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Bypass Secateurs have two blades, which cut like a pair of scissors with a sharpened blade crossing over a thicker metal platform. They're pointed to help them get in amongst stems and branches and are ideal for cutting stems between 10 and 15mm thick. They're suitable for greener growth and should cut cleanly so it’s important to keep them sharp. Read our guide on how to sharpen secateurs.
Anvil secateurs have one blade that cuts like a knife, with the blade pushing through a stem or branch onto a lower block, in a similar manner to a knife on a chopping board. They're useful for cutting through thicker, woodier stems and dead wood.
Ratchet Secateurs have either anvil or bypass blades and feature ratchet springs and mechanisms to ease effort and cut through a stem in a series of stages. This type of the tool is able to make tougher cuts gradually, as you repeatedly squeeze and release the handles to get through the growth and they are particularly useful for gardeners who lack strength.
Our expert testers trial hundreds of garden tools to work out which will do the job well and offer the best value, comfort and quality. If you're pruning larger branches, take a look at our reviews of the best loppers and best pruning saws and for help clearing up, see our test of the best wheelbarrows or the best garden shredders. To save some money on your favourite tools, take a look at the best Black Friday tool deals we've found for you.
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Secateurs Buyer's Guide - video
Best secateurs to buy at a glance
Our expertiseWe tested the different types of secateurs, using them in the garden on a range of different plants and at different times of year, to help you find the right pair for your garden. Each pair has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to handling, cutting, maintenance and value for money. Every pair in our round up below has scored a minimum of four out of five stars, so you can buy with confidence.
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In every review we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best bypass, anvil and ratchet secateurs below:
Best Bypass Secateurs in 2024
Okatsune 103 bypass secateurs
RRP: £49.84
Our rating: 4.8/5
Available from Amazon (£39)
Okatsune 103 Secateurs
Pros:
- Comfortable and well balanced
- Cut cleanly and well
- Strong and robust
Cons:
- Stiff central bolt
- Safety catch needs getting used to
Awarded a BBC Gardeners World Magazine Best Buy for the best all round bypass, these simple secateurs have few parts or gimmicks yet their strong, Japanese steel blades cut cleanly and effortlessly. They're ideal for all pruning tasks, including heavy duty jobs, cutting consistently well and are well made, sharp and easy to use and feel long lasting. Their red and white handles make them hard to lose in the garden, both during the day and at night and although the safety catch, which is at the end of the handle stakes some getting used to, once mastered, it's a breeze. They come with a two year warranty.
Read the full Okatsune 103 review
Available from: Amazon (£39)
Kent and Stowe Eversharp All Purpose Lite secateurs
RRP: £34.99
Our rating: 4.8/5
Available from Amazon (£29.99) and Marshalls Garden (£34.99)
BBC Gardeners' World Magazine review Kent and Stowe Eversharp All Purpose Lite secateurs
Pros
- Good features, including integrated wire cutter and adjustable hand sizer
- Excellent cutting strength
- Light with comfortable grip handles Replaceable parts
- 10 year warranty
Cons
- Hard to see if dropped in the garden
- Blade will rust if not cared for
- Packaging excessive
Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use, these aluminium framed secateurs are packed with useful features. They're suitable for both right and left handed gardeners, and those with smaller hands, thanks to the easy switch on the top that adjusts from 1cm t0 2.4cm, to suit the user. They have a 24mm cutting capacity, although this feels like more and despite their slightly chunky appearance, they're light and comfortable with marked rubber handles for extra grip. The safety catch, which is placed by your thumb is easy to open and close with one hand. The hardened carbon steel blade has a plasma coating and they feel strong and sharp cutting through both green and older wood on shrubs and roses with ease. Unfortunately, the grey and black appearance of these secateurs does make them hard to spot if dropped in teh agrden or amongst prunings. They have a handy hole for hanging them up after use and although the blade will rust slightly if not cares for, provided these secateurs are looked after well thy should last you years. They come with a 10 year warranty.
Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs
RRP: £34.99
Our rating:4.5/5
Available from Marshalls Garden (£24.99), ManoMano (£33.99) and Electrical World (£44.96)
Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs
Pros:
- Cut easily through live and dead wood
- Hard, sharp blade
- Comfortable FSC-certified wooden handles
- Lightweight
- Adjustable width
- 10-year warranty
Cons:
- Hard to spot if dropped in the garden
Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for best bypass for comfort the handles of these secateurs have an aluminium frame with a sustainably sourced FSC-certified ash insert. This smooth wood is comfortable to hold and offers a great grip, even without gardening gloves. They're suitable for both right and left handed gardeners and although the secateurs are lightweight, at just 330g, they still feel robust and hard wearing. When pruning, they cut through almost every material on test with little resistance. Live, green wood was easy to prune and even hard, dried wood was simple to snip. This is thanks to a carbon steel blade covered in a plasma coating, which Kent and Stowe claim makes these harder than any other blade. The cutting width can be adjusted with a simple catch, from 1cm to 2.5cm, so these secateurs can tackle thicker branches as well as more delicate stems and the safety catch, which is placed by your thumb, is easy to open and close with one hand. They also have a handy hole for hanging them up in a shed or greenhouse after use and a notch on the blade for cutting twine and garden wire. With a fantastic 10-year warranty, these secateurs should last you a long time. However, we found that the grey blade and light brown handles are tricky to spot if you drop them in a border or lose them amongst prunings.
Read the full Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass secateurs review
Niwaki GR Pro
RRP: £84 (right handed)
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from Crocus (£99.99)
Niwaki GR Pro
Pros:
- Comfortable and well balanced
- Cut cleanly and well
- Strong and robust
Cons:
- Safety catch needs getting used to
- No replaceable blade
- Expensive
These robust secateurs from Niwaki were awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best premium bypass secateurs and feature hand-forged, carbon steel blades which cut stems cleanly and smoothly. The safety catch sits at the end of the handles and is chunky but easy to engage once you get used to it and they feel well balanced and feels comfortable to use. A replacement spring is included in your purchase and they come in a choice of sizes, including small, regular and large and for both left and right handed gardeners. A holster is also available to buy and they come with a two year warranty.
Read the full Niwaki GR Pro review
Felco Model 8
RRP: £73.99
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from Amazon UK (£52.50), OnBuy.com (£58.64) and Marshalls Garden (£74.99)
Felco Model 8
Pros:
- The non-slip handle shape works well
- The safety catch is easy to reach and use
- Servicing is provided for life
Cons:
- Several different screw need tackling for adjustment
- The grip is wide when fully opened and not helpful for smaller hands
- An expensive premium priced model
A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner, these are classic secateurs from the world-renowned Swiss brand Felco. They feel sturdy and cut well in a variety of different jobs. They're also easy to maintain and come with the Felco lifetime guarantee. The secateurs feel chunky but light and the ergonomic handle protects the wrist and hand, making longer pruning jobs less tiring. The blade also has a handy wire cutting notch. The red non-slip handle makes them easy to see if lost in the garden.
Read the full Felco 8 Bypass Secateurs review
Darlac DP1030A Expert
RRP: £31.99
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from ManoMano (£23.17), OnBuy.com (£23.85) and B and Q (£24.12)
Darlac DP1030A Expert
Pros:
- Nice to hold with a comfortable grip
- Cut efficiently and smoothly and make large cuts easily
- Comes with a generous lifetime guarantee
Cons:
- A number of different screws need to be tackled for adjustment or maintenance
- Handles are wide when fully opened which may be a problem for smaller hands
A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner for best bypass for large stems, these robust secateurs have a comfortable grip and are nice to hold. The central safety catch is easy to engage with the thumb and can also be used to reduce the blade aperture (opening width) for light work, which is useful. There is a handy wire cutting notch on the blade and the red handles make them easy to find if lost in the garden. They come with a lifetime warranty.
Read the full Darlac Expert Bypass DP1030A review
Burgon and Ball Left Handed Bypass
RRP: £22.99
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from Amazon
Burgon and Ball Left Handed Bypass
Pros:
- Easy safety catch
- Replacement parts available
- Comfortable
- Long warranty
Cons:
- Struggle with large cuts
- Best for bigger hands
Awarded a BBC Gardener’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best left handed bypass secateurs, these have a strong, high-carbon steel blade that cuts well and can take on most pruning jobs easily. They are also simple to sharpen with a large safety catch that engages easily. Replacement parts are available and they come with a 10 year warranty. included.
Read the full Burgon and Ball Left Handed Bypass review
Darlac Compound Action Pruner
RRP: £20.99
Our rating: 4.3/5
Available from OnBuy.com (£16.40), ManoMano (£17.99) and B and Q (£18.53)
Darlac Compound Action Pruners
Pros:
- Small and light, half the weight of other models tested
- Easy to make most cuts thanks to the lever action
- Smooth closing mechanism
Cons:
- Struggled with larger cuts
- Blade opening limited, making it tricky to sharpen the blades
These bypass secateurs have a central lever action, which makes them very easy on the hands when cutting, just like a ratchet secateur. The handles have a soft grip for comfort and they're surprisingly light – half the weight of some of the other secateurs tested. The safety catch is on the top of the handle and easy to switch on or off with a flick of the thumb. A great tool for those with less strength they were given a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy award for the best bypass secateurs for smaller hands.
