Gardening gloves are available in a range of designs, featuring waterproofing, added grip, cushioning, and breathable fabrics to help regulate hand temperature. The design and features you need will depend on the gardening jobs you intend to carry out and when you plan to do them. A range of materials is on offer, including leather, bamboo, latex, nylon, and recycled materials. Bamboo fibre is one of the more environmentally friendly options and is typically soft, close-fitting and flexible. Latex and leather are both tear-resistant and are often used to improve grip. Additional padding or cushioning can also be helpful. Look out for padding on knuckles, fingertips, wrists and palms for increased protection when performing manual tasks.

Our best gardening gloves to buy at a glance

Our 3 top-rated lightweight gardening gloves

• 4.8 stars: Best gloves for light work – Clip Gloves Bamboo Fibre £6.49
• 4.8 stars: Best value lightweight gloves – Showa 477 Insulated Winter Gardening Gloves £10.49
• 4.8 stars: Best lightweight winter gloves – Niwaki winter gloves £12

Our 5 top-rated heavy-duty gardening gloves

• 4.8 stars: Best budget heavy-duty gloves – Verve Nylon Gardening Gloves £2.50
• 4.8 stars: Top-rated heavy-duty winter gloves – Clip Gloves Warm 'n' Waterproof £12.99 
• 4.8 stars: Best gloves for heavy-duty work – Clip Gloves Shock Absorber £18.49
• 4.8 stars: Best heavy-duty gloves for summer use – Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Collection High Performance £18.99
• 4.8 stars: Best heavy-duty gloves for wet-weather work – Gold Leaf The Dry Touch £22.99

Our top-rated gauntlet gloves

• 4.8 stars: Best men's gauntlet gloves – Kent and Stowe luxury leather men's gauntlet gloves £16.99

Also recommended

• 4.5 stars: Best lightweight gloves for everyday use – Clip Gloves General Purpose £14.99
• 4.5 stars: Best lightweight gloves for grip – Donkey Gloves £15.95
• 4.5 stars: Best lightweight gloves for versatility – Feverfew Garden Company £22.95
• 4 stars: Best lightweight gloves for waterproofing – Briers All Seasons Cosy Gardener Gloves £4.99

• 4.5 stars: Best heavy-duty gloves for winter use – Stihl ThermoGrip £7.75
• 4.5 stars: Best heavy-duty gloves for year-round use – Burgon & Ball Love the Glove £17.99
• 4.5 stars: Best heavy-duty gloves for comfort – RHS Gold Leaf Winter Touch Gloves £26.99

Jump to best gardening gloves:

• Our 3 top-rated lightweight gardening gloves
• Our 5 top-rated heavy-duty gardening gloves
• Our best gauntlet gloves

Jump to gardening gloves advice:

• How to choose the best gardening gloves
• How we tested gardening gloves
• Meet our testing panel

Our 3 top-rated lightweight gardening gloves

1: Clip Gloves Bamboo Fibre

Our best lightweight gloves for light work

RRP: £6.49

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon men's (£14.99) and women's (£13.29)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and light
• Second skin fit
• Breathable
• Feel strong
• Excellent value

Reasons to avoid:

• Bamboo snags occasionally

The Clip Gloves Bamboo Fibre are a good fit, and I found them easy to take on and off, comfortable and breathable. The gloves are washable and come with a carabiner for clipping them to your belt. They did snag occasionally, but they're great for delicate work and all-day wear in spring and summer. They're available in both men's and women's designs. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Clip Gloves Bamboo Fibre review

• Buy Clip Gloves Bamboo Fibre from Amazon men's (£14.99) and women's (£13.29) 

2: Showa 477 Insulated Winter Gardening Gloves

Our best lightweight gloves for waterproofing

RRP: £10.49

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Safety Gloves (£13.49) and Work Gloves (£13.49)

Reasons to buy:

• Well waterproofed – covers the whole hand
• Thick thermal lining
• Can clean exterior with water
• Size is labelled clearly on each glove
• Highly flexible
• Resistant to abrasion and tearing

Reasons to avoid:

• Industrial looking
• More expensive
• Waterproofing may diminish with thorn damage

I was impressed with the double-engineered nitrile coatings that cover the entire hand and are designed to prevent water, oils and other liquids from penetrating the glove. The acrylic terry liner offers insulation, but it’s also fixed and remains in place when the hand is removed. They’re also seamless for maximum comfort, and the sturdy construction ensures they will withstand a degree of abrasion and tearing. The nitrile foam palm coating provides long-lasting grip in wet conditions, while the wrist cuff keeps the glove securely in place.

These gloves replicate the natural curvature of the human hand, thus reducing hand fatigue and boosting flexibility. I found them sturdy and comfortable to wear, but they also felt flexible, warm and offered excellent grip in wet conditions. Jane Moore

• Buy the Showa 477 Insulated Winter Gardening Gloves from Safety Gloves (£13.49) and Work Gloves (£13.49)

3: Niwaki Winter Gloves

Our best lightweight gloves for winter use

RRP: £12

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Niwaki (£12) and Amazon (£12)

Reasons to buy:

• Fit well
• Warm and all, but cuffs are waterproof
• Bright, so you won't lose them easily
• Good value

Reasons to avoid:

• A little bulky
• Not thornproof
• Cuffs aren't waterproof

These gloves offer a great, snug fit and are very easy to get on and off thanks to their well-fitting elasticated cuff. Made from latex, acrylic and polyester, they moulded well to my hand, and although the bright orange fleece lining makes them a little bulky, they’re still soft and flexible and offer a good amount of dexterity. They’re ideal for a wide range of winter jobs, including finer weeding, and keep your hands really warm and dry.

However, the cuffs are not waterproof, so avoid getting them wet as they take a while to dry. Otherwise, the gloves dry well, though, and keep their shape. They won't completely protect you against thorns and brambles, but they don't tear the latex. I think they’re excellent value for the protection they provide. They’re available in small, medium, large, and extra large sizes. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Niwaki Winter Gardening Gloves from Niwaki (£12) and Amazon (£12)

Our 5 top-rated heavy-duty gardening gloves

1: Verve Nylon Gardening Gloves

Our best heavy-duty gloves for budget

RRP: £2.50

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: B&Q (£2.65)

Reasons to buy:

• Tough, thorn-proof material
• Great for everyday medium- to heavy-duty work
• Hard wearing
• Great value

Reasons to avoid:

• Not very breathable
• Lack warmth
• Not water resistant

These gloves offer excellent protection for tough, thorny jobs at a very reasonable price. We also love that they can be recycled. Featuring a generously-sized elasticated cuff means they’re easy to get on and off, but as they’re made from textured latex, the palm isn’t a snug fit. While the latex is also waterproof, we found that moisture can seep in through the fabric on the back. Although they are great for cold and wet weather, these gloves aren’t lined, so you might need extra protection in harsh winter months. Wipe-clean after use, these tough, durable gloves represent excellent value for money. Available in small, medium and large. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Verve Nylon Gardening Gloves review

• Buy Verve Nylon Gardening Gloves from B&Q (£2.65)

2: Clip Gloves Warm 'n' Waterproof

Our best heavy-duty gloves for winter use

RRP: £12.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Fothergills (£8.45) and Robert Dyas (£10.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and warm
• Waterproof
• Sandy texture for good grip
• Lots of dexterity

Reasons to avoid:

• No good for latex allergies

I found the Clip Gloves’ Warm ‘N’ Waterproof edition as warm and waterproof as their name suggests. They offer a great fit, and the fleece lining is excellent for keeping your hands warm in the chilly weather. The double-dipped latex also makes these gloves completely waterproof – working in damp conditions, I saw no sign of seep-through. The sandy latex covering on the palm and fingertips is excellent for grip, and the comfortably snug fit allows for very good dexterity, even though the thick lining can make your finger movements occasionally feel a little clumsy when it comes to finer tasks. The additional latex coating on the thumb joint offers extra protection for more heavy-duty tasks.

Like all other gloves in the Clip Gloves range, the carabiner clip is a handy addition to keep the gloves paired together. Great multi-purpose gloves, I found them ideal for working snugly through cold, wet winters rather than year-round use, as they’re a little too toasty for the summer months. They come in women’s small and medium sizes, and men’s medium and large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Clip Gloves’ Warm ‘N’ Waterproof Gloves from Fothergills (£8.45) and Robert Dyas (£10.99)

3: Clip Gloves Shock Absorber

Our best heavy-duty gloves for heavy-duty work

RRP: £18.49

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Fothergills (£17.95), ManoMano (£16.99) and On Buy (£16.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and well-fitting
• Good dexterity
• Sturdy and durable
• Good for heavy-duty jobs

Reasons to avoid:

• None

These gloves mould to the hand to provide good dexterity and an excellent fit, and I loved their well-thought-out materials. They're comfortable and durable, but not bulky. There's a carabiner to clip gloves to a belt and padding on the palms for extra protection. They come in both men's and women's sizes and designs. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Clip Gloves Shock Absorber review

• Buy the Clip Gloves Shock Absorber from Fothergills (£17.95), ManoMano (£16.99) and On Buy (£16.99)

4: Spear and Jackson Kew Gardens Collection High Performance Gloves

Our best heavy-duty gloves for summer use

RRP: £18.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£13.98) and Tooled Up (£15.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Durable yet with good sensitivity
• Lightweight and cool
• The elastic wrist keeps debris out
• Suit most gardening tasks

Reasons to avoid:

• Thin backs are vulnerable to stings and thorns

These stylish gloves felt immediately comfortable to wear. My hands stayed comfortable, even in very hot weather, due to the use of non-padded leather with a polyester bacs that ensures breathability. They're well-made, with reinforcement on the wear points at the palms and fingers, and elasticated wrists to ensure a close, comfortable fit to keep out debris.

I found they gave good grip and usability for a wide range of tasks, such as weeding, planting and pruning, but the reinforced fingers make them unsuitable for jobs needing fine dexterity like handling seedlings. There’s a small loop on the wrists for easy hanging and storage, and the gloves come in small, medium and large sizes. A donation to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is made from the sale of these gloves. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Spear and Jackson Kew Gardens Collection high-performance gloves review

• Buy the Spear and Jackson Kew High Performance Gloves from Amazon (£13.98) and Tooled Up (£15.95)

5: Gold Leaf The Dry Touch

Our best heavy-duty gloves for wet-weather work

RRP: £22.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Crocus (£22.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable with good control
• Soft, high-quality leather
• Tough and long-lasting
• Water resistant
• Good investment

Reasons to avoid:

• Expensive

The Dry Touch gloves from Gold Leaf are tough, long-lasting and water-resistant. I found the gloves had a sturdy, yet luxurious feel, due to being made from soft, supple leather. They're available in both men's and women's sizes. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Gold Leaf The Dry Touch review

• Buy the Gold Leaf The Dry Touch Gloves from Crocus (£22.99) and On Buy (£29.93)

Best gauntlet gloves

Kent & Stowe Men’s Luxury Leather Gauntlet Gloves

Our best men's gauntlet gloves

RRP: £16.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£13.29) and ManoMano (£15.49)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable, warm and well-sized
• Good quality leather with strong stitching
• Excellent protection against thorns
• Great value

Reasons to avoid:

• Cuff a little snug
• Not waterproof
• One size only

I found these simple but tough gauntlet gloves provided excellent protection from thorns and prickles in both the thick, sturdy hand and the long suede cuff, although the cuff can be a little tight depending on the thickness of the coat you're pulling them over. Available in men’s large size only, they’re a good fit for large hands with the leather moulding well to the hand. They feel tough but flexible and comfortable, and there's enough dexterity to grip secateurs and loppers for regular pruning jobs, although these gloves are not for finer work like planting.

They’re also warm enough to wear throughout the colder pruning months of the autumn and winter. They’re comfortable, protective, sturdy and excellent value for money. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Stowe Luxury Leather Men's Gauntlet Gloves from Amazon (£13.29) and ManoMano (£15.49)

Also recommended: lightweight gloves

Clip Gloves General Purpose

Our best lightweight gloves for everyday use

RRP: £14.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Fothergills (£14.95), ManoMano (£13.99) and Robert Dyas (£12.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Snug, comfortable fit
• Padded and reinforced
• Great for everyday, medium-duty work
• Hard wearing

Reasons to avoid:

• Lack warmth
• Not water resistant

I liked the adjustable wrist strap, the extra padding, and the tailored fit of these Clip gloves. They may not be waterproof, but they dry well and keep their shape. Sizes range from small to large in both men's and women's styles. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Clip Gloves General Purpose review

• Buy Clip Gloves General Purpose from Fothergills (£14.95), ManoMano (£13.99) and Robert Dyas (£12.99)

Donkey Gloves

Our best lightweight gloves for grip

RRP: £15.95

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£15.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Snug fit
• Good grip
• Well-designed
• Lightweight but sturdy

Reasons to avoid:

• Not lined, waterproof or water resistant

These well-designed gloves fit snugly, making them ideal for delicate jobs that require a good grip. While they don’t feature an adjustable strap, the stretchy wrist cuff made it easy for me to put them on and take them off, and there’s a helpful sizing guide on the website to help you choose the right pair. They are comfortable to wear and feature an elasticated, breathable polyester back and a soft suede-padded palm and thumb gusset, which offers extra protection when pruning and clearing borders.

They feel well-made and sturdy, but while the palm is water-resistant, moisture soaks through the back of the glove. That said, I found they dried quickly, and the suede palm stayed soft. Though warm, they’re not lined so won’t keep out the chill of wintery weather, but they’re a reliable, mid-priced option for everyday work. Available in a range of sizes. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Donkey Gloves review

• Buy the Donkey Gloves from Amazon (£15.95)

Feverfew Garden Company Gloves

Our best lightweight gloves for versatility

RRP: £22.95

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Feverfew (£22.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Robust
• Comfortable with a good fit
• Touch screen fingers work well
• Good all-rounder

Reasons to avoid:

• A little difficult to get on and off
• Not dextrous for fine jobs

These good-looking gloves by Feverfew are designed specifically for women’s hands, and our female testers found them a good fit once they’d softened with a few wears. The elasticated neoprene cuff and Velcro strap make them a little tricky to get on and off, but they’re snug once on. The gloves are stretchy and flexible, ideal for general gardening tasks such as weeding, pruning, and using tools.

They have reinforced fingers, so they’re not for fine work like seed sowing, but they have a padded, microfibre palm and spandex and foam back, so they’re comfortable and protective. They’re not waterproof, particularly on the palms, though they're water-resistant and best for spring and summer wear. They also have handy ‘touch screen’ forefingers and thumbs that work very well, so you can look things up or answer a call if you need to without having to take them off.

After use, the gloves can be wiped down or machine-washed at 30 degrees C or below, and there’s a useful clip to secure them together and hang them up. Available in four sizes, XS-L and in a choice of green or plum, they also come in a protective cloth bag, which is a nice touch. They may not be the cheapest gardening gloves, but they’re well-fitting, comfortable and durable. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Feverfew Garden Company gloves from Feverfew (£22.99)

Briers All Seasons Cosy Gardener Gloves

Our best lightweight gloves for waterproofing

RRP: £4.99 for one pair; £7.99 for two pairs

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: The Range (£3.19)

Reasons to buy:

• Very affordable
• Well waterproofed with latex up to the knuckles
• Good wrist coverage
• Washable

Reasons to avoid:

• Thick latex gives poor tactility
• Feel rubbery on the inside
• No sizing evident on the glove itself, although different colours
• Waterproofing will diminish with thorn damage

These sturdy gloves are made for rough winter work, such as weeding in wet conditions, clearing debris and general gardening work. I liked the elasticated cuff and latex waterproofing covering much of the hand, including the entire palm and up to the knuckles on the back of the hand. They’re also washable, ideal for a winter glove, come with a one-year guarantee, and are very affordable.

The different colours correspond to different sizes, which makes it easier to tell your gloves and your partner’s gloves apart. However, the thicker latex, while offering sturdiness and excellent waterproofing, does diminish tactility, and the lack of a brushed lining could make them uncomfortable on a very cold day. Jane Moore

• Buy Briers Cosy Gardener Gloves M8 from The Range (£3.19)

Also recommended: heavy-duty gloves

Stihl ThermoGrip

Our best heavy-duty gloves for winter use

RRP: £7.75

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Sam Turner & Sons (£7.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and snug
• Warm
• Good grip
• Good value

Reasons to avoid:

• Bulky

These thick gloves are very snug and designed to keep your hands toasty and warm in the winter months. Stihl's ThermoGrip gloves are sturdy with a knitted fit, and although their chunky thickness means they lack a little dexterity, they have a good grip and a waterproof latex layer. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Stihl ThermoGrip Gloves review

• Buy Stihl ThermoGrip Gloves from Sam Turner & Sons (£7.99)

Burgon and Ball Love The Glove

Our best heavy-duty gloves for year-round use

RRP: £17.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£17.92) and Tesco (£17.19)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and snug
• Good dexterity and control
• Strong and durable
• Attractive, quality materials

Reasons to avoid:

• Wrist strap fiddly for some

Made from artificial suede and tweed, with a leather trim, the Burgon and Ball Love the Glove are among the best ladies' gardening gloves I've tested. The materials are high-quality, and the gloves are breathable, tough, and provide year-round protection. The wrist strap is adjustable for a snug fit, but some may find it fiddly. They're available in two sizes - small/medium and medium/large. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Burgon and Ball Love the Glove review

• Buy Burgon and Ball Love The Glove from Amazon (£17.92) and Tesco (£17.19)

RHS Gold Leaf Winter Touch Gloves

Our best heavy-duty gloves for comfort

RRP: £26.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£22.99) and Crocus (£26.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Waterproof and thermal
• Hardwearing reinforced palms
• Very comfortable
• Endorsed by the RHS

Reasons to avoid:

• Expensive
• No wrist closure, so draughty
• Not washable

These beautifully made gloves are designed for cold weather, featuring a warm Thinsulate lining and a waterproof, breathable membrane. They also feature a handy reinforced palm and thumb for extra grip and longevity when using heavier tools, and I loved the soft leather with a fabric back for extra breathability.

With their soft lining and quality leather, I found these gloves comfortable and pliable from the first wear, but they also moulded to the shape of my hands as they wore in over time. The wrist cuff is rather short, with only a small section of elastic to hold the glove in place and no velcro fastening, which allows draughts, especially when reaching. Jane Moore

• Buy the RHS Gold Leaf Winter Touch Gloves from Amazon (£22.99) and Crocus (£26.99)

Best of the rest:

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test:

Town & Country Premium Leather Gauntlets

RRP: £16.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£16.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Soft and supple
• Generously-sized cuff for extra protection

Reasons to avoid:

• Not water resistant

While an extra-wide cuff made these gloves easy to put on, the overall shape felt loose and baggy. However, as you’ll use them for tackling rose bushes and other thorny shrubs, this isn’t too much of an issue, and the extra length in the cuff is more important than dexterity. Featuring a suede cuff and ultra-soft leather for the palm and fingers, these gloves are very supple. Still, there’s a seam at the base of the second and third fingers, which makes them uncomfortable to grip tools or branches, especially if you’re doing so for any length of time.

They’re not lined, but the leather kept me warm, which was important when pruning roses in late winter. I like the quality of the leather and suede, which remain soft even after getting wet. To clean, remove dry mud with a suede brush. Available in two sizes: medium and large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Town & Country Premium Leather Gauntlets from Amazon (£16.99)

Genus Waterproof Gardening Gloves

RRP: £25.00

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from: Genus (£25)

Reasons to buy:

• Flexible
• Totally waterproof
• Dry well
• Available in a wide range of sizes

Reasons to avoid:

• Loose fit at the wrists, and the fingers are long
• Liner loose
• Dexterity is tricky with fit

These well-made gloves kept my hands completely dry while weeding, planting, and working in wet weather. They’re well-made with synthetic leather palms, polyester backs and tough seams, and although they won’t completely protect you from thorns and brambles, they won’t snag or tear. They’re reasonably thin and better for fine rather than heavy work; however, despite measuring my hands before ordering, the fingers are long, which makes very fine, delicate work difficult.

The elasticated wrist is also quite loose, which I found a bit drafty, and it let in debris as I worked. But they are waterproof, and the fleecy lining kept my hands warm. Just watch when you take them on and off, as they do work loose. They're quite expensive, but if you’ve got wet work to do, like leaf raking or digging, they would be useful. They're available in sizes - XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL and 3XL. Cinead McTernan

• Buy the Genus waterproof gardening gloves from Genus (£25)

Town & Country Eco-Flex Finesse

RRP: £5.99

Our Rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from: Tooled Up (£4.49)

Reasons to buy:

• Super light and comfortable
• Excellent dexterity
• Machine washable
• Made from sustainable materials

Reasons to avoid:

• Very thin
• Early wear and tear is evident
• Slippery fingertip coating

I found these gloves good to use in the spring and summer months. They’re extremely thin and breathable, and excellently suited for delicate potting and sowing, as you can still feel what you’re doing. However, I found the coating on the fingertips slippery, which is a shame when you’re attempting to tackle those finer, more fiddly tasks. Made from ocean-sourced plastic bottles, they have great sustainability credentials and are a bargain at £5.99. It’s also handy to have a machine-washable glove, and running them through a cold cycle left them mostly stain-free and ready to use again.

However, because of their thinness, they’re susceptible to ripping; just a small snag on a thorn or wayward branch results in holes on the back of the hand. They’re not a go-to, all-rounder glove, but if you’re looking for something to protect your hands while you do light work, they’re a nice addition to your collection. They’re available in the following sizes: extra small, small, medium and large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Town & Country Eco Flex Finesse Gloves from Tooled Up (£4.49)

Town & Country Eco-Flex Pro

RRP: £8.99

Our Rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from: Tooled Up (£9.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Good protection
• Comfortable
• Sustainable

Reasons to avoid:

• Not waterproof
• Fingers are a little loose

As with other gloves in Town & Country’s Eco-Flex range, these gloves are made from recycled plastic sourced from the ocean, and I thought the materials themselves felt great – the elasticated wrist is snug and comfortable, and the coated palm and fingertips offer sturdy protection when tackling more heavy-duty tasks, including handling thorny stems and clearing waste. The rubber coating is somewhat stiff and doesn’t soften with use, and it can feel a little strange when the glove snaps back to its resting position. This also makes you feel less dexterous when tackling more tactile tasks or handling secateurs.

The thin lining kept my hands warm, but the backs of the gloves soaked through easily and were unpleasant to wear when wet. It’s convenient that they’re machine washable, and they come out looking clean with no signs of damage from a 30℃ cycle. They’re a good pair of multi-purpose gloves for the price, and their sustainable credentials are a big plus. They come in sizes small, medium, large and extra-large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Town & Country Eco Flex Pro Gloves from Tooled Up (£9.95)

Spear & Jackson’s Kew Garden Collection Gardening Gloves

RRP: £12.49

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£7.98) and Tooled Up (£12.95)

Pros

• Easy to get on and off
• Comfortable and well-fitting
• Lightweight

Cons

• Not lined
• Not waterproof or water resistant

Spear & Jackson’s Kew Garden Collection Gardening Gloves feature an adjustable Velcro strap, so they’re easy to get on and off. Comfortable to wear, the palm is made using soft leather, so it doesn’t fit snugly, but you can feel what you’re doing and grip tools. The gloves have an elastane back, which makes them lightweight, breathable and flexible.

As they’re not lined, waterproof or water-resistant, these gloves are best for dry weather in spring and summer. With double stitching and additional leather reinforcement on the thumb and index finger, they feel sturdy and durable enough to tackle everyday medium work. Available in small, medium and large for men and women. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Town & Country Eco Flex Pro Gloves from Amazon (£7.98) and Tooled Up (£12.95)

Kent & Stowe Thermal Ultimate All Round Gardening Gloves

RRP: £5.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£5.98)

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent grip and tactility
• Snug fit with good wrist coverage
• Well made
• Soft thermal lining

Reasons to avoid:

• Waterproof latex is very short on the fingers
• Wipe clean only
• No sizing evident on the glove itself
• Waterproofing may diminish with thorn damage

I liked these all-round gardening gloves. They’re a comfortable choice for their snug fit and soft brushed lining, and they’re also easy to slip on and off, sitting snugly around the wrist with a generous elasticated cuff. The latex palm and fingers offer a good grip in dry and wet conditions, though the waterproofing does not extend far up the outside of the fingers, which can lead to wet hands when weeding. Surprisingly, they’re not washable, and the lack of sizing on the glove could mean that they get mixed up if you have multiple sizes in use. Jane Moore

• Buy Kent & Stowe Thermal Ultimate All Round Gardening Gloves from Amazon (£5.98)

ClipGlove Pruners

RRP: £19.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£5.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Soft leather with comfortable lining
• Good protection
• Water resistant

Reasons to avoid:

• Bulky
• Short cuff
• Leather catches and tears easily

With leather palms, a faux suede cuff and reinforced fingers and thumbs, I felt these pruning gloves from ClipGlove offered good protection, whether I was tackling roses or grappling with brambles. The leather softened quickly, and it's water-resistant, so they’re ideal for working in damp weather, but it catches and tears easily, meaning the gloves age quickly. A soft poly cotton lining gives extra warmth and protection, but unfortunately, it’s bulky, which makes the fingers feel thick and limits dexterity quite a bit.

I found the gloves easy to get on and off, and the cuff is wide enough to slip over most coats, but it's short, only coming halfway up the forearm, so although the gloves give you the confidence to grab even the thorniest stem, it would be helpful if the cuffs offered the same protection to the elbow. They come in women’s sizes small and medium, and men’s medium and large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy ClipGlove Pruners from Amazon (£5.95)

Kent and Stowe Luxury Leather Gloves

RRP: £14.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Electrical World (£14.62)

Reasons to buy:

• Soft and comfortable
• Thorn-proof
• Waterproof and warm
• Thick and shock absorbent

Reasons to avoid:

• Bulky

The Kent and Stowe Luxury Leather Gloves were easy to put on, offering a great fit that moulds to the hand and up the wrist, even though they don't have an adjustable strap. Made of leather with a warm polyester lining, these gloves are soft and comfortable, ideal for hard winter work. Though they’re only lined, not padded, these gloves are so thick that they still cushioned my hands when I was using a spade or a fork. The keystone stitches around the thumb make for extra durability, and I found lifting heavy rocks and logs comfortable. They’re thorn-proof and waterproof, and they don’t stiffen after getting wet, even after a good soaking.

However, these gloves are quite bulky and inflexible, which means you’ll struggle with more nimble work like pruning and weeding. In summer, they'll be far too hot to be comfortable, but they’re brilliant for wet work in winter. They’re a good-value pair of leather gardening gloves. They're available in ladies' small and medium sizes and men's medium and large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Kent & Stowe Luxury Leather Gardening Gloves from Electrical World (£14.62)

Treadstone ClipGlove Recycled Bottle Gloves

RRP: £5.99

Our rating: 3.8 out of 5

Available from: Treadstone (£5.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Snug and comfortable fit
• Good for dextrous work
• Latex covering for a good grip
• Keen price

Reasons to avoid:

• Not at all durable
• Low level of protection

These gloves are well-fitting and comfortable, and I was impressed that they are made predominantly from recycled plastic bottles and coated with latex on the palms and fingers to give a good grip. With their snug fit, they're suitable for light tasks, including jobs needing reasonably fine dexterity. Although not waterproof, they dried quickly. The main drawback of these gloves is that the covering wears and starts to come off after only a short time. And, although they're made from recycled bottles, which is good from an environmental point of view, they can't be recycled once they wear out.

