The best secateurs, compared.
Top pick: DECERK ratchet Best value: WORKPRO 200 mm – About £7.99 with 4.6 from 1,755 reviews, a named bypass and a printed 19 mm cut, the clear low price with a large review count. Updated 22.10.2026.
Secateurs are one-handed pruners for roses, shrubs and thin woody stems. You buy them in the UK when a knife would crush the shoot and a two-handed lopper is too large. The Royal Horticultural Society treats growth under about 2.5 cm as secateur or lopper work, and thicker wood as a saw. Bypass blades slide past each other and suit living green wood. An anvil closes one blade onto a block and suits dead or hard wood, because that jaw can crush green tissue. A ratchet takes hard wood in several smaller squeezes. It does not turn an anvil into a bypass. A sound pair has a sharp bevel, a lock that stays shut, a spring that reopens the blades, and one cut figure you do not exceed. If a page prints two diameters, use the smaller one. Ambidextrous means either hand can hold the tool, not a blade mirrored for the left hand. Steel grades and non-stick coatings stay listing claims. Wipe sap, oil the pivot, and sharpen the bevel only. See the [secateurs buying guide](/hub/garden-tree-and-hedge-shears/secateurs/sub/secateurs-buying-guide).
Secateurs are one-handed pruners for roses, shrubs and thin woody stems. You buy them in the UK when a knife would crush the shoot and a two-handed lopper is too large.
42 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +24,800 readers
Swipe for more
1-2 of 12
Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you cutting?
The DECERK ratchet at £23.99 is the lightest single tool in this set at 167 g, with a stated 19 mm cut and a Teflon claim on an SK5 blade. The title says ratchet anvil, the bullets describe S mode for a direct cut on fresh stems and R mode for a ratchet cut on tougher wood, and the attribute blade type says Anvil, Bypass. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.8 from 8 ratings, with seven UK reviews. Those texts are positive about the switch, the lock and woody cuts, including one buyer with limited hand mobility, but the sample is too small to treat as a durability result. The specification colour is orange, and some reviews describe pink. A built-in spring is claimed, and no spare spring is listed.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a light ratchet for woody stems within 19 mm, and you accept that eight ratings cannot prove a season of use.
Less suitable: You mostly cut live green wood or roses, or you need a review count in the hundreds before you pay £23.99.
Specifications
Common questions
What do S and R mean on this listing?
The bullets say S mode for a direct cut on fresh stems and R mode for a ratchet cut on tougher wood. The title says ratchet anvil.
Why is the action field mixed?
The attribute blade type says Anvil, Bypass, while the title says ratchet anvil. The listing contains both.
How solid is the 4.8 rating?
The listing line is 4.8 from 8 ratings, with seven UK reviews. That is a small sample. Colour on the table is orange; some reviews describe pink.
DECERK DDGJ-JD at £19.97 is a bypass with a stated 20 mm cut, also written as 3/4 inch in the title, and a weight of 250 g. The bullets say Japanese SK5 hardened to 60 HRC, plus chrome, a titanium layer and PTFE, and they print a 5,000 test-cut line. The attribute table says titanium. Both are on the listing, and neither hardness figure is an independent test. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.7 from 2,402 reviews. Included components name replacement springs, and UK reviews mention the spare. A thumb lock is claimed. Aluminium and rubber handles are the grip line.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 20 mm bypass with a large review count and spare springs, and you will treat the steel lines as a conflict.
Less suitable: You need one material named once, or you want the same review depth closer to £10.
Specifications
Common questions
What steel does the DECERK bypass listing name?
The bullets say Japanese SK5 hardened to 60 HRC, plus chrome, a titanium layer, and PTFE. The attribute table says titanium. Both are on the listing.
What cut is claimed?
20 mm, also written as 3/4 inch in the title. Weight is 250 g.
Is there a spare spring?
Yes. Included components name highly elastic replacement springs. UK reviews mention the spare.
