Quick answer: As a professional gardener using hedge trimmers professionally on day-to-day basis, I find a 45cm hedge-trimmer blade much easier to steer around short hedges, shrubs and awkward corners whilst the larger 50–55cm blades earn their keep on long, straight faces and wide hedge tops, provided the extra reach does not make the tool too tiring. The more useful choice for yourself will mainly depend on your hedge width, stem size and whether you already own a compatible battery.
45cm or 55cm: the practical difference
I use a shorter hedge trimmer like the Bosch EasyHedgeCut 18-45 for regular, softer hedge growth. I find the shorter trimmers a lot lighter to control for a long run. Longer hedge trimmers like the Bosch UniversalHedgeCut 18V-55 provide more reach for shaping, while thick woody stems still call for loppers. For routine work in a tighter garden, I’d recommend a 45cm kit for its easier handling, whilst I’d go for the 55cm trimmer when reach matters.
| Check | About 45cm | About 55cm |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Small hedges, rounded shrubs, narrow passages and frequent shaping | Long straight runs, medium hedges and tops that need extra span |
| Handling | Shorter lever; usually easier to turn and correct | Longer sweep; balance matters more when arms are extended |
| Passes | More passes across a wide top | Potentially fewer passes if the hedge is straight and accessible |
| Example | EasyHedgeCut 18-45 with battery | UniversalHedgeCut 18V-55 without battery |
Ten centimetres sounds a small difference on a product page. In use, it changes the leverage at the front of the tool and the distance you can bridge across a top. It does not remove the need to work from a stable position. If reaching the centre means leaning or working above comfortable shoulder height, a properly chosen pole trimmer or professional help is safer than simply buying the longest blade.
Blade length affects reach and sweep. Tooth opening and power answer the separate question of what growth the machine can handle.
Measure the hedge before comparing machines
Measure three things: the length of each straight run, the top width at its widest point, and the working clearance in front and behind. A 55cm cutter is attractive for a broad, straight laurel face, but less useful where the blade must repeatedly turn beside a wall, greenhouse or parked car.
Then inspect representative stems inside the current season’s growth. Do not force thick, woody branches between the teeth. A hedge trimmer is for repeated small growth; loppers or a pruning saw are better for structural branches. Our bypass-versus-anvil lopper guide explains that cut, while the pruning-saw comparison covers confined access.
If you are still planning a new boundary, choosing a hedge for a narrow garden can help you leave workable access on both sides.
Blade length and tooth opening are not interchangeable
Bosch’s 45cm EasyHedgeCut has a 15mm tooth opening, whilst the 55cm UniversalHedgeCut has a 22mm tooth opening and a brushless motor. Longer blade lengths tend to have larger openings to cope with heavier duty trimming but bear in mind that a larger gap is not permission to keep feeding 22mm old wood into the blade.
For a young privet or regularly clipped box-shaped hedge, a light 45cm cutter can be the better buy even when a longer model looks more capable. For a medium established hedge with long faces, the 55cm Universal model offers more sweep and a wider opening.
A simple handling check
- Use the stated complete weight where available. Bare-tool weight understates what you hold once a battery is fitted.
- Imagine the longest working position. Trimming the vertical face close to your body is easier than holding the blade over a wide top.
- Check both handles. You should be able to hold both controls naturally without twisting your wrists.
- Allow for the cable if corded. A corded machine may be lighter for the same blade length, but the supply and cable route must remain behind the cut.
If possible, handle the machine in a shop before buying. A tool that feels balanced for thirty seconds at waist height may feel different when extended. Do not infer comfort from weight alone: the centre of gravity, grip spacing and battery position matter.
When a longer blade will not solve the problem
A long blade does not make a ladder safer, does not turn a domestic hedge trimmer into a branch saw, and does not compensate for poor access. It can also magnify small movements, producing a wavy line when the user is tired. Mark the desired line with string, take shallow passes and step back regularly.
For most small gardens, the recommended buying sequence would be:
- choose power source,
- measure the hedge,
- match tooth opening to normal growth,
- pick the shortest blade that comfortably covers the work.
That keeps the decision tied to control rather than headline size.
Sources
Bosch hedge-trimmer range and buyer’s guide; Bosch UniversalHedgeCut 18V-55 specification; Bosch EasyHedgeCut 18-45 specification. Checked 22 September 2026.
