The best loppers, compared.
Top pick: Spear & Jackson 8100RS – Largest review file in this set: 4.6 from 6,529 amazon.co.uk reviews, with 42 mm on both the bullet and the cutting-width field. Best value: AIRAJ 43 cm bypass – About £12.99 with 4.4 from 857 reviews, a bypass head, and 3 cm on both the bullet and the cutting-width field. Updated 22.10.2026.
Loppers are the two-handed pruning tool for growth that is too thick for secateurs and still small enough to cut cleanly from the ground. UK shoppers use them on shrubs, small trees, and woody vines. You tell a suitable lopper by the cutting action, the stated cut you will not exceed, a lock that holds, blades that meet, and a weight you can lift with both hands. A bypass head slices living wood. An anvil head crushes onto a block and suits dead or hard wood, and it can crush green growth you wanted to keep. Printed capacities often sit around 30–50 mm. Advice from the Royal Horticultural Society keeps hand tools under 2.5 cm on trees and moves to a saw after that. If the handles twist or bend, stop. A telescope adds length from the ground. It is not a ladder. Hedge shears and a pole saw are different tools. Carry loppers closed, wear gloves, and wear a hard hat overhead. Cutting action, reach, and force help are set out in the [loppers buying guide](/hub/garden-tree-and-hedge-shears/loppers/sub/loppers-buying-guide).
Loppers are the two-handed pruning tool for growth that is too thick for secateurs and still small enough to cut cleanly from the ground. UK shoppers use them on shrubs, small trees, and woody vines.
36 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +22,800 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What describes the job?
The Spear & Jackson 8100RS is about £22.86 with 4.6 from 6,529 amazon.co.uk reviews, the largest sample in this set, and it ranks first in Hand Loppers. The bullet and the cutting-width field both say 42 mm on a telescopic anvil ratchet listed at 1.58 kg. That review depth is why it is the top pick when you sort by stars and then by review count, and it is still an anvil, so it is the wrong head for living wood you want to keep. One bullet puts maximum length at 800 mm and, in the same sentence, 72 cm or 28 inches, while the size field says 67 cm and the dimensions field says 68.5 cm. UK reviews say the twist-and-lock arms shorten during a cut if the lock is not secured. One review reports a ratchet bolt that snapped after about two years, with no spare found. The included line names the lopper only. Skip it if you cannot hold 1.58 kg overhead or if you need a bypass slice.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the deepest UK review file in this set for dead or hard wood you will not push past 42 mm.
Less suitable: Living stems you want to keep, overhead work at 1.58 kg, or a single length figure with no conflict.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the 8100RS?
The telescopic bullet says a maximum of 800 mm and, in the same sentence, 72 cm or 28 inches. Those figures do not match. The size field says 67 x 29 x 4 cm and the dimensions field says 68.5 x 29 cm.
What is the stated cut?
The bullet and the cutting-width field both say 42 mm. The blade is C50 carbon steel with a PTFE coating, on aluminium handles. The listing weight is 1.58 kg.
Does the twist lock hold?
The bullet says a twist-and-lock extension. UK reviews say the arms shorten during a cut if that lock is not secured. One review reports a ratchet bolt that snapped after about two years, with no spare found.
The Kimura Pro 302 is about £44.99 with 4.6 from 179 reviews, the same star line as the Spear & Jackson 8100RS on a far smaller file. The bullet and the cutting-width field both say 35 mm, one of the few capacities in this set that does not fight itself. Handles run 650–950 mm with easy-twist locks, at a listed 1.26 kg, lighter than the 1.58 kg 8100RS, and the bullet's line of up to 3 times the cutting power is the seller's claim. UK reviews include a stiff or fiddly twist at first, then a lock that held. There is no spare blade, and a lifetime warranty in the bullet is not a measured blade life, so a fault still sits with your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. It is the lighter telescopic anvil if 35 mm and about £44.99 are acceptable. It is not the top pick, because 179 reviews are not 6,529.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want 35 mm agreed in both places, 650–950 mm of reach, and a listed 1.26 kg.
Less suitable: The deepest review file, a price near £23, or a bypass for living wood.
Specifications
Common questions
How thick a branch does the listing claim?
The bullet and the cutting-width field both say 35 mm. The same bullet says compound action multiplies cutting power by up to 3 times. That multiplier is the seller's line, not a test.
