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These scissor-style nail clippers combine strength, comfort, and safety features at a very low price. Read More
The guillotine style clippers cut quickly and cleanly, making what could otherwise be a stressful, drawn-out job into a two-minute snap. Read More
This scissor set was especially comfortable to use and contains that all-important safety stop to prevent cutting into the dog's quick. Read More
The power tool creates an effective claw-cutting experience, but it's confusing to set up, bulky, and very loud. Read More
These sharp nail clippers deliver clean cuts with ease. Read More
Regularly trimming a dog's nails can be stressful with the wrong pair of nail clippers. After all, it’s the rare pup that eagerly responds to dog nail clippers the way we humans might enjoy a relaxing pedicure. Because it requires broaching their tender paws with blades, having a scared and squirmy subject is all the more fraught.
That’s why getting the best dog nail clipper to trim their nails is absolutely necessary—whether that means a super-sharp set of scissors, smooth and efficient guillotine clippers, or a gentle, low-intimidation dog nail grinder like a Dremel. Plier-type scissors are the most traditional style. And if that’s the variety you choose, you can’t do better than the ultra-durable Epica Professional Nail Clipper (available at Amazon) .
If you’re a new dog owner or are just looking to upgrade all of your pet’s equipment, then it may not be a bad idea to add a great dog collar and dog leash to your dog’s pile of gear as well. Your dog probably deserves to go for a walk after cutting their nails with the best dog nail clipper, right?
After examining the various options available, we found that the best dog nail clippers instantly cut through even the thickest nails. A clearly delineated safety guard ensures you don’t nick your dog’s quick—the delicate cluster of nerves and blood vessels that appears as a dark circle just beyond where the pure, nerve-free nail ends.
If you’re ready to help your pup feel a bit more comfortable during their pedicure, then read on to find out what the best dog nail clippers are online right now.
The Epica Pet Nail Clipper is our top pick because of its strength.
If you prefer a guillotine-style trimmer, our best tested is the Resco, which has been an industry leader since 1937.
Ergonomic
Easy to use
Includes nail file
Requires some effort with tough nails
Professional quality
Trims without blades
Includes accessories
Takes 2+ hours to charge
Loud
Assembly required
Available in multiple sizes
Affordable
Uncomfortable to handle
Stiff locking mechanisms
In order to find the best dog nail clippers on the market, our experts have extensively researched user reviews, product specs, price points, and other important factors to determine which brands and models we can recommend to our readers.
Although our pet experts haven’t tried out these models personally, they rigorously test and evaluate a wide range of pet products regularly—including dog collars, travel backpacks, cat litter boxes, and pet DNA tests. Our team is well-versed in understanding what features are important to look for when finding the best dog nail clippers. The options on this list have been carefully selected to meet our criteria, centered around the features, such as grip comfort, ease of use, and the quality of the cut, as well as the price, durability, and professional groomer recommendations for each set of dog nail clippers.
We evaluated several different types of dog nail clippers for this guide.
Scissors: The most common kind of cutter, these plier-style tools have steel blades that snip off bits of the nail when you squeeze the handle. Ideally, they also contain a quick stop guard to keep you from slicing into a nerve.
Grinders: This electric option uses a rotating, emery board-type wheel instead of a blade to grind bits of nail off gradually.
Guillotines: As the name suggests, these dog nail clippers feature a hole that the nail fits through. Squeezing the handle causes the blade to descend and chop the nail off vertically rather than horizontally.
Since this is a cutting tool, it goes without saying that the blade should be high-quality stainless steel and resistant to dulling, bacteria, and rust. While special features are nice (such as emery boards tucked into the handle!), safety is paramount. The most significant danger to your dog is accidentally cutting into the nail's quick, so ensure the clipper has a quick guard as a failsafe against overcutting.
The most important thing dog owners can do when selecting the best dog nail clippers is to ensure they’re the right size for their dog. Small dog nail clippers won’t stand up to the density of a large dog’s thick nails, while a large dog nail clipper may be clumsy and aggressive against the tender nails of small or medium-sized dogs.
Classic scissors come in small and large sizes and are almost always equipped with quick guards. However, if your pet jerks its paw when you’re trying to cut, it could cause you to accidentally cut too much of the nail (or worse!).
A grinder offers a gentle, less abrupt way to shorten and buff your pet’s nails, although you may have to work to acclimate them to the buzzing sound.
