In the Makita vs CRAFTSMAN pole hedge trimmer match-up, I recommend the CRAFTSMAN CMCPHT818D1 to most buyers, because it arrives as a kit with a battery and charger, while the Makita XNU01Z is the better buy only if 18V LXT batteries already sit in your shed. I ran both from the ground along the perimeter hedgerow and the hedge by the house, and the first difference I noticed was what I had to buy before the first pass. Below I compare capacity, head angle, length, weight and safety on equal terms.
Makita vs CRAFTSMAN Pole Hedge Trimmer: My Short Answer
Pick the CRAFTSMAN if you are starting from nothing: it sits in the mid-range tier and the box is complete once the battery is charged. The Makita is the one for a shed that already holds 18V LXT batteries: it is a premium, tool-only purchase, and what you pay for is the articulating head, three speeds and an electric brake. Neither is for stems thicker than the maker’s limit, and neither belongs near a wire. My roundup of the top pole hedge trimmers covers nine picks for reaching tall hedges from the ground.
| Row | Makita XNU01Z | CRAFTSMAN CMCPHT818D1 |
|---|---|---|
| Trimmer type | Battery pole hedge trimmer, articulating head | Battery pole hedge trimmer, pivoting head on an extension pole |
| Power and box contents | 18V LXT platform; tool only, no battery or charger | V20 platform; kit with one 2.0Ah battery and a charger |
| Blade length, as the maker calls it | 20 in | 18 in |
| Cutting capacity, manual | 10 mm (3/8 in) branch | 3/4 in (19 mm) stem |
| Blade action, as the maker states it | Double-sided; Makita’s page also says dual action, the manual does not | Dual action, per the maker’s page; the manual does not say |
| Tool length, manual | 83-1/4 in overall | Pole of about 6 ft (1.8 m) once the two modules are joined |
| Reach, maker’s claim | None published | Up to 11 ft, for a 6 ft person at shoulder height with arms outstretched |
| Head angle | 115 degrees (45 up, 70 down) in 6 locked steps | 180 degrees in 5 locked positions |
| Weight | 8.6 to 9.3 lb with a battery (manual); 7.8 lb without (Makita’s page) | Not published by the maker |
| Speeds and reverse | Three speeds and a reverse button | Not published by the maker |
| Blade stop | Electric brake; stop time not published | Not published by the maker; the manual says the blades coast after turn off |
| Blade oiling, manual | Before use and once per hour during use | No oiling step in the manual |
| Tool warranty | 3 years, limited | 3 years, limited; 90 day money back guarantee |
Two rows decide it for most readers: the box contents and how the head moves. The capacity row looks like a tie-breaker, but the two figures are different kinds of number, so I do not use it to rank them.
What Is Actually in the Box
The Makita XNU01Z is a bare tool. According to Makita, the box holds the trimmer with its 20 in blade assembly and a blade cover, and the battery and charger are not included. The manual lists the batteries that fit, from the BL1815N up to the BL1860B, so a reader with no 18V LXT batteries has to add a battery and a charger to the price of a premium tool. My review of the Makita XNU01Z pole hedge trimmer takes a closer look at its articulating head and 20-inch blade.
The CRAFTSMAN CMCPHT818D1 is the kit. It holds the trimmer, one CMCB202 2.0Ah V20 battery with a three-LED fuel gauge, a charger and a hard blade cover. Use only the maker’s battery and charger for your trimmer, in both cases: packs from other platforms do not belong on either tool. Here are the two as they ship.
Side by side on the bench, I saw the gap at once: the CRAFTSMAN needed a charge and the Makita needed a battery I had to bring myself. Anyone comparing a cordless pole hedge trimmer by the price on the tool alone is comparing a kit with half a kit. I take a closer look at the 18-inch kit in my review of the CRAFTSMAN V20 pole hedge trimmer.
Cutting Capacity and Blade Length
Capacity is where the makers’ words matter most, so here are theirs. The Makita manual says: “Do not attempt to cut branches thicker than 10 mm (3/8″) in diameter with the tool.” That is a branch limit.
The CRAFTSMAN manual says: “Do not cut stems greater than 3/4″ (19 mm).” That is a stem limit. A branch limit and a stem limit are different kinds of number, so I do not rank one above the other.
Both numbers describe green, leafy growth. Anything thicker goes to loppers or a pruning saw, never through the blade. Makita’s manual asks you to cut branches 10 cm (4 in) below the cutting height with branch cutters first, and I follow that habit on any stem that looks close to the limit. My picks for a hedge trimmer for thick branches explain the capacity figure model by model.
