Quick verdict
A compact 17-inch corded hedge trimmer with a 3.2 amp motor, a dual-action blade rated at 3800 cuts per minute, and a reduced-vibration design. It suits a small hedge or shrub line where a light, easy-to-handle tool matters more than a long blade. The caveat is a 5/8-inch cut capacity, which limits it to thinner growth rather than thick woody canes.
Strengths
- Lightweight and compact for less fatigue on longer sessions
- 17-inch dual-action hardened steel blade reduces vibration
- 3800 cuts per minute rated blade speed
- Cord retention system to prevent accidental unplugging
- Full-length trigger and T-handle for precise control
- Corded design means unlimited runtime with no charging
Weaknesses
- 5/8-inch cut capacity limits it to thinner branches
- 17-inch blade means more passes on a longer hedge than a 22 or 26-inch blade
- Cord limits reach to extension cord length
- No branch saw or thicker-stem feature like step-up models
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Who This Trimmer Is For
Not every hedge needs a heavy-duty 26-inch blade and a thick-branch saw attachment. A row of low shrubs or a short foundation hedge is better served by something light enough to hold up without the arms tiring, and the BLACK+DECKER BEHT150 is built around exactly that: a compact 17-inch blade, a 3.2 amp motor, and a design focused on comfort over raw cutting capacity.
This review is based on the maker’s published specifications and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run this product ourselves.
What You Get
The trimmer is a corded electric unit with a 17-inch dual-action hardened steel blade, a 3.2 amp motor, and a stated blade speed of 3800 cuts per minute. It includes a T-handle with a full-length trigger and a cord retention system built into the handle. The listing states a 5/8-inch cut capacity, meaning the blade is sized for leaf and twig growth rather than thicker woody stems.
Cutting Power
A 3.2 amp motor driving a 17-inch dual-action blade at a rated 3800 cuts per minute is a reasonable pairing for light to moderate hedge growth. The dual-action design, where both sides of the blade move rather than one fixed and one moving edge, is the main reason BLACK+DECKER markets this as a reduced-vibration trimmer, since a single-action blade tends to transmit more shock into the handle with every cut. The 5/8-inch cut capacity is a real limit: it covers typical leafy hedge growth comfortably but will struggle or stall on anything approaching pencil thickness or beyond.
Handling and Comfort
This is a lightweight, compact trimmer by design, which matters most on the kind of extended trimming session where arm fatigue, not cutting power, becomes the limiting factor. The T-handle and full-length trigger are built for control while shaping a hedge face, and the cord retention system is a small but genuinely useful detail, since a corded tool with the cord yanked loose mid-cut is a common annoyance with basic corded trimmers that skip this feature.
Power Source and Reach
The corded design means unlimited runtime with no battery to charge or run flat partway through a job, which suits a trimmer that might only come out a few times a season. The trade-off is the same as any corded outdoor tool: reach is capped by extension cord length and outlet placement, and the cord needs active management to stay clear of the blade while working along the hedge.
Living With It
Wiping the blade down after use and keeping it lightly oiled is the main upkeep for a dual-action steel blade like this one. Because the cut capacity tops out at 5/8 inch, keeping up with regular trimming before growth gets ahead of that limit is the easiest way to avoid bogging the motor down on an overgrown hedge. BLACK+DECKER’s warranty terms are listed on the product page and worth checking given this sits at the lighter-duty end of the brand’s hedge trimmer lineup.
Alternatives to Consider
The CRAFTSMAN CMEHTS8022 22-inch corded trimmer is worth comparing for a longer hedge line or growth that includes occasional thick canes, since it adds a built-in branch saw. The BLACK+DECKER LHT2436B 40V MAX 24-inch cordless trimmer suits a buyer who wants more blade length and no cord to manage. For a hedge made up mostly of thin, fast-growing foliage, this 17-inch model is sized about right without overspending on capacity that will not be used.
Verdict
Buy the BLACK+DECKER BEHT150 if the hedge is small to medium, growth stays thinner than 5/8 inch, and a light, easy-to-handle trimmer beats raw cutting capacity. Skip it if the hedge is long or grows thick woody stems, where a longer blade or a branch-saw model is the better fit.
Full specifications
BLACK+DECKER Electric Hedge Trimmer, 17-Inch Corded, 3.2 Amp, Dual Action (BEHT150) FAQs
For a smaller shrub or a short hedge run, yes. A longer hedge will take more passes than a 22 or 26-inch trimmer would need, since each pass covers less width.
It is a small hook or clip built into the handle that the extension cord loops through, which the maker states prevents the cord from accidentally pulling free from the trimmer mid-job.
The rated cut capacity is 5/8 inch, which covers typical hedge leaf and twig growth but not thick woody canes. A model with a built-in branch saw or hand loppers is a better fit for thicker stems.
A dual-action blade, where both cutting edges move rather than just one, generally produces less vibration transfer into the handle, which the maker states makes longer trimming sessions more comfortable on the hands and wrists.
