Pruning shears

What actually matters

Cut capacity is the first number to read, because it is the thickest stem the manufacturer says the blades are made to cut. In this group the stated capacity runs from 1/2 in (1.3 cm) to 1 in (2.5 cm). The Corona ClassicCUT sits at the low end, and the Corona ProCUT and two Burgon & Ball models sit at the top. The Corona ErgoACTION lists 3/4 in (1.9 cm), and the Burgon & Ball compact model lists 17 mm (about 0.67 in). Because the units differ between brands, convert before you compare.

A capacity figure is a ceiling, not a target. Choosing a pruner whose stated capacity is above your thickest stem leaves some margin. Stems thicker than the stated capacity are outside what the manufacturer rates the pruner to cut. Millimeters and centimeters differ by a factor of ten, so 17 mm and 1.7 cm are the same size. Fractions in inches such as 3/4 and 1/2 are easy to misread next to a whole number like 1.

Blade material is the second figure, and every pruner here lists a steel. Corona names MAXFORGED steel on all three of its pruners, and the ProCUT adds a non-stick coating. Burgon & Ball describes its blades as fully hardened and tempered high-carbon steel on all three of its pruners. Those are the manufacturers' own descriptions, so they tell you what each blade is made of rather than how long it holds an edge. A coating is listed with the steel, so read the full blade line when you compare two models.

Handle material and grip describe the part that sits in your palm. The listings use different wording: contoured handles with non-slip grips, a soft grip handle, slim handles with non-slip grips, and alloy handles with soft grip. Words like contoured and slim describe the handle shape the maker chose, which matters most when your hands are small or large. Only the Corona ErgoACTION states full steel construction, and only the standard Burgon & Ball Bypass Secateurs state alloy handles. The Burgon & Ball compact and left-handed models state no handle material, so that row is not documented for them.

Overall length and weight are stated by Burgon & Ball only, and not for every model. The standard Bypass Secateurs list an overall length of 8.3 in (21 cm). The left-handed model lists the same 8.3 in (21 cm) length and a weight of 7.8 oz (220 g). The compact model lists 6.7 in (17 cm) and 4.9 oz (140 g), and both figures are below the left-handed model's. Weight matters over a long session, when a difference of a few ounces adds up in your hand.

Among the Burgon & Ball models, the compact one lists 17 mm (0.67 in) at 140 g, while the left-handed one lists 2.5 cm (1 in) at 220 g. That pairing is one example of the trade-off between capacity and weight.

All of these figures are manufacturer-stated and were read from product pages on 2026-09-23. A stated figure can be compared across brands only when the unit and the wording match. Where a row is missing, it means the page does not document it, not that the product lacks the feature.

Which one for whom

When the thickest stem you cut is around 1/2 in (1.3 cm), the capacity row is the figure to check first. Every pruner in this group states at least that much, so capacity alone will not separate them. Handle wording and weight then become the deciding rows.

If you cut stems close to 1 in (2.5 cm) thick, the figure to look at is a stated capacity of 1 in or more. Three models state exactly that: the Corona ProCUT and the two full-size Burgon & Ball secateurs. The Corona ErgoACTION and ClassicCUT state less, at 3/4 in (1.9 cm) and 1/2 in (1.3 cm).

If you are left-handed, the model name tells you which Burgon & Ball listing is made for you. Its stated capacity and length match the standard model, and it adds a stated weight of 7.8 oz (220 g).

If you want a pruner for a pocket or a small bag, the rows to read are overall length and weight. Only the Burgon & Ball models state a length, and the compact one lists 6.7 in (17 cm) and 4.9 oz (140 g). The cost is capacity, since it is stated at 17 mm (0.67 in) rather than 1 in (2.5 cm).

If grip comfort is your concern, compare the handle rows word by word. Corona describes contoured, soft grip or slim handles with non-slip grips, while Burgon & Ball describes alloy handles with soft grip. These are descriptions of design intent, so they tell you what to look for, not how the grip feels in your hand.

If a coated blade matters to you, the blade row is the one to read, and only the Corona ProCUT lists a non-stick coating. If you only want to know the steel type, all six list a hardened or forged steel. None of these situations produces one correct answer, because each row trades against another.

Setup and use

Before you use any pruner, read its stated capacity and keep your cuts below that figure. A stem thicker than the capacity row is outside what the manufacturer rates the tool to cut. For the Corona ClassicCUT that limit is 1/2 in (1.3 cm), and for the Corona ProCUT it is 1 in (2.5 cm).

Read the handle row to see whether the maker describes a soft grip, a non-slip grip or both. If a listing gives a weight, note it. Burgon & Ball states 4.9 oz (140 g) for the compact model and 7.8 oz (220 g) for the left-handed one. The blade row tells you the steel, so keep the full wording, including any coating, with your notes.

Write each unit down with its number, since a figure in millimeters or centimeters reads very differently from one in inches. Because the figures are manufacturer-stated, check them against the product page, which was last read for this site on 2026-09-23.

Overall length, where stated, shows how much room the tool takes up. Burgon & Ball lists 6.7 in (17 cm) for the compact model and 8.3 in (21 cm) for the other two. None of these checks replaces the manufacturer's own instructions for the tool.

Questions and answers

What does cut capacity mean on a pruner?

Cut capacity is the thickest stem the manufacturer says the blades are made to cut. In this group the stated figures run from 1/2 in (1.3 cm) to 1 in (2.5 cm). Stay below the figure for the pruner you own, because a stem above it is outside the rating.

Are these specifications tested by this site?

This site has not tested any of these pruners. Every cut capacity, blade material, handle material, length and weight figure is stated by the manufacturer on its product page. The specifications were read from each product page on 2026-09-23.

How do I compare capacities given in different units?

Corona states its cut capacity in inches, while Burgon & Ball states it in centimeters or millimeters. Convert before comparing: 1 in is about 2.5 cm, so 17 mm is about 0.67 in. A figure written as 3/4 in equals about 1.9 cm.