Loppers are a great addition to your yard tool collection. These hardy tools are similar to pruning shears, but their long handles and heavy-duty construction let you reach higher to trim thick branches.
If you’re not sure which type of lopper is right for you, Verneil Phillips, grounds manager at The College of Charleston recommends choosing a bypass lopper for most landscaping tasks. “Anvil loppers are easier to use but less precise than bypass loppers,” he says. “I recommend the bypass loppers. They cut well and are very durable for any task at hand.”
When buying a lopper, consider a tool’s grip, mechanism, length, and blade as well as the types of woody plants you want to prune. To help you find the best lopper for your property, we’ve thoroughly researched the best loppers and have consulted landscaping and gardening experts on what factors to consider.
1.Best Overall
Fiskars Power Lever Lopper
Our pick for the best loppers overall is the Fiskars Power-Lever Bypass Lopper for its ease of use, strength in cut, and affordability. This lopper came recommended by our experts and is a solid pick to have on hand for most jobs in your garden. “I recommend the bypass pruners and my favorite brand to use is Fiskars,” Phillips says. “They have a couple of style options to choose, from extendable handles to stationary handles.”
This lopper includes compound levers that add extra strength to your cutting power so you won’t have to use all your strength when cutting large, thick branches. For those looking for a tool that’s longer than pruning shears but that doesn’t need to open super wide to make a cut, the Bypass Lopper’s 28-inch handle is a great length and can still fit into nooks and crannies.
The steel blade withstands wear and tear, and the non-stick coating helps make a clean cut while resisting sap. Softgrip handles offer extra cushion for your hands, but we always recommend adding a pair of gardening gloves to keep your hands from more wear.
The lopper is great for greenery, live branches, and limbs up to 1.75 inches thick. Plus, Fiskars offers a full lifetime warranty to give you peace of mind in case your lopper breaks down the line.
Product Details: Type: Bypass
Mechanism Type: Compound action
Blade Material: Steel
Cut Diameter: 1.75 inches
Length: 28 inches
Weight: 2.8 pounds
2.Best Budget
Fiskars Bypass Lopper
For those new to this gardening tool or for anyone looking to add an affordable yet effective tool to their shed, this is the best lopper to add to your home gardening tool collection. If you had to have just one lopper at home, this would be a great choice.
The budget-friendly version of our best overall pick, this lopper doesn’t have an extra mechanism to enhance its strength. However, the tool is still effective at cutting overgrowth, greenery, and branches up to 1.5 inches thick.
Like other Fiskars tools, this pick offers extra cushioning in the handles, a steel blade, and shock-absorbing bumpers. Plus, it’s backed by a lifetime warranty.
Product Details: Type: Bypass
Mechanism Type: Standard
Blade Material: Steel
Cut Diameter: 1.5 inches
Length: 28 inches
Weight: 2.9 pounds
3.Best Splurge
Felco F 22 Pruning Shear
When it comes to garden tools, it doesn’t get much better than the Felco F22. The lopper is highly dependable and durable and offers up a great cut. Its carbon steel blade is incredibly sharp, so you will need less strength to make the cut. Overall, it’s a great pick for serious gardeners who need a heavy-duty tool to use for a wide range of gardening tasks.
These shears are 33 inches in length and can reach higher branches. Do keep in mind that this lopper weighs over 4 pounds, so you’ll need the proper arm strength to use it if you’ll be lifting it over your head. You may need to take breaks to rest when wielding this tool.
Felco’s ergonomic handle and non-slip handle grips will keep your hands cushioned during the hardest cuts, and the shock absorbers help this tool go easy on your wrists.
Felco has a few other perks that we love, including a 30-day return, a lifetime warranty, and the ability to purchase replacement parts directly from the company. Plus, you can feel good about your purchase as Felco makes their products using 100% renewable energy.
While it’s expensive, this lopper is worth the investment for those who have a lot of work to be done in their yard and are looking to upgrade the tools they use.
Product Details: Product Details: Type: Bypass
Mechanism Type: Standard
Blade Material: Steel
Cut Diameter: 1.75 inches
Length: 33 inches
Weight: 4.37 pounds
4.Best Anvil
Kings County Tools Double Ratcheting Anvil Lopper
This anvil lopper means business. With the ability to cut branches up to 2.5 inches wide, it can prune tough, dry wood. Unlike bypass loppers that have two blades and work like scissors, anvil loppers have one sharp blade that cut onto a block, making these tools better for tougher
This lopper includes a ratchet mechanism, which helps make cutting thicker branches easier. To do this, the ratchet head grabs ahold of the branch and keeps it in place while you reopen and pump the handles. The multi-step process helps alleviate the need to use all your strength at once and takes the pressure off your arms. However, this makes the head top-heavy, which can make handling this lopper a bit tricky.
The Kings County lopper is made from high-quality steel with aluminum extendable arms, which helps keep the tool lightweight while still providing enough power for tough cuts. Whether you need to give a more precise cut or are looking to weave into those harder-to-reach high branches, this lopper can take care of both. Plus, you can extend the handles up to 40 inches, which may eliminate the need for a ladder.
Product Details: Type: Anvil
Mechanism Type: Ratchet
Blade Material: Steel
Cut Diameter: 2.5 inches
Length: 26 to 40 inches
Weight: 4.33 pounds
Intended Use: Dry wood
5.Best Bypass
Felco 220
The bright red, ergonomically-designed handles on the Felco 220 are sure to stand out in your collection of tools. The cushioned, non-slip grips and rubber shock absorbers make this lopper feel comfortable in your hands and minimize the chance of tired arms.
This strong lopper features a gearing system that intensifies its cutting strength with minimal effort on your part. In addition, a curved head holds the wood in place as you cut. At just under 3 pounds, you should be able to keep up with your day’s work in your yard with ease.
For frequent gardeners, the high-end price is well worth the added benefits that make this tool incredibly user friendly. Plus, Felco offers a lifetime warranty to give you added peace of mind.
Product Details: Type: Bypass
Mechanism Type: Geared
Blade Material: Carbon steel
Cut Diameter: 1.57 inches
Length: 31.5 inches
Weight: 2.94 pounds