Read the full Darlac Compound Action Pruner review
Best Anvil Secateurs in 2024
Draper Deluxe Anvil
RRP: £31.34
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from Amazon UK (£14.10), Electrical World (£17.27) and Tooled Up (£19.95)
Draper Deluxe Anvil
Pros:
- Wide cutting width
- Cut well and with strength
- Feel powerful and sturdy
- Excellent value
Cons:
- Big and heavy
- Safety catch needs two hands
- No replacement parts
Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy award for the best budget anvils, our testers were impressed by how comfortable and well balanced these were to use, particularly for larger hands. They have a strong, wide cut, which also makes them easy to sharpen and clean and the handles have comfortable rubber grip inserts so they're comfortable and warm to use. They come with a lifetime warranty.
Read the full Draper Delux Anvil Secateurs review
Felco Model 32
RRP: £69.99
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from OnBuy (£64.77) and Amazon (£66.99)
Felco Model 32
Pros:
- Clean, easy, strong cuts
- Wide cutting width
- Servicing provided
- All parts replaceable
Cons:
- Safety catch stiff
- Expensive
These anvil secateurs are strong and robust with a hardened steel blade that cuts cleanly and effortlessly through thick, woody growth. With a wide cutting width they feel sturdy in use and although there's no comfort padding on the grip these cut so smoothly there was no strain on the hand or wrist. All parts are replaceable and they come with a lifetime warranty. We awarded these BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy status as the Best Anvil All Round.
Read the full Felco Model 32 Pruning Shears review
Gardena Comfort Anvil
RRP: £25.99
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from Amazon (£20.03) and Tooled Up (£25.95)
Gardena Comfort Anvil
Pros:
- Wide cutting width
- Comfortable
- Easy to use
- Feel sturdy and powerful
- Cut cleanly and efficiently
- Safety catch for left- and right-handed use
Cons:
- Opens too wide for small hands
- Dark colour hard to spot
Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy award for the best anvils for comfort, these powerful secateurs are easy to use with soft handles which are comfortable and ease strain well. The blade has a non-stick coating and cuts cleanly and smoothly and they also have a wide cutting width and an easy to reach safety catch. They come with a 25 year warranty.
Read the full Gardena Comfort Anvil Secateurs
Stihl PG25 Anvil
RRP: £31.03
Our rating: 4.3/5
Available from Amazon (£30.67)
Stihl PG25 Anvil
Pros:
- Smooth, easy cutting action
- Central safety catch simple to operate with one hand
- Blade can be handily sharpened on the go
Cons:
- Handles are hard in the hand and feel uncomfortable after prolonged use
- Several screws need dismantling for adjustment or maintenance
A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner for the best ratchet secateur for comfort, these sturdy, compact secateurs cut woodier stems with ease. The carbon steel blade has a non stick coating and can be easily sharpened or replaced and their orange handles make them easy to find amongst prunings in the garden. They come with a two year warranty.
Read the full Stihl PG25 Anvil Secateurs review
Best Ratchet Secateurs in 2023
Corona Ratchet Cut Branch and Stem Pruner
RRP: £39.99
Our rating: 4.5/5
Available from Amazon (£31.44)
Corona Ratchet Cut Branch and Stem Pruner
Pros:
- Comfortable handles
- Strong, efficient cut
- Sturdy and robust
- Four-gear ratchet
Cons:
- Feel weighty
- Safety catch needs two hands
Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy award for the best ratchet anvil for strength, these weighty, robust secateurs have a four gear ratchet system that enables them to cut tough wood easily. Soft, well-gripping handles make working comfortable and effortless and the non stick carbon blade can be resharpened to keep you cutting for years. Best for right handed gardeners the safety catch is a little stiff and needs two hands to engage. They come with a ten year warranty.
Read the full Corona Ratchet Cut Comfort Gel Anvil Secateurs review
The best of the rest
Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have various features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.
Wolf Garten Anvil Comfort Plus
RRP: £24.99
Our rating: 4.3/5
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Wolf Garten Anvil Comfort Plus
Pros:
- Wide cutting width
- Simple design
- Cut cleanly and sharply
- Suitable for right and left-handed use
Cons:
- Feel flimsy
- Bottom handle rubs with use
The secateurs are small and compact and feature a non-stick blade which cuts cleanly. There is an integrated spring closing between plastic handles which do have a rubber grip but only on the upper side. We found the safety catch was easy to reach, however it was quite stiff to operate. Overall the tool performed well but did feel quite flimsy compared to more sturdy models.
