In my Husqvarna 320iHD60 review, the verdict is short: buy this 24-inch cordless trimmer if you have long hedge runs and want a reverse button to free the teeth, and skip it if you want the lightest tool you can find. I ran it along the orchard hedgerow and the shrubs beside the house, where long runs show up weight and battery limits quickly.
Husqvarna 320iHD60 Review and My Verdict
The Husqvarna Hedge Master 320iHD60 is a brushless battery trimmer from Husqvarna’s professional line, sold as a kit with one battery and a charger. I recommend it to anyone who cuts a long hedge and wants a reverse button and a boost button on the tool. Skip it if weight decides your purchase, because the tool alone is 8.42 lb before the battery goes on. For daily work, my commercial hedge trimmer picks list the battery, gas and pole models built for it.
- Who it is for: owners of long hedge runs who want a double-sided 24-inch blade, three rear handle positions and the battery and charger in one box.
- What it does best: clearing material from the teeth with the reverse button and holding top blade speed on thick growth with the boost button.
- Main trade-off: weight at arm’s length, about 11 lb with the pack fitted.
Specs and What Comes in the Box
Two rows decide this purchase: the weight and the cutting capacity. The weight is the number your arms feel, and the capacity tells you where the blade stops and the loppers start.
| Spec | 320iHD60 kit |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 24 in (609 mm) |
| Teeth opening, Husqvarna’s figure | 1 in, the gap between the teeth |
| Stem capacity | Not published by the maker |
| Blade action, manual | Double sided, 3000 to 3800 cuts per minute |
| Weight, manual | 8.42 lb (3.82 kg) without the battery |
| Battery in the kit | 40-B140, 36V nominal, 4.0 Ah, about 2.6 lb |
| Handles | Three rear handles and a front handle, no rotating handle |
| Warranty | Not published by the maker |
The kit holds the trimmer, the 40-B140 battery, the 40-C80 charger and the manual. A tool-only version of this trimmer exists, with no battery and no charger in the box.
Starting, Reverse and Boost
Starting this trimmer is a deliberate sequence, and I like that on a 24-inch blade. According to Husqvarna’s manual, you hold the start/stop button on the keypad until the green LED comes on, push the power trigger lockout, and then press one trigger for the standard operation position. Before each run I release the lockout and each trigger in turn at the gate, because the manual says the blade must stop immediately when you let go.
Hands on the Handles
Hold the trimmer with both hands on the handles, by the insulated gripping surfaces only because the blade can contact hidden wiring (the grips do not make the trimmer insulated or wire contact safe), whenever the blade is moving; one hand can cost you control of the tool. On a trimmer with two switches, both hands must be on the switches to start the blade, and the blade stops when you let go of either one. Keep your body parts clear of the blade and never remove cut material or hold the stem you are cutting while the blade moves.
The Reverse Button
The reverse button is the control that sets this trimmer apart. Press it with two power triggers and the blade runs in the opposite direction for a moment to clear material from the teeth, then press the triggers again for the usual direction and repeat if needed. On the first pass along the hedgerow, when soft green growth packed into the teeth, the reverse button freed them without a stop. It clears cut material and nothing else: a blade locked on a wire or a stem needs the full shutdown below.
Boost and Automatic Shutdown
Hold the boost button and the blade runs at maximum speed until you release it. On the thicker stretch of the hedgerow I held boost, and the pack ran down sooner than it did on soft growth, so I leave thick sections for the end of a charge. After 45 seconds without use the trimmer stops, and I press start/stop again after raking.
Cutting Performance and Capacity
The 24-inch double-sided blade runs at 3000 to 3800 cuts per minute, and Husqvarna intends it for branches and twigs. Husqvarna lists a 1 in teeth opening, the gap between the teeth and not a stem rating. I treat green growth and young stems as the trimmer’s work and cut anything thick with loppers first. In my roundup of hedge trimmers for thick branches, I explain the capacity figures rather than treating every number as a stem limit.
