How Thick a Branch Can Secateurs Cut?
Sep 24, 2026
Quick answer: there is no single branch thickness that every pair of secateurs can safely cut.
For the current SUWADA range, our verified guidance runs from around 10 mm for compact and fine-pruning models to approximately 15 mm of live wood for several general garden models.
The correct limit depends on the particular secateurs, the condition of the wood and—in some models—where the branch is positioned along the blade.
So do not judge cutting capacity simply by looking at how wide the blades can open.
What does “cutting capacity” actually mean?
A cutting-capacity figure is the maximum branch diameter a particular tool is intended to handle under the conditions stated for that model.
For our garden secateurs, the figures below refer to live wood.
That distinction matters.
A fresh green branch and an old dry branch of exactly the same diameter can require very different amounts of force to cut.
Likewise, a branch fitting physically between the blades does not prove that the secateurs are designed to cut it.
How thick can SUWADA secateurs cut?
Our current verified guidance is:
| Model | Approx. length | Live-wood cutting guidance |
|---|---|---|
| S-M1 Mini | 14 cm | Up to ~10 mm at blade base |
| S-30 Small Angled | 16.5 cm | Up to ~10 mm |
| S-31 Small Straight | 16.5 cm | Up to ~10 mm |
| S-19 Pruning Shears | 18 cm | ~5 mm tip / 10 mm base |
| S-25 Small Angled | 18 cm | ~5 mm tip / up to 15 mm base |
| S-S1 Stainless | 19 cm | Up to ~15 mm |
| S-13W Classic | 20.5 cm | Up to ~15 mm |
| S-14 Slim | 20.5 cm | Up to ~15 mm |
These figures are model-specific.
They should not be transferred automatically to another pair of secateurs just because it looks similar.
Why can S-25 cut more near the base than at the tip?
Because the position of the branch on the blade can matter.
On the S-25 Small Angled Secateurs, our guidance is approximately:
- 5 mm near the blade tip
- up to 15 mm near the blade base
The S-19 Pruning Shears follow the same principle, with approximately:
- 5 mm near the tip
- 10 mm near the base
Closer to the pivot, the tool has greater mechanical leverage.
This does not mean you should force every thick branch as far into the blade as possible.
It means that when a model has separate tip and base capacities, use the part of the blade appropriate for the material while staying within the stated figures.
Can secateurs cut a 2 cm branch?
Not the current SUWADA secateurs for which we use verified cutting-capacity figures.
2 cm is 20 mm.
Our current full-size S-13W, S-14 and S-S1 guidance is approximately 15 mm for live wood. S-25 also reaches approximately 15 mm, but specifically near the blade base.
A 20 mm branch therefore exceeds those stated capacities.
Use a more suitable heavier pruning tool rather than trying to gain extra capacity by squeezing harder.
Does a bigger pair of secateurs cut thicker branches?
Not necessarily.
Overall length and cutting capacity are different specifications.
For example:
- S-13W: approximately 20.5 cm long, up to ~15 mm live wood.
- S-25: approximately 18 cm long, up to ~15 mm near the blade base.
- S-19: also approximately 18 cm long, but up to ~10 mm near the base.
Two tools can therefore be similar in length yet designed for different work.
That is why our What Size Secateurs Do I Need? guide treats size and cutting capacity separately.
Does dry wood change the maximum thickness?
Yes, potentially by a lot.
Our figures above refer to live wood.
Dry, dead or unusually dense wood can be significantly harder than fresh growth of the same diameter.
A branch that falls within a nominal live-wood diameter may therefore still be unsuitable if it is:
- completely dry;
- very hard;
- unusually dense;
- knotted;
- old and brittle.
Do not assume that “15 mm capacity” means every piece of material measuring 15 mm can safely be cut.
Branch condition matters.
How do I know a branch is too thick for my secateurs?
Pay attention to the tool rather than trying to prove that the cut is possible.
Stop if you find yourself:
- squeezing with excessive force;
- twisting the handles;
- rocking the secateurs from side to side;
- repeatedly biting into the same branch;
- using both hands on a one-handed tool to gain more force;
- hearing or feeling abnormal movement at the pivot;
- crushing the branch without completing a clean cut.
Those are signs that the material may be outside the tool's intended work—or that the tool itself needs attention.
Forcing the cut can damage the blade, pivot or alignment and can leave a poor pruning wound on the plant.
If your secateurs are already crushing or tearing material they normally cut cleanly, see Why Are My Secateurs Making Jagged Cuts?
Is blade opening the same as cutting capacity?
No.
A branch fitting between the open blades only tells you that there is enough physical space to place it there.
It tells you nothing by itself about:
- available leverage;
- blade geometry;
- pivot strength;
- intended material;
- verified cutting capacity.
This is one of the easiest ways to overload a pruning tool.
Always use the manufacturer's capacity guidance rather than the maximum object you can physically fit between the blades.
When should I use loppers or a pruning saw instead?
When the branch exceeds the intended capacity of your secateurs, change tools.
General horticultural guidance typically moves from one-handed pruners to loppers and then pruning saws as branch diameter increases.
There is no need to stretch the secateurs to their absolute limit when another tool is clearly more appropriate.
A good rule is:
If the branch cannot be cut cleanly in one controlled action within the tool's stated capacity, stop and reconsider the tool.
The purpose of pruning is to make a controlled cut—not to find out how much force the secateurs can survive.
Does sharpness increase cutting capacity?
A sharp cutting edge helps a tool perform as intended.
It does not increase the model's stated capacity.
Sharpening a pair of 10 mm secateurs does not turn them into 15 or 20 mm secateurs.
Similarly, a dull pair may struggle with material that is normally well within its intended range.
Keep the blades clean and correctly sharpened, but treat maintenance and capacity as separate questions.
Our Secateurs Maintenance Guide explains how to care for the cutting edge without changing its geometry.
So how thick a branch can secateurs cut?
The safest answer is:
whatever thickness that specific model is designed to cut.
For the current SUWADA range:
- compact and fine-pruning models generally sit around 10 mm;
- several general garden models are rated around 15 mm of live wood;
- some models have different capacities at the tip and base of the blade;
- dry or unusually hard material may require a heavier tool even when the diameter looks acceptable.
Do not choose by blade opening, overall tool length or how hard you think you can squeeze.
Choose by model → stated capacity → branch condition → correct blade position.
Browse the Japanese Secateurs collection, compare models in our Japanese Secateurs Choosing Guide, or read What Size Secateurs Do I Need? if you are deciding between compact and full-size tools.
Sources
For general pruning-tool selection by branch size, see the University of Maryland Extension guide to pruning tools, the Nebraska Extension guide to pruning tools, and NC State Extension's Tools to Make the Cut.
