Black and Decker 20V vs 40V Hedge Trimmer: LHT2220 vs LHT2436

In the Black and Decker 20V vs 40V hedge trimmer choice, I recommend the LHT2220 22-inch kit to most buyers and the LHT2436 24-inch kit to anyone with a long hedge. Both cut stems up to 3/4 in, so the extra cost of the 40V kit buys blade length and faster charging. I maintain a hedgerow along the orchard perimeter and the shrubs around the family house, and a trimmer there must cut young growth cleanly and stay controllable in two hands. Below I compare capacity, weight, charging, care and warranty.

Black and Decker 20V vs 40V Hedge Trimmer: Short Verdict

The LHT2220 wins for most buyers, and the LHT2436 wins on a long hedge. The BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX LHT2220 22-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit is a budget kit with a 22 in dual-action blade, a 1.5 Ah pack and a charger. The BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX LHT2436 24-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit is a mid-range kit with a 24 in dual-action blade, a 1.5 Ah pack, a charger and a manual charge time about half as long. Both kits are Black and Decker cordless hedge trimmers with the same stem limit, so the voltage label tells less than the rest of the table.

Two rows decide it: the blade, 22 in against 24 in, and the charge time, about 4 hours against about 2 hours.

What Is Actually Different Between the Two Kits

The model numbers hide two traps. Each model is sold as a kit and as a bare tool. The LHT2220 kit comes with the battery and charger, and the LHT2220B is the tool alone; the LHT2436 kit and the LHT2436B follow the same split. Every battery and charging figure in this article belongs to the pack in the kit.

The second trap is the voltage label. BLACK+DECKER explains that the 20V MAX figure is the maximum initial voltage, measured without a workload, and that the nominal voltage is 18. The 40V MAX pack works the same way, with a nominal 36. The label names the unloaded peak, and the nominal figure is the one to compare.

The Black and Decker 20V hedge trimmer in this match is the LHT2220. Voltage does not raise the cutting limit: both manuals say not to cut stems greater than 3/4 inch (19 mm), so the two kits stop at the same stem.

Blade Length and Cutting Capacity

A longer blade covers more hedge, and the stem limit stays at 3/4 in. The Black and Decker 22 inch hedge trimmer of this match is the LHT2220, and the 24 in blade belongs to the LHT2436. According to BLACK+DECKER, both use dual-action blades, and the LHT2220 page claims up to 40% less vibration than single-action blades, a claim about single-action blades in general that says nothing about the LHT2436.

Capacity needs the right wording. The manuals say stems, a stem diameter, and the maker pages say branches up to 3/4 in. I read it as the manual does: a stem of 3/4 in is the limit, which suits young, leafy growth. According to BLACK+DECKER, the LHT2436 has a POWERDRIVE transmission that cuts two times the branches up to 3/4 inch wide compared with its older NHT524, a claim against another model that does not compare it with the LHT2220. My list of hedge trimmers for thick branches explains how makers word capacity.

Wood thicker than 3/4 in goes to loppers or a saw, never through the blade. A stretch of my hedgerow grew woody after a neglected season, so I cut those stems with loppers first and used the trimmer for the green growth.

The Black and Decker 24 inch hedge trimmer earned its length on the straight runs. I stretch a string along the hedgerow to keep the top level, as the manual’s string method suggests, and the 24 in blade of the LHT2436 let me carry that line over a longer stretch before I had to step along. My roundup of hedge trimmers for large hedges goes further on long blades.

Winner: LHT2436, for the longer blade, since the stem limit is the same.

Weight, Handling and Fatigue

BLACK+DECKER lists 5.7 lb for the LHT2220 and 9.5 lb for the LHT2436, and neither list says whether the battery is in the figure. I do not subtract one from the other. The maker pages also give a product length, 36.0 in for the LHT2220 and 39.5 in for the LHT2436, so the LHT2436 is the longer tool by the same measure. My list of lightweight hedge trimmers shows each weight with its basis.

Both manuals ask for one hand on the switch handle and one on the bail handle, and the LHT2436 manual says never to hold the unit by the blade guard. Starting follows one order: slide the lock-off button back, squeeze the trigger, and release the lock-off once the blade runs. Never try to lock a switch in the ON position.

By the end of a run along the hedgerow, the LHT2220 sat heavier in my arms than it had at the first cut, which fits the way weight at arm’s length builds over a long hedge. My BLACK+DECKER LHT2220 kit review covers that 22 inch kit on its own.

A study of 120 garden workers pruning hedges found the back muscles loaded in horizontal pruning of short hedges, and the shoulders and arms loaded most when the arms rose above shoulder height (1). Another study, of young agricultural operators using handheld tools, a hedge trimmer among them, found an asymmetric working posture and called for preventing musculoskeletal disorders (2). Weight at arm’s length builds up over a long hedge: take breaks and stop when you are tired or your grip weakens. Numb fingers or a weakening grip mean you stop.

