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Trips to the groomer can add up, especially if you have more than one pet. The average cost to bathe and groom a medium-sized dog is roughly $60 to $80. Investing in a set of high-quality dog clippers can help reduce some of the cost of pet ownership. In this guide, we’ll review some of the best dog hair clippers and trimmers, including clippers for dogs with dense coats, curly hair, and small dogs.
In this review:
Best dog grooming clippers: At a glance
Best dog clippers reviews
These are our picks for the best clippers for dogs. Click a category below to jump to that review:
- Best professional dog clippers
- Best dog grooming clippers for home use
- Best for durability
- Best dog clippers for thick or curly coats
- Best dog clippers for small dogs
- Best on a budget
Best professional dog clippers
- Equipped with a brushless motor, the KM Cordless is more efficient and reliable than rotary motors.
- Two powerful speeds: 3,000 and 3,700 strokes per minute.
- Equipped with a 10-foot power cord, but can run cordless for up to 2 hours.
- Wahl’s Constant Speed Control feature ensures a steady amount of power and torque in challenging areas.
What we like
The Wahl KM Cordless is a professional, top-of-the-line model for those grooming multiple dogs with thick coats. It’s equipped with a brushless motor which makes it run cooler, quieter, and longer (more than 10,000 hours) than traditional rotary motors. Because of this feature, they may be the only pet clippers you ever need to purchase.
The combination of the brushless motor, constant speed control, and two fast speeds equip this set to glide through tough spots with plenty of steady power. Additionally, the rounded front housing is designed to prevent hair clogging. And it does all this while operating corded or cordlessly.
We think these features warrant the set’s price tag, especially when you consider that they’ll pay for themselves after replacing just a handful of trips to the groomer (or after grooming your first few clients).
These animal clippers come with the professional Ultimate Competition Series #10 steel blade. This detachable blade is made for body clipping and trimming of all coat types, including dogs, cats, horses, and livestock.
What we’d change
We wouldn’t change anything about these pet hair clippers, other than the fact that comb guides need to be purchased separately. The price tag is high, but since these are long-lasting and eliminate costly grooming fees, they are a great investment.
Best for home use
- Cordless design offers freedom of movement to groom anywhere.
- Powerful 3,000 SPM motor for versatile grooming of dogs, cats, horses, and livestock.
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery works continuously for up to two hours.
What we like
If you want a quality clipper set to do your grooming at home, we recommend the Oster Pro 3000i. This set doesn’t sacrifice power or speed in a cordless clipper kit. These premium clippers will work continuously for up to two hours at 3,000 strokes per minute while still giving you the flexibility of working without a cord. Equipped with a heavy-duty motor, these clippers are made to work through any type of coat.
This Oster model comes with a #10 CryogenX blade, which is made of high-carbon steel and built to stay sharp for precision clipping. The detachable blade is compatible with all Oster A5 detachable blades, including wide clipper blades.
These clippers measure 6.90 inches long x 1.9 inches wide and weigh 15 ounces. This set includes the battery, charging stand, lubricating oil, cleaning brush, and one blade. Oster reports that the lithium-ion battery only loses 3% of its charge each month, so it should stay charged in between uses.
Want to see more cordless options? See our guide to the best cordless dog clippers.
What we’d change
There is no option to run these clippers corded if you should forget to charge the battery or if you run the battery down. You’ll have to continue grooming after recharging, and Oster is not clear how long the recharge takes. If you want an option that runs both cordless and while plugged in, see the Wahl KM Cordless, above.
Also, the #10 blade is usually used for faces, ears, belly, and very short coats. It will leave the hair just 1/16th of an inch long, so you may need to use guard combs or purchase another blade length, such as a #7F, for longer cuts.
Best for durability
- Chew-proof, shatterproof housing, so it won't break if your dog pulls it off the grooming table.
- Two high speeds: 3,400 and 4,400.
- 14' heavy-duty cord is long enough to work around large pets and equipment.
