Worx Cordless Hedge Trimmer Lineup: 20V vs 40V Power

Best for
Thick shrubs cut fast

Best for
Everyday hedges in small yards

The WORX Cordless Hedge Trimmer WG261 is the Worx 20V hedge trimmer for most suburban yards. It weighs 5.5 pounds, carries a 22 inch dual-action blade, and ships with a 2.0Ah 20V PowerShare battery and charger, so it is ready to go out of the box.

The dual-action hardened steel blades cut on the stroke out and catch the branch again on the way back. A 3/4 inch blade gap sets the practical limit on branch size, and overmolded grips reduce vibration. The D-grip front handle lets you hold it high for hedge tops or low for undergrowth. The battery also runs other Worx PowerShare tools, including the Worx weed wacker, which is handy if you want one battery for the whole yard.

Choose the WG261 if your hedges are mostly soft growth and you value low weight. If branches get woody and close to an inch thick, the 40V WG286 is the faster option.

• 22 inch dual-action blade
• 5.5 lb weight
• 2.0Ah 20V battery and charger included
• D-grip handle for high and low cuts

The WORX Cordless Hedge Trimmer WG286 is the Worx 40V hedge trimmer for people who want speed. A brushless motor drives dual-action blades at up to 3400 strokes per minute, and Worx says the motor runs 50 percent longer, delivers 25 percent more power and lasts ten times longer than a standard brushed motor.

It cuts branches up to 1 inch thick. The listing gives the blade as 24 inches in the specifications and 23 inches of cutting length in the features, so expect roughly 23 inches of usable edge. Laser-cut, diamond-ground blades aim for a clean cut that is kinder to plants. A 180 degree rotating rear handle switches between horizontal and vertical trimming, a wrap-around front handle has a two-stage trigger, and a battery indicator shows charge. Two batteries and a charger are included. It weighs 7.7 pounds, a fair jump over the WG261.

This is the pick for dense, woody shrubs and big properties. If you only tidy a few bushes, the extra weight may not pay off.

• Brushless motor, 3400 SPM
• Cuts branches up to 1 inch
• 180 degree rotating rear handle
• Two batteries and charger included

Best for
Tall hedges without a ladder

The WORX Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer WG252 solves a different problem: height. Its telescopic pole gives up to 12 feet of reach, so you can trim tall hedges without climbing a ladder, and the 20 inch head adjusts to 10 positions at the press of a button for cutting overhead, across the top or down the side.

A 180 degree rotating rear handle and a shoulder strap reduce fatigue, and the blade is laser cut. The box includes the trimmer, a 2.0Ah battery, a charger and a blade sheath. The title calls it 2-in-1 attachment capable, though the listing does not explain further. It weighs 7.6 pounds and does not list branch capacity or stroke speed.

Pick the Worx pole hedge trimmer WG252 if your hedges are taller than you. For waist-high hedges, a handheld model is lighter and quicker to maneuver.

Best for
Quick touch-ups and grass edges

Best for
Edging beds with a pole

The WORX Cordless Grass Shear & Shrub Trimmer WG801.4 is a compact 2-in-1 tool with an 8 inch shrub blade and a 4 inch shear blade. It weighs only 2 pounds with the battery, so it works one-handed.

Its selling point over the WG801 is the extension pole named in the title and highlights, which lets you edge along flower beds without bending. Oddly, the “what’s included” list names the shear, both blades, a sheath, a 2.0Ah battery and a charger but not the pole, so confirm before ordering. Worx quotes up to 2 hours of runtime.

This suits gardeners with long borders and small shrubs. It is not a replacement for a full hedge trimmer on a proper hedge.

The WORX Cordless Grass Shear & Shrub Trimmer WG801 is the original version of the Worx grass shear shrub trimmer. It shares the 4 inch grass blade and 8 inch shrubbery blade, the 2 pound weight and a no-load speed of 1100 per minute. Blade swaps are tool-free: flip, press the button, slide off the faceplate and switch.

A rubber overmold handle absorbs vibration, and a sheath guard protects the blade in storage. The battery and charger are included. The pole extension is described as optional, so it is not in the box. The listing does not give a runtime figure.

Choose it for quick weekend touch-ups and for anyone who finds full-size tools heavy. If you want the pole, the WG801.4 is the better value.

For the WORX 40V 26 inch hedge trimmer WG284.1 only the listing title is available. It describes a 40V cordless hedge trimmer with a 26 inch blade, a brushless motor, dual-action blades and a 180 degree rotating handle, with two batteries and a charger included on the PowerShare platform.

The listing does not specify weight, stroke speed or maximum branch size. Based on the title, it is the longest-reach handheld option in the lineup and shares the brushless 40V layout of the WG286. Choose the Worx 40V 26 inch WG284 if long hedgerows are your main job, but check the missing specs before buying.