On blade length, Makita calls its blade 20 in (the manual prints 500 mm, or 19-3/4 in) and CRAFTSMAN calls its blade 18 in. Both are the makers’ called lengths. Makita’s page and CRAFTSMAN’s page each call the blade dual action; the Makita manual does not use the term, so read it as the makers’ wording.
On a stretch with one stem thicker than the limit, the Makita told me it was overloaded: speed lamps 2 and 3 blinked and the tool stopped, as the manual describes. The loppers were the right tool for that stem. With the CRAFTSMAN I kept to the manual’s wide, sweeping motion, feeding the blade teeth through the twigs with a slight downward tilt in the direction of travel, and the 18 in blade stayed in leafy growth.
Winner: neither model, because a 10 mm branch limit and a 3/4 in stem limit are different kinds of number, and both are small.
Head Angle, Pole Length and Reach
Here the two trimmers are built differently, and the figures are easy to compare wrongly. The Makita head folds through 115 degrees, 45 up and 70 down, and locks in six steps. To help you choose a hedge trimmer for tall hedges, I compare seven pole models that reach from the ground.
Before you fold or adjust any head angle, release the switch, switch the motor off, wait until the blade has stopped completely, then take the battery pack out, and put on gloves before you touch the blade or the head joint. Makita says to fit the blade cover before you fold the head and to wait for the click that tells you it has locked, and the order ends with a check of every lock and coupling before power goes back on. The CRAFTSMAN head pivots 180 degrees and locks in five positions; press the locking latch first, wear gloves to avoid being pinched, and check the lock by trying to move the motor housing.
Length is the second trap. Makita prints one overall length for its tool, 83-1/4 in, which is a measurement of the tool, and it publishes no reach figure. For the CRAFTSMAN pole hedge trimmer, the manual gives a pole of about 6 ft (1.8 m) once the two modules are joined, while CRAFTSMAN’s page claims up to 11 ft of reach, for a 6 ft person holding the pole at shoulder height with arms outstretched. A tool length and a reach claim are different things, so never set the 83-1/4 in against the 11 ft. My roundup of long reach hedge trimmers lists seven pole models for tall hedges.
From the ground, the Makita let me work the top of a tall row with the head folded up, and I changed the angle only after that full shutdown, with the battery out and the blade cover on, as the manual asks. At the far end of its length it felt less steady than the numbers suggest.
The CRAFTSMAN gave me the same overhead access, and each time I changed the head angle, after the same shutdown and with gloves on, I tried the lock before I put the battery back. The manual also tells you to check that the pole sleeve is completely threaded on, with no threads visible, and to check the connections from time to time. I did, because a loose join is how a module comes apart.
Winner: the Makita XNU01Z for a measured tool length and six locked head steps; the CRAFTSMAN’s 11 ft stays a claim that depends on the user’s height.
Weight, Balance and Arm Fatigue
Weight needs its basis every time. The Makita manual prints 3.9 to 4.2 kg (8.6 to 9.3 lb) for the lightest and heaviest battery combination, so that range includes a battery. Makita’s page gives 7.8 lb without a battery and 9.2 lb with one. CRAFTSMAN does not publish a weight for the CMCPHT818D1, so I cannot set one against the other, and I will not guess.
Weight matters more on a pole, because it is held at arm’s length and overhead. In a study of 120 Chinese garden workers, pruning high hedges with the arms above shoulder height gave the highest trapezius and biceps loads (1). A lab study of 18 young men found neck and shoulder muscle activity was significantly higher when an overhead task sat 20 cm above head height than 10 cm above (2). Neither study used these trimmers, but both explain what my arms told me.
By the end of a long run, the Makita felt heavier in my arms than it did in the first minute, which an 8.6 to 9.3 lb tool on an 83-1/4 in length explains. Makita offers a shoulder harness as an optional accessory for the XNU01, and I fit it before a long hedge. With the CRAFTSMAN I had no weight to check, so I followed its manual and rested periodically, changing my working position. My lightweight hedge trimmer roundup compares nine picks by their weight basis.
Weight at arm’s length builds up over a long hedge: take breaks and stop when you are tired or your grip weakens.
Winner: none can be named, because the CRAFTSMAN’s weight is not published; the Makita’s is 8.6 to 9.3 lb with a battery and its harness is optional.
Controls, Speed and Blade Care
The Makita has more to control. You press the main power button, then pull the trigger while pressing the lever, and each press of the power button cycles high at 4,400, medium at 3,600 and low at 2,000 strokes per minute. A reverse button exists only for tangled branches, and the electric brake slows the blade after release, though Makita prints no stop time.
The CRAFTSMAN is plainer: pull the lock button back with your thumb, squeeze the trigger, and release the trigger to stop. Its manual says the blades coast after turn off, so treat the blade as live until it has stopped.
