Our product testing team found the best pruning shears after months of testing.
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We Found the 7 Best Pruning Shears After Weeks of Testing
Updated on Nov. 03, 2024
There are a lot of different gardening tools made for trimming, cutting and shaping outdoor shrubs and plants. One of the most important is a quality pair of pruning shears. Handheld pruning shears are basically heavy-duty scissors that can cut up to one-inch branches. Unlike loppers, they’re small enough fit in your palm and hang off your belt so you can grip and cut as soon as you spot a runaway branch or stem.
“Investing in a quality pair of pruning shears is essential for any gardener, says Bill Freimuth, a seasoned expert in garden tools and a former executive at Fiskars Group. “These versatile tools allow you to trim, shape, and prune plants with precision, promoting their health and their overall aesthetics. With a reliable pair, you’ll have the means to keep your garden or yard flourishing and well-manicured.”
The Family Handyman product testing team individually tested around a dozen pairs of pruning shears to determine the all-time best pruning shears for your specific gardening needs. Their findings are detailed below.
On Sale
Best Overall
Gonicc Professional Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears
Pros:
- Excellent performance
- Very comfortable with soft, ergonomically designed non-slip handles
- Clean cuts up to 3/4 inch
- Fair price point
- Premium titanium steel blades
- Includes a sap groove to keep blades clean
- Blades are coated with rust prevention oil
Cons:
- Blade unaligned after one day of usage (but able to adjust)
A favorite of both professional landscapers and weekend gardeners is the Gonicc Bypass Pruning Shears. The straightforward, reliable design comes at a reasonable price (and with a lifetime warranty!), making it our best overall pick for hand pruners. Plus, they’re extremely comfortable to use.
“After our testing, I really enjoyed dead-heading and collecting seeds from the golden rod and milkweed plants,” says Product Tester Sheri Kaz. “The shears were fast and easy, from the tiniest stems to the quarter-inch stems, with no fatigue after an hour of constant use. The Gonicc is a smooth operator!”
The durable, forged steel bypass blades are coated with titanium to prevent rust and cut up to 3/4 of an inch. Soft, spongey handles provide a comfortable grip even if you’re not wearing gardening gloves, and their curve allows for more leverage when cutting with both hands. Comfortable handles, clean cuts, fair pricing and excellent performance across light- and heavy-duty branches make Gonicc shears unbeatable.
On Sale
Best Budget
Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears
Pros:
- Affordable option
- Ambidextrous design
- Clean cuts
- Enclosed spring
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Spring is stiff and leads to high fatigue
For less than $30, you can snag the Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears. The alloy steel pruners cut up to 1-inch branches. The cushioned comfort grip handles provide secure, slip-free use. And the steel, low-friction blades are always sharp and ready for action. Plus, you’ll get an extra set of blades, and you can use the shears easily with your right or left hand.
“Because the spring action is so tight, it could cause fatigue after constant use,” Sheri says. “But for the price and performance, we recommend the Fiskars bypass pruner as the best budget buy.”
Our product testing team found that this one felt a bit stiff and tight compared to others. They said the spring isn’t as loose as you might want it to be, so it catches and jerks slightly when reopened. However, Fiskars is a popular brand with reliably high reviewer ratings, but if these pruners ever break, they’re covered with a full lifetime warranty!
On Sale
Best Splurge
Felco 2 Pruning Shears
Pros:
- Durable steel blades
- Replacable parts
- Includes a sap groove to keep blades clean
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Tougher to use on 1/2-inch branches and larger
Swiss-made Felco is another brand of pruners professionals recommend as a long-lasting tool. “My city forester, Dennis Fermenich of Greenfield, only recommends the Felco 2,” Sheri says. “In 30 years, he has replaced the spring and the blade. He assures me that the blade stays sharp with an occasional swipe on a sharpening stone and adjustments can be made between the blades to keep the cut clean.”
The Felco 2 Pruners come with a lifetime warranty, and Felco offers a replacement for every single part imaginable. While these shears will cost more upfront, you will ultimately save money in the long run if you take care of the tool. With small and green stems, this shear works nicely and springs back with little effort from the user.
