This is very much a loaded question as it depends on various factors. These factors include the brand and model of a particular hedge trimmer as well as the strength of the battery.
As you’re probably aware, there are many types of cordless hedge trimmers on the market, all of which have various battery strengths.
How long does the battery of a cordless hedge trimmer last? It is safe to say that your average cordless hedge trimmer will last for about 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how hard you are working.
This article takes a look at the batteries of different models and which ones last the longest.
For what length of time do you need the battery to last for?
If you have a large yard where you’ll be doing a lot of trimming and pruning, you will definitely need a battery that lasts for several hours. If you’re unsure of how to test for this, the Ah (amp-hours) unit of a battery explains how long the battery will last. The general rule is the larger the number, the longer the operating time.
The good news is that most manufacturers sell spare batteries. If your property is too big to be trimmed with a single charge, owning two batteries can allow you to charge one while you are trimming with the other. This way, you can trim all the shrubs even in a relatively big garden in one go.
Types of batteries and models
In this article, I will talk extensively about batteries and which ones last the longest. To give you an example of certain type of battery and unit, Black and Decker hedge trimmers are powered by 20V lithium ion batteries.
Most hedge trimmers are powered either by 20V or 40V batteries. While 40V batteries are obviously the most powerful type, 20V is adequate for most hedge trimming. You might be surprised to learn that the 20V battery lasts a very long time, around 40 minutes of use.
What determines battery life? How long your battery lasts before you need to recharge it depends heavily on how hard you’re working. If you are going light, you can probably get at least an hour out of the battery.
On the other hand, if you’re pushing hard, you’ll use up all of your battery life. Furthermore, with 20V lithium ion batteries, there is no memory that gives you the same performance years down the road. In any event, it is common sense to have an extra battery or even two on hand if you’re trimming an extensive yard.
Any unit with a 40-volt lithium – ion system will give you a much better advantage over older battery technologies. The 40V battery option puts more power into a small and compact battery.
As stated above, if you are going to be doing a high volume of trimming, it only makes sense to have a battery (batteries) with lots of power and a longer lifecycle. Additionally, many types of 40-volt batteries take less time to charge and hold their charge longer when they’re in use.
You can be assured that these batteries are always ready to use.
The best models for maximum battery life
Battery-powered hedge trimmers are popular with homeowners because not only are they convenient to carry around, they’re also environmentally friendly. With battery power, there is less noise and almost zero emissions.
Currently, there are models of newer batteries being sold on the international market. These batteries are designed to be more efficient and last longer.
Toting a few batteries around is not a major burden. In fact, batteries are much more convenient than cords as you run the risk of cutting the cord or tripping over it. You just have to remember to recharge the batteries when you’re done with them.
Worx WG291
The Worx WG291 cordless hedge trimmer has a 56-volt max lithium battery that lasts for more than an hour. While Worx, which is manufactured by Positec Tool Corporation of Shanghai, China, may not be the most popular brand on the market, it is becoming better known.
You can buy it from Amazon.com.
Check out the video below if you want to see it in action:
Stihl HAS 66
Stihl is a world-renowned brand that makes both chainsaws and hedge trimmers. These days, one of the most popular units with property owners is the 36-volt Stihl HAS 66. The best feature of this model is undoubtedly the Stihl AP 100 battery.
For those of you who plan on doing extensive trimming, this is the one for you. This battery lasts for at least 60 minutes. There is also the Stihl AL 300 rapid charger that charges a battery up to 100 percent capacity in 50 minutes.
If you’re like me and indeed most busy folks, you don’t want to be spending excessive amounts of time waiting around for batteries to recharge. Other batteries and chargers tend to be slower.
Other factors about battery life to take into consideration
It must be noted that while Lithium Ion batteries are more expensive, they are generally better than traditional batteries because they last longer. If you’re like me, you hate it when you’re in the middle or near the end of completing a task and you suddenly run out of battery power.
Yes, when it comes to trimming hedges, battery power is the most important factor. In addition to lasting longer, Lithium Ion batteries have more consistent power. While traditional batteries will slow down your hedge trimmer as they drain, Lithium Ion batteries will not.
Even better still, newer styles of Lithium Ion batteries do not require the user to wait until they are dead before recharging them.
Other advantages of battery powered hedge trimmers
Apart from the reasons I’ve stated above, owning a battery powered trimmer has other advantages. Or rather, battery powered tools in general.
You see, most manufacturers nowadays use the same type of battery in all of their power tools. For example, the battery of your hedge trimmer would fit into a cordless chainsaw of the same brand. This way you can own a whole set of tools with only one or two batteries in total – as long as you don’t want to use them all at the same time.
The company Greenworks for example is famous for their wide range of outdoor power tools and interchangeable batteries. And the Worx, the manufacturer of the trimmer I mentioned earlier isn’t far behind either.
Cordless or gas powered hedge trimmer?
As I’ve said above, the run time of a battery powered hedge trimmer can be extended by owning more than one batteries. However, at a certain point you should really consider getting a gas powered model instead.
If you can finish the job within 40 minutes to 1 hour, a cordless trimmer is perfect for you. If you need up to 2 hours, a cordless trimmer with an extra battery will be sufficient.
But anything more than that is just too much. I don’t know about you, but I would find it hard to justify owning more than two batteries, or having to return to my house every hour or so to switch them.
At that point I wouldn’t recommend corded hedge trimmers either. Let’s face it, if it takes you more than 2 hours to finish the job, you’d most likely need a really long extension cord. And managing that would be a nightmare.
If you think a gas powered model would be more appropriate for your needs, check out this article about my top recommendations.
But it’s all up to you really. If you are a really eco-friendly person or you feel like the low maintenance of the cordless models can justify a bit of an inconvenience, I say go for it.
Conclusion
How long does the battery of a hedge trimmer last? The point of this article is to explain the factors that come into play with regards to battery life when using a cordless trimmer. As I’ve pointed out, while 20V batteries are generally adequate for the type of work you’ll be doing, 40V will give you more power.
Battery life dictates how long you can operate a hedge trimmer. If you’ve got endless rows of high leylandii or laurel hedges to trim, cut and prune, it might make more sense to use a more powerful gas-operated hedge trimmer.
Due to the limited capacity of battery life (even in the most powerful models), cordless hedge trimmers are recommended for small to medium – sized properties that have average-sized hedges and shrubs.