The latex covering is not suitable for people with latex allergies, but the packaging does note this. Like all Treadstone ClipGloves, they have wrist loops and a small metal carabiner so the gloves can clip onto a belt or bag when not in use or hang up easily. They come in sizes medium and large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Treadstone ClipGlove Bottle Gloves from Treadstone (£5.99)

Kent & Stowe Luxury Leather Gauntlet Gloves

RRP: £16.99

Our Rating: 3.8 out of 5

Available from: Marshalls (15.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Attractive design
• Long protective cuff
• Easy to slide on and off

Reasons to avoid:

• Tough leather around fingertips makes fine work tricky
• Hard to clean
• Tough poppers
• Limited sizes available

With their lush yellow leather and classy herringbone backs, these gloves have a classic look, but unfortunately, I'd say style may have been favoured over substance. They’re incredibly easy to slide on and off, especially with the elongated leather cuff, which comfortably covered most of my lower arm and provided good protection when I was pruning thorny shrubs and climbers or tackling brambles and nettles. The fleece lining felt cosy, and these gloves are water-resistant when working in wet weather. However, even after significant wear, it’s hard to soften the leather around the fingertips, which reduces dexterity and makes it difficult to feel or grip fine materials.

An adjustable strap on the back of the gloves allows you to choose the fit, but the poppers are tough to snap on and off, and the difference between the two fits is negligible, so it feels more like an aesthetic offering than a practical one. The yellow leather also gets dirty quickly, which can add to its charm. They are available only in ladies' medium size. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Kent & Stowe Luxury Leather Gauntlet Gloves from Marshalls (15.99)

Looking for more garden gear? Consider our reviews of the best wellington boots, best mini chainsaws and the best garden kneelers. If your gardening equipment needs a refresh, consider our test of the best lawn mowers, and if it just needs a clean, why not try our expert review of the best pressure washers?

How to choose the best gardening gloves

Choosing the best gardening gloves for you will depend on the jobs you plan to do.

• Thin, lightweight gloves are best for duties where dexterity and being able to feel what you're doing is key, such as potting up, weeding and planting. They will protect your hands and let your skin breathe. Ideally, you’ll forget you’re even wearing them. Look for gloves with a nitrile coating on the fingers and palms, which will give you plenty of grip but also retain dexterity. If you’re working with tools, pruning or working in the cold, you might want a pair of lightweight gloves with a little more padding. They won’t offer as much flexibility, but will be comfortable and offer more protection
• Heavy-duty gardening gloves are essential for providing protection and support when using tools, doing hard landscaping jobs, or pruning roses or other thorny plants. There is a huge range of materials and styles of heavy-duty gloves to choose from. Leather makes a very tough glove; some are entirely made of leather, whilst others will have it added to the finger tips and palms for strength and durability. It’s also worth carefully considering the fit of heavy-duty gloves, as you may lose some dexterity if they don't fit well. An adjustable cuff can also help with the comfort of the glove and prevent debris from getting inside
• Gauntlet gloves are particularly useful for pruning shrubs, brambles, or roses. The long cuff of a gauntlet glove provides extra protection for the lower arms, preventing scratches and irritation
• Elasticated cuffs will provide a snug fit, prevent soil and plant debris from falling in and are easy to get on and off
• Finally, if you intend to use gardening gloves all year round, water resistance is helpful. This is often achieved using latex, leather or synthetic materials that can be specially treated to repel water

How we tested gardening gloves

Our experts trialled each pair of gloves throughout the gardening year, performing a range of tasks, from delicate work such as sowing seeds to more physical jobs like digging and heavy pruning. Once the test was complete, each product was rated out of five and the gardening gloves that really impressed our experts were awarded Best Buy status. The gloves were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Comfort and fit. Looked at how easy they were to get on and off, and how they fitted. Were they flexible or bulky? Did they allow us to feel what we were doing?
• Materials. Focused on grip, reinforcing and padding? Were they breathable or water-resistant, and which seasons would they suit?
• Durability. Assessed how sturdy and strong the gloves were. Would they cope with getting wet or being washed?
• Value for money. Considered all of the above and any special features, overall design, quality and style, and the RRP

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine , responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This article was last updated in February 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

If you have a hedge of any size, a powered hedge trimmer is a must-have step up from a good old pair of hand shears. The best of them will soon become an indispensable part of your garden armoury, but the wrong one for your needs will be frustrating. If it's too heavy, too weak or too uncomfortable to use, you'll dread doing the job, and your hedge will likely get out of control. To find out what to look for when choosing a hedge trimmer, watch the video above. So that's why my colleagues and I – and especially my predecessor on the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviews desk, Kay Maguire – have created this selection of the best hedge trimmers available to buy right now, all tested by our experts. 

Oliver Parsons, GardenersWorld.com

Before cutting your hedge, it’s important to avoid the main breeding season for garden birds, between March and August. Always check for nests before trimming, even outside these months, as it’s an offence under law to intentionally damage or destroy active bird nests.

Our best hedge trimmers to buy at a glance

Our 4 top-rated cordless hedge trimmers

• 4.8/5 stars: Our best budget cordless hedge trimmer – Vonhaus 20V Max Hedge Trimmer £64.99
• 4.8/5 stars: Our best hedge trimmer for small gardens – Flymo 18v EasiCut 450 Hedge Trimmer £89.99 without battery
• 4.8/5 stars: Our best lightweight cordless hedge trimmer – Ryobi ONE+ OHT1845 Cordless Hedge Trimmer £100.99
• 4.8/5 stars: Our best cordless hedge trimmer for large gardens – Stihl HSA 50 Cordless Hedge Trimmer £234 with battery and charger

Our 2 top-rated petrol hedge trimmers

• 4.8/5 stars: Our best value petrol trimmer – Webb HC600 Petrol Hedge Trimmer £179.99
• 4.8/5 stars: Our best premium petrol trimmer – Husqvarna 122HD60 Petrol Hedge Trimmer £349

Also recommended

• 4.5/5 stars: Our best lightweight cordless hedge trimmer with integrated battery – Stihl HSA 30 Cordless Hedge Trimmer £144
• 4.5/5 stars: Our best cordless hedge trimmer for long run times – Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit £113.95
• 4.5/5 stars: Our best cordless hedge trimmer for ease of use – Stiga SHT 100 AE Cordless Hedge Trimmer £99
• 4.5/5 stars: Our best mid-price cordless hedge trimmer for woodier growth – Greenworks G40HT61K2 Cordless Hedge Trimmer £146.99

Jump to best hedge trimmers:

• Our 4 top-rated cordless hedge trimmers
• Our 2 top-rated petrol hedge trimmers

Jump to hedge trimmer advice:

• How we test the best hedge trimmers
• What are the different types of hedge trimmer
• How to use a hedge trimmer safely
• Why you can trust BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviews
• Meet our testing panel

Our 4 top-rated cordless hedge trimmers

VonHaus 20V Max G-Series cordless hedge trimmer

Our best budget cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £64.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£49.99) and VonHaus (£49.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent performance
• Good value
• Lightweight
• Long runtime

Reasons to avoid:

• Small hand-guard

This is an excellent price for a hedge trimmer that I found very easy to use. It’s well balanced and light, with little vibration as it cuts through all but the thickest branches. I was also impressed by its 50-minute runtime, which is one of the longest on the test. Not only does it offer great performance at a reasonable price, but its battery is compatible with other Vonhaus G-Series tools, saving you money if you buy any of these in the future. Its only drawback is that the hand guard is a little small. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Vonhaus G-series cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£49.99) and VonHaus (£49.99)

Flymo 18V EasiCut 450 cordless hedge trimmer

Our best hedge trimmer for small gardens

RRP: £89.99 (without battery)

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Wickes (£87)

Reasons to buy:

• Light & easy to use
• Easily visible battery level indicator
• All packaging recyclable

Reasons to avoid:

• A screwdriver is needed to attach the handle
• Over two hours of battery charge time

I was pleased to see that this compact hedge trimmer came almost ready to use, and all its packaging is recyclable. Everything is wrapped in either cardboard or brown paper, which I love. Unlike others in our test, it needs the handle to be attached with a screwdriver, but this is very easy and takes just a couple of minutes. With a 45cm cutting length, the hedge trimmer is easy to use with a comfortable wrap-around handle and a two-stage start for safety. There’s also a hand guard to protect the hand as you work. At 2.2kg, it feels light and well-balanced, and it’s easy to use and manoeuvre around a hedge.

A blade tip protector prevents damage when cutting close to walls or the ground, and this trimmer cut cleanly through the privet hedge, brambles and yew that I was trimming. It’s powered by an 18V battery and has a good runtime of around 55 minutes, and the battery charge is clearly visible on the trimmer as you work, so it's easy to see if you're nearly running out. However, the battery takes just over two hours to charge, so you'll have to wait if you've still got trimming to finish.

Overall, this is a simple, light, and high-performing hedge trimmer, just the thing for everyday cutting and trimming in smaller gardens. I think it's good value for money, particularly as Flymo 18V batteries are also part of the Power4All Alliance, which means they can be shared across all the Flymo, Bosch and Gardena cordless tools in the Alliance and will save you money if you invest in further tools in the future. It also comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Flymo 18V EasiCut 450 cordless hedge trimmer from Wickes (£87)

Ryobi ONE+ OHT1845 cordless hedge trimmer

Our best lightweight cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £100.99

Our rating: 4.8 /5

Available from: Amazon (£84.99), Currys (£94.99) and Ryobi (£100.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Quite light yet efficient
• Compact, lightweight battery
• Long warranty
• Stout blade guard

Reasons to avoid:

• Power indicator is hard to view

For its compact size, I felt this hedge trimmer offers surprisingly impressive performance and trims a variety of materials well. The blade guard is sturdy and feels built to last, though I found the battery power indicator difficult to read. The tool is lighter than previous Ryobi models and is ideal for sculpting hedges and shrubs. The battery and charger cost extra but can be used with other tools in the Ryobi ONE+ System, making it a long-term money-saver. Kay Maguire

Read the full Ryobi ONE+ OHT1845 hedge trimmer review

• Buy the Ryobi ONE+ OHT1845 cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£84.99), Currys (£94.99) and Ryobi (£100.99)

Stihl HSA 50 cordless hedge trimmer

Our best cordless hedge trimmer for large gardens

RRP: £234 with battery and charger

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£219)

Reasons to buy:

• Efficient wide blade
• Well-balanced & comfortable to use
• Top-loading battery
• Blade tip protector & stout guard
• Fully recyclable packaging

Reasons to avoid:

• Cutting capacity is small for the price
• 80-minute charge time

With a top-loading battery and improved balance, this hedge trimmer has a 50cm blade and a cutting capacity of 16mm.  I found it comfortable to hold, and the updated design of the front trigger handle made it easier for me to use at different angles. With a run time of around 50 minutes, it copes well with even mature, woody growth and is pleasantly quiet, with good safety features, including a neutral locking position and a tip protector over the blade. The blade guard also feels sturdy and built to last. It takes 80 minutes to charge and comes with a two-year warranty. The battery and charger are compatible with other Stihl tools in the AK system. Kay Maguire

• Buy Stihl HSA 50 cordless hedge trimmer from Just Lawnmowers (£219)

Also recommended

Stihl HSA 30 cordless hedge trimmer

Our best lightweight cordless hedge trimmer with integrated battery

RRP: £144

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Stihl (£109)

Reasons to buy:

• Light & well-balanced
• Simple to use
• Quiet
• Fully recyclable packaging

Reasons to avoid:

• Only designed for young growth

No assembly is needed with this easy-to-use hedge trimmer from Stihl, which is always a bonus. It comes with clear instructions and is ready to go straight out of the box. The battery takes just 70 minutes to charge to full power and has a good 50-minute runtime, plus there’s a clear battery level indicator on the side of the trimmer, though you need to stop trimming to push the indicator on to see how much charge you have left. It has a three-stage start for safety with buttons on the handle and grip, and the trimmer feels well-balanced in use. Thanks to the small AS 2 battery, it also feels very light, weighing just 2.4kg.

The 45cm blade has a cutting capacity of 8mm and a tip protector on the end so you don’t damage it on walls or fences as you trim, and it cuts fresher growth on box, privet and laurel easily and smoothly. I did find it struggled with thicker, woodier stems, but it's not designed for tougher trimming jobs. It's easy to manoeuvre and shape with this trimmer, so it's ideal for the tight trimming of smaller shrubs and the annual trimming of your hedges. It comes with a blade cover for storage, and there’s also a hanging eyelet on the handle of the trimmer so you can hang it up out of the way in the garage or shed after use. It comes with a two-year warranty, and the battery and charger can also be used in any other AS machine in the Stihl range, saving you money if you already own these or if you plan to invest in the future. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Stihl HSA30 cordless hedge trimmer from Stihl (£109)

Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li cordless hedge trimmer

Our best cordless hedge trimmer for long run times

RRP: £113.95

Our rating: 4.5 /5

Available from: Power Tools Direct (£64.13) and Tooled Up (£67.95)

Reasons to buy:

• The battery charge level is clearly visible
• Fast charge time
• Long run time

Reasons to avoid:

• Narrow cutting capacity
• Short blade

This efficient cordless trimmer has a steel blade with a cutting length of 46cm and a 15mm cutting capacity. I particularly liked the tip protection and hanging hole on the end, and I felt it cut well. The 18V 2.0Ah battery charges in just 40 minutes and delivers an impressive 80 minutes of runtime. The charge is visible while you work, and both the battery and fast charger are compatible with a wide range of Einhell Power X-Change tools. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Read the full Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li cordless hedge trimmer kit review

• Buy Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li cordless hedge trimmer from Power Tools Direct (£64.13) and Tooled Up (£67.95)

Stiga SHT 100e cordless hedge trimmer

Our best cordless hedge trimmer for ease of use

RRP: £99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£99)

Reasons to buy:

• Soft comfortable handle
• The handle rotates into three positions
• Quiet
• The battery charge level is easily visible

Reasons to avoid:

• Snags on some wood
• The blade cover is tricky to fit

This versatile trimmer has a hardened steel blade with a cutting length of 55cm and a cutting capacity of 18mm. I think it's a great value trimmer with generous features, including a hanging hole for easy storage, a visible battery charge indicator while you work, and a comfortable, soft-grip handle that rotates 180° for easy cutting. As it's part of the Stiga 100 battery tool range, you’ll save money if you buy additional tools in the future. The 20V 2.0Ah battery has a charge time of 70 minutes and a runtime of 40 minutes. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Read the full Stiga SHT 100e cordless hedge trimmer kit review

• Buy Stiga SHT 100e cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£99) 

Greenworks G40HT61K2 cordless hedge trimmer

Our best mid-price cordless hedge trimmer for woodier growth

RRP: £146.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£109.44)

Reasons to buy:

• Light, easy to use & quiet
• Long for size & weight
• Blade tip protector and hanging facility
• Stout, sleeve-type blade guard

Reasons to avoid:

• Poorer cut quality on woody stems
• The battery indicator is hard to see

I found this fast and efficient machine lightweight and easy to use, particularly overhead or at shoulder height. The jam function prevents the blade from clogging, while 20mm tooth spacing allows it to cut through woodier growth. The handle rotates to three positions for easy handling, though the hand guard feels a little thin. Both the battery and charger can be used with other tools in the Greenworks G40V cordless range if you decide to expand your kit. Kay Maguire

Read the full Greenworks G40HT61K2 hedge trimmer review

• Buy the Greenworks G40HT61K2 hedge trimmer from Amazon (£109.44)

Our 2 top-rated petrol hedge trimmers

1: Webb HC600 petrol hedge trimmer

Our best mid-priced petrol hedge trimmer

RRP: £179.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Mowers Online (£174.99)

Reasons to buy:

• 5-position rotating handle
• Widest tooth spacing
• Tip guard
• Easy to start
• Handles and cuts well

Reasons to avoid:

• Louder than others in our test

An impressively easy-to-start model with a five-position rotating handle, this mid-priced petrol hedge trimmer is versatile, suiting most hedge sizes and shapes, while the wide tooth spacing makes it tough on wider, mature stems. The tool is heavy, but it felt well-balanced to hold, and it cut powerfully through hedges. A well-placed tip guard protects the blade against walls and fences. It's good value and comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Read the full Webb HC600 hedge trimmer review

• Buy the Webb HC600 hedge trimmer from Mowers Online (£174.99)

2: Husqvarna 122HD60 petrol hedge trimmer

Our best premium petrol hedge trimmer

RRP: £349

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£285) and Husqvarna (£349)

Reasons to buy:

• Powerful with a brushless motor
• Rigid guard with hanging option
• Fast, efficient cut
• Three-position handle
• Lowest noise level of petrol models

Reasons to avoid:

• Quite an investment at this price

This petrol hedge trimmer is compact and felt light, but still delivers a powerful and efficient cut. The rotating handle makes awkward angles easier, and the anti-vibration system means it’s comfortable to manoeuvre. The tool is quiet, so there’s minimal disruption for your neighbours, and I found it best for high hedging and large shrubs. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Read the full Husqvarna 122HD60 hedge trimmer review

• Buy the Husqvarna 122HD60 hedge trimmer from Amazon (£285) and Husqvarna (£349)

Best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Mitox 600DX petrol hedge trimmer

RRP: £169

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£149) and Mowers Online (£149)

Reasons to buy:

• Five-year warranty
• Anti-vibration system
• 4-point rotating handle
• Cuts efficiently

Reasons to avoid:

• Hard to start
• Thin plastic guard

The Mitox 600DX is a heavier petrol-powered trimmer. Despite its weight, I thought it was well-balanced and liked the handy rotating handle and anti-vibration system, which makes handling comfortable. The trimmer was harder to start than other models we tested, and the plastic hand guard felt quite flimsy, although it does come with a generous five-year warranty. The long blade is great for tall hedges and offers an almost professional cut. Kay Maguire

Read the full Mitox 600DX hedge trimmer review

• Buy the Mitox 600DX hedge trimmer from Just Lawnmowers (£149) and Mowers Online (£149)

Webb Eco WEV20HTB2 50cm cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £99.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£89.99), Robert Dyas (£89.99) and Tooled Up (£89.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight & well-balanced
• Affordable

Reasons to avoid:

• Small 16mm cut capacity
• Quite loud during use

A lightweight and affordable hedge trimmer from Webb Eco, this machine proved ideal for smaller garden hedges. I didn't need to assemble anything before getting to work, and as the tool weighs just 3.4kg, it wasn't too hard on the hands and back. The 50cm blade can tackle a range of leaves and even thin branches without struggling. It comes with a 2.0 Ah battery and charger that promises up to 48 minutes of work on a single charge.

Although the D-shaped front handle is a bit small, this hedge trimmer is still easy to handle. This, and the general ease of use, are thanks to an excellent balance between the blade and the battery end. The machine’s 16mm cut capacity is quite small, and it’s a bit loud during use, but otherwise, this is a capable and lightweight hedge trimmer that's a pleasure to use. Like all Webb products, this hedge trimmer is covered by a three-year warranty. Harry Duncton

• Buy the Webb Eco WEV20HTB2 50cm cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£89.99), Robert Dyas (£89.99) and Tooled Up (£89.95)

Worx WG261E.1 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £129.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£109.98)

Reasons to buy:

• Spare battery
• Comfortable handle
• Cuts smoothly & easily

Reasons to avoid:

• Long charge time
• Fiddly hand-guard attachment
• No battery level visible

The hand-guard needs to be attached to this trimmer, which I found a bit of a faff. But a generous handle meant it was comfortable to use, and it has a 45cm long blade with a 16mm cutting capacity and tip protection. It takes a relatively long time to charge - 230 minutes - and although the run time of just 20 minutes is very short, it comes with two batteries, so if you’re organised and keep the second battery charged, you can get 40 minutes of continuous use. The batteries and charger are part of the Worx PowerShare system, so you'll save money if you invest in further tools. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t have a battery level indicator, which I found unhelpful. It comes with a three-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy Worx WG261E.1 cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£109.98)

Husqvarna Aspire™ H50-P4A battery hedge trimmer

RRP: £219

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£192) and Husqvarna (£219)

Reasons to buy:

• Efficient 50cm blade
• Comfortable handle & large trigger
• Power button & charge level indicator on the handle
• Removable leaf brushing attachment
• Highly versatile batteries shared between brands

Reasons to avoid:

• Flimsy blade guard is hard to attach
• Quite front-heavy

This quiet 18-volt battery-powered hedge trimmer is powerful enough to chop through woody branches up to 23mm in diameter, and I felt it left an excellent finish on hedges and trees. The handles are hard, but comfortable, and the overall length of less than a metre meant I could use it in tight spaces. With the 4.0Ah battery attached, it can work for up to 80 minutes on a single 95-minute charge, which is perfect for gardens with large privet hedges. I found packing the hedge clippers away easy, too, thanks to the integrated storage hook that can attach to a rail system. Both the battery and charger are compatible not only across the Husqvarna Aspire range but with the Power For All Alliance of cordless tools, which includes Flymo, Gardena and Bosch and will save you money if you invest in any of those tools in the future. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy Husqvarna Aspire™ H50-P4A battery hedge trimmer from Amazon (£192) and Husqvarna (£219)

Mountfield MHT 20 Li cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£95.53) and Just Lawnmowers (£89)

Reasons to buy:

• Battery charge visible
• Light
• Comfortable & simple to use

Reasons to avoid:

• Struggles with thicker wood
• Lacks features for the price

Part of the Mountfield Freedom 100 cordless range, this cordless hedge trimmer has a hardened steel, laser-cut blade with a cutting length of 55cm and a cutting capacity of 18mm. It has tip protection and a hanging hole at the end of the blade. The 20V 2Ah battery takes 70 minutes to charge to full power, has a runtime of 40 minutes, and shows the charge level at the touch of a button while you work. The trimmer is light and easy to use, and it cuts most wood smoothly. Compared to other trimmers in my tests (particularly the Stiga, which shares its battery system), I felt it lacked features for the price. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Mountfield MHT 20 Li cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£95.53) and Just Lawnmowers (£89)

Stihl HSA 45 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £123.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£168) and Just Lawnmowers (£109)

Reasons to buy:

• Great safety features
• Battery level is clearly visible
• Very quiet
• Well balanced

Reasons to avoid:

• The battery is built in, so you can't swap it out for another when it's flat
• Long charge time
• Narrow 8mm cutting capacity

If safety is a consideration, then this is the model for you, thanks to the combination of a removable activation key and three switches to start it up. Featuring a double-sided blade with tip protection, it has a 50cm length and an 8mm cutting capacity, which is the smallest of all the trimmers I tested. While the 18V 2.0Ah battery has a relatively slow 210-minute charge time and a 40-minute runtime, there's a battery level indicator on the side of the trimmer, which was helpful for showing me how much charge I had left. However, the battery is integrated into the casing, so you must plug in the entire tool to charge it, and you won’t be able to use the battery in other tools. I like the useful hanging hole for easy storage, and it comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Stihl HSA 45 cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£168) and Just Lawnmowers (£109)

VonHaus 40V cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £89.99

Our rating: 4.1/5

Available from: Amazon (£74.99)

Reasons to buy:

• 180° rotating handle for comfortable vertical trimming
• 40-volt battery provides good power & 60-minute run time
• Affordable

Reasons to avoid:

• Balance favours the battery end
• The safety guard in front of the D handle is a bit flimsy

Vonhaus have added to their growing collection of garden power tools with this upgraded 40-volt battery hedge trimmer. I was impressed by its 51cm blade and 22 mm cut width. It made short work of leaves, stems, and reasonably sized branches, and is comfortable to hold thanks to a rubberised grip and a large rear trigger. The large front D-shaped handle is big enough for large hands wearing gloves, too, which is always useful. Something I liked about this trimmer is the rotating handle, engaged by pressing a large orange button on the top of the rear handle. By adjusting the blade angle, you can neatly cut vertical or horizontal hedges without having to hold the trimmer awkwardly. And when it’s running, it only makes 92dB of noise.

The large-size 40-volt battery powers the trimmer for up to 60 minutes and can be fully recharged in the same amount of time. And although it provides plenty of cutting power, the balance is slightly biased towards the battery end. It’s not uncomfortable to use, seeing as it only weighs 3.7kg, but it’s still noticeable. Overall, you get a powerful hedge trimmer for under £100, covered by a two-year warranty. Harry Duncton

• Buy VonHaus 40V cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£74.99)

EGO HT2000E 56V cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £299

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Mowers Online (£299)

Reasons to buy:

• Plenty of power to cut thick branches
• Large cut capacity of 25mm between the teeth
• Battery provides a long run time of up to 75 minutes

Reasons to avoid:

• Expensive when bought as a kit
• Uneven weight distribution makes it harder to handle

Everything about this hedge trimmer seemed big to me. It’s a chunky machine with a big battery and impressive cut capacity. Each gap between the teeth on the 51cm blade is 25mm wide and 20mm deep, meaning it can happily chew through decent-sized branches without slowing down. The front and rear handles are big enough for large hands wearing gloves, and the safety switch is easy to operate at most angles.

Running on EGO’s hefty 56-volt battery system, the trimmer delivers tons of power, and I was impressed by its long runtime of up to 75 minutes. However, there’s more weight at the back of the machine, which makes the tool feel somewhat unbalanced, so it’s not the most comfortable to use with your arms extended. On the plus side, there’s not much vibration, so it’s fine for close-up work, and it comes with a high-quality hard-plastic blade cover and a hole in the top for hanging it on the shed wall. The price tag is on the high side, but you can use the battery with more than 50 tools in the range. The tool is covered by a five-year warranty, while the battery is covered for three years. Harry Duncton

• Buy the EGO HT2000E 56V cordless hedge trimmer from  Mowers Online (£299)

Gardena EasyCut Li 14.4, 40cm cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £123.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£123.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Very light & well-balanced
• Cuts well

Reasons to avoid:

• Slightly awkward to hold & use
• Integrated battery
• No battery level indicator

I like the fact that this compact hedge trimmer requires no assembly and has an integrated battery, so you simply plug the whole trimmer in to charge it. However, this does mean that, unlike most other cordless trimmers, there’s no interchangeable battery you can swap among tools. I also found it a little tricky to get the charging cable in. The trimmer has a three-stage start on the grip and a shaped handle for safety, but it is a little awkward to hold, especially if you’re manoeuvring between shrubs.

