Loppers

Top 7 Best Loppers For 2024

by Carl Anderson

Updated on Mar 20, 2024

A collage of four pictures of different types of garden scissors.

Are you in the market for a new set of tree loppers but feeling overwhelmed by the choices? You're not alone. Selecting the perfect pair can be tricky, but fear not—we're here to guide you through the maze of options. Our extensive research and hands-on testing have identified the top tree loppers for a variety of needs, whether you're pruning delicate flowers, tackling thick branches, or shaping your garden to perfection. Dive into our curated list below to discover which lopper stands out as the ideal tool for your green oasis.


If you are in need of stronger gardening tools, be sure to check out our guide on the best mini chainsaws. We also covered the best chainsaws for cutting trees, the best pole saws as well as the best hand saws. If you need to use a saw, we have it covered. Perhaps you need to plant trees or even buy some tree trimming tools - it's all there for you to read.


Editor's Note: We updated our chainsaw review on March 20, 2024, to include alternative options for the best chainsaws saws for cutting trees.

Short on time? Here's the BEST TREE LOPPERS for 2024.

A black circle with a check mark inside of it on a white background.

HOSS Tree Loppers - The best tree loppers on the market right now. They're a high-quality, durable, affordable set that's great for hobbyists and professionals. Check it out here.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Why You're Doing It

Before you start hacking away at your beloved tree, you need to have a reason why. Is it for the tree's health? Is it over the property line? Is it for aesthetics? Be clear in your mind before you buy a tool. If you plan on cutting through soft green branches, maybe you need a different tool.

Your Ability Level vs. The Job

If you've never used a chainsaw before, do you think you are the best person to use a chainsaw? No. Might be worth calling a professional if the job seems out of reach for your abilities. Same thing goes with loppers but admittedly, loppers are much easier to use.

The Size of the Branch

The size of the branch will be key in your decision. Cutting down small branches or just pruning the fruit of the tree is going to require much less than a larger branch or even an entire tree. If you need to cut thick branches, you need a bigger tool.

The Distance of the Cut

Hey, let's face it: if you aren't cutting at distance then why do you need a pair of tree loppers? Maybe you need the extra leverage which makes sense why you'd get some loppers. But for smaller, closer cuts, maybe not.

The Top 7 Best Tree Loppers - Full Analysis (Updated for 2024)

hoss pruning shears

Some people aren't looking for anything more than a reliable set of tree loppers. You don't need extendable loppers and you don't need electric loppers.


You need something to cover the fundamentals. AKA you just need to cut some branches.


If you are looking for a reliable set of tree loppers, you wan't something that can last long, and is ergonomic (so you can last long).


The HOSS Tree Loppers are our favorite tool because they were built to last.

PROS

  • Cutting blade built for commercial production so they last forever.
  • Lighter design yet stronger than comparable models meaning great ergonomics without sacrificing strength.
  • High alloy steel blades that give clean cuts time after time maintaining health and longevity of your trees.

CONS

  • HOSS Tools can run a bit higher in price but they are American made and high quality.

Our Thoughts

hoss loppers on a table

Buying HOSS is a no brainer. These loppers are built to last a lifetime and you can simply tell that is the case when you hold them in your hands. Lightweight, ergonomic, strong with steel blades - what more could you need in a quality set of tree loppers?

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The Ryboi One+ electric tree loppers are seen in a lot of best of lists and for good reason. They are a high quality, highly functional set meant for aggressive tree trimming but with a smooth cutting performance. So what's the catch?


Anything electric always comes off pretty cool but do you really need a set of electric loppers? We can't deny that it was almost love at first sight for the Ryobi One+ electric loppers but for the regular person looking to prim a few trees here and there, the price may not be worth it.

PROS

  • Electric powered lopper that removes the ergonomic strain on the wrist
  • Up to 1.25" branch removal
  • Worth it if you don't want to use manual loppers.

CONS

  • Only the tool is included, you'll need to buy the battery and charger separate

Our Thoughts

We here at Sweet New Earth like tools so when anything electric always peaks our fancy. But we would be remiss to say you need a set of electric loppers if you are a hobbyist gardener.


If you are a professional arborist or lumberjack or have a few extra dollars in the bank for messing around, then Ryobi One +18V Cordless Battery Lopper is a great set for you.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

If you are looking for a lower price, yet reliable product, then Fiskars is a reputable brand to go with.


Bypass loppers are always a great choice when it comes to pruning trees because you want to avoid damaging the tree as much as possible. Smooth, clean cuts are the way.


These Fiskar blades come with hardened steel blades good for cutting up to 1.5 inches.


