STIHL HLA 40 Cordless Long Reach Hedge Trimmer

Description

Is the STIHL HLA 40 right for your garden?

The STIHL HLA 40 Cordless Long-Reach Hedge Trimmer is designed for maintaining taller hedges, shrubs and bushes in domestic gardens. Its tool-free telescopic shaft adjusts from approximately 115 to 260cm, providing substantially more reach than a conventional handheld hedge trimmer.

Powered by the compact STIHL AS System, the HLA 40 is particularly well suited to routine garden maintenance where adjustable reach, straightforward handling and compact storage are more important than professional-level cutting capacity.

• Best suited to: regularly maintained domestic hedges, shrubs and bushes
• Battery platform: STIHL AS System
• Recommended battery: STIHL AS 2
• Adjustable machine length: approximately 115–260cm
• Blade length: 45cm / 18 inches
• Working time: up to approximately 40 minutes
• Tool-only product number: HA100112900

Masseys expert recommendation: Choose the HLA 40 when you need genuine telescopic reach for regularly maintained garden hedges but want to stay within STIHL’s compact AS battery platform. For longer cutting sessions, denser established hedges or customers who already own an AK battery, the STIHL HLA 56 is the more appropriate model to compare.

Choose tool only or the complete battery set

STIHL HLA 40 tool only

The tool-only option includes the STIHL HLA 40 without a battery or charger.

Choose this option when you already own a compatible STIHL AS 2 battery and an approved AS System charger.

STIHL HLA 40 with AS 2 battery and charger

The complete package is intended for customers who do not already own a compatible AS System battery. It includes:

• STIHL HLA 40 cordless long-reach hedge trimmer
• One STIHL AS 2 lithium-ion battery
• One compatible STIHL AS System charger

Where the selected package includes the standard charger, replacement units are available from our STIHL AL 1 charger page.

Important: Check the selected package before adding the product to your basket. The tool-only version does not include a battery or charger.

Why choose the STIHL HLA 40?

Telescopic shaft adjustable to 260cm

The shaft adjusts without tools from approximately 115 to 260cm. This allows the machine length to be matched more closely to the height, width and position of the hedge being maintained.

The additional reach can help the operator work on taller hedge sections from ground level where the hedge height, surrounding terrain and working position allow. Stable footing and correct operating technique are still essential.

Adjustable 45cm cutter bar

The HLA 40 has a 45cm double-sided cutter bar that can be adjusted through 115°, from approximately −45° to +70°.

The adjustable head provides practical cutting positions for:

• Vertical hedge faces
• Horizontal hedge tops
• Low shrubs and bushes
• Wider hedge sections
• Growth in awkward or restricted positions

The cutter bar can also be folded alongside the shaft to protect the blades and make the machine easier to carry.

Laser-cut, diamond-ground blades

The overlapping cutting blades are laser cut, diamond ground and hardened. Both blades move during operation, producing a controlled cutting action suitable for routine hedge shaping and maintenance.

Compact STIHL AS 2 battery

The removable AS 2 battery fits directly into the machine. The same battery can be transferred between other compatible tools in the STIHL AS cordless range.

This makes the HLA 40 especially useful for customers who already own AS System tools such as a compact hedge trimmer, garden pruner, grass trimmer or leaf blower.

Up to 40 minutes of working time

A fully charged STIHL AS 2 battery provides up to approximately 40 minutes of working time under suitable conditions.

Actual working time will vary according to:

• Hedge species and density
• Thickness and condition of the growth
• Cutting technique
• Battery condition and temperature
• Frequency of stopping and restarting
• The angle and extension of the machine

A spare AS 2 battery may be worthwhile when several AS System tools are being used during the same gardening session.

Separates for compact transport and storage

The shaft can be separated without specialist tools, reducing the stored length to approximately 115cm.

This makes the HLA 40 easier to:

• Transport in a car or van
• Carry through doors and gateways
• Store in a shed or garage
• Move between different working areas

Adjustable loop handle

The loop handle provides an additional point of control and can be adjusted to suit different working positions. Its shape also provides freedom of movement when trimming around borders, shrubs and other garden obstacles.

LED battery charge indicator

The battery charge indicator allows the remaining AS 2 battery capacity to be checked before and during work, helping the operator judge whether sufficient charge remains to complete the hedge.

Blade-tip protection

The tip protector helps shield the end of the cutter bar when working close to walls, fences, paving or the ground.

Shoulder-strap attachment

The machine includes an attachment point for a suitable shoulder strap. A strap can help distribute the machine’s weight during longer trimming sessions, particularly when the shaft is extended.

STIHL HLA 40 technical specifications

Working times and coverage figures are approximate. Actual performance depends on the hedge, cutting conditions, battery condition, operating technique and environmental conditions.

What can the STIHL HLA 40 be used for?

The HLA 40 is designed primarily for regular domestic hedge maintenance. Suitable applications include:

• Trimming the sides of taller garden hedges
• Maintaining hedge tops
• Cutting annual and regularly maintained growth
• Shaping ornamental hedges
• Maintaining shrubs and bushes
• Trimming low-growing plants with the cutter angled downwards
• Reaching across wider hedge sections
• Routine work in noise-sensitive residential gardens

Customers comparing several machines can browse all our cordless and petrol long-reach hedge trimmers.

What is the HLA 40 not designed for?

The HLA 40 is a domestic hedge-maintenance machine. It should not be treated as a replacement for a professional hedge trimmer, pole pruner, lopper or chainsaw.

Consider a larger machine where the work regularly involves:

• Thick, mature or woody branches
• Long-neglected or heavily overgrown hedges
• Dense established laurel or conifer growth
• Long periods of continuous cutting
• Daily commercial landscaping work
• Professional grounds-maintenance contracts

Browse the complete range of STIHL hedge trimmers available from Masseys for standard, long-reach, cordless, petrol and professional options.

