A good pair of secateurs is one of those tools that quietly earns its keep season after season. Whether you’re deadheading roses, shaping a hedge or tidying up after a productive afternoon in the veg patch, the right secateurs make pruning faster, cleaner and a lot less hard on your hands. The wrong pair, by contrast, will crush stems, blister your palms and end up rusting in the bottom of a drawer by August.
With dozens of brands on the shelves at Amazon UK, B&Q and Screwfix, choosing a pair can feel surprisingly tricky for such a simple tool. There’s a real difference between a £10 budget pair and a Swiss-made Felco that lasts twenty years — but you don’t always need to spend big to get something that works beautifully.
In this guide, we’ve reviewed 7 of the best secateurs available to UK gardeners in 2026, covering bypass, anvil and ratchet types across budget, mid-range and premium price points. We’ll also walk through what to look for so you can match the right pair to your hands, your garden and how often you prune.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
| Product | Best For | Price | Rating |
| Felco 2 | Best overall — lifetime tool | around £55-65 | ★★★★★ |
| Niwaki GR Pro | Best premium — Japanese precision | around £80-90 | ★★★★★ |
| Felco 8 | Best ergonomic for long sessions | around £65-80 | ★★★★★ |
| Felco 6 | Best for smaller hands | around £55-70 | ★★★★½ |
| Bahco PX-M2 | Best mid-range with rotating handle | around £30-40 | ★★★★½ |
| Wilkinson Sword Bypass & Anvil Twin Pack | Best twin pack for mixed pruning | around £20-25 | ★★★★ |
| Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Advantage | Best budget pick | around £10-15 | ★★★★ |
Detailed Reviews
1. Felco 2
Type: Bypass | Cutting capacity: up to 25mm | Weight: 240g | Price: around £55-65
If there’s a single pair of secateurs that has earned legendary status among UK gardeners, it’s the Felco 2. Swiss-made, beautifully balanced and supplied with replaceable parts, this is the bypass pruner against which every other pair is measured. We’ve used Felcos for over a decade and they cut as cleanly today as they did when new — which is exactly what you want for the health of the plant.
The forged aluminium handles are coated to prevent slipping, and the hardened steel blade is razor-sharp out of the box. The 25mm cutting capacity easily handles rose canes, shrub stems and most fruit tree pruning. Felco supplies every replacement part separately, so a worn spring, blunted blade or cracked handle never means a new pair — just a quick swap and you’re back in business.
They’re not the cheapest option, and gardeners with smaller hands may find the standard Felco 2 a touch large — in which case the Felco 6 (below) is the answer. But for most people, this is the pair you buy once and never replace.
What we like:
- Genuinely lasts decades with basic care
- Every component is replaceable
- Clean, precise cuts that protect plant health
- Ergonomic Swiss-made build quality
Worth knowing:
- Best suited to medium and larger hands
- Premium price (though excellent long-term value)
2. Niwaki GR Pro
Type: Bypass | Cutting capacity: up to 20mm | Weight: 200g | Price: around £80-90
The Niwaki GR Pro is what happens when Japanese steel meets considered design. Lighter than the Felco 2 at just 200g, the GR Pro reduces wrist fatigue noticeably during longer pruning sessions — something rose growers and orchardists tend to appreciate after the first couple of hours.
The blade is made from harder Japanese steel that holds an edge longer than European equivalents, and the cuts feel almost effortless on softer growth. Niwaki secateurs do require a little more attention than Felcos — the carbon-rich steel is more prone to surface rust if left damp — but a quick wipe with an oily cloth at the end of each day is all it takes.
These are a slightly indulgent choice, but if you prune a lot and care about how the tool feels in your hand, they’re a joy to use. The fit and finish are exceptional, and the lighter weight makes a real difference on long days.
What we like:
- Beautifully sharp Japanese steel that holds an edge
- Light weight reduces wrist fatigue
- Smooth, almost frictionless cutting action
- Premium feel and finish
Worth knowing:
- Needs more careful maintenance than European steel
- Cutting capacity slightly lower than Felco 2
3. Felco 8
Type: Bypass | Cutting capacity: up to 25mm | Weight: 245g | Price: around £65-80
The Felco 8 takes the classic Felco 2 design and adds a curved, ergonomic handle that fills the palm more naturally. If you suffer from any kind of hand strain — arthritis, RSI or just long pruning sessions that leave you stiff — the angled handle reduces the amount of wrist twisting required to make a clean cut. It’s a small change that makes a noticeable difference.
