A hedge trimmer has a housing. A blade bar projects forwards from the housing along a longitudinal axis. An electric drive motor drives the blade bar. At least one battery supplies the drive motor with electrical energy. The blade bar, the drive motor and the battery are mounted on the housing. The hedge trimmer has a top handle arranged above a center of gravity of the hedge trimmer, and a rear handle arranged behind the hedge-trimmer center of gravity. The battery is arranged on the housing at least mainly in front of the rear handle.