Best garden multi tools: space-saving gadgets for outdoor tasks

Whether you have a huge garden shed or just a small storage box or outdoor cupboard, keeping clutter to a minimum is always a good move. Rather than fill our stores with lots of bulky equipment, we can save space by looking out for compact, multi-functional power tools.

Choosing a tool with interchangeable heads is also a sustainable and economical option, allowing you to do more with fewer tools.

What is a garden multi tool?

While the word multi-tool can be attributed to multi-purpose products like pocket knives, it’s more commonly used to refer to power tools with interchangeable heads. You’ll often find products like strimmers, trimmers and tree pruners combined in one multifunctional tool.

How many tools are available in one?

The number of interchangeable heads on a multi-tool varies from product to product. While compact 2-in-1 tools are common, you can also find more extensive kits with up to four or five separate accessories.

Should I go for a petrol, cordless or cord multi tool?

We’d recommend going for an electric multi-tool, as they’re usually quieter, less smelly and more eco-friendly than their petrol counterparts.

Within the bracket of electric multi-tools, you can choose between mains-powered (corded) and battery-powered (cordless) products - and the decision really comes down to personal preference. While cordless multi-tools require regular charging and are usually slightly less powerful than corded options, you can work freely without having to contend with cables and extension sockets.

Our list includes a selection of mains-powered and battery-operated multi-tools.

Best garden multi tools

BOSCH Isio Cordless Shrub & Grass Shear Set

• Buy the extension pole from B&Q (£32.00)

• 2-in-1 lawn edger and shears
• Cordless / rechargeable

Bosch’s Isio multi-tool often crops up in our buyers’ guides - and for good reason. Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, it weighs just 550g. Plus, you can easily switch between the edging blade and the shrub shearers with just a few clicks.

You’ll get 50 minutes of run time from a 3.5 hour charge, and there’s a handy indicator to display the battery level.

To make your Bosch multi-tool even more versatile, you can also buy compatible attachments like a fertiliser spraying head, grass seed spreader and telescopic extension pole with a handle.

Ryobi Grass Trimmer and Brush Cutter

• Buy now from Ryobi (£162.99)

• 2-in-1 brushcutter and strimmer
• Mains-powered

This smart option from Ryobi is one of the best garden multi-tools for keeping your lawn tidy. It combines a 38cm-wide strimmer and a 26cm hardened steel brushcutter for clearing heavy grass and undergrowth.

Ryobi has focused on ergonomics here, creating a well-balanced 5kg design and adding a shoulder strap for comfort. The tool also has an all-metal boom, so it should stand up to knocks and scrapes.

You can also use this corded multi-tool with Ryobi’s other Expand-It SmartTool attachments, like the hedge trimmer, pole pruner and blower.

Einhell Expert Cordless 4-in-1 Multi Tool

• Buy now from Tool Station (£329.98)

• Buy batteries from Machine Mart

• 4-in-1 hedge trimmer, mini chainsaw, strimmer and brush cutter
• Battery-powered
• Batteries sold separately

A trusted brand, Einhell is a go-to when it comes to power tools. This option is one of the best garden multi-tools for versatility, as it comes with no fewer than four different head attachments. You’ll get a hedge trimmer, chainsaw, strimmer and brush cutter all in one product.

It’s a cordless garden multi-tool, so you’ll need to charge it up before you get started. You’ll get up to 66 minutes of use from two 5.2Ah Einhell batteries.

The makers have included a handy extension pole for trimming hard-to-reach places, as well as a tilting head on the hedge trimmer. You can choose between seven different positions to get the perfect angle.

Alternatively, go for the cheaper Einhell Cordless Long Reach Pruner and Trimmer.

Greenworks Cordless Long Reach Hedge Trimmer and Tree Pruner

• Buy now from Tooled-Up (£179.95)
• Buy 2Ah or 4Ah batteries and charger

• 2-in-1 tree pruner and hedge trimmer
• Battery-powered
• Batteries sold separately

With its 2.4m shaft, this Greenworks kit is one of the best garden multi-tools for pruning tall trees and hedges.

