Home
Reviews
Tools
Pruning
The best electric secateurs and pruners in 2026 – as tested by our experts

❚ All products were chosen independently by our journalists. We may receive a commission via affiliate links for any purchases made. See our affiliates FAQ page.

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine powered pruners review

The best electric secateurs and pruners in 2026 – as tested by our experts

Kay Maguire

Published: Saturday, 3 January 2026 at 6:08 pm

Take the pain out of pruning with our pick of the best battery powered secateurs

Save

Pruning is one of the gardener's most common tasks, and for the odd bit of trimming and cutting, traditional manual secateurs are great, with loppers taking the strain for more demanding jobs. But, if you've got an orchard of fruit trees or a garden full of roses, or you lack strength, suffer from RSI or arthritis, we know that repetitive pruning can be an exhausting chore. Thankfully, electric secateurs, also called electric or battery-powered pruners, are a helpful alternative, and an ideal choice for gardeners who are less able or have a lot of pruning to do.

Powered by a lithium-ion battery and activated by a trigger that opens and closes the blades, they're designed for cutting branches up to 30mm thick quickly and efficiently. They can even take the place of loppers, making your pruning tasks even more efficient as there’s no time wasted swapping from tool to tool. Many are also part of a wider cordless system with their battery and charger fitting all the tools in the range, so once you’ve invested in a tool and battery set, you’ll save money when you buy further bare tools in the future.

Electric secateurs and pruners do cut very fast, so many also have safety features such as a two-trigger start, auto-close or a blade cover to help the user stay safe. Compared to traditional secateurs, they’re expensive, so are they worth the extra cost? Well, we've been testing popular models to see whether the performance they offer outweighs their extra weight and cost. They ranged from budget to premium models, and all had bypass blades. Not only that, we've added a guide below on how to choose the perfect electric secateurs or pruners for you and your garden.

Want to see this content?

This page contains content provided by Squirrel. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Squirrel may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Squirrel and its required purposes.

Accept and continue

Best Buy electric secateurs at a glance

Best electric secateurs for ease of use: Stihl ASA 20 cordless secateurs
Best premium electric pruners: ALPEN Wildhorn 32 electric pruning shears
Best value electric pruners: Worx WG330E cordless pruning shears

Comparison table: best electric secateurs and pruners

ModelRatingRRPTypeCutting WidthCutting TimeWeightWarrantyStihl ASA 204.8/5£209Cordless secateurs2.5cm2,000 cuts0.8kg2 yearsALPEN Wildhorn 324.8/5£479Electric Pruning Shears3.2cm12 hours0.94kg3 yearsWorx WG330E4.3/5£139.99Cordless Pruning Shears2.5cm2,500 cuts0.7kg3 years

Our expertise Getting the right type of powered pruner means ensuring it has the right features, weight and price for you. To see whether the performance they offer outweighs their extra weight and cost, we put six battery powered pruners to the test. They ranged from budget to premium models, and all had bypass blades. Each set of powered pruners was unpacked, fully charged and used in the garden to cut branches and stems of different sizes and on a range of trees and shrubs. Each pruner has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to handling, performance, design and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on electric secateurs that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.

Jump to:

Best buy electric secateurs
Best of the rest
How to choose electric secateurs
How we tested electric secateurs and pruners

Best electric secateurs and pruners

Stihl ASA 20 cordless secateurs

RRP: £174

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Stihl

Best Buy for ease of use: Stihl ASA 20 cordless secateurs

Pros

Digital indicator displays width, cuts and battery power
Comfortable with ergonomic handle
Fast, smooth and quiet cutting
Blade cover and integral maintenance tool included

Cons

Warranty is not as long as some

These pruners are well designed and thought-out with a host of features that make them great to use, and we awarded them a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use. The instructions are clear, and the pruners are simple to master with a choice of two cutting widths up to 25mm and progressive cutting. An LCD display tells you exactly how many cuts and battery are remaining, as well as the selected blade width. On a full charge they can make a total of 2,000 cuts.