Like the Felco 2, every part is replaceable and the build quality is excellent. The cutting capacity and blade quality are essentially identical, so you’re choosing between the two on handle shape rather than performance.
Right-handed users get on best with the Felco 8; left-handers should look at the Felco 9, which is the same tool mirrored. For anyone who prunes for hours rather than minutes, this is the Felco we’d reach for.
What we like:
- Curved handle reduces wrist strain
- Same legendary Felco build quality
- Excellent for arthritis sufferers and long sessions
- Fully serviceable
Worth knowing:
- Right-handed only (Felco 9 for left-handers)
- Slightly heavier than the Felco 2
4. Felco 6
Type: Bypass | Cutting capacity: up to 20mm | Weight: 215g | Price: around £55-70
If the Felco 2 feels too big in your hand, meet the Felco 6. It’s the same Swiss engineering in a slightly more compact body, designed for smaller hands or anyone who prefers a lighter, more nimble feel. We’ve handed these to gardeners with petite hands who’d struggled with standard secateurs for years, and the difference is immediate.
The 20mm cutting capacity is plenty for most general pruning — roses, shrubs, herbaceous perennials and light fruit tree work. Anything thicker really wants a pair of loppers anyway. Like all Felcos, every component is replaceable and the cutting action is silky smooth.
These are also a popular choice for younger gardeners or as a gift, since the size suits a wider range of users without compromising on quality.
What we like:
- Comfortable for smaller hands
- Lighter than the Felco 2 at 215g
- Same Swiss build and replaceable parts
- Excellent for general pruning
Worth knowing:
- Reduced cutting capacity (20mm vs 25mm)
- Less suited to heavier woody stems
5. Bahco PX-M2
Type: Bypass with rotating handle | Cutting capacity: up to 20mm | Weight: 220g | Price: around £30-40
Bahco’s PX series introduces something genuinely useful: a rotating lower handle that turns naturally with your fingers as you close the secateurs. After a long session, this small detail dramatically reduces the friction blisters that other pruners can leave on the inside of your fingers. It feels odd for the first ten cuts, then quickly becomes second nature.
The Swedish-made blades are sharp and durable, and the build quality punches well above the price tag. The PX-M2 is the medium-sized version, suiting most adult hands — there’s a smaller PX-S2 and a larger PX-L2 if you’d like a more tailored fit.
For gardeners who want a clear step up from budget pruners without spending Felco money, the Bahco PX-M2 is hard to beat. It’s the pair we’d recommend most often to allotment holders and serious hobby gardeners.
What we like:
- Rotating handle reduces blisters and fatigue
- Swedish steel blades stay sharp
- Three sizes available for different hands
- Excellent value at this price
Worth knowing:
- Rotating handle takes a few minutes to get used to
- Replacement parts less widely stocked than Felco
6. Wilkinson Sword Bypass & Anvil Twin Pack
Type: Bypass + Anvil pair | Cutting capacity: up to 20mm | Price: around £20-25
If you’d rather have one pair for green stems and another for woody, dead growth, this Wilkinson Sword twin pack is brilliant value. You get a bypass pruner for clean cuts on living wood and an anvil pruner for crushing through dry, dead branches without straining the bypass blade.
The handles are non-slip plastic with steel cores, and both pairs feature locking catches to keep them safely closed when not in use. They won’t cut as cleanly as a Felco, and the steel won’t hold an edge as long as a Niwaki, but for under £25 you’re getting two perfectly capable tools that cover most general garden pruning.
This is a great starter set for new gardeners, or a sensible second pair to keep in the shed alongside something more premium. We’ve found Wilkinson Sword pruners reliably durable for casual weekly use over several seasons.
What we like:
- Two tools for the price of one budget pair
- Right tool for both green and dead wood
- Locking catches and comfortable grips
- Recognised UK heritage brand
Worth knowing:
- Blades will need replacing rather than sharpening
- Not as precise as premium options
7. Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Advantage
Type: Bypass | Cutting capacity: up to 15mm | Weight: 250g | Price: around £10-15
It’s hard to argue with the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Advantage as a budget option. SK5 carbon steel blades, a non-stick coating and ergonomic handles for around £12 — there’s a reason these regularly top the bestseller list on Amazon UK. They’re not going to last twenty years, but for occasional pruners who tidy up the garden every few weekends, they’re more than enough.
