A good pruning saw is one of those tools you don’t think about until you’re halfway up a stepladder wrestling with a branch that’s far too thick for your secateurs or loppers. Once you’ve got the right saw in your hand, though, jobs that used to take an age – cutting back overgrown shrubs, thinning fruit trees, tidying storm-damaged limbs – suddenly feel almost enjoyable. The trouble is that “pruning saw” covers everything from a £12 folding pocket saw to a professional arborist’s blade costing four or five times as much.
We’ve spent a lot of time cutting green and dead wood with saws across every price bracket, and the good news is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a saw that will last years. Below are the pruning saws we rate most highly for UK gardens in 2026, with a mix of budget, mid-range and premium options so there’s something whether you prune a couple of apple trees each winter or you’re managing a large, mature plot.
How to choose a pruning saw
Folding vs fixed-blade
Most gardeners are best served by a folding saw. The blade tucks safely into the handle, so it lives happily in a coat pocket or tool bag without slicing anything it shouldn’t. Fixed-blade saws (usually supplied with a scabbard or holster) tend to be a little sturdier and better for sustained, heavier cutting, which is why professionals often prefer them – but for occasional garden use, folding wins on convenience and safety.
Blade length and tooth count
As a rough guide, a 130–170mm blade suits light pruning of branches up to about 5cm thick, while a 200–240mm blade will happily tackle limbs of 7–10cm or more. Tooth count matters too: fewer, larger teeth (around 6–7 teeth per inch) cut fast through green wood, while finer teeth leave a cleaner edge but work more slowly. For living branches, faster and slightly rougher is usually the better trade-off, as clean healing depends more on where you cut than on a mirror finish.
Pull-stroke cutting
Almost all modern pruning saws – and every saw on this list – cut on the pull stroke rather than the push. This lets the blade be thin and the teeth aggressive without the blade buckling. If you’re used to a traditional carpentry saw it takes a moment to adjust: let the saw do the work on the way back towards you, and don’t force it forward.
A note on maintenance
The impulse-hardened teeth on most quality pruning saws stay sharp for a very long time but can’t easily be re-sharpened at home – when they finally dull, you replace the blade rather than filing it. Wipe the blade clean of sap after use, keep a light film of oil on it over winter, and it will reward you with years of service.
The best pruning saws UK 2026 at a glance
| Pruning saw | Type | Best for | Approx. price |
| Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Folding | Folding | Best budget all-rounder | Around £15 |
| Draper Folding Garden Saw | Folding | Cheapest capable option | Around £12–16 |
| Bahco Laplander 396-LAP | Folding | Best overall value | Around £22–26 |
| Bahco 384-6T Fixed-Blade | Fixed | Heavier, sustained cutting | Around £18–24 |
| Silky Pocketboy 170 | Folding | Best mid-range folding | Around £38–45 |
| Felco 600 Folding Saw | Folding | Best for precision pruning | Around £40–50 |
| Silky Gomboy 240 | Folding | Best for thick branches | Around £55–65 |
Prices are a guide only and shift with sales and stock – always check the current price before buying. All of these are widely available from Amazon UK, and several are stocked by Screwfix, Toolstation and garden centres too.
1. Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Folding Pruning Saw – best budget all-rounder
If you want a dependable folding saw without spending much, the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp is our first recommendation. It’s a familiar British brand, the blade is a sensible length for general garden work, and the hardened teeth cut green wood far more quickly than the price suggests. The handle has a soft grip and a simple locking mechanism that holds the blade open securely and folds it away safely.
It won’t quite match the speed or longevity of the premium Japanese saws further down this list, and heavy daily use will wear it faster, but for the average gardener pruning shrubs and small trees a few times a year it’s excellent value and hard to fault.
Pros: genuinely inexpensive; trusted UK brand; comfortable grip; cuts cleanly for the money. Cons: blade not as hard-wearing as pricier saws; lock can loosen over years of heavy use.
2. Draper Folding Garden Saw – cheapest capable option
For anyone who just needs a saw to live in the shed for the occasional job, the Draper folding saw is about as affordable as a usable pruning saw gets. It’s light, folds compactly and handles dead wood and thin green branches without complaint. Draper is another long-standing UK tool name, and spares are easy to find.
Be realistic about it: the finish is basic and it will struggle with anything much over 4–5cm, so it’s a light-duty tool rather than a workhorse. But as a cheap spare, a starter saw, or something to keep in the boot of the car, it does the job.
Pros: very cheap; light and compact; fine for light pruning. Cons: limited on thicker branches; basic handle and lock.
3. Bahco Laplander 396-LAP – best overall value
The Bahco Laplander has an almost cult following among gardeners, allotmenteers and bushcrafters, and it’s easy to see why. The 190mm blade with its XT tooth design cuts both green and dry wood impressively well, the plastic handle is comfortable and grippy even in the wet, and the whole thing has a reputation for shrugging off years of hard use. It folds safely and locks in both the open and closed positions.
The teeth are slightly finer than some rivals, so it trades a little outright speed for a cleaner cut – which suits pruning nicely. If we had to pick one saw for the widest range of gardeners, this would be it: affordable enough for casual use, tough enough for regular work.
