JUMP TO Section Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.- Here are the best hair clippers and trimmers of 2021
- The best hair clippers overall
- The best for detailing
- The best on a budget
- The best for buzz cuts
- The best for beard trimming
- Check out our other grooming guides
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- Hair clippers allow you to go longer between professional cuts and trim at home.
- Wahl's Cordless Magic Clip Clippers are professional-grade and come with all the accessories you need.
If you have short hair, getting regular haircuts is a necessity to maintain your look. I keep my hair closely cropped on the sides, letting my curls on the top of my head have a bit more length. As my hair grows out and starts to curl, I find myself itching for a trim. I visit my barber every four to six weeks or so, but the cost of haircuts can stack up quickly.
I've invested in a set of clippers to trim the sides of my hair I keep shortest, so I can go a bit longer between professional haircuts. I spoke with Sydney Shlakman, a barber at Hairrari Salon in NYC, about their preferred tools, and they recommended some of the clippers in this guide including our best overall pick.
Shlakman advised looking for clippers that come with blade guards so you can easily control the length of your cut. They also suggested investing in a cordless clipper, especially if you plan on cutting your own hair. This will give you a better range of motion so you can make long, complete strokes for an even cut.
If you want to give yourself a quick trim to cut down on the cost of getting professional haircuts, or simply want to clean up your edges or facial hair, add one of these best hair clippers to your grooming arsenal.
Here are the best hair clippers and trimmers of 2021
- Best hair clippers overall: Wahl Cordless Magic Clip Clippers
- Best for detailing: Andis Go Professional Outliner II Trimmer
- Best on a budget: Remington Virtually Indestructible Barbershop Clipper Kit
- Best for buzz cuts: Remington Shortcut Pro Self-Haircut Kit
- Best beard trimmer: Philips Norelco Series 3000 Multigroom
Updated on 03/09/2021 by Victoria Giardina: We streamlined the guide's copy for easy readability and added more related grooming guides.
The best hair clippers overall
Wahl Cordless Magic Clip Clippers are used by professional barbers, but they're simple enough for at-home use and come with the essential accessories for a great haircut.
Pros: Cordless, comes with attachment combs, good for all hair textures
Cons: None
The Wahl Cordless Magic Clip Clippers are the clippers my barber has been using for years and were the tool they recommended for those looking for quality haircuts at home. It comes with eight attachment combs of different sizes — from a zero to an eight — so you can precisely control the length of your hair, too.
Because it's cordless, you won't have to worry about getting tangled up or limiting your mobility. The battery will last for 90 minutes of continuous cutting — plenty long enough to get through multiple haircuts. But if the battery does die mid-cut, you can simply plug the adapter in and continue cutting at full power.
The clippers are sturdily built and equipped with what's called a stagger-tooth crunch blade — technology developed by Wahl to cut hair more quickly and effectively. It's formulated for all different hair textures, including coarser hair other clippers may have difficulty cutting efficiently. It does give a bit of a more textured cut than a standard blade, though.
Because my barber uses these clippers, I can say with confidence they've never felt hot to the touch or tugged at my hair at all.
Check price at Amazon Check price at Sally BeautyThe best for detailing
To straighten up your edges, the Andis Go Professional Outliner II Trimmer is a barber-recommended tool that will clean up your haircut.
Pros: Delivers precise cuts, trims hair to the skin
Cons: Not for full haircuts because it doesn't come with a blade guard, has a cord
Giving yourself a shape-up or cleaning up edges is a difficult endeavor that requires intense concentration, a steady hand, and some serious flexibility if you're planning to do the back yourself. We recommend enlisting the help of a trusted friend or family member to clean up the hard-to-reach places.
Both my barber and Senior Guides Editor Les Shu's barber recommended Andis — which has been manufacturing barber tools since the 1920s — and the brand's Outliner II Trimmer is the best for detail work.
This trimmer doesn't come with blade guards, so any cuts you'll make with the Outliner II will cut hair right down to the skin. If you're looking to give yourself a full haircut, this isn't the right tool, unless you're going for a full buzz. The blade is made of carbon steel and the motor runs at a whopping 7,200 strokes per minute for an incredibly close and consistent cut.
This tool is corded, so you'll have to make sure the cord doesn't get in the way, but since you'll be making much shorter strokes and smaller movements with this edger, it's not a dealbreaker.