Jardin de France Ratchet Secateur
RRP: £40.00
Our rating: 4.3/5
- Buy now from Jardin de France (£34.95)
Jardin de France Ratchet
Pros:
- Strong, clean cut
- Light and comfortable
- Replaceable blade
- Right and left use
Cons:
- Ratchet slips occasionally
- Fiddly safety catch
These ratchet secateurs feature a coated carbon steel blade which cuts well through growth. The handles are aluminium and topped with a rubber grip for added comfort. The tool is suitable for left and right hand use and both the blade and spring are replaceable. We found the safety catch could be fiddly and the three gear ratchet did occasionally slip. There is a one year warranty included and we thought the secateurs were great value for money overall.
- Buy now from Jardin de France (£34.95)
Darlac Super Classic Ratchet
RRP: £19.99
Our rating: 4.3/5
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Darlac Super Classic Ratchet secateurs
Pros:
- Wide cutting width
- Cut well
- Good value
- Replaceable parts
Cons:
- Large and wide
- Slow to cut
- Lack grip
These Darlac ratchet secateurs come with an impressive 25 year warranty. The coated SK5 steel blade cuts smoothly although the action took longer than other models tested. The tool has a wide cutting width which is useful on larger stems, although the handles were also quite large which made it trickier to handle. There are replaceable parts available.
Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Heavy Duty
RRP: £25.99
Our rating: 4/5
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Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Heavy Duty Bypass
Pros:
- Feel sturdy and robust with a strong blade
- Replacement parts are available
- 10 year guarantee
Cons:
- Central safety catch keeps catching halfway through a cut
- Grip needs adjusting for different cuts
These classic secateurs feel sturdy, capable and long lasting. They have rubber shock absorbers on the handles to make cutting larger stems comfortable but the central safety catch often caught halfway through a cut which was frustrating. Cutting width also needed to be adjusted for different size stems. The plastic-coated handles are bright red so easy to spot if mislaid. Replacement blades and springs are available and they have 10-year guarantee.
Read the full Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Heavy Duty Bypass Secateur review
Wolf Garten RS5000 Professional Anvil
RRP: £59.99
Our rating: 4/5
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Wolf Garten RS5000 Professional Anvil
Explore more:Professional gardening tools guide
Advantages Offered by Plasma Cutting - Red-D-ArcContact us to discuss your requirements of garden tools manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Pros:
- Feel well balanced in the hand
- Central safety catch easy to reach and engage
- Blade opens wide so sharpening is easy
- Cone with a 10 year guarantee
Cons:
- Large and heavy and may be too much for gardeners with smaller hands and those lacking strength
- Cord wrist strap gets in the way
With an integral spring, these large anvil secateurs are comfortable to use. The blade feels sharp and is angled so accessing difficult cuts is much easier. Plastic grips on the aluminium handles make holding them softer and less cold. However, the wrist cord just gets in the way and larger cuts were a struggle.
Read the full Wolf Garten RS5000 Professional Anvil Secateurs review
How we tested secateurs
The secateurs were tested around the garden on perennials, trees and shrubs and at different times of the year. They were assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each:
- Handling: Assessed the secateurs comfort, weight, balance, the safety catch and general ease of use.
- Cutting: Looked at the qualities of the blades, including their material, strength and opening widths, as well as their manoeuvrability and cutting efficiency.
- Maintenance: Considered how easy they are to clean and sharpen, if replacement blades are available or a maintenance service is offered.
- Value for money: Focussed on the quality of the secateurs, any special features and warranty and RRP.
For more information on our testing process, take a look at How we Review.
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This review was last updated in February 2024. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.
To help you find the most comfortable and effective pruner for your gardening needs, we researched top-rated pruners and tested six in our gardens. Each pruner on this list was evaluated for durability, sharpness, effectiveness, overall value, and comfort.
The smallest type of pruner is a snip, which is a small, sharp scissor used for cutting thin stems, deadheading flowers, or pruning bonsai and other delicate greenery.
Anvil pruners have one stationary blade and one blade that slices straight down onto a groove in the stationary blade. While you may not need them as much as bypass pruners, they come in handy for cutting dead branches and stems. "These shears chop rather than cut. If you are cutting large branches, then lopping shears , not pruners, are the right choice,” says Brain Feldman , Sr. Director of Technical Operations at True Green.