What we like
With any Andis product comes the reputation of quality and reliability. This company produces top-of-the-line clippers.
The powerful rotary motor produces two high speeds that will efficiently cut through all coat types. And the motor is encased in super-duty, shatterproof housing to ensure these clippers will last despite being dropped or snagged off a counter by your pet.
This model contains a locking switch that ensures the clippers will not accidentally shut off mid-clip, which can help prevent painful snags. The clippers come with the attached 14′ cord, blade oil, and a #10 UltraEdge carbon steel, detachable blade that cuts 1/16th of an inch or 1.5mm. This item measures 7.13″ long and weighs 1.10 lbs. You can see this model and more options in our guide to the best Andis dog clippers.
What we’d change
This pair of clippers are corded to be able to operate with such power. However, a corded option may not be best for some fearful dogs, or those who want to do their clipping in the backyard. That’s why we love that it gives you the cordless option.
To achieve a longer cut than 1/16th inch, you’ll need to purchase Andis guide combs that are compatible with this particular blade, or purchase an additional blade, like the Andis #7 blade.
Best dog clippers for thick or curly coats
- Ideal for curly and wiry coats: Poodles, Schnauzers, Portuguese Water Dogs, Bichon Frises
- Two speeds: 3,400 and 4,400 strokes per minute plows through curly coats
- Long-lasting quad force blade drive.
What we like
This is a super-duty, professional model that excels in cutting all types of coats. A rotary motor delivers enough constant speed to cut through thick, wavy, curly, or wiry coats on breeds such Poodles, Water Dogs, or Sheep Dogs. The Constant Speed Control coupled with the detachable blade makes this set suitable for complete shave downs, clipping and trimming thick or matted coats, and body clipping on dogs, cats, horses, and livestock.
The clippers come with blade oil and a detachable #10 UltraEdge carbon steel blade that resists rusting (1/16th inch cut). The blade disconnects easily for easy cleaning. These clippers do not feel heavy or too big as they only weigh about a pound and are 7.13 inches long. These clippers come with a 14-foot power cord, so you won’t struggle to reach an outlet. While not as quiet as less powerful clippers (like my Oneisall), these clippers did not seem too loud at 60HZ.
If you want to see more options, check out our guide to the best dog clippers for thick or matted hair.
What we’d change
The only thing that would make these clippers better is if they came with another blade or attachment combs for various cut lengths. But, since it doesn’t, you’ll have to purchase other Andis blade sizes or Andis guide combs to achieve longer lengths.
Also, corded clippers are a little less convenient and may startle already nervous dogs. But, the cord also provides the power necessary to cut through dense fur.
Best dog trimmers for small dogs
- The tried-and-true cordless option for small dogs and precise trimming around ears, faces, and paws.
- The 5-in-1 fine blade adjusts between sizes #9, 10, 15, 30, and 40, offering a convenient variety of cutting lengths.
- With a lightweight, slim design, this dog shaver fits comfortably in your hand.
What we like
The Arco is intended for trimming and touch-ups around the face, legs, ears, and other hard-to-reach areas that need precise clipping. This also makes it great for small to medium size dogs like Bichons, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terriers, and Spaniels.
This rotary motor, cordless clipper stays cool while running at a high speed of up to 5,500 strokes per minute. It runs for 80 minutes and requires 75 minutes for charging.
It is ergonomically designed, quiet, and lightweight at just 7.9 ounces, making precise trimming even easier. It measures 6.75 inches long.
The Arco clipper is made in Hungary while the blades are made in Germany, and it includes Wahl’s one-year limited professional warranty.
If you have a small dog, this set may contain everything you need to get the job done. Not only do these have the benefit of a lightweight clipper with a cordless design, but they also have an adjustable-length blade that gives you a variety of cutting lengths—in addition to guide combs for even longer lengths. It’s the perfect combination for the at-home groomer.