Check price at Amazon Check price at Walmart Check price at Sally BeautyThe best on a budget
The Remington Virtually Indestructible Barbershop Clipper Kit comes with eight comb attachments, blade oil, and even a beard brush and styling comb to well-equip you for an at-home cut.
Pros: Affordable, comes with many accessories
Cons: Has a cord, may not be powerful enough for coarser hair
Those wanting to keep their haircut costs low might opt for a budget pick that will get the job done. Aside from the clipper, the Remington Virtually Indestructible Barbershop Clipper Kit comes with nine comb guards from lengths of zero to eight, so you can achieve the length you desire. You'll also get a styling comb and a beard brush to clean up your look once you've finished your cut. Most uniquely, this kit also comes with blade oil to ensure your clippers keep running smoothly.
After a certain number of cuts, the blade on your clippers can become clogged with hair which may lead to the blade skipping, missing fine hairs, or making louder-than-usual humming noises. Some may think it's the fault of the motor or just a poorly performing clipper, but a lot of these problems can be solved by regularly oiling the blade to ensure it's clean and running smoothly.
Best of all, the entire 15-piece Remington kit is incredibly affordable — it costs less than the professional haircut I get regularly.
Check price at Walmart Check price at Ace HardwareThe best for buzz cuts
The Remington Shortcut Pro Self-Haircut Kit has a stout handle for increased control, a curved blade to contour to your head, and comes with five different comb guards.
Pros: Easy to maneuver when cutting your own hair, waterproof, cordless
Cons: Only good for a uniform buzzcut, can't handle more complex styles, the battery may not hold a charge after several months of use
If you want the independence of cutting your own hair, the Remington Shortcut Pro Self-Haircut Kit is engineered to let you do just that. It's designed to be gripped with one hand, so it's stouter than a traditional set of clippers, allowing you to maintain better control when gliding the clippers over your head. The blade is slightly curved, so it contours to your head, and it's much wider than traditional clippers, taking fewer strokes to complete your cut.
But if your style is something more complex than simply shaving your hair to one uniform length, you'll be better off with a more traditional set of clippers.
For those who want to maintain a close crop and don't want to run to the barber every two weeks, the Shortcut Pro will quickly shape your cut. . They're fully cordless, running on a lithium battery for up to 40 minutes of continuous cutting. They're also fully waterproof, so you can cut your hair in the shower to avoid cleaning up the thousands of tiny hairs that are the inevitable byproduct of a buzzcut.
Check price at AmazonThe best for beard trimming
The Philips Norelco Series 3000 Multigroom can handle a full face of hair regardless of texture and comes with a series of blade guards and accessories that make it an affordable, great buy.
Pros: Cordless, affordable, comes with many accessories
Cons: Motor will eventually die
If you're less worried about the hair on your head than the hair on your face, you'll want to invest in a good trimmer. But you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a great one.
Insider Reviews Senior Guides Editor Les Shu has been using Philips Norelco beard trimmers for nearly a decade, and while admitting he originally bought one because of its low price, he has stayed loyal to the brand for its great performance.
He writes, "What I like about the Multigroom 3000 is the high-quality steel blades and contoured shape that allows for a comfortable hold. Be careful: The blades are sharp, so make sure you use a guard or exercise care. The rechargeable battery is rated for 60 minutes of continuous use, but as someone who only needs to trim his facial hair every other week, I find these trimmers to have enough standby power."
Though the blade pops off for a quick rinse under the sink, the rest of the non-waterproof machine can be difficult to clean. But it's fully cordless, delivers consistent trims and shaves, and is also our top choice in our guide to the best beard trimmers.
It comes with three beard trimming guards of different lengths, a stubble guard, and even nose and ear trimming attachments. It also comes with three hair trimming guards for use on your head hair, but the motor may not be powerful enough for a consistent cut.
Check price at Amazon Check price at TargetCheck out our other grooming guides
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Jen Gushue Jen Gushue (they/them) was formerly the Home & Kitchen Editor for Insider Reference, overseeing a team of writers who create how-tos and explainers on everything from plant care and cooking techniques to automotive care and home repair. Previously, Jen served as the Guides Editor on the Insider Reviews team, overseeing the team's testing method development and buying guide standards. Jen also previously reviewed hotels for the travel section. Outside of Insider, Jen writes about theater with bylines in American Theatre Magazine, HowlRound, TDF Stages, and The Brooklyn Rail. Jen is also a voting member of the Drama Desk. Read more Read lessncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnkpqutsDYaKuhnV2XsrTAjKGYoqpdmLmqvM%2Beqaw%3D