Scissors are the unsung heroes of office supplies. They are there for us when we need to snip the tags from a new sweater, cut out crafts, or open a package. While most of us just reach for whatever is available, a comfortable, sharp pair of scissors can be a revelation. After testing the different pairs that we carry, we're excited to show you these hand-picked scissors that are a cut above the rest. Read on or watch the video below to see an overview of our scissor recommendations.
The Sakutto Cut Scissors have large handles lined with hard rubber, which makes them comfortable to hold and use whether you’re right-handed or left-handed. Both the Standard and Hikigiri have a ridge on the inside flat surface of the blade that keeps adhesive residue from building up on them.
In terms of material, many scissors have stiff plastic handles. Some scissor handles have holes lined with a soft rubber or plastic material that adds extra comfort.
Scissors are an important tool you can find in any crafter's case, whether it’s for snipping washi tape, cutting multiple sheets of paper, or trimming fabric. That’s why crafting scissors should cut precisely through different materials. They should also be comfortable to hold for long crafting sessions.
One misplaced cut in a craft project can require you to start from square one. That’s why smooth, even cutting is a must for detailed crafting scissors. Comfortable handles reduce hand strain during long crafting sessions.
They are available in three sizes, ranging from 3 inches to 8 inches long. The 3 inch scissors can easily slip into a pen case or purse for crafting on the go or cutting off tags and loose threads. Additionally, its handles are as big as those on the 6.5 inch scissors, so they are just as comfortable to hold.
The 6.5 inch and 8 inch scissors can be used for tasks that require larger blade lengths, like cutting through scrapbook or wrapping paper. Choose the pair that suits your needs or get all three so you can tackle projects of any size.
If you work with lots of tape, non-stick scissors are a must. Scissors with a special coating resist the build-up of sticky residue on the blades. This prevents gummy scissors that are hard to control and cause hand strain.
If you’re constantly on the go, it’s not always practical to carry a full-sized pair of scissors. Travel-friendly mini scissors make the perfect addition to small pencil cases, sewing kits, and first aid boxes. If you’re traveling by air, you might also need to consider security rules. For example, the TSA does not allow scissors with blades larger than four inches1 in carry-on bags. Small pen-style scissors like the Sun-Star Stickyle usually meet the requirements for air travel. However, they are not built for use over prolonged periods of time, so their portability sacrifices some comfort. For example, their smaller handle holes can be harder to use with large fingers.
To open the scissors, pull the cap from the plastic body slowly and carefully. The scissor spring should prop the blades open so that they’re ready for use.
Just squeeze the blades together and snip away. Keep in mind that since these scissors don’t have handle holes, they take a little time to get used to. Once you’re finished using the scissors, cap the blade to prevent accidents. Storing this pair of scissors is easy: the cap has a clip that easily attaches to pen loops inside bags and spiral notebook rings.
The Raymay Pencut is available in three different styles. The Premium line features thicker blades and is available with titanium or fluorine coating. The Two-Tone line sports cheerful color combinations that will stand out among other stationery in a pen case or bag.
The Mini, which is smaller than the Premium and Two-Tone, can be clipped to a shirt pocket or onto a keyring. The handles on the Two-Tone and Mini can also be converted between left-handed and right-handed modes by changing which sides of the handles the finger loops come out of.
Good quality left-handed scissors are important for accurate, ergonomic use. Most scissors are designed for right-handers with the top cutting blade oriented on the right. This position makes it easy for right-handers to see the line they’re cutting as they hold a piece of paper with their left hand. Left-handers using right-handed scissors won’t be able to see what they’re cutting as easily. There’s also the issue of hand strain. When you use right-handed scissors with your right hand, the thumb hole connects to the blade closest to the body. This allows you to cut straight. Holding right-handed scissors in your left hand positions the shearing blade further away from you and causes you to cut outwards. Your left hand twists itself to the right in order to cut a straight line. This twisting strains your hand over long periods of cutting. Luckily, left-handed scissors are available.
The following scissors have special features that make them useful for tasks where regular scissors just won’t cut it, from zigzag blades for shredding to a built-in cutter for opening packages.
The cutter can be utilized by squeezing the scissor handles together and pushing the slider on the side of the top handle forward. This allows the top scissor blade to move down and exposes the tip of its cutting edge.
The blade protrudes only 1 mm so you won’t cut too deeply into the package you’re opening and damage the items inside. The scissors also have a small plastic finger rest on the top blade to help you press down more comfortably when using the cutter. Releasing the scissor handles will cause the edge to retract, preventing you from accidentally leaving it exposed when not in use.
Fans of all-in-one tools can also check out the Stickyle Tasuno, which has scissors on one end and a double sided Phillips-head screwdriver attachment on the other.
Our writers draw on their personal expertise, consult our in-house subject matter experts, and do extensive research to make our guides as accurate and comprehensive as possible. We then test every finding that makes it through the research stage. Only the techniques and tools whose performance we personally confirm make it into our guides as recommendations.
Do you want to review all of our recommended scissors at once? Use our comparison tool to see their specifications side by side.
From rigorous shredding to fine, precise cuts, scissors are a must for any home or office. What are your favorite scissors? Let us know in the comments below!
Model | # of Sheets Cut Through | Blade Length | Scissors Length | Best For | Shop |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allex S-165L Scissors | 20 sheets | 2.0 inches | 6.5 inches | Left-Handed, General Purpose | Add to Cart |
Canary ESR-175L Scissors | 25 sheets | 2.8 inches | 6.9 inches | Left-Handed, General Purpose | Add to Cart |
Kokuyo Clippy Non-Stick Scissors | 25 sheets | 1.9 inches | 4.9 inches | Detailed Crafting, On-The-Go | Add Items to Cart |
Kokuyo Hakoake 2Way Scissors + Cutter | 20 sheets | 2.6 inches | 6.9 inches | General Purpose, Non-Stick | Add Items to Cart |
Kokuyo Saxa Scissors | 25 sheets | 2.8 inches | 6.8 inches | General Purpose, Non-Stick | Add Items to Cart | Nakabayashi Hikigiri Slim Scissors | 25 sheets | 2.7 inches | 7.1 inches | General Crafting | Add Items to Cart |
Nakabayashi Sakutto Cut Scissors | 25 sheets | 2.8 inches | 6.8 inches | General Purpose | Add Items to Cart |
Raymay Pencut Scissors | 20 sheets | 1.1 inches - 2.3 inches | 3.7 inches - 5.7 inches | On-The-Go | Add Items to Cart |
Raymay Swingcut Scissors | 25 sheets | 3.0 inches | 7.2 inches | Non-stick | Add Items to Cart |
Silky Nevanon DSN-210 210 mm Scissors | 25 sheets | 3.3 inches | 8.4 inches | General Crafting | Add Items to Cart |
Sun-Star Shredder Scissors | 5 sheets | 2.8 inches | 7.3 inches | Shredding | Add to Cart |
Sun-Star Stickyle Scissors | 20 sheets | 0.6 inches - 2.0 inches | 2.0 inches - 5.9 inches | On-The-Go | Add Items to Cart |
TOOLs to LIVEBY Scissors | 25 sheets | 0.9 inches - 4.1 inches | 3.0 inches - 8.0 inches | Detailed Crafting, Non-Stick | Add Items to Cart |