Best Nail Clippers for Every Need and Every Nail

Sharp, aligned blades: When it comes to nail clippers, it’s all about the blades. Dull clippers with blades that do not meet evenly are more likely to snag, tear, and break your nail. “The better the blade, the more cleanly it will cut, and will be less likely to produce jagged edges,” says Dr. Dana Stern, a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and surgery of the nail.

Smooth joints, solid construction: Most nail clippers feature a lever that must be spun upward, then pressed down to close the blades and clip the nails. The points at which different parts of the nail clipper must work together to create this motion are the joints—and just like with your knees, you don’t want any creaking, catching, or stiffness. 

“Better-designed clippers will have smoother joints, enabling better leverage, and be superior ergonomically,” says Stern. 

High-quality materials: Nail clippers are typically made out of durable metals like stainless steel, but some are made of metal alloys or a combination of stainless steel and other metals. “Cheaper grade metal can warp, dull or break sooner,” Stern warns. “Lower quality metals can also rust more easily.”

Blade shape: Nail clipper blades come in two varieties: curved and flat. Which one you choose comes down to personal preference, and which nails you’re cutting. 

“Curved clippers generally work best for fingernails because they follow the natural shape of the nail,” says Jachno. “Flatter or straighter clippers are better suited for toenails, which are thicker and benefit from a straight cut.”

Lifestyle: You may think that if you mostly get your nails done at the salon, you don’t need to invest in a good clipper, but actually, the opposite is true.

“If you regularly get professional manicures or wear gel or structured coatings, it is important to choose a high-quality, very sharp clipper that cuts cleanly without stressing the nail plate,” says Sofia Mazur, a nail artist and educator.

She also says that athletes or people with thicker nails may benefit from stronger, heavy-duty clippers with a powerful lever and stable grip, since they typically need to trim their nails more often than a regular person. 

Nail care becomes more complicated with age. 

“People who are older may have dexterity and flexibility issues,” says Pamela D. Wilson, a caregiving expert. “Some cannot bend to clip their nails, and nails get thicker with age, making it more difficult to cut through the nail.”

Grip strength and steadiness along with deteriorating vision may also make wielding a nail clipper safely more difficult. 

“In these cases, some people may be able to avail themselves of some accommodations such as a magnifying glass stand with lights to make it easier to see, a more ergonomic clipper that requires less grip strength, and taking a footbath before clipping to soften up the nail,” says Wilson. 

But seniors and caregivers should approach nail care with caution. “Physical impediments aren’t the only concern,” Wilson adds. “If the skin is cut while clipping, that makes the person more vulnerable to infections, slow-healing wounds, and other complications.” 

If the nail is too thick to cut through with a good pair of clippers or if the person has a complicating medical factor such as diabetes, it’s a good idea to consult a professional. A podiatrist can show seniors and caregivers how to clip their nails safely. There may also be a local nail clinic where nurses offer nail care to those who need assistance.

Consumer Reports sent me 17 nail clipper sets to test—three shy of my current allotment of fingers and toes. I needed backup. So I divided my evaluation of the clippers into two parts: a usability test and a functional evaluation. 

For the usability test, I invited seven of my most discerning friends to a manicure/pedicure party and asked them to evaluate the clippers based on the criteria listed above. For the functional test, I snagged a pack of acrylic nails in the “long stiletto” shape from Amazon and used each of the clippers to trim them down to a demure almond shape. 

Some clippers were a cut above the rest, others were on the cutting edge, and many didn’t make the cut at all.

These clippers transformed nail clipping from a chore of basic hygiene into a ritual of self-care.