What Size Secateurs Do I Need?

Quick answer: the right size of secateurs depends on your hand, the type of pruning you do and the material you normally cut.

A shorter pair can be easier to position and carry, while a full-size pair may give you a larger working format for general garden pruning. But overall length does not tell you everything: two secateurs of different sizes can have similar cutting capacities, and two tools of similar length can be designed for very different jobs.

So do not choose by centimetres alone.

Does hand size matter when choosing secateurs?

Yes.

If a pair of secateurs feels too large to open and close naturally, repetitive pruning can become awkward even if the blades are perfectly suitable for the plant.

But there is an important limitation when shopping online:

overall tool length is not the same thing as hand fit.

Handle shape, opening span, spring resistance and the way the tool sits in your palm all contribute to comfort.

Unless a manufacturer publishes a verified hand-size range, we therefore avoid saying that a particular model is definitively “for small hands” simply because it is short.

What we can do is identify the genuinely compact models.

How big are SUWADA secateurs?

Here is a useful size overview of the current range.

This is why size alone should not decide the purchase.

The 18 cm S-25 Small Angled Secateurs, for example, are shorter than the full-size S-13W but still reach approximately 15 mm at the base of the blade for appropriate live wood.

What if I want the smallest secateurs?

The S-M1 Mini Secateurs are the most compact SUWADA secateurs in our current range at approximately 14 cm.

They are intended for bonsai, small branches, fresh flowers and portable garden work, with live-wood capacity up to approximately 10 mm at the blade base.

Their small overall format makes them easy to carry and useful where a large pair of garden secateurs would simply be unnecessary.

But they should not be treated as a miniature version of a full-size heavy pruning tool.

Choose them because the work is small and controlled—not simply because they are the shortest.

What are good compact secateurs for everyday pruning?

If 14 cm is smaller than you need, the next step is the 16.5–18 cm range.

The S-30 Small Angled and S-31 Small Straight are both approximately 16.5 cm long.

They are compact general-pruning tools rated for live growth up to about 10 mm.

The difference between them is primarily geometry:

• S-30 has an angled form.
• S-31 has a straight form.

If you want a compact secateur but need more capacity near the pivot, the S-25 Small Angled Secateurs are approximately 18 cm long and can handle live growth up to around 15 mm at the blade base.

That makes S-25 particularly interesting because compact size does not necessarily mean very low cutting capacity.

When should I choose full-size secateurs?

For ordinary garden pruning, a full-size model can be the simplest starting point.

The S-S1 Stainless Steel Secateurs measure approximately 19 cm, while the S-13W Classic and S-14 Slim are approximately 20.5 cm.

All three are general-pruning models with live-wood guidance around 15 mm.

The difference is therefore not simply cutting capacity.

You are also choosing between overall tool size, blade and handle geometry, stainless or carbon steel, and the feel of a full-size or slimmer tool.

Our guide to choosing Japanese secateurs compares those differences in more detail.

Do bigger secateurs cut thicker branches?

Not automatically.

This is one of the most useful things to understand before buying.

The S-13W is approximately 20.5 cm long and has guidance around 15 mm for live wood.

The smaller S-25 is approximately 18 cm long and can also reach around 15 mm—but specifically near the base of the blade.

Meanwhile, some other 18 cm pruning tools in the range are intended for much finer work.

So the correct question is not:

“How long are the secateurs?”

It is:

“What is this particular model designed to cut?”

Always use the verified cutting capacity for the model rather than trying to infer strength from its overall length.

What size secateurs should I choose for small hands?

If full-size secateurs usually feel too large, start by looking at the compact models rather than assuming every 20 cm tool will suit you.

Within the current SUWADA range, that means comparing:

• S-M1 — 14 cm
• S-30 / S-31 — 16.5 cm
• S-25 — 18 cm

However, we deliberately describe these as compact models, not guaranteed “small-hand” sizes.

Individual hand fit is personal, and overall tool length does not provide enough information by itself to promise a particular ergonomic fit.

If hand size is the main concern and you are unsure, contact us before ordering. Tell us which model you are considering and, if useful, the approximate length of your hand from the wrist crease to the tip of the middle finger.

A simple way to choose

Start with the work.

For bonsai, flowers and very compact work, look first at the 14 cm S-M1.

For compact everyday pruning, compare S-30 and S-31 at 16.5 cm.

For a compact tool with more capacity near the pivot, look at the 18 cm S-25.

For regular general garden pruning, compare S-S1, S-13W and S-14 in the 19–20.5 cm range.

Then check the model's cutting capacity.

Finally, consider material and geometry.

That order—task → size → capacity → geometry—is more useful than choosing the longest pair of secateurs on the assumption that larger must be better.

Browse the Japanese Secateurs collection, read our Japanese Secateurs Choosing Guide, or see our Stainless Steel vs Carbon Steel Secateurs guide if material is part of your decision.