The speed switch and battery gauge on the Makita shaft sat within reach of my hand on the pole, and I dropped to low speed when the growth got denser. Makita’s manual asks for a calm pace of 3 to 4 seconds per meter, which felt slow at first.
Blade care differs. Makita says to oil the blades before use or once per hour during use with low-viscosity oil, clean both sides with a wire brush after use, wipe them and oil them again, and never wash the blades in water.
Do all of that only after the full shutdown: release the switch, switch the motor off, wait until the blade has stopped completely, take the battery pack out, put on gloves before you touch the blade, and check every lock and coupling before power goes back on.
CRAFTSMAN’s manual has no blade oiling step, so I take no interval from another maker’s book. It does ask you to blow dirt and dust from the air vents with clean, dry air at least once a week, wearing eye protection marked ANSI Z87.1.
When the Makita started to gum up on sappy growth, I shut it down, took the battery out, put gloves on and oiled the blade, as its manual asks once an hour. The CRAFTSMAN blade went through its leafy hedge without that stop, and I cleaned the vents afterwards with the battery out.
Look for wire before you free a jammed blade. Before you cut, look through the hedge for fence wire, cable and cords. 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 or unplug it: follow the line contact steps in the next section.
If the jam is only cut growth, 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. Makita says to use tools such as pliers on foreign objects between the blades, because removing them by hand may cause an injury; its reverse button is for entangled branches only.
Winner: the Makita XNU01Z for control, with three speeds, reverse and an electric brake; the CRAFTSMAN for a plainer tool, with one lock button and one trigger.
Safety on a Pole Hedge Trimmer
A pole hedge trimmer is two sharp reciprocating blades at the end of a long shaft, and the pole adds the overhead cut and the power line hazard to every rule for a handheld trimmer. Everything below applies to both models. Anyone with a pacemaker should consult a physician before operating a hedge trimmer, as the EGO and Echo manuals say.
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. Keep your body parts clear of the blade and never remove cut material or hold the stem you are cutting while the blade moves. Never hold a branch with your free hand or reach toward the blade, through the hedge or into any opening while the blade moves. Do not overreach: keep your footing and balance, and trim only what you can see.
Do not use a hedge trimmer on a ladder, a roof, a tree or any unstable support; the manuals of EGO, Ryobi, Milwaukee and Echo ban it, and Husqvarna bans work from any raised position that is not fully secured. For a tall hedge, stay on the ground and use a pole or long-reach hedge trimmer, or hire a professional.
CRAFTSMAN’s manual lists work in a tree or on a ladder, and on aerial booms, buckets or platforms, among the things you must not do with this trimmer. Makita does not ban ladders in words but calls overreaching, particularly from a ladder, extremely dangerous. NIOSH reports ladder falls as a recurring cause of worker deaths and injuries (3).
Power Lines
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, the distance Ryobi and Echo print in their pole hedge trimmer manuals, 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.
Both manuals warn about this. Makita says to use the tool near no electrical power lines, and CRAFTSMAN says the unit is not designed to protect you from electric shock if it contacts an overhead line. No hedge trimmer manual says that a pole, a fiberglass pole or an insulated handle makes work near a wire safe. US data on fatal occupational electrocutions show them concentrated in construction, mining, and agriculture, forestry and fishing (4).
If a Line Is Touched
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.
Keep people, pets and helpers away from the work area, at the distance your manual gives. Makita asks for bystanders and animals to stay at least 15 m (50 ft) from the tool and for the tool to be stopped as soon as someone approaches, and CRAFTSMAN wants only the operator in the work area. Stop trimming if anyone comes closer, and look behind you before you swing the tool.
Wear safety glasses with side shields marked ANSI Z87.1, and a face shield over them where your manual asks for one; hearing protection; sturdy work gloves; long pants and long sleeves with no loose clothing or jewelry (Echo says never wear shorts); and closed, non-slip shoes or boots. Wear head protection when you operate a pole or long-reach trimmer overhead (the Ryobi RY40603, Husqvarna 520iHE3 and Echo DHCS and DHCA manuals require it). Wear a respirator when dust is present, as the DeWalt manual states. Makita and CRAFTSMAN ask for head protection overhead as well, and CRAFTSMAN names a hard hat that meets ANSI Z89.1.
- Battery: 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.
- Weather and light: Never trim in rain, dense fog, strong wind, a storm or when lightning is possible, and trim only when the light lets you see the stems, any wire in the hedge and your footing clearly.
- Before each use: Check the trimmer as your manual describes: the blades sharp, undamaged and lubricated, the operating guards fitted, the blade cover removed before you start (it is for carrying and storage only), the switches and the lock-off working, every handle and pole coupling tight, and the battery undamaged. If anything fails the check, do not use the trimmer until it is fixed.