It combines a 20cm-long pruning blade for cutting branches and a 51cm hedge trimmer. Plus, there’s an automatic oiler to keep the metal lubricated.

This multi-tool has a maximum weight of 3.64kg and comes with a shoulder strap for extra support.

You’ll need to buy the 2Ah or 4Ah batteries and charger separately, or reuse ones from other Greenworks 40V tools.

Ryobi RGS1822-120 18V multi-tool

• Buy now from Ryobi (£79.99), B&Q (£139.00)
• Buy batteries from Ryobi

• 2-in-1 lawn edger and hedge trimmer
• Battery-powered
• Batteries sold separately

Compact yet highly versatile, this is another garden multi-tool well worth keeping in the shed. It comes with 12cm-wide lawn shears for edging and trimming unruly grass, as well as a 20cm trimming blade for pruning larger sections of shrubs and hedges. Both are made from high-quality steel and can cut branches up to 1cm across.

You’ll need to buy the batteries separately unless you already own a Ryobi ONE+ product, as you can use them interchangeably across the entire range.

Racing 4 in 1 Electric Multi-Tool

• Buy now from Mow Direct (£154.50)

• 4-in-1 brush cutter, grass trimmer, hedge cutter and pole pruner
• Mains-powered

This stylish garden multi-tool has four interchangeable heads and an extension pole - all in one neat package.

It’s a mains-powered multi-tool, so you can plug it in and work for hours at a time without worrying about batteries. You’ll get a 9m cord, so you’ll need an extension cable if you’re working far away from the nearest plug socket.

Rechargeable Hedge & Grass Trimmer

• Buy now from Coopers of Stortford (£49.99)

• 2-in-1 grass and hedge trimmer
• Cordless / rechargeable

There are several grass-trimming products out there, but this is one of the best garden multi-tools for anyone with limited mobility or a large area to cover. Thanks to its removable 60cm handle and integrated wheels, you can cut grass without having to bend over.

Alternatively, use it as a hand tool for quick pruning jobs. You’ll be able to switch between the 8cm edger and the 11cm hedge trimmer.

The makers have kept things simple with a rechargeable on-board battery, which gives you 35 minutes of continuous use after charging it for five hours.

VonHaus 2 in 1 Chainsaw Hedge Trimmer

• Buy now from VonHaus (£149.99)

• 2-in-1 chainsaw and hedge trimmer
• Mains-powered

We can always rely on VonHaus to create smart and stylish products with plenty of useful features - like this garden multi-tool.

If you need a tool to stand up to frequent tree and hedge pruning, try this model. Its strong interchangeable heads are designed to cut through branches, brambles and thick overgrowth quickly and easily.

Adapting the tool for the job is fairly simple; you can adjust the shaft length and head angle to make pruning even easier.

The package also includes a 10m cable and a supportive harness designed to counterbalance the top-heavy tools as you move.

Mountfield MMT 20 Li Multi-Tool

• 2-in-1 chainsaw and hedge trimmer
• Battery-powered
• 4Ah battery and charger included

Another great option available on Amazon is this 2-in-1 tool. It includes a 20cm tree pruner and 45cm hedge trimmer capable of cutting branches 1.8cm across. This set also comes with a telescopic arm for reaching high-up areas, and the trimmer has an adjustable head to help you find the perfect angle.

On a full charge, you should get 20 minutes of continuous use from the pruner and up to 70 minutes with the hedge trimmer. For lengthy sessions, you can use the handy shoulder strap to help you manage the weight of the multi-tool as you move.

EGO Power Plus Cordless Multi-Tool Kit

• Buy now from Lawnmowers UK (£869.00), Mowers Online (£869.00)

• 4-in-1 hedge trimmer, strimmer, lawn edger and tree pruner
• Battery-powered
• 5Ah battery and charger included

If you’re willing to spend a little bit more on a garden multi-tool, Ego’s Power Plus kit could be right for you. It comes with four attachments, including a strimmer and hedge trimmer, and a variable two-speed motor, so you can adapt its intensity for the job in hand.

There’s also a single-strap harness to provide extra support during lengthy outdoor tasks.