The Best Pruning Shears of 2024, According to Testing
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Handle essential garden duties with the best pair of pruners for your tasks and budget.
Keeping a garden and landscape in top shape requires care and maintenance, including regular work with pruning shears. Whether you need to trim back dense branches or gather herbs for dinner, the job will be faster and more efficient with a good pair of shears.
Though they resemble household scissors, hand pruners are made to cut through stems, shrubs, and branches instead of paper and fabric. We tested the following pruning shears in our backyard landscape to find out how each would perform in real-life gardening situations. Our top recommendation is the classic pruning shear from Felco, thanks to its durable yet lightweight construction and comfort during use. Later in the article, read our reviews to learn why we consider the top selections to be the best pruning shears in each category.
- BEST OVERALL: Felco 2 One-Hand Classic Manuel Pruning Shear
Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Fiskars Bypass Pruner
Jump to Review - BEST FOR FLOWERS: Fiskars Softouch Micro-Tip Pruning Snip
Jump to Review - BEST BYPASS: Corona ClassicCut Bypass Pruner
Jump to Review - BEST ANVIL: Gardena Anvil Pruner
Jump to Review - BEST POWER: Sun Joe Cordless Rechargeable Power Pruner
Jump to Review - BEST LEFT-HANDED: Felco 9 One-Hand Left-Handed Pruning Shear
Jump to Review
How We Tested the Best Pruning Shears
We sourced our test pruners based on top-selling models and the recommendations of gardening enthusiasts and professionals. Our list represents a diversity of pruning needs and user preferences. After comparing the measurables and first impressions, we used them in our backyard tests for a variety of pruning projects. Each pruner was used to make a minimum of 20 cuts, including green and dead branches up to 0.75 inch in diameter.
Our top concerns were performance, durability, and comfort. Most importantly, each pruner must cut green and/or dead wood cleanly to its rated size capacity. We included models that represented either high-quality construction for an extended working life or a bargain price for a less durable tool. We considered three aspects of comfort: weight, grip, and ease of use or smooth action. With prices ranging from less than $15 to more than $50, we noted bargains and premiums on the models with outlying cost differences.
| Testing Stats | |
| Products tested | 8 |
| Time spent testing | 8 hours |
| Tests performed | 6 to 7 |
| Price range | $10 to $60 |
Our Top Picks
To qualify as a top pick, garden shears should be sharp, strong enough to sever the desired stem, durable, and comfortable to hold without slipping. For sharpness, ease of cutting, and durability, the following pruning shears are tops in their class. One is sure to be a welcome asset to any garden tool collection.
Best Overall
Felco 2 One-Hand Classic Manual Pruning Shear
Photo: amazon.com
Our Ratings: Comfort 5/5; Performance 5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Bypass
- Blade material: Hardened steel
- Weight: 8.5 ounces
What We Like
- Strong, lightweight cast-aluminum body
- Replaceable hardened-steel blade
- Easy to disassemble and reassemble
- Extremely durable and easy to use
What We Don’t Like
- Premium price for top quality
Bypass pruners are widely considered the most versatile design, and Swiss-made Felco 2 pruners are some of the best. The handles are made of lightweight, yet incredibly durable precision-ground cast aluminum, and the replaceable blade is hardened steel. A red, rubberized grip provides a bit of cushion and helps prevent losing the pruners in the garden. Other notable features include a sap groove along the blade to keep debris from building up, a thumb-controlled locking mechanism, a replaceable spring, and an adjustment tool. Best of all, the tool is designed to be easily disassembled for cleaning and repairs like replacing the blade or spring.
We like everything about the Felco 2 pruner. The handle shape is well-sized and comfortable, and the spring has just enough resistance for easy pushback without causing hand fatigue. At just over 8 ounces, it is a fairly lightweight tool, but very strong and capable of cutting branches nearly 1 inch thick. In our tests, the Felco 2 and left-handed Felco 9 pruners had the best overall performance in terms of comfort, strength, durability, and ease of use. It’s no wonder these are the pruners of choice for professional landscapers, nursery workers, and gardeners.
Get the Felco 2 pruning shears at Amazon, The Home Depot, or A.M. Leonard.
Best Bang For The Buck
Fiskars Bypass Pruner
Photo: amazon.com
Our Ratings: Comfort 4/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Type: Bypass
- Blade material: Precision-ground steel
- Weight: 10.4 ounces
What We Like
- Suitable for heavy-duty use
- Low-friction coating prevent scuffs and scratching
- Padded, nonslip grip
- Locking mechanism helps prevent injury
What We Don’t Like
- Slightly heavier than comparable options
From a well-known name for gardening and landscaping tools comes the Fiskars Bypass Pruner. These hand pruners sharply trim green stems and branches up to ⅝ inch in diameter.
The Fiskars gardening shears feature a precision-ground steel cutting blade that stays super sharp, even with frequent use, and it comes with a low-friction coating to cut through stems easily and resist gumming up the blade with sap and debris. The shears come with a padded nonslip grip for comfort and feature a locking mechanism to keep the sharp blades closed when not in use.
Right out of the box, our first impression was that the Fiskars steel bypass pruners looked and felt less impressive. Then we used them. They worked great for green wood and fairly well for drywood cuts up to their ⅝-inch listed threshold. The thin profile made them less comfortable, especially for hardwood cuts, and the slide lock felt flimsy. We still doubt their long-term durability, but they performed better than expected during our trials. For the price, these would be a good, inexpensive bulk-purchase option for volunteer groups.
Get the Fiskars bypass pruning shears at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or Walmart.
