The best loppers 2020: get excellent cutting performance with our top buys

Pruning is an essential garden task so having the best loppers to hand will make gardening tasks that little bit easier. Many of the trees and shrubs in your garden will need pruning to improve their shape, remove dead growth, and to keep them healthy so they’ll produce flowers and berries.

Loppers are a necessity if the branches you’re cutting are too big for secateurs or perhaps because they’re hard to reach. 

But which are the best loppers to suit what you’re growing in the garden – and your budget? That’s where we come in. We’ve tracked down the best selection for your needs, so just scroll down for the top buys, then head to our garden tools hub for more great buying advice. 

The best loppers 2020

This model is telescopic, so it can help you prune easily in hard to reach areas, and get good leverage.

Length changer

With a twist and lock mechanism, you can adjust the handle length of this lopper between 48 and 80cm.

In aluminium

Handles made from aluminium keep the weight of this lopper down, but bear in mind that you’ll still be supporting 1.4kg of weight with your arms raised.

Rust preventer

The blades are made from carbon steel and PTFE coated to resist rust and make cutting smooth.

If you like the idea of lopping with the press of a button rather than by two-handed manual operation, this is the model for you.

In one

Manual loppers need two hands, but with this model you can cut with one, allowing you to hold on to a ladder with the other hand when you’re working high up.

Branch hook

A hook’s built in to help you remove high loose branches or anything that gets stuck when you’ve cut it.

On charge

Fully charged, the battery should last through 240 cuts, and the LCD display will let you know how much time you have left. You will have to buy both battery and charger in addition to the lopper, though.

Cut branches up to 3.8cm in diameter with this lightweight design that includes a hook head for branch removal.

Easy lift

If you’re concerned about lifting loppers, the 0.55kg weight of this model could be the solution. The modest heft is thanks to reinforced fibreglass plastic handles. 

Slice through

The blades have a non-stick coating to make cutting smooth and the results clean. The lower blade is curved for better catching of the branch you’re cutting.

Stay sharp

Invest in the separate maintenance kit to keep the blade sharp. The blade can also be replaced so your tool lasts longer.

If you have a long list of buys for your garden on a set budget, this lopper might save the day with its value price point.

Twist and lock

You can extend the handles of this lopper from 49.5 to 79.5cm to reach the branches you need to, then twist and lock to keep them in place.

Cleaner cut

The blades are hardened and tempered non stick to help you cut through fresh wood.

Think size

A maximum cutting width of 3cm means you won’t be able to deal with the larger branches some other designs allow, but this lopper should be sufficient for plenty of tasks.

This model will prove easy to manoeuvre if you don’t need to reach too far to prune with its 50cm length. 

Tidy up

You can hang this lopper up by positioning the hole in the blades on a peg or hook, or use the hole in the handles instead. Either way, it’ll prevent you losing track of it in a tangle of tools.

Sharpen up

The blades of this model can be sharpened for a longer life. They’re coated to reduce friction when you’re cutting, too.

Keep working

The handles have a rubberised cover to improve grip and make your garden tasks more comfortable to carry out.

Need to cut dead or hard wood? These anvil loppers are up to the work these garden tasks involve.

Go longer

Handles that extend from 54 to 76cm allow you to reach high branches more easily with this model.

Arm saver

A weight of 1kg can help you keep your arms up for longer. The handles are made from aluminium to keep the design lighter.

Stay safe

There’s a flip-lock mechanism on this lopper so the blades will stay securely closed when they’re not in use.

For hard to reach areas of your garden, try this telescopic lopper that’ll cut cleanly to keep your plants healthy.

Strength saver

Aluminium handles make this a lightweight lopper so you don’t expend too much muscle power on lifting.

Get a grip

Rubber handles make this a comfortable option to hold and will help you keep on pruning for longer.

All round

This model will tackle general pruning jobs around the garden and the non-stick blades will help keep what you’re cutting healthy.

How to choose the best loppers

While you can do plenty of the pruning you need to around your garden with secateurs, for tougher pruning jobs on woody stems and branches, loppers should be in your garden toolkit.

Types of loppers

Pick from bypass loppers and anvil loppers when you’re buying. For most jobs it’s bypass loppers that will fit the bill. Like scissors, they have two blades that should create the cleanest cut on live wood.

If you need to cut hard, dead wood, look for an anvil lopper. These have one blade and then a flat edge so crush as well as cut. These can do the jobs that would bend bypass loppers.

Cutting diameter

Make sure the design you choose can cope with the size of branches you’re going to be cutting. Some aren’t made for bigger diameters but that won’t matter if you’re not going to be tackling larger branches. 

Blade material

Blades are generally made from steel and hardened or carbon steel is preferable. Some have a non-stick coating, which can help them stay free of stickiness.

Handle length

If handles are longer you’ll get more leverage on branches, which can make your work easier. On the other hand, longer handles can be more unwieldy, so don’t go longer than you need to tackle the pruning in your garden. You might want to opt for a telescopic lopper that allows you to extend the handles only when required. Look for lockable designs.

Think weight

If weight will be a concern, opt for designs with aluminium or fibreglass handles to lessen your load.

Maintenance concerns

If you want a lopper to see you through many years in the garden, look for a model with blades you can sharpen, and replace.

More on garden tools: 

• How to use a pressure washer: get your patio sparkling in no time 
• The best secateurs: top buys for a perfectly pruned garden
• Best gardening gloves: stylish and functional picks for every budget