However, it’s well-balanced and weighs just 1.9kg, making it efficient and easy to use for regular light trimming. It cut all newer growth easily and well in my test, and the battery lasts around 60 minutes on a full charge. There’s no charge level indicator on the trimmer, so it’s tricky to know how much power you have left while you’re working. The 40cm-long blade has a 16mm cutting width and a tip protector to prevent damage when trimming close to the ground or a wall, and the trimmer comes with a three-year warranty. Harry Duncton

• Buy the Gardena EasyCut Li 14.4, 40cm cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£123.99)

Cobra HT55040VZ 40V cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £169.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£149)

Reasons to buy:

• Ready to use
• Long run time
• Battery charge indicator
• Hanging hook

Reasons to avoid:

• Heavy to hold & use
• Struggles with thicker wood
• Plastic packaging bar box

There’s no assembly needed with this hedge trimmer; once the 40-volt battery’s charged, it’s ready to use straight out of the box. It takes 90 minutes to charge the battery to full, but it has a comparatively long runtime of 70 minutes, which I found really useful. It also has a handy battery-level indicator on the back of the battery, though you need to stop trimming and press the button to see how much power's left. The 2.5Ah battery is also large, making this trimmer, which already weighs 3.8kg, feel heavy and a little unbalanced, so this may not be the trimmer for those who struggle with heavy lifting or lack mobility. It has a two-stage start on the grip and handle, with a rubberised grip for comfort, and a long, double-sided 55cm blade with a 20mm cutting width.

I like the presence of a tip protector to prevent damage if you’re trimming close to the ground or a wall, and a hanging hook for storage. This trimmer cuts well, only struggling a little with thicker growth, and it feels well-made, sturdy and durable. Compared to many of the smaller, cheaper trimmers in our test, this feels designed for longer, harder trimming jobs, which the price reflects. This hedge trimmer costs about the same as many, but it doesn't include the battery or charger, which need to be purchased separately. However, the trimmer and battery are part of the interchangeable Cobra 40-volt Li-ion system, so you would save money if you already own one of their batteries or plan to invest in additional tools in the system in the future. It comes with a three-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Cobra HT55040VZ 40V cordless hedge trimmer from Just Lawnmowers (£149)

Bosch EasyHedgeCut 18-45 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £99.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£80) and Currys (£80)

Reasons to buy:

• Light & well-balanced
• Cuts cleanly
• Battery system includes garden & DIY tools

Reasons to avoid:

• Long charge time
• Uncomfortable handle/grip position
• Battery level not visible
• No hanging hole

This trimmer has a 45cm blade and comes with an 18-volt 2Ah battery. While it has an above-average run time of 50 minutes, the charge time can take around 124 minutes, which is among the longest of the models we tested. We also found the handle design awkward and uncomfortable to grip. However, it’s part of the Bosch Power For All 18V Alliance system, which powers around 40 Bosch home, garden and household tools, so this may be something to bear in mind. We liked that it features blade sensors to prevent snagging and a decent cutting capacity of 15mm. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Bosch EasyHedgeCut 18-45 cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£80) and Currys (£80)

Kärcher HGE 18-45 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £169.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£169.99) and Kärcher (£169.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Great value
• LCD battery display
• Excellent performance

Reasons to avoid:

• Heavy
• Short runtime
• Expensive

I loved the performance of this trimmer from Kärcher. Unlike other trimmers on test, this model has an LCD battery display that shows exactly how long you have left to cut. I was also impressed with the value of this model, because its battery is compatible with 16 other Kärcher tools, including mowers, grass trimmers, and chainsaws. However, it’s quite heavy, and I found that the skin of my fingers could easily catch between the ‘dead man’ switch and the handle. Though I love the helpful battery screen, its 35-minute runtime is below average. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Kärcher HGE 18-45 cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£169.99) and Kärcher (£169.99)

LawnMaster MX 24V cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £69.99

Our rating: 3.9/5

Available from: Amazon (£69.99) and Robert Dyas (£69.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Incredibly light for ease of use
• Well-balanced & easy to handle
• Affordable

Reasons to avoid

• The front handle takes some getting used to
• Loud at 102dB
• Small 15mm cut capacity

I found the LawnMaster MX 24V an affordable but capable hedge trimmer, delivering a surprising amount of power for a light piece of kit. Decked out in bright orange, it’s not going to get lost easily in the garden. It has a pleasant, soft-grip back handle, and it’s nicely balanced from front to back. You get a 52cm blade with a rather small 15mm gap between each tooth, which means you’re limited to smaller branches. It’s all powered by a 2.0Ah battery weighing less than 500g, helping the entire setup to come in at under 3kg in weight. An impressive feat, meaning almost anyone could use it without putting too much strain on the arms and back. It will run for about 40 minutes on a single charge.

The front handle is the only thing that lets this trimmer down a little. Rather than a D-shaped handle that you can hold at any angle, this one is more like a ball grip with safety switches you engage with the palm of your hand. It still works, but a more traditional grip is easier to work with. For a budget-friendly hedge trimmer, it’s good to see it come with a hard plastic blade cover rather than a flimsy sleeve that’s hard to put back on. Overall, it’s an impressive little tool for not a lot of money, and it’s covered by a two-year warranty. Harry Duncton

• Buy the LawnMaster MX 24V from Amazon (£69.99) and Robert Dyas (£69.99)

How we test the best hedge trimmers

When we test hedge trimmers, we use them across various hedges with different stem thicknesses.

Then, we score each model against these four criteria, with equal marks attributed to each one:

• Set-up and storage: We assess the assembly needed, the ease and clarity of the instructions provided, the battery charge time on cordless models, and any storage features
• Handling: Vital for the tool to be enjoyable to use, we look at each hedge trimmer's ease of use, overall weight, weight distribution, noise levels, comfort and safety features
• Performance: We also look at the quality of the cut, blade length, the maximum stem thickness the trimmer can handle, and, for cordless models, the battery run time
• Value for money: We look at all of the above, plus quality and design in relation to the RRP (including battery and charger where relevant), and the length of warranty

For more on our testing process across all the different gardening product categories, see How we review

What are the different types of hedge trimmer?

There are three types of hedge trimmer available, each with its own pros and cons:

• Cordless hedge trimmers: These are lightweight, quiet, environmentally friendly, and require no petrol, engine maintenance, or electricity, plus there are no trailing cables to worry about. Without the cord or a petrol tank, you aren’t limited to where you can cut, and although these were traditionally pretty pricey, recent advances have lowered their price. Expensive batteries and chargers, however, can increase costs. Read our best cordless tools buyer's guide for more information on cordless tool systems
• Electric corded hedge trimmers: Affordable, low-maintenance and lightweight, these trimmers require a power source and have potentially hazardous cables. Depending on their length, you may also need an extension cord for extra reach
• Petrol hedge trimmers: These are powerful and, like cordless versions, can be used anywhere. However, petrol has an environmental impact, is expensive and messy, and trimmers are heavy, noisy and require regular maintenance

How to use a hedge trimmer safely

Check the weather forecast
It can be dangerous to cut your hedges in the rain, especially when using an electric trimmer. So make sure the hedge is dry, and no rain is forecast while you’ll be working.

Check your equipment
It’s always worth giving your tool a once-over to check that it’s in working order and has not been damaged.

Wear the right clothes and shoes
Ensure your clothes offer you enough protection while cutting your hedge, and avoid loose-fitting clothes that might snag on branches as you work. Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes so that you feel steady on your feet. You might also like to wear goggles and gloves.

Remove dead leaves and debris
Old, dead leaves or debris in your hedge could jam the hedge trimmer, so make sure you check the hedge before you start.

Check that the area is safe
It’s worth just checking your surroundings before you start. Make sure there are no children or pets running around. If you’re using a corded trimmer, make sure the cable isn’t creating a trip hazard for yourself or others.

Why you can trust BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviews

As trained gardeners and seasoned users of all sorts of garden tools, the testing team at BBC Gardeners' World Magazine have reviewed scores of hedge trimmers over the years, using our trusted testing matrix to make sure we're giving balanced, fair judgments. We test hedge trimmers in varied, real-world conditions, cutting a variety of hedge plants with different characteristics. Because we're real-world gardeners with lots of experience, we know what to look out for and the sorts of things that will make all the difference once you're using a particular hedge trimmer regularly.

We give each hedge trimmer an at-a-glance list of pros and cons for clarity, and a rating out of five. We also don't share product reviews with manufacturers or retailers before they're published, and we don't accept payment in exchange for positive reviews either. Oliver Parsons, gardenersworld.com

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in February 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

All have a high-carbon steel blade, and many have been designed to cut a particular type or thickness of wood. As a rule of thumb, the longer the blade, the thicker the wood it can cut, but the strength of the blade, the sharpness of the teeth and how long they stay sharp, as well as grip and comfort, will all affect how easily and well a saw will cut.

Best Buy pruning saws at a glance

• Best folding saw for performance (2025): Stiga Folding Pruning Saw
• Best fixed straight saw: ARS CAM24 PRO Pruning Saw
• Best folding saw: ARS PM-21 Folding Pruning Saw
• Best folding saw for high use: Silky Gomboy Curve Professional Pruning Saw
• Best fixed curved saw: Felco 640 Pruning Saw
• Best compact folding saw: Stihl PR16 Handycut Folding Saw

Jump to best pruning saws:

• Best pruning saws
• Best of the rest pruning saws

Jump to pruning saws advice:

• Pruning saw features explained
• How to choose a pruning saw
• How to use a pruning saw safely
• How we tested pruning saws

In every review, we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best pruning saws below:

Best pruning saws

Stiga Folding Pruning Saw

RRP: £19.99

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Available from Stiga

Pros

• Blade made from high-carbon manganese steel (65Mn)
• Teflon coating on the blade reduces friction and eases cleaning
• Extra-grip handle boosts control and reduces fatigue
• Bright yellow design makes the saw easy to spot

Cons

• Long length may prove challenging to manoeuvre in between branches

From the outset, this saw feels sturdy and well-balanced in the hand, despite its 25cm high-carbon steel blade. The curved blade has triple-ground teeth and is made of 65Mn steel, which is tougher than other knife steels and has a similar hardness due to its high manganese content.

The handle has a defined grip area, which encourages you to hold it in the correct place for optimal cutting, while the bright yellow would make it easy to spot amongst debris. The blade folds neatly into the 32cm handle, locking securely in position whether closed or open. The handle also features a hole in the end, ready for a handy lanyard.

The Teflon-coated blade cuts cleanly and with little friction, making light and easy work of both live and dead wood. Although the longer length could prove challenging to manoeuvre in some situations, the saw is slender and proved easy to use when pruning a dense shrub. With a five-year warranty, no plastic packaging and a quality finish, this pruning saw is a good choice for the keen gardener with plenty of regular woody pruning to do. For all these reasons, we awarded this tool a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for performance.

Buy the Stiga Folding Pruning Saw from Stiga

ARS CAM24 PRO Pruning Saw

RRP: £48.86

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Very light and comfortable
• Long strong blade
• Cuts smoothly and efficiently
• Handy holster for safety
• Replacement parts available

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for Best fixed straight saw, this light, comfortable pruning saw easily cuts even thick, dense wood. The high-carbon steel blade is chrome-plated for durability and impulse-hardened teeth, so they stay sharp longer. It cuts on the pull stroke, and the handle has a rubber grip and is hooked to stop the hand slipping, even when applying pressure. Best for cutting wood at the user's level. All parts are replaceable, it comes with a handy holster and has a lifetime warranty.

Read the full ARS CAM 24 PRO review

Buy the ARS CAM 24 PRO from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled up

ARS PM-21 Folding Pruning Saw

RRP: £38.95

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Very light and comfortable
• Cuts easily and cleanly
• Replacement parts available
• Choice of cutting angles

This light, simple saw was awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for Best folding saw. There's a chrome-plated carbon-steel blade and impulse-hardened teeth, which will stay sharper longer. It’s made from aluminium and has a shaped rubber grip handle that fits comfortably in the hand as you work. This tool is light, comfortable, and easy to use, cutting effortlessly through even thick, dense wood. Every single part is replaceable, and it comes with a lifetime warranty.

Read the full ARS PM-21 Folding Saw review and watch our Best Buy video to see why the ARS PM-21 Folding Pruning Saw was awarded BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy status.

Buy the ARS PM-21 Folding Pruning Saw from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled-Up

Silky Gomboy Curve Professional Folding Saw

RRP:£47.39

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Linstead

Pros

• Cuts smoothly and very easily
• Excellent quality, durable materials
• Comfortable grip, low-vibration handle
• Replacement blade available
• The long, curved blade gives good access and reach

Cons

• Expensive

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best folding saw for high use, this Silky saw is very well made and crafted from excellent-quality materials. Although expensive, it's well worth the price for frequent use. The long, slightly curved blade makes pruning disproportionately easier than with a shorter saw, and it gives good reach, allowing you to get into dense shrubs and awkward spots. The materials are durable, with the teeth set into the blade for a smooth cut with minimal resistance, and the blade folds and secures to the handle easily.

The handle is shaped for a comfortable grip and features a micro-textured rubber coating that ensures a secure grip even when wet. It’s also sufficiently long to use two-handed if a bit more oomph is needed, or when one arm starts to tire. The handle has an 'eye' on the end for hanging and easy storage, and the saw also comes with a plastic case that can be buckled to a belt. Its bright yellow colour makes it easy to spot when you put the saw down to clear prunings, but it is also rather large and could get in the way. Replacement blades are available, but they’re pricey at £29.94.

Read the full Silky Gomboy Curve Professional Pruning Saw review

Buy the Silky Gomboy Curve Professional Folding Saw from Linstead

Felco 640 Pruning Saw

RRP: £65.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Very light and comfortable
• Cuts easily and cleanly
• Replacement parts and repair service are available
• Choice of cutting angles

Cons

• Expensive compared with others of similar quality

This high-quality pruning saw won a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy award for Best fixed curved saw, and it is a joy to use. The high-carbon steel blade is chrome-plated to help prevent corrosion and features impulse-hardened teeth, cutting cleanly and precisely. The curved handle is hooked with a rubber grip, and it feels comfortable and well-balanced in the hand.

With a holster and belt hook for easy carrying, it also has a Velcro strap which wraps comfortably around the leg for added security. Capable of tackling even the toughest wood, this saw is a great investment if you have lots of trees and shrubs to look after. It comes with a lifetime warranty, and replacement parts and a repair service are available.

Read the full Felco 640 Pruning Saw review

Buy the Felco 640 Pruning Saw from Amazon, B&Q and On Buy

Stihl PR16 Handycut Folding Saw

RRP: £32

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Comfortable and light
• Compact and portable
• Cuts smoothly and efficiently
• Replacement blade available

Cons

• Small cutting width
• Safety catch stiff

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for Best compact saw, this light, comfortable pruning saw has a curved, chrome-plated Japanese steel blade with a cutting width of 65mm. It's surprisingly sharp and strong, with no clogging or sticking, and it folds in and out of the handle with a plastic button. The shaped handle has well-placed rubber grips that cushion the hand, and our only complaint is the safety catch's stiffness, which loosens with time. The saw is compact, neat and ideal for sticking in a pocket when you go out into the garden. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Stihl PR16 Handycut Pruning Saw review

Buy the Stihl PR16 Handycut Folding Saw from Amazon

Best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest:

Kent & Stowe Turbo Folding Saw

RRP: £14.99

Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

Available from Marshalls

Pros

• Carbon steel blade
• Sharp triple-ground teeth give efficient cutting of wet and green wood
• Pocket-sized 14cm length blade folds into an 18cm length handle
• Rubber comfort grip handle

Cons

• Hard work to cut larger branches
• Darker colours could get lost in debris

This pocket-sized pruning saw, with its tough 14cm carbon steel blade and ridged rubber grip handle, is both comfortable and nicely balanced, despite its small size. When folded, the saw is only 18cm long, and the locking mechanism secures the blade when folded or in use. The handle has a moulded hole, which is ideal for a lanyard and for hanging the saw in the shed.

The blade features triple-ground teeth, and the good grip on the handle makes it efficient at cutting through green or wood up to 5cm in diameter, although it's better suited to smaller branches. It has a five-year warranty, and the compact size makes it a great choice for those with smaller hands or a smaller garden.

Buy the Kent & Stowe Turbo Folding Saw from B&Q, Marshalls and Tooled Up

Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Small Folding Pruning Saw

RRP: £17.99

Our rating: 3.75 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Carbon steel blade for strength and lasting sharpness
• Hollow-ground blade with seven points per inch, ultra-sharp precision-ground teeth
• Non-slip comfort curved ‘pistol-grip’ style handle with thumb pad
• 10-year guarantee

Cons

• Some materials feel cheap

A mid-sized option, this pruning saw features an 18cm carbon steel blade that folds into a 25cm handle. With a nicely curved, ‘pistol-grip’ handle, ribbed grip, and moulded thumb pad, it feels very comfortable and secure in the hand. The handle also features a hole for fitting a lanyard. The blade locks safely in both the open and closed positions.

When pruning, it is comfortable to use and a good size for most tasks, although some effort is required, and the cut action is not as smooth as one would hope. With a generous 10-year guarantee and a keen price, this pruning saw would suit the budget-conscious gardener.

Buy the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Small Folding Pruning Saw from Amazon, On Buy and Tooled Up

Ames Folding Pruning Saw

RRP: £19

Our rating: 4.75 out of 5

Available from Cambridge Home and Garden

Pros

• 15-year guarantee
• SK5 carbon steel blade with seven teeth per inch or TPI
• PTFE coated for smooth cutting, rust resistance and lasting sharpness
• A non-slip, ergonomic handle provides grip and comfort
• The blades lock in an open and closed position for safe handling and storage

Cons

• Darker colours might get lost in debris

With its curved non-slip handle and thumb pad, the Ames folding pruning saw is comfortable in the hand and in use. It features a nylon-fibre handle with a good tactile grip and a handy hole for a lanyard, along with an SK5 carbon-steel blade. The 21cm blade is PTFE-coated for smooth cutting, rust resistance, and lasting sharpness, and it cuts through both live and dead wood with little effort.

The blade folds nicely into the 26cm handle and can be securely locked in either the open or closed position for safe handling and storage. With a 15-year warranty, this is a good option for the keen gardener needing a mid-sized pruning saw with a long warranty.

Buy the Ames Folding Pruning Saw from Bradshaws and Cambridge Home and Garden

Darlac Sabre Tooth Folding Saw

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Mr Fothergills

Pros

• Makes good clean cuts
• Locks both while open and while closed
• Replacement blade available

Cons

• The blade catches on the handle when closing

The straight blade on this folding saw is made from carbon steel with a rust-resistant chrome coating and is strong, sturdy and sharp with a 90mm cutting width. The soft rubber grip handle is comfortable and hooked to prevent your hand slipping, and the blade folds in and out, locking in place both ways for safety.

However, you do need to make sure you guide the blade into the handle when closing, otherwise it tends to catch on the handle and, over time, will scuff the rubber. Replacement blades are available at an additional cost. This pruning saw is ideal if you only have a few trees and shrubs, and would prefer to replace the blade rather than buy a new pruning saw. This tool comes with a lifetime warranty.

Buy the Darlac Sabre Tooth Folding Saw from B&Q, Mano Mano and Mr Fothergills

Wilkinson Sword Turbo Folding Saw

RRP: £24.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Compact and portable
• Comfortable and light
• Cuts cleanly

Cons

• No replacement blade available
• No rust-resistant coating

This compact folding saw has a curved blade made from Japanese steel and triple-ground teeth that cut cleanly on the pull stroke. The comfortable handle has a soft rubber grip covering, and it's hooked to stop the hand slipping in use. A gripped, plastic safety catch on the top of the handle locks the blade both open and closed.

However, the blade catches on the handle as it closes, scuffing the rubber, so make sure you guide it into the handle when locking it in place. A handy size for slipping into your pocket, this saw comes with a 10-year warranty.

Buy the Wilkinson Sword Turbo Folding Saw from Mano Mano, On Buy and Tooled Up

Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Large Folding Pruning Saw

RRP: £32.49

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Feels sturdy
• Good safety features
• Cuts smoothly and cleanly

Cons

• No replacement blade available
• Unwieldy and large to carry

This is one of the largest pruning saws in the group we tested, measuring 60cm, but it feels sturdy to use. It’s comfortable, thanks to a soft grip handle that's curved to prevent your hand from slipping in use. The safety button is easy to use: it unlocks the blade to open or close it, and it also locks in the halfway position to prevent fingers from accidentally catching on the blade.

The straight blade is made from SK5 carbon steel and chrome-plated for lasting sharpness, rust resistance, and durability. It also has precision-ground teeth for a smooth, clean cut, which comfortably tackle branches up to 90mm wide. In the top price range of the group we tested, it comes with just a 10-year warranty, compared to many others that offer a lifetime warranty. However, it’s a sturdy saw that cuts well, has good safety features and is ideal for cutting living, green wood.  

Buy the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Large Folding Pruning Saw from Amazon and Tooled Up

Corona Max RazorTOOTH 35.5cm Pruning Saw

RRP: £40.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Strong and sturdy
• Cuts smoothly and efficiently
• Wide cutting width

Cons

• No blade guard or holster
• No replacement blade available

A fixed pruning saw with a long, curved SK5 carbon steel blade, chrome-plated and impulse-hardened, this saw cuts even thick, dense wood cleanly and smoothly. The shaped, ergonomic handle has rubber grips for the fingers and thumb, is curved to prevent the hand slipping when cutting, and it feels comfortable and light in use.

Although the saw comes in a cardboard case, it doesn't include a holster or cover for the blade, which could be an issue when carrying it and storing it. Ideal for medium and larger branches, this saw is available in a variety of sizes and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Buy the Corona Max RazorTOOTH 35.5cm Pruning Saw from Amazon

Niwaki GR210 Folding Saw

RRP: £39.00

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Niwaki

Pros

• Light and well-balanced
• Choice of cutting angle
• Replacement blade available

Cons

• Handle uncomfortable
• Blade needed tightening for safety

Packaged in a neat cardboard box and cotton bag, this simple pruning saw has a straight, narrow blade made from SK4 carbon steel.  It has been impulse hardened to ensure the teeth stay sharp for longer and a maximum cutting width of 70mm. It cuts well, tackling dense wood smoothly, and the saw feels light and well-balanced in use. The handle has a chunky, ribbed rubber grip, which testers found became a bit uncomfortable after time and a safety button on the top allows the blade to fold in and out of the handle.

When the blade is open, it locks in place, but not when it's closed; in our test, the blade was quite loose when closed inside the handle and prone to falling out easily, which felt quite dangerous. Fortunately, this was rectified by tightening the large screw on the handle. It's a great-looking piece of kit that's easy to use. Plus, replacement blades and a leather holster are available. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Niwaki GR210 Folding Saw from Crocus and Niwaki

Felco 621 Pruning Saw

RRP: £59.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Light and well-balanced
• Cuts well
• Replacement parts available

Cons

• The handle is not as comfortable as some

This well-balanced saw has a fixed, straight blade made from high-carbon steel with a chrome plating to prevent corrosion and a cutting width of 80mm. The teeth have been impulse-hardened to help them stay sharper longer, and they cut smoothly and easily.

The hooked handle helps keep the hand in place when cutting and features a rubber grip to prevent slipping, but compared to other saws we tested, it felt less comfortable to use. It includes a holster and belt hook for safe carrying, replacement parts, and a repair service, and it comes with a lifetime warranty.

Buy the Felco 621 Pruning Saw from Amazon, B&Q and On Buy

Silky Pocketboy

RRP: £39.95

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• High-quality materials
• Compact and comfortable
• Folds easily with two cutting positions
• Replacement blade available

Cons

• Expensive for the size and type of work
• Only suits light work
• Blade comes unfastened on occasion

This compact folding saw has a straight blade made from Japanese steel, chrome-plated to resist rust and for easy cleaning, and teeth that are impulse-hardened for harder, longer wear. It's designed to cut on the pull stroke. The comfortable handle features a micro-textured rubber grip and is shaped to be held securely. It folds into the rubber handle simply and easily with a press-down metal fastener and has two cutting positions, though it came loose from its fastener several times during use.

This saw is small and easy to slip into your pocket, so keep it close to your hand when needed. The handle has an 'eye' on the end for hanging it up in the shed, and it also comes with a plastic case that can be hooked onto a belt. It's good for light pruning, but it's expensive for its size and usage. A limited lifetime warranty covers errors in materials or construction, but not wear and tear from use.

Buy the Silky Pocketboy pruning saw from Amazon and B&Q

B&Q Magnusson 330mm Pruning Saw

RRP: £18

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Light and comfortable
• Hand protection
• Cuts smoothly on most wood

Cons

• Slip-on blade guard only
• Takes up room in storage

With a fixed straight blade made from SK5 carbon steel, this super-safe saw has a rubber grip handle with a hand guard that protects the fingers. It cuts smoothly and feels light and comfortable to use, but the blade guard is just a simple slip-on cover in transparent plastic that could be easily lost. However, it's great value and has a handy hanging hook so you can store this rather large saw safely out of the way.

Buy the B&Q Magnusson 330mm Pruning Saw from B&Q

If you're pruning smaller branches, take a look at our reviews of the best secateurs, best electric secateurs and the best loppers and for help clearing up see our test of the best shredders, best wood-splitting axes and best wheelbarrows.

Pruning saw features explained

Blade: Typically high-carbon steel and curved or straight, fixed or folding. Many have a chrome or anti-rust plating. Most are hardened, so teeth stay sharp for longer.
Teeth: Usually triple-ground, making them sharp and effective. A saw usually cuts on the pull, or occasionally the push, or even both. The pull stroke needs the least effort.
Hanging hole: Handy for storing your saw safely when not in use.
Hook: A useful design feature, this hooked area at the end of the handle prevents your hand from slipping off the saw as you cut.
Safety catch: Most folding saws have a push-button lock that should be easily reached by the thumb. The blade should lock into place for use, but many also lock closed into the handle for safety. Some also lock halfway down.

How to choose a pruning saw

Before you buy, think about the following:

• Blade strength. Pruning saw blades are typically made of high-carbon steel, which has been either quench- or impulse-hardened to increase strength and help the teeth stay sharp. Although all types of blades will cut well at first, impulse-hardened blades and teeth will stay sharper for longer, so if you have a lot of pruning to do, look for saws strengthened this way. Carbon steel rusts unless it has a protective coating or chrome plating, so check for this, too, before you buy
• Handle. Pruning saws are designed to be used with one hand, so many have an ergonomically shaped handle for comfort, and all should have a non-slip grip, usually rubber or TRP plastic, to give optimum control of the saw. Some have a hand guard to protect the fingers. Look for a saw with a hooked shape to the end of the handle, which will help prevent the hand from slipping off the saw as you’re cutting
• What you're cutting. The size of branches you're cutting, as well as their position, can dictate the size of the saw you need and the shape of its blade. Check that the blade length and cutting width are suitable for the job, and bear in mind that a straight blade is designed for making comfortable cuts between your shoulders and waist, while a curved blade is best for cuts above head height or below your waist. However, if you only want to buy one saw, choose a blade suited to the majority of cuts you'll make, or opt for a saw with a straight blade. This will offer the most comfortable and safe cutting position, whatever you’re cutting
• Is it safe? Compact folding blades are great for tucking safely in the pocket, but ensure the push-button safety lock is easily reachable with the thumb and that it locks the blade in place. If it doesn’t lock closed, check that the blade stays securely in the handle and that it can be tightened if it becomes loose. Some saws also lock halfway down as an extra precaution. Fixed blades should have a carry holster or a blade cover to keep sharp teeth out of the way when not in use. After use, a hanging hole on the end of the handle is handy for storing your saw safely away
• Will it last? Some saws have replacement blades and other parts available, which will help extend their life. However, these can sometimes cost almost as much as a new saw, so check prices before you buy. There are speciality files for sharpening saw teeth, but because these are often angled, this can be tricky and is best left to a professional. Some brands also offer a repair service for a small fee

How to use a pruning saw safely

Saws are extremely sharp, so always wear sturdy gloves. If pruning above head height, wear safety glasses and avoid standing on ladders to prune; you need to be stable and comfortably positioned to cut safely. Always choose the right blade for the job - a curved blade is best when cutting above your head.

