Left-handed scissors are not right-handed scissors with the handles swapped over. The blades themselves are reversed, so that the top blade is on the left and you can see the line you are cutting, and so that squeezing the handles with your left hand brings the blades together rather than pushing them apart. This page explains the difference, how to tell a properly made pair from one that is not, and what to expect when you first switch.

What makes a pair of scissors left-handed

A scissor cuts where its two blades cross. Which blade sits on top is built into the scissor, and it is the reason a pair made for the right hand does not work properly in the left. In a left-handed pair the blades are reversed, so the top blade is on the left as you look down at your work. That gives you a clear view of the cutting line, and it means the natural pressure of your hand closes the blades against each other.

It is not enough to change the handles. There is no such thing as an ambidextrous scissor: the blades are what matter, and a pair with the handles changed over but the blades left alone is still a right-handed scissor.

Why right-handed scissors are a problem in the left hand

There are two separate problems, and left-handers tend to meet both.

The first is that you cannot see where you are cutting. In a right-handed pair held in the left hand, the top blade passes across the line you are trying to follow, so you end up tilting your head or the paper to see it, and straight cuts are hard to keep straight.

The second is the pressure. Squeezing a right-handed scissor in the left hand tends to push the blades apart sideways instead of together, so the paper or fabric gets pushed between the blades instead of being cut. Many left-handers learn to compensate by twisting the hand to force the blades together. Many find that uncomfortable, and over a long task, such as cutting out a pattern or a stack of card, it can become painful.

How to tell whether a pair is properly left-handed

• Look at the top blade. As you look down at the scissors while cutting, the top blade should be on the left. If it is not, the scissors are not left-handed, however they are described.
• Check the logo and screw. With the scissors in your left hand, the manufacturer's logo and the tightening screw normally face towards your body.
• Do not rely on the handles. Handles shaped or coloured for the left hand do not make a scissor left-handed. The blades have to be reversed.

Scissors sold as left-handed that are not

Because the difference is in the blades, not the handles, it is easy for a pair that is not really left-handed to be described as if it were. There are three versions to watch for.

• Handles changed, blades unchanged. Some scissors have the finger loops moved to suit the left hand, but the blades are exactly as they are in a right-handed pair. They look and feel different in the hand, but the top blade is still on the right, so you still cannot see the cutting line and the blades still tend to push apart.
• “Ambidextrous” or “for both hands”. There is no such thing as an ambidextrous scissor. Symmetrical handles that fit either hand are common, but the blades always sit one way round, so the pair is still right-handed or left-handed. Check which.
• “Left-handed” in the description only. A title or description can say left-handed while the photograph shows the top blade on the right. Look at the picture, and if you are not sure, ask the seller which blade is on top.

A quick test for any pair: hold it in your left hand and look down at the blades. The top blade should be on the left. Then try cutting a strip from an ordinary sheet of paper. A genuinely left-handed pair cuts cleanly along the line you are watching. If the paper folds or is pushed between the blades, the scissors are working against your hand. Our children's scissors buying guide lists only genuine reversed-blade pairs, with the differences between them.

Using left-handed scissors for the first time

If you have always used right-handed scissors in your left hand, you will have learned to twist the blades to make them cut. Do the same thing with a properly made left-handed pair and you push the blades apart, so the material twists between them instead of being cut. The cure is to relax your hand, hold the scissors vertically and let the blades do the work, without trying to manipulate them. It can take a little getting used to, and many people then wonder why they did not switch sooner.

Children benefit from starting with the right tool. A child who learns to cut with scissors that work against them can pick up awkward habits, and a pair that cuts properly with a relaxed hand makes the first attempts much easier.

Watch: left-handed scissors and cutting

These two short videos show the difference in use. The first covers why left-handers cannot use right-handed scissors and how to use left-handed ones. The second goes into more detail on cutting for children.

Choosing a pair

We stock left-handed scissors for most jobs. Start at our full range of left-handed scissors, or go straight to children's scissors (with our buying guide for children's scissors), general purpose scissors, home and office scissors, dressmaking and sewing scissors or nail and manicure scissors.

Frequently asked questions

What makes scissors left-handed?

The blades are reversed so that the top blade is on the left as you look down while cutting. That lets you see the cutting line and means the pressure of your left hand closes the blades together. Changing only the handles does not make a scissor left-handed.

How can I tell if a pair of scissors is left-handed?

Hold them in your left hand and look down at the blades. The top blade should be on the left. The manufacturer's logo and the tightening screw normally face your body when the scissors are held in the left hand.

Are there ambidextrous scissors?

No. Scissors with symmetrical handles are still right-handed or left-handed, because it is the arrangement of the blades that decides which hand they suit.

Why do my right-handed scissors chew the paper when I use them left-handed?

In a right-handed pair held in the left hand, squeezing pushes the blades apart sideways, so the paper is pushed between them instead of being cut. Left-handed scissors are made so that the same squeeze closes the blades together.

Are left-handed scissors suitable for children?

Yes. We have children's left-handed scissors with rounded safety tips and smaller handles, including self-opening and spring-loaded models for learning, and we cover how to choose in our guide to left-handed scissors for children.

Do you sell left-handed scissors for sewing, nails and the kitchen?

Yes. Our range includes dressmaking, embroidery and tailor's scissors, nail and manicure scissors, and kitchen and general purpose scissors in our home and office range.

If you have your own experience of switching to left-handed scissors, or advice for other left-handers, please add it in the comments below.