There are several types of garden pruners and we find it helpful to have one of each. The most common are bypass pruners, which have blades that slide slightly by each other in a scissoring motion. They are designed for pruning live plants, including rose bushes, small shrubs, and tree branches.
Used to trim greenery and thin stems or branches, pruning shears are suited to cut through plant material that's no more than an inch or so in thickness. Also referred to as hand shears, pruners, or secateurs, this essential gardening tool is generally used with just one hand, unlike garden loppers or hedge shears , which require both hands and cut through much larger plant materials.
Best Overall
Felco F-2 One-Hand Pruning Shear
PHOTO:
Amazon
$59 At Amazon
$70 At Home Depot
$59 At Walmart
What We Like
Professional quality
Adjustable blades
Durable construction
Comfortable handles
What We Don't Like
We put the Felco 2 to the test in a garden in Oregon, where hydrangeas, laurel hedges, various shrubs, and flowers were running rampant. Much to our delight, the pruner snipped and snapped through all manner of greenery and shrubbery up to 1 inch in diameter without any difficulty at all and without leaving ragged or torn edges on the plants. We think it's an essential tool for any gardener.
This is a bypass pruner, meaning that the blades "scissor" past each other rather than meeting directly together when clamped closed. That makes this a great tool for pruning through green stems, vines, and branches, as well as woodier branches up to 1 inch in diameter.
The F2 has a steel blade for durability and lightweight aluminum handles. We loved the ergonomic design, as well as the red, rubbery covers that provide a secure grip while adding a cushioning feel—no hand pain here, even after a lengthy session in the garden. The pruner has a steel nut and bolt that allow for tiny adjustments of the blades to secure the exact angle that works best for you. There's even a small groove on the edge of the pruner for snipping landscaping wire or similar materials so you don't damage the blade with such activities.
The F2 measures 8.5 inches in length, making it ideal for gardeners with medium to large hands. (If your hands are small, then the Felco F6 is your best option.) While this is the most expensive pruner on this list (aside from our best electric pick), every part of this Swiss-made tool can be replaced, so if you care for your pruner properly, it will last you for decades. The iconic Felco 2 has been a favorite pruner of gardeners everywhere since its launch back in 1948.
Type: Bypass | Maximum Cut Capacity: 1 inch thick | Locking Mechanism: Yes | Weight: 0.53 pounds | Length: 8.5 inches
The Spruce / Sarah Vanbuskirk
Best Ratchet
EZ-Kut Ratchet Pruner
PHOTO:
Amazon
$40 At Amazon
View On Ezkutproducts.com
What We Like
What We Don't Like
While testing this all-metal anvil-style pruner, we found it sturdy and sharp, yet very comfortable to grip and use. It has a three-stage ratcheting mechanism, which greatly reduces the force required to use it, making it ideal for those who may need extra help tackling tougher branches. We think it's also useful for beginning gardeners building their toolkit since it is so easy to use and handles many different types of pruning jobs.
We found that the handles provided better leavage than others we tested, thanks to the design. This pruner is made of aluminum with a comfortable grip coating, and at 8.26 inches in length, it is a good fit for most hands.
With a maximum cutting capacity of 1.5 inches, it is Ideal for pruning dead branches and woody materials, and can also be used to clip through greenery and stems. It is also well-designed for making circle cuts—if the branch to be pruned is too thick for the pruner, then use the blade to circle around the branch, cutting into it as far as you can, before making a final snip to remove it from the tree or shrub.
On the downside, the green color can make it tough to spot if it is set down in the grass. It is available in pink as well, if you tend to misplace your tools or want a pop of color in your toolbox.
Type: Anvil | Maximum Cut Capacity: 1.5 inch thick | Locking Mechanism: Yes | Weight: 0.4 pounds | Length: 8.26 inches
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
Best for Small Hands
Felco F-6 Classic Pruning Shears
PHOTO:
Amazon
$55 At Amazon
$66 At Home Depot
$55 At Walmart
What We Like
What We Don't Like
The Felco 6 is very similar to our best overall pick, the Felco 2, but designed for a smaller hand. Like the F2, this pruner is a great addition to your gardening toolbox, especially if you are an avid gardener and will use it often, since it is one of the more expensive options on our list. While testing, we found this pruner to be very durable and sharp, and allowed us to prune a bush in our yard very quickly.
Like the F2, this pruner has a sap groove to help ward off the accumulation of sticky grunge on the blades, a wire-cutting notch, and a nut and bolt that are adjustable to set the blades at just the right angle for your use.
