6 Best Loppers of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

Tested by Amy Marturana Winderl

While some trees, bushes and shrubs are low-maintenance enough to require little to no care, most people have at least one needier variety in their landscaping and yards. And often, a little bit of hard pruning can go a long way: Cutting back old branches makes way for healthier growth, which can be key for production (for something like a fruit tree) or just aesthetics.

That's where tree and garden loppers come in. Hand pruners have their time and place, but when it comes to cutting through thicker branches that require some good leverage and clean, sharp cuts, loppers really are the way to go.

To help you find the right pair, we tested 20 loppers. Below, you'll find our picks for the best loppers for your gardening and landscaping needs.

How We Tested

After doing extensive research on the loppers available on the market, which ones are bestsellers and which ones get great reviews, we ordered 20 different pairs to try. Luckily, loppers come fully assembled (except for battery-operated ones, which mostly just need a charge before use). When they arrived, we opened each box, looked over the product for any flaws, read any included manuals, and got to work with our testing agenda specifically meant for finding the best loppers.

Performance Test: We used the loppers to cut through a variety of branches, vines, plants and bushes, cutting at least 10 to 20 times per lopper. We noted how the tool performed — whether it cut cleanly or bent or crushed the branch — and observed that the cut capacity listed on the product description was accurate.

Functionality Test: As we did our pruning, we paid attention to how the tool functioned overall, noting how easy it was to control and if we needed to reposition or apply extra pressure to make the cut.

Design Test: The tool had a wide variety of handle lengths and grip materials. While testing, we paid attention to how the pruners felt in our hands and if they were comfortable or not. We also noted how heavy the tool felt and how fatigued our arms and hands felt after using it.

Durability Test: To judge how durable the loppers were, we dropped each pair from waist height onto the driveway, to simulate everyday clumsiness, and noted how they held up. We also checked each pair after we used it and noted any signs of damage, like chipping or bending.

What to Consider When Buying Loppers

Blade Type: Loppers generally have two options for blade types: bypass and anvil. Bypass features two blades that pass each other to slice through a branch — like scissors — and are best for making clean cuts that are beneficial for live growth. Anvil-style loppers have one sharp blade and one flat side — akin to a knife on a cutting board. This allows for more of a crushing effect, which can potentially damage greenery but is more effective for cutting back dead or hard wood.

Mechanism Type: Many of these tools use a manual or single-pivot mechanism, which means they have one simple pivot point connecting the two sides together. But other loppers have a ratcheting mechanism, which allows you to break the cut down into a few smaller cuts, reducing how much brute force you need to use to slice through an object. A compound-action lopper (aka dual-link or geared leverage) uses an additional pivot point or gear to connect the two sides of the loppers, which results in better leverage and less required muscle strength. Finally, battery-powered loppers also exist, and they use a motor to close and open the blades.

Cutting Capacity: Every lopper has a cutting capacity, which describes the maximum diameter of a branch that it can cut. While a larger capacity may be necessary for certain tasks, you may only need a smaller cutting capacity for the trees and shrubs on your property. Often, loppers with smaller cut capacities can be less expensive.

Length & Weight: The handle length of your loppers makes a big difference in how much leverage you can get. In general, the longer the handles, the more weight you can put into the tool from powerful muscles like your shoulders and back. The shorter the handles, the more you have to rely on your hands and arm strength to make the cut. However, shorter handles can make it easier to control the loppers and typically translate to the tool being lighter overall.

Blade Material: Most loppers are made of carbon steel, which is a strong metal alloy. The higher the carbon, the harder and more durable the metal is. Some loppers also feature a nonstick coating on the blades (not unlike a nonstick pan), which can help reduce friction and sap buildup.

Grip & Comfort: It’s important that your loppers are comfortable to hold and that you can get a solid grip on them. Many models feature grips made of plastic, rubber and foam. The more grippy material covering the handles, the better you'll be able to hold them to get the leverage you need to make cuts and reduce hand fatigue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you use loppers for?

Loppers are used for pruning small tree branches, and can also be used for trimming back bushes, shrubs, vines, and other greenery and wood up to three inches in diameter. They can be bypass-style (two blades that cut like scissors) or anvil-style (one blade and one flat side that functions like a knife on a cutting board).

What's the difference between pruners and loppers?

Pruners, or hand shears, are small, handheld tools that cut through stems and small branches. Loppers, which are much larger, are meant to cut larger branches and pieces of wood, usually used to cut back dead parts of trees to help promote new growth and encourage a better shape.

How do you sharpen loppers?

Most loppers can and should be sharpened when the blade starts to feel dull. To sharpen loppers, use a carbide sharpening tool or a sharpening stone. A millstone can also be used to rehab very dull blades. Always read the instructions for your individual loppers to make sure the blade can be sharpened (some materials may not be) and follow any instructions for what exactly to use to avoid any damage.

How do you clean loppers?

To clean loppers, first wash with soap and warm water and scrub with a nonabrasive sponge or brush. To remove sap and other stubborn residue, you can try using white vinegar or isopropyl alcohol. If there's rust buildup on your loppers, you can remove it with steel wool. Always make sure to let your loppers dry completely after cleaning to prevent more rust from forming.

Other Loppers We Tested

We tested the Fiskars 32-Inch Heavy-Duty Bypass Steel Loppers, which use geared leverage and felt comfortable in our hands. But the coating on the blade was starting to chip off after just a few cuts, so we didn't expect they'd be durable for the long haul.

These VEVOR 32-Inch Anvil Loppers seemed like a steal for the price, and we liked how they cut. The issue was that bark kept getting stuck in the blade, and we had to manually pick it out each time — not something we want to be doing for both efficiency and safety reasons.

During testing, we realized just how important a comfortable handle is. We tested a good number of loppers that we really liked for their cutting performance, but ultimately didn't recommend because we didn't like the grip or handle, like the Corona Tools 30-Inch ComfortGEL Bypass Loppers (the grips were too small and felt sticky, with dirt immediately attaching) and the Original LÖWE 31.5-Inch Professional Anvil Loppers (the plastic handles had no grip or shock absorption).

Why You Should Trust Our Tester

Amy Marturana Winderl has been testing products and writing reviews for editorial publications for over a decade. She's tested everything from makeup and skincare products to fitness apparel, sneakers, gym equipment, hiking and camping equipment, and gardening tools and accessories. She has also tested products and written copy for SELF's beauty and fitness awards and Outside's gear guide. For HGTV, Amy has tested a variety of home and garden products, including garden hoses, hose reels, gardening carts and wagons, pop-up canopy tents and bath mats.

Why You Should Trust HGTV Shopping Experts

HGTV Shopping Experts believe the best method for testing products is based on how our fans are going to use them in the real world. In each of our Tested and Reviewed stories, products are not tested in sterile laboratory settings that don't mimic real life. Instead, we test products in real homes that reflect our readers' real lives, which can also include pets, kids, partners and more. We follow rigorous testing rubrics designed by our expert editors and take copious notes during the testing process. When choosing our top picks, we evaluate all of our testing data and take into consideration many factors, including ease of use, price, product availability and practicality. Our goal is to choose the best products for our readers.