As humans, we spend a lot of time and money making sure that our hair is kept snazzy and stylish. We can spend just as much, if not more time and money keeping our dogsâ fur well-kept. Itâs for this reason that many dog owners dream about being able to groom their own dogs to save the money and make the whole process much more convenient. Fortunately, this dream is very accessible with a good pair of quality clippers and some patience.
Some people are tempted to use human hair clippers on their dogs, and this definitely isnât okay to do. Dogs have hair thatâs a lot different from humans, so it requires specialty clippers. However, there are some amazing and affordable clippers available that would allow you to give your dog a high quality cut whenever you want.
So, weâve compiled a list of the 5 best dog clippers in order to help you pick one thatâs right for you. Weâve also created a comprehensive buyerâs guide to teach you everything that you need to know about dog clippers.
Table of Contents
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  Product
OUR #1 RATED
AndisUltraEdge Super 2-Speed Clipper
These clippers feature very effective blades that can be used at two different speeds with low heat and noise.
âWahlâMotion Lithium Ion Clipper
A diverse 5-in-1 blade thatâs easy to maneuver and quiet, allowing you to trim your dogâs fur in the perfect way.
WahlâProfessional Bravura Lithium Clipper
Clippers that feature a 5-in-1 blade, added accessories for adaptability, and a long-lasting battery.
âAndisâProClip Speed Detachable Blade Clipper
Two-speed clippers that operate with very low heat and noise, and theyâre also very easy to clean and maintain.
âWahlâProfessional Deluxe U-Clip Clipper Kit
An excellent budget-friendly bundle with 16 pieces total that makes it easy to start cutting your dogâs fur at home.
Can I Use Human Clippers On My Dog?
Unfortunately no, human clippers are very different from dog clippers and canât be used to groom a dog. Some of the most prominent differences are that dog clippers are designed to be more silent and lower in vibration. These features make them much more friendly to dogs and will make the overall grooming process a lot easier.
Additionally, dog clippers are engineered to stay cooler for longer, due to the fact that dogs have more sensitive skin. One-time use of human clippers generally wonât cause more than slight irritation, but prolonged usage and result in severe skin burns and emotional distress from the loud sound and vibrations.
Another feature of dog clippers is that they can handle the various coats that dogs have. Human clippers arenât made to tackle matted coats, thin coats, and undercoats all at the same time. Overall, itâs a much safer and easier experience to use specialized dog clippers on your dog.
How Long Should Dog Clippers Last?
There are several factors that come into play when determining how long a dog clipper should last. Dog clippersâ lifespan is based on your personal usage, the model that you went with, and your maintenance of the clippers over time. Clippers are complex machines, and have a lot of moving parts that can fail on you.
Over time, several pieces can wear out and require replacing. Often times, though, it would be better to get new dog clippers because of the price of the replacement parts. The blades, battery, motor, charger, and even the outer casing can wear out over time. Now, the time it takes these parts to wear out varies greatly.
If youâre a dog groomers and use your clippers for hours upon hours every day, then you can expect your clippers to last shorter than if you were a breeder or average dog owner. With frequent use, you can expect the premium dog clippers to last for several years, while the more budget friendly ones typically last around a year, maybe less.
Frequent care for the clippers will help to extend their lifespan. The blades of a clipper require a cleaning and oiling after every use to keep their performance top-notch. If your clippers start to become ineffective, check and make sure that the blades are still sharp and functioning properly â theyâre usually the first part to give out.
What Kind Of Clipper Does My Dog Need?
Because of the fact that there are so many different dogs with a variety of hair types, there isnât one universal answer to this question. However, because of the fact that most dog clippers are created to be versatile, you can be pretty general with your dogâs fur classification.
Generally speaking, a smaller dog with lighter fur would be okay with a more lightweight and simple clipper. Medium sized dogs or thicker coated dogs will require more heavy-duty clippers. Larger, heavy coated dogs will need professional clippers if you want to finish the job without any problems.
As for the length of fur, thatâs decided by the blade attachment you put on the clipper. This handy guide gives you a rundown of the different sized blades and their corresponding fur length, as well as a list of popular breeds and what size they need. Fortunately, most of the best dog clippers allow for blade attachments so that you can get exactly what you need for your dog.