At 7.68 inches in length, it is shorter than the F2, and the handles are closer together, making it easy for smaller hands to open and close the prune fully. The blades are slightly more angled than on the F2, which makes them more like an extension of your own hand and thus easier to angle into tighter spots.
The cutting capacity of the F6 is 0.8 inches, which is a bit less than the F2, but you can just as easily snip through green stems, vines, twigs, and branches that aren't too hard or thick on your garden shrubs. You can also replace all parts of this pruner, which means that if you take good care of it, it will last through decades of gardening use.
Type: Bypass | Maximum Cut Capacity: 0.8 inch thick | Locking Mechanism: Yes | Weight: 0.46 pounds | Length: 7.68 inches
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
Best Heavy-Duty
Fiskars PowerGear 2 Pruner
PHOTO:
Amazon
$27 At Amazon
$25 At Home Depot
$22 At Walmart
What We Like
What We Don't Lke
While testing the Fiskars PowerGear 2 Pruner in our own yard and garden, we found it to be a heavy-duty tool that is easy to use, for a variety of hand sizes. This sturdy bypass pruner stands out for its patented gear and cam mechanism that lets you cut through branches up to 3/4-inch thick with far less pressure than you'd need with most other pruners. That means less stress and fatigue to your hand, as well as a cleaner cut through the stem.
The handles are uniquely designed to roll slightly with the movement of your fingers to help reduce hand strain. It took us just a minute or two to get used to the rolling motion since it's different than a traditional pruner. But after the first use, we loved how quickly we were able to prune back ivy along our fence, even for thicker branches. This pruner is designed to handle green stems, vines, twigs, and small branches.
Aside from the rolling motion, the handles have an ergonomic design that fits very comfortably in your hand, and there are additional soft cushioned areas strategically placed to help prevent blisters and provide extra comfort during those long gardening sessions. We found that both small and larger hands can use this pruner comfortably, but it is on the longer side, at 11.5 inches long. It's also designed for right-handed use, but we found that a left-hander can use this pruner, but you won't get all of the benefits of the rolling motion, since it rolls the wrong way for a left-hander.
The titanium coating on the steel blades helps ward off sticky sap and rust, as well as provides a smooth cut. The strong blades stay sharp for a long time, so resharpening them will be a thankfully infrequent task, although when you do need to sharpen this pruner, the blades open wide enough to make it an easy job.
We also loved how easy it is to close and lock the blades for storage. It has a latch at the top of the pruner that we found very intuitive and easy to push back and forth.
Type: Bypass | Maximum Cut Capacity: 3/4 inch thick | Locking Mechanism: Yes | Weight: 0.55 pounds | Length: 11.5 inches
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
Best General Use
Gonicc Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears
PHOTO:
Amazon
$20 At Amazon
View On Gonicc.top
What We Like
What We Don't Like
A quality hand pruner can be expensive, but these pruning shears from Gonicc are no slouch in the garden yet come at a very reasonable price. The blades are made of titanium that's been polished to a very sharp edge that cleanly and easily nips through greenery and small branches up to 3/4-inch in diameter, making them useful for pruning all sorts of common backyard plants. We used this tool to prune ivy and other plants growing over our fence and for other pruning tasks in our garden.
The handles are aluminum wrapped in a soft plastic that provides thick cushioning as well as improves your grip. While this pruner doesn't have any mechanism to reduce the effort of squeezing the handles, we found it very comfortable to use, and sharp enough to cut easily. The pruner is 8 inches long, and we found it was suitable for a variety of hand sizes.
This pruner also has a sap groove that helps prevent the accumulation of sticky plant fluids on the pruner, helping to prevent annoying catching and sticking while you work and reducing the effort needed to clean the tool after a gardening session.
Keep in mind that this tool is best used to cut through live stems and greenery, rather than dead wood. We also want to note that the latching locking mechanism is easy to use, and standard to most pruners, but we didn't find it as intuitive as our best heavy-duty option, which has a latch at the top of the tool. But overall, we think this is a great tool for many pruning jobs and is a great value for its sharp blades and comfortable grip.
Type: Bypass | Maximum Cut Capacity: 3/4 inch thick | Locking Mechanism: Yes | Weight: 0.4 pounds | Length: 8 inches
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
Best Adjustable
Corona ComfortGEL Bypass Pruner
PHOTO:
Amazon
$29 At Amazon
$29 At Home Depot
$32 At Walmart
What We Like
Eight settings for small through large hands
Coated to prevent sap buildup
Effective and clean cuts through most plant materials
What We Don't Like
The unique feature of this pruner is the FlexDIAL, which allows you to adjust how far the pruner can open, which in turn, lets you tailor the tool to the size of your hand. We tested this pruner in our own home garden on a wide variety of plants, including citrus trees, palm fronds, vines, and shrubs. We found that the steel blades cut easily and cleanly through just about everything we tested—the palm fronds were too wide for a clean cut, but the pruner still managed to muscle through them.
