Top 5 compared
The best pruning shears
Clean cuts on roses and shrubs, without your hand aching halfway down the flower bed.
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The top 5 at a glance
Pruning shears are spring-loaded hand cutters for stems and branches up to about an inch thick, and the tool a gardener reaches for most, from deadheading roses to cutting back shrubs. Bypass shears slide one blade past the other like scissors and leave a clean cut on living stems; anvil shears press a blade down onto a flat edge and suit dead, dry wood.
A pair should fit your hand as well as your branches: a big pair tires a small hand quickly, and some makers size their pruners by hand length. Left-handers should look closely, as FELCO’s pairs here are right-handed, while the rest work in either hand. Some have a lock to keep the blades closed when not in use.
What matters
- Hardened steel blades, such as Japanese SK5.
- The thickest cut the maker states, against your usual stems.
- Replaceable parts, or a spare spring in the box.
- A shock absorber between the handles, kinder to the wrist.
#1FELCO F2 Classic Pruning Shears
$50–$75
The professional’s pruner since FELCO launched it in 1948: forged aluminum handles, a hardened steel blade that cuts branches up to 1 in, and a cushioned stop that softens every close. Every part, from the blade to the spring, can be replaced, so one pair can last decades.
What owners say: Cuts take almost no effort, the blade stays sharp for years, and owners expect a pair to last a very long time. The only grumble is the cost.
Heads up: It’s made for right hands: FELCO’s left-handed version of the same pair is the FELCO 9.
A closer look: Hold them with the blade on the side of the plant you’re keeping, so the cut sits close to the bud or branch. When the edge eventually dulls, a few strokes with a sharpening stone bring it back, and a drop of oil on the pivot keeps the action smooth.
- Every part replaceable
- Forged aluminum handles
- Cushioned stop softens each close
- Sharpens with a stone
- 8.5 in long
Best for: A pair for life
- Thickest cut
- 1 in
- Blade
- Hardened steel
- Weight
- 8.9 oz
- Suits left-handers
- No
#2FELCO F6 Compact Pruning Shears
$50–$75
The F2’s smaller sister: the same forged aluminum handles, hardened steel blade and cushioned stop, scaled down to 7.7 in long and about 7.7 oz for medium hands. It takes branches up to 3/4 in, and like the F2, every part can be replaced.
What owners say: Gardeners with smaller hands say it finally fits, and it stays comfortable through hours of pruning; it gets through thick vines easily and takes plenty of abuse. The price is the one thing that divides them.
A closer look: FELCO sizes its pruners by hand length: the F6 suits hands about 6 7/8 to 7 7/8 in long, and bigger hands are better off with the F2. Like the F2 it’s made for right hands, and the smaller handles make a long session of deadheading easier on the fingers.
- 7.7 in long
- Every part replaceable
- Forged aluminum handles
- Cushioned stop softens each close
Best for: Medium and smaller hands
- Thickest cut
- 3/4 in
- Blade
- Hardened steel
- Weight
- 7.7 oz
- Suits left-handers
- No
#3Kimura 8-inch Pro Bypass Pruning Shears
$20–$30
Japanese SK5 steel blades, heat treated to 60 HRC, that slice cleanly through stems up to 1 in. A clean cut heals faster than a crushed one, so plants stay healthier.
What owners say: The blades are extremely sharp and get through small branches and dense growth quickly, and the handles are comfortable. Owners like the lock that engages on its own when the blades close, and the solid build.
A closer look: Left-handed gardeners can use them as easily as right-handers, which isn’t true of every pair. At around 8.1 oz they’re light enough to carry in a pocket through a whole afternoon of deadheading; wipe the sap off the blades afterward and put the lock on before they go back in the shed.
- Non-stick coated blades
- Squeeze-to-release lock
- Aluminum handles, PVC grips
Best for: Avid gardeners who prune every week
- Thickest cut
- 1 in
- Blade
- Japanese SK5 steel, 60 HRC
- Weight
- 8.1 oz
- Suits left-handers
- Yes
#4DECERK Professional Bypass Pruning Shears
$10–$20
Clever leverage means thicker branches take less squeezing, which is a real help for stiff hands.
What owners say: Roses, hydrangeas and even thick vines are no trouble for the razor-sharp blades, and owners with carpal tunnel find them comfortable. The safety lock divides opinion.
A closer look: Bypass blades like these make clean cuts on live, green stems, so leave dead, hard wood and anything thicker than 3/4 in to loppers or a pruning saw. On a tough stem, let the lever do the work: a steady squeeze gives a cleaner cut than a sharp snap.
- Lever action eases each cut
- Spare spring included
Best for: Gardeners with a weaker grip
- Thickest cut
- 3/4 in
- Blade
- Japanese SK5 steel, titanium-coated
- Weight
- 8.8 oz
- Suits left-handers
- Yes
#5Kynup Heavy Duty Pruning Shears (red)
Under $10
Razor-sharp SK5 blades for clean cuts on branches up to 1 in, a cushioned non-slip grip, and a balance that works as well in the left hand as the right. A spare spring comes in the box.
What owners say: Larger twigs than expected go through with little effort, the no-slip grip feels secure, and the spare spring is a welcome extra. The lock is hit and miss: easy for some, unreliable for others.
A closer look: Tape the spare spring inside the shed door or keep it in a labeled tin, so it’s there when the original eventually tires. Click the lock shut before dropping them into a bucket of clippings, which saves a nasty surprise when you reach in.
- Cushioned non-slip grip
- Spare spring included
- Bright red, easy to spot
- Safety lock
- Lifetime warranty
Best for: Woody stems up to an inch
- Thickest cut
- 1 in
- Blade
- SK5 steel
- Weight
- 8.5 oz
- Suits left-handers
- Yes
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1FELCO F2 | #2FELCO F6 | #3Kimura 101 Pro | #4DECERK | #5Kynup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for smaller hands | Best for weaker grips | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.3 |
| Price | $50–$75 | $50–$75 | $20–$30 | $10–$20 | Under $10 |
| Thickest cut | 1 in | 3/4 in | 1 in | 3/4 in | 1 in |
| Blade | Hardened steel | Hardened steel | Japanese SK5 steel, 60 HRC | Japanese SK5 steel, titanium-coated | SK5 steel |
| Weight | 8.9 oz | 7.7 oz | 8.1 oz | 8.8 oz | 8.5 oz |
| Suits left-handers | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | A pair for life | Medium and smaller hands | Avid gardeners who prune every week | Gardeners with a weaker grip | Woody stems up to an inch |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Photos are illustrative, some computer-generated. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra. How we pick · How this works.
