Einhell cordless hedge trimmers in practical tests

Hedge trimmers for different applications

At Einhell you will find hedge trimmers for the most diverse requirements, from amateur gardeners to the garden professionals. In addition to our cordless Power X-Change cordless hedge trimmers, our range also features petrol hedge trimmers, electric hedge trimmers and telescopic hedge trimmers with an outstanding price-performance ratio. Here we will show you which hedge trimmer is best suited for each application:

The best hedge trimmers for amateur gardeners

For amateur gardeners, cordless hedge trimmers are the perfect model for quickly and simply cutting hedges in your garden with flexibility. Those with large gardens in particular will appreciate the cordless freedom of the battery drive with Li-ion technology. All cordless hedge trimmers are fitted with the patented Power X‐Change battery system. This allows you to use the batteries and chargers for other Power X-Change products around your garden, such as lawn mowers or chainsaws. Perfect for amateur gardeners who want to enjoy cordless freedom in their garden.

Comparison of our hedge trimmers for small gardens

If you have a small to medium-sized garden, you can also enjoy the cordless freedom of the cordless battery-powered hedge trimmers from the Power X-Change system. Electric hedge trimmers with traditional mains connections offer slightly less freedom of movement. However, electric hedge trimmers quickly make up for their reduced reach, especially in small gardens as they're ready to use in just seconds and are particularly light and comfortable.

If you also have hedges with thicker branches in your small garden, we recommend using a heavy petrol hedge trimmer, which offers a little more power than cordless hedge trimmers or electric hedge trimmers.

Comparison: Hedge trimmers for professionals and professional gardeners

Real gardening professions need a hedge trimmer with impressive cutting power, reliability and freedom of movement. This is why a petrol hedge trimmer is the hedge trimmer of choice for most professionals. These hedge trimmers cut even thicker branches effortlessly and can be used flexibly anywhere in the garden or in public spaces.

However, we are increasingly also seeing professional gardeners using cordless hedge trimmers. These models offer the same freedom of movement as petrol hedge trimmers but are lighter and more flexible to use. The powerful lithium-ion batteries and chargers from the Power X-Change family impress even the professionals with their reliability and endurance. 

For the best cordless hedge trimmers: the Einhell battery in test conditions

Why do our hedge trimmers always perform so well in cordless hedge trimmer tests? This is of course due to the high quality of the individual components. From the motor to the drive and the sword: every one of our top cordless hedge trimmers offer high performance at an affordable price!

But the real highlight of the electric hedge trimmers from the Power X-Change system is the battery. It has been specially developed for the high requirements of DIYers, amateur gardeners and professionals. The battery itself, which is fitted with a modern lithium-ion battery, comes in different power levels – and still fits flexibly into every wireless tool from the Power X-Change family. This is what makes the batteries so popular and versatile. 

You can select the right battery depending on the power requirements of your tool. For particularly powerful devices, such as lawn mowers, you can even use two batteries at the same time, depending on the model. You only get this level of flexibility with the Power X-Change system from Einhell.

By the way: It's not only the batteries that are equipped with the latest technology, but also the matching chargers. They charge the battery particularly quickly and gently and ensure a long service life of the individual lithium-ion cells with intelligent battery monitoring.

Cordless or electric: Cordless and electric hedge trimmers compared:

Hedge trimmers with purely electric drives are particularly popular with amateur gardeners. Whether you're using a battery or mains connection, the hedge trimmers are ready to go with no hassle, easy to use, and deliver enough power to cut most hedges in the garden effortlessly and thoroughly. Nevertheless, there are a few essential differences between cordless hedge trimmers and electric hedge trimmers, which we will take a quick look at in this comparison.

The hedge trimmer test: Flexibility

The real difference when it comes to using battery-powered and mains connection hedge trimmers is the freedom of movement. With a cordless, battery-powered hedge trimmer, you can move freely throughout the garden without having to worry about cable drums, extension leads or plugs. This is ideal for extensive gardens or many spread out cutting areas. The battery supplies your hedge trimmer with power anywhere, making trimming hedges a quick task that doesn't take up all your time.

With electric hedge trimmers, on the other hand, you always need to have a power source nearby – or have the right extension leads. With smaller gardens this is usually not a problem, as there will usually be a socket within easy reach in the garden shed or on the house wall. For large gardens, however, the use of an electric hedge trimmer – rather than a cordless hedge trimmer – requires a little more planning.

The hedge trimmer test: Endurance

Although the endurance of our Power X-Change batteries is extremely high, it does not come close to the unlimited power provided by a mains connection. So for all amateur gardeners it is important to weigh up whether you prefer the cordless freedom of a cordless, battery-powered hedge trimmer, or whether you need the endurance of an electric hedge trimmer. The bigger your hedge is, the more likely you are to benefit from a direct power supply. On the other hand, smaller hedges can be cut easily and particularly conveniently with a cordless hedge trimmer.

The hedge trimmer test: Power

The thicker and more robust your hedge grows, the more power your hedge trimmer needs to cut thoroughly and without too much effort. Just as in terms of endurance, an electric hedge trimmer also has the advantage when it comes to performance from a direct power connection. This means that the electric hedge trimmer has a little more power and can also cut through thicker branches cleanly.

But that doesn't mean that cordless hedge trimmers are low powered, quite the opposite: with their powerful 18-volt battery from the Power X-Change system and the brushless motor, Einhell's cordless hedge trimmers deliver enough power to cut most common hedges effortlessly.

The hedge trimmer test: Summary

Cordless hedge trimmers are perfect for amateur gardeners who want to achieve results particularly easily, conveniently and quickly. On the other hand, electric hedge trimmers are better suited for gardeners who place more importance on power and endurance.

Before we get started, here's a short glossary for cordless hedge trimmers

So that we're all talking about the same thing: all hedge trimmers have a number of different components with important functions. Here are the essential components of a hedge trimmer:

Cutting hedges: 5 tips from the cordless hedge trimmer test

So, you've chosen the right cordless hedge trimmer for you and are ready to start trimming your hedge? Here are 5 tips on how to successfully get your hedge back into shape.

Tip 1: Shaping vs. pruning

You can cut your hedge in two ways – with shaping (topiary) cuts or by cutting it back (pruning). With shaping cuts, you only trim branches that grow out, and the hedge itself keeps its usual shape.

Pruning and cutting back is much more complex. Here the hedge is radically trimmed or even cut right back to the ground.

Tip 2: The right time

If your hedge grown back a lot over winter, then in February you have the best chance to prune your hedge and get it cut back into shape. The earlier you cut your hedge the better, as once March arrives you will no longer be allowed to cut back your hedges as birds like to choose hedges to breed in.

But that's not the case for shaping, which is permitted throughout the entire year. However, it is best to carry it out by the end of September at the latest, as otherwise frost damage to the sensitive branches can occur.

Tip 3: More than just protective clothing

When trimming hedges you should always wear protective clothing. Most importantly, this includes gloves, protective goggles and hearing protection. To protect your skin from thorns or poisonous plant parts, we also recommend that you always wear long clothes and sturdy shoes.

Tip 4: Using string

The top tip for a straight cut: Simply stretch a string along your desired cutting edges. To help you do this, you could stick two sticks into the ground and attach the string to them. Now simply cut along the line created by the string with the cordless hedge trimmer for a perfectly straight cut.

Tip 5: The perfect hedge cutting shape

Most hedges in Germany are cut into a rectangular shape. However, it is better to cut in a trapezoid shape. This means that the top part of the hedge is cut narrower than the base on the ground. This will keep your hedge completely opaque and at the same time the lower shoots will get enough light for healthy growth.