What also stood out while testing was the very comfortable grip. The ergonomic handles were very easy and comfortable to squeeze, even for our somewhat painful hands. The blades are coated to prevent the sticky buildup of sap and other plant fluids, which was especially liked while pruning ficus.
The 8-position dial adjusts the tool from a maximum cut capacity of 1/4-inch at the first setting up to a maximum cut capacity of 3/4-inch at the eighth setting. If your hands are small, stick with the lower numbers, and go higher for larger hands. Of course, you can also use the small settings for more delicate pruning and the higher settings for more power, regardless of your hand size.
One little hiccup we noted while testing was the stickiness of the FlexDIAL. We found that it tended to stick when being adjusted. However, we still were able to work around that by squeezing the pruner slightly while turning the dial to the desired setting.
Type: Bypass | Maximum Cut Capacity: 3/4 inch thick | Locking Mechanism: Yes | Weight: 0.6 pounds | Length: 8 inches
The Spruce / Danielle Directo-Meston
Best for Weak Hands
The Gardener's Friend Pruning Shears
PHOTO:
Amazon
$18 At Amazon
What We Like
What We Don't Like
This ratcheting hand pruner from The Gardener's Friend are designed to be very easy to use even if you struggle with hand weakness. The ratcheting design means that the blades "catch" slightly as they are closed, so the blades help provide the squeezing force rather than requiring your hands to exert all the effort on their own. That means it's much easier to cut through small branches up to an inch in diameter.
The blades of this sturdy pruner are corrosion-resistant, manganese steel, and the handles are aluminum with a soft rubber grip that's easy on your fingers and palms. The pruner locks from either side, making it ambidextrous, and at 8 inches in length, it's good for any average-sized hand.
This is an anvil-style pruner, meaning that one blade moves to clamp down directly against the other, in contrast to a bypass pruner where the blades slightly slide past each other. Anvil pruners require less pressure to provide more cutting force and are especially good for cutting through woody material, although, of course, you can use this pruner to clip through stems and vines, as well.
While the blades aren't quite as sharp as some others on our list, they can be replaced if needed. This pruner also comes with a small cleaning sponge to help keep the blades in great shape.
Type: Anvil | Maximum Cut Capacity: 1 inch thick | Locking Mechanism: Yes | Weight: 0.5 pounds | Length: 8 inches
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
Best for Roses
ARS Heavy Duty Pruner
PHOTO:
Amazon
$31 At Amazon
View On Growers-inc.com
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Known for their extremely high-quality garden tools, ARS is a Japanese brand that's been around for over a century. We like the amazing sharpness of the double-hardened, double-plated, resin-coated steel blades; this pruner snips through rose stems and canes as easily as cutting through butter, creating clean, perfect cuts without any ragged edges or tears.
The blades are slightly offset to reduce hand fatigue and effort required for clamping the pruner closed, so even if your hands aren't the strongest, you can still easily keep your rosebushes looking their best, whether it's end-of-season pruning or in-season deadheading to encourage more blooms.
The handles of this bypass pruner are die-cast aluminum with a rubbery coating for better grip and improved comfort. The lock requires just a squeeze to release, making this a one-handed pruner, but occasionally the lock can stick a bit. At 8 inches in length, this pruner is good for gardeners with average-size hands. Use it to snip through rose stems and canes, vines, twigs, small branches, and flower stems up to 3/4-inch thick.
Type: Bypass | Maximum Cut Capacity: 3/4 inch thick | Locking Mechanism: Yes | Weight: 0.47 pounds | Length: 8 inches
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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The Spruce / Eric Brockob
Best Electric
DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Battery Pruner
PHOTO:
Dewalt
$130 At Amazon
$89 At Home Depot
$126 At Walmart
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Battery sold separately
Somewhat heavy
If you are looking for a pruner that does most of the hard work for you, then you'll love this cordless battery offering from Dewalt. It is powered by a Dewalt 20-volt MAX battery (sold separately), which can carry out up to 1,100 cuts on a single charge, depending on the thickness of the branches you're pruning. You do need to squeeze the trigger to activate the device, but after a very gentle squeeze, the tool takes over and closes the blades to cut through branches up to 1.5 inches thick, and then the blades automatically open again in preparation for the next cut.
