small hedge and no battery platform, the best value is the Flymo SimpliCut 450 at £41.99, battery and charger included. The listing disagrees between 12 mm and 15 mm, and reviews limit it to small hedges. These eleven listings are DeWalt, Worx, Hyundai, Flymo, Bosch, Ryobi, SuperHandy and MZK.
Flymo SimpliCut 450
Lowest complete-kit price at £41.99, with 4.7 from 58 reviews, for a small hedge.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Sources checked for this comparison; last retrieved on 16 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk with the tag pcuk26-21. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts come from the amazon.co.uk listings. We did not run a laboratory test, and we do not promise the cheapest price.