The rust resistant, low friction blades make repetitive cutting motions through thicker branches easy.

PROS

  • Great for cutting green, living branches
  • Rust resistant blades mean they were built to last
  • Fair price for a quality set of loppers

CONS

  • Some might prefer this set of loppers at larger length (28")

Our Thoughts

The Fiskar Metal Bypass Loppers offer great variety for durable blades. Larger lengths typically change the lopper type and increase the cost but these remain at a fair balanced priced. Can't go wrong here.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Landscapers unite under the best heavy duty lopper, the Corona 6L 6500. With a shock absorbing bumper, you can cut larger branches with less effort. Cut up to 3" branches.


These heavy duty blades can be resharpened for extended use. Not only that, but the comfortable grip adds an ergonomic bonus not typically seen in heavy duty loppers. Corona loppers are usually good to go.

PROS

  • High performance blades that cut up to 3" tree branches
  • 25% less cutting effort compared to titanium coated blades or non-coated blades
  • Guaranteed to be free of defects

CONS

  • Easily resharpen-able indicating the blade does lose sharpness over time

Our Thoughts

Corona makes good products and the ProCUT 4 in. Forged Steel Blade is no exception. We love the shock absorbing bumper and contoured grips on the these loppers that make cutting larger branches a smooth experience.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

If you haven't noticed yet, we are pretty big fans of Fiskars and HOSS. Two companies renown for making great products that you can rely on.


Not only that but we are pretty big fans of the black and orange seen on most Fiskar products.


The telescoping handles of the Fiskars Lever Telescoping Bypass Loppers can go out to 37 in.


This provides the perfect amount of reach so you can get far away limbs or thicker branches or stems, without going crazy.

PROS

  • Cut capacity of 1-3/4 inches in diameter at a maximum of 37 in (that's three feet of reach!) great for higher branches.
  • Lengthier range should be enough for you to cut far away without having to do any extensive climbing.
  • Extendable handles provide more benefit than non-extendable handles provided you only have simple jobs to perform.
  • Excellent cutting power

CONS

  • Telescoping handles can get sticky over time - anything with adjustable mechanisms are known for ware.
  • Telescoping handles can be troublesome for beginners to cut trees with.

Our Thoughts

We typically stay away from telescoping loppers because we value the hardiness and durability of regular non-adjustable loppers.


We go for one larger set like the HOSS Loppers above, and maybe a small set of shears.


That being said, these are a good product for someone doing hobbyist or backyard work.


You don't need a ladder for up to 3' and you probably won't use the loppers as much.


Remember, the further away the cutting mechanism, the more leverage you have to apply which may not be great for ergonomics.


All things considered, this set of Fiskars telescoping loppers are an easy buy, and you can't go wrong.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Another extendable set of loppers but these ones are Anvil Tree loppers meaning the cutting mechanism is different (think: smashes like an anvil as opposed to cleaner bypass cuts).


The THANOS A1101 anvil loppers are awesome because they come in at 28" and can extended to 40". You get the best of both worlds with this set.

PROS

  • Telescoping handles up to 40 inches
  • Risk-free guarantee meaning if you aren't satisfied with the loppers, you can get a refund
  • Can cut up to 2" inches in diameter
  • Anvil loppers are great for smashing stiff dead branches.
  • Carbon Steel Blades

CONS

  • Need to be careful with extendable handles made from aluminum - can be more susceptible to bending if you apply excessive force
  • Orange and silver design is a bit tacky if you care about aesthetics for your tools
  • Anvil blades have limited use

Our Thoughts

A decent set of anvil loppers is a good thing to have in your tree trimming arsenal.


A lot of times dead branches might be farther away and you don't need to worry about make clean cuts to get them off the tree.


The THANOS A1101 anvil loppers aren't a bad buy for these purposes.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

"Cut branches with ease," with the best ergonomic loppers, the TABOR TOOLs GL16A Bypass Lopper.


They have 22" handles designed for optimal grip to make cutting branches easy, and without all the jarring vibrations directly to your arms and shoulders.


Cut up to an 1.25" inches in diameter comfortably with these ergonomic bypass loppers.


Not only that, they are lightweight so that they are easy enough to carry around or transport with you if you need to cut dead branches on a camping trip.

PROS

  • The comfortable grip combined with the shock absorbing guide work to reduce fatigue
  • Easy to carry around and store with you on trips

CONS

  • Some reviewers reported the blade does not come with a replaceable blade

Our Thoughts

The Tabor Tools GL16A aren't a bad set of loppers for those suffering with arthritis or just in general, people looking for good ergonomics.