How To Keep Your Clippers From Getting Hot
Every pair of clippers is going to get hot, thatâs just physics! Friction between the blades caused by dirt and ground-up hair results in the blades getting hotter as the clippers are used more. However, there are a few things that you can do to keep your clippers from heating up too fast.
First of all, donât run your clippers for too long during a grooming job. As the blades start to heat up, it will melt the hair and cause even more friction, heating up the blades more. Therefore, give your clippers a slight break once or twice during grooming so that it can cool back down.
Additionally, oil your blades! Oiling your clipper blades is an essential part of clipper maintenance and isnât optional. This guide clearly shows you how to go about oiling your clipper blades. It can be annoying to do, but itâs the best way that you can prevent friction, heat, and pet dander from sticking to the blades.
A final method that many people use is spraying a coolant on the blades during a job. This is great in the long term, but they can evaporate quickly and result in your blades being non-lubricated again. Basically, just oil your blades. Youâll be happy you did.
How To Effectively Use Your Clippers
If youâre new to dog grooming, it can seem very intimidating to try and cut your dogâs fur. Hereâs a quick rundown of how to go about grooming your dog the day you get your new clippers in the mail.
- Wash and comb your dog. Ensuring that your dogâs coat is as clean and untangled as possible will make your grooming experience a lot easier.
- Spend some time brushing out any additional matting. Matted fur can catch in the blades of a clipper and make things very difficult. If you have a dog that is heavily matted, specialized combs are available to work through that fur.
- Find a safe and secure place to groom your dog. Grooming your dog on a table is generally preferred so that you donât have to bend down very much. Additionally, you may opt to have a friend or family member help you in order to keep the dog calm and in place.
- checkStart grooming from the back of the neck, and pull it down the length of your dogâs back slowly to keep things consistent and even. As you move down the body, make sure that youâre grooming in the direction of the fur, or âwith the grainâ. This also keeps things smooth and natural.
- checkAfter the back, move to the legs. This is where it helps to have an assistant with you. Stand the dog up and gently trim their stomach. Although the back requires you to go with the hair, many people go against the hair here to get more of a close cut on the stomach.
- checkClean up any hair on your dogâs feet, ears, and face. Some people opt to use scissors for this part, but it can be done with clippers and a bit of patience. Be gentle with your dog, and be sure not to nick their foot pads or their whiskers.
Fortunately, your dogs canât see what youâre doing, and they also donât care at all what they look like. As long as youâre grooming your own dog, you have some wiggle room when it comes to your accuracy and the prettiness of your work.
What Defines The Best Dog Clippers?
All dog clippers are not created equal, unfortunately. While they may seem like simple machines, thereâs actually quite a few features that should be considered before investing into a clipper. The best dog clippers should be on top of their game in all of the areas listed below:
- Power â A clipperâs power is measured in SPM, or strokes per minute. While you may think that a high SPM is immediately better, it also means that the clipper will heat up faster. Therefore, youâll want a dog clipper with either variable speed or a speed thatâs best for your dog. Lighter coats can deal with a slower SPM, but thicker coats will need a higher SPM to work through it.
- Variable speed â Although it was just referenced, we need to touch on variable speed again. Single speed clippers are lighter and easier to handle, but youâll also have to make sure that you can effectively cut the fur of your dog. If you have multiple dogs with different coats, a variable speed clipper would be the best investment.
- Grip â Youâre going to be handling the clippers for extended periods of time, so finding clippers that are easy to handle is a plus. Some clippers come with ergonomic handles that make it much easier to hold. This could be an essential feature if you have a dog with lots of thick fur that you have to slowly work through.
- Blade â There are several different blade types that you can get for your dog clipper. Arguably the kind of blade is a ceramic blade, as it stays cool and sharper for longer than other blades. Steel is also a durable blade, but it does hold heat better than ceramic so temperature is something youâd have to keep an eye on.
- Wired or wireless â This aspect comes down to personal preference. With wired clippers, you donât have to worry about keeping them charged and having them die on you. However, with wireless clippers you wonât have a cord getting in the way and limiting your range of motion.
