Gardening is one of the most wonderful experiences. However, choosing the wrong gardening tools can lose your interest in joining this activity. In this article, I will provide you with all the essential information to pick up a type of indispensable tool to perform most gardening tasks.
Here are the best hand pruners you can buy in 2025:
- Best for Large Hands (Best Anvil Pruners): Felco Pruning Shears
- Best for Deadheading Flowers (Best Anvil Pruners): Fiskars power-lever anvil pruner
- Best for Women And Small Hands (Best Anvil Pruners): gonicc SK-5 anvil pruning shears
- Best for Stems And Light Branches (Best Bypass Pruners): Fiskars Steel Bypass Pruning Shears
- Best for Shaping Plants (Best Bypass Pruners): gonicc GPPS-1002 sharp bypass pruning shears
- Best for Arthritis (Best Bypass Pruners): PrecisionPRO Titannium Pruning Shears
- Best for Hand Pain (Best Ratchet Pruners): The Gardener's Friend Pruners
- Best for General-Purpose Pruning (Best Ratchet Pruners): Corona Hand RP 3230 Ratchet Pruner
- X3 Hand's Power (Best Ratchet Pruners): gonicc GPPS-1011 ratchet anvil pruning shears
| 9 Best Hand Pruners | ||
|---|---|---|
Best for Large Hands | Felco Pruning Shears
| |
Best for Deadheading Flowers | Fiskars power-lever anvil pruner
| |
Best for Women And Small Hands | gonicc SK-5 anvil pruning shears
| |
Best for Stems And Light Branches | Fiskars Steel Bypass Pruning Shears
| |
Best for Shaping Plants | gonicc GPPS-1002 sharp bypass pruning shears
| |
Best for Arthritis | PrecisionPRO Titannium Pruning Shears
| |
Best for Hand Pain | The Gardener's Friend Pruners
| |
Best for General-Purpose Pruning | Corona Hand RP 3230 Ratchet Pruner
| |
gonicc GPPS-1011 ratchet anvil pruning shears
| ||
Best for Large Hands (Best Anvil Pruners): Felco Pruning Shears
Durable
Accurate cuts
Sharp
Rusted
If you are looking for a big pair of pruners for your large hands, here is good news.
Compared to other brands, pruners from Felco brand are sized for larger hands. It is 8.3 inches in length and 0.98 inches in cutter diameter. Although these anvil pruners are pretty big, they are lightweight (0.5 lb in weight) enough to give you long gardening experiences without being tired
Furthermore, the pruner handle is designed with a cushioned-shock absorber to minimize the cutting impact. You can hold them for a long time without pain.
This big-sized model provides you with large cutting capacity, allowing you to cut any thin and thick branches efficiently and quickly.
| Felco Pruning Shears Specifications | |
|---|---|
Cut capacity (inch) | 1 inch |
Length | 8.3 inches |
Weight | 0.5 lb |
Materials | Steel |
Felco pruning shears are an excellent solution for people with large hands and work well to cut small and big branches.
Best for Deadheading Flowers (Best Anvil Pruners): Fiskars power-lever anvil pruner
Suitable for both right and left hands
Comfortable to hold
Sharp blade
Easy to use
Well designed
Hard to lock the pruner
Cold winter passes and leaves a lot of dead flowers in your garden, right?
Don't worry because you can encourage producing new blooms by deadheading these flowers.
The power-lever technology of Fiskars power-lever anvil pruner provides you with 2 times more cutting power than other tools. It can help you make exact, clean, and tidy cuts easily and quickly without damaging your weak flowers.
The cutting capacity of 5/8 inch allows you to deal with large woody stems like roses.
| Fiskars power-lever anvil pruner Specifications | |
|---|---|
Cut capacity (inch) | 5/8 inch |
Length | 7.9 |
Weight | 12 ounces |
Materials | Steel |
Fiskars power-lever anvil pruner can cut both thick branches and weak stems without damaging your flowers.