In general, tree trimming can be hard on the limbs so if you are older or don't want to deal with the hassle, it would be wise to contact a professional.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

What to Look for When Buying Tree Loppers

Trees come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and locations. Each tree can have different size branches that require different tools. Pruning thicker branches is going to be difficult without the best loppers for the job. If you are cutting through deadwood, you may want a pair of anvil loppers.


Sometimes those thick branches that are higher up, sometimes they are out of reach. Sometimes you have skinny branches, sometimes those thick branches sit at the bottom of the tree. Do you need stainless steel blades? Do you need a wide blade opening or a narrow blade opening?


Doesn't matter if you are cutting birch trees in Maine or shade trees in Wisconsin. Branches will be branches, and you need the right size and blade type for the job.


On the flip side, most loppers are essentially the same with a few different variations. If you got cutting blades with long handles, you pretty much got loppers, so what's with all the fuss?

Well, he top three things to consider before buying a set of tree loppers:

  • Blade Style
  • Blade Sharpness
  • Size and Handle Comfort
  • Quality

Blade Style

Loppers, like all trimming tools pretty much, come in two different blade types: anvil loppers or bypass loppers. We have an extensive guide on bypass vs anvil pruners coming out soon but we'll cover some of the basics here.

Bypass blades are like scissors and are meant to make clean cuts on the living tissues of branches. Done properly and you won't damage the tree.


Anvil blades have a blade that pushes through onto a solid end (the anvil) for more of a smashing cut. These are typically used on dead wood as you wouldn't want to smash living or thick branches.

Blade Sharpness and Material

Reputable companies aren't going to sell tree loppers with dull blades so the thing to look for here are what companies make blades that are both durable and can be resharpened.


We want sharp blades to begin with. It's much easier to cut branches with a sharp edge. Usually that means carbon steel blades.


Best bets are carbon-hardened steel or alloyed steel blades. Keep any eye out for non-stick protectant on the blade because it helps keep sap off which will prolong the blade life.


We often go for a teflon or titanium coating for how well it wards off rust.


It's a bit of a toss up because stainless steel is durable but tends to bend a bit more than carbon steel when it comes to cutting certain branch types.


They cost more and can't be resharpened. Now, carbon steel bends less but can rust faster so you'll want to make sure you wipe them after each cut.


But they can be sharpened with a basic sharpening stone.

Size and Comfort (Ergonomics)

People who say size doesn't matter are always lying. More size means more cutting power.


With tree loppers, the longer the handle, the more leverage you can apply to the cut, increasing your cutting power.


So you can apply more leverage to 40" handles rather than 28" handles... so on and so forth.


You really want loppers that have a smooth cutting action that aren't constantly sticking.


If the blades get sticky, you will have to keep wrenching them to open them back up which can wreak havoc on your shoulders.


Get yourself a smooth pair like the HOSS Tree Loppers or Tabor Tools so you can trim for longer periods of time.


Loppers with good grips go along way for reducing strain on the hands and the forearms.


If the loppers are too thick for your hands you may experience some pain but at the very least, you may not be able to apply significant leverage to the cut.


If you want a more in depth guide on how we review products, be sure to check out our review methodology. 

What Are The Best Loppers?

best loppers

In our opinion, the best loppers are the Hoss Tree Loppers. They are high-quality, long-lasting and American-made tools. Can't go wrong with that.

FAQs

  • What is the difference between tree loppers and pruning shears?

    The difference between tree loppers and pruning shears is the size of the tool. Loppers are meant for larger branches that need more leverage to cut. Pruning shears are meant for smaller branches or stems that can be cut by hand. 

  • Should I buy anvil or bypass loppers?

    You should buy whichever tool you need but for the right job. These are two different tools with two different purposes. 

Thanks for stopping by Sweet New Earth! If you enjoyed this page be sure to check out some of our other tree guides like oak trees in Maine.


We cover everything from types of trees in different states, to what tools you need to cut them. We also provide in-depth, individual reviews for products we really like.


When it comes to trimming your trees, there is a lot to consider. Most people expect to walk outside with what equates to a pair of scissors and to actually be able to prune their trees or shrubs.


That is simply not the case. You need to consider things like branch height, branch thickness, branch health; you need to consider whether you are lopping off branches or simply pruning off some fruits.


It shouldn't be too overwhelming but you need to make the right choice.


We hope now that you've read this article, you can get out there and start making cuts on your own. Get out there and start working!

sweet_new_earth_owner_carl_anderson

Carl Anderson is the main author of Sweet New Earth. He is an avid outdoors enthusiast who loves gardening.


He spends his time reading, hiking and learning about new ways to optimize his garden. You can learn more about him here.

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