You'll be able to prune quickly with this tool; it can make up to one cut each second. That makes this bypass pruner a great tool for most common backyard plants, including roses, shrubs, vines, perennials, and even small tree branches.
The blades have a nonstick coating, so sticky sap won't easily build up and slow you down. The plastic body of the tool has a rubbery grip that's easy on your hands. At 2.5 pounds (without the battery), it's heavier than many manual pruners (and the heaviest on this list), but for those who struggle with hand pain or stiffness, this electric pruner can mean continuing to work in a beloved garden, which can easily justify the price. It even has a built-in LED light, so you can easily pinpoint just the stem you want to snip.
Type: Electric bypass | Maximum Cut Capacity: 1.5 inch thick | Locking Mechanism: Yes | Weight: 2.5 pounds | Length: 12.5 inches
Best Snips
Vivosun Pruning Shears
PHOTO:
Amazon
$6 At Amazon
$11 At Home Depot
What We Like
Compact and lightweight
Sharp blades
Budget-friendly
What We Don't Like
These lightweight, compact garden snips are perfect for deadheading flowers, lightly pruning unruly annuals and perennials, removing twigs, or clipping away unwanted greenery. They are also useful around the vegetable garden, for pruning houseplants, or even for shaping bonsai. The snips have stainless-steel, precision-ground blades that are very sharp and make clean cuts without leaving stems ragged or torn. The handles are plastic with a rubbery grip and are comfortable in your hand. The spring can be a bit tight to squeeze, however.
While the manufacturer does not indicate the maximum cut capacity for these, as a general rule, garden snips are only for small cuts through soft plant material that's no more than 1/4-inch thick. You can carry these snips in your pocket—they are only 6.5 inches long—and you'll always be ready to deadhead that faded rose or spent sunflower. While you aren't going to use garden snips for major pruning, for less than $10, they are a must-have tool for those small, delicate tasks that require a fine touch.
Type: Snips | Maximum Cut Capacity: Not listed | Locking Mechanism: Yes | Weight: 0.15 pounds | Length: 6.5 inches
Best Anvil
Gonicc Professional Anvil Pruning Shears
PHOTO:
Amazon
$21 At Amazon
View On Gonicc.top
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Anvil pruners have a grooved stationary blade and a sharp cutting blade that comes straight down into the groove, creating a clean, crushing cut that is especially good when you are pruning dead twigs or small branches, but can also be used to prune living, woody stems. We especially like this 8-inch anvil pruner from Gonicc, which has carbon-steel, chromium-plated blades that stay sharp. The handles are aluminum with a soft, rubbery grip for comfort.
This pruner has a pulley mechanism that greatly reduces the amount of force you need to exert to cut through branches, making them a good choice if you have a weak grip or painful hands. The maximum cut capacity is 3/4-inch, so it can handle most common pruning tasks. It is a good size for the average hand but might be a bit large if your hands are very small. This is a very reasonably priced anvil pruner, but can be a bit stiff to open and close at times.
Type: Anvil | Maximum Cut Capacity: 3/4 inch thick | Locking Mechanism: Yes | Weight: 0.4 pounds | Length: 8 inches
Best for Houseplants
Fiskars Softouch Micro-Tip Pruning Snip
PHOTO:
Amazon
$12 At Amazon
$17 At Walmart
$12 At Target
What We Like
Include blade cover
Very sharp blades
Comfortable grip
What We Don't Like
Whether it's a pothos, ficus, or dracaena, most leafy houseplants require an occasional trim to keep them well-shaped and looking their best. Because most common houseplants—we are not including succulents or cacti in this category—have fairly thin and soft stems and branches, they are best pruned with a garden snip like this one from Fiskars. Basically a very sharp scissor, these snips have stainless steel blades that create very clean cuts so your plants won't have ragged edges that can bring on disease or look unsightly. The plastic handles have soft, rubbery material at the pressure points, so they are very easy on your hands and comfortable to hold.
You can of course also use these snips on your outdoor plants; they are especially good for deadheading spent flowers or trimming back overgrown perennials. They are also excellent for snipping fresh herbs. The snips have a spring that helps open the blades back up after every cut, which reduces the strain on your hand. On occasion, the spring can stick, though.
At only 6 inches in length and a mere 0.2 pounds in weight, they are easy to carry in your pocket, especially since they come with a protective cover for the blades. While Fiskars does not specify the cutting capacity, as a general rule, snips are only for cutting through soft stems up to 1/4 inch in diameter.
Type: Snips | Maximum Cut Capacity: Not listed | Locking Mechanism: Yes | Weight: 0.2 pounds | Length: 6 inches
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