- Noise â Humans are hardly bothered by loud noises, but dogs and their sensitive hearing will likely never become fully accustomed to it. Clippers that run quiet will make the experience much less frightening and stressful for your dog. This lack of anxiety will make the entire grooming process much easier for you.
- Price â Clippers are one of the products where you get what you pay for. Cheaper clippers may end up being weaker, have problems with overheating, and generally donât last as long. However, there are still some decent budget clippers if you canât put the money towards a top of the line one.
What Are The Best Dog Clippers?
With so many dog clippers available on the market, it can be intimidating trying to find clippers that would quickly and easily take care of your dogâs long fur. Thatâs why weâve analyzed and compiled the best dog clippers on the market â to make it easy for you to choose the right one for your pooch.
our #1 rated
OUR TOP PICK
Andis
UltraEdge Super 2-Speed Clipper
Qualityâ
Valueâ
Our Rating
The Andis UltraEdge dog clipper is easily one of the best available on the market, especially around this price point. This clipper runs quickly and efficiently to make short work of both thin coats and matted coats alike. Not only does this clipper perform good work, but itâs engineered incredibly well. Temperature stays low for a very long time, and it runs ridiculously quiet to make it safe and comfortable for all dogs. The blade is detachable, which makes it easy to change out for other blades or to simply clean it without a hassle. The motor runs at two speeds, which is excellent for professional groomers and regular owners that need some variance. A heavy duty 14Ⲡcord allows for tons of motion, and the shatter-proof housing prevents any costly mistakes.Dog owners that use this clipper have glowing things to say about it. A common theme among reviewers is stating how easily the clippers cut through even a thick undercoat. When the blades are maintained properly, the blades have absolutely no problem with overheating and run quieter than most other blades on the market. As for lifespan, some owners have been using their clipper for two years without problems, making it a worthwhile investment.Some owners state that their clippers get hot quickly. Most of the time, this is due to improper maintenance, or running it on the high speed through thick hair for 10-15 minutes at a time. With the correct approach, this problem can easily be reduced or avoided. Additionally, the quality makes these clippers slightly heavy.
PROSâ
- Very effective blades
- Dual speed
- Stays cool for a while
- Solid construction
CONS
- Slightly bulky
our #2 rated
Wahl
Motion Lithium Ion Clipper
Qualityâ
Valueâ
Our Rating
The Motion Lithium Ion Clipper from Wahl is a very versatile, quality clipper that trims fur like itâs nothing. One of the key features of this trimmer is the awesome 5-in-1 blade technology that allows the blade to adjust to sizes #9, #10, #15, #30, and #40. In addition to the many blade sizes, this clipper offers constant speed control â a feature that provides constant torque to power through thick or matted spots of fur. Even with this great power thatâs quiet and vibration-free, the lithium ion batteries in this clipper allow you to easily groom several dogs on one charge. This clipper goes beyond power features, though. The overall appearance is striking and sleek while staying incredibly light-weight. A removable âscissor-gripâ handle is included, and this offers a great amount of control.Most of the owners of this clipper are average dog parents, and they say that it fits their needs very well. The blade works through most coats very easily, and does so while staying quiet and almost vibration-free. The adjustability is loved by owners that require several different blades, and itâs overall very easy to use with how lightweight it is.This clipper isnât the best for professional groomers like the Andis UltraEdge is. Due to the fact that itâs more lightweight than most clippers, it can struggle when grooming numerous dogs back to back. Additionally, the lightweight design is also slightly fragile, and the clipper may break when dropped on a hard surface.