- Carry and store: Release the switch, switch the motor off and wait until the blade has stopped completely. Then take the battery pack out, fit the blade cover, 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.
Choose the Makita XNU01Z If
The Makita XNU01Z suits a reader who already has the batteries and wants control over how the head meets the hedge. Choose it if:
- You own 18V LXT batteries: the tool alone is the entry price, and the rest is already in your shed.
- You trim soft, leafy growth: the manual’s limit is a 10 mm (3/8 in) branch, so it is for green growth only.
- You want a head that folds in six steps: 115 degrees, up 45 and down 70, for a tall top and a low side.
- You value speed control: three speeds, a reverse button and an electric brake are in the manual.
Skip it if you have no Makita batteries and want one purchase, or if you need a published reach figure. On the hedge by the house, the Makita’s electric brake was what I noticed when I let go of the trigger, because the blade did not keep running as long as I expected.
Choose the CRAFTSMAN CMCPHT818D1 If
The CRAFTSMAN CMCPHT818D1 suits a reader who wants one complete box and a simple tool. Choose it if:
- You are starting from nothing: it includes a 2.0Ah battery with a three-LED fuel gauge and a charger.
- You want the larger stated limit: 3/4 in (19 mm) is a stem limit, and the Makita’s 10 mm is a branch limit, so the two are not ranked.
- You want a plain tool: a lock button and a trigger, and a 180 degree head with five locked positions.
- You value a hard blade cover and a three-year tool warranty: both are in the box and in the manual.
Skip it if you need a published weight, run time or speed settings, or if you want a stated electric brake. For the long hedge along the drip lines, I raked the clippings off the emitter lines afterwards, because this trimmer cuts overhead and the debris falls onto whatever is below.
Where I Land on These Two Pole Trimmers
I used both trimmers from the ground, and each earned its place for a different reader. The CRAFTSMAN is the one I recommend to a buyer with no cordless tools, because the box is complete and the manual is plain about its limits and its safety rules. The Makita is the premium choice for a shed that already runs on 18V LXT: the head, the speeds and the electric brake are real advantages when you do not have to buy the battery. Keep both away from wires and from stems above the maker’s limit, and that is where the Makita vs CRAFTSMAN pole hedge trimmer choice ends for me: the CRAFTSMAN kit for a complete start, the Makita XNU01Z for a shed that already runs on 18V LXT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the best cordless pole hedge trimmer?
The best cordless pole hedge trimmer depends on your hedge, because the right one depends on the battery platform you already own and the stems you cut. Of these two, the CRAFTSMAN CMCPHT818D1 is the complete kit for a new buyer, and the Makita XNU01Z suits anyone who already owns 18V LXT batteries.
What does tool only mean on a cordless pole hedge trimmer?
Tool only on a cordless pole hedge trimmer means the box holds the trimmer without a battery or charger, so you add both before the first cut, and the cost of them belongs in your budget. The Makita XNU01Z is sold that way, while the CRAFTSMAN CMCPHT818D1 comes with one 2.0Ah battery and a charger.
Which extension pole hedge trimmer cuts thicker stems?
Extension pole hedge trimmers like these two cut only to the maker’s limit, and the limits are different kinds of number: CRAFTSMAN allows stems up to 3/4 in (19 mm), and Makita allows branches up to 10 mm (3/8 in). Anything thicker than your model’s limit goes to loppers or a pruning saw.
Is a battery pole hedge trimmer heavy to use for a long time?
A battery pole hedge trimmer gets heavy over a long hedge because its weight is held at arm’s length, so take breaks and stop when your grip weakens. The Makita XNU01Z weighs 8.6 to 9.3 lb with a battery according to its manual, and CRAFTSMAN does not publish a weight for the CMCPHT818D1.
Can you use a Makita pole hedge trimmer in the rain?
A Makita pole hedge trimmer such as the XNU01Z is not for rain, because its manual says not to use the tool in rain or in wet or very damp conditions and that the electric motor is not waterproof. CRAFTSMAN’s manual also says not to expose its trimmer to rain, so wait until the hedge is dry.
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.
- Shin SJ, Yoo WG. Effects of overhead work involving different heights and distances on neck and shoulder muscle activity. Work. 2015;51(2):321-326.
- Socias CM, Chaumont Menendez CK, Collins JW, Simeonov P. Occupational Ladder Fall Injuries – United States, 2011. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), CDC/NIOSH. 2014.
- Taylor AJ, McGwin G, Valent F, Rue LW. Fatal occupational electrocutions in the United States. Inj Prev. 2002;8(4):306-312.
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.