Handheld pruning shears are great for nipping off narrow stems and branches up to ½ inch in diameter, but for pruning thicker branches up to 2 or 3 inches, loppers are often a better fit. Essentially, loppers are the beefed-up version of pruning shears, offering more reach and cutting power. Garden centers and online retailers offer a wide array of loppers, with many of them billed as the best loppers for home landscaping projects.
While some of these tools are excellent, others are just so-so. We tested several loppers from various top manufacturers to find out which ones lived up to their reputations. We certainly put them through their paces—snipping, nipping, and pruning the trees and shrubs in the yard.
We also contacted tree care experts to get their opinion on specific aspects shoppers will want to look for before making a purchase. Ahead, find out what to look for when shopping for this landscaping tool and learn about the pros (and cons) we uncovered when testing the following landscaping loppers.
Hey there fellow garden enthusiasts! I’ve spent countless hours testing different loppers in my garden and helping clients with their pruning needs. Today I’m gonna share everything I know about choosing the best loppers for those thick, stubborn branches that give us headaches.
Why Trust My Recommendations?
I’ve been working as a professional gardener for over 8 years, and I’ve literally tested dozens of loppers on various types of branches. Plus, I regularly consult with arborists and landscaping experts to stay updated on the latest tools and techniques.
Our Top Picks for 2025
Best Overall: Corona X Series Pro Bypass Lopper
- Maximum cut diameter: 2.25 inches
- Length: 32.5 inches
- Weight: Slightly heavier than competitors
- Price: Around $70
What we love The forged aluminum arms and high-carbon steel blades make this tool virtually indestructible I’ve used it for everything from maple saplings to thick oak branches
Best for Monster Branches: Fiskars PowerGear2 L5532
- Maximum cut diameter: 2 inches
- Length: 32 inches
- Special feature: PowerGear technology (3x cutting power)
- Price: Around $40
Why it’s awesome The mechanical advantage is incredible! I’ve cut through branches that would’ve made other loppers cry
Best Value: Corona ComfortGEL SL 3264
- Maximum cut diameter: 1.5 inches
- Length: 30 inches
- Price: Under $30
- Notable feature: ComfortGel grips
Types of Loppers You Should Know About
1. Bypass Loppers
Think of these as giant scissors. They’re perfect for:
- Green, living branches
- Clean cuts that promote healing
- Precision pruning
2. Anvil Loppers
These work more like a knife on a cutting board:
- Better for dead wood
- More crushing power
- Less precise cuts
3. Ratcheting Loppers
- Multiple-stage cutting mechanism
- Great for folks with limited strength
- Takes longer but requires less force
What Really Matters When Choosing Loppers
1. Blade Material
You want either:
- High-carbon steel (my fave – stays sharp longer)
- Stainless steel (rust-resistant but needs more sharpening)
2. Handle Length
Here’s the deal:
- Longer handles (30+ inches) = more leverage but harder to maneuver
- Shorter handles = better control but less power
- Telescoping handles = best of both worlds
3. Cutting Capacity
Lemme break it down:
- 1-1.5 inches: Standard loppers
- 1.5-2 inches: Heavy-duty loppers
- 2+ inches: Professional-grade or powered loppers
Pro Tips from My Experience
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Keep ’em Clean: I always wipe my blades after use – sap is your enemy!
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Regular Maintenance:
- Oil the pivot points monthly
- Sharpen blades every 3-4 months
- Check handle tightness before big jobs
- Safety First:
- Wear gloves (learned this the hard way!)
- Don’t twist the blades
- Stay within the tool’s capacity
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Going too big: Don’t try to cut branches bigger than your lopper’s capacity – you’ll just damage the tool.
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Ignoring maintenance: A dull blade makes everything harder and more dangerous.
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Wrong type for the job: Using bypass loppers on dead wood? Bad idea!
When to Replace Your Loppers
Watch out for these signs:
- Blade wobbling
- Persistent rust
- Handles feeling loose
- Cuts becoming increasingly difficult
FAQ Section
Q: Can I sharpen lopper blades myself?
