Best Scissors for Trimming Cannabis Buds (in 2024)

Once your weed plants have flowered, it’s essential to trim them to improve the quality of your yield and final product. Pruning your plants helps to redirect growth hormones to the parts of your plant that need them to most.

While a lot of the emphasis of growing revolves around setting up LED grow lights  and  finding the right nutrients, trimming your buds is still as important as the rest of the process. While pruning tends to be a secondary growth tactic, it’s still a crucial step toward getting the best product possible.

You might think you can approach trimming with any old pair of scissors, and in some cases, they might do the trick. BUT, if you want to make sure that you’re using the best tools that are specifically designed to help your weed plant grow, you’ll want to invest in the right pair of scissors.

We highly recommend the Fiskars Micro-Tip Pruning Snip for the job.

Reliable Scissors to Use for Trimming Cannabis

Bud trimmers are specifically made for plants and are typically easier to use and yield better results than traditional scissors. To help you choose a reliable pair, we’ve researched the five top-rated models that expert growers swear by to trim their cannabis plants.

1. Fiskars Non-Stick Soft Grip Micro-Tip Pruning Snip

The Fiskars Non-Stick Pruning scissors are a best seller and a highly versatile pair of bud leaf trimmers. They work very well for trimming, shaping, and deadheading your weed plant.

This pair provides a smooth-action snip that makes trimming your weed remarkably easy. The blades are made of stainless steel and the edges are precision ground. These adjustable blades are very effective at retaining sharpness and rarely need to be sharpened or replaced.

Unlike regular wire blades found on traditional scissors, the Fiskars’ feature a non-stick coating that eliminates resin buildup and jamming. This pair is outfitted with a highly ergonomic handle that is fitted with soft grip touchpoints for a strong, comfortable, secure grip.

These dry trimmers also come with a razor blade cover and easy-open lock for protecting the blades during storage and transportation.

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Pros

• Highly versatile snips that can do more than trimming
• Super sharp blades make precise, quick cuts
• Non-stick coating on the blades lessens resin buildup and jamming
• Soft grip touchpoints offer a comfortable and secure grip
• Easy action design allows for the smooth opening of the blades

Cons

• Some users report a weak spring that breaks easily

2. Hydroponic 2Pack Micro-Tip Straight Blade Flower Leaf Trimmer

Coming second on our list is the Hydroponic 2Pack by GREENTHUMBPRO. If you want to stock up on two pairs at once, these sets are great industrial bud trimmers that come in a pack of two.

These pruners are lightweight and durable. The blades are engineered from stainless steel and feature a very sharp edge. Most scissors can cause stress on your hand and joints after prolonged use. Thanks to the soft-grip handles and quick release spring, these trimmers don’t require excessive force press.

What you will probably like most about these dry trimming sheers is the ability to produce precise and the clean cuts when pruning flowers and stems, making them ideal for trimming weed. While they’re mostly advertised as dry trimmers, a lot of users have said they work well for wet trimming as well.

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Pros

• Stainless steel blades that are extra sharp with good edge retention
• Availability of both straight and curved blades for all-purpose pruning
• The comfort provided by the soft grip contoured handles
• Quick-release spring allows for effortless operation
• Microtip design makes cutting easier

Cons

• Blades are not non-stick
• Plastic cover for the tip is tiny

3. Gonicc 8-Inch Sharp Bypass Pruning Shears

The Gonicc 8″ Bypass trimmers have a sturdy blade made from high carbon steel, and are virtually imperishable. The blade comes extremely sharp and also has the ability to be sharpened if it ever loses its edge.

The drop-forged body is fitted with ergonomically constructed handles that are lightweight, strong, non-slip, and comfortable on the hand during prolonged use.

One of the most unique things about the Gonicc 8-Inch is its sap groove design. The sap groove channels off sap to prevent the blades from sticking due to excessive trichomes and resin.

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Pros

• Ultra-fine polishing technology
• A high carbon steel blade is highly durable and sharp
• Lightweight ergonomic handles offer a strong, non-slip grip
• Sap groove design prevents sticking
• Super strong drop forged body is long-lasting
• 1-year warranty

Cons

• Spring design may break after a few rounds of use

4. Vivosun Gardening Hand Pruner

The Vivosun Gardening Hand Pruner is a great precision trimmer when dealing with delicate plants or smaller quantities in your grow tent. It’s great for tabletop grow operations because it features a sleek design that can get into tighter space.

The blades are made of premium stainless steel and are one of the sharpest pairs we’ve seen. The superior strength of the blades comes in handy when dealing with thicker stems while still retaining their sharpness.

One of the top features of this Vivosun pair is the smooth spring-action that helps to prevent pain in your hand when you use the scissors over a long period of time.

The microtip design lets you easily reach narrow or difficult to reach areas without damaging your weed plant or straining your arm. This model also comes with a closing latch that locks the blades into place.

