The best garden shears in 2026 - tested by our experts

A good pair of garden shears can make garden tasks quick and easy to tackle. They’re essential for the proper care of hedges, shrubs, and lawns, helping to keep them neat and in tip-top condition. Unlike secateurs, which are designed for pruning single branches, garden shears can tackle several branches or blades of grass at once. There are a couple of different types:

Edging shears - these specialised lawn tools are long-handled with an angled blade for trimming the edges of lawns next to paving, decking and flowerbeds. Specific lawn shears are also available and are similar to edging shears, but have a flat, horizontal blade for trimming awkward areas of grass, such as tufts around trees or next to fences and walls. Check out our buyers' guide video to find the best edging shears for your garden:

Hedge shears - Like big garden scissors, these are ideal for pruning and shaping hedges and trees, or cutting down garden waste for compost. They're available with standard or telescopic handles that extend, for safely reaching the tops of tall trees, shrubs, and bushes without using ladders.

Best garden shears at a glance:

• Best lightweight hedge shears: Darlac Lightweight Shears
• Best hedge shears for ease of use: Bulldog Premier Wavy Blade Shears
• Best lightweight edging shears: Darlac DP812 Lawn Edging Shears
• Best edging shears for performance: Bulldog Edging Shears
• Best edging shears for comfort: Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Edging Shears

Jump to:

• Best hedge shears
• Best edging shears
• The best of the rest

• How to choose garden shears?
• What are wavy hedge shears?
• How to sharpen your shears
• How we tested garden shears

In every review, we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best garden shears below:

Best hedge shears

Darlac Lightweight Shear 8 Inches

RRP: £39.95

Our rating: 4.75 out of 5

Available from Fothergills

Best Buy lightweight shears: Darlac Lightweight ShearsPros

• Excellent performance
• Lightweight
• Lifetime Warranty

Cons

• No blade cover provided

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best lightweight shears, these hedge shears give an excellent cut, slicing cleanly through the branches of every hedge on test. They’re remarkably light; at just 820g, they weigh less than a bag of sugar. This weight makes them very nimble for precise trimming, but also a joy to use when cutting large hedges and shrubs. They’re made even more comfortable by their effective shock absorbers. They come with a lifetime warranty.

Best Buy review video - the Darlac lightweight shears

In this in-depth video review, Alex David explains why the Darlac lightweight shears were awarded BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy status.

Buy the Darlac Lightweight Shears from B&Q, Fothergills and Mano Mano

Bulldog Premier Wavy Blade Hedge Shears

RRP: £27.43

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Clean cut through all hedges
• Great value
• Compact
• Come with blade cover and hook to hang

Cons

• Ineffective shock absorbers
• May be small for bigger hands
• Plastic handles feel a little cheap

They might be small, but these hedge shears pack a punch, slicing through every hedge in our test with ease and we awarded them a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use. Their wavy blades are fantastic for gripping branches and leaves without chewing them up and their size makes them great for gardeners who are tight on storage space, plus they have a cover for hanging up and protecting them from rust. However, the shock absorbers don’t work very well, and the plastic handles feel a little cheap. The rubber grips on these handles are just 13cm long, so they may be uncomfortable if you have larger hands.

Buy the Bulldog Premier Wavy Blade Hedge Shears from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled Up

Best edging shears

Darlac DP812 Lawn Edging Shears

RRP: £42.95

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Available from On Buy

Pros

• Adjustable handles
• Lightweight
• Wavy blades for a sharper cut
• Good length blades

Cons

• Plastic flip locks on handles

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award winner for the best lightweight edging shears, these lawn edging shears have adjustable handles, which adjust from 66cm to 108cm, so you can use them with a straight back, whatever your height and soft grips make them comfortable to handle too. These edging shears feature strong, wavy-edged blades that cut well, and, at 29cm in length, are quick and efficient to get the job done. They also come with a lifetime warranty.

Best Buy review video - the Darlac DP812 Lawn Edging Shears

In this in-depth video review, Cinead McTernan explains why the Darlac DP812 lawn edging shears were awarded BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy status.

Read the full Darlac DP812 lawn edging shears review

Buy the Darlac DP812 Lawn Edging Shears from B&Q, D.T.Brown and On Buy

Bulldog Edging Shears

RRP: £39.36

Our rating: 4.75 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Great performance
• Lightweight
• Very well-balanced

Cons

• No ergonomics
• Feel a little cheap

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for performance, these edging shears have high-carbon steel blades with an epoxy coating for extra protection against rusting. The handles have rubber grips, but although they aren't ergonomic, they’re extremely well-balanced and always hang parallel to the edge. They’re also lightweight and comfortable to hold.

These shears performed well during the test, cutting through the grass cleanly every time. The full length of the blade is sharp and effective, and they’re thin enough to sit neatly between the lawn and paving stones. However, they feel a little cheap, and no replacement blades are available. The mechanism to open the blades is also a little stiff.