How we tested pruning saws

We tested a range of folding and fixed saws with both curved and straight blades, putting them through their paces on the types of woody branches and stems that need pruning year-round. They were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Handling. Looked at comfort, weight, balance and grip, including features like a hooked handle, how well the saw folds and safety features
• Cutting. Focused on blade shape and material, cutting width and efficiency, and smoothness and precision of cut
• Maintenance. Assessed the strength and sharpness of the blade, any hardening and protective features and whether replacement parts or a repair service were available
• Value for Money. Considered all of the above, plus any special features, RRP and warranty

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine , responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in February 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Cordless mowers, once derided as weak, low-performance novelties, can do it all these days – some covering many hundreds of square metres in one charge, with plenty of power for when things get tough. Best of all, prices have really come within reach of the everyday gardener. Even my allotment association, once cynical about cordless mowers, has invested in two shiny models for hire… and the old petrol mowers have become the temperamental, tricky-to-start, high-maintenance poor relations. But picking the right cordless mower for you can be tricky. That's why my colleagues and I at gardenersworld.com have pulled together this big list of the models available to buy in 2026 that we think really deserve a good look. We've tested them all thoroughly, and in strict accordance with our renowned testing matrix against these four critical factors: set up and storage; handling; mowing; and value for money.

Interested in other types of mower? Don't worry, we've also done thorough reviews of the best lawn mowers in general, the best robotic lawn mowers, the best electric lawn mowers and the best push mowers. We've loved testing these mowers, and we really do want to help you make the right choice for your needs – so read on, and happy shopping. Oliver Parsons

Our best cordless mowers to buy at a glance

Our 3 top-rated cordless mowers

• 4.9 stars: Our best lightweight cordless mower – Husqvarna Aspire LC34 P4A £349
• 4.8 stars: Our best budget cordless mower for larger gardens – Webb Eco WEV20X2LM43B4X 40V cordless mower £279.99
• 4.8 stars: Our best self-propelled cordless mower under £500 – Worx Nitro WG749E 40V 46cm £449.99

Also recommended, under £500

• 4.5 stars: Our best budget cordless mower for small gardens – Greenworks GDG24LM33 £199.99

Also recommended, £500+

• 4.5 stars: Our best user-friendly self-propelled cordless mower – Ego LM1702E-SP 42cm self-propelled mower (kit) £619
• 4.5 stars: Our best self-propelled cordless mower for stripes – Stihl RMA 448 RV rear roller £829

Comparison table: best cordless mowers

Jump to best mowers: 

• Our 3 top-rated cordless lawn mowers
• Also recommended, under £500
• Also recommended, £500+

Jump to mower-buying advice: 

• What are the benefits of a cordless lawn mower?
• How to choose the best cordless lawn mower
• What can I expect to pay for a cordless mower?
• How long will the batteries last?
• Why you can trust Gardeners' World reviews
• How we test cordless mowers
• Meet our panel of testers

Our 3 top-rated cordless mowers

1: Husqvarna Aspire LC34-P4A

Our best lightweight cordless mower

RRP: £349

Our rating: 4.9

Available from: Husqvarna (£349)

Reasons to buy:

• Quiet
• Cuts long grass with ease
• Battery level visible while mowing
• Small and compact for easy storage

Reasons to avoid:

• Only four cutting heights
• 95 minutes charge time

This lightweight 34cm mower is part of the new Husqvarna Aspire cordless range, which includes a hedge trimmer, pruner and leaf blower, and it's powered by an 18V POWER FOR ALL ALLIANCE battery and charger. It's useful that these are interchangeable with tools in other leading brands such as Flymo, Gardena and Bosch, so if you also invest in tools in these ranges, you’ll only need to buy the bare tool and won’t have different batteries and chargers taking up space in the shed. Also, the two-year warranty on this mower is a good sign that the investment will last.

I found this mower great for small gardens for several reasons: the mower comes ready to go; there’s no assembly needed or handles to attach, and it folds down to a compact size when you’re finished, with a telescopic handle that folds completely flat over the body of the mower. It can then be stood up against a wall or hung up, and it even comes with a handy hook.

The 30-litre grass bag also flattens down to take up very little room and can be hung on the mower. I liked the fact that the Aspire is so light, with a carry handle so that lifting it up steps or into other areas is easy, and it has an adjustable handle to suit different heights.

It’s comfortable and easy to manoeuvre around the garden and has just four cutting heights to choose from, ranging from 25-65mm, and they were easy to change with a single lever on the body of the mower. It cuts grass quietly and smoothly and has an automatic boost that increases blade speed when you’re mowing in tougher, longer areas, which works well. You can hear it kick in when you push the mower into longer grass, and unlike other cordless mowers that can cut out, it just carries on cutting the grass.

I also really liked being able to see the battery charge level while mowing, so I could gauge how much power there was left, and when the battery needed charging. Kay Maguire

RRP: £349
Cutting width: 34cm
Weight: 11.8kg
Type: push cordless
Charge time: 95 mins
Run time/Mow area: 500 sq. metres
Cutting height range: 25-65mm
Grass box: 30 litres

• Buy the Husqvarna Aspire LC34P4A from Husqvarna (£349)

2: Webb Eco WEV20X2LM43B4X 40V cordless mower

Our best budget cordless mower for large gardens

RRP: £279.99

Our rating: 4.8

Available from: Amazon (£297), Marshalls (£279.99) and Wickes (£280)

Reasons to buy:

• Quiet, comfortable and smooth to handle
• Long run time
• Great for storage
• Spare parts available

Reasons to avoid:

• Battery level not visible when mowing
• No safety plug

This mower just needs the handle attached, and the 50-litre fabric grass bag has already been assembled, so I found it easy to put together. There’s a choice of three handle heights, and it double-folds snugly over the mower, so it takes up very little space in storage.

The two 20V 4Ah batteries have a charge indicator on the end, and although I couldn't find a way to see it while the mower’s in use, the approximately 60-minute runtime means there’s time to finish cutting most small to medium lawns. The handle is padded for comfort, and I found this mower smooth and easy to push, even over longer, bumpier grass.

It cut very well in our test and the six heights of cut, from 25-75mm are easy to adjust with a single lever. At 96dB, the mower is reasonably quiet. It also feels durable and sturdy, with spare parts readily available from Webb, and it comes with a three-year warranty. Kay Maguire

RRP: £279.99
Cutting width: 43cm
Weight: 16.1kg
Type: push cordless
Charge time: 100 mins
Run time/Mow area: 60 mins
Cutting height range: 25-75mm
Grass box: 50 litres

• Buy the Webb Eco WEV20X2LM43B4X 40V cordless mower from Amazon (£297), Marshalls (£279.99) and Wickes (£280)

3: Worx Nitro WG749E 40V 46cm

Our best self-propelled cordless mower under £500

RRP: £449.99

Our rating: 4.8

Available from: Amazon and Donaghy Bros

Reasons to buy:

• Battery power is visible when you mow
• Cutting power adjusts to grass length

Reasons to avoid:

• The collection bag is fiddly to assemble
• Heavy

This easy-to-use mower needs no assembly and has a quick-release, collapsible handle, so it’s very simple to store, even in a packed shed. One thing that really helped when I was testing this machine is that it stands up vertically, with the handle folded over and the front wheels in the air – that meant it only took up about a third of the usual floor space in storage.

The Nitro requires two 20V 4Ah PowerShare batteries, which give a 40-minute run time, and it was a relief that the battery power level is clearly visible while you mow – it's such an important thing when you're tackling a large area of grass. The batteries and the charger are also interchangeable with all other Worx PowerShare tools.

It offers seven cutting heights, 20-80mm, which are easy to adjust with a simple lever. It also has a cutting width of 46cm, making it ideal for medium-sized lawns.

I liked the mower's simple speed control, plus it adjusts its cutting power according to grass length and conditions, which helps save on battery. It has a safety key and a 55-litre collection bag, so there's plenty of room for the cuttings, but there's also a mulching option, so you can choose to let the cuttings fall back on the lawn to feed the grass rather than worry about emptying the bag.

Considering the wealth of features this mower offers, this is a great-value option. It also has a three-year warranty, plus two more years if registered. Kay Maguire

RRP: £449.99
Cutting width: 46cm
Weight: 28.7kg
Type: self-propelled cordless
Charge time: 120 mins
Run time/Mow area: 40 mins
Cutting height range: 20-80mm
Grass box: 55 litres

• Buy the Worx Nitro WG749 from Amazon and Donaghy Bros

Also recommended, under £500

Greenworks GDG24LM33

Our best budget cordless mower for small gardens

RRP: £199.99 (with 2Ah battery)

Our rating: 4.5

Available from: Amazon (£106.23) and Tooled Up (£119.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Easy to assemble and use
• Comfortable padded handle
• Choice of mulching or collecting clippings
• Battery is interchangeable with Greenworks 24V family

Reasons to avoid:

• Short handle for taller users
• Struggles with longer grass

I found this sturdy, great-value cordless mower easy to put together, well thought out, and simple to use – superbly suited to small gardens. Thanks to a padded handle, it's comfortable to push, although this could feel a little short for taller people, and it's light and easy to manoeuvre around trees and lawn edges.

There are five cutting heights to choose from, adjusted with the simple lift of a lever, and you can collect clippings in the 30-litre fabric grass bag or insert the mulching plug and leave them on the lawn to break down and feed the grass.

It mowed well, helped in part by the specification of a long-lasting brushless motor, but it didn't like mowing very long grass. The battery cut out on me occasionally, but the decent runtime of 46 minutes made up for that a bit, and it charged in just two hours.

Plus, as part of the Greenworks 24V family, both the battery and charger are interchangeable with all the other tools in the range, saving you money if you invest in more Greenworks tools in the future. Kay Maguire

RRP: £199.99
Cutting width: 33cm
Weight: 9.5kg
Type: push cordless
Charge time: 120 mins
Run time/Mow area: 280 sq. metres
Cutting height range: 25-70mm
Grass box: 30 litres

• Buy the Greenworks-GDG24LM33 from Amazon (£106.23) and Tooled Up (£119.95)

Best Buy cordless lawn mowers tested before 2023, under £500

• 4.8/5 stars: Worx WG779E £199.99
• 4.8/5 stars: Yard Force LMG37A £259.99
• 4.5/5 stars: Einhell GE-CM 18/33 Li £206.95
• 4.5/5 stars: Gardena Handymower £237.80
• 4.5/5 stars: Husqvarna LC 247iX £499

Also recommended, £500+

Ego LM1702E-SP 42cm self-propelled mower (kit)

Our best user-friendly self-propelled cordless mower

RRP: £619

Our rating: 4.5

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£559) and Mowers Online (£559)

Reasons to buy:

• A big range of cutting heights, all adjustable with a single lever
• The folding handle makes it easy to get out and put away

Reasons to avoid:

• No mulching option
• Only available as a kit

This well-thought-through mower requires no assembly out of the box, so I was able to get mowing almost as soon as it arrived. It has a quick-release, telescopic handle, which offers a bespoke handle height and also makes it very easy to fold down and store.

Once folded, it can also be stood up vertically, so it took up even less space in my storage area. It offers a wide choice of cutting heights, 20-80mm, and the wider-than-average 42cm cutting width makes it ideal for mid-sized gardens. It runs on a 56V battery, which can mow 300 sq. metres on a single charge, and is compatible with other Ego Power+ tools. The battery level is also clearly visible whilst you mow.

There's a handy safety key that can be stored away from the mower to ensure only the user can operate it. It's easy to operate and handle, with easy speed control, a 55-litre grass bag, and even headlights. It comes with a five-year warranty. Kay Maguire

RRP: £619
Cutting width: 42cm
Weight: 24kg
Type: self-propelled cordless
Run time/Mow area: 30 mins
Cutting height range: 25-80mm
Grass box: 55 litres

• Buy the Ego LM1702E-SP from Just Lawnmowers (£559) and Mowers Online (£559)

Stihl RMA 448 RV rear roller cordless mower

Our best self-propelled cordless lawn mower for stripes

RRP: £829

Our rating: 4.5

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£759) and Lakeland Power Tools (£797.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Energy-saving mode increases run time
• Rear roller for stripes
• Easy to switch to mulching
• Low cutting height for a neat finish

Reasons to avoid:

• Large, fiddly plastic grass box
• No safety key

This distinctive mower is ready to use straight out of the box; only the grass box needs assembly, and this was pretty tricky. The unusual one-sided mono handle makes it easy to access the grass box, which makes a big difference when you are tackling a large lawn and emptying the clippings often.

The handle also adjusts in height very easily, and it can be folded flat over the mower, making it easier to store. When I folded the mower up, I was able to stand it vertically with its front wheels in the air, so it saved a lot of space – always a good feature.

It lacks a safety key but has other good features, including speed control and a mulching option that's as simple as a flick of a switch. It has a cutting width of 46cm and offers a wide range of five cutting heights, from 15-60mm, so you can get a neat, tight clip. This is particularly useful as this mower also has a rear roller to create beautiful stripes on the lawn.

It requires a 36V 5Ah battery, which gives you enough power to mow a lawn up to 340 sq. metres on a single charge, plus there's space for a spare battery, if you have one. It's also compatible with all Stihl AK cordless tools, saving you money if you invest in the future. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

RRP: £829
Cutting width: 46cm
Weight: 30kg
Type: self-propelled cordless
Run time/Mow area: 340 sq. metres
Cutting height range: 15-60mm
Grass box: 52 litres

• Buy the Stihl RMA 448 RV rear roller cordless mower from Just Lawnmowers

Best Buy cordless lawn mowers tested before 2023, £500+

• 4.8/5 stars: Ego LM1701E £529
• 4.5/5 stars: Makita DLM460PT2 £608.95
• 4.5/5 stars: Stihl RMA 248 £699

The best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.

Husqvarna LC 142iS self-propelled cordless lawn mower with battery and charger

RRP: £699

Our rating: 4.3

Available from: Husqvarna

Reasons to buy:

• Compact and light to manoeuvre
• Energy-saving mode increases run time
• Compatible with the Husqvarna 36V system

Reasons to avoid:

• No mulching plug included
• No speed control
• Smaller grass bag

This mower requires assembly on arrival, and I didn't find the instructions very clear. It's powered by a 36V Husqvarna system battery, which provides enough power to mow an area of 500 sq. metres. It has a 42cm cutting width and offers a range of seven heights of cut, from 25-75mm, which are simple to adjust.

Overall, I found this mower easy to use, and it felt smooth and efficient when cutting; however, I'd have liked a speed control option as it feels a little slow, particularly on slopes. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

RRP: £699
Cutting width: 42cm
Weight: 22.5kg
Type: self-propelled cordless
Run time/Mow area: 100 mins
Cutting height range: 25-75mm
Grass box: 50 litres

• Buy the Husqvarna LC 142iS from Husqvarna

Stiga Collector 48 S AE self-propelled cordless lawn mower kit

RRP: £445

Our rating: 4.3

Available from: Just Lawnmowers

Reasons to buy:

• Anti-scalping feature
• Long warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Long 220-minute charge time
• No speed control
• No mulching option

This mower was really simple to assemble, apart from the large 60-litre grass box, which needed a screwdriver and was fiddly. It has an impressively long-lasting steel deck, a cutting width of 46cm, and six cutting heights, from 22-65mm. It runs on a 48V battery, which is part of the Stiga ePower 48V System, and can cut 400 sq. metres in one charge.

Unfortunately, it takes a lengthy 220 minutes to charge. But I liked the fact that there's space on the mower for a spare battery if you have one, which is handy when you're stuck down the end of a long lawn with a flat battery in the main slot.

It has an anti-scalping feature to help prevent lawn damage, but no speed control, so I found it a little slow. It comes with a generous five-year warranty. Kay Maguire

RRP: £445
Cutting width: 46cm
Weight: 25kg
Type: self-propelled cordless
Charge time: 220 mins
Run time/Mow area: 550 sq. metres
Cutting height range: 22-65mm
Grass box: 60 litres

• Buy the Stiga Collector 48 S AE Kit from Just Lawnmowers

Greenworks 24V+24V 46cm SP self-propelled cordless lawn mower

RRP: £479.99

Our rating: 4

Available from: Amazon and On Buy

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and quiet
• Long run time
• Good value for the features
• Compatible with the Greenworks 24V battery system

Reasons to avoid:

• Feels heavy, especially when changing the cutting height
• Slow speed control
• Fiddly to build and store

This mower took me a while to put together and is not as easy as some to store, as in order to fold the handle flat, you need to unscrew it almost completely. It also felt heavy and lacked a carry handle, making it difficult to get up steps or in and out of the shed.

It has a cutting width of 46cm and offers seven cutting heights, from 25-80mm, which are easy to change, and a 55-litre collection bag. There's also the option to mulch the clippings or choose side discharge, which I found useful.

It requires two Greenworks 24V system batteries, which give enough power to cover an area of 480 sq. metres. It has a speed control, and, although it's slow, it felt comfortable to handle and was quiet to use. It's definitely good value for the features, and comes with a three-year warranty. Kay Maguire

RRP: £479.99
Cutting width: 46cm
Weight: 27.5kg
Type: self-propelled cordless
Charge time: 53 mins
Run time/Mow area: 480 sq. metres
Cutting height range: 25-80mm
Grass box: 55 litres

• Buy the Greenworks 24V+24V cordless lawn mower from Amazon and On Buy

Other best of the rest cordless lawn mowers, tested before 2025

• 4.3 stars: Mountfield Electress 30 Li Kit £179
• 4.3 stars: Cobra MX3440V £232.99
• 4.3 stars: Worx WG737E £259.99
• 4.3 stars: Greenworks 48V 36cm £299.99
• 4.3 stars: Kärcher LMO 18-36 Battery Set £299.99
• 4.3 stars: Honda IZY-ON 416XB £540

What are the benefits of a cordless lawn mower?

There are a variety of benefits to buying a cordless lawn mower in comparison to the more traditional petrol or electric models, including:

• Easy to manoeuvre: Without a cord, these mowers are typically easy to move around the lawn and can get to parts of the garden a cord may not reach. Without an engine, they're lightweight, and there are a wide variety of models to choose from, so you can be particular about weight, handle size and ease of storage
• Quiet: Powered by lithium-ion batteries, they're much quieter than petrol-engine mowers. It's worth noting that the bigger the mower, the more noise it will likely make, so if you're looking for a very quiet mower, keep this in mind
• No emissions: Cordless mowers don't use petrol, so they don't emit emissions. Being battery-powered, cordless mowers are also better for the environment, as they use electricity rather than fuel
• Minimal maintenance: Cordless mowers don't need the typical upkeep of petrol mowers. You don't need to refill cordless mowers or worry about engine problems. They are typically easier to start up as well, requiring just the push of a button

How to choose the best cordless lawn mower

Your budget and the size of your lawn will be pivotal in deciding which brand and model of cordless lawn mower best suits your needs. Think about the following points before you buy:

• Where are you cutting? The type of lawn you’re cutting will dictate the mower features you’ll need. Push mowers require you to provide momentum, so manoeuvrability is key, particularly if your lawn slopes or you have play equipment, beds and trees to navigate. A mower that cuts to the edge gives a neat finish and saves time with the shears or trimmer later. For a sharp, neat look, opt for a low cut height, but if you lack time to mow regularly, a higher cut will tackle longer grass. A rear roller gives neat stripes, while a mulching plug lets you choose between collecting clippings or mulching them. It saves you from emptying the collection box, but mulching only works if the lawn is cut regularly
• What’s the battery charge and run time? Lithium-ion batteries vary in size, from 18V to 40V and from 2Ah to 5Ah in our test, and this determines the cutting power and run time on a single charge. Match the run time to the size of your lawn. Most mowers have a recommended maximum lawn size or run time (although this depends on the conditions on the day), and, ideally, a fully charged battery will last long enough for you to finish the job. Some models use two batteries at the same time, so you can mow for longer, and most brands also sell batteries separately. Fast charge times allow you to get mowing again quicker
• Is it easy to use? Most mowers should just need the handles attached and the grass box assembled, with fabric bags simpler to construct than plastic box-style collectors. Switching between cutting heights should be easy. Some mowers need to be turned over, and the entire axle moved, but a single lever that  simply moves through the range is ideal
• Is storage space limited? If you don’t have much room, check how far the handle folds down and how easily. Most can be partly unscrewed to fold over the body of the mower; others are designed to unclip and double fold completely flat or can be hung or stood up vertically. Fabric bags also collapse, while plastic grass boxes are tricky to take apart. If you need to lift the mower up steps into storage or onto a shelf, check its weight and whether there are carry handles to make this easier
• What do you get for your money? The quality of materials often relates to the price. Budget models made from lightweight plastic, as opposed to higher-end machines with metal decks, are unlikely to last long. Brushless motors are powerful, efficient and longer lasting, and buying another mower later rather than one robust model now is bad for your wallet and the environment. Warranty length can vary – some brands require the mower to be registered to get the longest warranty period, and some differ between the mower, battery and charger

How long will the batteries last?

How long the battery lasts on a single charge depends on the model, the terrain and mowing conditions on the day and some mowers have an eco or power saving mode to help extend the battery life. A battery can take anywhere from 45 minutes to over two hours to charge, although lithium-ion batteries can be used when partly charged if you're in a rush. Always check the charge time, too, as these can also vary widely. Many brands have fast chargers, which are usually available separately but can cut the waiting time down considerably and are useful if you need to get back to the job quickly.

Lithium-ion batteries typically last between three and five years (or 500 charges) before they need replacing. Always check with the manufacturer if they will take back their batteries for recycling rather than putting them into landfill.

How does the weather affect your lawn’s growth rate?

Different weather conditions will speed, slow, or even stop grass growth, and therefore, how often you need to mow. Find out how it works here:

Hot, dry weather
During hot and dry spells, in which the daytime temperature is consistently at 25°C or above, grass growth tends to slow down significantly. The lack of moisture and high temperatures dry out the soil, making it difficult for grass to absorb the water it needs. Lawns may turn brown and become dormant, conserving energy until conditions improve. Don’t worry, though. The roots will still be perfectly healthy and will put on strong growth as soon as the rain comes back and temperatures decline. Mowing is required less often during these periods; you may find that this period of time extends to several weeks.

Warm, wet weather
When the weather is warm and wet, with daytime temperatures around 18 to 24°C, grass can grow very quickly. Warm temperatures combined with regular rainfall create ideal conditions for rapid growth. Lawns often need to be mown more frequently, sometimes as often as twice a week, to keep them looking neat and healthy. Don’t try to cut more off each time with infrequent mowing – this will stress the machine and your lawn, and lead to clumpier, patchier growth.

Dry, cold weather
In dry, cold conditions, with daytime temperatures lower than 8 °C, grass growth slows dramatically. Low temperatures put grass into a state of dormancy, and the lack of rain means the soil is often too dry to support new growth. Lawns will require little to no mowing during these periods.

Wet, cold weather
Wet, cold weather also slows grass growth. While the soil remains moist, low temperatures prevent the grass from actively growing. The ground may become waterlogged, making mowing difficult and risking damage to the lawn and your mower. If you do need to mow during a period such as this, wait until a dry afternoon when the grass is dry enough to be cut and collected without clogging up the mower.

Top tips for mowing your lawn

1. Mow when it’s dry. If you mow when the ground is sodden it can lead to compaction, the mower will smear and rut the soil and wet grass clippings will clump and smother your lawn
2. Remove any obstacles. Make sure furniture is moved off the lawn to make it easier to mow, and check for any items in the lawn that could damage the blades
3. Adjust the cutting height of your mower and aim to only reduce the lawn height one-third every time you mow
4. Start around the edge so you can clearly see how much lawn needs mowing. Then mow up and down in straight lines, overlapping slightly, to achieve a neat finish
5. Empty the clippings bag regularly so material doesn’t build up around the mower blades. You can compost them or deposit them in small piles around the garden, such as at the back of borders, to help earthworms. To compost your grass clippings, see our review of the best compost bins
6. For a neat finish, re-cut your lawn edges each spring with a half-moon tool and trim overhanging grass after mowing with edging shears. To keep edges looking neat, browse our pick of the best strimmers, garden shears, and lawn edging

If your lawn needs a bit more attention, our experts have tested a range of the best manual and powered aerators and scarifiers. And if you're thinking about somewhere to store your new mower, our comprehensive guide to choosing the best garden shed will be helpful.

Why you can trust Gardeners' World reviews

As trained gardeners and seasoned users of all sorts of garden tools, Kay Maguire, myself, and the rest of the team at BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviewed literally shedloads of lawn mowers over the years, using our trusted testing matrix to make sure we're giving balanced, fair judgements.

We test lawn mowers in varied, real-world conditions, cutting the sort of grass most of us actually have in our gardens. Because we're real-world gardeners with lots of experience, we know what to look out for and the sorts of things that will make all the difference once you're using a mower week in and week out. We don't share product reviews with manufacturers or retailers before they're published, and we don't accept payment in exchange for positive reviews, either.
Oliver Parsons, gardenersworld.com

How we test the best cordless lawn mowers

When we test cordless mowers, we follow the whole process from start to finish without any shortcuts. We unpack the mower from the box, put it together following the instructions (sometimes these are clear as mud, sometimes not!), and then get started, cutting grass over a wide area.

We mow over rough grass, smoother grass, slopes and bumps – whatever is in our way – just as you would with your own mower. And after that, we also take notes on how easy the mower is to fold down and put away, because if a mower is annoying in that regard, you'll always hate using it.

Then, we score each model against these four criteria, with equal marks attributed to each one:

• Set-up and storage. We assess how easy the mower was to put together, fold up, or store afterwards. We also look at how long the battery takes to charge. This makes a big difference when you want to get the job done but realise the battery's flat from last time
• Handling. We also judge the mower for how comfortable it is to use and how easy it is to control. Handle-height adjustment, cut-height adjustment, overall weight, noise levels and run time on one charge all make a big difference here
• Mowing. Also important, we look at the cutting width and the range of cutting heights that can be selected. The capacity of the grass box, AKA collection bag, also makes a big difference here, and can save you from making constant trips over to the compost heap. We also look out for neat extra features such as cutting to the edge, or mulching modes
• Value for money. Tricky but super-important: how well does the mower weigh up when you balance the quality, features, warranty and overall package of benefits against the price?