When cutting branches larger than 1/2-inch thick, you’ll likely use two hands and struggle a bit more. The tension on this shear feels good, according to our testing team, but they say a little padding would be nice for thicker branches. It’s also a top pick if you’re someone with larger hands.
On Sale
Best Anvil
Felco 31 Anvil Pruning Shears
Pros:
- Durable steel blades
- Replacable parts
- Cuts 1-inch stems
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Handles have nice shape for comfort and leverage
Cons:
- Our testers struggled to cut dead wood above 1/2 inch
“We were pretty impressed by how this anvil pruner could cut green wood with little damage, and it was equally as clean when cutting dead wood up to a 1/2 an inch,” Sheri says. “The handles have a nice shape for both comfort and extra leverage against thicker cuts,” adds Product Tester Dylan Fischer.
Be sure to measure your hand from the tip of your fingers to the base of your palm before investing in Felco shears. If the measurement is less than 6 7/8 inches (17.5 cm.) your hand is considered “small” according to Felco, and you might need more compact pruning shears. Like other Felco shears, the Felco 31 Anvil Shears are premium pruning clippers with forged aluminum handles and hardened steel blades. All parts can be replaced in this dependable model, which is ideal for cutting stems and dead wood with its anvil design.
Best Heavy-Duty
Wolf-Garten Premium Plus Bypass Pruner
Pros:
- Made for heavy-duty cuts
- Comfortable grip
- Powerful
- Affordable
Cons:
- Bulky design makes it slightly less suitable for tight spaces
“You can’t go wrong with the Wolf-Garten Bypass Pruner based on its performance and low price point,” Sheri says. “For a good all-around pruner, this one knocked our socks off.”
Our product testing team loved this heavy-duty cutter. It’s lightweight and a little bulky with the enclosed mechanisms, but its cutting power is seriously impressive. “It feels like a little toy,” our team noted, “but boy, can it cut!” They also really liked the release-lock mechanism on this one. Not only is it accessible for both right- and left-handed gardeners, but it’s also very easy to engage it with one hand, unlike other pairs where you need to hold the shears shut with one hand and adjust the release lock with the other.
There’s a bit more tension on this one than on some other shears, but it helps when cutting thicker branches. The grips and handles also help mitigate most of the fatigue. These shears were the only ones to cut through the 2/4-inch dowel during rigorous testing, underscoring their impressive, heavy-duty cutting power.
Best Bypass
ARS ARS-VS-8XZ Hand Pruner
Pros:
- Smooth spring
- Low fatigue
- Push-to-unlock latch
- Ideal for small branches and stems
Cons:
- Unable to cut dead wood over 1/2 inch
- Locking the latch is a bit finicky
These Ars Hand Pruners are designed to cut like a pair of scissors. They’re very lightweight and operate smoothly without much hand fatigue. Our testing team found the pruners to leave clean cuts and will likely serve you well if you’re in the market for bypass pruners. Bypass pruners are best for cutting live wood, especially small stems. They’re also great for making clean cuts that heal quickly.Â
“Using this pruner to deadhead flowers and cut garden stems is a pleasant experience because of how smoothly it operates,” Sheri says. “The blades are sharp, making consistent, clean cuts on live matter.”
“Although the ARS-VS-8Z cuts greenwood up to 3/4 of an inch beautifully, it might not be able to fully cut through thicker hardwood and dead wood like the website description would lead you to believe,” says Dylan. However, the pruners left clean cuts on those it could get through. The dead wood split a little bit, but that’s to be expected, given the material.
On Sale
Best for Flowers
Okatsune 103 Bypass Pruners
Pros:
- Quick bounce-back for dead-heading or chopping herbs
- Small blade for meticulous cuts
- Slim design for tight spaces
- Ideal for cutting flowers and floral arrangements
Cons:
- Not recommended for dead wood
- Noisy
“The sleek profile of these Okatsune pruners allowed us to get into tight spaces,” Sheri says, “We easily cut out a stray half-inch sapling growing among the dense base of a thorny barberry hedge. The precise aim and clean cut make this an ideal tool for an artful garden.”