Best for Women And Small Hands (Best Anvil Pruners): gonicc SK-5 anvil pruning shears
Comfortable
Lightweight
Durable
Sharp
Safe
- Not good locking mechanism
Women and people with small hands usually have to take a lot of effort on their hands to hold and use a pair of pruners. If you are suffering from this problem, the unique design of gonicc helps you use this tool at ease for a long time. The pulley design with spring-loaded mechanism can support you cut the thick branches without requiring you to put plenty of pressure.
How?
When squeezing, the pulley will scroll to offer the increasing cutting pressure.
| gonicc SK-5 anvil pruning shears Specifications | |
|---|---|
Cut capacity (inch) | 3/4" |
Length | 11.02 |
Weight | 4.8 ounces |
Materials | Aluminum |
Don't you have a lot of strength to use pruners? Let the pulley mechanism of gonicc support you.
Best for Stems And Light Branches (Best Bypass Pruners): Fiskars Steel Bypass Pruning Shears
Durable
Rust-resistant
- Loose safety lock
Pruning is one of the best ways to stimulate growth. Without carefulness, you can damage your stems and light branches because they are very weak. Thus, I highly recommend you use Fiskars Steel Bypass Pruning Shears. Its fully hardened steel blade is sharp enough to cut even the thinnest branches without damaging the plants. In particular, it can make precise cuts in no time, minimizing the injuries.
| Fiskars Steel Bypass Pruning Shears Specifications | |
|---|---|
Cut capacity (inch) | 5/8 inch diameter |
Length | 4 |
Weight | 10.4 ounces |
Materials | Steel |
These pruners can help you cut the weakest branches.
Best for Shaping Plants (Best Bypass Pruners): gonicc GPPS-1002 sharp bypass pruning shears
Easy to use and clean
Clean cuts
Reasonable price
- Not good locking mechanism
To shape your plants, you have to put the wire over them to shape the wire into your desired shape. In this case, you will cut any stems and branches out of the wire, so this tool might be useful. The drop-forged design of the body and handles provide you with enough strength and durability to deal with the thickest branches. Specifically, you can cut up to 3/4'' branches in no time comfortably.
But, will these sharp pruners damage your stems and weak plants?
No. The ultra-fine polishing technology makes the blade of these bypass pruning shears is very sharp. Therefore, it can help you make quick and accurate cuts without damaging your plants.
Also, the shaping process usually takes a lot of time to complete. This tool is very lightweight, so you can hold it for a long time without being tired.
| gonicc GPPS-1002 sharp bypass pruning shears Specifications | |
|---|---|
Cut capacity (inch) | 3/4" |
Length | 10.6 |
Weight | 8 ounces |
Materials | Ultra-fine Polishing Technology SK-5 Steel and Aluminum+PVC |
Do you want to shape your plants into a ball or animal shape? These pruners can help you.
Best for Arthritis (Best Bypass Pruners): PrecisionPRO Titannium Pruning Shears
Rust-resistant
Sharp
Easy to use
Hard to open the locking mechanism
Are you suffering from arthritis pains? If yes, perhaps you have a limited range of motion. However, there is no need to worry. PrecisionPRO can provide you with great support, that means it doesn't require you to use a lot of effort.
Its titanium coated Japanese steel blade is razor-sharp enough to perform faster cuts. So you can complete your pruning task in no time, reducing the pruner holding time.
Although you don't have to put much strength on the pruners, its capacity cutting allows you to cut up to 0.8in branches. Therefore, you can deal with heavy-duty tasks like thick branches and light-duty projects like pruning roses, small bushes, and shaping shrubs.
This tool is designed with non-slip ergonomic handles and shock-absorbing pads to minimize wrist strain and unexpected accidents.
| PrecisionPRO Titannium Pruning Shears Specifications | |
|---|---|
Cut capacity (inch) | 0.8IN |
Length | 10.5 |
Weight | 8.8 ounces |
Materials | TITANIUM |
These pruners are designed for those with hand problems.