For more on our testing process across all the different gardening product categories, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in February 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Kate’s wildlife care

Our wildlife editor, Kate Bradbury, has some advice on using a grass trimmer responsibly. “Always​ check before you trim. Use a broom or rake to sweep the grass before you start, taking care to look out for small critters like frogs and slow worms, but also larger animals like hedgehogs. Hedgehogs frequently sleep in long grass during the day and can suffer terribly from trimmer injuries, so it pays to check before you trim.”

Grass trimmers - Buyer's Guide

The best grass trimmers to buy at a glance

• Best lightweight grass trimmer: Stihl FSA 30 grass trimmer 
• Best budget grass trimmer: Powerbase 550W Electric Grass Trimmer, 30cm
• Best grass trimmer for performance: Stiga GT 500e Cordless Grass Trimmer
• Best  grass trimmer for ease of use: Gtech Grass Trimmer GT50
• Best grass trimmer for large areas: Husqvarna Aspire T28-P4A

Jump to:

• Best Buy grass trimmers
• The best of the rest

• What's a grass trimmer used for?
• What are the different types of grass trimmer?
• Can I use a grass trimmer to mow the lawn or trim hedges?
• What are the key features to look out for?
• How we tested grass trimmers

In every review, we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best grass trimmers below.

Best Buy grass trimmers

Stihl FSA 30 Grass Trimmer

RRP: £149 (incl. battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Just Lawnmowers

Pros

• Very light and easy to use
• Adjustable shaft, handle and head
• Battery level indicator
• Spare blade storage
• Interchangeable battery with AS system

Cons

• Only 19-minute run time
• Lacks a wheel for edge trimming

This little grass trimmer is powered by the tiny Stihl AS battery, which charges in 70 minutes and has a run time of 19 minutes. It’s very easy to set up and use – just the handle and spacer bar need screwing on, and it has an adjustable handle and a telescopic shaft, so it’s simple to ensure this trimmer is comfortable to use for all users. The head can also be adjusted to four different angles, plus it rotates 90 degrees for trimming edges, although unlike other trimmers, it doesn’t have a lever to enable this with ease. This is a blade trimmer, so it cuts with two plastic polycut blades that are easy to click into place, but you can also use a line cartridge or feed cut length of line into the trimmer if you wish instead. Six spare blades are included with the trimmer and are stored neatly on the trimmer for when you need them.

Thanks to the small battery, this trimmer is really light, and although it doesn’t have the power that bigger, more substantial grass trimmers do, it performs surprisingly well. We think it’s ideal for trimming around trees and boundaries, and along the edges of beds and borders in small gardens. Once you’re finished trimming, it has an eyelet in the handle for hanging the trimmer up for storage.
The battery is interchangeable with other Stihl AS tools, including a hedge trimmer, powered pruners and a mini chainsaw, and it comes with a two-year warranty. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best grass trimmer for those who lack strength.

Buy the Stihl FSA from Just Lawnmowers

Powerbase 550W Electric Grass Trimmer

RRP: £59

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Homebase

Pros

• Great cut
• Both trimming and edging function
• Wheels to help with edging
• Comfortable, soft-grip handle
• Spare spool and storage on the machine
• 30cm cutting width
• Good value

Cons

• The short 10m black power cable is hard to see in the grass
• Heavy to use
• Stiff to switch between trimming and edging modes

This corded trimmer won a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best budget grass trimmer. A double line trimmer, it gives a fantastic cut, and thanks to its generous 30cm cutting width, tackles the job quickly and efficiently. It’s particularly good when edging due to wheels that help take the strain, so you can achieve a precise cut. The soft-grip loop handles on its telescopic shaft are comfortable, and there’s a helpful loop for tucking the cable away when you’re moving around. It has an automatic feed, and we love that there’s a storage compartment on the shaft for the spare spool, so it’s close at hand when it needs replacing.

However, gardeners with limited mobility should note that this grass trimmer weighs 3.1kg, which is over a kilo more than the lightest machine on test, the Gtech GT50, and it doesn’t come with a strap to help take the weight. The black power cable is only 10m, so you’ll need an extension cord if you plan to trim further from a power source, and it’s tricky to see it in the grass. It also requires some heft to move between the trimming and edging modes as the mechanism is stiff. That said, it’s good value, gives a great cut, and comes with a generous three-year warranty.

Buy the Powerbase 550W Electric Grass Trimmer from Homebase, The Range and Wilko

Stiga GT 500e Cordless Grass Trimmer

RRP: £321 (incl. battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Mower Magic

Best Buy for performance: Stiga GT 500e Battery Lawn TrimmerPros

• Telescopic shaft, which separates in two for storage
• Both trimming and edging function
• Support wheels for vertical edge cut
• 50-minute fast charge
• Battery level indicator lights
• Powerful performance
• Part of the Stiga ePower cordless range

Cons

• Heavy to use
• The guard is awkward to attach
• The battery and charger must be bought separately
• Comparatively expensive

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for performance, this trimmer has a generous 30cm cutting width, and the durable nylon double line automatic feed keeps working, so you don’t have to bump the line out. The head is easy to rotate for use as an edge trimmer, and the wheels help to support the weight of the body, ensuring it cuts at a consistent height. However, as it doesn’t come with a support strap, it’s eventually tiring to use. It’s powered by a large 2Ah 48V lithium-ion battery, which, along with the charger, is sold separately, making this significantly more expensive than other models in the test. That said, after a fast 50-minute charge, it runs for 20 minutes, cutting powerfully and efficiently. It copes well with large patches of long grass, as well as hard-to-reach areas, and cuts lawn edges cleanly. Light indicators on the battery let you know how much time you have left to finish the job, the telescopic shaft separates into two for easy storage, and it comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Stiga GT 500e Cordless Grass Trimmer from Mower Magic

Gtech Grass Trimmer GT50

RRP: £149.99 (incl. battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Gtech

Pros

• Lightweight
• Both trimming and edging function
• Adjustable loop handle
• Ergonomic harness
• Battery level indicator
• Safety switch
• Good value

Cons

• Long four-hour charge
• Battery only compatible with two other Gtech tools

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use, the Gtech grass trimmer GT50 is a well-designed tool. It includes a safety switch, an ergonomic harness, an adjustable loop handle, a swivel head to change from trimmer to edger, and easy-to-fit plastic blades. Weighing just 1.8kg, it’s the lightest in the group we tested, but has a relatively narrow 23cm cutting width, so it takes longer to cover ground than the Worx, with its generous 33cm head. On test it tackled long grass and thin woody weeds on uneven terrain, as well as leaving lawn edges looking neat.

However, you’ll need to plan ahead for trimming sessions as the 18V lithium-ion battery takes a lengthy four hours to charge to give 30 minutes of power, though there are helpful indicator lights on the battery to keep track of how much time you have left. As it includes a battery and charger, it’s comparatively cheaper than some other cordless trimmers, but the battery is only compatible with two other Gtech cordless tools, the HT50 hedge trimmer and SLM50 lawn mower , which doesn’t represent the best value for money. Other cordless systems have more battery-sharing tools available. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Gtech GT50 from Amazon, Gtech and Homebase

Husqvarna Aspire T28-P4A

RRP: £199.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Husqvarna

Pros

• Incredibly lightweight and portable
• Long run time
• Low noise level at just 78dB
• Power button and charge level indicator on the handle
• Metal plant guard to protect delicate flowers and shrubs
• Batteries are compatible across many cordless brands

Cons

• No wheel attachment for easy edging
• No adjustable cutting head
• Smaller cut capacity of 28cm

This is a lightweight and powerful cordless grass trimmer with a telescopic shaft. Even with the large 4.0Ah battery installed, it weighs just 3kg, which earns it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for large areas. It comes in all cardboard packaging, and it’s easy to assemble too - a couple of screws attach the blade guard, and you’re ready to go. The battery charge time is a respectable 60 minutes and the run time a generous 50 minutes, which is almost the longest in our test. An auto-feed double line trimmer, it cuts beautifully through even thick grass, and with minimal vibration transmitted through to your hands. You can brace the end of the trimmer against your elbow on a rubberised section as well, which makes it particularly comfortable, even without a shoulder strap.

The loop handle is comfy enough to hold on to, but it’s a bit small, so you get less leverage for angled cutting. It comes with a handy storage hook that can be directly screwed into a shed wall or hung on the Husqvarna’s Storage Rail system, which is a great way to get it up off the floor and save some space. Both the battery and charger are compatible not only across the Husqvarna Aspire range but with the Power For All Alliance of cordless tools, which includes Flymo, Gardena and Bosch and will save you money if you invest in any of those tools in the future. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Husqvarna Aspire T28-P4A from Husqvarna

The best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Makita DUR181 18V String Trimmer

RRP: £161.99 (incl. battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Quietest on test at 88.5dB
• Both trimming and edging function
• Adjustable bump guard
• Charges quickly
• Includes a shoulder strap
• Rotating head
• Battery compatible with more than 100 other Makita tools

Cons

• Loud charger, which can be annoying
• No spare line included
• No charge indicator on the battery

This single-line cordless model from Makita is easy to set up thanks to clear instructions. It has several adjustable features, so you can alter the length of the shaft from 115-133cm, change the angle of the trimmer head, and rotate this head to trim the edges of the lawn. Even the bump guard is adjustable with a screwdriver, so if you have a variety of obstacles to trim around you can get the distance exactly right. There’s a safety button, which must be pressed to turn it on, and at 88.5dB this was the quietest trimmer on test, compared to the Powerbase trimmer, which was the loudest at 95dB. It cuts quickly and efficiently despite a small cutting width of 26cm, and comes with a shoulder strap, so it feels light and manoeuvrable despite weighing nearly 3kg.

However, the charger for the 18V, 5.0Ah lithium-ion battery emits a high-pitched whine, which would be annoying if you have to charge it in the house, rather than in the garage or shed. It also doesn't come with any spare line, and unlike some of the other battery-powered grass trimmers, there is no indication of the battery level as you work. As with all Makita tools, it comes with a generous three-year warranty, and the battery is compatible with a wide range of other Makita garden and power tools.

Buy the Makita DUR181 from B&Q

Erbauer Brushless Cordless Grass Trimmer EGT18-Li - KIT

Price: £179.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from Screwfix

Pros

• Solid build quality
• Large 5.0Ah battery lasts for ages
• The battery features a charge level indicator
• Powerful brushless motor
• Weighs just over 3.5kg

Cons

• No edging attachment included
• You can’t adjust the length of the shaft
• No support strap for longer use

Lightweight, capable, and built for big gardens, the Erbauer EGT18 is a useful piece of kit. It didn’t take long to get up and running, and there are just a few screws to attach the shaft and blade guard. Supplied with a big 5.0Ah battery and a wide cutting capacity of 30cm, this double string auto-feed trimmer is well-suited to large patches of grass or awkward garden areas. You can comfortably trim a garden on a single charge, and you can charge it back to full within an hour as well, which is very efficient. The large loop handle is comfortable and gives you extra leverage in tight corners, but it’s not designed for edging work. There’s a fair bit of vibration during use, and you’ll definitely need ear protection as it’s rather loud at 96dB. You can fold the shaft in half for storage, but you need to undo a bolt and not lose it in between jobs. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Erbauer Brushless Cordless Grass Trimmer EGT18-Li - KIT from Screwfix

Vonhaus F-Series Cordless Grass Trimmer

RRP: £34.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Cuts well and quickly
• Great value
• Blade storage

Cons

• Uncomfortable handles
• No edging function
• Loudest machine on test
• Battery is compatible with only three other tools

Despite its narrow 21cm cutting width, this grass trimmer gives a good cut. The plastic blades tackle grass and slightly woody material well, and the 30-minute run time is one of the longest in our test. We like the storage feature under the handle for the included spare plastic blades, which are bright pink and easy to spot if they snap off into the grass. However, while it's efficient, this machine is the loudest on the test at 98dB, and the handles are uncomfortable too. It also takes an hour and a half to charge, which, though less than the four hours of the Gtech model, is much longer than the 45 minutes of the Makita DUR181RT and Mac Allister 18V LI 18V 280mm.

The 12V, 2.0Ah F-Series lithium-ion battery is compatible with just three other Vonhaus tools - a hedge trimmer, garden saw, and handheld hedge and grass trimmer - which can save you money if you buy these in the future, but is limited compared to other cordless systems, such as the dozens of compatible tools in the Worx PowerShare cordless system. Crucially, this trimmer also has no edging function, so if you’re after neat lawn edge,s you should look elsewhere. Because it’s just 12V, the battery is less powerful than others on test, but if you need to tidy up a small garden on a budget, it will do the job well, and comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Vonhaus F-Series Grass Trimmer from B&Q, Robert Dyas and Tesco

What's a grass trimmer used for?

Trimmers cut the long grass and weeds that a mower can’t reach. They’re great for cutting in tricky places, such as around the base of a tree, the corner of a lawn, or on steep slopes. Depending on their power and their blade material, they can also tackle woodier growth like ivy, brambles, and stinging nettles. Many grass trimmers can also be used to tidy up along the edges of a lawn by adjusting the angle of the cutting head.

For more lawn tool reviews, check out our reviews of the best lawn mowers, particularly our tests of the best cordless lawn mowers. For more cutting, trimming, or pruning help, see our reviews of the best garden shears, the best hedge trimmers, the best secateurs and the best loppers.

What are the different types of grass trimmer?

• Line (or string) trimmers. These trimmers cut by spinning a plastic or nylon cord at high speed. This cord wears down gradually over time, and is either replaced automatically (automatic feed) or has a button on the bottom of the trimmer you can bump on the ground to reel out more cord (bump feed). They are either single-line, using one line of cord, or double-line, which uses two lines of cord. Generally, the line is designed to wear down gradually rather than completely break, but if the cord catches a rock and snaps, just reel out more cord. However, these fragments of plastic aren’t good for the environment, and once you run out of cord, the spools can be fiddly to replace. Although powerful enough to cut long grass and weeds, line trimmers aren’t as strong as blade trimmers and are therefore less effective on tough, woody material
• Blade trimmers. These trimmers cut using two blades, which on domestic models are usually plastic. This makes them more effective on woodier material than some line alternatives, but if they catch on a rock or tough bark, the blades can snap and get lost in the grass, which can damage the mower next time you cut the grass. Trimmers with metal blades avoid this problem, but they’re more expensive and not as widely available
• Petrol trimmers. Powered by petro,l these typically have steer handles - explained in more detail below - and a curved, angled shaft. Because they use fuel, they’re often more powerful than corded and cordless trimmers, but petrol is polluting and messy to store and use. They’re also heavy, noisy and need regular servicing. Thanks to the rise of cordless batteries, they’re less common nowadays, particularly for home use
• Electric corded trimmers. Corded trimmers use a power cable connected to mains electricity. Depending on the length of the cable, these trimmers are more suitable for smaller gardens, but you can expand their reach with an extension lead. They’re also more dangerous than cordless trimmers because you run the risk of accidentally cutting the cable
• Electric cordless trimmers. Cordless trimmers are powered by lithium-ion batteries rather than mains electricity. Because of this, you can use them anywhere in the garden, but you’re restricted by run time and how long the battery takes to charge. They also tend to be less powerful and more expensive than corded trimmers, but they can be excellent value if their batteries are part of a cordless system and can be used in other power tools

What are the key features to look out for?

Before you buy, think about the following :

• Cutting head. The cutting head is the most important feature on a trimmer. It should be adjustable, so you can change the angle of the cut to cope with inclines and fiddly jobs. In most models, the head turns 90°, so you can trim along the edges of paths and flowerbeds. In the very best models, the cutting head also has wheels to help guide along edges and support the weight of the trimmer
• Adjustable shaft. The best trimmers have a telescopic shaft, so you can change the height to suit you. In some models, the shaft is angled rather than straight to help you manoeuvre into tricky spots. If space is an issue, it’s also helpful if you can break down the shaft and cutting head after use for storage
• Line feed and blade replacements. It’s useful if a blade trimmer comes with spare blades, so you don’t run out if one breaks in the middle of a job. You should be able to get a new spool of line for a line trimmer or replace the whole head. With both types, it's helpful if the spare blades or line can be stored on the tool
• Handle types. There are two types of trimmer handles. The most common is a round, circular handle on the shaft of the trimmer, called a loop handle. It makes the trimmer easy and comfortable to control, and on the best models, it can be slid up and down the shaft, so you can adjust it to your height. Alternatively, there are ‘steer’ handles - two handles rather than a loop. These offer more control and let you use a comfortable scything motion when you cut, but they take up room and can be a little more expensive. They’re also far more common on brush cutters and petrol trimmers than electric or cordless trimmers, so you might not find steer handles on many domestic models
• Straps and safety harnesses. A shoulder strap or safety harness is an excellent bonus feature. It takes some of the weight of the tool, making it more comfortable to use, and also helps balance it, for better manoeuvrability and a more precise cut
• Bump guard. Some trimmers have metal guards on the head, called bump guards, which prevent the trimmer from cutting beyond a certain point. This protects your garden, as it stops you from nicking a tree or garden furniture, but it also protects your trimmer line or blades by preventing them from catching on a fence or wall and breaking. The best bump guards can be adjusted, so you can control how closely you cut

How we tested grass trimmers

We tested a range of grass trimmers, putting them through their paces on lawn edges, sloped areas and big and small gardens. They were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Preparation. Assessed how easy the grass trimmers were to assemble, how long this took and if any extra tools were needed, and how easy the instructions are to use. We also looked at how easy and quick it was to charge the batteries and store the trimmers.
• Handling. Looked at comfort, weight, balance and grip, including features like a safety button, the runtime, and noise
• Performance. Focused on blade shape and material, cutting width and efficiency, and smoothness and precision of cut. We also assessed power and any extra functionality
• Value for Money. Considered all of the above, plus any special features, RRP and warranty

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine , responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Edging shears - these specialised lawn tools are long-handled with an angled blade for trimming the edges of lawns next to paving, decking and flowerbeds. Specific lawn shears are also available and are similar to edging shears, but have a flat, horizontal blade for trimming awkward areas of grass, such as tufts around trees or next to fences and walls. Check out our buyers' guide video to find the best edging shears for your garden:

Hedge shears - Like big garden scissors, these are ideal for pruning and shaping hedges and trees, or cutting down garden waste for compost. They're available with standard or telescopic handles that extend, for safely reaching the tops of tall trees, shrubs, and bushes without using ladders.

Best garden shears at a glance:

• Best lightweight hedge shears: Darlac Lightweight Shears
• Best hedge shears for ease of use: Bulldog Premier Wavy Blade Shears
• Best lightweight edging shears: Darlac DP812 Lawn Edging Shears
• Best edging shears for performance: Bulldog Edging Shears
• Best edging shears for comfort: Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Edging Shears

Jump to:

• Best hedge shears
• Best edging shears
• The best of the rest

• How to choose garden shears?
• What are wavy hedge shears?
• How to sharpen your shears
• How we tested garden shears

In every review, we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best garden shears below:

Best hedge shears

Darlac Lightweight Shear 8 Inches

RRP: £39.95

Our rating: 4.75 out of 5

Available from Fothergills

Best Buy lightweight shears: Darlac Lightweight ShearsPros

• Excellent performance
• Lightweight
• Lifetime Warranty

Cons

• No blade cover provided

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best lightweight shears, these hedge shears give an excellent cut, slicing cleanly through the branches of every hedge on test. They’re remarkably light; at just 820g, they weigh less than a bag of sugar. This weight makes them very nimble for precise trimming, but also a joy to use when cutting large hedges and shrubs. They’re made even more comfortable by their effective shock absorbers. They come with a lifetime warranty.

Best Buy review video - the Darlac lightweight shears

In this in-depth video review, Alex David explains why the Darlac lightweight shears were awarded BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy status. 

Buy the Darlac Lightweight Shears from B&Q, Fothergills and Mano Mano

Bulldog Premier Wavy Blade Hedge Shears

RRP: £27.43

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Clean cut through all hedges
• Great value
• Compact
• Come with blade cover and hook to hang

Cons

• Ineffective shock absorbers
• May be small for bigger hands
• Plastic handles feel a little cheap

They might be small, but these hedge shears pack a punch, slicing through every hedge in our test with ease and we awarded them a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use. Their wavy blades are fantastic for gripping branches and leaves without chewing them up and their size makes them great for gardeners who are tight on storage space, plus they have a cover for hanging up and protecting them from rust. However, the shock absorbers don’t work very well, and the plastic handles feel a little cheap. The rubber grips on these handles are just 13cm long, so they may be uncomfortable if you have larger hands.

Buy the Bulldog Premier Wavy Blade Hedge Shears from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled Up

Best edging shears

Darlac DP812 Lawn Edging Shears

RRP: £42.95

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Available from On Buy

Pros

• Adjustable handles
• Lightweight
• Wavy blades for a sharper cut
• Good length blades

Cons

• Plastic flip locks on handles

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award winner for the best lightweight edging shears, these lawn edging shears have adjustable handles, which adjust from 66cm to 108cm, so you can use them with a straight back, whatever your height and soft grips make them comfortable to handle too. These edging shears feature strong, wavy-edged blades that cut well, and, at 29cm in length, are quick and efficient to get the job done. They also come with a lifetime warranty.

Best Buy review video - the Darlac DP812 Lawn Edging Shears

In this in-depth video review, Cinead McTernan explains why the Darlac DP812 lawn edging shears were awarded BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy status. 

Read the full Darlac DP812 lawn edging shears review

Buy the Darlac DP812 Lawn Edging Shears from B&Q, D.T.Brown and On Buy

Bulldog Edging Shears

RRP: £39.36

Our rating: 4.75 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Great performance
• Lightweight
• Very well-balanced

Cons

• No ergonomics
• Feel a little cheap

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for performance, these edging shears have high-carbon steel blades with an epoxy coating for extra protection against rusting. The handles have rubber grips, but although they aren't ergonomic, they’re extremely well-balanced and always hang parallel to the edge. They’re also lightweight and comfortable to hold.

These shears performed well during the test, cutting through the grass cleanly every time. The full length of the blade is sharp and effective, and they’re thin enough to sit neatly between the lawn and paving stones. However, they feel a little cheap, and no replacement blades are available. The mechanism to open the blades is also a little stiff.

Buy the Bulldog Edging Shears from B&Q, Mano Mano and Tooled Up

Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Edging Shears

RRP: £48.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Great performance
• Comfortable handles
• Two kinds of steel blades - best of both kinds

Cons

• Doesn’t always hang parallel to grass
• A little long

These are lightweight but sturdy edging shears, with one coated carbon-steel blade and one stainless steel blade, for the best of both kinds of steel - rust resistance and strength. They’re well-balanced and have ergonomic handles, which are very comfortable and don’t rub, and we awarded them a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for comfort. It’s easy to get these shears into position, and they easily slice through grass. They’re a good height, but shorter gardeners might find them a little long.

However, they have no hook to hang them up with, and although they’re well-balanced, the blade doesn’t always hang parallel to the edge. Replacement blades aren't available for these, and the shears don’t fully open for sharpening.

Buy the Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Edging Shears from Amazon

Best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test:

Kent and Stowe General Purpose Hedge Shears 8 Inches

RRP: £19.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Great price
• Clean cut on both leaves and smaller stems
• Light
• Well-balanced

Cons

• Struggles with woody material
• Ineffective shock absorbers

On test, we found this pair great for snipping through leaves and thinner stems. They’re light and well-balanced, and their handles give great grip without rubbing. However, they struggle with woodier material, and the shock absorbers don’t soften the cut as well as they could.

Buy the Kent and Stowe General Purpose Hedge Shears 8” from B&Q

Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Hedge Shears

RRP: £37.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Powerful compound action
• Effective wavy blade
• Good warranty

Cons:

• A little clumsy for close work
• No shock absorbers

For cutting a lot of tough hedging, try these shears from Burgon and Ball. The wavy blades are chromed and coated for longevity, and they grip material well, but their most important feature is a compound mechanism - a lever that assists with generating extra force, which means they slice easily through branches. However, they shears aren’t ideal for more delicate tasks like trimming conifers, and the compound action also means that they don’t have shock absorbers, which is a little uncomfortable. We love the ten-year warranty.

Buy the Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Hedge Shears from Amazon

For more help with pruning, take a look at our expert reviews of the best secateurs, the best loppers, best mini chainsaws, electric secateurs and the best hedge trimmers. And for help clearing up see our tests of the best wheelbarrows, the best shredders and the best wood-splitting axes.

How to choose garden shears

Before you buy, consider the following features-

Blades - These are almost always steel; either carbon steel, which is durable and strong but prone to rust, or stainless steel, which is highly resistant to rust but is a little weaker. Sometimes carbon blades are powder-coated to protect the steel from rust. Almost always, shears arrive with a thin coating of oil to both further protect the blades and lubricate the hinge.

Handles - These can be simple and plain, ergonomically designed or include grips for comfort, and are usually made from steel, aluminium, wood or composite plastic. Steel is long-lasting but heavy, wood helps to absorb shock but needs maintenance and care, while composite handles can't be recycled.

Weight - The lighter the shears, the better. These tools get hours of use, so it’s best to steer clear of heavy types, which will be tiring for your hands, wrists and arms.

Bumpers - Generating the power to cut through tough hedging like leylandii, yew, and hawthorn can put a lot of force on your hands. Good bumpers or shock absorbers will soften the impact and ensure a comfortable cut. This is especially helpful for gardeners with mobility or strength issues with their hands.

Length - The longer the blades, the more efficiently they will perform the job, the shorter the shears, the more nimble. If you need to tackle a lot of hedging, go for long shears; for small, neater work, go for smaller shears.

What are wavy hedge shears?

Some hedge shears have wavy blades rather than straight blades. This is to help them grip the plant stems and stop them slipping when being cut, and is useful for more open, larger-leaved hedging. However, wavy blades can be tricky to sharpen, and because they’re a little more expensive to manufacture, can be pricier than more traditional straight-blade shears.

How to sharpen garden shears

Sharp shears are safer and work more efficiently than blunt ones, so it's worth looking after them and sharpening the blades regularly. Although some hedging and edging shears may come with their own specialist sharpening tool, most should come apart easily for sharpening, simply by removing the central nut and bolt with a spanner. Once the two blades are separated, follow our simple tips for easy sharpening :

• Clean each blade on both sides with a piece of wire wool
• Using a sharpening stone or steel, follow the bevel of the blade, running the stone evenly along the edge a few times. Do the same on the back, holding the stone flat against the blade and run it across the edge. Do this with both blades
• Oil the blades, rubbing it into the metal with a cloth
• Reassemble the shears by pushing the bolt back through the two blades and screwing on the nut with your spanner. Take care not to over-tighten

How we tested garden shears

We tested a range of both edging and hedge shears, just as a gardener would use them, on grass between lawns, paving stones and borders and on a variety of species hedges. They were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Blades and handle. Looked at materials and length, grip features, efficiency, and strength and sharpness of blade, any hardening and protective features and whether replacement parts or a repair service are available
• Comfort. Focused on comfort, weight, balance, any ergonomic features and how easy they are to use for prolonged periods of time
• Performance. Assessed the smoothness and precision of the cut and how easy they are to sharpen and maintain
• Value for money. Considered all of the above, plus any special features, RRP and warranty

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine , responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

So, a leaf blower or leaf blower vacuum can be a great purchase, and these days they don't even have to cost that much. But get the wrong one, and you'll regret it. And that's why my colleagues and I at GardenersWorld.com have tested literal shedloads of the things. And the result is this page, crammed full of leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums that we think are worthy of your hard-earned cash.

