Quick answer: the main tree cutting tools
Tree cutting tools range from small hand pruners to chainsaws. Most are grouped by the size of the branch or trunk they handle and by whether they are manual or powered.
- Hand pruners (secateurs): small twigs and stems.
- Loppers: branches a little thicker than pruners can manage.
- Pruning saws: medium branches, and cuts where blades cannot reach.
- Pole pruners and pole saws: high branches from the ground.
- Chainsaws: large limbs, felling and cutting up trunks.
- Axes, wedges and log splitters: felling support and processing wood afterwards.
Maximum cutting capacity varies by model, so check the manufacturer’s stated limit for any tool you buy.
Hand tools for small branches
Hand pruners come in bypass and anvil styles. Bypass pruners use two blades that pass each other like scissors and are generally preferred for live, green stems. Anvil pruners press a single blade onto a flat surface and are more often used on dead or dry wood. Ratchet pruners add a stepped mechanism that reduces the grip effort needed.
Loppers are long-handled pruners. The extra leverage lets you cut thicker branches than hand pruners can. They come in bypass, anvil and ratchet versions. See types of loppers for how they differ.
Pruning saws have a narrow, toothed blade, often curved, made for cutting branches too thick for loppers. Folding and fixed-blade versions are common. They suit tight spots because the blade is thin and you control the cut by hand.
Hedge shears are for shaping hedges and soft growth, not for cutting through woody branches.
Tools for reaching high branches
Pole pruners have a cutting head on a long pole, usually operated with a rope or lever. Pole saws put a saw blade or a small chain and bar on a pole, in manual, battery, electric or gas versions. They allow you to work from the ground, which can reduce the need for ladders. Be aware that cutting overhead brings branches down toward you, and that working near power lines is a job for professionals.
Power tools for larger cuts
Chainsaws are the standard tool for large limbs and trunks. They come in gas, corded electric and battery versions, with different bar lengths. The chain matters as much as the saw: see types of chainsaw chains for the differences between chisel, semi-chisel and low-kickback chains.
Mini chainsaws are small one-handed saws sold for light pruning. Because they are used one-handed and often at height or awkward angles, many arborists and manufacturers urge caution with them, so read the manual carefully.
Reciprocating saws with a pruning blade can cut branches in some situations, and are sometimes used by people who already own one. They are less purpose-built than a pruning saw or chainsaw.
Felling and processing tools
Once a tree is down, other tools take over. Axes are used for felling smaller trees, limbing and splitting; the head shape determines the job, as explained in types of axe heads. Wedges help keep a cut open and guide a fall. Log splitters turn rounds into firewood, from manual designs to hydraulic machines, covered in types of log splitters.
Choosing a tool by branch size
| Task | Typical tool |
|---|---|
| Small twigs and stems | Hand pruners |
| Branches beyond hand pruners | Loppers |
| Medium branches | Pruning saw |
| High branches | Pole pruner or pole saw |
| Large limbs, felling | Chainsaw |
| Splitting cut wood | Axe, maul or log splitter |
Treat these as rough guides. Use the manufacturer’s stated capacity, and if a cut feels beyond a tool, switch to a larger one rather than forcing it.
Safety gear
Wear eye protection and gloves for any cutting. For chainsaw work, common recommendations include a helmet with face protection, hearing protection, chainsaw-rated trousers or chaps, and sturdy boots. Large trees, trees under tension, and anything near buildings or power lines are often best left to a qualified arborist.
FAQ
What is a tree trimming tool called? It depends on the job: pruners or secateurs for small stems, loppers for thicker ones, pruning saws for medium branches, and pole pruners or pole saws for height.
What tools are best for cutting trees? There is no single best tool. Match the tool to the branch size and your experience. Hand tools suit most home pruning, while chainsaws are for larger work.