Best for Hand Pain (Best Ratchet Pruners): The Gardener's Friend Pruners
Lightweight
Won't rust
Hard to use the lock
If you have severe hand pain, don't try to hold your pruners too long. You should finish your gardening process as soon as possible. The Gardener's Friend Pruners feature a ratchet mechanism that uses leverage to add pressure, giving you more support. Thus, you can make quick and accurate cuts without using a lot of effort on your end.
| The Gardener's Friend Pruners Specifications | |
|---|---|
Cut capacity (inch) | 1 inch |
Length | 7.95 |
Weight | 7.2 ounces |
Materials | Rubber handle |
The Gardener's Friend Pruners are designed for people with hand health problems.
Best for General-Purpose Pruning (Best Ratchet Pruners): Corona Hand RP 3230 Ratchet Pruner
Appropriate for both right and left hands
Quick cuts
Sharp
Sturdy
Cheap plastic base
Do you want to cut a large number of flowering shrubs or need to deal with a yard full of garden beds?
Will you remove dead growth, overgrown or thick branches?
Corona Hand RP 3230 can help you solve all these problems.
With the 3/4-inch cutting capacity, these pruners can cut through 1'' thick branches at ease.
Moreover, these ratchet pruners have an ergonomic design with a ratchet action, which can multiply your hand strength. It means that you don't have to use plenty of pressure to cut through tough branches.
| Corona Hand RP 3230 Ratchet Pruner Specifications | |
|---|---|
Cut capacity (inch) | 3/4-inch |
Length | 1 |
Weight | 6.4 ounces |
Materials |
|
You want to buy a pair of hand pruners to fulfill different tasks, right? Let Corona Hand RP help you.
X3 Hand's Power (Best Ratchet Pruners): gonicc GPPS-1011 ratchet anvil pruning shears
Strong
Lightweight
Comfortable
Easy to use
Not for small hands
If you usually cut thick and very thick branches, you should consider gonicc GPPS-1011 ratchet anvil pruning shears. Its ratcheting mechanism setting provides your hands with more 3 times of power. When you need to deal with the tough branches, this ratcheting mechanism will move to the next setting to produce increasing pressure.
| gonicc GPPS-1011 ratchet anvil pruning shears Specifications | |
|---|---|
Cut capacity (inch) | 8’’ |
Length | 11 |
Weight | 7.7 ounces |
Materials | High Carbon SK-5 Steel and High Quality Chrome Vanadium Steel |
gonicc GPPS-1011 ratchet anvil pruning shears are designed to provide you with as much power as possible to cut very thick branches.
How To Choose The Best Hand Pruner?
Replacement Parts
Here is the bad news:
It's very hard to find out replacement parts for broken, damaged, and worn-out parts of hand pruners in the mean and cheap price. However, if you invest in higher-quality tools, you can buy replacements from the distributors or manufacturers.
Ergonomic Design
If you have health problems relating to your hands like arthritic hands, you will appreciate how these hand pruners can minimize wrist strain. You can quickly close without needing to put a lot of pressure.
The ergonomic design usually features a slightly curved shape, angled blades, and soft-grip handles. If you prune regularly, you should choose a unit with a rotating handle to decrease hand fatigue. It will turn with your hand when opening and closing the handles.
Blade Material
All pruner blades are made from steel. And some of them are coated with a non-stick substance to protect the blade from sap and any sticky material.
I strongly recommend high-quality, hardened, and carbon steel blades, which are durable enough to use for a long time in good condition. Pay attention that poor-quality blades can't hold a sharp edge, damaging plants.
Locking Mechanism
The majority of hand pruners come with a locking mechanism, which will lock the pruner in a closed position. This safety feature will keep you from cutting yourself on a sharp blade. At the same time, this mechanism can protect your blades better when not in use.
Among many different locking mechanisms, you should use a latch, which allows you to open and close quickly.