Winner: neither kit, because the weights sit on bases the maker does not state.

Battery, Charger and Charging Time

Each kit comes with one 1.5 Ah pack and a charger, so the voltage is the visible difference. The LHT2436 uses an LBXR36 pack rated 60 Wh, and the 20V MAX pack of the LHT2220 sits at a lower nominal voltage. BLACK+DECKER states run time for each kit as an area per charge, and the area depends on the hedge.

The LHT2220 manual says its standard charger recharges a fully depleted Black and Decker hedge trimmer battery in about 4 hours. The LHT2436 manual says about 2 hours, with 80% in 1 hour, and its troubleshooting table allows up to 8 hours for a totally drained pack. Its charger also pauses until a hot or cold pack has normalized and flashes the red light.

On the thicker stretch of the hedgerow, the first pass with the Black and Decker 40V hedge trimmer went quickly, and then I pressed the button on the pack and the four lights showed the charge falling sooner than I expected. My BLACK+DECKER 40V trimmer review covers the LHT2436 on its own.

On a cold morning the LHT2220 pack cut out earlier than I expected. Both manuals allow charging in air between 40 and 105 F, with 60 to 80 F best, and say not to store or use the tool and pack where the temperature may reach 105 F, such as an outside shed or metal building in summer. I charge indoors and carry the pack out.

The wall-mountable charging base of the LHT2436 suits the long walk from the sheds to the hedgerow, because a battery trimmer needs no cord and the pack charges where the outlet is. My roundup of nine battery hedge trimmers lists more cordless models.

A field comparison of two hedge-trimming crews, one gas and one battery, found significantly lower noise exposure for the battery crew (3). Both kits are battery tools, and both still need hearing protection from the first minute.

Winner: LHT2436, because its manual charges a pack in about 2 hours against about 4 hours.

Blade Care, Cleaning and Storage

Both manuals keep care short. With normal use the blades do not need resharpening, and a nick from a wire fence, stones or glass may stay unless it interferes with cutting. If it does, or before any cleaning or oiling, first follow the order below, and only then work the nick with a fine toothed file or sharpening stone. After cleaning with mild soap and a damp cloth, never immersing the tool, apply a film of light machine oil to prevent rust.

A fence wire hidden in the hedge once nicked the LHT2220 blade on a test pass, and that is why I look through a hedge before every pass.

A jam is a wire question first. Read the hidden wire and line contact steps before anything else.

Only when you know there is no wire or cord in the blade does the jam become a clearing job.

The LHT2436 troubleshooting table lists the causes of slow, noisy or hot blades: dry or corroded blades that need lubricating, bent blades or support, bent or damaged teeth, and loose blade bolts. When the LHT2220 blade began to gum up, I released the switch, switched the motor off and waited until the blade had stopped completely, took the battery pack out, put on gloves, cleaned the blade and added the film of oil.

Clippings from a trim land on the emitter lines of my drip system, so I rake them off the drip lines and the tree-row strip before the next job.

Winner: neither kit, because the care steps and the oil film are the same.

Safety With Either Kit

A hedge trimmer is two sharp reciprocating blades in a handheld tool. A hand that touches the blade is cut in a fraction of a second, and the blade keeps moving for a moment after the switch is released. Only an adult who has read the manual and understands the controls should run either kit, never a child, and never anyone tired or impaired by alcohol, drugs or medication. A person with a pacemaker consults a physician before using a hedge trimmer, as the EGO and Echo manuals state.

Before You Cut

Look through the hedge and over the work area for wire, fence wire, posts, stakes, hoses, irrigation and drip lines, loose stones, a cord on the ground, nests, and people and pets. Trim only what you can see, and never reach through the hedge. 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, cord or fuel system undamaged. If anything fails the check, do not use the trimmer until it is fixed.

Reach, Ladders and Footing

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.

The BLACK+DECKER manual copies say only to avoid overreaching and to keep proper footing and balance, so I treat the ladder ban of the other makers as the rule for these kits too.

Protective Gear and Noise

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. The Echo DHCA-2600 manual forbids cutting branches overhead, and neither of these handheld kits is a tool for overhead work. Noise carries: a hedge trimmer’s noise has been mapped at ear height out to 22 m so that crews can decide on hearing protection (4).

Weather, Bystanders and Nests

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. Wait until the hedge is dry. Keep people, pets and helpers away from the work area, at the distance your manual gives, and stop trimming if anyone comes closer. Look behind you before you swing the tool.

Look for nests before the blade runs and leave a nesting hedge alone. On the hedgerow I look through a stretch for a nest before cutting and leave that section. A farm study in England found that a drastic cutback of hedges reduced the numbers of hedgerow bird species (5).

Warranty and Value

The LHT2436 manual gives a full three-year home use warranty. BLACK+DECKER gives the LHT2220 a two-year limited warranty for home use only, and neither covers commercial use. If the warranty card in your box says something different, follow the card. If you trim for pay, my list of commercial hedge trimmers covers battery, gas and pole models.