If you're lumbered with lots of leaves, check out our test of the best gardening gloves to collect them in comfort, and why not learn how to make leaf mould – a super compost and soil conditioner – as well as how to make your own leaf mould bin. Our expert testers trial hundreds of garden tools to work out which will do the job well and offer the best value, comfort and quality. We’ve tested essentials like the best garden spades and best hoes as well as more specific kit like the best hedge trimmers, the best garden shredders, the best pressure washers and the best trimmers.

Oliver Parsons, GardenersWorld.com

Best Buy leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums at a glance

Cordless leaf blowers

• Best lightweight leaf blower 2025: Stihl BGA 30 cordless blower
• Best leaf blower for value: Worx WG543E LeafJet
• Best leaf blower for ease of use 2024: Husqvarna Aspire B8X-P4A
• Best leaf blower for performance: Makita DUB186Z 18V cordless leaf blower
• Best leaf blower for features: Einhell GP-LB 36/210 Li Turbo blower
• Best leaf blower for performance 2024: Bosch Advanced 36V -750
• Best leaf blower for ease of use: Yard Force LB G18 leaf blower
• Best budget leaf blower: Vonhaus G-series cordless leaf blower

Leaf blower vacuums

• Best blower vac all-rounder: Bosch UniversalGardenTidy 3000

Jump to:

• Best leaf blowers
• Best leaf blower vacuums
• The best of the rest
• What's the difference between a leaf blower and a leaf blower vacuum?
• How to choose the best leaf blower
• How to use your collected leaves 
• How we tested leaf blowers
• Meet our testing panel

Best leaf blowers

Stihl BGA 30 Cordless Blower

RRP: £154 with batteries and charger

Our rating: 4.75/5

Available from Just Lawnmowers

Pros

• Variable speed trigger works well
• Two batteries included
• Quiet operation is possible
• Very well balanced

Cons

• No leaf scraper
• Short run time on full power

New last year, the Stihl BGA 30 cordless blower is an excellent addition to their small garden tool line-up. It’s an undeniably handsome little blower that works on their reliable AS compact battery platform. It comes bundled with a pair of miniature-sized 2.0Ah batteries, and you'll need them too, because the run time on full power is just eight minutes at maximum power. However, what makes this one of the best small leaf blowers is the variable speed trigger. You can easily control the blowing force to clear stubborn stuff and save battery when you want to.

The air speed maxes out at 43m/s, and even on full power, it only produces 73dB, which is very quiet for a blower. On low speed, the volume is even lower, just in case you need to do some discreet garden clearance. At this low blowing speed, you can extend the useful working time to around 25 minutes.

There’s a comfortable moulded rubber grip that's just about big enough for large hands in gardening gloves, and it features a slick battery charge level indicator built into the top of it, showing the remaining charge in three green bars.

Weighing 1.5kg without the tiny, lightweight batteries, the blower doesn’t feel heavy thanks to clever ergonomics and a finely tuned balance between the battery and the nozzle end. A clever handle design makes it easy to manoeuvre around, and the slightly flattened nozzle tip helps direct the air horizontally while remaining accurate.

Although this blower is at the pricier end of the market for lightweight leaf blowers, its handling, two batteries, and ability to be used across Stihl’s AS range of tools make it worth the money. Thanks to this, and the excellent variable speed trigger and comfortable ergonomics, we have awarded the BGA 30 a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for the best lightweight blower.

Buy the BGA 30 from Just Lawnmowers

Worx WG543E LeafJet

RRP: £99.99

Our rating: 5/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• No assembly
• Simple and powerful
• Lightest on test
• Choice of speeds
• Blasts wet leaves
• Part of Worx 20-V Power Share system

This light, powerful leaf blower won a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for best value blower, and it’s easy to use and ready to go straight from the box. The 20V battery takes just 60 minutes to charge and has a 23-minute run time. It also has a handy battery level indicator so you can check how much time you have left while you work.

The blower offers the choice of two nozzle lengths, which are easily adjusted by flicking a button and sliding the nozzle up and down the tube, and two speeds for gentle or more powerful blowing – it coped brilliantly, blasting damp leaves off paths and pathing in our test. It has a hard-wearing, brushless motor, and for its power and features, we think it’s excellent value. Plus, it comes with a two-year warranty.

It's ideal for medium to small gardens, and the LeafJet is also part of the Worx 20-V Power Share cordless battery system, which means you can use the battery in other Worx tools, saving you money if you invest in the future.

Buy the Worx WG543E LeafJet leaf blower from Amazon and B&Q

Husqvarna Aspire B8X-P4A

RRP: £199.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Well thought-out design
• Easy to use and store
• Comfortable and well-balanced
• Clearly visible battery charge on the handle
• Choice of speeds

Cons

• Relatively heavy
• No speed indicator

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use, the Aspire leaf blower is very easy to put together – there’s no struggling to attach the nozzle with this blower, it simply clips in with the push of a button and breaks down just as easily for storage. Plus, it comes with its own storage hanging hook.

It only has one nozzle, but this is a good size for blasting away on large areas like lawns. It also works reasonably well when you need more focus in beds and borders or when blowing leaves into piles, although it wasn’t the best at this in our test. It has a clearly visible battery charge indicator on the handle and offers three speeds, also controlled via buttons on the handle. However, there’s no indication which speed you’re in at the time, and we also found we had to stop blowing to change speed.

Thanks to the weather at the time of testing, we know that the blower handled primarily wet leaves very well, and although it didn’t blow them into as neat piles as some, it cleared paths, beds and lawns well. It feels powerful yet controlled, and it is ideal for quickly clearing large areas. The blower is quiet, has a comfortable, easy-grip handle, and feels well-balanced. Although this is a heavy blower once the battery is loaded, it’s not the heaviest in our test.

The 18V battery took the longest to charge in our test, at well over an hour, but it lasted the longest too, blowing wet leaves on full power for over 12 minutes. The battery is also part of the Power For All Alliance, which means it’s compatible with other 18V tools in the Flymo, Gardena, and Bosch tool ranges, as well as the Husqvarna Aspire range, saving you money if you invest in them in the future. The Aspire blower comes with a 2-year warranty.

Buy the Husqvarna Aspire B8X-P4A leaf blower from Amazon

Makita DUB186Z 18V cordless leaf blower

RRP: £84.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Long, narrow nozzle for directional blasts
• Three speed settings
• Fast charge time
• Compact, comfortable and lightweight
• Compatible with over 40 other Makita cordless 18V tools
• Three-year warranty

Cons

• No charge level indicator on the battery

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award winner for performance, this cordless leaf blower is light, compact and easy to use. It has one of the narrowest nozzles in the range we tested, which means it delivers a powerful but focused blast of air that tackles wet and dry fallen leaves very effectively, particularly on paths and in awkward corners.

Generating an impressive air speed of 68m/s, we also like the three speed settings – low, medium and high – that allow you to increase and decrease the power according to need. This gives you plenty of control to manage wet and dry leaves, and we found it even shifted compacted debris in between paving and compressed wet leaves that had been trodden into the pavement.

While you must hold the pressure trigger to operate, it’s in an accessible position so it doesn't feel tiring, even with smaller hands. The soft-grip handle, together with the position of the battery, which slots in at the base, helps balance the leaf blower in a downward direction, making it comfortable to use for longer periods of time.

It has a run time of up to 80 minutes (on the low setting – 12 minutes on high) and a relatively short charge time of 45 minutes, so you can use this in larger gardens with lots of leaves to clear. It’s part of the Makita LXT 18V cordless tool system, so the 5Ah battery and charger are compatible across the range, and it comes with a three-year warranty.

Read the full Makita DUB186Z leaf blower vacuum review

Buy the Makita DUB186Z cordless leaf blower from Amazon and B&Q

Einhell GP-LB36/210 Li Turbo blower

RRP: £128.95

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Well balanced
• Turbo setting
• Choice of nozzle lengths and speeds
• Long run time
• Wall hook and carry strap
• Part of the Einhell Power X-Change system

Cons

• Battery and charger sold separately

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for features, this well-thought-out blower is packed with them. It has a whopping six speeds to choose from, plus a Turbo boost, so it’s easy to adjust the power of the blast according to what and where you’re blowing. The tough nozzle has a metal end for scraping debris, the blower can't shift on its own, and it adjusts with a twist to three different lengths, so no matter your height, you can get the nozzle to the perfect length to suit you.

Powered by two 18V batteries, which take just 60 minutes to charge, the blower has a run time of 92 minutes on the lowest setting. However, the batteries and charger are not included with the blower and do need to be bought as a kit separately, but once bought, they can be used with any of the tools in the Einhell Power X-Change system, saving you money if you invest in these in the future.

The blower is well-balanced and feels comfortable, but it also comes with a carry strap, so if you’re blowing for a while, this will help balance the load. The nozzle and tube break down for storage, and there’s a handy hanging hook to keep the blowers stored up and out of the way. It has a brushless motor and comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Einhell GP-LB36/210 Li Turbo leaf blower from OnBuy and Tooled Up

Bosch Advanced 36V - 750 blower

RRP: £142

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Robert Dyas

Pros

• Easy assembly and storage
• Powerful
• Good control of different speeds
• Quiet
• Quick charge time

Cons

• Heavy and lacks a shoulder strap
• Short run time on full power

This leaf blower is simple to put together. Just twist and click in the tube, and you’re ready to go. It’s therefore equally easy to store, as the tube comes off quickly, and it takes up little room on a shelf. There’s only one wide nozzle, but this is very effective at both the powerful blasting of wet leaves and more focused blowing in borders and into piles. You feel in control when using this blower and can direct leaves to go wherever you want them to.

It has a variable speed control, delivering 100 to 200km/h, that’s easily adjusted with a dial on the handle and is simple to scroll up or down as you work. It has a comfortable handle and is well balanced, but it does feel heavy, noticeably so compared to others in the test, and we felt it would really benefit from a shoulder strap if you’re blowing for a prolonged period.

However, the battery run time is quite short on full power. Despite having a run time on a low setting of 35 minutes, on full power, the battery only lasted seven minutes, compared to 12 minutes with the Husqvarna Aspire, so it was the shortest in our test. It does charge quickly, though, taking just 65 minutes to get you up and running again. The 36V battery has a charge level indicator on the end to help you see how much charge is left as you work, and it's also compatible with all 36V tools in the Bosch cordless range.

This leaf blower is ideal for fast clearing of lawns with lots of leaves, and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for performance. It has a long-lasting brushless motor and feels sturdy and well-made. The Bosch Advanced blower comes in cardboard packaging with just a little plastic wrapping and comes with a generous three-year warranty.

Buy the Bosch Advanced 36V-750 from Robert Dyas, Tooled Up and Very

Yard Force LG G18 40V blower

RRP: £199

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Two-nozzle choice
• Three speeds plus Boost
• Cruise lock lever
• Part of the Yard Force GR40 battery system

Cons

• Bulky for storage
• Loud

This powerful blower, winner of a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for ease of use, comes with a large 40V battery and charger. It takes just 60 minutes to charge, and the battery has a 30-minute run time, making it ideal for medium-sized gardens. It also has a battery level indicator so you can check how much charge you have on the battery as you work.

The blower is balanced and comfortable and well thought out with the choice of three speeds, plus a Boost button to give an extra powerful blast when you need it. A cruise control button allows you to set the speed without having to constantly hold the trigger down, making it easy to use this blower for longer periods of time. It has a brushless motor, and it also comes with an extra flat-end nozzle for concentrated power.

However, this blower is quite large and doesn’t compact down, so it will take up room in storage, and we also found it comparatively loud, although it’s still nothing like the volume you would get with a petrol blower. Part of the Yard Force GR40 battery system, it comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Yard Force LB G18 leaf blower from Amazon

Vonhaus G-series cordless leaf blower

RRP: £49

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Vonhaus

Pros

• Lightweight
• Powerful
• Cheap
• Compact for storage

Cons

• Handle vibrates
• 12-minute runtime
• Single speed

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award winner for best budget cordless blower, this simple, compact leaf blower packs a punch. Despite weighing just 1.7 kg, it’s very powerful and made short work of both wet and dry leaves on paving, shrub beds, and gravel, though it struggled a little with both wet and dry leaves on grass. Thanks to its lightweight construction and narrow nozzle, it’s easy to manoeuvre around the garden and put leaves exactly where you want them. This blower is ideal for nipping around a small patio, terrace or front drive.

It’s a reasonable price, and great value as its G-Series battery is also compatible with the Vonhaus hedge trimmer, pole trimmer, and grass trimmer. However, although the grip on the handle is soft, the handle vibrates a lot in use, which gets uncomfortable. Its 12-minute runtime is also short, but it takes just an hour to charge.

Best Buy review video - the Vonhaus G-series cordless leaf blower

Buy the Vonhaus G-series Cordless Leaf Blower from Vonhaus

Buy the Vonhaus G Series cordless leaf blower from Vonhaus and Amazon

Best leaf blower vacuums

Bosch UniversalGardenTidy 3000

RRP: £109

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Robert Dyas

Pros

• Simple assembly
• Powerful at both sucking and blowing
• Good value for money

Cons.

• Doesn’t break down easily for storage
• No on/off switch
• Heavy, particularly when the vacuum bag is full

This leaf blower vacuum is ideal for clearing up large areas of leaves quickly. The blower is powerful, if a little heavy, and great at blasting leaves, with a narrow nozzle that helps you funnel and direct them into piles and out of tight corners, and the vacuum mode has good suction with a well-shaped nozzle and a large collection bag.

Initial assembly is simple, with clear instructions and all that’s required is attaching the handle and building the vacuum nozzle, which comes in three parts. For blowing, the nozzle simply slots into place and, when you need to swap into vacuum mode, no tools are required. However, the vacuum tube is large and once built, it's difficult to break down, so it does take up a reasonable amount of room in storage. It blows and sucks at variable speeds via a dial that sits under the handle, and this dial is also the on/off switch. This does mean you have to scroll around the dial to turn the blower off, which is not fast if you’re on the highest setting, and so from a safety point of view, this could be a problem. It also requires the use of two hands.

It has a 10m-long cable and is reasonably noisy but not jarringly so, but it's heavy, and in vacuum mode feels quite unbalanced, especially once the bag starts filling up. There’s a padded shoulder strap, which helps take some of the strain, but it's in the wrong place to completely take the weight. However, this is a powerful, well-made machine that performs well and is great for the general clearing of gardens. It’s also great value and comes with a three-year warranty. We gave it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for the best all-rounder blower.

Buy the Bosch UniversalGardenTidy 3000 from Amazon, Robert Dyas and Tooled Up

The best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Ryobi 18V ONE+ cordless brushless axial blower

RRP: £82.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Variable speed trigger
• Interchangeable nozzle tips
• Excellent grip shape
• Battery charge level indicator

Cons

• Can only be locked on full power
• Will only run for 7 minutes on full power with the supplied 2.5 Ah battery

The drill-style handle on this blower is familiar from many other Ryobi tools, and that’s a good thing. It’s comfortable to use one-handed and is probably the most ergonomically shaped blower handle we’ve tested yet. It’s easy to set up and weighs just 1.5 kg with the battery installed.

This blower comes with a pair of different nozzle tips. There’s a standard round nozzle with a flexible tip for accurate aiming and a wide nozzle that looks like a vacuum cleaner head, helping to sweep a wider path in front of the blower. You can also adjust the shaft length by clicking two separate pieces into place.

Ryobi’s cordless blower uses a brushless motor to achieve impressive blowing power. The air speed is controlled by the variable speed trigger, so you can choose the power you want. The trigger can be locked on, but only at full speed, which is quite noisy.

This bundle comes with a 2.5 Ah battery that can be used in more than 200 other Ryobi tools. The 2.5 Ah battery is on the small side if you want to blow leaves for more than a few minutes at a time, but larger Ryobi batteries are available. This blower is covered by a three-year warranty.

Buy the Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Brushless Compact Blower from Amazon and B&Q

LawnMaster MX 24V cordless axial blower

RRP: £59.99 with battery and charger

Our rating: 4.25/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Lightweight
• Simple to use
• Leaf scraper on the end of the nozzle

Cons

• No charge level indicator on the battery
• Only one speed setting

This lightweight and affordable leaf blower from LawnMaster is an uncomplicated and straightforward tool to use. Weighing in at a shade over 1.5 kg, it’s easy to use one-handed for long periods. The ergonomic handle features a comfortable rubberised grip on the underside, and the power is easy to reach. The position of the battery underneath the handle is well thought out because it doesn’t rub against the hand during use, and the large handle size is ideal for larger hands, even when wearing thick gardening gloves.

Although it only has one speed, it’s fine for blowing dry leaves around. And when the leaves are wet or stuck to paving slabs, the integrated hanging hook on the tip doubles up as a handy scraper. The removable nozzle thins down at the end to help direct a narrow jet of air, although the air flow rate was a little lower than expected.

This blower comes with a 2.0 Ah battery that will give you around 15 minutes of work and a charger that will take around three hours for a full charge. Even if this basic blower doesn’t feature a variable speed trigger or the fastest charging time, for the very low price, it’s a capable tool for blowing leaves, sawdust, and other light bits around the garden. This blower comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the LawnMaster MX 24V cordless axial blower from B&Q and Amazon

BLACK+DECKER 18V cordless axial blower

RRP: £79.99 with battery and charger

Our rating: 4/5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Plenty of air flow
• Two speed settings
• Available as a bare tool

Cons

• Slightly awkward battery placement
• 2.0 Ah battery doesn’t last for long

This comfortable and well-balanced 18-volt blower weighs just 2.1 kg, even with the battery installed, making it easy to point around with just one hand. A leaf-scraping tip on the bottom of the nozzle makes it much easier to tackle wet leaves that get stuck onto paving slabs, and the wide-diameter removable nozzle tip is handy for directing the air where you need it.

There are two different speeds to choose from: eco mode or boost mode. There’s enough air speed on eco mode to deal with small piles of leaves and sawdust, so we left it on that setting mostly to conserve some battery life. Boost mode produces a prodigious amount of blowing power, but drains the battery in around 8 minutes.

Although the handle doesn’t feature grippy, rubberised sections, it’s spacious enough to accommodate large hands, even in thick gardening gloves. The speed setting switch is easy to operate with gloves on, too. The only problem we encountered was that the battery slots in right at the base of the handle, and rubs against the wrist while you’re using the blower, especially if a larger capacity battery is in use.

This version comes bundled with a 2.0 Ah battery that promises around 16 minutes of run time on low speed, and a charger that takes two hours to fully recharge. That run time is enough to tackle a small garden, but a larger capacity battery would be more appropriate. If you already have a compatible, larger-capacity battery, it would be best to buy this blower tool-only, saving you a bit of cash and helping you achieve a longer run-time. This blower comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the BLACK+DECKER 18V cordless axial blower from Tooled Up

Webb ECO WEV20ABB4 cordless axial blower

RRP: £79.99 with battery and charger

Our rating: 3.75/5

Available from Mowers Online

Pros

• Affordable blower
• Comes with a large battery
• Decent 22-minute run time

Cons

• Only single speed
• Slow battery charging
• Loud

Webb’s answer to the lightweight garden blower is a robust and happily affordable piece of kit. The tool's three-piece design allows for compact storage while offering two different nozzle lengths, although it lacks a leaf scraper on the tip that’s so useful on other models. Weighing in at 2.9 kg, it’s not the lightest by a long way, but much of the heft is taken up by the large capacity battery. You could swap it out for one of Webb’s smaller batteries, but it’s worth the extra bit of weight for a longer run time. Supplied with a generous 4.0 Ah battery with a handy battery charge indicator on it, it can run for 20 minutes. That’s plenty of run time for a medium-sized garden or driveway, and it’s a good thing, too, because recharging the battery is a bit slow at 160 minutes.

They haven’t skimped on the handle; the rubberised grip is huge and has plenty of space for the biggest hands in thick gardening gloves. The only thing that gets in the way is the position of the battery, which sticks up above the base of the handle and can dig into the wrist at certain angles. It’s a well-balanced blower, especially with the nozzle at its full length. It’s easy enough to point around the garden, and the wide-diameter tip replaces pinpoint accuracy with a wider air stream for blowing leaves around. It’s just a shame that you can’t vary the blower speed because it’s loud at 96 dB during operation. This blower comes with a three-year warranty.

Buy the Webb ECO WEV20ABB4 Cordless Axial Blower from Mowers Online and Amazon

Flymo powervac 3000

RRP: £89.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from Robert Dyas

Pros

• Powerful blower
• Excellent shredding
• Good-sized collection bag

Cons

• Doesn’t break down easily for storage
• Unbalanced
• The vacuum nozzle is too wide
• Awkward handle shape

This large blower vac is reasonably easy to assemble, and no tools are required, but the instruction diagrams are very small, so it takes a little time. Once the suction tube is put together, it’s almost impossible to break down again, which makes the Powervac bulky for storage. To change modes, you also need to take it apart, so it’s simpler than the Bosch GardenTidy. It’s heavy as both a blower and a vac, and the handle design feels a little over-fussy and doesn’t help with the balance of the machine, especially in vac mode. It has a carry strap to help lighten the load, but this feels like it's in the wrong place. Thankfully, the collection bag is smaller than some, which makes it easier to use.

It has a variable speed dial on the handle, although we didn’t notice too much difference between these; the blower is powerful and great for blasting leaves across large lawns. Unfortunately, the vac is far less efficient with a nozzle shape that's too wide to suck up leaves well. However, once it’s got the leaves, the shredding power of the Powervac is excellent, with a ratio of 16:1 that reduces a bag full of leaves down to a tiny pile. The Powervac has a 10m cable, feels well-made, is built to last, and comes with a two-year warranty. It's good value for money for blowing and clearing leaves in a small garden, but the vacuum’s performance doesn't match the blower's.

Buy the Flymo Powervac 3000 from Homebase, On Buy and Robert Dyas

Stiga BL 100e cordless leaf blower

RRP: £99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Mowers Online

Pros

• Removable tubes for easy storage
• 30-minute run time at normal speed
• Battery level indicator
• Ideal for long leaf blowing sessions
• Part of the Stiga 100 Series with other compatible cordless tools
• Two-year warranty

Cons

• Large nozzle, so the air flow isn’t focused
• Only two settings
• Less effective with compacted, wet leaves

Easy to use, this cordless leaf blower operates at two settings and delivers a maximum air flow speed of 32m/s, which is good for general jobs like blowing wet and dry leaves off the lawn and gravel paths. However, the tube, which comes in two easy-to-attach parts, has a significantly wider aperture than the Makita DUB186Z leaf blower we tested, and as a result, lacks the focused jet blast to shift more stubborn, compacted leaf matter and debris from corners and awkward spaces. It weighs the same as the Makita leaf blower, but the battery slots in at the back end of the body as opposed to under the handle, which balances it in such a way that it feels heavier to use.

The 20V battery takes 140 minutes to charge and has a run time of 30 minutes on normal speed and 20 minutes on boosted speed, making it ideal for small-to-medium-sized gardens. We like the battery's charge indicator, which helps you gauge how much time you have left to finish the job. Unlike many of the other models we tested, you don’t have to hold down a trigger to operate this leaf blower, which makes it more comfortable to use if you're blowing for a while. It also has a soft-grip handle, although this would benefit from a bit more cushioning. The battery and charger are compatible with other cordless power tools in the Stiga 100 series, and it comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Stiga SAB 100AE cordless leaf blower from Amazon, Just Lawnmowers and Mowers Online

Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Whisper series cordless leaf blower

RRP: £129.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Removable tube for easy storage
• 15-20 minute run time at normal speed
• Battery level indicator
• Compatible with over 150 tools in the Ryobi 18V ONE+ System
• Three-year warranty

Cons

• Heavy
• Squeeze trigger only – no fixed variable speed settings
• Larger nozzle, so less effective with compacted, wet leaves

This cordless leaf blower weighs 3.2kg, so it feels sturdy and robust, although it is one of the heaviest models we tested. Like the Stiga SAB 100AE, the 4Ah 18V lithium battery slots in at the back end of the body, which we found affects the balance and makes it feel heftier to use – we prefer the battery position on the Makita DUB186Z. This large leaf blower also has a wide tube, which is easy-to-attach and useful for blowing across lawns and patios but means the 49m/s air flow isn’t as focused as others we tested it easily blows wet and dry leaves off grass, gravel and patio slabs, but isn’t as effective when it comes to shifting compacted leaf matter and debris that gather in corners and awkward spaces.

It has a run time of 15 to 20 minutes, which means it can clear up to 800m2, and takes 160 minutes to charge. We like the battery indicator, which helps you gauge how much time you have left to finish the job. However, despite being part of Ryobi’s Whisper series, we didn’t find it noticeably quieter than the other leaf blowers in our test. The battery and charger are compatible with over 150 tools in the Ryobi ONE+ System, and it comes with a three-year warranty.

Read the full Ryobi ONE+ HP leaf blower review

Buy the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Whisper series cordless leaf blower from Amazon

WORX WG547E 20V turbine cordless leaf blower

RRP: £112.49

Our rating: 4/5

Available from OnBuy

Pros

• 20-minute run time
• Fast one-hour charge
• Nozzle detaches from the main body
• Compatible with other 20V and 40V (2x20V) tools in WORXS’ PowerShare battery system
• Three-year warranty

Cons

• No charge level indicator on the battery
• The nozzle can’t be separated for better storage
• Absence of a soft-grip handle

This cordless leaf blower feels a little cumbersome to use around the garden, and the wide nozzle means it’s harder to reach into smaller spaces or awkward corners. However, it corrals leaves as you would hope and with a fast one-hour charge and a 2o-minute run time, the 2AH 20V battery delivers enough power to cope with both dry and wet leaves. It has two speeds - the lowest setting generates a moderate airflow useful for a general tidy up, while the higher speed provides enough power to shift stubborn, compacted wet leaves.

Surprisingly, for WORX tools, it doesn’t have a soft-grip handle; in fact, there is a seam in the plastic on the underside of the grip, which we found uncomfortable after using the blower for a while. The nozzle can be removed from the body, but the two sections can’t be separated for more efficient storage, which is frustrating as the nozzle is double the length of the body. Part of the WORX PowerShare cordless tools, the battery and charger are compatible with their other tools, saving you money if you invest in bare tools in the future.