Do the handles extend?
Yes. The bullet and the size field say 650–950 mm, with easy-twist locks. UK reviews include a stiff or fiddly twist at first, then a lock that held.
Is a spare blade included?
No. Included components say a lopper only. The bullet claims a lifetime warranty and says to contact the seller if you are unsatisfied. A warranty line is not a measured blade life.
The AIRAJ 2206 is a telescopic bypass at about £15.99, with 4.6 from 108 reviews, a much smaller file than the 6,529 reviews on the Spear & Jackson that shares the same star line. The title, the bullet, and the size field say 43–60 cm, while the dimensions field says 28 x 2 cm, which does not match, and the model line says mini lopper. Listed weight is 1.12 kg. The bullet says 3.5 cm and the cutting-width field says 3 cm, so the lower figure is the one to stay under if you do not want to exceed a printed number. UK reviews say the twist locks loosen, so the arms shorten during a cut unless they are tightened again. The listing does not name a safety button. The same 4.6 does not make this the same evidence as a file of thousands, and a slipping lock is the reason to leave it if the handles must stay out.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a short telescopic bypass around £16 and you will retighten the twist locks before each cut.
Less suitable: A lock that must stay out on its own, or a single capacity when the bullet and the field disagree.
Specifications
Common questions
How far do the handles extend?
The title, the bullet, and the size field say 43–60 cm. The dimensions field says 28 x 2 cm, which does not match that range. The model line says mini lopper.
What cut does the listing print?
The bullet says 3.5 cm. The cutting-width field says 3 cm. Use the lower figure if you do not want to exceed a printed number, and stop if the handles twist.
Do the locks stay put?
The listing does not name a safety button. UK reviews say the twist locks loosen, so the arms shorten during a cut unless they are tightened again.
The Spear & Jackson 8090RS is a telescopic bypass ratchet at about £36.95, with 4.5 from 1,147 reviews. The cutting-width field says 42 mm and the bullets do not repeat that figure. The blade is C50 carbon steel with a PTFE coating, on aluminium handles, at a listed 1.62 kg. The bullets say the handles extend with a twist-and-lock and do not print a centimetre range. The dimensions field says 67 x 27.5 cm and the size field says 75.11 x 10.59 cm. UK reviews include handles that bent on a branch of about 1 to 1.5 inches and then would not retract, a nicked or bent blade, and ratchet assistance that stopped after about five months. It is the bypass ratchet here if you want a slice rather than an anvil and you can live without one printed length. It is a weak choice if you needed the 8100RS review count or handles that stayed straight on that 1 to 1.5 inch stem.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a bypass ratchet around a 42 mm field and you accept that the length is not one printed range.
Less suitable: A single length you can quote, or a stem in the 1 to 1.5 inch band where reviews report bent handles.
Specifications
Common questions
How long are the handles?
The bullets say the handles extend with a twist-and-lock mechanism and do not print a centimetre range. The dimensions field says 67 x 27.5 cm. The size field says 75.11 x 10.59 cm.
What cut is printed?
The cutting-width field says 42 mm. The bullets do not repeat that figure. The blade line is C50 carbon steel with PTFE, and the listing weight is 1.62 kg.
What failed in UK reviews?
Reviews include handles that bent on a branch of about 1 to 1.5 inches and then would not retract, a nicked or bent blade, and ratchet assistance that stopped after about five months.
The AIRAJ 2046 is a fixed bypass lopper at about £12.99, with 4.4 from 857 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullet and the cutting-width field both say 3 cm, for live branches, thorns, and small woody vines, on aluminium handles listed at 43 cm and 660 g. The title says a gear drive, while one bullet also says a ratchet and that cutting ability can be increased by 3 times, which is the seller's line rather than a test. UK reviews say the handles are shorter than the photos and are not adjustable. No spare blade is named, and the card does not name a carry lock. At this price and weight it is the best value when the stem is already within reach and you want a bypass slice. It is the wrong buy if you needed extending handles or a cut past the printed 3 cm.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a short bypass for living stems inside a printed 3 cm, at about £12.99 and 660 g, without paying for telescopic tubes.
Less suitable: A high branch, an extending handle, or any stem you would push past the printed 3 cm.
Specifications
Common questions
Do the handles extend?
