Independent comparisons. We may earn from shop links. More info

Stihl hedge trimmer buying guide: gap, kit, dealer

Updated: October 2026

You searched for a Stihl hedge trimmer and amazon.co.uk returned DeWalt, Worx, Hyundai, Flymo, Bosch, Ryobi, SuperHandy and MZK. Those eleven listings, checked on 15 October 2026, are other brands. This buying guide is the order of decisions: tooth gap first, then whether a battery is in the box, then whether a dealer STIHL still belongs in the conversation. Every price and review count is in the [Stihl hedge trimmer comparison](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/stihl-hedge-trimmer). Compiled on 16 October 2026 from those listings and STIHL UK's own guide, without a lab test. Links to Amazon may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

You searched for a Stihl hedge trimmer and amazon.co.uk returned DeWalt, Worx, Hyundai, Flymo, Bosch, Ryobi, SuperHandy and MZK. Those eleven listings, checked on 15 October 2026, are other brands.

Our top picks

Flymo Flymo SimpliCut 450

Best overall

Flymo Flymo SimpliCut 450
8.4/10about £41.99
View offer
DEWALT DeWalt 60 cm XR

Alternative

DEWALT DeWalt 60 cm XR
7.4/10about £199
View offer
Bosch Bosch UniversalHedgeCut 18V-50

Rank 3

Bosch Bosch UniversalHedgeCut 18V-50
8.9/10about £139.94
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.What this Amazon set is, and what a STIHL is
  2. 2.Tooth gap and blade length
  3. 3.Kit or tool only
  4. 4.When the decision leaves Amazon

What this Amazon set is, and what a STIHL is

A hedge trimmer shears the outer growth of a hedge. In this set that is a handheld bar, a short shrub shear, a cordless pole, or one corded pole. Genuine STIHL HSA, HLA and HS models are sold mainly by authorised dealers. AS, AK and AP batteries do not fit a DeWalt XR, Ryobi ONE+, Bosch POWER FOR ALL or Worx PowerShare pack. The HSA 50 takes branches up to 18 mm. The HS 45 tooth spacing is 30 mm. Eighteen millimetres is a recommended cut. Thirty millimetres is the width of the teeth. If you need the STIHL badge, use a dealer. One Amazon fit for each job is the best cordless hedge trimmer page.

Tooth gap and blade length

Soft annual growth sits at about 12-16 mm. The Flymo states 12 mm in the highlight and 15 mm in a bullet. Worx, Hyundai and MZK state 16 mm. A missed year wants about 20-25 mm: the Bosch UniversalHedgeCut states 20 mm on a 50 cm bar, and the DeWalt 60 cm states 25 mm, tool only. A dealer HS 45 uses 30 mm spacing. A 45 cm Flymo or a 50 cm Bosch will walk a garden privet. A 20 cm shear will not. The DeWalt 20 cm is a shaping tool at 1.38 kg with no stated cutting capacity. The Bosch AdvancedShear adds a grass blade to a 20 cm shrub blade. Both suit box, not a long boundary. Stated pole reach runs from about 2.4 m on the MZK to about 2.9 m on the Ryobi OPT1845. If the hedge is still above that, stop. The ladder rule is on the hedge trimmers for tall hedges page. The Bosch pole spec table says 43 inches, which is not 43 cm.
Flymo Flymo SimpliCut 450

Testsieger

Flymo Flymo SimpliCut 450
8.4/10about £41.99
View offer

Kit or tool only

A body-only price is not a ready-to-cut price. Three listings are tool only: the DeWalt 60 cm XR at £199, the DeWalt 20 cm XR at £93.95, and the Ryobi OPT1845 at £106. Buy one when that battery is already charged. XR packs and ONE+ packs do not swap with Bosch, Worx or STIHL. Kits on the 15 October 2026 files run from the Flymo at £41.99 to the Bosch pole at £149. Also MZK £79.99, Hyundai £88.99, Worx £129.99. The Bosch pole does not state an amp-hour. The SuperHandy at £99.99 is corded, 550 W, reach 2.7 m. Just Lawnmowers listed an HSA 50 body at £124 on 16 October 2026, without the AK battery. A £41.99 Flymo kit can cut a small hedge. A £124 body cannot, until the pack is in the same order.

When the decision leaves Amazon

Leave this Amazon set when the tooth gap or the brand is the real requirement. The HSA 50, on the AK system at 36 V, takes branches up to 18 mm. The HS 45 is the petrol step, at 30 mm spacing, in 45 cm or 60 cm. Just Lawnmowers had the HS 45 at £279 on 16 October 2026, one dealer's snapshot, not an Amazon price. Look for a nest in use or being built before you cut. The 1 March to 31 August closed season applies to covered agricultural hedgerows, not to every garden privet. Above the stated reach, or under a tree preservation order, that is a professional job.

Common questions

Are the Amazon results actually STIHL?
On 15 October 2026 the amazon.co.uk results behind this comparison were DeWalt, Worx, Hyundai, Flymo, Bosch, Ryobi, SuperHandy and MZK. Genuine STIHL HSA, HLA and HS hedge trimmers are sold mainly by authorised dealers. A search box that contains the brand name does not make the ASIN in the basket a STIHL machine.
What tooth gap do I need for one year's growth?
Soft annual growth is about 12-16 mm. The Flymo highlight says 12 mm and a bullet says 15 mm. A missed year is closer to 20-25 mm: the Bosch UniversalHedgeCut at 20 mm, or the DeWalt 60 cm at 25 mm if you already own an XR battery. The HS 45's 30 mm spacing is a dealer petrol figure.
Should I buy tool only if I already own the battery?
Buy the bare tool when the pack is the same system and it still holds a charge. The DeWalt bodies need XR. The Ryobi OPT1845 needs ONE+. If that pack is not already yours, add a battery and charger to the £93.95, £106 or £199 before you compare it with a Flymo kit at £41.99 or a Worx kit at £129.99.
What does the HSA 50 cost before the AK battery?
Just Lawnmowers listed the HSA 50 body at £124 on 16 October 2026. The body does not include the AK 10, AK 20 or AK 30 pack. That £124 is a dealer price. It is not an amazon.co.uk price, and it is not comparable with a complete cordless kit until the battery is priced in.
Can a 20 cm shear replace a 45 cm trimmer?
A 20 cm shear shapes box, topiary and small shrubs. It does not finish a long hedge in a reasonable time. The DeWalt 20 cm and the Bosch AdvancedShear belong on bushes. A 45 cm Flymo or a 50 cm Bosch handheld belongs on a garden run. Match the blade to the length of the plant, then check the tooth gap.

Related pages

Battery or petrol hedge trimmer

Stihl hedge trimmer

Best cordless hedge trimmer UK: a fit for each hedge

How to use a hedge trimmer before you start cutting

Long reach hedge trimmer when you will not use a ladder

Sources

Sources checked for this comparison; last retrieved on 16 October 2026.

  1. STIHL UK, hedge trimmer buying guide (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  2. STIHL UK, HSA 50 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  3. Just Lawnmowers, STIHL hedge trimmers (retrieved 16 October 2026)
  4. GOV.UK, hedgerow management rules (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  5. GOV.UK, wild birds: protection and licences (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  6. HSE INDG480, hand-arm vibration (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  7. HSE, noise at work for employers (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  8. GOV.UK, high hedges: complaining to the council (retrieved 15 October 2026)