The LHT2220 is the budget way in, with a battery and charger in the box. The LHT2436 sits in the mid-range tier, and the extra buys a 24 in blade, a faster charger and a longer warranty. A budget kit is good value on a short hedge, and the larger kit earns its price on a long one.

Winner: LHT2436 for the warranty and the charging, LHT2220 for the lower entry price.

Choose the BLACK+DECKER LHT2220 If

The BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX LHT2220 22-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit fits a short list of buyers, and I take it to the shrubs at the yard edge, where its 36.0 in length keeps it easy to carry between plants. For shrubs like these, I compare nine light models in my list of hedge trimmers for small bushes.

• You have a short hedge or a few shrubs, all cut from the ground.
• The entry price decides, and you want the battery and charger in the box.
• You accept a charge time of about 4 hours on the standard charger.
• Skip it if you want a 24 in blade or a three-year warranty.

SHOP ON AMAZON

Choose the BLACK+DECKER LHT2436 If

The BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX LHT2436 24-Inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kit suits the buyer with a long hedge, and I use it on the perimeter hedgerow, where the hedge base went thin once because I left the top wide. Now I follow the manual’s advice to begin at the bottom and sweep up, and keep a taper, narrower at the top, as extension guidance from Iowa State and Clemson advises. My comparison of BLACK+DECKER and Greenworks trimmers lines the LHT2436 up against a 24 inch rival.

• You have a long run of young, leafy growth and want the 24 in blade.
• You want a pack that charges in about 2 hours and shows its charge.
• You want the three-year home use warranty.
• Skip it if the entry price decides, or if you cut only a few shrubs.

SHOP ON AMAZON

Which Kit Fits Your Hedge

Pick by the hedge in front of you: a short hedge or a few shrubs near the house suit the LHT2220, and a long run of young, leafy growth suits the LHT2436. Both stop at stems of 3/4 in, so thicker wood goes to loppers or a saw. Before the first pass, look through the hedge for wire, charge the pack within the temperatures the manual gives and hold the trimmer with both hands. Between the two kits, the black and decker 20v vs 40v hedge trimmer choice comes down to hedge length and charging time. My comparison of the WORX WG261 and BLACK+DECKER LHT2220 puts the LHT2220 against another 22 inch kit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Black and Decker 24 inch hedge trimmer cut thicker stems than the 22 inch model?

The Black and Decker 24 inch hedge trimmer, the LHT2436, cuts the same stem thickness as the 22 inch LHT2220, because both manuals say not to cut stems greater than 3/4 inch (19 mm). The longer blade covers more hedge, so send anything thicker than that stem size to loppers or a saw, never through the blade.

Is the Black and Decker 40v hedge trimmer heavier than the 20v model?

BLACK+DECKER lists 9.5 lb for the 40V MAX LHT2436 and 5.7 lb for the 20V MAX LHT2220, but neither list says whether the battery is included. Because the bases are not stated, judge weight by how long your arms last, and stop when you are tired or your grip weakens.

Does the Black and Decker 20v hedge trimmer battery fit the 40v hedge trimmer?

The Black and Decker 20v hedge trimmer battery is a 20V MAX pack with a nominal 18 V, and the LHT2436 uses an LBXR36 40V MAX pack with a nominal 36 V, so they are different voltage platforms. Use only the battery and charger your manual names for your trimmer.

Which Black and Decker cordless hedge trimmer has the longer warranty?

The Black and Decker cordless hedge trimmer with the longer warranty is the LHT2436, because its manual gives a full three-year home use warranty while the LHT2220 carries a two-year limited warranty for home use only. Neither covers commercial use, and if the warranty card in your box differs, follow the card.

Can you use the Black and Decker hedge trimmer in the rain?

You cannot use the Black and Decker hedge trimmer in the rain, because both manuals say not to expose it to rain and not to use it under wet conditions. Wait until the hedge is dry, trim only in good light, and never trim in a storm or when lightning is possible.

References

1. 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. doi:10.1142/s0219519423500276
2. Roggio F, Vitale E, Filetti V, Rapisarda V, Musumeci G, Romano E. Ergonomic evaluation of young agricultural operators using handle equipment through electromyography and vibrations analysis between the fingers. Saf Health Work. 2022;13(4):440-447. doi:10.1016/j.shaw.2022.07.003
3. 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.
4. Silva MO, Yanagi Junior T, Schiassi L, Rossoni DF, Barbosa JA, Yanagi SNM. Spatial variability of the noise level of a hedge trimmer and backpack blower. Rev Bras Cienc Agrar. 2014;9(3):454-458. doi:10.5039/agraria.v9i3a3770
5. Lack PC. The effects of severe hedge cutting on a breeding bird population. Bird Study. 1987;34(2):139-146. doi:10.1080/00063658709476951

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.