Pruning Shears for Small or Arthritic Hands That Cut With Less Squeeze

Ratchet, geared and battery pruners that cut with far less squeeze. Our picks for the best pruning shears for arthritic hands from Fiskars, Gardener's Friend, Felco and Sun Joe, based on Tom's Guide's testing by a farmer through hundreds of cuts.

By Tyler RamirezUpdated October 30, 2026How we pick products

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Hand pruners ask a lot of small joints: a hard squeeze, again and again. With arthritis, carpal tunnel or simply smaller hands, a standard pruner can make an hour in the garden painful.

The fix is mechanical help. A ratchet lets you cut in several small squeezes instead of one big one. Gearing multiplies your hand strength. A battery pruner does the cutting for you. A pruner that fits your hand matters too.

Compare at a glance

Test notes are from Tom's Guide's pruning shear testing, in which a farmer made at least 100 cuts with each pruner on apple and pear wood up to about an inch thick.

1. Fiskars PowerGear2 Softgrip Pruner: Best for arthritis

Who it’s for: Arthritis, carpal tunnel and long pruning sessions.

Tom’s Guide picked the PowerGear2 as its best bypass pruner for carpal tunnel or arthritis. A geared cam gives up to three times the cutting power for the same effort, and the tester found it smooth and comfortable through long sessions. The spring sits where branches won’t knock it out.

What bugs us: It’s right-handed only, and its wide body suits larger hands.

Skip it if: you have small hands or are left-handed. Try the ratchet.

2. Gardener’s Friend Ratchet Pruner: Best for weak grip

Who it’s for: People with very limited grip strength.

Tom’s Guide calls this its best pruner for problem hands. The ratchet splits a tough cut into as many as four small squeezes, so you can get through a 1-inch branch with much less strength. If you have the strength, it can also cut in one squeeze. It includes a knuckle guard.

What bugs us: Thick wood takes several squeezes. It’s an anvil pruner, which can crush soft, live stems, so it’s best on dead wood.

Skip it if: you mostly cut flowers and soft green stems.

3. Felco 6 Pruning Shears: Best for small hands

Who it’s for: Smaller hands, and gardeners who want a pruner for life.

Tom’s Guide’s best overall pruner is Felco’s smaller, lighter model. The ergonomic grip noticeably reduced hand fatigue, and it was still sharp enough to cut paper after more than 100 cuts. Every part can be replaced.

What bugs us: It has no gearing or ratchet, so it won’t help much with a weak grip. It’s designed for right hands, though the tester found it comfortable in the left.

Skip it if: squeezing is painful. Get the Fiskars or ratchet.

4. Sun Joe 3.6V Cordless Power Pruner: Best electric

Who it’s for: Severe arthritis, and lots of small cuts.

Pull the trigger and the motor closes the blade. A two-trigger system prevents accidental cuts. Sun Joe claims up to 750 cuts per charge, and the blades stayed sharp after more than 100 test cuts. It’s good for flowers and thin green stems.

What bugs us: It’s light duty, for live wood under half an inch. At 1.4 pounds, it’s heavier than hand pruners, it isn’t weatherproof, and its width makes close cuts hard. Some owners report battery and blade problems, though Tom’s Guide’s tester didn’t see any.

Skip it if: you need to cut woody branches.

Our research

We relied on Tom’s Guide’s testing, in which a farmer made at least 100 cuts with each pruner on fruit trees and ornamentals and checked cut quality and comfort. We focused on:

• How much strength each cut takes
• Fit for small hands
• Clean cuts
• Durability

We haven’t tested these pruners ourselves. Read more about how we pick products.

Easier pruning tips

• Keep blades sharp and oiled. A dull blade takes far more force.
• Cut at the base of the blades, close to the pivot, where you get the most leverage.
• Use loppers for anything over 3/4 inch. Don’t force a hand pruner. See the best loppers for thick branches.
• Take breaks and switch hands where you can.

Indoors, too? See kitchen tools for arthritic hands.

Still wondering?

Bypass or anvil for arthritis? Anvil pruners and ratchets take less force, especially on dead wood. Bypass pruners cut live stems more cleanly.

Are ratchet pruners good? Yes, for weak hands. They take more squeezes, but each one is easier.

What size pruner for small hands? Look for models sized for small hands, like the Felco 6, or adjustable handle spread.