The WORKPRO two-piece set at £9.99 is a 200 mm bypass secateur plus 160 mm shears, with a stated 19 mm cut on the pruner and a set weight of 380 g. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.7 from 1,014 reviews. The listing prints both SK5 and stainless steel, and it does not choose one. UK reviews say both tools have a safety lock. One review says the smaller spring can nip the hand. A spare spring is not in the components line. Country of origin is China. You are buying two tools, not a heavier single pruner.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a bypass for stems within 19 mm and a small pair of shears for tidying, in one £9.99 purchase.
Less suitable: You want one steel grade named once, or you only need a single pruner and would rather have a spare spring.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the WORKPRO two-piece set?
The listing describes 200 mm bypass secateurs and 160 mm shears. The set weight is 380 g.
Do both tools lock?
The highlight names a safety lock, and UK reviews say both tools have one. One review says the smaller spring can nip the hand.
Which steel is listed?
The listing prints both SK5 and stainless steel. Both strings stay because the page does not choose one.
SOLODOTO at £19.84 is titled as bypass SK5 secateurs with a Teflon claim, aluminium-alloy handles and a stated 16 mm cut, while the blade-type attribute says triple-bevel. Both descriptions are printed. It weighs 265 g. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.7 from 18 reviews, and twelve UK reviews were read. One says the edge was not as sharp as expected. A lock appears in a UK review rather than on a specification line, and one UK review says a spare spring was in the box though the components line does not list one. Eighteen ratings is a small sample next to the Kynup and Spear & Jackson lines.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You can accept a 16 mm listing whose action lines disagree, and you do not need thousands of reviews.
Less suitable: You want one action named the same way in the title and the table, or a price closer to the £8–£13 bypasses with larger samples.
Specifications
Common questions
Bypass or triple-bevel?
The title says bypass. The blade-type attribute says triple-bevel. Both are printed. The cut line says 16 mm.
How many ratings are on the listing line?
4.7 from 18. Twelve UK reviews were read. One says the edge was not as sharp as expected.
Is a spare spring listed?
Not in the components line. One UK review says a spare spring was in the box.
The Kynup V-11 at £9.99 is a bypass with SK-5 steel in the bullets, aluminium handles and a spare spring in the box. The bullets say cuts up to 25 mm and the attribute table says 1 inch, so both figures stay rather than one cleaned-up number. It weighs 300 g. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 from 9,969 reviews, the largest count in this set. The table says ambidextrous, yet one left-handed UK reviewer called them right-handed and disliked the lock. The sap-resistant surface is a listing claim, not a lab result. It is the top pick here for ordinary live pruning when you want a spare spring and that review count.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want one bypass for ordinary live pruning, a spare spring, and the largest review count in this set.
Less suitable: You need a mirrored left-hand blade, or you want a single cut figure with no second number on the same page.
Specifications
Common questions
How thick a cut does the Kynup listing claim?
The bullets say up to 25 mm. The attribute table says 1 inch. Those figures are both on the listing.
Is it a left-handed pair?
The table says ambidextrous. One left-handed UK reviewer called them right-handed and disliked the lock.
Is a spare spring included?
Yes. The included-components line says one secateur and one spare spring.
VOTREK C800 at £12.99 is titled as a bypass with a stated 20 mm cut and SK5 in the highlight. The attribute table does not include a blade-type line, and the materials lines print both high carbon steel and alloy steel. It weighs 227 g, with a 6.5 cm blade and nylon handles. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 from 1,873 reviews, and UK reviews often praise the slide lock. One review says there is no hand-stop, so the hand slips when the grip is wet, and another reviewer needed strong hands to finish the close. A spare spring is not in the components line. A sealed spring is a listing claim.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a mid-weight bypass around a stated 20 mm and a slide lock, and your grip stays dry.
Less suitable: You need a hand-stop in the wet, a spare spring, or a blade-type line that the table itself prints.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the C800 a bypass pruner?