Pros: superb durability; cuts green and dead wood well; comfortable wet-weather grip; locks open and closed. Cons: slightly slower than coarser-toothed saws; 190mm blade caps you at medium branches.
4. Bahco 384-6T Fixed-Blade Pruning Saw – for heavier, sustained cutting
When you’re doing a lot of cutting in one session – clearing overgrown areas, felling small self-set trees, cutting logs to size – a fixed-blade saw is steadier and more efficient than a folder. The Bahco 384-6T has a curved blade with coarse 6-teeth-per-inch cutting for fast work through green wood, and it usually comes with a plastic scabbard so you can carry it on a belt.
It’s still very affordable, and the extra rigidity makes a real difference on bigger jobs. The obvious downside is that it doesn’t fold, so you need the scabbard on at all times for safe storage and transport. For a dedicated “big jobs” saw, though, it’s hard to beat at the price.
Pros: rigid and efficient for sustained cutting; fast coarse teeth; belt scabbard included; great value. Cons: fixed blade needs careful storage; less pocketable than a folder.
5. Silky Pocketboy 170 – best mid-range folding saw
Silky is the name serious gardeners and arborists tend to gravitate towards, and the Pocketboy 170 is the model that converts most people. The precision-ground Japanese blade cuts noticeably faster and smoother than cheaper saws, gliding through branches that would have you working up a sweat with a budget tool. The rubberised handle is superb, and it folds down small enough to live in a jacket pocket.
You pay more for it, and because the blade is thin you do need to keep your cutting line straight to avoid buckling it. But the cut quality and speed are in a different league, and replacement blades are available when the teeth eventually wear. For a keen gardener who prunes regularly, it’s a genuine pleasure to use.
Pros: exceptional cutting speed and finish; excellent handle; compact; replaceable blade. Cons: noticeably pricier; thin blade can buckle if you cut carelessly.
6. Felco 600 Folding Saw – best for precision pruning
Felco built its reputation on premium Swiss-made secateurs, and the 600 folding saw brings that same precision to sawing. It’s compact and beautifully light, with an aggressive pull-stroke blade that races through green wood up to around 10cm, and a grip that’s comfortable for detailed work in among branches. It slips easily into a back pocket, which is why it’s a favourite for fruit-tree and ornamental pruning where you’re constantly moving around the plant.
Like the Silky, it’s an investment, and it’s optimised for green wood rather than seasoned timber. But if you care about clean, controlled cuts and a saw that feels precise in the hand, the Felco 600 is a joy – and it pairs naturally with a set of Felco secateurs.
Pros: superb on green wood; light and precise; excellent grip; pocketable. Cons: premium price; less suited to dry, seasoned wood.
7. Silky Gomboy 240 – best for thick branches
When your pruning regularly involves properly thick limbs, the extra blade length of the Silky Gomboy 240 pays off. The longer, curved blade lets you take bigger bites and power through branches of 10cm and beyond far more comfortably than a shorter saw. It keeps Silky’s trademark cutting quality, folds safely away, and comes in fine, medium and large tooth options depending on how you balance speed against finish.
It’s the priciest saw here and more than most casual gardeners need, but for larger gardens, orchards or anyone tackling serious tree work by hand, it’s a superb tool that turns daunting cuts into quick ones.
Pros: cuts thick branches with ease; excellent build and blade; tooth options to suit the job. Cons: most expensive option; overkill for light pruning.
Which pruning saw should you buy?
For most UK gardeners, the Bahco Laplander is the sweet spot – tough, versatile and affordable, and it will handle the vast majority of pruning jobs for years. If money is tight or you only need something for occasional light work, the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp folding saw is our value pick, with the Draper folder as an ultra-cheap spare.
If you prune often and want the best experience, step up to the Silky Pocketboy 170 for everyday folding use, or the Felco 600 if you do a lot of precise fruit-tree and ornamental work. And when thick branches are a regular part of the job, the Silky Gomboy 240 – or the fixed-blade Bahco 384-6T for heavy clearing sessions – will save you real time and effort.
Whichever you choose, remember that a sharp, appropriately sized saw is safer than forcing an undersized one: let the teeth do the work, cut just outside the branch collar, and keep the blade clean and lightly oiled. For lighter cuts you’ll still reach for your secateurs and loppers, so a good pruning saw simply completes the trio – see our guides to the best secateurs and best loppers for the rest of your cutting kit.
Frequently asked questions
What size pruning saw do I need?
For general garden pruning, a folding saw with a 150–190mm blade covers most jobs, handling branches up to roughly 7cm. If you regularly cut thicker limbs, choose a 200–240mm blade.
Should a pruning saw cut on the push or pull stroke?
Nearly all modern pruning saws cut on the pull stroke, which allows a thin, aggressive blade. Apply pressure as you draw the saw towards you and ease off on the return.
Can I sharpen a pruning saw blade?
Most have impulse-hardened teeth that hold an edge for a very long time but aren’t practical to re-sharpen at home. On quality saws like Silky and Felco you simply fit a replacement blade when the teeth eventually wear.
When is the best time to prune in the UK?
It depends on the plant, but a lot of structural pruning of deciduous trees and shrubs is done in late autumn to late winter while they’re dormant. Avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs until just after they’ve flowered, and check the specific needs of fruit trees.