The Okatsune shears have a nice spring and feel very smooth to use. Our product testers agree that they would be great for dead-heading flowers and making small cuts on thin branches and vines, but they’re definitely not made for larger cuts on wood. If you’re someone who spends a lot of time cutting and harvesting floral arrangements, you’ll love these pruners.
“The locking mechanism is a bit old-school on this one and latches over the bottom of the two handles. It snaps into place and is very responsive, but you can easily get a nasty pinch if your palm is in the way,” Dylan adds.
What to Look for When Buying Pruning Shears
Freimuth recommends looking for high-quality, sharp blades made from durable materials like hardened steel. Sharp blades ensure clean cuts, promoting plant health. Ergonomic handles with a comfortable grip reduce strain on your hands during prolonged use.
Consider handles with non-slip features for added safety, and opt for sturdy construction to ensure longevity. A durable build ensures that shears can withstand regular use and tough plant material. A reliable locking mechanism secures the shears when not in use, preventing accidents and injuries. Test it out and make sure it doesn’t become sticky.
Typically, anvil pruners are best for dead wood, whereas bypass pruners make cleaner, sharper cuts on green plants to not damage the plant by squishing the stem. Our team cut both dead wood and green branches with both pruner styles. We found the bypass pruners outperformed the anvil pruners overall, and the Wolf-Garten Bypass Pruner was the only pair that could cut through both the 3/4-inch dead wood and dowel.
Our Expert Gardener Tested Every Pair of Pruners
“Not only did we use every pair of shears on three sizes of hard birchwood dowels, but we also cut up old dead wood on some neglected privacy bushes and barberry, random saplings including cherry and elm, spent flowers, as well as thick asparagus that went to seed on my property,” Sheri explains.
Our product testing team, led by expert gardener Sheri Kaz, also noted each pair of pruners’ size, weight and comfortability. If a pair failed any of the testing criteria, they were not included on our list.
We also consulted Erica Young, who writes about landscaping and DIY projects, who reached out to Bill Freimuth, co-founder of Centurion Brands and a former executive at Fiskars. Freimuth is a seasoned expert in garden tools, appearing on QVC and HSN and speaking at events like the Philadelphia Flower Show.
How We Chose the Best Pruning Shears
We’ve been giving expert gardening advice for decades, so when it comes to picking the best pruning shears, you know you can trust us to find the best of the best. In our search for the best pruning shears, we researched and tested dozens of options available from major retailers, taking different styles and prices into account and considering how well they would work for expert gardeners and product testers of various skill levels.
In addition to consulting with industry experts in gardening and tool manufacturing to get their insider opinions, our product testing team meticulously tested each pair of pruners. From flower and vine stems to wooden dowels and more, our testers used each set of pruners to cut out the top performers included on this list of the best pruning shears.
FAQ
What is the difference between garden shears and pruners?
Size is the main difference between these two types of tools. Garden shears are usually smaller and designed for more delicate tasks like cutting flowers, leaves and vines. Pruners are generally considered more fit for heavier-duty cutting jobs like cutting thicker branches and stems on trees.
Which is better, bypass or anvil pruners?
Typically, anvil pruners are best for dead wood, whereas bypass pruners make cleaner, sharper cuts on green plants to avoid damaging the plant by squishing the stem. Our testing team found that bypass pruners outperformed anvil pruners overall.
Can pruning shears cut branches?
Yes. Most pruning shears can cut branches up to 3/4 of an inch in diameter.
What are the different types of pruning shears?
“There are several types of pruning shears, each designed for specific tasks,” says Friemuth. “Bypass pruners, anvil pruners and ratchet pruners are the most common. Bypass pruners are ideal for precision cutting, anvil pruners for cutting deadwood and ratchet pruners for making cuts in stages, especially useful for those with less hand strength.”
How much should pruning shears cost?
The price of pruning shears varies, depending on the brand, quality and features. Freimuth suggests considering your gardening needs and frequency of use when determining your budget. “Entry-level pruning shears can start at around $20, while high-end, professional-grade options may range from $50 to $100 or more,” he says.