The title says bypass. The attribute table does not include a blade-type line. The cutting-width line says 20 mm.
What is the lock?
The bullets claim a slide lock. UK reviews often praise it. One review says there is no hand-stop, so the hand slips when wet.
Is a spare spring included?
The included-components line says secateurs only. A spare spring is not listed.
The WORKPRO 200 mm at £7.99 is a bypass secateur with a stated 19 mm cut, SK5 blades and a safety lock in the highlight. It weighs 220 g, and the size line is 20.3 x 6.4 cm. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 from 1,755 reviews. One UK review says a 20 mm branch took more than one cut, which is just past the printed ceiling. Another found the top switch difficult until it was loosened. The included-components line names the shear only, so a spare spring is not in the box. Country of origin is China. It is the best value here: a named bypass at the low price, with a review count in the thousands.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a low-priced bypass for live stems within the stated 19 mm, and you want a review count in the thousands.
Less suitable: You need a spare spring in the box, or you regularly cut stems past 19 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
What cut does the WORKPRO 200 mm listing claim?
The listing says branches up to 19 mm. One UK review says a 20 mm branch took more than one cut.
Does the listing include a safety lock?
The item highlight names a safety lock. One UK review found the top switch difficult until it was loosened.
Is a spare spring in the box?
The included-components line names the shear only. A spare spring is not listed.
The tazoueoo four-pack at £10.99 is four stainless snips and shears, about 14.5 to 21 cm long, rather than one heavy pruner with a stem diameter. The 21 cm line is length, and a UK review measured the tools at those sorts of lengths. Pack weight is 510 g. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 from 5 ratings, and three UK reviews describe sharp cuts on soft stems. The bullets say each pruner has a thumb lock, but a UK Vine review says the scissors in the set do not. German reviews on the listing are not UK opinion.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want several light stainless snips for soft growth, and you do not need a stated stem diameter.
Less suitable: You need one bypass for live shrubs, a lock on every tool, or a review count you can treat as a season of use.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the 21 cm figure a cutting capacity?
The size line is 14.5 to 21 cm, and a UK review measured the tools at those sorts of lengths. It is not a stem diameter.
Do all four tools lock?
The bullets say each pruner has a thumb lock. A UK Vine review says the scissors in the set do not.
How many UK reviews were read?
Three UK reviews sit under a 4.6 rating from 5. They describe sharp soft-stem snips. German reviews on the listing are not UK opinion.
The Spear & Jackson CUTTINGSET8 at £12.71 is sold as a bypass and an anvil pair, with a stated 15 mm cut and a pack weight of 572 g because two tools are in the box. The title and bullets assign the bypass to live stems and the anvil to dead wood. The blade-type attribute says Anvil only. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.5 from 3,164 reviews. UK reviews say the blades rust if you put them away wet, and one says the bypass nut loosens. One reviewer uses the anvil on woody shrubs and the other tool on roses. Drop-forged carbon steel is a bullet claim. The handles are described as soft feel.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You cut both live stems and dead wood, and you want both actions in one box at this price.
Less suitable: You need the attribute table to say bypass as well as anvil, or you only want one light tool.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the set include both actions?
The title and bullets say a bypass pruner for live stems and an anvil pruner for dead wood. The blade-type attribute says Anvil only.
What is the stated cut?
The cutting-width line says 15 mm. The pack weight is 572 g because two tools are in the box.
What maintenance do UK reviews mention?
Dry the blades or they rust. One review says the bypass nut loosens. One uses the anvil on woody shrubs and the other tool on roses.
Spear & Jackson 7159BS at £12.11 is a bypass with an SK5 upper blade, a PTFE claim on that blade and hard chrome on the lower blade in the bullets. The attribute table says a 12 mm cut and a 60 mm blade length. It weighs 200 g, and the country of origin is Taiwan. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.5 from 2,264 reviews. UK reviews praise a sharp bypass cut, and several say the blades or the catch stick shut, so the spring sometimes needs a flick. The bullets say an ambidextrous locking catch while the handedness attribute says Right. A public snippet showed £11.95, and the amazon.co.uk line saved for this page is £12.11.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a light Spear & Jackson bypass for thin live stems within 12 mm, and you will oil the pivot when the blades stick.
