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There are a few grooming devices that every man should own, and a good hair clipper is one of them (right up there with an electric shaver).
Men’s hair clippers are usually more powerful than beard trimmers, and as such, can mow through denser patches of hair with precision, without pulling or tugging on those precious hairs atop your head. That doesn’t mean you need to buy an expensive, barbershop-caliber clipper, especially if you’re only going to buzz yourself at home once or twice a year. However, it is because of those few times a year that you need a reliable hair clipper in the first place—so that you get the job done seamlessly and evenly each time.
Read on for the 10 best men’s hair clippers, none of which offer the same list of benefits. What they do share, however, is an army of fans, including me. But first, some suggestions on how to begin your search.
The Expert: I’ve been a grooming journalist for more than eight years. I love trying new products, speaking with brand representatives, helping readers perfect their self care, and offering my own skin and hair up as a petri dish. My hair clipper game picked up steam with the pandemic, when I got in the habit of buzzing myself, rotating between five or six of the models below with each trim. Now I’m on the grow-out, but am keeping a couple clippers on hand for when I have finally had enough bad hair days. My writing has appeared in nearly every U.S. men’s media outlet, including GQ, Men’s Journal, Robb Report, and Gear Patrol.
The Best Men's Hair Clippers
What to Consider
First and foremost, you want customization, from design to process. No hair clipper is the universal best for everyone—though some come close. Ultimately, it comes down to how frequently you plan to use the device, how thick your hairs are (and how dense your overall hair is), as well as how detailed you want your cuts to be. What you need at home is vastly different from the options a professional barber needs.
You might only be giving yourself a buzzcut a couple of times a year, whereas others are giving their friends, partners, or children a fresh fade or a cleanup every couple of weeks. In the latter case, investing in a professional-grade device is likely more justified. No matter where your needs fall, evaluate a clipper’s guard options (like outlining “T” blades), as well as the range of trimming lengths, be it the ability to “zero gap” the device for a naked fade or use a half-inch guard for a high clip.
Convenience is another factor. Having a cordless clipper is ideal, especially if you’re giving yourself a buzz. You also want something with a fast charge and a generous battery life. Typically, you’ll find clippers with a 40- to 60-minute run time on a full charge; that’s more than sufficient if you’re managing periodic at-home clips. And some cordless clippers can be used while they’re plugged in, too. Plus, even if your device needs a few hours to juice up, it’s easily solved with an overnight charge.
Best of all, there is a great product for every budget; even the low-cost picks tend to carry a good warranty. However, if you do shell out more, you’ll have sturdier, heftier shells; higher-powered, sharper blades; and better quality overall. That’s not to say the lower-cost picks are low in quality; you can feel the difference, though, in how it hums or how hefty it is.
How We Selected
I used one primary standard to select 10 of the best men’s hair clippers: All models are great at-home options—whether you’re doing a DIY buzz or helping refresh someone else’s hair.
It can be a little difficult to standardize a list of hair clippers, because some use millimeters as measurements and others use inches or even industry-standard clipper settings. There’s lots of talk about voltage and which countries these can be used in. I picked all cordless options to better standardize this list. And though some of the more powerful clippers out there demand a plugging-in, there are some barber-caliber cutters on this roster that will mow through thick, coarse, coiled hair. (And I denote those.)
For guard options and trimming length, I use the standard unit of measurement that each brand does, which means some are in millimeters and others in inches. Hopefully, those are both simple to envision in your head, given that clippers tend to keep everything under or around an inch. But, if it helps, here’s a simple brush-up:
- 1.5 millimeters = 1/16 inches
- 3 millimeters = 1/8 inches
- 12 millimeters = 1/2 inches
I have more or less disregarded cutting speed as a measurement for comparison, though. Some clippers boast about how many thousands of hairs their product can cut in a second. That’s shorthand for a powerful device, but nobody is going to cut 65,000 hairs in a single second, so I’ll spare you the confusion here. Instead, I paid attention to customization options, charge duration, cost, and warranty. (Note that some retailers offer separate warranties from the manufacturer itself; you have to decide which warranty to pursue. In the specs below, I list the manufacturer’s warranty, not the retailer’s.)
Looking to trim more hair elsewhere? Check out our picks for the best beard trimmers, nose hair trimmers, and body groomers.
