Using left-handed scissors may take a little getting used to if you have always made do with right-handed ones. Relax your hand, hold the scissors vertically and let the blades do the work. Our guide, how left-handed scissors differ from right-handed scissors, explains the difference in more detail.

Which left-handed scissors do I need?

The right pair depends mainly on what you will be cutting.

• For children: our children's left-handed scissors have rounded safety tips and smaller handles, and include self-opening and spring-loaded models for learning to cut, and a training scissor with two sets of handles so an adult can guide a child's hand. Our buying guide for children's scissors compares them by age.
• For paper, card and everyday jobs: our general purpose scissors cut paper, card and thin material, with a choice of moulded plastic handles or traditional all stainless steel. Soft grip models have rubber inserts in the handles for comfortable, reduced-fatigue cutting.
• For the home, office and kitchen: our home and office scissors include kitchen scissors with a serrated blade, crafting scissors and hairdressing scissors. Our blue handled range includes kitchen scissors, a titanium-coated twin pack and wallpaper scissors.
• For sewing and dressmaking: our dressmaking scissors range from lightweight plastic-handled dressmaking scissors to all-metal side-bent scissors and tailor's shears, with embroidery scissors for fine work and sewing sets.
• For nails and manicure: our nail and manicure scissors include curved and straight nail scissors, cuticle scissors, a baby nail scissor and manicure sets. All our nail scissors are made in Italy.

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 gives you a clear view of the cutting line and lets your left hand close the blades together as you squeeze.

How do I know 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. A scissor with symmetrical handles is still right-handed or left-handed, because the arrangement of the blades decides which hand it suits. Swapping the handles over does not make a right-handed scissor left-handed.

Which left-handed scissors are best for children?

That depends on the child's age and how confident they are with scissors. We stock rounded-tip scissors in several sizes, spring-loaded and self-opening scissors for children who find opening the blades difficult, and a training scissor with two sets of handles. Our guide to left-handed scissors for children explains how to choose.

Which left-handed scissors are best for sewing?

For general fabric cutting, our left-handed dressmaking scissors are available with lightweight plastic handles or all-metal side-bent handles, and tailor's shears have a longer blade for a cleaner cut edge. For close work such as unpicking stitches and snipping threads, use embroidery scissors, which are sharp-pointed and made in Germany.

Do you deliver left-handed scissors worldwide?

Yes. We deliver worldwide, and shipping outside the UK is charged by weight.

Watch our video on why left-handers cannot use right-handed scissors and how to use left-handed scissors, and a more detailed video on left-handed scissors and cutting for children:

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