The Best Poultry Shears of 2026

If our top pick is out of stock, you won’t be disappointed with J.A. Henckels International Poultry Shears. The micro-serrated steel blade grips and slices through both chicken and turkey bones without issue.

What's even better is that they're able to be used one-handed most of the time. Two-handed use is only necessary to get through the thickest part of the turkey breastbone. The handle is padded for comfort, and hands won't slip even when they get coated with raw chicken.

These shears struggle more than our winning pair on slippery chicken skin, and there were a few issues with the spring-loaded blades. They open too wide for smaller hands, and the lock that keeps the blade closed during storage might get in the way from time to time. It’s secured with a flat-head screw, which needs to be tightened to keep it from sliding around.

The Mercer Culinary Hot Forged Poultry Shears are one of three sets that pass all kitchten tasks. The long, curved blade looks intimidating, but it does a fantastic job gripping chicken bones. And it has no issues getting through slippery chicken skin. The locking mechanism is conveniently located at the bottom, so it won't get in the way as you slice.

We do find the stainless-steel handle and lack of handle loop to be a little slippery, and the spring-loaded tension on this set opens the blades way too wide to be comfortable. They’re also 1.5-ounces heavier than our winning pair. That doesn’t sound like much, but it adds up to tire your hands after extended use.

We’ve tested several Wüsthof knives over the years, and they usually end up towards the top of our rankings. In this case, we're pretty disappointed with the performance of the Wüsthof Black Stainless Steel 10-Inch Poultry Shears. The spring-loaded mechanism provides the right amount of tension, but the blades aren't as sharp as other models.

They struggle to get through slippery chicken skin and don't grip as well on bones during slicing. The spring mechanism locks with the same screw design as the J.A. Henckels, which loosens and gets in the way after a few uses. It can be tightened, but the design is still a pain.

Finally, the handle had a very narrow loop that would be a tight fit for larger hands. And it doesn't contain any padding. That makes these shears slippery and uncomfortable after extended use.

These poultry shears check a lot of boxes. The anti-slip, microserrated blades are spring-loaded to make slicing through bone easier. There’s a locking mechanism, too, and heavy-duty grips on the handles. And the price is right, too.

However, these Gerior shears don’t come apart, which makes doing a thorough cleaning (essential when you’re working with raw poultry) more difficult. They aren’t dishwasher safe either, so the washing needs to be done by hand, too, which makes a thorough but safe wash even more challenging.

Sharp blades make easier work when it comes to slicing through bone, tendon, or meat — or vegetables, herbs, or anything else you use them for. These LIVINGO poultry shears get the highest marks from Amazon shoppers for sharpness. The blades are spring loaded, and can be taken apart for cleaning. (Hand washing the shears is recommended.)

These shears are made of food-grade stainless steel, which resists rust and makes them durable. However, if you’re looking for cushioning on the handles when you’re cutting, this isn’t the pair for you.

Not all poultry shears are used in kitchens. Designed for use in the field for taking apart game birds, these Gerber shears work just as well in the kitchen with serrated stainless-steel blades that come apart easily for cleaning.

While some features mark them as designed for outdoor use — including the orange rubber handle and belt loop on the fabric sheath — the heavy-duty construction and durable glass-filled nylon handles make them kitchen workhorses. And at only 5 ounces in weight, they won’t tire out your hands no matter where you use them. But that weight savings comes at a price: The shears are only 5.5 inches in length, which makes them highly packable, but may not be convenient if you plan to use these shears exclusively in the kitchen.