STIHL HLA 40 or HLA 56?

Choose the HLA 40 when telescopic adjustment, compact battery size and occasional domestic use are the priorities.

Choose the STIHL HLA 56 cordless long-reach hedge trimmer when you already own an AK battery, expect longer working sessions or regularly maintain larger established hedges.

HLA 40 or a standard handheld hedge trimmer?

Choose the HLA 40 when additional reach is needed for hedge tops, tall vertical faces or wider sections that are difficult to access with a conventional machine.

A standard hedge trimmer may be more suitable when most of the work is at waist or chest height. Standard machines position the blade closer to the user and are generally easier to control during detailed shaping and close trimming.

The STIHL HSA 50 cordless hedge trimmer is worth considering when extended reach is not required and the customer wants an AK System machine for regular domestic hedge maintenance.

For a broader model comparison, see our STIHL hedge trimmer buying guide.

Part of the STIHL AS cordless range

The HLA 40 uses STIHL’s compact AS battery platform. One compatible AS 2 battery can be transferred between suitable tools within the same system, reducing the need to purchase a separate battery for every machine.

The AS System includes selected tools for:

• Hedge and shrub trimming
• Lawn-edge trimming
• Pruning and cutting garden waste
• Leaf and patio clearing
• Small cleaning jobs
• Inflation and pressure-washing tasks

Explore the wider STIHL cordless garden machinery range to compare the AS, AK and professional battery platforms.

Masseys expert verdict

The HLA 40’s strongest feature is not simply that it is cordless—it is the combination of a compact AS 2 battery and a genuinely telescopic 115–260cm shaft.

That makes it a particularly useful choice for customers who need to adjust the machine for several hedge heights but do not require the longer runtime or increased cutting reserve of an AK or professional battery model.

The main limitation is workload. The HLA 40 is intended for regularly maintained domestic growth. It is not the machine we would recommend for reducing an old, heavily overgrown hedge or repeatedly cutting thick mature stems.

For a customer with ordinary annual hedge growth, limited storage space and a need to reach taller sections, the HLA 40 offers a strong balance of reach, compact storage and straightforward battery operation.

Why buy the STIHL HLA 40 from Masseys?

Masseys is an authorised STIHL dealer based in Woodville, Swadlincote. Our garden machinery team can help customers choose the correct hedge trimmer, battery platform and package for their garden.

• Authorised STIHL dealer: genuine STIHL machinery supplied through an approved retailer
• Product advice: help deciding whether the HLA 40 suits the hedge and expected workload
• Battery guidance: advice on AS 2 batteries, chargers and compatible tools
• Model comparisons: compare standard, long-reach, domestic and professional machines
• Local showroom: visit Masseys at 129 Swadlincote Road, Woodville, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 8DA
• Aftersales support: access to our garden machinery servicing and repair department

Frequently asked questions

Does the STIHL HLA 40 have a telescopic shaft?

Yes. Its tool-free telescopic shaft adjusts from approximately 115 to 260cm.

How long is the HLA 40 cutting blade?

The HLA 40 has a 45cm / 18-inch double-sided cutter bar.

How far can the HLA 40 cutter bar be adjusted?

The cutter bar adjusts through 115°, from approximately −45° to +70°. This provides suitable working positions for hedge sides, hedge tops and low-growing shrubs.

What battery does the STIHL HLA 40 use?

The HLA 40 uses one STIHL AS 2 lithium-ion battery. AS 2 batteries are designed for compatible tools within the STIHL AS System and cannot be used in STIHL AK or professional battery machines.

How long does an AS 2 battery last in the HLA 40?

A fully charged AS 2 battery provides up to approximately 40 minutes of working time. Actual runtime varies according to hedge density, cutting technique, battery condition and operating temperature.

Does the HLA 40 include a battery and charger?

That depends on the package selected. The tool-only version does not include a battery or charger. The complete package includes an AS 2 battery and compatible charger.

Can the HLA 40 be separated for storage?

Yes. The shaft can be separated without specialist tools, reducing the stored length to approximately 115cm.

Is the HLA 40 suitable for thick branches?

It is designed primarily for routine domestic hedge maintenance and regularly trimmed growth. It is not the best choice for frequent cutting of thick, woody branches or heavily overgrown hedges.

Can I fit KombiSystem attachments to the HLA 40?

No. The HLA 40 is a dedicated hedge trimmer and cannot use STIHL KombiSystem attachments, a pole-pruning head or an additional shaft extension.

Can the STIHL HLA 40 be used in rain?

The machine and battery should be protected from rain and excessive moisture. Always follow the instructions and weather-use limitations in the supplied STIHL operating manual.

Should I buy the HLA 40 or HLA 56?

Choose the HLA 40 for telescopic adjustment, compact AS System batteries and lighter routine maintenance. Choose the HLA 56 for longer working periods, larger domestic hedges or compatibility with existing STIHL AK System batteries.

Safe operation

Read the supplied operating manual before using the HLA 40.

Before beginning work:

• Check the hedge for wire, fencing and hidden objects
• Check carefully for nesting birds and other wildlife
• Keep other people and pets away from the working area
• Look for overhead cables and nearby obstacles
• Make sure the ground and working position are stable
• Inspect the machine and cutting attachment for damage

Wear suitable eye protection, gloves, sturdy footwear and close-fitting clothing. Suitable head protection should be considered where there is a risk of cut material falling from above.

Remove the battery before adjusting, cleaning, transporting or inspecting the machine. Do not use the hedge trimmer in rain or wet conditions.