Husqvarna’s manual says to start near the ground and move the trimmer up the side of the hedge, keep the body of the tool off the hedge and keep the front of the blade off the ground. I follow that order on the sides of the perimeter row, working slowly.
Weight, Handles and Standing Position
The tool is 8.42 lb (3.82 kg) without the battery, and the 40-B140 adds about 2.6 lb, so you hold roughly 11 lb. By the end of a long row the trimmer was heavier in my arms than at the first cut. Three rear handles let you change the grip as the cut changes.
The manual describes a standard position, held close to the body with the lockout and one trigger, and an extended range position that uses two triggers and “can make you tired”. I stay in the standard position as long as the hedge allows.
Work above the shoulder is where the load climbs. A study of Chinese garden workers pruning hedges found the trapezius muscle under its highest load when the arms were above shoulder height (1), and the manual says not to cut above shoulder height. If your fingers go numb or your grip weakens, stop and rest. Weight at arm’s length builds up over a long hedge: take breaks and stop when you are tired or your grip weakens.
Battery, Charger and Cold Weather
As a Husqvarna battery hedge trimmer, it runs on the maker’s own 36V packs, and the manual approves three packs: the BLi22 at 4.2 Ah, the BLi30 at 7.5 Ah and the 40-B140 at 4.0 Ah. Run time depends on the growth and on boost, so on a long run I bring a spare pack. If you are choosing between cordless kits, my battery hedge trimmer list compares them for different hedges.
The charger works indoors only, with good airflow and away from sunlight, at 41 to 104 F. The pack works between 14 and 104 F (minus 10 to 40 C), and on a cold morning the pack gave up sooner, which fits that range, so I keep it indoors until I start.
Use only the maker’s battery and charger for your trimmer, charge and store them within the temperatures your manual gives and never in rain or wet places, never use or charge a damaged, swollen or leaking pack, and keep loose batteries away from metal objects such as keys, coins and nails that could short the terminals. For winter storage Husqvarna asks for a 30 to 50 percent charge in a place between 41 and 77 F, with tape over open contacts when you pack the battery.
Battery power also lowers the noise a crew takes in. NIOSH sampling of landscaping workers found significantly more noise and carbon monoxide exposure with fuel-powered leaf blowers, string trimmers and chainsaws than with battery versions (2), and a field comparison of a gas crew and a battery crew trimming hedges found the battery crew had significantly lower noise exposure (3). NIOSH recommends 85 dBA averaged over an eight-hour day (4), so wear the hearing protection the manual requires.
Blade Care, Cleaning and Storage
Husqvarna asks you to clean the blades of unwanted material before and after use with an anti corrosion cleaning agent, and to lubricate them before long storage. Ask a dealer which cleaning agent and lubricant to use. I clean the blade the same day I cut, before sap sets between the teeth.
To clean or lubricate the blade, release the switch, switch the motor off by pressing start/stop until the green LED goes out, and wait until the blade has stopped completely. Then take the battery pack out. Put on gloves before you touch the blade, and check every lock and coupling before power goes back on.
To carry or store the trimmer, release the switch, switch the motor off and wait until the blade has stopped completely. Then take the battery pack out, fit the transport guard, carry the trimmer by the handle with the blade pointing behind you, and store it indoors in a dry place out of children’s reach.
Safety With a Running Blade
Two sharp reciprocating blades cut a hand in a fraction of a second, and Husqvarna’s manual warns that the blades continue to move after the switch is turned off. Before I cut, I look through the perimeter hedgerow for fence wire and for a nest, and I leave a nesting section alone.
- Look first: check the work area for wire, posts, stakes, hoses, drip lines, loose stones and a cord on the ground, and trim only what you can see.
- Bystanders: keep people, pets and helpers away from the work area, at least 15 meters (about 50 feet) as Husqvarna asks, stop trimming if anyone comes closer, and look behind you before you swing the tool.
- Gear: wear safety glasses with side shields marked ANSI Z87.1, hearing protection, sturdy work gloves, long pants and long sleeves with no loose clothing or jewelry, and closed, non-slip shoes or boots.