Included are the clippers, the 5-in-1 fine blade set, 2 drop-in NiMH rechargeable battery packs, a soft storage case, charging stand and charger, 4 plastic comb attachments, cleaning brush, blade oil, and instruction book.
What we’d change
These clippers cannot operate while charging, however, they come with 2 battery packs, so you’ll have a backup if your first battery runs out of juice.
>> Read more: Best Dog Clippers for Yorkies
Best on a budget
If money is really tight, you can get either of the clippers below for far less than the rest of the models in this review. However, we’ve bought and personally tested both, and you should know that they won’t work for everyone.
They have weaker, single-speed motors that get the job done on small breeds with thin coats, such as our Yorkie. However, they didn’t work well on our Goldendoodle, who has thicker, curlier fur. If your dog has a thicker, wiry coat, we don’t recommend them. They lack the power to cut through efficiently, and your dog won’t be happy about it.
- This affordable option does a decent job without breaking the bank (but keep reading if you need a heavy-duty option).
- Two hours of run time allows you to trim multiple dogs before needing a recharge.
- Cordless operation makes grooming much easier for you and less scary for your dog.
- Self-sharpening, high-carbon blades reduce the chance of snagging hair.
What we like
This cordless clipper kit will get the job done while not leaving you broke. While you probably won’t find these clippers in the hands of a professional groomer, they have plenty of power for the occasional grooming session at home that most dog-owners need. In fact, we’ve used these clippers ourselves.
These clippers are quiet and capable of cutting through your average medium, straight coat, and the cordless feature makes grooming around your dog and furniture easier. It also allows you to do it outside to save time when cleaning up.
These Wahl dog clippers operate on a 10-minute quick charge, should you forget to fully charge your clippers prior to grooming. The full charge takes approximately 3 to 5 hours. Once charged, the clippers will run on full power.
The complete haircutting kit includes clippers, four comb guides, an instruction booklet, a cleaning brush, scissors, oil, and a storage case. With all these accessories, this set may be the best dog grooming kit for the price.
This clipper set is made from domestic and imported parts and then built in the U.S.A.
What we’d change
This model has a single speed, and Wahl doesn’t indicate what it is. It would also be helpful if you could cord this set in case you need a little bit longer than two hours of run time (but if you’re in that situation, the professional set below is probably a better option).
- Cord/Cordless design; Clippers can be used while charging.
- Quiet 50-decibel design, cool ceramic blades and low vibrations make grooming easy for both you and your pet
- Includes 6 guide combs: 3mm, 6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 15mm & 18mm or approximately ⅛, ¼, ⅜, ½, ⅝ & ¾ inches.
What we like
We’re not going to say these are the mother-of-all clippers or that they’ll be the only ones you’ll ever purchase. That just simply isn’t true. However, sometimes good enough is just that—good enough. And that’s what the Oneisall clipper set is.
The first thing I noticed is how quiet these clippers are. They never upset my Yorkie and he willingly allows me to trim his body and, more recently, his head.
This pair of single-speed clippers will get the job done if you have a smaller dog with an easy-to-cut coat. The clippers operate both corded and cordless, so you won’t have to worry about them running out of juice. But the best feature of these clippers is their cost, especially when you consider how much money you’ll be saving by doing the job yourself.
These lightweight clippers run and charge for 80 minutes. I’ve never run out of power while grooming my dog. The detachable moving blade is made of ceramic to ensure the blades stay cool throughout the grooming session. The clipper kit includes the clippers, shears, detangling comb, blade oil, cleaning brush, guide combs, and charging cord. These clippers have a lifetime replacement guarantee, although we haven’t tried to use it—our set is still working.
What we’d change
In my first attempt to use these clippers, I noticed that the adjustable blade length dial wasn’t adjusting the blade at all. I had to detach and realign the blade. It’s been working well since.