They have a shaped, ergonomic handle with a rubber grip, so they’re comfortable and, thanks to the comparatively tiny battery, they’re light and easy to work with. They come with a blade cover for safety and an integrated maintenance tool that handily sits just behind the battery. All the packaging is recyclable cardboard and, as part of the Stihl AS battery system, the little battery can be used across a range of other tools, including a mini chainsaw, strimmer and hedge trimmer. They come with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Stihl ASA 20 cordless secateurs from Garden Machinery Direct, Sam Turner & Sons and Stihl

ALPEN Wildhorn 32 electric pruning shears

RRP: £479

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Best Buy premium powered pruners: ALPEN Wildhorne 32 powered pruners

Pros

Comfortable with ergonomic handle
Very long run time
Digital indicator displays cuts and battery power
Accessories included
Professional quality tool

Cons

Very expensive compared to others
Not part of battery system

In another league price-wise, these professional-level pruners not only cut quickly and smoothly but come with a whole host of impressive features and accessories, including a holster belt, battery pouch, maintenance tool kit and a sturdy carry case. There’s a useful manual that explains clearly how they work, and they also come with three batteries and a charger. Altogether on a full charge, these give an impressive 12 hours of cutting. The little battery is a similar size to the AS2 battery from Stihl, so the pruners are light, and the handle is ergonomically shaped for comfort with an extra rubberised grip.

They cut quickly and smoothly with a cutting width of up to 32mm, plus they have progressive cutting and a choice if semi-open mode and the digital display clearly lets you know battery level, how many cuts you've made and what's left. They are very well designed and thought-out, but they are expensive, costing more than a cordless lawn mower, so they're really only for gardeners with a lot of regular pruning to do or professional growers. They come with a three-year warranty, and we awarded them a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best premium powered pruners.

Buy the ALPEN Wildhorne 32 powered pruners from Amazon

Want to see this content?

Accept and continue

Worx WG330E cordless pruner garden shears

RRP: £99.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Wilko

Want to see this content?

Accept and continue

Best Buy value powered pruners: Worx Nitro WG330E powered pruners

Pros

Comfortable and easy to use.
Fast, smooth cutting
Choice of widths and progressive cutting
Feels safe

Cons

Instructions unclear
No blade cover
squirrel

These pruners from Worx have good features for the price. With an ergonomic handle, they feel comfortable and, although they feel weighty, once the battery is on, they’re well balanced. They’re also easy to use once mastered, with simple steps for changing the cutting width and for turning them on and off. There’s a choice of two cutting widths: 15 and 25mm, as well as progressive cutting, and they cut quickly and well. On a full battery, they can make a generous 2500 cuts, and there’s a battery charge indicator on the base of the battery so you can keep an eye on power. Although there’s no blade cover for these pruners, the blades do close, and they have a two-trigger start for safety. We also like how they stand up on end when not in use, so you can put them down safely without fear they’ll fall over. Part of the Worx PowerShare system, the 20V battery can be used in lots of other Worx garden and DIY PowerShare tools, and they also have a three-year warranty when registered. We awarded them a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best value powered pruners.

Buy the Worx Nitro WG330E powered pruners from Wilko

Want to see this content?

Accept and continue

Best of the rest

Although this model didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, it still had features that made it worth recommending.

Stiga SC100e kit

RRP: £149

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Want to see this content?

Accept and continue

Stiga SC100e kit powered pruners

Pros

Choice of three cutting widths
Fast and smooth cutting
Accessories included

Cons

Heavy with a large battery that catches on branches
Trigger switch design is awkward
Can't close blades

These pruners come in a sturdy carry case with a blade cover (to go over the open blades) and a maintenance tool included, and there are clear instructions for use. There’s a trigger switch for safety, although we did find that a little awkward to get used to, and they have progressive cutting and a choice of three cutting widths of 15, 25 and 30mm. Indicator lights on the base of the pruners let you know which width you’re in, and lights on the battery tell you how much power remains. On a full charge, the pruners can cut for up to 90 minutes, giving 2000 cuts. They cut well, slicing through branches quickly and smoothly, but compared to others in our test, they feel heavy, and the Stiga ePower battery is quite large and gets in the way when you're pruning in congested shrubs. As part of the Stiga ePower system, the battery can be used in a host of other Stiga ePower tools, which will save you money if you invest in them in the future, and they come with a generous five-year warranty.

Buy the Stiga SC100e kit powered pruners from Amazon

Want to see this content?