Read the full WORX WG547E 20V turbine cordless leaf blower review

Buy the Worx WG547E Leaf Blower from OnBuy and Homebase

Flymo 18V Easiclear

RRP: £109

Our rating: 3.5/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Light and easy to use
• Variable speed
• Long battery run time
• Visible battery charge

Cons

• Lacks power, and the lowest speed is very weak
• Hard to break down for storage
• Long charge time

The quiet 18V Easiclear 100 is available as a bare tool or as a kit with an 18V 2.5Ah battery and charger. These are both part of the Power for All Alliance, so if you already have other Bosch, Flymo, Gardena or Husqvarna cordless tools or plan to, investing in these will save you money. The blower comes with one nozzle tube, which is reasonably easy to put together, but once built, is hard to take apart for storage. It’s a good length and width and has a ridged end which helps lift stubborn material. This is particularly handy as this isn't a very powerful blower. It offers variable speed, adjusted by a dial on the handle, but the lowest setting is very weak.

The 18V battery has a 13-23 minute run time, depending on speed, and it takes 154 minutes to charge. Unlike the other leaf blowers in our recent test, the Easiclear has a battery charge display on the handle, which is very useful. This simple blower comes with a two-year warranty and is best for gentle blowing in small gardens.

Buy the Flymo EasiClear 100 leaf blower from Amazon

What's the difference between a leaf blower and a leaf blower vacuum?

Quite simply, a leaf blower will lift wet and dry leaves from paths, grass, borders and pavements. The wind speed it generates blows leaves into a pile, which you can either leave as a habitat for wildlife, or collect and put on the compost, in your green waste recycling, or store in bags to make leaf mould.

A leaf blower vacuum not only lifts wet and dry leaves, but sucks them up too, passing them through a blade, which cuts and mulches them and then deposits them into the bag that attaches to the machine. You can dispose of them the same way, but they have the added advantage of being shredded, so they decompose more quickly when added to the compost or used to make leaf mould. However, leaf blower vacuums can get blocked up, may need more maintenance, and also tend to be expensive, but they are more efficient when it comes to keeping your garden leaf-free.

Before you decide which of these you need, think about how many leaves you have to collect - if you can manage blowing leaves and debris into a pile to gather up by hand, then a blower will do the job and is a cheaper option. However, for larger gardens with more trees and shrubs, being able to suck up leaves will save time, especially if you go for models with a mulching option.

How to choose the best leaf blower and leaf blower vacuum

There are three types of leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums available, each with its own pros and cons:

Cordless leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums: There are lots of pros with this type of blower – in addition to being lightweight, quiet and environmentally friendly, they don’t need messy petrol or a restricting power cable. However, they can be more expensive if you’re buying batteries and chargers as extras to the cost of the tool, and you’ll need to check the run time if you have a larger garden.

Electric leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums: Often at the budget end, these are low maintenance and, like cordless types, also lightweight. However, the power supply cable can be limiting as well as potentially hazardous.

Petrol leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums: These deliver plenty of power and, just like cordless types, can be used anywhere, but their environmental impact is a consideration, as is the hassle of buying and storing petrol. They’re often heavy and noisy and will need more in the way of maintenance, too.

Think about the following features before you buy:

• Variable speed controls - air speed (measured by metres per second or kilometres per hour), and airflow (measured by cubic metres per hour). Dry leaves are light and easy to shift, but wet, compacted leaves and other debris will need more power. Variable speed control is a useful feature as it allows you to change the speed and power depending on where you’re working – you’ll want to be gentle around plants, whereas more oomph will help on lawns
• Nozzle size – in general, the narrower the better, as the air flow is more concentrated, giving more control when it comes to corralling the leaves into a pile
• Mulching blades - Metal blades are tougher than plastic, as well as more durable, so are the preferred choice
• Collection bag - While not essential, a waterproof collection bag makes things a lot more comfortable if you’re working in wet weather, as it prevents moisture from soggy leaves dripping through the bag and onto your legs
• Comfort features - Soft-grip handles and a padded shoulder strap will help make it more comfortable to use the leaf blower or leaf blower vacuum for any length of time

Buyer's Guide to budget leaf blowers - video

Buyer's Guide to leaf blower vacs - video

Many thanks to Sue Fisher and Rosie Yeomans for their help in making these videos. Thanks also to Sparsholt College for their generous assistance.

How to use your collected leaves

If you’d like to make leaf mould with your leaves, you’ll need a bin separate from your compost. Leaf mould is created when leaves are broken down by fungi, rather than the bacteria that decompose the ingredients in your compost bin. By piling leaves up separately, in a leaf mould bag, bin or cage, you’ll create the perfect material for mulching and potting.

Different leaves break down more quickly than others, but all deciduous trees will make good leaf mould. Small, thin leaves, such as birch, will break down quickly, but larger leaves, like chestnut, might need shredding first. Evergreen leaves and conifer needles will take much longer and should be chopped before they are added. Avoid adding evergreens in large quantities.

For more help, see our guide to creating a leaf mould bin.

How we tested leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviews team tested different leaf blowers and leaf vacuums across a range of garden situations – removing leaves from lawns, in borders and on gravel paths and paving, in both dry and wet weather. Before we started, we checked for any wildlife in the leaf matter and were cautious around plants to avoid disturbing insects and other creatures. The following criteria were used to calculate the scores, with equal weight given to each:

• Ease of use: Looked at the assembly needed, ease and clarity of instructions, any storage features and, where relevant, the battery charge time
• Handling: Assessed ease of use, weight, noise levels, comfort and safety features
• Performance: Focussed on the power and air flow control, plus run and charge time (where applicable)
• Value for money: Considering all of the above, plus quality and design, the RRP including battery and charger (where applicable) and the length of warranty

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Available as bypass, anvil and ratchet, each type is designed for a particular job:

Bypass secateurs have two blades that cut like a pair of scissors, with a sharpened blade crossing over a thicker metal platform. They're pointed to help them get in amongst stems and branches and are ideal for cutting stems between 10 and 15mm thick. They're suitable for greener growth and should cut cleanly, so it’s important to keep them sharp. Read our guide on how to sharpen secateurs.

Anvil secateurs have one blade that cuts like a knife, with the blade pushing through a stem or branch onto a lower block, in a similar manner to a knife on a chopping board. They're useful for cutting through thicker, woodier stems and dead wood.

Ratchet secateurs have either anvil or bypass blades and feature ratchet springs and mechanisms to ease effort and cut through a stem in a series of stages. This type of tool can make tougher cuts gradually as you repeatedly squeeze and release the handles to get through the growth, and they are particularly useful for gardeners who lack strength.

Best secateurs to buy at a glance

Bypass secateurs

• Best all-round secateurs (bypass): Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs
• Best secateurs for ease of use (bypass): Kent and Stowe Eversharp All Purpose Lite Secateurs 
• Best secateurs for comfort (bypass): Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs
• Best premium secateurs (bypass): Niwaki GR Pro
• Best secateurs for maintenance (bypass): Felco 8 Bypass Secateurs
• Best secateurs for large stems (bypass): Darlac Expert Bypass DP1030A
• Best left-handed secateurs (bypass): Burgon and Ball Left Handed Bypass
• Best secateurs for smaller hands (bypass): Darlac Compound Action Pruner

Anvil secateurs

• Best all-round secateurs (anvil): Felco Model 32 Pruning Shears
• Best secateurs for strength (anvil): Stihl PG25 Anvil Secateurs
• Best compact and lightweight secateurs (ratchet): Ames Ratchet Anvil Pruner

Jump to

• The best bypass secateurs
• The best anvil secateurs
• The best of the rest
• Why do you need to clean your secateurs?
• How we tested secateurs

In every review category, we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best bypass, anvil and ratchet secateurs below:

Best Bypass Secateurs

Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs

RRP: £49.84

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Comfortable and well-balanced
• Cut cleanly and well
• Strong and robust

Cons

• Stiff central bolt
• The safety catch needs getting used to

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best all-round bypass, these simple secateurs have few parts or gimmicks, yet their strong, Japanese steel blades cut cleanly and effortlessly. They're ideal for all pruning tasks, including heavy-duty jobs, cutting consistently well and are well-made, sharp, easy to use, and feel long-lasting. Their red and white handles make them hard to lose in the garden, both day and night. Although the safety catch, which is at the end of the handle, takes some getting used to, it's a breeze once mastered. They come with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Okatsune 103 review

Buy the Okatsune 103 Secateurs from Amazon and B&Q

Kent and Stowe Eversharp All Purpose Lite Secateurs

RRP: £34.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Good features, including an integrated wire cutter and an adjustable hand-sizer
• Excellent cutting strength
• Light with comfortable grip handles
• Replaceable parts
• 10-year warranty

Cons

• Hard to see if dropped in the garden
• Blade will rust if not cared for
• Packaging is excessive

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use, these aluminium-framed secateurs are packed with valuable features. They're suitable for both right- and left-handed gardeners, and those with smaller hands, thanks to the easy switch on the top that adjusts from 1-2.4cm. They have a 2.4cm cutting capacity, although this feels like more, and despite their slightly chunky appearance, they're light and comfortable with marked rubber handles for extra grip. The safety catch, which is placed by your thumb, is easy to open and close with one hand. The hardened carbon steel blade has a plasma coating, and it feels strong and sharp, easily cutting through green and older wood on shrubs and roses.

Unfortunately, these secateurs' grey and black appearance makes them hard to spot if dropped in the garden or amongst prunings. They have a handy hole for hanging them up after use, and although the blade will rust slightly if not cared for, if these secateurs are looked after well, they should last you years. They come with a 10-year warranty.

Buy the Kent and Stowe Eversharp All Purpose Lite Secateurs from Amazon, B&Q and Marshalls Garden

Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs

RRP: £34.99

Our rating:4.5/5

Available from Crocus

Pros

• Cut easily through live and dead wood
• Hard, sharp blade
• Comfortable FSC-certified wooden handles
• Lightweight
• Adjustable width
• 10-year warranty

Cons

• Hard to spot if dropped in the garden

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for best bypass for comfort, these secateurs have an aluminium frame with a sustainably sourced FSC-certified ash insert. This smooth wood is comfortable to hold and offers an excellent grip, even without gardening gloves. They're suitable for both right- and left-handed gardeners, and although the secateurs are lightweight at just 330g, they still feel robust and hard-wearing. When pruning, they cut through almost every material on test with little resistance. Live, green wood was easy to prune, and even hard, dried wood was easy to snip. This is thanks to a carbon steel blade covered in a plasma coating, which Kent and Stowe claim makes these harder than any other blade.

The cutting width can be adjusted with a simple catch, from 1cm to 2.5cm, so these secateurs can tackle thicker branches as well as more delicate stems, and the safety catch, which is placed by your thumb, is easy to open and close with one hand. They also have a handy hole for hanging them up in a shed or greenhouse after use and a notch on the blade for cutting twine and garden wire. With a fantastic 10-year warranty, these secateurs should last you a long time. However, we found that the grey blade and light brown handles are tricky to spot if you drop them in a border or lose them amongst prunings.

Read the full Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs review

Buy the Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs from Crocus

Niwaki GR Pro

RRP: £84 (right-handed)

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Niwaki

Pros

• Comfortable and well-balanced
• Cut cleanly and well
• Strong and robust

Cons

• The safety catch needs getting used to
• No replaceable blade
• Expensive

These robust secateurs from Niwaki, awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best premium bypass secateurs, feature hand-forged, carbon steel blades which cut stems cleanly and smoothly. The safety catch sits at the end of the handles and is chunky but easy to engage once you get used to it, and they feel well-balanced and comfortable to use. A replacement spring is included in your purchase, and they come in a choice of sizes, including small, regular and large and for both left- and right-handed gardeners. A holster is also available to buy, and these secateurs come with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Niwaki GR Pro review

Buy the Niwaki GR Pro from Crocus and Niwaki

Felco Model 8

RRP: £73.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from On Buy

Pros

• The non-slip handle shape works well
• The safety catch is easy to reach and use
• Servicing is provided for life

Cons

• Several different screw need to be tackled for adjustment
• The grip is wide when fully opened and not helpful for smaller hands
• An expensive, premium-priced model

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner, these classic secateurs from the world-renowned Swiss brand Felco feel sturdy and cut well in a variety of different jobs. They're also easy to maintain and come with the Felco lifetime guarantee. The secateurs feel chunky but light, and the ergonomic handle protects the wrist and hand, making longer pruning jobs less tiring. The blade also has a handy wire-cutting notch. The red non-slip handle makes them easy to see if lost in the garden.

Read the full Felco 8 Bypass Secateurs review

Buy the Felco Model 8 from Amazon and On Buy

Darlac DP1030A Expert

RRP: £34.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from ManoMano

Pros

• Nice to hold, with a comfortable grip
• Cut efficiently and smoothly, and make large cuts easily
• Comes with a generous lifetime guarantee

Cons

• A number of different screws need to be tackled for adjustment or maintenance
• Handles are wide when fully opened, which may be a problem for smaller hands

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner for best bypass for large stems, these robust secateurs have a comfortable grip and are nice to hold. The central safety catch is easy to engage with the thumb and can also be used to reduce the blade aperture (opening width) for light work, which is useful. There is a handy wire-cutting notch on the blade, and the red handles make them easy to find if lost in the garden. They come with a lifetime warranty.

Read the full Darlac Expert Bypass DP1030A review

But the Darlac DP1030A Expert from ManoMano and B&Q

Burgon and Ball Left-Handed Bypass

RRP: £23.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from On Buy

Pros

• Easy safety catch
• Replacement parts available
• Comfortable
• Long warranty

Cons

• Struggle with large cuts
• Best for bigger hands

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best left-handed bypass secateurs, these have a strong, high-carbon steel blade that cuts well and can easily take on most pruning jobs. They are also simple to sharpen and have a large safety catch that engages easily. Replacement parts are available, and they come with a 10-year warranty.

Read the full Burgon and Ball Left Handed Bypass review

Buy the Burgon and Ball Left-Handed Bypass Secateurs from Amazon and On Buy

Darlac Compound Action Pruner

RRP: £20.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Small and light, half the weight of other models tested
• Easy to make most cuts thanks to the lever action
• Smooth closing mechanism

Cons

• Struggled with larger cuts
• Blade opening is limited, making it tricky to sharpen the blades

These bypass secateurs have a central lever action, which makes them very easy on the hands when cutting, just like a ratchet secateur. The handles have a soft grip for comfort, and they're surprisingly light – half the weight of some of the other secateurs tested. The safety catch is on the top of the handle and is easy to switch on or off with a flick of the thumb. A great tool for those with less strength, they were given a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best bypass secateurs for smaller hands.

Read the full Darlac Compound Action Pruner review

Buy the Darlac Compound Action Pruners from B&Q, ManoMano and On Buy

Best Anvil Secateurs

Felco Model 32

RRP: £69.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Clean, easy, strong cuts
• Wide cutting width
• Servicing provided
• All parts replaceable

Cons

• Safety catch stiff
• Expensive

These anvil secateurs are strong and robust, with a hardened steel blade that cuts cleanly and effortlessly through thick, woody growth. With a wide cutting width, they feel sturdy in use, and although there's no comfort padding on the grip, these cut so smoothly that there was no strain on the hand or wrist. All parts are replaceable, and they come with a lifetime warranty. We awarded these a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy as the Best Anvil All Round.

Read the full Felco Model 32 Pruning Shears review

Buy the Felco Model 32 Anvil Secateurs from On Buy and Amazon

Stihl PG25 Anvil

RRP: £37

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Mowers Online

Pros

• Smooth, easy cutting action
• The central safety catch is simple to operate with one hand
• Blade can be handily sharpened on the go

Cons

• Handles are hard in the hand and feel uncomfortable after prolonged use
• Several screws need to be removed for adjustment or maintenance

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner for the best anvil secateur for strength, these sturdy, compact secateurs cut woodier stems with ease. The carbon steel blade has a non-stick coating and can be easily sharpened or replaced, and their orange handles make them easy to find amongst prunings in the garden. They come with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Stihl PG25 Anvil Secateurs review

Buy the Stihl PG25 Anvil from Amazon and Mowers Online

Ames ratchet anvil pruner

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.25/5

Available from B&Q

Best compact and lightweight secateurs (ratchet): Ames ratchet anvil pruner

Pros

• Rust-resistant polymer blade coating
• Compact and lightweight nylon fibre handles and anvil
• Japanese carbon steel blade
• Soft-feel grip
• Pocket-sized
• 15-year warranty
• Hole in the handle for attaching a lanyard

Cons

• Best for smaller stems, as it’s challenging to get leverage on larger stems
• Cuts up to 1.8cm only
• Catch is a little fiddly to take on and off

These little secateurs are lightweight, pocket-sized and yet capable of cutting above their weight. The blade is SK5 carbon steel, which is resistant to wear and highly durable. Comfortable in the hand, despite their small size, with the four-stage ratchet, these secateurs cut through 1.8cm dead wood relatively easily, leaving a clean cut. Although the catch is a little awkward to use, the compact form-factor was much valued by our testing team, earning these secateurs a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for compact and lightweight ratchet secateurs. The warranty is 15 years.

But the Ames ratchet anvil pruner from B&Q and Amazon

Best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy, they still have various features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.

Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Collection Razorsharp Ratchet Anvil Secateurs

RRP: £32.49

Our rating: 3.9/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Polymer-coated blade for rust-resistance and smoother cutting
• Comfortable non-slip grip
• Four-stage ratchet action
• 10-year warranty
• Cuts up to 2cm
• Cast aluminium body
• The catch comes off easily as you squeeze the secateurs

Cons

• Opens a bit too wide for comfortable usage, depending on the size of hands

Well-made and robust with a cast aluminium body, these secateurs offer a cutting width of 2cm, with a ratchet action in four stages. On hard, dead wood, the secateurs cut cleanly and well, although they opened too widely to offer leverage for smaller hands. The blade is coated with PTFE, a non-stick coating that gives a cleaner, smoother cut while also protecting the blade from rust. A finger guard offers protection, while the catch can be closed with one hand and is easily opened by a gentle squeeze action. With a 10-year guarantee, this is a good buy for any keen gardener who deals with a lot of woody winter pruning.

Buy the Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Collection Razorsharp Ratchet Anvil Secateurs from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled Up

Burgon & Ball Ratchet Pruner

RRP: £24.99

Our rating: 3.5/5

Available from Burgon & Ball

Pros

• Three-stage gear mechanism
• Cuts up to 2.5cm
• High-carbon steel blade
• 10-year warranty
• RHS endorsed

Cons

• The handle feels very large
• Opens wider than smaller hands can deal with

With a wide cutting width of 2.5cm, these secateurs feature a three-stage ratchet and a high-carbon steel blade, offering 2.5 times more cutting power. The handle is nicely moulded with finger protection, although it feels like it is made for larger hands, with the opening width wider than some hands can deal with, reducing the leverage and grip necessary to cut larger branches. The catch is easy to open one-handed, but more difficult to close in this fashion. With a 10-year warranty, these are a good buy for a gardener with larger hands.

Buy the Burgon & Ball Ratchet Pruner from Burgon & Ball

Bulldog Ratchet Pruning Secateurs

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.1/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Coated steel blade
• Oil pad for the blade is set into the handle
• Robust and sturdy
• Ridged, soft-grip handle
• Cuts up to 2cm
• Hole in the handle for attaching a lanyard

Cons

• Slightly heavier than other models
• Relatively short five-year warranty

These secateurs feel strongly made and robust, and are generally heavy and solid in the hand. The four-ratchet mechanism cuts through 2cm of dead wood easily and cleanly, and the coating on the steel blade protects against corrosion. The soft-grip handle is nicely ridged, offering an excellent grip, and the little oiler pad set into the handle is a nice touch and proved handy when testing. Despite a shorter warranty than some other secateurs on test, these feel like a sturdy and strongly made pair of secateurs.

Buy the Bulldog Ratchet Pruning Secateurs from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled Up

Wolf Garten Anvil Comfort Plus

RRP: £25.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Wide cutting width
• Simple design
• Cut cleanly and sharply
• Suitable for right- and left-handed use

Cons

• Feel flimsy
• Bottom handle rubs with use

The secateurs are small and compact and feature a non-stick blade which cuts cleanly. There is an integrated spring closing between plastic handles, which do have a rubber grip, but only on the upper side. We found the safety catch was easy to reach; however, it was quite stiff to operate. Overall, the tool performed well, but it felt quite flimsy compared to more sturdy models.

Buy the Wolf Garten Anvil Comfort Plus from Amazon and B&Q

Jardin de France Ratchet Secateur

RRP: £40.00

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Jardin de France

Pros

• Strong, clean cut
• Light and comfortable
• Replaceable blade
• Right and left use

Cons

• Ratchet slips occasionally
• Fiddly safety catch

These ratchet secateurs feature a coated carbon-steel blade that cuts well through growth. The handles are aluminium and topped with a rubber grip for added comfort. The tool is suitable for left- and right-hand use, and both the blade and spring are replaceable. We found the safety catch could be fiddly, and the three-gear ratchet did occasionally slip. There is a one-year warranty included, and we thought the secateurs were great value for money overall.

Buy the Jardin de France Ratchet Secateur from Jardin de France

Darlac Super Classic Ratchet

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Mr Fothergills

Pros

• Wide cutting width
• Cut well
• Good value
• Replaceable parts

Cons

• Large and wide
• Slow to cut
• Lack grip

These Darlac ratchet secateurs come with an impressive 25-year warranty. The coated SK5 steel blade cuts smoothly, although the action took longer than other models tested. The tool has a wide cutting width, which is useful on larger stems. However, the handles were also quite large, which made them trickier to handle. Replaceable parts are available.

Buy the Darlac Super Classic Ratchet Secateurs from Amazon, D.T. Brown and Mr Fothergills

Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Heavy Duty

RRP: £25.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Feel sturdy and robust with a strong blade
• Replacement parts are available
• 10-year guarantee

Cons

• The central safety catch keeps catching halfway through a cut
• Grip needs adjusting for different cuts

These classic secateurs feel sturdy, capable and long-lasting. They have rubber shock absorbers on the handles to make cutting larger stems comfortable, but the central safety catch often caught halfway through a cut, which was frustrating. Cutting width also needed to be adjusted for different-sized stems. The plastic-coated handles are bright red, so they are easy to spot if mislaid. Replacement blades and springs are available, and they have a 10-year guarantee.

Read the full Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Heavy Duty Bypass Secateur review

Buy the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Heavy Duty Bypass from Amazon, B&Q and On Buy

Wolf Garten RS5000 Professional Anvil

RRP: £59.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Feel well-balanced in the hand
• Central safety catch is easy to reach and engage
• Blade opens wide, so sharpening is easy
• Cone with a 10-year guarantee

Cons

• Large and heavy, and may be too much for gardeners with smaller hands and those lacking strength
• The cord wrist strap gets in the way

With an integral spring, these large anvil secateurs are comfortable to use. The blade feels sharp and is angled, making accessing difficult cuts much easier. Plastic grips on the aluminium handles make holding them softer and less cold. However, the wrist cord just gets in the way, and larger cuts were a struggle.

Read the full Wolf Garten RS5000 Professional Anvil Secateurs review

Buy the Wolf Garten RS5000 Professional Anvil from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled Up

Our expert testers trial hundreds of garden tools to work out which will do the job well and offer the best value, comfort and quality. If you're pruning larger branches, take a look at our reviews of the best electric secateurs, best loppers, best pruning saws and the best mini chainsaws and best wood-splitting axes.  For help clearing up, see our test of the best wheelbarrows or the best garden shredders.

Choosing the right type of secateurs

Watch Alan Titchmarsh's guide to choosing the right type of secateurs. He helps you identify the difference between bypass, anvil and ratchet secateurs and explains which gardening tasks each type of secateurs is best suited to.

Why do you need to clean secateurs?

Once you’ve bought your secateurs, it’s important to look after them so they last as long as possible.

• You should aim to oil and sharpen your secateurs every few weeks so they’re always easy to use and safe for you and your plants
• It’s essential to keep them sharp, not just for ease of use but also for your plants' health. Heavy use can clog the tool with plant sap and blunt the blades, tearing plant tissue and letting disease in
• Sharp blades cut cleanly and leave a small wound on the plant, which should fully heal, reducing the risk of disease. Clean tools also prevent disease from spreading between your plants

See our video, where Alan Titchmarsh shows you how to clean your secateurs for help

How we tested secateurs

The secateurs were tested around the garden on perennials, trees and shrubs and at different times of the year. They were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Handling: Assessed the secateurs' comfort, weight, balance, the safety catch and general ease of use
• Cutting: Looked at the qualities of the blades, including their material, strength and opening widths, as well as their manoeuvrability and cutting efficiency
• Maintenance: Consider how easy they are to clean and sharpen, whether replacement blades are available, and whether a maintenance service is offered
• Value for money: Focussed on the quality of the secateurs, any special features, warranty and RRP

For more information on our testing process, take a look at How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine , responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Whether you have a large country garden or a small outdoor space in the city, there are compost bins to suit all tastes and requirements. To help you choose between the hundreds available on the market, we've tested several to provide a broad range of compost bins to inspire your next purchase. We've also got some useful information regarding the different materials that compost bins can be made of, how to choose the best compost bin and what to put in your compost bin.

Best Buy compost bins to buy at a glance:

• Best budget compost bin: Blackwall Green Compost Converter
• Best large compost bin: Modular compost bin
• Best compost bin for versatility: Green Johanna 330 Litre Food & Garden Waste Compost Bin
• Best compost bin for speed: HOTBIN 200 litre composter

Jump to:

• Best compost bins in 2026
• Best of the rest
• What materials are compost bins made of?
• How to choose the best compost bin
• What to put in a compost bin
• Trouble-shooting - what to do if your compost doesn't look quite right
• How we tested

In every review, we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best compost bins below.

The best compost bins in 2026

Blackwall 220 Litre Green Compost Converter

RRP: £42.99

Our rating: 4.25/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Low price
• Made from 100 per cent recycled materials
• Optional base plate to site on hard surface
• Long warranty

Cons

• Thin, non-ventilated construction
• Slowest to compost
• Only one access hatch

The Blackwall Compost Converter is a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best budget model. Made of recycled plastic, it consists of a one-piece cone-shaped body with a snug-fitting removable lid and a single hatch. It's very quick to set up - just stand it on the soil, and you're good to go. It's a great option for those who want a simple and affordable compost bin. However, because of its thin sides, it was one of the slowest composters on test, so if you want results quickly, you may want one of the other models featured here.

Read the full Blackwall Compost Converter review

Buy Blackwall Compost Converter at B&Q, The Range and Robert Dyas

Suttons Modular Wooden Compost Bin

RRP: £199.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Simple, tool-free assembly
• Insulated cover sits directly in the compost
• Planks slide out for easy filling/ access
• Accessed from any side
• Extends with additional three-sided modules

Cons

• Cover lets in some rain

This traditional wooden compost bin has a huge 573 litre capacity, earning it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy award for the best large compost bin. Made from sustainably sourced Scandinavian softwood, the planks easily slot into upright grooves on the corner posts, and the bin can be accessed from every side. Thanks to its plastic cover, it produces the highest internal temperature of any of the wooden bins on test, guaranteeing fantastic compost. However, you should note that this cover lets in a little rain.

