Our pick
These stainless steel clippers are razor-sharp, feel sturdy in the hand, and clip nails more cleanly and comfortably than any pair under $80.
These are the exact same stainless steel clippers, under a different name.
The Green Bell G-1205 and Seki Edge SS-112 nail clippers cut so cleanly that you may not need to file off the edges when you’re done—though they do have a built-in file if you’d like to. Both sets of clippers also have a sturdier, more ergonomically sculpted body than other nail clippers we’ve tried. They’re usually less expensive than the next-sharpest clippers we’ve tested—our runner-up pick, which is another Seki Edge model—and they feel better in hand.
Despite their different branding, the Green Bell G-1205 and Seki Edge SS-112 clippers are exactly the same. Green Bell told us that the G-1205 pair is packaged for sale in Japan, while the Seki Edge SS-112 pair is packaged for sale in the US and other markets outside of Japan.
Runner-up
These smaller stainless steel clippers are still seriously sharp and almost as great (and they may be preferable for people with smaller hands).
The smaller, almost-as-sharp Seki Edge SS-106 stainless steel clippers are nearly as great as the Green Bell G-1205 and the Seki Edge SS-112 models. The Seki Edge SS-106 clippers aren’t as sleekly designed as our top pick; they also lack a built-in file and require a tad more pressure when cutting through a hotel key card or fake nails. Overall, however, they cut cleanly through both fingernails and toenails without much force, and they feel good in the hand.
Budget pick
These nickel-plated steel clippers are compact and effective, and they come with a nail-file strip and a removable nail catcher. But they may be more susceptible to rusting.
Muji nail clippers are an inexpensive option compared with our other picks (and they’re far superior to most drugstore clippers). But they’re inferior to the stainless-steel Green Bell and Seki options when considering sharpness and overall performance. After three years of owning them, though, one long-term tester reported that the Muji nail clippers are “still not as dull as brand-new drugstore ones.”
