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The best scissors for arthritis have a spring that reopens the blades after every cut, so you only squeeze and never have to pull the handles apart. The five pairs below cover sewing and crafts, fine detail work, and light everyday cutting, from about $11 to $24.
Regular scissors ask your hand to do two jobs: close the blades, then open them again. For sore or weak hands, the second job is often the one that hurts. I compared the listings from retailers and the brand to find scissors that remove it. I haven’t tested these pairs myself, so everything below comes from the sellers’ own descriptions.
The 5 Best Scissors for Arthritis and Weak Hands
1. Fiskars 8″ Easy Action Bent Scissors
Price: about $22.95 at Sailrite
These are 8 inches overall with 3.5-inch stainless-steel blades. According to the listing, a spring opens the blades after each cut. The bent handle has Softgrip touchpoints, and the bend keeps the fabric or paper flat while you cut. The listing also says the Arthritis Foundation has commended them for ease of cutting.
Best for: sewing, fabric, wrapping paper and other long cuts.
Limitation: they are a larger pair, which some people find heavy over a long session.
2. Fiskars Easy Action Micro-Tip Scissors, 6″
Price: about $23.50 at Purl Soho
This is a smaller 6-inch pair with a fine tip. The seller says it is intended for people with arthritis or limited grip strength. The spring-action blades reopen after each cut, and the precision-ground stainless-steel blades suit both left- and right-handed users.
Best for: detail work like trimming thread, cutting small shapes and craft projects.
Limitation: the shorter blades make long straight cuts slower.
3. Fiskars Titanium Micro-Tip Easy Action Scissors
Price: check the current price
Fiskars describes high-grade stainless-steel blades with a titanium coating, a spring-action design that reopens the blades, and a Softgrip handle. The coating is meant to stay sharp longer, which matters because dull blades need more squeeze.
Best for: people who cut often and want blades that stay sharp.
Limitation: the Fiskars page doesn’t list a price or blade length, so check the retailer listing before buying.
4. Easi-Grip Self-Opening Scissors
Price: about $10.99 at School Health
These have a continuous loop handle that reopens the blades after each cut and needs only a gentle squeeze. The listing offers a 7-inch right-handed pair, a 7-inch left-handed pair and a 5-inch mini. All three are shown as in stock.
Best for: very weak grip, and left-handed users, who get their own pair.
Limitation: the seller markets them for early scissor skills and children with weak hands, and the blades have rounded tips, so they cut paper and light material but not heavy fabric or thick card.
5. Self-Opening Loop Scissors (Therapy Shoppe)
Price: check the current price
The seller describes lightweight loop scissors with contoured handles, rounded tips and a blade guard. They reopen when you release pressure, and you can squeeze with your thumb and fingers or your fingers and palm. Right- and left-handed versions are available, and the page says they suit people with arthritis or weak hands.
Best for: people who find a thumb-and-finger grip painful and want to use the palm instead.
Limitation: the listing shows no price, and like pick 4 they are lightweight, with rounded tips.
How to Choose
Start with what you cut. For fabric, wrapping paper and long cuts, the bent Fiskars pair (pick 1) is the most capable. For small detail work, pick 2 or pick 3 is the better fit.
If your grip is very weak, or squeezing with the thumb is painful, a loop-style pair (pick 4 or 5) needs the least effort. They give up cutting power in exchange, so they suit paper and light material.
Pay attention to hand fit as well. The Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use program describes recognizing products that are meant to make life easier for people with arthritis and other physical limitations, including its Titanium Easy Action Scissors No. 8, which has a spring and a contoured Softgrip handle.
Scissors are one of several kitchen and craft tools that can strain sore hands. If you also struggle with peeling or crushing garlic, see our guides to vegetable peelers for arthritis and garlic presses for arthritis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best scissors for arthritis?
Look for a spring that reopens the blades after each cut, a soft contoured handle, and sharp blades. Spring-action Fiskars Easy Action scissors and loop-handle self-opening scissors both fit this description.
What are self-opening scissors?
They use a spring or a loop handle to reopen the blades on their own. You only squeeze to cut and release to reset.
Can left-handed people use easy grip scissors?
Yes. Some are made for both hands, and some sellers offer separate left-handed pairs, such as the Easi-Grip scissors above.
Do sharper blades help with arthritis?
Yes. Dull blades need more force, so keep scissors sharp or choose a pair with blades that stay sharp longer.
Final Thoughts
For most people, the bent Fiskars Easy Action pair is the best all-round choice, and the loop-style Easi-Grip scissors are the best low-cost option for a very weak grip. Match the pair to the cutting you do most, and you’ll save your hands a lot of squeezing.
Prices and specifications can change, so check the current listing before you buy.