Less suitable: You cut stems well past 12 mm, you need a confirmed left-hand blade, or a sticking catch is already a problem for your grip.
Specifications
Common questions
What cut width is printed for the 7159BS?
The attribute table says 12 mm. The blade length line says 60 mm. Do not replace 12 mm with a larger claim from another model.
Are they left-handed?
The bullets say an ambidextrous locking catch. The handedness attribute says Right. A mirrored left-hand blade is not stated.
What do UK reviews repeat?
They praise a sharp bypass cut. Several say the blades or the catch stick shut, and that the spring sometimes needs a flick.
VOTREK VT-X850 at £19.99 is a bypass whose title says it suits weak hands, with a claimed handle span of 9.5–12.5 cm, a sealed spring and a lanyard in the box. The table says a 1 inch cut and the bullets say 20 mm, while the blade-edge attribute says serrated and the blade type says bypass. It weighs 236 g, with a 7 cm blade. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.3 from 761 reviews. UK reviews split on the title: some praise the adjustable handle, and one calls the weak-hands claim wishful. Several say the blades stay shut after a snip, or that the closure clip loosens. SK5, HRC 58+ and Teflon are listing claims.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want to try an adjustable bypass grip and you will judge the squeeze yourself, not the title.
Less suitable: You need less force per squeeze on hard wood, or a lock that does not leave the blades stuck shut.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say it suits weak hands?
The title does. UK reviews disagree: some praise the adjustable handle, and one calls the weak-hands claim wishful.
What cut is printed?
The table says 1 inch. The bullets say 20 mm. The blade-edge attribute says serrated, and the blade type says bypass.
What sticking do reviews describe?
Several UK reviews say the blades stay shut after a snip, or that the closure clip loosens.
The WORKPRO 220 mm, model W151052, at £7.99 is a bypass whose bullets claim a 16 mm cut, 65Mn steel, a PTFE coating and a dual-layer dipped handle. It weighs 268 g. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.1 from 78 reviews, a much thinner sample than the 200 mm WORKPRO in this set. The bullets say you slide the lock up to open and down to close. One UK review says the knob locks during a cut. Another says the handle leaks a sticky substance. Other UK reviews are short and say it does the job. A spare spring is not listed.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a cheap 16 mm bypass and you can check the lock and the handle coating before you rely on it.
Less suitable: You want the larger review sample on the £7.99 200 mm WORKPRO, or you need a spare spring.
Specifications
Common questions
What diameter does this WORKPRO listing claim?
The bullets say clean cuts on branches up to 16 mm. The material line says 65Mn.
Does it have a lock?
The bullets say slide the lock up to open and down to close. One UK review says the knob locks during a cut.
What did UK reviews say about the handle?
One UK review says the handle leaks a sticky substance. Other UK reviews are short and say it does the job.
Scores compare the twelve amazon.co.uk secateurs kept in this set. Prices, stars and review counts are the listing lines saved on 21 October 2026. There is no laboratory test. A mechanism, a millimetre cut or a steel grade counts only when that ASIN prints it. A review can contradict a title. It does not fill a blank specification line. A manufacturer page is not used to fill a gap. The highest score is the top pick. Best value is the clear low price on a named bypass with a large review count, because the highest score is already the dearer of those two. The weights below sum to 100. They describe this set only.
Amazon evidence
35%The star line on amazon.co.uk, then the review count. A 4.6 from 9,969 outranks a 4.8 from 8. A higher star line on a handful of reviews does not outrank thousands.
Listing fit
30%A named bypass and one millimetre figure you can read score up. A title that the same page contradicts scores down, including two cut figures or two blade descriptions.
