The 9 Very Best Nail Clippers

Whatwe’relookingfor

Blade material:Stainless steel |Edge shape:Curved |Size:Fingernail clipper |Extra features:Ergonomic ridges

The Seki Edge SS-107 is crafted by the same company as theGreen Bell clippers, alongtime Strategist favorite. Compared to the Green Bell, these are more ergonomic, thanks to their slightly wider design that I found easier to grip. They feel secure in my hand, even while cutting my toenails. As for the actual cutting, both cut virtually the same. The Seki Edge slices through all of my nails seamlessly with little effort. I’ve never torn or cracked a nail while trimming with these, either, because the Seki Edge is such a clean cut. It’s worth noting that Tweezerman was the most touted by experts (more on that soon), but after testing both, the ease and seamlessness while using the Seki made it stand out as truly the best.

The only potential drawback is that this clipper seems to go out of stock often. In that case, I’d recommend a very similar clipper from the same brand, theSeki-Edge SS-112. It clips just as seamlessly but has a slightly slimmer design and costs a couple bucks more.

Blade material:Stainless steel |Edge shape:Straight |Size:Toenail clipper |Extra features:Free sharpening service

As mentioned, Tweezerman was a favorite of the nail-salon experts I spoke to. When I tried them out for myself, they held up as a high-quality pair of affordable clippers. While they don’t slice nails as seamlessly as the Seki Edge clippers, they consistently clip clean edges without much struggle. The straight-edge clippers in particular are a standout for folks likeVanity Projects Institutefounder Rita de Alencar Pinto andSundayssalon founder Amy Lin because they clip fingernails and toenails easily and safely without having to worry about potential ingrowns. They’re also known to stay sharp and last much longer than any otherdrugstorebrand out there.

Blade material:Stainless steel| Edge shape:Curved| Size:Fingernail clippers

Strategist writer Ambar Pardillahas been using this Revlon clipper since college, deeming it the “tiniest, mightiest nail clipper.” She rarely gets an uneven edge when cutting her fingernails or toenails since it cuts “like a good pair of scissors.” And because it’s smaller than most nail clippers, she can get into the corners of her nails to cut her desired shape. These clippers come with a foldaway nail file, which Pardilla uses mainly to clean a fresh coat of nail polish rather than buff away rough edges. I haven’t had the chance to test the Revlon clipper out myself against the Tweezerman or Seki Edge, but the low price tag and Pardilla’s strong recommendation were enough to add it to the list.

Blade material:Stainless steel |Edge shape:Curved and straight |Size:Fingernail and toenail clippers

If you’re looking for a set, this Tweezerman one is just a couple dollars extra. It comes with the toenail clipper above and a smaller fingernail clipper with a curved edge. While most of our experts don’t think having two different-size clippers is absolutely necessary, Stern thinks otherwise. “Fingernails and toenails are very different in size,” she says. “The analogy would be comparing an adult fingernail to a young child’s — you would use two different-size clippers.” When I tried out the set, I personally appreciated the size options. As someone with small fingers, it was helpful having a smaller set of clippers. I could more easily shape my nails as I clipped them, and it cut down the time I had to file and shape my nails. They cut about the same as the above set, but the clippers feel slightly less substantial since both are a bit lighter.

Blade material:Stainless steel |Edge shape:Curved |Size:Toenail clipper |Extra features:Cushion grip

If you have thick toenails, go for these more heavy-duty toenail clippers. They were originallyrecommendedby our beauty columnistRio Viera-Newton, who found her drugstore toenail clippers weren’t strong or sharp enough to clip through her toenails. (As Viera-Newton and the podiatrists I spoke to mention, thick toenails could be a sign of a fungal infection if you have cracks and discoloration. If that’s the case, it’s best to see a doctor or specialist.) After some digging on Reddit, Viera-Newtonfound these clippersdesigned specially for podiatrists to use on elderly clients, who tend to have thicker (and often ingrown) toenails. “They have a sharp, curved blade that easily slices off any toenail, no matter how strong or hard or gnarly it has gotten, and a nonslip, cushion grip that allows for quick, clean trims,” she writes. “Unlike the other clippers I tried, you barely need to squeeze them for them to work perfectly.”

Blade material:Stainless steel |Edge shape:Curved |Size:Fingernail clipper

Edjy’s design stuck out to me since it’s different from any other nail clipper I’ve tested. Instead of having two blades that compress around the nail to make a cut, it has one stainless-steel blade that swiftly cuts through the nail. After weeks of testing, I found that these easily sliced through thick nails — even when I have a gel manicure — without any nail splitting or uneven edges. There is a bit of a learning curve, though. The hinges of the clipper are on the opposite side of the blade (it almost feels like you’re cutting with an upside down clipper), but that initial awkwardness is worth the smooth experience.

Blade material:Stainless steel |Edge shape:Straight |Size:Toenail nipper

All of the experts we spoke to said it’s best to see a professional if you have ingrown toenails, but if you’re not able to, Lin suggested this nail nipper with caution. It features a more pointed blade, allowing for precision. The previously recommended Mundial is hard to find in stock, but this Fox Medical Equipment nipper is easy to find, more affordable, and mentioned by podiatristDr. Ernest L. Isaacsonin our article onremoving ingrown toenails. Since it has a straight edge, you could use it to avoid future ingrowns, too. “To prevent ingrown nails, use a straight nail clipper to cut the nail, then use a file straight across, but do not cut or file on the sides of the nail,” says Molly Romah, lead nail technician atChillhouse.

Blade material:Stainless steel |Edge shape:Straight |Size:Fingernail clipper |Extra features:Leather storage case

My colleague Kitty Guo upgraded her drugstore nail clippers to thesesleek, compact clippersfrom renowned German knife manufacturer Zwilling J.A. Henckels back in 2022. The lever’s simple slide-locking mechanism “slots into the body of the clippers as snugly and seamlessly as a puzzle piece,” so they don’t take up more space than is necessary. As for how they clip, they have the “perfect amount of bite,” Guo writes. “Not too weak where you have to really wrench to get them to cut, but also not too strong that they’ll send stray nail fragments flying across the room.” They’re worth the relatively high price, because of their award-winning design, and they can handle both fingernails and toenails “swimmingly,” Guo says. On top of that, they come in a leather sleeve for extra protection whiletraveling.

Blade material:Stainless steel |Edge shape:Curved |Size:Baby nails |Extra features:Spy hole

Babies’ nails grow quickly, and it’s important to keep them short so they don’t accidentally scratch themselves (or you). Clipping a baby’s nails can be a difficult task, so instead of nail scissors, Strategist writer Lauren Ro uses these intuitive clippers. Unlike regular nail clippers, these use a “kind of slicing motion that’s better for soft baby nails” and even have a “viewing” window to help get a better look at what you’re clipping.