Do not use a hedge trimmer on a ladder, a roof, a tree or any unstable support. Husqvarna’s manual says never to work from a ladder, stool or any other raised position that is not fully secured, and the manuals of EGO, Ryobi, Milwaukee and Echo ban it. For a tall hedge, stay on the ground and use a pole or long-reach hedge trimmer, or hire a professional.
A pole model adds the power line rule. Before you start, look for every overhead wire, including wires hidden in leaves. Keep yourself, the trimmer, the pole and any branch you cut or that could fall or swing at least 50 feet (15 m) from every overhead line, or farther if your own manual asks for more. A pole hedge trimmer is not insulated, and electricity can jump through the air and travel through branches, especially wet ones. Treat every wire, including service drops and communication lines, and anything touching one, as live. If you cannot keep that distance the whole time, stop, and leave a hedge that has grown into or near a wire to the utility and its qualified line-clearance crews.
Who Should Buy It and Who Should Skip It
This kit is for the owner who can carry about 11 lb through a long row, and it frustrates anyone who counts every pound. For long rows like these, I compare nine long-blade models in my roundup of hedge trimmers for large hedges.
- Buy it if you cut long runs of green hedge and shrubs and want a reverse button on the tool.
- Buy it if you want the battery and charger in one box and a brushless motor.
- Buy it if you already use Husqvarna’s 36V batteries.
- Skip it if you want the lightest trimmer, or a published stem rating on paper.
- Skip it if you want a rotating handle or a warranty term in writing.
Drawbacks and Common Problems
The weight is the real drawback: 8.42 lb before a 2.6 lb pack, held out in front of you. The 1 in teeth opening comes with no stem rating, so thick stems go to loppers. The charger works only indoors, and the battery in the kit may look different from the photo.
A jam on a wire or a cord is the problem to plan for. If the blade jams on a wire or a cord, do not touch the blade, the wire or the cord and do not try to free the trimmer: stopping the blade does not remove the electrical danger, so the electrical supply to the damaged line or cord must be disconnected first. Treat anything touching a wire as live, and if it is a utility line, never go back to the trimmer to switch it off: follow the line contact rule.
If the trimmer, the pole or a branch touches a wire, the trimmer, the branch, the wire and the ground around them can become live. Do not go to the trimmer or pick it up, touch nothing that is in contact with the line, keep everyone away, and call the utility at once, and 911 if anyone is hurt, a fire starts or a line comes down. Only the utility frees the trimmer.
For any other jam, release the switch, switch the motor off and wait until the blade has stopped completely. Then take the battery pack out, put on gloves before you touch the blade, and check every lock and coupling before power goes back on. Never use the reverse button on a locked blade.
How It Compares With Alternatives
Capacity figures here are in each maker’s own words, and the kinds differ: a tooth gap, a branch diameter and a stem diameter. I do not rank them against each other, and the weights keep their own basis.
| Trimmer | Power | Blade | Capacity, maker’s words | Weight and basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husqvarna 320iHD60 | 36V battery kit | 24 in | 1 in teeth opening | 8.42 lb without battery |
| Milwaukee 2726-20 | M18 18V, tool only | 24 in | 3/4 in branch diameter | Not published by the maker |
| EGO HT2501 | 56V kit, 2.5 Ah | 25 in | 1-1/4 in stems | 8.38 lb without battery pack or blade guard |
| Husqvarna 322HD60 | Gas, two-stroke | 24 in | 1.2 in teeth opening | 11.5 lb without fuel |
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2726-20
The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2726-20 24-Inch Hedge Trimmer, Tool Only is a tool-only 24-inch M18 trimmer with a 3/4 in branch limit and a 3-year tool warranty. Pick it if you already own M18 batteries. My Husqvarna against Milwaukee hedge trimmer comparison sets the 320iHD60 beside the 2726-20 in detail.
EGO Power+ HT2501
The EGO Power+ HT2501 25 in Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit has a 25 in blade, a five-position rotating rear handle and a 1-1/4 in stem limit. Pick it if you want a rotating handle.