Best for Flowers
Fiskars Softouch Micro-Tip Pruning Snip
Photo: amazon.com
Our Ratings: Comfort 5/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Bypass
- Blade material: Steel
- Weight: 2.6 ounces
What We Like
- Narrow, pointed blade is great for smaller branches
- Extra-sharp, precision cutting
- Cushioned, nonslip-grip
- Comes with a blade cover
What We Don’t Like
- Not built for thick branches
The Fiskars Non-Stick Softgrip Micro-Tip Pruning Snip is designed for tip pruning and repetitive trimming of flowers and herbs to encourage healthy new growth. The overall tool length is just 6 inches, with a 2-inch stainless steel blade and 4-inch handles. The cushioned grip and easy-action spring reduce hand fatigue and improve user comfort. An easy-open lock and blade cover protect the blade in transport and storage. This pruner received the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use seal as a preferred tool for those suffering from reduced hand strength and mobility.
This tiny scissorlike pruner was one of the most comfortable and easy to use in our roundup. The smooth cutting action, smaller size, cushioned grip, and spring-return handle made it a pleasure to work with. It excelled at making precision cuts in pliable green growth but also worked well on fine woody material like mature sage, oregano, and thyme stems. The narrow, precision blades cut cleanly all the way to the tip. For herb and flower growers, the Fiskars Non-Stick Softgrip Micro-Tip Pruning Snip is a must-have for the tool box.
Get the Fiskars Micro-Tip pruning snips at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or Walmart.
Best Bypass
Corona ClassicCut Bypass Pruner
Photo: amazon.com
Our Ratings: Comfort 4/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Type: Bypass
- Blade material: Stainless steel
- Weight: 10.7 ounces
What We Like
- Impressive durability from heavy-duty materials
- Budget-friendly price compared to other options
- Blades are easy to sharpen
What We Don’t Like
- Locking mechanism is not conveniently located
- Less comfortable for pruning harder or thicker branches
Corona ClassicCut hand pruners are built for durable functionality at an affordable price. They are simply yet durably assembled from two pieces of forged steel: a set of narrow-profile hook-and-blade handles that are slant ground and hand matched for close, precise cuts. The design cuts efficiently through dry or green wood. Other features include a nonslip grip, sap groove, resharpenable blade, and handle lock.
In our tests, the Corona ClassicCut bypass pruner stood in contrast to our top pick in terms of weight and construction, but their design worked exceptionally well. These forged pruners were heavier and felt more rugged yet elegantly simple in design. The solid steel blade was perfectly sharpened, operated smoothly, and cut cleanly through each test branch. The straight-handle design was slightly uncomfortable for cuts that required more pressure, and the lock was not quite as easy to operate, but overall this was an outstanding tool with excellent durability at a price less than half that of Felco. The ClassicCut Bypass Pruner should be a top candidate for any serious gardener.
Get the Corona pruning shears at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or The Home Depot.
Best Anvil
Gardena Anvil Pruner
Photo: amazon.com
Our Ratings: Comfort 5/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Type: Anvil
- Blade material: Stainless steel
- Weight: 6.4 ounces
What We Like
- Suitable for heavy-duty use
- Reinforced fiberglass handle
- Ergonomic design; padded, nonslip upper grip
What We Don’t Like
- Smaller blade opening (about 0.5 inch)
Dry, stiff twigs and small dead branches are no match for the Gardena Anvil Pruning Shears that feature a precision-ground blade that won’t lose its edge. These anvil pruning shears come with a fiberglass reinforced grip that helps the user exert maximum pressure on twigs for cutting. These anvil pruners also come with a padded, nonslip upper grip to help users get a firm grasp on the pruners.
The upper blade is sharp and narrow, and the anvil base supports the twig, so these anvil pruning shears cut through woody stems with ease and make quick work of thinning out dead branches.
We liked the mild arch in the Gardena Anvil Pruning Shear’s lightweight fiberglass handle. It felt more comfortable than straight handles without adding weight, and it seemed to increase leverage for tougher cuts. The slide lock worked smoothly, and the handle bumpers gave just the right amount of cushion without hindering the cut. Also, integrating the handle spring into the pivot joint was a really nice touch to eliminate common problems of traditional handle springs (like breaking, getting lost, or getting in the way). This was an excellent anvil-style pruner.
Get the Gardena pruning shears at Amazon.
Best Power
Sun Joe Cordless Rechargeable Power Pruner
Photo: amazon.com
Our Ratings: Comfort 4/5; Performance 5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Power
- Blade material: Stainless steel
- Weight: 1.6 pounds
What We Like
- 3.6-volt construction can take on heavy-duty cutting tasks
- Trims thick branches in less than 0.6 second
- LED and built-in safety switch
What We Don’t Like
- Cuts slower than manually squeezing regular pruners
- Heavyweight compared to similar options
For trees, flowers, and hedges, this Sun Joe Cordless Rechargeable Power Pruner is made for heavy-duty trimming and maintenance. With a 3.6-volt construction, this pick is capable of trimming green wood branches and stems of 0.5 inch thick in 0.6 seconds. LED lights and a built-in safety switch help to avoid unnecessary cutting and allow for precise cuts where needed. This model also comes with a charger and a safety cover for storing.
In our tests, the Sun Joe pruner did not hesitate. It easily cut through green wood of all kinds, up to about a half-inch in diameter. At 1.6 pounds, it is nearly three times the weight of traditional bypass pruning shears. We think this an important consideration since energy saved from squeezing pruners will transfer into energy used to carry and maneuver this heavy, bulky tool. But those with impaired grip may find it helpful.
Get the Sun Joe garden clippers at Amazon, or Walmart.
Best Left-Handed
Felco 9 One-Hand Left-Handed Pruning Shear