Buy the Bulldog Edging Shears from B&Q, Mano Mano and Tooled Up

Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Edging Shears

RRP: £48.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Great performance
• Comfortable handles
• Two kinds of steel blades - best of both kinds

Cons

• Doesn’t always hang parallel to grass
• A little long

These are lightweight but sturdy edging shears, with one coated carbon-steel blade and one stainless steel blade, for the best of both kinds of steel - rust resistance and strength. They’re well-balanced and have ergonomic handles, which are very comfortable and don’t rub, and we awarded them a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for comfort. It’s easy to get these shears into position, and they easily slice through grass. They’re a good height, but shorter gardeners might find them a little long.

However, they have no hook to hang them up with, and although they’re well-balanced, the blade doesn’t always hang parallel to the edge. Replacement blades aren't available for these, and the shears don’t fully open for sharpening.

Buy the Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Edging Shears from Amazon

Best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test:

Kent and Stowe General Purpose Hedge Shears 8 Inches

RRP: £19.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Great price
• Clean cut on both leaves and smaller stems
• Light
• Well-balanced

Cons

• Struggles with woody material
• Ineffective shock absorbers

On test, we found this pair great for snipping through leaves and thinner stems. They’re light and well-balanced, and their handles give great grip without rubbing. However, they struggle with woodier material, and the shock absorbers don’t soften the cut as well as they could.

Buy the Kent and Stowe General Purpose Hedge Shears 8” from B&Q

Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Hedge Shears

RRP: £37.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Powerful compound action
• Effective wavy blade
• Good warranty

Cons:

• A little clumsy for close work
• No shock absorbers

For cutting a lot of tough hedging, try these shears from Burgon and Ball. The wavy blades are chromed and coated for longevity, and they grip material well, but their most important feature is a compound mechanism - a lever that assists with generating extra force, which means they slice easily through branches. However, they shears aren’t ideal for more delicate tasks like trimming conifers, and the compound action also means that they don’t have shock absorbers, which is a little uncomfortable. We love the ten-year warranty.

Buy the Burgon and Ball RHS Endorsed Hedge Shears from Amazon

For more help with pruning, take a look at our expert reviews of the best secateurs, the best loppers, best mini chainsaws, electric secateurs and the best hedge trimmers. And for help clearing up see our tests of the best wheelbarrows, the best shredders and the best wood-splitting axes.

How to choose garden shears

Before you buy, consider the following features-

Blades - These are almost always steel; either carbon steel, which is durable and strong but prone to rust, or stainless steel, which is highly resistant to rust but is a little weaker. Sometimes carbon blades are powder-coated to protect the steel from rust. Almost always, shears arrive with a thin coating of oil to both further protect the blades and lubricate the hinge.

Handles - These can be simple and plain, ergonomically designed or include grips for comfort, and are usually made from steel, aluminium, wood or composite plastic. Steel is long-lasting but heavy, wood helps to absorb shock but needs maintenance and care, while composite handles can't be recycled.

Weight - The lighter the shears, the better. These tools get hours of use, so it’s best to steer clear of heavy types, which will be tiring for your hands, wrists and arms.

Bumpers - Generating the power to cut through tough hedging like leylandii, yew, and hawthorn can put a lot of force on your hands. Good bumpers or shock absorbers will soften the impact and ensure a comfortable cut. This is especially helpful for gardeners with mobility or strength issues with their hands.

Length - The longer the blades, the more efficiently they will perform the job, the shorter the shears, the more nimble. If you need to tackle a lot of hedging, go for long shears; for small, neater work, go for smaller shears.

What are wavy hedge shears?

Some hedge shears have wavy blades rather than straight blades. This is to help them grip the plant stems and stop them slipping when being cut, and is useful for more open, larger-leaved hedging. However, wavy blades can be tricky to sharpen, and because they’re a little more expensive to manufacture, can be pricier than more traditional straight-blade shears.

How to sharpen garden shears

Sharp shears are safer and work more efficiently than blunt ones, so it's worth looking after them and sharpening the blades regularly. Although some hedging and edging shears may come with their own specialist sharpening tool, most should come apart easily for sharpening, simply by removing the central nut and bolt with a spanner. Once the two blades are separated, follow our simple tips for easy sharpening :

• Clean each blade on both sides with a piece of wire wool
• Using a sharpening stone or steel, follow the bevel of the blade, running the stone evenly along the edge a few times. Do the same on the back, holding the stone flat against the blade and run it across the edge. Do this with both blades
• Oil the blades, rubbing it into the metal with a cloth
• Reassemble the shears by pushing the bolt back through the two blades and screwing on the nut with your spanner. Take care not to over-tighten

How we tested garden shears

We tested a range of both edging and hedge shears, just as a gardener would use them, on grass between lawns, paving stones and borders and on a variety of species hedges. They were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Blades and handle. Looked at materials and length, grip features, efficiency, and strength and sharpness of blade, any hardening and protective features and whether replacement parts or a repair service are available
• Comfort. Focused on comfort, weight, balance, any ergonomic features and how easy they are to use for prolonged periods of time
• Performance. Assessed the smoothness and precision of the cut and how easy they are to sharpen and maintain
• Value for money. Considered all of the above, plus any special features, RRP and warranty

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine , responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.