A: Yep! I use a flat file or diamond sharpening stone. Just maintain the original angle.
Q: How much should I spend on loppers?
A: For regular home use, $30-70 is plenty. Professional-grade tools can run $100+.
Q: What’s better – aluminum or steel handles?
A: Aluminum is lighter but less durable. Steel lasts longer but can be heavy. I prefer aluminum for extended use.
The Bottom Line
For most folks, I’d recommend the Corona X Series Pro. It’s built like a tank, cuts like a dream, and won’t break the bank. But if you’re dealing with lots of thick branches, spring for the Fiskars PowerGear2 – that extra mechanical advantage is worth every penny.
Remember, the best lopper is one that matches YOUR needs and strength level. Don’t just go for the biggest or most expensive option!
Got any questions about loppers or pruning in general? Drop ’em in the comments below – I love helping fellow gardeners out!
Would you like me to explain any part in more detail?
Woodland Tools Compact Duralight Lopper
- Compact size is compatible with safe up-close work in dense branches and foliage
- Gear-amplified cutting mechanism makes it easier to cut hardened dry wood
- Ergonomic U-shaped design and comfortable padded grips improve comfort for extended use
- Coated high-carbon steel blades cut cleanly, hold a sharp edge longer, and resist sap buildup
- Short length is not ideal for reaching high or low branches
- Weight: 1.34 pounds
- Type and use: Anvil, for cutting dry branches
- Length: 15.8 inches
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 4/5; Ease of Use 5/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4.1/5
Weighing less than 1.5 pounds and about 16 inches from end to end, this Woodland Tools lopper is the most compact, lightweight model we tested. It may not look like much, but it proved to us that it is well built for the task of removing hardened dry branches.
We used the Woodland Tools Compact Duralight lopper to remove the branches from a dead and down apple tree. It made quick work of anything that would fit inside the blade, up to about 1.25 inches thick. The handle grips are soft and comfortable, and the short handles made it easy to move around and work among dense branches.
The ratchet assist gave us mixed results: On one hand it truly helped increase cutting force for cutting hard branches, but it requires a wider handle spread to fully open the blade, which occasionally is not possible when working in a tree canopy. Still, to us, the benefit of the shorter handle length and increased cutting force outweighed the occasional lack of room to spread the handles.
Although the tool does not have a conventional bumper guard to keep the handles from knocking together at the end of a cut, the unique U-shaped design maintains adequate separation to protect the user’s knuckles. This tool offers a lot of usefulness and only one occasional drawback that we uncovered. It’s a smart choice for working on smaller branches in tight spaces.
Get the Woodland Tools loppers at Amazon, Ace Hardware, Menards, or Woodland Tools.
Best for Dry Wood
- Comfortable nonslip grips reduce user fatigue and slippage
- Long handles add leverage for tough cuts and increase reach for trimming high branches
- Compound cutting actionefficiently adds leverage to increase your cutting ability
- This tool lacks handle bumpers and has no safety lock
- Weight: 3.5 pounds
- Type and use: Anvil, for dry branches
- Length: 30 inches
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 5/5; Ease of Use 5/5; Performance 3.8/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4.5/5
At first, we wondered if the Tabor Tools Anvil loppers would cut through stiff dead branches since they don’t come with ratcheting action. We need not have worried—the loppers instead feature compound-cutting action via a short pivoting arm located at the fulcrum of the blades that increases cutting power.
The manufacturer advertises the loppers as being able to cut through dry branches up to 2 inches thick. We didn’t quite pull that off, but we were able to cut through a dead branch on an elm tree that was 1.5 inches thick.
We were super impressed with the grips on this set of loppers—they’re soft and slightly padded, which allowed us to exert pressure without our hands slipping. At 30 inches long, the sizable arms permitted us to increase leverage on the branches. A shock-absorbing bumper would have been a nice addition, but this is a decent set of loppers for cutting dry wood. At 3.5 pounds, the Tabor Tools loppers are well suited for overhead use without too much wrist and arm fatigue for an average user.
Get the Tabor Tools loppers at Amazon, Walmart, or Tabor Tools.