Black & Decker 20V MAX Lithium 22 in. POWERCUT Hedge Trimmer

I spent the past few weeks taming privet, boxwood, and holly with Black & Decker’s 20V hedge trimmer, and the theme is clear: convenience over brute force. It’s a lightweight, cordless tool with just enough muscle for regular yard maintenance, and it’s easier on the hands than most budget trimmers I’ve used. It’s not without quirks—chiefly the slow charger and a modest battery—but as a grab-and-go trimmer for typical shrubs, it hits a sweet spot.

Design and ergonomics

At 7.9 pounds with the battery, the 20V trimmer is pleasantly light and well-balanced. The 22-inch dual-action blade gives you real reach across hedges and significantly cuts down on buzzing hand fatigue compared to single-reciprocating designs. I was able to carry it one-handed over the top of low hedges to clean up the back side without fighting the tool, which is not something I can say about heavier 40V or gas models.

The handle and front loop have a soft, micro-texture grip that’s genuinely comfortable. After a long session on ornamental shrubs and a leggy lilac, my hands felt far fresher than they usually do. The blade guard provides decent visibility of the cut line, and the overall length (about 39 inches) makes it easy to reach across deeper shrubs without a ladder.

Build quality is what I’d call homeowner-solid. The housings and guards are robust enough for typical yard abuse. The blade set arrived aligned and clean, and the scissor action stayed true after several sessions.

Setup and charging

Setup is simple: slide on the battery and go. The included charger is a small, wall-mountable base. It works, but it’s slow—expect up to eight hours for a full charge on the included 1.5Ah pack. For many homeowners that’s fine, since you’ll likely charge overnight. If you plan to tackle a lot of hedges in one day, consider picking up a second battery or a faster charger from the same 20V line.

A few notes from use:
- Seat the battery firmly into the charger until you hear/feel a click; a loose connection will trigger a blinking fault light and no charge.
- The included 1.5Ah pack has no fuel gauge, so plan your sessions or bring a spare if you’re covering a lot of ground.
- The system is part of Black & Decker’s 20V MAX platform, so you can share packs across compatible tools.

Cutting performance

This trimmer is at its best on routine maintenance cuts: hedges that get a seasonal shaping, evergreen shrubs that need an outline, and new growth on ornamental plants. The 22-inch blade produces clean, straight lines, and the dual-action movement keeps chatter to a minimum. On privet and boxwood, it left an even face and didn’t mash the foliage, which happens with duller, single-action blades.

Black & Decker rates it for branches up to 3/4 inch. Realistically, anything up to about 1/2 inch is comfortable and fast. At 5/8 inch the tool will still get through but it slows and occasionally snags. Older, woody stems at or above the upper limit are best handled with loppers first, then finish with the trimmer for a clean line. That approach preserves the motor and speeds up the job overall.

POWERCUT and jam clearing

The POWERCUT button is more than marketing. When the blade binds on a tough stem or gets itself wedged in a stringy vine, tapping the button helps the tool power through without yanking the trimmer free. I used it a handful of times on holly and viburnum, where the growth is fibrous. It doesn’t replace good technique—avoid biting too deep into thick sections—but it reduces stops and restarts and kept me in a rhythm.

Vibration and noise

The dual-action blade makes a big difference. Vibration is notably low for an entry-level cordless hedge trimmer. After a couple of long sessions, I didn’t get the numb fingers or tingling palms I often get with cheaper single-action units. Noise is modest—you can converse over it—and there are no fumes, which is always a win if you’re working close to the house or under windows.

Battery life

Battery life depends heavily on what you’re cutting and how aggressively you cut. With typical stop-and-go trimming on mixed shrubs, I got roughly 25–35 minutes of effective runtime from the 1.5Ah battery. In practical terms, that meant I could clean up a front hedge line and some side plantings before the pack tapped out. On lighter, leafy growth, I was able to tackle both front and back shrubs in one pass. On dense, woody material, I needed a recharge or a second pack to finish.

If you have a larger property, upgrading to a 2.0Ah or 3.0Ah pack is the simplest way to extend runtime without adding much weight. Given the slow included charger, pairing a larger battery with a faster charger is the most efficient setup for all-day work.

Handling and control

I appreciated the control this tool offers. The blade length helps you make long, continuous passes, which keeps lines straight and reduces scalloping. The balance point sits near your lead hand on the front loop, so you’re not fighting tip-heaviness, even when reaching up and out. The trigger response is crisp and predictable, and the brake stops the blade quickly when you release it, which helps when shaping tighter curves.

Because the tool is light and the vibration is low, it’s very approachable for users who don’t want to wrestle with heavier gear. It’s also an excellent upgrade if you’re coming from a corded trimmer and are tired of wrangling an extension cord around shrubs.

Maintenance and durability

Keep the blades clean and lightly oiled; you’ll get cleaner cuts and better runtime. Avoid forcing the nose into heavy stems; either nibble at them or switch to loppers. After several sessions, the blade remained tight and straight. There’s no tool-free blade access, so sharpening is a take-it-in or DIY-with-care job. The housings wiped down easily and the battery slid on and off without fuss.

As for the power pack, store it indoors and off the charger when not in use. Lithium packs prefer partial charge for storage and don’t need to live on a charger.

Where it shines and where it doesn’t

Shines:
- Routine hedge shaping and seasonal maintenance
- Homeowners moving from corded to cordless who value ease and low vibration
- Smaller to mid-size properties where 30-ish minutes per session covers most tasks
- Users already on Black & Decker’s 20V platform

Doesn’t shine:
- Thick, neglected hedges with lots of 3/4-inch woody growth
- Full-day trimming without a second battery or faster charger
- Users who expect rapid charging out of the box

Value and warranty

You get the trimmer, a 20V 1.5Ah battery, and a wall-mountable charger, plus a 2-year limited warranty. The package is straightforward and good for a first cordless trimmer, but keep expectations in check around charging speed and runtime. If you plan to use it heavily, budget for an extra battery or an upgraded charger.

Recommendation

I recommend the 20V trimmer for homeowners who want a light, low-vibration, and genuinely easy-to-use hedge trimmer for routine maintenance. It cuts cleanly through typical shrub growth, the 22-inch blade helps keep lines straight, and the POWERCUT feature reduces frustrating stalls. The two caveats are meaningful: the included charger is slow, and the 1.5Ah battery limits runtime on bigger jobs. If you can live with overnight charging or add a second pack, it’s a reliable, comfortable tool that makes hedge work faster and far less annoying than dragging a cord. For heavy, overgrown hedges or all-day trimming, look to a higher-voltage model or plan on a battery and charger upgrade.