No. The size field and the product style say 43 cm. The material field also says 17 inches, which is the same length. UK reviews say the handles are shorter than the photos and are not adjustable.
Is this a gear lopper or a ratchet?
The title says a gear drive. One bullet says a ratchet design and that cutting ability can be increased by 3 times. That multiplier is the seller's line, not a test.
How thick a branch does the listing claim?
The bullet and the cutting-width field both say 3 cm, for live branches, thorns, and small woody vines. A spare blade is not named.
The HAUTMEC telescopic anvil is about £39.99 with 4.4 from 248 reviews. The title ends HT0149-UK and the model field says HT0461, both on the same amazon.co.uk page. The bullet says 70–95 cm, 5 cm on fresh wood, and 3.5 cm on dried wood, while the size field says 68–94 cm and the cutting-width field says 2 inches. Listed weight is 1.53 kg, the listing names a safety release lock button, and the seller's 3 times compound line is not a test. The blade bullet says chrome-vanadium with Teflon and the field says high carbon steel. Included components say a hand lopper only, the page asks whether the blade can be replaced without answering, and UK reviews include a snapped blade and a slide lock that broke after a drop on the handle. Use the dried 3.5 cm line when the wood is hard, and stop if the lock has already failed once.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a telescopic anvil with a named lock button and you will stay inside the dried 3.5 cm line on hard wood.
Less suitable: One model number, one length, or a blade the listing says you can replace.
Specifications
Common questions
Which model number is on the listing?
The title ends HT0149-UK. The model field and the part number say HT0461. Both are on the same amazon.co.uk page.
What length and cut are printed?
The bullet says 70–95 cm, 5 cm on fresh wood, and 3.5 cm on dried wood. The size field says 68–94 cm. The cutting-width field says 2 inches. The seller says the compound lever multiplies force by 3 times. That is not a test.
Can the blade be replaced?
The listing asks the question and does not answer it. Included components say a hand lopper only. UK reviews include a snapped blade and a slide lock that broke after a drop on the handle.
The AIRAJ 618991 is about £30.99 with 4.4 from 137 reviews, and the listing does not agree with itself about the head. The title, the product style, and the included-components line say anvil, the blade-type field says bypass, and the bullet describes a serrated shark-mouth block, which is anvil-style. The size and the bullet say 70–90 cm, the point-style field says 68–88 cm, the bullet says about 5 cm, and the cutting-width field says 5.5 cm. The title says SK5 and the bullet says 55C carbon steel. Listed weight is 2.05 kg, the heaviest single lopper here, and UK reviews often call them heavy to lift once the handles are extended. The seller says a four-point lever gives 3 times the force, which is not a test, and there is no spare blade. Treat the photos as the head, and leave it if you need one length and one capacity you can quote.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have checked the photos, you want anvil-style reach toward 70 cm, and you can hold 2.05 kg.
Less suitable: A bypass you can trust from the blade-type field, or a single printed length and cut.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the head an anvil or a bypass?
The title, the product style, and the included-components line say anvil. The blade-type field says bypass. The bullet describes a serrated shark-mouth block, which is anvil-style.
Which length and cut should you trust?
The size and the bullet say 70–90 cm. The point-style field says 68–88 cm. The bullet says about 5 cm. The cutting-width field says 5.5 cm. The title says SK5 and the bullet says 55C.
How heavy are they?
The listing weight is 2.05 kg. UK reviews often call them heavy to lift, especially with the handles extended. The included line names the lopper only, not a spare blade.
This AIRAJ telescopic bypass is about £19.99 with 4.3 from 3,592 reviews, the second-largest sample in the set, and it ranks second in Hand Loppers. The title and the cutting-width field both say 3.5 cm. The handles are listed at 42–61 cm, which the bullet also prints as 16–24 inches, at 900 g. UK reviews say the box reads mini loppers and that the tool is shorter than the photos. The bullets do not name the lock, and reviews describe a twist that loosens under pressure and needs tightening again. The blade bullet says SK5 with a Teflon coating, while the blade-material field says high carbon steel. It is a short telescope for a living stem inside 3.5 cm if you retighten the lock. It is a poor match if you wanted a full-size tree lopper or a lock the listing actually names.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a widely reviewed short bypass telescope and you will check the real length against the 42–61 cm line.