Spring
The spring is designed between 2 handles to push the handles and blades apart. This part can help you decrease the workload and hand fatigue.
This part has 2 common types: coiled metal (a volute spring) and wire springs. Both of them work well, especially, you can believe in products from the famous CORONA brand.
Hand pruners without spring is a pair of regular scissors, which will make you feel tired when cutting many times.
Easy and Straightforward to Disassemble
After a specific time of use, dirt, sap, and another residue will build up between the handles and on the blades. If you don't clean them, it's hard to close and open the tools. Without sharpening the entire blade, your blades will be warped after sharpening a few times. Thus, make sure to choose pruning shears, which allow you to take apart to clean and sharpen the blades.
Size and Weight
When it comes to size, ensure that pruning shears can perfectly fit in your hands.
How large a diameter branch can the hand pruners cut comfortably?
While some hand pruners can cut around a ½” branch, others can deal with 1'' even more.
Note: Don't try to cut big branches because it can put a more unessential strain on your wrist, fingers, and hands. And the heavy pruners can make you more tired.
Which Brands Make The Best Hand Pruner?
Felco
Felco was found in Switzerland and has had more than 70 years of experience. Their products have high precision level. In particular, it applies high-quality materials so that you can set your mind at rest about the cutting quality and durability.
Gonicc
Gonicc has produced a premium durable and comfortable pair of pruners because it always applies high-quality materials as well as strict quality control. Furthermore, Gonicc blades are very sharp thanks to the ultra-fine polishing technology.
Haus and Garten
Do you know why Haus & Garten is always a leading brand for both gardening professionals and homeowners? This company continuously improves its quality product over time. Their pruners are ergonomic designs with a high level of performance and durability. Thus, you can use them in a tough working environment. Besides, this company has excellent customer service.
Corona
Corona was founded in the early 1920s. It is the leading manufacturer in the industry of professional and consumer lawn and garden tools. Corona is well known for its proven designs, high-quality manufacturing process, and great customer service.
FAQs
Types of hand pruners
The hand pruners have 3 basic types:
Bypass pruners are the most popular ones.
How do they function?
A sharp curved blade will move past a thicker unsharpened curved blade to get clean cuts. This type can get into tight areas easily.
Meanwhile, anvil pruners work as a knife on a chopping board that means a straight blade will close onto a flat edge to make cuts. These pruners are slightly bulky, so their blade usually crushes stems. If the blade is very sharp, you won't meet this situation. Thus, I strongly recommend this tool for dead wood instead of living plants.
In fact, the ratchet pruners are a type of anvil pruners, not a separate class. They come with a smart extra mechanism that allows you to perform tough cutting projects with less effort.
It can save a lot of strength in your wrist, suiting people who have weak or arthritic hands. This is also a great solution for cutting thick stems, which a pair of regular shears can't deal with.
Among all 3 types, I strongly recommend bypass pruners, which can make quick clean cuts. In particular, it's effortless to find out replacement parts.
What's the difference between secateurs and pruners?
There is not any difference between secateurs and pruners. The pruning shears are only another name of the hand pruners.
How do you clean hand pruners?
After a certain time of use, whether you like it or not, your hand pruners will build up a lot of dried sap. Therefore, you need to clean your tools with a mixture of warm water and dishes or spray the blade with Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner. In the event of rusted items, you can dissolve the rust by soaking them in white vinegar overnight.
For obstinate dirt and rust, you can try to scrub with a wire brush. It's even better if you disassemble the tool to clean between the blades thoroughly.
Finally, take off the remaining rust and sticky sop by buffing with steel wool. Rinse the tool and dry it with a towel.
How do you sharpen pruners by hand?
Let you use a diamond file to sharpen the bevel. Try to run from the base to the pointed tip, following the accurate angle of the existing bevel and.
Conclusion
The best hand pruners can help you perform different gardening tasks: pruning stems, cutting thick branches, and shaping plants. What do you want to use a pair of hand pruners for? Answer and pick up the best one.