Read the full Suttons Modular Wooden Compost Bin review

Buy the Suttons Modular Wooden Compost Bin at Amazon and  Suttons

Green Johanna 330 Litre Food & Garden Waste Compost Bin

RRP: £144.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Compost food and garden waste
• Made from 100% recycled plastic
• No need to pre-mix waste
• Good capacity for price

Cons

• Can't harvest compost when the winter jacket is on

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the most versatile compost bin, the Green Johanna 330-litre Hot Composter has a good capacity and works effectively for all types of food and garden waste. It does not require pre-mixing and is made from 100 per cent recycled plastic.

Read the full Green Johanna 330 Litre Hot Composter review

Buy Green Johanna 330 Litre Hot Composter at Amazon, B&Q and The Range

HOTBIN 200 litre Composter

RRP: £255

Our rating: 4.25/5

Available from Crocus

Pros

• Quickly composts food and garden waste
• Self-contained and comes part assembled
• Achieved the highest temperature in our test

Cons

• Waste needs pre-mixing
• Made from virgin materials
• Cam straps make compost access awkward

If you want quick compost, look no further - the Hotbin Mk. 2 Composter is a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner for being the fastest to compost. A good option for small spaces, it has a built-in carbon filter to absorb smells, a temperature gauge on the lid and a tank in the base to collect the liquid produced during composting. That said, all waste needs mixing before going into this composter, and it can be a little tricky to access the compost.

Read the full HOTBIN 200 litre composter review

Buy the HOTBIN 200 litre composter at Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Dobies

The best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a Best Buy award, they still have various features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Hozelock EasyMix 2-in-1 composter

RRP: £134.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Smart and compact, made from 90% recyclable plastic
• Takes both food and garden waste
• Easy to fill and empty
• Tank to collect/dispense liquid
• Makes compost quickly if regularly turned

Cons

• Lots of assembly
• Heavy to turn when fuller
• Needs regular attention for fast composting
• A household would need more than one composter
• High price

This compost bin is a ‘tumbler’ type, designed to enable the frequent turning and mixing of waste material, and produces compost much faster than a traditional compost bin due to the high level of aeration. It’s smart and well-made, from 90% recycled plastic, and its vermin-proof design enables the composting of both food and garden waste. Thanks to its compact size of 60 x 50 x 65cm, it’s also easy to site almost anywhere. Both adding and emptying waste is straightforward, as the hatch is large and opens and locks smoothly with a chunky knob. There are also plenty of grip points to rotate the drum with relative ease, although once the tumbler is around two-thirds full, this becomes quite hard to do due to the weight. One of its best features is that when the compost is ready, you simply roll the drum off the base to a convenient emptying place in the garden. The nutrient-rich liquid that drains during the composting process is also collected in a tank, which clips onto a garden hose, allowing this useful plant tonic to be easily dispensed when watering.

However, while this bin is clearly solidly made and the product of a carefully thought-out design, there are drawbacks. The cost is high in comparison to the amount of waste it can process and the subsequent amount of compost produced. Another is that it needs ‘tending’ to tumble the waste: not in itself an arduous task, but to produce compost rapidly, this does need regular attention, ideally daily. The air vents do allow small flies to enter, and during warm weather, these fly out in clouds when the hatch is first opened, so opening it and standing back for a minute is advisable. Any garden waste, such as stems and woody material, isn’t suitable to use in this compost bin if the aim is to produce compost in a period of weeks. However, the chief drawback is that this can’t be the only composting solution because the waste needs to be left for a period of a month or so without adding fresh material. This, therefore, necessitates either having two of these composters or an alternative composting solution. It comes with a three-year warranty.

Buy the Hozelock EasyMix 2-in-1 composter from Wickes and Amazon

Lacewing Easy-Load Wooden Compost Bin

RRP: £84.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from Primrose

Pros

• Good size capacity for the price
• The removable front makes it easy to add waste and harvest compost
• Long warranty

Cons

• Drill required for assembly
• No lid or cover
• Waste is composted more slowly at the front and top

The simple construction of this wooden compost bin allows for a whopping 718 litres of volume. It's made from slats to allow air circulation around the compost, and the front ones are removable, making filling up the bin much easier and allowing lots of room to get at the compost when it’s ready. However, we found that these wide gaps meant that it composts relatively slowly. Made from pressure-treated pine, the slats have a smooth, planed finish and are guaranteed against rot for 15 years.

Buy Lacewing Easy-Load Wooden Compost Bin from Amazon, Primrose and The Range

Harrod Horticultural Slot and Slide Wooden Compost Bin

RRP: from £199

Our rating: 4/5

Available from Harrod Horticultural

Pros

• Very sturdy construction
• Planks slide out for easy filling/access
• Accessed from any side
• Extends with additional three-sided modules

Cons

• Lots of assembly and requires a powered screwdriver
• Screws for the lid rails are too short

Producing some of the best and fastest compost on test, this composter is for serious gardeners. It's designed to be modular, so you can add multiple units for extra capacity, and it is very sturdy as it's made of sustainably sourced wood with aluminium fittings. The planks slide out smoothly, so it's easy to add waste and remove compost. However, the lid isn't included, and this composter needs a lot of assembly with power tools, so if DIY isn't your bag, you may want to look elsewhere.

Buy the Harrod Horticultural Slot and Slide Wooden Compost Bin from Harrod Horticultural

Garantia 400 Litre Thermo-King Composter

RRP: £94.99

Our rating: 3.75/5

Available from Crocus

Pros

• Insulated and vented sides
• Two-part hinged lid for easy filling
• Made from 100% recycled plastic
• An optional base plate means this composter can be sited on a hard surface

Cons

• Multiple lugs make assembly and hatch replacement tricky
• Connectors don't feel very durable

This plastic compost bin has a great 400-litre capacity. On test, its foamed plastic walls and carefully designed ventilation system helped it handle this volume quickly, producing excellent compost. It's made from 100% recycled materials and includes a wide two-part hinged hatch for easy filling. However, it's a little tricky to assemble.

Buy the 400 Litre Thermo-King Composter at Crocus, Homebase and Robert Dyas

Thermo Compost Bin Komp 420

RRP: £208.88

Our rating: 3.75/5

Available from Amazon. Also available in 250L and 700L

Pros

• Insulated and vented sides
• Hinged lid, easy to fill
• Compost accessed on any side
• 100% recycled plastic

Cons

• The assembly is hard to align single-handedly
• Comparatively high price

With a robust, sectional design and made from thick recycled plastic, this bin is easy to access thanks to a wide hinged lid. Insulated and vented sides help it compost quickly, and it's available in a range of sizes, from 250L to 700L (pictured). However, we found that it's fiddly to assemble without help, and it comes at a relatively high price.

Buy the Thermo Compost Bin Komp 420 on Amazon

Aerobin 200L Composter

RRP: £199.99

Our rating: 3.75/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Compost food and garden waste
• Produced compost in a reasonable time
• Finished compost is easy to access

Cons

• Waste needs pre-mixing for high temperatures
• Leachate tank is hard to access
• Made from virgin materials

Our tester liked this high-tech compost bin, which, thanks to its internal ‘lung’ to circulate air and a rigid recycled plastic outer shell, produces compost quickly. It's easy to access, but the bin needs a regular supply of ready-mixed waste to maintain temperature, as well as a drainage hose, which isn't supplied. The leachate tank is also tricky to access.

Buy the Aerobin 200L Composter from Amazon and Water Butts Direct

Forest Garden Beehive Composter 250L

RRP: £189.99

Our rating: 3.5/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Durable, with an effective lid
• FSC wood
• Long anti-rot warranty
• Looks good

Cons

• Lengthy to build
• Needs a prop to hold up the lid
• Hard to harvest from the hatch
• Slow to make compost

This attractive wooden, beehive-style compost bin makes a stylish feature in the garden. Made from FSC pressure-treated softwood, it arrives flat-packed, and took our tester a lengthy two hours to slot together and build. It has a hinged lid and a hatch at the base for accessing the compost, and tools, including a drill and screwdriver, are needed to attach both of these. The bin holds 250 litres of compost, although this is more accurately 230 litres when you allow for a gap at the top for air circulation. It’s easy to add material, as long as you’re strong enough to lift the lid with one hand. Our tester fashioned their own prop to hold the heavy lid up while they worked, and it’s a shame that, given the price, one isn’t included with the bin, as it makes a massive difference to ease of use. It’s also awkward to harvest compost from the hatch as material needs to be regularly turned, and so you end up turning and using the compost at the top.

The quality of compost was as you would expect with a cold composting system of this size, and it took 18 months before we had a good crumbly mix. The bin is well aerated, and the secure lid prevents compost from getting soggy from the rain. The bin is also open at the bottom, so it’s ideal for placing directly on the soil, but this does mean that rodents can burrow up into the compost. The bin feels very durable once built, and it comes with a 15-year anti-rot warranty, which, as the wood is in direct contact with the damp ground, is reassuring. The build quality and looks of this bin are its best features, but it’s not for gardeners who lack strength or don’t want to spend time putting it together.

Buy the Forest Garden Beehive Composter 250L from Amazon, B&Q and Robert Dyas

If you're new to composting or would like more practical tips and information, see our guides on how to make compost and how to make a composting trench. We also have a handy trouble-shooting video on common problems with composting. For tested tools to help with the process, check out our guides to the best spades, electric garden shredders, border forks, gloves, wheelbarrows and best cordless mowers.

What materials are compost bins made of?

Compost bins come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are made using different materials:

• Plastic compost bins: Ideal for a small space, the plastic sides and lid retain moisture and heat to encourage rapid decomposition, as well as blocking out light to stop weeds from growing. This type of bin should ideally be placed on grass or earth.
• Wooden compost bins: Typically 1 square metre, but the biggest wooden bins can produce hundreds of litres of compost. They're often modular, so you can fit several together and cycle compost throughout the year to ensure a steady supply. Usually open to the elements, you can also increase their efficiency with a wooden lid or plastic cover.
• Hot compost bins: Insulated with a close-fitting lid, these are designed to allow decomposition at a much higher temperature and therefore higher speed than other composters (30-90 days, compared to around six months). They also result in a finer compost. Roughly the size of a wheelie bin, they need to stand on a hard surface.
• Wormery bins: These work similarly to compost bins, but are slightly different. They're designed for the small-scale composting of kitchen waste, and use tiger worms to break down material instead of decay. These specialised worms mix and break down the compost quickly and produce a nutrient-rich liquid for use as a fertiliser. Compost worms can also be added to larger bins. However, not all waste is suitable for a wormery, so you’ll still need a compost bin too.
  For more info, check out our expert tests of the best wormeries or read our guide on how to set up a wormery.

You can also make your own compost bin using wooden pallets or corrugated iron. Enclosing the sides will retain heat, which speeds up the rotting process – the larger the pile, the more heat. The ideal minimum size is 1m x 1m and, if possible, make more than one, so it's easier to turn the compost. For more help, take a look at our advice on how to build a compost bin and our guides to the best multi-tools, best cordless drills and best hammers, should you attempt to build your own.

How to choose the best compost bin

When choosing a compost bin, consider the size of your plot, the design of your garden and the amount of compost you'd like to produce.

• Where will it go? Location is likely to influence your choice of bin. A site in full or part shade is best for successful composting. Most bins need to be placed on soil to achieve good drainage and boost microbial action, but the Aerobin and Hotbin must be on a level, hard surface. If you want a cheaper compost bin but only have hard surfaces, look for a model with the option of a base plate to create good drainage and aeration
• Which design is best? If you only want or have room for a single bin, choose a design where finished compost can be easily harvested from the bottom so you can keep filling from the top. This applies to all the plastic composters in our trial
• How fast is compost produced compared to the work involved? Composting in traditional (non-insulated) bins takes 6-12 months on a ‘fill and forget’ approach. You can speed up the process by emptying out, turning and refilling to incorporate air and up the temperature, but obviously, this takes time and effort. The easiest is two bins, so one rots while the other fills. A lid or cover will help retain heat and moisture, and keep out excess rainfall, so cover open bins with a piece of plastic or old carpet. Material and thickness also influence compost speed by retaining more heat. Wood is a good insulator, while thin plastic has the poorest qualities. Highly insulated or ‘hot’ composters are most expensive but do have the potential to make compost in just a few weeks, as the composting process is faster at higher temperatures. This type of bin suits a ‘little and often’ mode of filling: note the Aerobin and Hotbin require a weekly supply of pre-mixed waste to work at their most effective
• What do you get for the money? Consider the length of warranty, particularly with wooden bins and the eco-credentials of the bin, which can vary – some are made from FSC wood or totally from 100% recycled plastic, while others contain none

What to put in a compost bin

Most garden material is compostable, including grass clippings, annual weeds, leaves of perennial ones (not roots, they’ll keep growing) and soft prunings. This ‘green’ material, as it’s often called, would become airless and soggy on its own, so for effective composting, mix with around the same amount by volume of ‘browns’ like chopped-up woody stems, brown cardboard and non-shiny paper. Raw vegetable scraps, teabags, coffee grounds and cut flowers can go in any type of bin, but cooked food, meat and fish must only go in an enclosed vermin-proof design.

Trouble shooting

Balance is key when adding materials to the compost bin, but if your heap doesn’t look quite right, follow these tips:

• Compost too dry?
  This might be down to too much brown waste and pruning waste that’s not been broken down sufficiently. Make sure cardboard is ripped up, and prunings are shredded. And ensure you’re mixing regularly and adding enough green waste
• Compost too wet?
  If you add too much green waste, the compost may get too wet and potentially smelly. Keep the balance and add more brown waste if you notice it’s becoming too wet. Make sure green material is added in small amounts, for example, adding a pile of grass clippings in one go may cause problems
• Compost isn’t rotting down?
  If your compost is taking too long to break down, check your balance of green to brown waste, and turn the heap more regularly
• Too many flies?
  It’s natural to have fruit flies, fungus gnats and other small flies in your compost – they are a key part of the ecosystem. But fly infestations are more likely if the compost is too wet or has too much green waste. Keep a good balance of material, or place a layer of cardboard or soil at the top of the heap

How we tested compost bins

The bins were assembled and sited according to instructions, and then tested over several months. They were given the required type of waste, and similar bins were given the same mix of waste at the same time. They were assessed throughout the testing period, using the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Design & setup. Looked at ease and clarity of instructions, siting restrictions, and how well the design worked and extra features
• Ease of use. Assessed the simplicity of adding waste and then removing compost from the bin
• Compost quality & speed. Focussed on the speed the waste rotted down (including checking the temperature using a compost thermometer) and the quality of the finished compost
• Value for money & eco credentials. Considered the value relative to the above, including warranty and RRP and as well as eco credentials such as type of material and, if plastic, whether virgin or recycled

For more information on our testing process, take a look at how we review.

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This Review roundup was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

There are also a number of types of hose to choose from :

• Bare hoses: a simple, loose hose, available without connectors and accessories
• Hose kits: a loose, bare hose plus spray guns and connectors
• Hoses with reels: a hose reel that combines storage, typically featuring a cylindrical spindle or case, and can be either free-standing or mounted on a wall. The hose is retracted at the pull of the hose or wound by hand with a handle
• Expandable hoses: these offer a lightweight, space-saving alternative to traditional rubber hoses, and shrink to an easy-to-store size when not in use

In general, hosepipes are constructed with layers of vinyl, polyurethane and rubber, often reinforced with nylon or metal mesh. Expandable hoses feature a tough, woven fabric outer layer that allows them to expand and contract. On the whole, cheaper hoses have fewer layers, which affects their strength and durability over time. Rubber hoses kink easily and can even get in a tangle, whereas expandable hoses, with their fabric outer layers, are designed to be anti-kink and anti-knot.

Best Buy bare hoses, expandable hoses and hose reels at a glance

• Best expandable garden hose for performance: Robert Dyas Extendable 30m Hose – RRP: £19.99
• Best premium hose: Hozelock Ultimate Hose – RRP: £52
• Best garden hose mini reel: Hozelock Pico reel – RRP: £59.99
• Best expandable garden hose for durability: Hozelock Superhoze Expandable 30m Hose – RRP: £76.34
• Best larger garden hose reel: Hozelock Fast Reel – RRP: £112.99
• Best portable garden hose reel: Hozelock Auto reel mobile 35m – RRP: £329.99

Jump to:

• The best expandable garden hoses
• The best garden hose reels
• The best bare garden hoses
• How to choose the best garden hose
• What accessories are available?
• Water-wise gardening
• How we tested garden hoses

In every review, we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on hoses that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.

 The best garden hoses

The best expandable garden hoses

Hozelock Superhoze Expandable 30m Hose

RRP: £76.34

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: OnBuy and Wickes

Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight
• Expands to 30m
• Tangle-free
• Five-year guarantee
• Guaranteed leak-free fittings for a water-tight connection
• Nozzle included

Reasons to avoid:

• Hooks or reels for storage aren’t included
• Expensive

Lightweight, tough, and featuring a five-year warranty, this hose won a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for its exceptional durability. This expandable hose is easy to use in a small-sized garden, and because it shrinks down to a third of its length when empty, it's convenient to store when not in use.

Read the full review of the Hozelock Superhoze expandable 30m hose

• Buy Hozelock Superhoze Expandable 30m Hose from OnBuy and Wickes

Robert Dyas Extendable 30m hose

RRP: £19.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Robert Dyas

Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight
• Expands from 10-30m
• Spray gun included
• Tangle-free

Reasons to avoid:

• No storage features included

Winner of a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for its performance, this lightweight, extendable hose comes with connectors, as well as a seven-dial spray gun, which are both accessories that you have to buy separately, as with many of the other hoses we tested. When the hose is filled with water, it fully expands up to 30m, or three times its length, retracting back to its original size in next to no time when you turn the tap off.

Read the full review of the Robert Dyas Extendable 30m hose

• Buy the Robert Dyas Extendable 30m hose from Robert Dyas

Buying an expandable hose - video

Follow our guide to choosing the right expandable hose for your garden

The best garden hose reels

Hozelock Pico Reel

RRP: £59.99

Our rating: 4.75 out of 5

Available from: Tooled Up, OnBuy and Wickes

Reasons to buy:

• Fully assembled
• Versatile, connects both ends
• Comfortable, easy to use, excellent spray gun
• Long warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Feeder hose fiddly to tuck away

Our experts judged this a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy in the mini reel category as it was compact, lightweight and good value. The hose is easy to rewind and has handy features such as drip-free storage with a parking port. There’s also an easy-to-use and adjustable spray gun with five spray pattern options. Plus, this hose comes with a five-year warranty.

Read the full review of the Hozelock Pico hose reel

• Buy Hozelock Pico hose reel from Tooled Up, OnBuy and Wickes

Hozelock Auto Reel Mobile 35m

RRP: £329.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Available from: Amazon and Wickes

Reasons to buy:

• Great for taking around the garden
• Excellent rewind with no kinking
• Very stable
• Well designed with accessory storage

Reasons to avoid:

• Takes time and heavy to build
• Cost

If you’ve ever struggled with a kinking, twisting hose or a reel that’s constantly toppling over, then this is the reel for you. The 30m anti-UV hose is housed within a sturdy portable case that you can wheel around the garden with ease. For this reason, our experts awarded it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy in the portable garden hose reel category. The handle is adjustable to suit your height and collapses down for storage, and this product also has a folding kickstand to help it remain stable in use. This can then be tucked away for easy wheeling and storage. The hose is easy to pull out, and there’s a braking mechanism to keep it controlled and to lock it in place once you’ve got as much as you need.

Once you’re finished, simply tug the hose out another 25cm, and it will automatically rewind neatly back into the case. There’s no handle to wind and no tangling. Five metres of feeder hose are included, giving you 35m in total, plus all the connectors you need, such as hose end and water stop connectors, and threaded tap connectors of 21 and 26mm. There’s also a spray gun with the choice of three sprays: fine rose, jet and cone.

Although this is very easy to wheel around once built, it does weigh 17kg, and this is noticeable when putting it together. There’s quite a lot to assemble, including attaching the wheels, the handle and the accessory basket, and this requires a screwdriver and about 30 minutes of your time. Until the wheels are attached, it’s heavy to lift and move around, and it’s all low down on the ground, so it may not be for the less able gardener.

This reel is also one of the most expensive we’ve tested, but it's very well designed, with lots of storage for the feeder hose and accessories, it feels durable and sturdy and is backed up by a five-year warranty (when registered online). If you use a hose on a regular basis, this is ideal. You definitely get what you pay for, and this hose is well worth considering for the sheer ease of use.

• Buy Hozelock Auto Reel Mobile 35m from Amazon and Wickes

Hozelock Fast Reel

RRP: £112.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: ManoMano, OnBuy and Tooled Up

Reasons to buy:

• Completely assembled, enclosed reel
• Sturdy, stable, exceptionally easy to rewind
• Neat non-drip storage
• Long warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Largest and heaviest
• Most expensive

The automatic self-layering feature on this hose made it extremely quick to wind and unwind, despite being the longest we tested. The casing fully encloses the hose and feels both sturdy and stable. This was the heaviest and priciest hose on our expert test, but it does come with a five-year guarantee. Overall, we were impressed and awarded it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best larger hose.

Read the full review of the Hozelock Fast Reel

• Buy Hozelock Fast Reel from ManoMano, OnBuy and Tooled Up

The best bare garden hose

Hozelock Ultimate hose

RRP: £52

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon and Wickes

Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight and comfortable
• Anti-kink design
• Crush proof
• Long guarantee
• Lowest price per metre (in category)

Reasons to avoid:

• Slightly tricky to re-coil

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best premium hose, this product is very light and easy to use. Constructed from five layers, including a reinforced material, the Hozelock Ultimate also has a smooth inner layer to enhance water flow. Kink-free and flexible, it comes with a 30-year guarantee.

Read the full review of the Hozelock Ultimate hose

• Buy the Hozelock Ultimate hose from Amazon and Wickes

Need an attachment for your hose? Discover which of the garden hose spray guns we tested came out on top. If a watering can is all you're after, we've chosen 10 different designs to suit your gardening needs. You may also be interested in our guide to buying the best pressure washer.

How to choose the best garden hose

Think about the following before you choose:

• The best garden hoses are anti-kink, anti-twist and crush-proof - there’s nothing worse than having to unravel a tangled garden hose, and it will eventually cause the rubber to split and leak. It’s also worth considering the jobs you’ll be using it for. If it’s just watering, you won’t need a super-strong hose with a high max burst pressure (measured in bars), but if you’re connecting it to a power washer, durability and strength are important - and steer clear of expandable hoses as they’re not recommended for use with pressure washers
• Cheaper hoses will need to be replaced more often, which is ultimately bad news for your pocket and the environment. Spending a little more means you’ll get a tough, durable hose that will last for years, and with better technology behind the bigger price tag, watering the plants is more enjoyable, too. Garden hose reel kits are more expensive, but they’re great if storage is an issue and the reel prevents hoses from getting tangled up or trodden on. However, they can be a pain when it comes to reeling in the hose, especially with free-standing types. Expandable hoses dispense with storage problems, as they contract to a manageable size when they’re not in use, but they can also leak and split more readily than tougher rubber alternatives. It’s also worth checking if a hose comes with a guarantee, and if so, how long for. While hoses come with recommended maximum water pressure, kink and frost protection, if a long warranty is offered, it’s a good sign it’s built to last, assuming, of course, you look after it
• Length. To work out what size hose you need, there’s really no better way than getting out the tape measure. Start from the tap and measure the maximum distance you need to reach the bottom of your garden, and then add a bit on, so the hose won’t be at full stretch. Tempting as it may be, avoid going for a longer garden hose than needed, because in addition to being more expensive, it adds unnecessary extra weight and is more bulky to store. Some expandable hoses can be connected together to gain extra length - you’ll need to buy special adaptors - and similarly, smooth rubber hoses can be cut to length if required
• Colour might seem an aesthetic choice; if you have your garden hose on display on a patio, you might want to choose the colour that best works with your scheme. Alternatively, a brightly coloured hose is more visible and so less likely to be run over by a car or machinery

What accessories are available?

While a nozzle or spray gun isn’t essential - using your finger on the tip of the hose to adjust the water flow works well - they are practical. Some hoses come with these accessories included, which often makes them good value for money. However, there are plenty of attachments available to buy separately.

It’s also worth checking if the connectors that come with your hose are ‘universal’, which means they'll fit on any hose or with any accessory - a benefit, if you change the hose but don’t want to have to buy a new spray gun, for example. Connectors are usually made in either plastic or brass, and while there are different grades of plastic, it’s fair to say that the brass connectors will be the most long-lasting.

In general, a textured outer layer will attach more securely to the tap connector than smooth alternatives, and will be less likely to burst off the nozzle or tap connector while it’s in use.

Water-wise gardening

With water conservation becoming more important than ever, check out this fascinating discussion between Arit Anderson and water expert Janet Manning on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast.

• Find out more about our Growing Greener podcast series

Gardening with less water

A few basic techniques will help you save precious water resources while still giving you a beautiful space to enjoy

Target your watering

All plants have different water needs. The best method is to water each plant individually, so you can control exactly the right amount around roots at the base of the plant, minimising wasted water.

Pick drought-tolerant plants

Plants like perennial herbs, ornamental grasses and many established shrubs need very little extra water in summer. Planted in the ground, they may never need any extra watering after establishment. Selecting plants that don’t wilt in dry spells will lower effort and water use.

Plant spreading ground-cover

Although it’s recommended to use a compost mulch around plants to lock in moisture – and this does work – this may be impractical for an entire garden. In addition to mulching, look to low-growing, mat-forming plants that spread between your larger plants, reducing evaporation and locking in moisture.

Collect water from roofs

Every drop of rainwater you collect counts. To work out how much you could collect, multiply the local average annual rainfall by the total area of your roof. Reusing old washing-up water, called ‘grey water’, helps too.

Let lawns go brown

During summer dry spells, lawns are prone to turning brown and looking dead, but they aren’t. Grass naturally goes dormant to survive dry periods, and although it can look less inviting, it’s perfectly fine for the plants. Lawn grasses will naturally bounce back to their luscious green selves when rain returns.

Make a planted soakaway

In addition to collecting rainwater in a water butt, directly water areas with drain-pipe extensions. Doing so reduces water going into drains and the risk of flooding during heavy rain. Water will slowly filter through the ground naturally instead.

How we tested garden hoses

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Reviews team tested a range of different types of garden hose, using them across the spring and summer to water beds and borders, plants in containers and in the greenhouse. The hoses were compared, and the following criteria were used to assess each hose, with equal weight attributed to each:

• Preparation & storage: assessed ease of assembly, weight and storage features
• Handling & performance: looked at ease of unwinding and rewinding, stability of the reel, if the hose kinked or twisted, how well the connectors and accessories fitted and worked, and the ease of carrying
• Quality & features: focused on reel durability, standard and type of hose, nozzle and connectors, plus any special features
• Value for money: considered all of the above plus hose length, accessories, RRP and length of warranty

For more information on our testing process, see How we Review.

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.