Review outcome
25%Cuts that match the stated job score up. Points come off for a lock that sticks, a spring that nips, a handle that leaks, a blade that stays shut, and a claim the reviews reject.
Value
10%Shelf price in GBP against a job the listing names. A named bypass near £8 with a review count in the thousands scores above a thinner sample at a higher price.
Choose the cutting action first, then the smaller printed cut, then the lock, the spring and which hand holds the tool. A large star line on a handful of reviews does not outrank thousands. Prices below are the amazon.co.uk lines saved for this page.
Secateurs are one-handed pruners. In the UK the usual split is bypass for living green wood, anvil for dead or hard wood, and a ratchet that cuts hard wood in several squeezes. An anvil crushes green tissue, so it is the wrong jaw for roses and for a final cut on a valued shrub. A ratchet changes the force of each squeeze. It does not turn an anvil into a bypass. When a title and the attribute table disagree, keep both lines.
Bypass suits living green wood. An anvil can crush green tissue. A ratchet changes the squeeze, not the jaw. If you also cut dead wood, use a real anvil or a set that contains both, and keep the bypass for the roses.
Some pages print 25 mm in the bullets and 1 inch in the table, or 20 mm beside 1 inch. Use the smaller figure. A 21 cm line on a four-piece pack is length, not a stem diameter. Above about 2.5 cm, change tool.
Ambidextrous means either hand can hold the tool. Which? tells left-handers to buy a pair built for them. A catch described as ambidextrous, beside a table that says Right, is not a mirrored blade.
Bypass for live stems and roses. Anvil for dead or hard wood. A ratchet usually takes hard wood in several squeezes and still uses the jaw the listing names. If the title and the attribute table disagree, do not smooth that over. The CUTTINGSET8 title says bypass and anvil while the blade-type field says Anvil. The DECERK ratchet title says ratchet anvil while the attribute says Anvil, Bypass.
Use the smaller cut printed on that page, and stop around 2.5 cm. The lock should stay shut and the spring should reopen the blades. Ambidextrous is not a left-hand blade. Treat SK5, PTFE, 60 HRC and a 5,000-cut line as listing claims. Read the review count beside the stars before you treat a high rating on a handful of reviews as a season of use.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want one sharp bypass for live green wood and a cleaning habit. The Kynup V-11 is about £9.99, at 4.6 from 9,969 reviews, with a spare spring in the box. The bullets say 25 mm and the table says 1 inch. Skip it if you need a mirrored left-hand blade.
You cut living stems and dead wood, so you want both actions in one box. The Spear & Jackson CUTTINGSET8 is about £12.71, at 4.5 from 3,164 reviews, with a stated 15 mm cut. The title says bypass and anvil. The blade-type field says Anvil. Dry the blades or they rust.
You want smaller squeezes on hard wood, or a lighter bypass. The DECERK ratchet is 167 g at about £23.99, with a stated 19 mm cut, and 4.8 from only 8 ratings. That sample cannot prove a season of use. A weak-hands title that reviews dispute is not enough on its own.
In this set the top pick is the Kynup V-11: about £9.99, 4.6 from 9,969 amazon.co.uk reviews, a bypass with a spare spring. The bullets say 25 mm and the table says 1 inch. A left-handed review disliked the lock. The best value is the WORKPRO 200 mm at about £7.99, 4.6 from 1,755 reviews, a named bypass with a stated 19 mm cut. A 20 mm branch needed more than one cut in one review. Live green wood stays on a bypass. Dead wood needs a real anvil, or a set that contains both. A ratchet with eight ratings is not a durability result.
WORKPRO 200 mm
About £7.99 with 4.6 from 1,755 reviews, a named bypass and a printed 19 mm cut, the clear low price with a large review count.
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 cut size, rose cuts, sharpening, grip, and consumer-goods rules. Listing prices, stars, and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines saved for this comparison.
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.