The cutting action is reasonably smooth and the coating helps prevent sap build-up, which is the main reason cheap pruners gum up so quickly. We’d recommend keeping them out of the rain and giving the blades a wipe with WD-40 every few months — basic care that will easily double their working life.
If you’ve never spent more than a tenner on secateurs and you’re wondering whether it’s worth upgrading, start here. Use them for a season, see how often you prune, and you’ll quickly know whether you’d benefit from something more substantial.
What we like:
- Genuinely affordable price
- SK5 steel blades sharper than expected
- Non-stick coating reduces sap build-up
- Widely available at Amazon UK, B&Q and Wilko
Worth knowing:
- Lower cutting capacity (15mm)
- Replacement parts not available — buy a new pair when worn
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Secateurs
Bypass vs Anvil vs Ratchet
Bypass secateurs work like scissors: a sharpened blade slides past a thicker hooked blade, producing a clean cut that heals well on living plants. They’re the right choice for roses, shrubs, perennials and most general garden pruning. Around 90% of gardeners only really need a good pair of bypass pruners.
Anvil secateurs have a single sharpened blade that closes onto a flat metal anvil, crushing through whatever’s between them. They’re brilliant for dry, dead wood — but they bruise living stems, so we don’t recommend them for pruning healthy plants.
Ratchet secateurs cut in stages, mechanically multiplying your hand strength. They’re a good option for gardeners with reduced grip strength or arthritis, though most people find a well-designed bypass like the Felco 8 covers the same ground without the fiddly multi-step action.
What to Look For
Cutting capacity tells you the maximum stem thickness the secateurs will cleanly handle — typically 15mm for budget pairs and 20-25mm for mid-range and premium models. Don’t be tempted to push past this with extra grip pressure: you’ll bruise the stem and damage the blade.
Replaceable parts matter more than people realise. A pair of Felcos that costs £60 today will still be cutting beautifully in 2046 if you replace the spring and blade once or twice along the way. Cheaper pruners are throwaway items by comparison.
Handle ergonomics make a real difference if you prune for more than fifteen minutes at a time. Look for non-slip grips, a curved or rotating lower handle and an overall weight that suits your hand strength.
How Much Should You Spend?
Under £20 is fine for occasional, light pruning — bedding plants, a few rose stems, the odd branch. The Spear & Jackson Razorsharp or the Wilkinson Sword twin pack do this job well.
£25-50 is the sweet spot for most regular gardeners. The Bahco PX-M2 sits squarely in this range and offers genuine quality without premium pricing.
£60+ takes you into Felco and Niwaki territory, where you’re paying for a tool that will outlast every other pair of secateurs you’ve ever owned. If you garden weekly and prune regularly, this is the bracket where the cost-per-cut maths starts working in your favour.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sharpen secateurs at home?
A diamond sharpening file or a small whetstone does the job nicely. Wipe the blades clean, then run the sharpener along the bevelled edge of the cutting blade at the same angle the manufacturer set. Five or six smooth strokes is usually enough. Don’t sharpen the flat back of the blade or the anvil/hook plate.
How often should I clean my secateurs?
Wipe the blades after every use, especially when pruning roses or anything diseased. A quick spray of WD-40 or a wipe with an oily cloth keeps rust at bay and stops sap build-up. Once a season, take them apart for a deeper clean and re-grease the pivot.
Bypass or anvil — which should I buy first?
Bypass, every time. They cover most pruning jobs without bruising living stems, and a good bypass pair will be your most-used garden tool. Add an anvil pair later if you find yourself regularly cutting back dead, woody growth.
Are Felcos worth the money?
If you garden every weekend and prune regularly, yes — the cost per use over twenty years works out at pence. If you only prune a couple of times a year, a £15 Spear & Jackson will serve you perfectly well.
Final Verdict
For most UK gardeners, the Felco 2 remains our top recommendation: it’s a buy-once, last-forever tool that will outlast the garden it tends. If you have smaller hands, choose the Felco 6; if you prune for long stretches, the Felco 8 with its curved handle is the kinder option.
On a tighter budget, the Bahco PX-M2 punches well above its price and offers a rotating handle that genuinely reduces fatigue. And if you just need a pair of secateurs that work without breaking the bank, the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Advantage is a sensible starting point you won’t regret.