Ryobi 18v vs 40v Hedge Trimmer – What’s The Better Option?
A lot of people don’t realize just how essential hedge trimmers are.
It’s not just about keeping your ivy, hedges and bushes looking neat and presentable; it’s also about controlling the rodent population.
It’s true. Rodents love to make their homes in overgrown hedges and ivy. So controlling hedge growth with a handy hedge trimmer can actually minimize the amount of pests that make their nests near t your home.
But what kind of hedge trimmer do you really need? Some are too powerful and expensive for your specific needs and some are underpowered.
To help you out, we will be comparing a couple of popular hedge trimmers from Ryobi.
The great thing about these trimmers is that they run on the Ryobi One+ platform so if you already have Ryobi power tools, you probably already have batteries that will be compatible with these trimmers. So let’s take a look at the details.
Quick Facts
Ryobi 18v Hedge Trimmer |
Ryobi 40v Hedge Trimmer |
|
Blades |
18” dual blades |
26” blade |
Cutting Capacity |
⅜” |
1” |
Warranty |
3 years |
3 years |
Weight |
7 pounds |
8.9 pounds |
Key Differences Between the Ryobi 18v and Ryobi 40v Hedge Trimmers
The main difference between these two hedge trimmers has to do with their battery output and their cutting capacity.
In general, the Ryobi 40v hedge trimmer is the larger, more powerful hedge trimmer.
In fact, the Ryobi 40v hedge trimmer is recommended to handle properties of 1+ acres while the Ryobi 18v is more suited to ⅓ acre properties. The blade length and cutting depth have a lot to do with this disparity.
Ryobi 40v Hedge Trimmer Pros & Cons
Pros:
- It’s more powerful
- It can handle thicker hedge growth
- Wrap-around front handle
- Rotating rear handle
- Brushless motor
Cons:
- It’s more expensive
- It is less wieldy
- Loud
Overall Score: 96/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Ryobi 18v Hedge Trimmer Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Dual action blades
- Doesn’t vibrate too much
- Wrap-around front handle
- Hedge Sweep feature
- Includes charger
Cons:
- A bit underpowered
- Weak plastic handle
- Doesn’t work well with thick growth
Overall Score: 94/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Who Should Buy Each One?
We can see the Ryobi 18v hedge trimmer working for smaller properties.
During our testing, we got no indication that the Ryobi 18v would not work for light hedge growth, small bushes and some light ivy.
It was the thicker, tougher stuff that it struggled with. But we can’t imagine most suburban homes would have to deal with tough brush.
The Ryobi 40v hedge trimmer on the other hand can certainly handle thicker growth so it would be best for people with large properties and thick bush/tree/ivy growth.
Price Comparison
At most retailers, the Ryobi 40v hedge trimmer sells for about $230 while you can typically find the Ryobi 18v hedge trimmer on sale for about $140.
Weight and Handling Comparison
The thing that really impressed us about the Ryobi 18v was that it was very easy on the body.
Even after nearly an hour of continuous trimming, our arms, wrists and shoulders were not completely exhausted.
The dual-action blades run very smoothly and effectively dampen harsh vibration. The only thing is that the Ryobi 18v hedge trimmer is not much lighter than the Ryobi 40v trimmer.
So while it was overall easier to handle, in terms of weight it doesn’t feel very different from the larger, more powerful Ryobi 40v hedge trimmer.
Power Comparison
The Ryobi 40v hedge trimmer has a 26” bar length and can create 3,000 strokes per minute. The battery is capable of generating 40 volts and the trimmer itself is capable of a cutting depth of one inch.
On the other hand, the Ryobi 18v battery is capable of, you guessed it, 18 volts. The cutting depth is only ⅜” with this trimmer, so overall the Ryobi 40v gives you more cutting power and ability.
Battery Comparison
The battery life is pretty similar between these two models. On a full charge, you can get about 50 minutes of runtime from the Ryobi 18v hedge trimmer.
With the Ryobi 40v trimmer, you will get about 45 minutes of runtime on a full charge.
Efficiency Comparison
In general, you are going to get better cutting efficiency from the Ryobi 40v hedge trimmer. It just makes shorter work of gnarlier growth. You will likely have to spend less time actually trimming with this thing.
At times, the Ryobi 18v just seemed too underpowered to be truly efficient. We feel like the Ryobi 40v will save you more time – even if your trimming job is pretty minor.
Durability Comparison
One of the reasons we selected Ryobi trimmers for this comparison is that we the company makes durable tools. However, we were a bit disappointed in the Ryobi 18v in this regard.
The plastic rear handle felt like it could break at any moment. This wasn’t the case with the Ryobi 40v though. It felt solid up and down.
Other Hedge Trimmers to Consider
BLACK+DECKER Electric Hedge Trimmer
Unlike the Ryobi models we have already covered, the BLACK+DECKER Electric Hedge Trimmer is an electric corded hedge trimmer.
This means you have to keep it plugged in; but you get unlimited runtime.
The BLACK+DECKER Electric Hedge Trimmer features a 17-inch dual action blade which, like the Ryobi 18v hedge trimmer, does a very good job of dampening harsh vibrations.
The BLACK+DECKER Electric Hedge Trimmer is very easy on the body and has a ⅝” trimming depth.
So while it’s not the most powerful hedge trimmer on the market, it’s reliable and perfect for minor trimming work.
Overall Score: 94/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
40v Alternative
Greenworks 40V 24″ Cordless Hedge Trimmer
The Greenworks 40V 24″ Cordless Hedge Trimmer has a 24” dual action blade and a cutting depth of ¾” inches. It is reasonably powerful but you have to make sure you start out with a full battery charge – otherwise it loses power very quickly.
That all being said, when the battery is fully charged, you get nearly an hour of runtime. This trimmer weighs only about 7 pounds so it’s very easy on the body. We would recommend it for people with less than an acre to maintain.
Overall Score: 93/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
18v Alternative
Milwaukee 2726-20 M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-ion Brushless Cordless Hedge Trimmer
We love Milwaukee tools and the Milwaukee 2726-20 M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium-ion Brushless Cordless Hedge Trimmer was no disappointment. The battery lasts for an hour and it offers powerful trimming capacity.
It is a bit on the heavy side and it is more expensive than any other trimmer we have featured; but for an 18v hedge trimmer, this thing punches above its weight class. It would be a great choice for anyone with thick brush or hedges to maintain.
Overall Score: 95/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Final Assessment
Getting back to the Ryobi 18v and Ryobi 40v hedge trimmers, we definitely did find one to be superior over the other.
In most situations, the Ryobi 40v would be the one we recommend.
It has more power and can handle both small and large jobs – all without being much heavier or clumsier than the Ryobi 18v. It was also built better for some reason. It’s our choice so be sure to take a look at it!