Husqvarna 322HD60 Gas
The Husqvarna 322HD60 24-Inch Gas Hedge Trimmer is a 24 in gas trimmer at 11.5 lb without fuel. Pick it if you cut for hours and want no battery to manage, and wear hearing protection because gas models are louder than battery models.
My Final Verdict on the Husqvarna 320iHD60
This is a pro-line trimmer for long runs of green hedge. The reverse button and the boost button earn their place, and the kit arrives ready to work with a battery and charger. Plan for the weight, cut thick stems with loppers first, and follow the shutdown steps every time a hand goes near the blade. That is where my Husqvarna 320iHD60 review lands: a clear yes for an owner of long hedge runs who can carry about 11 lb, and a clear no for anyone who counts every pound. To see how this kit sits among the rest, my hedge trimmer picks for 2026 cover cordless, corded and gas models.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cutting capacity of the Husqvarna Hedge Master 320iHD60?
The cutting capacity of the Husqvarna Hedge Master 320iHD60 has no stem rating: Husqvarna lists a 1 in teeth opening, which is a gap between the teeth and not the thickest stem the blade cuts. The manual says to use the tool on branches and twigs, so thicker wood goes to loppers or a saw.
How heavy is the Husqvarna Hedge Master 320iHD60?
The Husqvarna Hedge Master 320iHD60 weighs 8.42 lb (3.82 kg) without the battery, according to Husqvarna’s manual, and Husqvarna’s product page lists 7.94 lb on the same basis. The 40-B140 battery in the kit is listed at 2.6 lb, so the tool with its pack comes to about 11 lb by simple addition.
What does the reverse button on the Husqvarna 320iHD60 do?
The reverse button on the Husqvarna 320iHD60, pressed together with two power triggers, runs the blade in the opposite direction for a moment to clear material from the teeth. It does not replace the shutdown: before you touch the blade, follow the full maintenance steps in the blade care section of this review.
What battery and charger come with the Husqvarna 320iHD60?
The Husqvarna 320iHD60 kit comes with one 40-B140 battery (36V, 4.0 Ah, 144 Wh), the 40-C80 charger and the operator’s manual, according to Husqvarna. Husqvarna also sells the trimmer without battery and charger as kit 970592601, so match the kit number 970592602 when you want the full set with the charger.
Which Husqvarna batteries work with a Husqvarna battery hedge trimmer?
The batteries that work with the Husqvarna 320iHD60 are the three packs its manual approves: the BLi22 at 4.2 Ah, the BLi30 at 7.5 Ah and the 40-B140 at 4.0 Ah, all 36V nominal, with the QC250 and 40-C80 chargers approved. For any other Husqvarna model, use only the packs that model’s own manual approves.
References
- Yang W, Li S, Li B, Liu W, Ning F, Gao S. Analysis of the effects of working position on muscle fatigue during hedge pruning: a cross-sectional study based on Chinese garden workers. J Mech Med Biol. 2023;23(2):2350027.
- Alexander BM, Graydon PS, Pena M, Feng HA, Beamer BR. Hazardous exposures and engineering controls in the landscaping services industry. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 2025;22(3):189-202.
- Beamer B, DiFrancesco J. Field Comparison of Gas-Powered vs. Battery-Powered Equipment for Grounds Maintenance – Hedge Trimming Operations. Inter-Noise 2019, 48th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering (Madrid); Spanish Acoustical Society. 2019.
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. Noise and Hearing Loss. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2024.