There are a few other things to be aware of if you’re considering Oneisall clippers. They have a single motor speed, which cuts through a single coat. But per the manufacturer, these clippers are not intended for long, matted, or thick fur (see below for another option). As we said, they work on our Yorkie, but they aren’t right for our Goldendoodle. He has a more wiry coat and requires a more heavy-duty set. If your pooch has a long show cut, you should use a pair of scissors or dog shears to reduce the length before using these clippers.
When we used these clippers, we noticed that we needed to stop trimming periodically to clean the blade of hair that remained. While this is not a difficult task, it’s one extra step that you may need to take. However, many clippers have this problem.
What to look for in the best dog hair clippers
Corded vs cordless
In general, corded clippers are going to have a more powerful motor and deliver a steadier cut, especially when dealing with heavy coats. They also will continue to run without a recharge. For these reasons, most professional groomers use corded models.
But if you are a DIY groomer doing the occasional trim or cut, a cordless model may be a great option. Cordless dog clippers are easier to maneuver, and they won’t startle the dog with a swinging cord. Cordless clippers can also be used in any room in the home (or on the porch or back yard, which makes clean up a lot easier).
Battery life & charge time
The best cordless options will have a quick charge time, but also last at least at least two-to-three hours before needing a recharge. This should be long enough to groom your pet.
Look how long each model takes to charge should you forget to do so beforehand. Some models have a quick charge feature that will get you enough juice for a trim in just a few minutes. Others can be charged after use and keep their charge until your next grooming session. And our favorites allow you to plug in the charging cord while still operating the clippers, which is the best of both worlds.
Type of motor
The type of motor is less important for the occasional groomer, but it’s still something to consider—especially if you don’t want to have to replace your clippers anytime soon.
Some models have a rotary motor, while others have a brushless motor. According to Wahl, brushless motors are engineered to run cooler, quieter, and provide more power and torque than your traditional rotary motor. They also tend to be more reliable and last longer, and, therefore, may be the only set of clippers you ever need to purchase.
Blade speed
Blade speed describes is the number of strokes per minute (SPM), sometimes also labeled as rotations per minute, or RPM. Professional clippers have a high speed, around 3,000 to 4,000 SPM. This is important when cutting pet hair, especially thick coats. Otherwise, the thick fur is likely to jam the blade. You want to avoid this as it can be painful for your pet.
A fast blade speed is what sets pet clippers apart from both human hair clippers and cheaper pet clippers. It’s not advisable to use human clippers on pets, especially thick-furred dogs, for this reason. If you want to learn more, read our guide about whether you can use human clippers on dogs.
Most professional clippers will have multiple operating speeds. Faster speeds are used on the trunk of the body where precision is not usually necessary. Slower speeds are great for areas like the face, where precision is needed. Non-professional clippers may not have multiple speeds.
Noise level
Most dogs already hate getting their hair cut. Loud noises only make it worse. Both high speed and lower speed clippers can be noisy, which may be frightening to skittish dogs.
In general, pet clippers are quieter than their human counterparts, but you should look for clippers that have been identified as having a quiet motor. Chances are these quieter models will also have less vibration, which is good for both the groomer and the dog. Brushless motors tend to run quieter than rotary motors.
Heat & blade type
Grooming a dog takes time, and the blades will get hotter the longer they’re in use. If you are going to be running the clippers for an extended period of time because you have multiple dogs, have large dogs, or have dogs with thick fur, you’ll want to ensure your clippers will stay cool.
Some heat is inevitable, but there are a few things you can do to help keep the blades cool. The first thing to do, no matter what type of clippers you are using, is to lubricate the blades with clipper oil. It’s recommended that the blades are oiled at the end of every use after the blades have been thoroughly cleaned. Wipe drips clean while leaving some oil on to lubricate for next use. There are also a number of sprays, like Wahl’s blade ice, that help reduce friction on the blades.
The last thing to think about is blade type. Self-sharpening stainless steel blades mean you’ll never end up with a dull blade. However, you may want to consider switching to ceramic moving blades, which stay cool longer. If the blade gets too hot, you could swap it for a fresh, spare blade while you give the used blade an ice bath.