PROSâ
- 5-in-1 blades
- Long lasting battery
- Very quiet
- Easy to hold and maneuver
CONS
- Not for salons
- Slightly fragile
our #3 rated
Wahl
Professional Bravura Lithium Clipper
Qualityâ
Valueâ
Our Rating
This clipper by Wahl provides a slightly different but equally as effective grooming experience. The same lithium ion battery is present in this clipper as the one mentioned above, and it results in more power, torque, and lifespan â a 60 minute charge lasts 90 minutes. This clipper also comes with a 5-in-1 adjustable snap-on blade with sizing ranging from .7mm to 3mm. Specializing in work on the feet, face, and finishing work, this clipper still packs a punch to thicker patches of fur. The clipper comes with the 5-in-1 fine blade set, 6 blade guide attachments, a cleaning brush, blade oil, instruction book, charging stand and cord, and a storage cage. Overall an excellent value for what is provided.Owners of this clipper love how nicely it cuts through hair. Itâs frequently pointed out that the clippers run almost completely cool and donât make much of a noise beyond a slight buzz. Even though the clippers are wireless, theyâre very lightweight and hold their charge for long enough to finish an entire job. Every owner that cleans the blades regularly and maintains the clipper states how effectively it is.Some very thick coats can give this clipper problems as itâs made for lighter coats. However, there are reviews stating that it works really well on thick hair, too. The overall build of the clippers feels nice but can be weaker than the #1 rated Andis.
PROSâ
- 5-in-1 blade
- Long lasting battery
- Added accessories
- Lightweight and maneuverable
CONS
- Primarily for lighter coats
- Weaker construction
our #4 rated
Andis
ProClip Speed Detachable Blade Clipper
Qualityâ
Valueâ
Our Rating
Providing more of a budget-friendly alternative to our #1 rated Andis clipper, this ProClip clipper still has all of the great key features. Providing two different speeds, this Andis performs well at both, with the higher speed smoothly cutting through thick coats. The vibrations and the heat of the blades are minimal, and with proper care and maintenance would never become too problematic. The blade is easily removable which is excellent for cleaning and also to attach a different blade. Although itâs a corded clipper, the cord is 14Ⲡlong to give you a large amount of free motion.Owners of this clipper have similar experiences to the previously mentioned Andis. On both settings, the vibrations of this clipper are minimal and are great for anxious dogs. Some owners have run the clippers for 2 hours straight without it getting too hot or clogging up with hair. Owners of many different kinds of dogs own these clippers, and it easily cuts through all different kinds of fur.Once again, some owners state that this clipper heats up fast, but the causes for this can vary greatly. In addition, it can be bulky for some people which makes it slightly difficult to maneuver. Overall for the price, though, this clipper is one of the best available at its price point.
PROSâ
- Dual Speed
- Low heat and vibrations
- Easy to clean blade
CONS
- Heavy
- Sometimes heats up fast
our #5 rated
Wahl
Professional Deluxe U-Clip Clipper Kit
Qualityâ
Valueâ
Our Rating
While we definitely recommend investing in a high-quality clipper, sometimes itâs simply out of reach. In that case, this Wahl clipper kit is a great budget-friendly choice for you. The kit allows for effective grooming for fur that ranges from fine to medium, and can effectively groom all areas of your dog. The speed of this clipper is 7,200 strokes per minute, which is fast enough to make it cut through fur quickly and easily. Lots of the value of this clipper comes in the kit, as all 16 pieces give you everything that you need to keep your dogâs fur in check.Owners frequently agree that this is the best budget option when it comes to the best dog clippers. For average coats, this clipper cut through the hair like butter. Dogs that arenât extremely skittish have no problem being groomed with this clipper, as it isnât extremely loud and doesnât vibrate a lot.Because this clipper is cheap, the quality isnât the absolute best. Owners state that theyâre scared to drop it because they donât think itâll survive the fall. The blades on the clipper also tend to dull decently fast, but shouldnât be a big problem if you intend to get a better blade.
PROSâ
- Excellent value
- Extensive added kit
- Cuts average fur well
CONS
- Cheaper construction
- Mediocre blades
Our Choice
As dog owners ourselves, we know how important it is that your dogs get the best care possible. We also know how expensive it can be to take your dog to a groomer all the time. Thatâs why weâve put so much effort into teaching you all about dog clippers and what defines the best of the best.
By going off of the guidelines laid out in the buyerâs guide above, weâve determined that the best dog clipper is the Andis UltraEdge Super 2-Speed Detachable Blade Clipper.
Crafted by an industry leader in the market, the UltraEdge is a high-quality, safe, and reliable dog clipper thatâs trusted by everyday owners and professional groomers alike. The low heat, low vibration, and effective blades make this clipper an excellent choice for anyone wanting to effectively cut dogsâ fur.