Pros
- Trimming sensor adjusts for the task at hand
- Great for thick hair
- High-quality blades
- Lightweight
Cons
- High price point for non-professionals
Panasonic’s clipper can sense the hair in its path and adjusts its intensity accordingly. This alone makes it one of the most customizable options and in a way no other features can top. That said, its ergo-friendly design and ability to mow through dense mops makes it a favorite among barbers, yet it’s also easy enough to navigate at home, thanks to its lightweight, half-pound body.
Key Specs
Battery Life | 50 minutes |
---|---|
Trimming Length | 0.8 to 15 millimeters |
Guards | 3 combs (3–4 millimeters, 6–9 millimeters, and 12–15 millimeters) |
Warranty | 2 years |
Best for Thick, Coarse Hair
Wahl Cord/Cordless Senior Trimmer
Pros
- Powerful, no-pull motor
- Best pick for longevity
- Lever for taper and texture
Cons
- Hard to find new or unused
- High cost even if used
Although this hair trimmer is hard to find new or unused, it’s extremely reliable when well maintained over time. (So, do not hesitate to buy it used. Even the “new” appearing ones on Amazon are often rebuilt or restored.) It is powered by a V9000 motor, up from the brand’s old standard V5000. That’s more or less a 40 percent increase in oomph, which yields much less tugging and pulling on coarse, coily, and thick hair textures.
Key Specs
Battery Life | 70 minutes |
---|---|
Trimming Length | Up to 3/16 inches |
Guards | 3 combs (1/16 to 3/16 inches) |
Warranty | 2 years |
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Pros
- Great warranty and customer service
- Best value
- Easy to use
Cons
- Low-quality frame
I think this kit should be in every man's home, especially if you’re the parent of an oft-buzzed child. The color-coded guard system makes it easy to remember which length you prefer to clip and even gives children a sense of personalization despite the at-home cleanup. It comes at a low cost, delivers high-quality, and is the easiest device for beginners or clueless cutters to navigate.
This kit also comes with two combs and barber scissors, which are also beneficial for your at-home arsenal. All of it can be stored inside the included the carrying case, too. Although this device is slightly less powerful than its corded counterpart, you’ll notice no difference in the results.
Key Specs
Battery Life | 60 minutes |
---|---|
Trimming Length | 1/16 to 1 inch |
Guards | 8 combs (⅛-inch intervals) |
Warranty | 5 years |
Pros
- Easy for self clips; cuts in every direction
- Best for basic, uniform buzzing
Cons
- Only works effectively as a maintenance device
If you're the type of guy to keep one uniform hair length year-round—minus any fading or fancy handiwork—then you should consider Conair’s circular trimmer, which works in the same way as a rotary face shaver. Choose from five options for a uniform length, then zoom the device all around your head to easily and quickly finish the job.
One suggestion, though: This one works best with short hairs that stand up on their own—it’s not going to give hairs any lift as it cuts. So don’t count on it for your initial mowing down; it’s best as a maintenance tool once the hair is already super short.
Key Specs
Battery Life | 120 minutes |
---|---|
Trimming Length | ⅛ to ½ inches |
Guards | 2 adjustable guides (⅛ to ½ in.) |
Warranty | 5 years |
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Pros
- Solid two-in-one package
- Waterproof
- Affordable
Cons
- Short warranty
Although beard trimmers and hair clippers should be kept separate, Hatteker is one brand that devises most of its trimmers for duality. So, if you're a man who likes to grow your hair out but tend to buzz it, say, once or twice a year, then consider investing in this one; it will suit your beard and body needs wonderfully in the meantime. It also has a nice LED battery display and comes with all types of device heads for head-to-toe detailing.
Key Specs
Battery Life | 60 minutes |
---|---|
Trimming Length | 3 to 16 millimeters |
Guards | 1 beard trimmer (3 to 6millimeters), 4 hair trimmer combs (3 to 12 millimeters), 1 adjustable comb (1 to 16 millimeters) |
Warranty | 6 months |
Pros
- All-in-one functionality at an approachable price
- Long run time
- Hard shell storage vessel makes it easy to tote
Cons
- Best as a beard and body trimmer; secondarily a hair clipper
- Hard for DIY buzzes
Similar to the Hatteker kit above, Philips Norelco’s device is a true all-in-one pick. You can swap out any of its guards for nose trimming or groin maintenance, or target your head hair with a T-blade outliner, clipper guard, or angled fade combs. It takes customization to a max, and that this device “does it all” is what’s so impressive. But that doesn’t mean you should buy it if you only need a hair clipper. You can use it as one, if you buzz but once or twice a year. However, you’ll find better performance if you invest in a dedicated clipper.