Accept and continue

Our expert testers trial hundreds of garden tools to work out which will do the job well and offer the best value, comfort and quality. We’ve tested essentials like the best garden spades and best hoes as well as more specific pruning and cutting kit like the best secateurs, the best loppers, the best mini chainsaws and the best wood-splitting axes. Looking to expand your range of cordless tools? Check out our round-up of the best hedge trimmers, grass trimmers and best cordless mowers.

How to choose an electric secateur

If you’re thinking of investing in one, consider the following points first:

What size branches will they cut? Powered pruners can cut anything manual secateurs can, and some. Most cut at least 25mm, but will cut wider; you just need to make a few cuts at wider stems to get through them. Many also offer a choice of smaller cutting widths, which is useful to save battery power and time, as there’s no need to wait for the blade to open fully with each cut
Are they easy to use? Most need a little time to master and use various methods of holding down buttons or triggers to open and close the blades or change widths, utilising beeps and lights to help you.
Are they heavy? The battery alone adds extra weight, and as this takes its toll if pruning for a while or above head height, it’s worth looking for pruners with a smaller battery if strength is an issue. Battery size can also impact use, getting in the way if you’re working in congested or confined spaces
Are they safe? Powered pruners are very sharp and capable of cutting not just branches but fingers incredibly quickly. As well as taking extra care when using them, many pruners have additional features for safety. Trigger control progressive cutting gives you the option of instantly releasing a cut if you need to, but if you’re concerned about little fingers finding them, look for models that have a blade cover at the very least, or a carry case in which you can lock them safely away. Some of the pruners we tested didn’t close, which isn’t ideal if they’re left lying around, as the blades are still very sharp. Always remove the battery when not in use and store them well out of reach of children.
How long can they cut for? Run time depends on the thickness and density of what you’re cutting, but most of our pruners had impressive run times of at least 1,000 cuts, sufficient for most garden tasks. Being able to see how much battery’s left is very useful, whether this is by an indicator on the battery itself or a digital display on the pruners. Some models let you know exactly how many cuts you’ve made on each job, or have left, as well as battery level and what cutting width you’re in
Are they worth the money? Powered pruners are expensive, but they do make pruning incredibly quick and easy. Most cut through even thicker stems effortlessly, so if you do have a lot of regular, repetitive pruning to do, they’re a good investment, despite costing as much or more than a small lawnmower. If you simply need a pair to help you manage occasional pruning jobs, the cheaper, basic models like the Vonhaus will also do the job. All the pruners in this review include the battery and charger but many can be bought solo if you already own other tools in their battery system, which will save you money

How we tested electric pruners and secateurs

The BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Reviews team tested the powered pruners on a range of different shrubs and trees in the garden, using them on branches of different thickness. They were tested and compared, and the following criteria were used to calculate the scores, with equal weight given to each:

Handling: Considered their comfort and weight, how they felt in the hand and their grip. Were they intuitive and easy to use, and did they feel safe?
Performance: Included cutting width, whether they cut smoothly and cleanly and if they were easy to use versus the weight of the tool. What was the battery run time, and how many cuts were achieved on a full battery?
Design: Considered the clarity of the instruction manual and any storage features. The overall battery size, ease of charging and use, plus special features such as a digital display, battery level indicator, carry case, or protective blade cover. Finally, were they easy to clean and sharpen?
Value for money: Assessed all the above points, including materials, product quality and features, RRP and length of warranty.

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, Freelance Powered Tools Tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, Freelance Garden Writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

Jane Moore, Freelance Garden Writer
In a horticultural career spanning 30 years, Jane has been a head gardener at a Benedictine Abbey, a writer for national gardening magazines and newspapers, a researcher on BBC gardening programmes and a TV presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World. Among her many accolades are a Chelsea Flower Show medal, several awards from the Garden Media Guild and her books are published worldwide. She has spent 30 years working as a hands-on head gardener, using tools on a daily basis.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability

Don't miss out this Winter

Enjoy expert advice on what to plant and grow this winter, and how to prepare your plot for the year ahead. Enjoy, 6 months for just £31.99

Subscribe now

Great gardening savings - straight to your inbox

Sign up to the BBC Gardeners’ World offers newsletter for exclusive deals, seasonal savings, and early access to special promotions.