Safety Note: Only an adult who has read the manual and understands the controls should use a hedge trimmer, never a child or anyone tired or impaired. The blades are sharp, a hand that touches them is cut in a fraction of a second, and they keep moving for a moment after you release the switch. Hold the trimmer with both hands on the handles, by the insulated gripping surfaces only because the blades can contact hidden wiring (the grips do not make the trimmer insulated or wire contact safe), whenever the blades move; on a trimmer with two switches, both hands must be on the switches to start. Never hold a branch or reach toward the blades, through the hedge or into any opening while they move, and never reach into any opening of a gas trimmer while the engine is running, because a blade that stops in a jam does not stop the engine. Never overreach, and trim only what you can see. Before you start, look through the hedge for wire, fence wire, cords, posts, stakes, irrigation lines, nests, people and pets, and keep the cord or hose out of the blade’s path. If a blade jams on a wire or a cord, do not touch the blade, the wire or the cord: stopping the blade does not remove the electrical danger, so the electrical supply to the damaged line or cord must be disconnected first. Cut only stems up to the capacity your manual states, in the maker’s own wording, and leave thicker wood to loppers or a saw. Do not use a hedge trimmer from a ladder, a roof, a tree or any unstable support, so for a tall hedge stay on the ground and use a pole or long-reach hedge trimmer, or hire a professional. Power lines can kill. With a pole or long-reach hedge trimmer, look for every overhead wire, including wires hidden in leaves, and keep yourself, the trimmer, the pole and any branch that could fall or swing at least 50 feet (15 m) from every line, the distance Ryobi and Echo print in their pole hedge trimmer manuals, or farther if your manual asks for more. A pole hedge trimmer is not insulated, and electricity can jump through the air and travel through branches, especially wet ones. Treat every wire as live, and leave a hedge that has grown into or near a wire to the utility and its qualified line-clearance crews. If the trimmer, the pole or a branch touches a wire, treat the trimmer, the branch, the wire and anything touching them as live: do not go back to the trimmer to switch it off or unplug it, do not touch anything in contact with the line, keep everyone away and call the utility, which alone frees the trimmer, and 911 if anyone is hurt, a fire starts or a line comes down. Wear safety glasses with side shields marked Z87.1, a face shield over the glasses where your manual asks for one, hearing protection, sturdy gloves, long pants, long sleeves with no loose clothing or jewelry, and closed, non-slip shoes. Wear head protection when you work a pole or long-reach model overhead, as the Ryobi, Husqvarna and Echo pole manuals require, and a respirator when dust is present, as the DeWalt manual states; where a manual forbids cutting overhead, do not. Keep people and pets away at the distance your manual gives, and stop trimming if anyone comes closer. Never trim in rain, fog, strong wind, a storm or when lightning is possible, trim only in good light, and let the hedge dry first. Before each use, remove the blade cover (it is for carrying and storage only), and check the blades, the operating guards, the switches and every handle and pole coupling as your manual describes, and do not use a trimmer that fails a check. Before you clear a jam, remove cut material, clean, lubricate or touch the blades: release the switch, switch the motor or engine off and wait until the blades have stopped completely, then take the battery pack out, unplug a corded trimmer from the outlet by the plug, or on a gas trimmer let the engine and muffler cool and pull the spark plug wire off; put on gloves and check every lock and coupling before power goes back on. To carry or store the trimmer, release the switch, switch the motor or engine off and wait until the blades have stopped completely, then take the battery out, unplug a corded trimmer by the plug, or on a gas trimmer let the engine and muffler cool and pull the spark plug wire off; fit the blade cover, carry the trimmer by the handle with the blades pointing behind you, and keep it indoors, dry and out of children’s reach. Use only the maker’s battery and charger, charge and store them within the temperatures your manual gives and never in the wet, never use or charge a damaged, swollen or leaking pack, and keep loose batteries away from metal objects that could short the terminals. Use a corded trimmer only with an outdoor-rated extension cord of the gauge your manual gives, plugged into GFCI-protected power, with the cord behind you and away from the blades, and never in rain or wet conditions: GFCI protection does not make that safe; if the cord is cut or damaged, disconnect it at once by pulling the plug from the outlet by the plug, before you touch the cord or the blades. Refuel a gas trimmer outdoors with the engine off and cool, with no smoking, flames or sparks nearby, wipe up spills, move at least 10 feet from where you fuelled before you start it, wear hearing protection, and never run it indoors or in a garage or shed, because the exhaust contains carbon monoxide. Look for nests before you cut and leave a hedge where birds are nesting. Take breaks and stop when you are tired.