Best Pruning Shears 2025 - Bypass & Anvil Styles

Best Overall Our top recommendation

Best Overall

Felco

F-2 Classic Pruning Shears

4.9 (23,456 reviews)

The one. The only. The Felco F-2 is what every professional uses and what every amateur aspires to. Swiss-made with every part replaceable. Your grandchildren can inherit these and replace the blade in 40 years. Nothing else compares.

Cutting Capacity

1"

Type

Bypass

Material

Hardened steel

Origin

Switzerland

Pros

✓ Lifetime tool
✓ All parts replaceable
✓ Swiss precision

Cons

✗ Expensive
✗ Requires maintenance
✗ Right-hand only (F-9 for left)

$65

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Product	Rating	Price	Action
F-2 Classic Pruning Shears Best Felco	4.9	$65	View
PowerGear2 Pruning Shears Value Fiskars	4.6	$32	View
ClassicCUT Forged Bypass Pruner Corona	4.4	$18	View
HP-VS8Z Professional Bypass Pruner ARS	4.8	$52	View
Professional Sharp Bypass Pruner Gonicc	4.5	$15	View

* Prices may vary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

All Recommended Products

Best Overall

Felco

F-2 Classic Pruning Shears

4.9 (23,456 reviews)

The one. The only. The Felco F-2 is what every professional uses and what every amateur aspires to. Swiss-made with every part replaceable. Your grandchildren can inherit these and replace the blade in 40 years. Nothing else compares.

Cutting Capacity

1"

Type

Bypass

Material

Hardened steel

Origin

Switzerland

Pros

✓ Lifetime tool
✓ All parts replaceable
✓ Swiss precision

Cons

✗ Expensive
✗ Requires maintenance
✗ Right-hand only (F-9 for left)

$65

View on Amazon

Best Value

Fiskars

PowerGear2 Pruning Shears

4.6 (34,567 reviews)

The smart choice for most home gardeners. That rolling gear mechanism multiplies your force—thick branches that strain with normal pruners cut cleanly here. Great price, great performance.

Cutting Capacity

3/4"

Type

Bypass

Material

Steel with non-stick

Feature

Power gear

Pros

✓ Rolling gear mechanism
✓ 2x cutting power
✓ Comfortable grip

Cons

✗ Gear mechanism can jam
✗ Not rebuildable
✗ Less precise than Felco

$32

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Budget Pick

Corona

ClassicCUT Forged Bypass Pruner

4.4 (12,345 reviews)

The honest pruner. Corona doesn't pretend to be Felco, but at a third the price, these forged steel shears do real work. Sharpen them annually and they'll serve you well. Perfect first pruners for new gardeners.

Cutting Capacity

3/4"

Type

Bypass

Material

Forged steel

Warranty

Limited lifetime

Pros

✓ Forged steel blade
✓ Solid construction
✓ Great starter pruner

Cons

✗ Parts not replaceable
✗ Basic ergonomics
✗ Spring can weaken

$18

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Premium Pick

ARS

HP-VS8Z Professional Bypass Pruner

4.8 (5,678 reviews)

What Japanese orchardists use. ARS steel holds an edge that makes Felco users jealous. The cut quality is unmatched—plants heal faster from cleaner wounds. Requires more careful maintenance but rewards the effort.

Cutting Capacity

7/8"

Type

Bypass

Material

Japanese steel

Handle

Fixed

Pros

✓ Japanese steel blade
✓ Incredibly sharp
✓ Rotating handle option

Cons

✗ Blade chips if misused
✗ Parts sourcing
✗ Learning curve

$52

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Gonicc

Professional Sharp Bypass Pruner

4.5 (45,678 reviews)

The Amazon sensation that actually works. SK-5 steel is legit, the sap groove helps with resinous cuts, and the price is impossible to argue with. Perfect for the gardener who loses tools or is still deciding how serious they are.

Cutting Capacity

3/4"

Type

Bypass

Material

SK-5 carbon steel

Handle

Non-slip

Pros

✓ SK-5 steel blade
✓ Sap groove
✓ Safety lock

Cons

✗ Not rebuildable
✗ Quality control varies
✗ Spring replacement hard

$15

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Buying Guide: How to Choose Pruning Shears

How to Choose Pruning Shears

Good pruners are extensions of your hand. Bad pruners leave you with blisters, mangled plants, and the urge to throw things. This matters more than almost any other garden tool.

Bypass vs Anvil

Bypass: Two blades pass each other like scissors. Clean cuts, best for live plants, what you want 95% of the time.

Anvil: One blade presses against flat plate. Crushing action, only for dead wood, easier on arthritic hands.

### The Felco Question

Yes, Felco F-2s cost $65. Yes, they're worth it. Here's why: every single part is replaceable. Springs, blades, handles—all available, all user-replaceable. A $65 tool maintained for life costs less than five $15 tools replaced over the same period.

But if you're not sure gardening is your thing, start with a $15-30 pruner and upgrade when it matters.

### Fit Your Hand

Pruners come in sizes. If you have small hands, large pruners cause fatigue and poor cuts. If you have large hands, small pruners cramp. Felco makes eight numbered variants for different hand sizes. Others offer S/M/L sizing.

### Left-Handers Exist

Most pruners are designed for right hands. Using them lefty twists the blade and makes poor cuts. Left-hand specific models (Felco F-9, for example) exist and matter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pruning Shears

How often should I sharpen my pruning shears?

For home gardeners, 1-2 times per year. Professionals sharpen weekly or more. Signs you need to sharpen: crushing instead of cutting, requiring more force, leaving ragged edges. A sharp blade cuts paper cleanly—test yours.

What's the difference between pruners and secateurs?

Same tool, different words. Americans say pruners or pruning shears. British say secateurs. Both refer to one-handed cutting tools for stems up to about 1" diameter. Two-handed tools are loppers.

Should I oil my pruning shears?

Yes, regularly. After each use: wipe clean, apply light oil to blade and pivot. This prevents rust, keeps action smooth, and extends life dramatically. Camellia oil is traditional; any light machine oil works.

What size branch can pruning shears cut?

Most pruners max at 3/4" to 1". Forcing larger branches damages the tool and plant. For 1-2" branches, use loppers. For larger, use a pruning saw. Matching tool to branch size protects both your tools and plants.

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