A guillotine dog nail clipper is also effective on small dogs or even cats, although animals may be uncomfortable with the rough downward pressure.
The hardest part about using dog nail clippers is getting your dog, or any pet for that matter, to sit still. Most don’t like it, so if you’re using dog nail clippers instead of having a veterinarian do it, you’ll want to know how to do it safely and correctly.
In order to clip your pet’s nails right, you’ll want to place yourself and your dog in a comfortable position. Your arms should be dangling over your dog, who should be lying flat on its belly. You can use your other forearm to hold your dog’s head still as you trim its front paws with the dog nail clippers. If your dog is uncomfortable or won’t sit still, try laying it on its side.
Simply hold their paws and move through each nail using the dog nail clippers.
Although it may be tempting to clip your dog’s nails with the human clippers you already have handy in your house, these clippers aren’t made for dog claws. Unlike human clippers, dog nail clippers are designed for the curve of a dog’s paw. If you try to use human clippers instead of dog nail clippers, they could crack or damage the dogs' nails and apply painful pressure to them. No dog dad or mom would want that!
Dog nail clippers provide a quick, clean cut that won’t cause uneven nail surfaces. They allow your dog’s nails to maintain their natural shape and smooth surface. The wrong type of clippers, such as human clippers, will put your dog, especially large dogs, at greater risk since their paws are thicker.
It is common to see pet groomers and veterinarians use the Resco dog nail clippers or the Millers Forge dog nail clippers to cut dogs nails. In fact, the Millers Forge dog nail clippers are commonly recommended by pet groomers and veterinarians. They are heavy-duty, comfortable to hold, and provide super precise and quick cuts on pet nails.
The Resco guillotine dog nail clippers are also popular among groomers. They are another pair of dog nail clippers that create precise, easy cuts. This is ideal for veterinarians and groomers since it allows them to cut dog nails much quicker. If you’ve got a squirmy pup, then these two types of dog nail clippers would be ideal.
Electric dog nail clippers, also referred to as grinders, are different from manual dog nail clippers, and both have pros and cons. The type of dog nail clippers you choose depends on your budget, feature preference, and how well your dog sits still.
Manual dog nail clippers come in various styles and sizes, such as scissors, pliers, and guillotine-type clippers, which are great for customizing the size to dogs of various sizes. They are also inexpensive and quiet, which is ideal for fidgety dogs. The downside to manual dog nail clippers is that there is a risk of overclipping, especially on dogs who squirm, and the clippers can leave sharp edges on the nails after being clipped.
Electric dog nail clippers are more consistent with creating a smooth, round edge. You’re also less likely to clip your dog’s nails too short. Once the grinding head dulls out, replacing it is easy, making the electric clippers a reliable investment. The downside to these dog nail clippers is that they’re more expensive and make a lot of noise, which may intimidate your dog.
If you’ve got both cat and dog pets in your home, then you may be wondering if you can use dog nail clippers on your cat’s little pews. The short answer is yes, technically you can, but there are a few things to consider before you start cutting away at your kitty’s nails.
Since your cat’s paws are likely to be smaller than a dogs, you’ll want to use a pair of dog nail clippers that are designed for small dogs. Scissor-style nail clippers are similar to cat nail clippers, so they are a good type of dog nail clippers to use on a cat. In addition, grinder trimmers are great since they include no blade. No matter which type of dog nail clippers you choose to use on your cat’s nails, you should proceed with caution to avoid nipping your cat’s nails the wrong way by mistake.
To be safe, it’s best for you to have separate clippers for both your cat and dog, but if you’re looking to cut your cat’s nails quickly and have a pair of dog nail clippers that are safe to use on your cat, then you can do so.
Sarah Zorn
Contributor
Sarah Zorn is a food writer, cookbook author, and product tester for Reviewed, Wirecutter and the Food Network. She regularly contributes to outlets such as Saveur, Esquire, and Civil Eats, and has very much passed her food obsessions down, as her beloved rescue hound, Rowdy, regularly deglazes his kibble bowl.
Ceara Perez-Murphy is a staff writer at Reviewed. In her free time she likes trying out new recipes in the kitchen, exploring new restaurants and spending time outdoors with her dogs.
Lily Hartman
Staff Writer, Search
Lily Hartman is a staff writer who also enjoys writing magazine articles about health and outdoor recreation. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, run, and lift weights.
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