Less suitable: A full-length tree lopper, or a lock you can leave alone once it is set.
Specifications
Common questions
Are these full-size tree loppers?
The title says heavy duty and 42–61 cm. UK reviews say the box reads mini loppers and that the tool is shorter than the photos. The listing weight is 900 g.
What cut does the listing claim?
The title and the cutting-width field both say 3.5 cm. The bullet says the blade is SK5 with a Teflon coating. The blade-material field says high carbon steel.
How do the handles lock?
The bullets say the handles adjust from 16 to 24 inches and do not name the lock. UK reviews describe a twist that loosens under pressure and needs tightening again.
The VonHaus 3500237 is a three-piece set at about £34.99, with 4.2 from 435 reviews, not a single lopper. The bullet includes hedge shears, a tree lopper, and secateurs, and the 3.64 kg figure is the kit weight. A lopper jaw is not stated: the cutting-width field says 230 mm, which belongs to the kit and is not the jaw, while lopper handles in the bullet run 44–77 cm and the shears are 33–50.5 cm. The blade-type field says bypass for the lopper, the bullets say the tools are telescopic, and they do not name the lock. UK reviews include lopper arms that would not lock, shears that dented or snapped, and secateurs that bent or did not meet. Buy the set if you want all three tools in one box and you can accept an unstated lopper cut. Skip it if you came for a named jaw or for the leading lopper listing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want shears, a lopper, and secateurs together and you do not need a printed lopper jaw.
Less suitable: A single lopper with a stated cut, or a lock the listing names.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the box?
The bullet says hedge shears, a tree lopper, and secateurs. The number-of-items field is 3. The 3.64 kg weight is the kit weight.
What is the lopper's cutting width?
A lopper jaw is not stated. The cutting-width field says 230 mm. Treat that as a kit field, not as the jaw. Lopper handle length in the bullet is 44–77 cm. The shears are 33–50.5 cm.
Do the extending handles lock?
The bullets say the tools are telescopic and do not name the lock. UK reviews include lopper arms that would not lock, shears that dented or snapped, and secateurs that bent or did not meet.
The AIRAJ 616C91F is a fixed 53 cm lopper at about £18.99, with 4.1 from 103 reviews, the lowest star line in this set. The title says a 4 cm cut, while the cutting-width field says 52 cm, which conflicts with the title and is not the jaw. There is no blade-type field. The bullets describe a thickened cutting pad that the blade cuts onto, and UK reviews describe a cup or a toothed platform, so this is anvil-style rather than a bypass. The title says a gear drive and a bullet also says a ratchet and 3 times, which is seller wording. Listed weight is 1.1 kg on iron handles that UK reviews say do not extend, and it ranks 48th in Hand Loppers. Buy it only after you have checked the head in the photos, and do not treat 52 cm as a capacity.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a fixed anvil-style pad at 53 cm and you have checked the photos, staying inside the 4 cm title.
Less suitable: A bypass for living fruit wood, or anyone who would read the 52 cm field as the jaw.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the jaw 52 cm?
No. The title says a 4 cm cutting capacity. The cutting-width field says 52 cm. That field conflicts with the title and is not the jaw.
Is this a bypass or an anvil?
There is no blade-type field. The bullets describe a thickened cutting pad that the blade cuts onto, and UK reviews describe a cup or a toothed platform. That is anvil-style.
Do the handles extend?
No. The title and the size field say 53 cm. UK reviews confirm they are not extendable. The listing weight is 1.1 kg.
Scores compare the ten amazon.co.uk loppers kept in this set. Prices, stars, and review counts are the listing lines in the product file, saved on 19 October 2026. There is no laboratory test and no magazine win. Each score starts from the amazon.co.uk star rating, then adds a review-volume term. Head, stated cut, reach, lock, and weight decide who each listing is for. A printed multiplier such as three times the force stays a seller claim. The weights below sum to 100. They describe this set only.
Cutting action
25%A bypass head slices and suits living wood. An anvil head crushes onto a block and suits dead or hard wood. An anvil is not a stronger bypass.
Stated capacity
20%Stay inside the printed cut, then stop. Listings here often print about 30–50 mm. If the handles twist or bend, that figure has already been exceeded.
Reach and lock
20%A telescope adds length from the ground. It is not a ladder. A lock that slips shortens the arms during the cut, which UK reviews mention often.