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Pros

• Precision sharpened blades are highly durable
• Spring-action design that opens effortlessly
• Microtip design cuts through difficult places
• Soft, comfortable grip lessens hand strain
• Closing latch with a switch allows for safe storage

Cons

• Blades may become misaligned after prolonged use

5. Troy Bilt Comfort Classic Anvil Pruner

The Troy Bilt Comfort Classic Anvil Pruners are one the best heavy-duty trimming scissors on the market. They’re a great pick if you have larger plants or large quantities of mature plants.

This pair features German steel blades that are sharp, durable and capable of retaining sharpness after use. Unlike most traditional gardening scissors, the Troy Bilt is equipped with a patented internal spring system that offers energy-saving leverage.

One of the most annoying parts of trimming the buds is that they can get pretty sticky. The Troy Bilt pruners come protected with a non-stick coating so you won’t need to stop and clean your blades between plants.

The handles feature non-slip grip designs that are very comfortable to hold. For the lefty’s the design also features a safety lock that makes it easier to handle with your left hand.

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Pros

• Highly durable and sharp German steel blades
• Patented internal spring system that operates smoothly
• A non-stick coating that repels sap and prevents rusting
• Non-slip, strong, comfortable grip
• Safety lock for either right or left-handedness

Cons

• Blades may become misaligned after a few uses

Safety Tips For Trimming Buds

1. When trimming your bud plant, it’s important to take your safety into account. Here are a few tips to help prevent injury when doing long bouts of pruning.
2. Work close to your body, without overextending your ars.
3. Do not apply too much force to the scissors. You may unintentionally damage your weed plants if you push too hard.
4. Always wear protective gear, such as closed-toe shoes, safety goggles, and appropriate clothing.
5. Make sure you choose a pair of scissors that fits you physically. Try to find scissors that work for your dominant hand.
6. To avoid wrist and elbow strain, always try to operate trimming scissors with your elbow bent and your wrist straight.
7. Use the other hand to slightly flex the branch away from the cutting edge of your trimming scissors. This way, you will be able to make smoother and easier trims.
8. Always position the scissors in a 45-degree angle, and trim buds just above an outward-facing bud or shoot. Avoid using a twister motion or forcing the blades.

How to Choose a Good Pair of Trimming Scissors

Types of Scissors

There are three basic types of trimming shears that work the best for trimming weed; anvil, bypass, and straight blade.

• Bypass:  They have a sharp convex cutting blade that slides past a blunt, hooked concave blade that supports the stem being trimmed. One side of the blade has a groove that collects sap and keeps the blade clean. If you’re working with particularly sticky buds, then it won’t take long until your blades are covered with resin and trichomes. Bypass blades make cleanup much easier.
• Anvil:  Anvil scissors/shears trim like a knife on a cutting board. A straight blade cuts against a flat metal surface.
• Straight:  Straight blades usually have a micro tip that can reach into plant centers without pushing or damaging the foliage.
• Automatic Bud Trimmers:  There are plenty of electric trimmers, automatic trimmer machines and leaf trimmer machines, that shear your large-scale buds in less time. Bud trimming machines reduce much of the manual labor associated with hand trimming your plants. Brands like Spinpro, iPower, Trimpro Original and Triminator have produced some of the best bud trimmer machines. Electric bud leaf trimmers work well to spin cut wet buds as well as dry buds.

You’re going to use your weed trimming scissors for every plant and grow you do. Investing in a high-quality pair will save you time and help preserve the quality of your weed in the long-run.

Construction

The blade material is a very significant part of the overall construction. When shopping for weed scissors, quality is everything. You want to look at your shears as a long-term investment.

You need to choose a pair that will withstand the test of time and work well for every grow. The blade curve design has to be able to hold the branch of your weed plant securely in order to make a clean cut without causing any damages.

In poorly made and low-quality tools, the branch could slip from the blade when cutting pressure is applied.

Read Also: Best Grow Tents for Indoor Growing

Ergonomics

If you suffer from joint pain or carpal tunnel, you need to find a pair of scissors that work ergonomically Are you new to trimming plants? Do you suffer from carpal tunnel? What you need is a pair of ergonomically made scissors for pruning weed.

When choosing handle designs consider your dominant hand. As far as the material goes, choose silicone fingers, cushioned or rubberized handles to minimize pressure so you can avoid wrist wear with rotating handles.

Another feature that is common with most heavy-duty trimming scissors is the spring action design. The ideal spring should open gently to lessen the strain during use.

And The Winner Is…

What you need in a pair of weed trimmers depends on how often you’ll use them, and how you want your hand to feel after prolonged use.

Regardless of your needs, our #1 pick the Fiskars Non-Stick Pruning scissors will give great results for the home grower.

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If you don’t like any of the picks above, consider the durability, ergonomics, and comfort of the shears before you make a purchase.

All-in-all, any pair of gardening shears will get the job done as long as they are well-constructed and high-quality.