Key Specs
Battery Life | 5 hours |
---|---|
Trimming Length | 1 to 16 millimeters |
Guards | 14 combs (head to toe, with fade options) |
Warranty | 5 years |
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Best Professional-Level Hair Clipper
Andis 12470 Master Cordless Lithium Ion Hair Clipper
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Pros
- Can be zero-gapped
- Great for thick hair
Cons
- Heavy and hard to self-administer
- Guards not included
- Expensive
This kitten purrs, and it’s got some serious heft, too. At nearly two pounds, you can feel the quality inside this machine. It’s a barbershop favorite for its high-quality engineering, though it’s not an easy one for a man to buzz himself with, for the same reasons. And because it’s professional grade, the clipper can be zero-gapped (meaning you can essentially shave all the way to the skin if you set it properly), and it cuts through coarse hair like a hot knife through butter.
Key Specs
Battery Life | 120 minutes |
---|---|
Trimming Length | 0.2 to 2.4 millimeters |
Guards | Sold separately |
Warranty | 1 year |
Pros
- Can be zero-gapped
- Great for thick hair
- Perfect for detailing straight, defined edges
Cons
- Limited use beyond edgework
Two Andis picks back to back? Indeed: The barbershop-staple brand also has one of the best at-home T-outlining devices, too. The Slimline Pro draws those clean lines around the edges (and on your beard, too). And like the Master Cordless above, this outliner can also be zero-gapped for the freshest, barely-there-est lines.
Key Specs
Battery Life | 120 minutes |
---|---|
Trimming Length | Up to ½ inches |
Guards | 4 combs (⅛ to ½ inches) |
Warranty | 1 year |
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Pros
- Can be zero-gapped
- Five-detent taper control
- Great for thick hair
Cons
- Steep investment for casual users
Some might say we saved the best for last. BaBylissPro is another barbershop favorite brand, and this clipper is prestigious enough without considering the stunning gold-plated design. It can be zero-gapped for skin-close shaves, has a Ferrari-designed engine for some serious coarse-hair mowing, and has a five-detent taper trigger that overrides human error and keeps the device steady.
That said, it’s pretty heavy duty for a simple at-home task, but it makes a great gift for man with a good eye and trusting touch—whether their barber skills are school- or self-taught.
Key Specs
Battery Life | 2 hours |
---|---|
Trimming Length | 1/16 to ½ inches |
Guards | 8 combs (1/16-inch intervals) |
Warranty | 2 years |
Pros
- V-shaped design makes it easy to clip behind the back and without any pinching in sensitive areas
- Doubles as a T-outliner for clean, straight edges
Cons
- Not for clipping hair on the head (except as an outliner)
If you're a man who came to this roundup in search of a body hair clipper, then that’s why we’ve got Panasonic’s ER-GK80-S on this list: It won’t buzz your hair, but it can manage the hair under your arms, around your groin, and all the way down your backside. I like using it to snip untameable flyaways atop my head, too.
Key Specs
Battery Life | 50 minutes |
---|---|
Trimming Length | 0.1 to 12 millimeters |
Guards | Adjustable guard (3 to 12 millimeters) |
Warranty | 2 years |
Adam Hurly
Adam Hurly has been a grooming journalist for more than eight years, starting off by producing editorial content for Birchbox Man in 2013 and continuing as a freelance writer for GQ, Esquire, Men’s Journal, Gear Patrol, Men’s Health, Robb Report, and more; He likes the excuse to constantly change up his appearance for the sake of each story, though product testing often results in red-skinned mishaps; The Sioux Falls, South Dakota, native currently resides in Berlin, which gives him a nice home base as a travel journalist (his secondary beat). Hurly has also written for AskMen, Bloomberg, Ultra NYC, Highsnobiety, and Byrdie since starting his freelance career in 2016.
Kevin Cortez
Commerce Editor
Kevin Cortez is an editor for Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics covering reviews. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He most recently worked as the Style Editor for Reviewed, a top product recommendation site owned by USA TODAY. He also helped with the launch of WSJ's Buy Side commerce vertical, and has covered the music and podcast industries for Mass Appeal, Genius, Vulture, Leafly, Input, and The A.V. Club. Equally passionate about leisure as he is his penmanship, Kevin dedicates his spare time to graphic novels, birding, making cold brew, and taking long, meandering walks.