While you might like the idea of using a cordless hedge trimmer, you don’t like the idea of having to wait around for batteries to charge to complete your work. So how long do cordless hedge trimmers last on a single charge?
Most lithium-ion cordless hedge trimmer batteries last between 40 minutes to two hours on a single charge. The rate at which batteries discharge is dependant on the model and how hard you’re working. Most manufacturers guarantee the life of their batteries to be 3-5 years or 1,000 charge cycles (whichever is less).
In this article, we’re going to look at the advantages of owning a cordless hedge trimmer, how to better understand battery power, and the best model for your needs. But first…
How long do you need the battery to last?
Possibly one of the most important questions you need to ask yourself when preparing to use a cordless hedge trimmer is: how long do you need the battery to last?
If you don’t have a very big garden, or you don’t have much to prune and won’t be using it for more than one hour, then a cordless hedge trimmer will do the job easily.
However, if you have a bigger garden or are planning on doing a lot of trimming with your hedge cutter, then you’re likely to need one with a battery that can last for between one to two hours.
Unfortunately, only a select few cordless hedge trimmers are able to last more than one hour (recommendation below for my favorite two-hour trimmer).
In most cases, you’ll need a hedge trimmer that has an extra battery so that you can switch to the full one when the first one runs out, meaning you don’t need to wait for it to recharge until you can finish the job.
It also means that you can recharge the first battery while you are using the second one. Every manufacturer of hedge trimmers sells spare batteries, so you’ll be able to purchase one easily.
Advantages of battery-powered hedge trimmers
Battery-powered hedge trimmers have many advantages which make them extremely popular. They are convenient and easy to use as there’s no having to worry about getting your electric cable to reach where you are planning on trimming or having to trail it around after you.
They are also a lot safer to use as there is no risk of cutting the electrical cord. Another advantage of cordless hedge trimmers is that they produce very low emissions (almost zero) and are very quiet to use.
Not only that, but most manufacturers use the same battery type across their entire range of power tools. This means that the same battery you use in your hedge trimmer will fit in another power tool of the same brand.
This is particularly useful as it means that you only need one or two batteries for your entire set of power tools. For example, Ryobi is a reputable manufacturer of power tools, and their batteries are interchangeable across their enormous range of more than 125 power tools.
Understanding battery power
When you look at a battery, you will usually see two different numbers. One of those numbers is for amp-hours (Ah), which is the amount of current that the battery can produce in one hour. Generally, the higher this number is, the greater the amount of energy the battery produces.
The second number is voltage (V), and this is the power that pushes the current through the battery. Again, the higher the number, the more power the battery has.
When deciding which battery to purchase for your power tools, you will need to be able to compare these numbers. To do this, you will need to know the wattage of the battery.
The higher the wattage, the more energy and power the battery will have. This figure isn’t usually given on the battery, but you can easily work it out by multiplying the amp-hours by the voltage. For example:
- 2.0 Ah × 40 V = 80 Watts
- 2.5 Ah × 20 V = 50 Watts
Although it’s important to purchase a battery that has plenty of power, if you aren’t going to be doing a lot of work with your hedge trimmer, you might not necessarily always need to have the biggest battery. Always purchase the battery that is most suited to your needs.
If you have a large yard and need to do a real lot of trimming, it only makes sense to have a battery with lots of power and a long lifecycle. Quite often, 40-volt batteries don’t take as long to charge as those that are higher-powered, and they will hold their charge for a longer time when you’re not using them.
The best models for maximum battery life
Here are two models of cordless hedge trimmers that I recommend from very well-known brands. The first model is better suited to those with larger yards and the second for those with smaller yards.
Milwaukee M18
The Milwaukee M18
is a great choice if you are going to be doing a lot of work with your hedge trimmer as it’s heavy-duty and has a very long battery life.
It has an 18-volt battery which produces a runtime of around two hours each time it is charged and provides 20% more power than standard lithium-ion batteries. Not only that, but the battery is interchangeable with other Milwaukee power tools.
Due to its 24-inch double-sided blade, this hedge trimmer can easily cut branches that are 3/4″ (19mm) thick and, combined with its ability to cut 30% faster than other machines, can make even the toughest job quick and easy.
Black & Decker 40V Max
The Black & Decker 40V Max is another great choice of hedge trimmer for those with small to medium-sized yards. It’s lightweight and features an ergonomic design that makes it comfortable and easy to use.
It has a 40-volt lithium-ion battery that provides one hour of runtime with each charge and, like the Milwaukee hedge trimmer, has a 24-inch blade that can easily cut through branches with a thickness of 3/4″ (19mm).
Other factors about battery life you should consider
As the power of the battery is always the most important feature of a cordless hedge trimmer, you should also always consider the type of battery that it comes with. Although lithium-ion batteries are often more expensive than traditional batteries, they do usually last much longer and, more importantly, provide consistent power.
This means that, unlike a traditional battery, the power and speed of your tool will not diminish as the battery drains with a lithium-ion battery. Not only that but they can be recharged at any time, rather than having to wait until they are completely drained.
Battery compatibility between brands
You should always consider the compatibility of batteries when you are comparing, and there are a few things to remember.
- All battery-operated power tools need to have a rechargeable battery, and they will usually always come complete with a charger that is compatible with the battery.
- Each different manufacturer or brand will have its own battery, and these are usually interchangeable with other power tools that are made by the same manufacturer.
- Even if the battery is the same size and power, you cannot use a battery from one manufacturer in a tool that is by a different manufacturer. Therefore, it’s a good idea to stick to one brand of tool so that your batteries are always interchangeable, rather than having to purchase batteries for several different brands.