Force help and weight
15%A ratchet cuts in steps. A compound or gear line may claim more force. That multiplier is not a measured result. A heavy head tires you overhead.
Price and review evidence
20%Shelf price sits beside the amazon.co.uk star line and the review count. A 4.6 from 179 ratings is not the same evidence as a 4.6 from 6,529.
Choose by cutting action, the stated cut you will not exceed, reach from the ground, and a weight you can lift. A large review count does not turn an anvil into a bypass, and a telescope is not a ladder. Prices below are the amazon.co.uk lines saved on 19 October 2026.
Loppers are two-handed cutters for stems that have outgrown secateurs and are still small enough to cut from the ground. A bypass head slices and suits living wood. An anvil head crushes onto a block and suits dead or hard wood. Using an anvil as a stronger bypass is a common mistake, because the block can crush green growth you wanted to keep. Either head can be fixed or telescopic, and the force help can be a ratchet, a compound link, or a gear claim.
An anvil crushes onto a block. It suits dead or hard wood. On living wood you want to keep, that crush is the reason to choose a bypass head instead.
Listings often print about 30–50 mm. If the handles twist or bend, stop. A field such as 52 cm or 230 mm is not the jaw.
A telescope adds length from the ground. It is not a ladder and not a pole saw. A lock that slips shortens the arms during the cut.
Bypass for living wood, anvil for dead or hard wood. Stay inside the figure the listing prints in more than one place, and use the lower number when the bullet and the field disagree. About 30–50 mm is the band these cards use. The Royal Horticultural Society keeps hand tools under 2.5 cm on trees. A seller line of three times the force is not a test, and a lifetime warranty line is not a measured blade life.
Fixed handles avoid a slipping lock and also limit you to the printed length. A telescope is for reach from the ground, and only if the lock holds. UK reviews often say arms shorten unless the lock is tightened again. Check the listed weight before you work overhead. A kit weight is the whole box, not the lopper on its own. Collar cuts, nest checks, and consent sit on the how-to page linked above.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You prune living stems you can already reach, and you do not want telescopic tubes. The AIRAJ 43 cm bypass is about £12.99, at 4.4 from 857 reviews, with 3 cm on the bullet and the cutting-width field, listed at 660 g. UK reviews say the handles are shorter than the photos. Skip it for a high branch or anything past the printed 3 cm.
You want the largest amazon.co.uk review file in this set for dead or hard wood inside 42 mm. The Spear & Jackson 8100RS is about £22.86, at 4.6 from 6,529 reviews, on a telescopic anvil ratchet listed at 1.58 kg. It can crush living wood you want to keep. Skip it if you cannot hold that weight overhead.
You want a bypass slice rather than an anvil, and the handles should extend. The Spear & Jackson 8090RS is about £36.95, at 4.5 from 1,147 reviews, with a 42 mm cutting-width field and a listed 1.62 kg. The bullets do not print one centimetre range. Reviews include handles that bent on a branch of about 1 to 1.5 inches.
In this set the top pick is the Spear & Jackson 8100RS: about £22.86, 4.6 from 6,529 amazon.co.uk reviews, with 42 mm on the bullet and the cutting-width field. It is a telescopic anvil ratchet listed at 1.58 kg, so it is the wrong head for living wood you want to keep. The best value is the AIRAJ 43 cm bypass at about £12.99, 4.4 from 857 reviews, with 3 cm printed in both places and a listed 660 g. A living stem that needs a bypass ratchet is the Spear & Jackson 8090RS, and its length is not one printed range. A lighter telescopic anvil with 35 mm in both places is the Kimura Pro 302, at about £44.99 and 179 reviews, which is not the same evidence as 6,529.
Spear & Jackson 8100RS
Largest review file in this set: 4.6 from 6,529 amazon.co.uk reviews, with 42 mm on both the bullet and the cutting-width field.
AIRAJ 43 cm bypass
About £12.99 with 4.4 from 857 reviews, a bypass head, and 3 cm on both the bullet and the cutting-width field.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources for cutting action, tree cuts, nests, hedgerow dates, and the 30-day right to reject. Listing prices, stars, and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines saved on 19 October 2026.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars, and review counts are the UK listing lines. We did not run a lab test.
