Skip to main content
A four panel image featuring the Polamd, SHZG, EZ Grip, and magnifier clippers Credit: Reviewed / Polamd / SHZG / GlossyEnd / Hammacher Schlemmer

The Best Toenail Clippers For Seniors of 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

A four panel image featuring the Polamd, SHZG, EZ Grip, and magnifier clippers Credit: Reviewed / Polamd / SHZG / GlossyEnd / Hammacher Schlemmer

Why trust Reviewed?

Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.

Learn more about our product testing
Product image of Vogarb Nail Clippers
Best for Thick Nails

Vogarb Nail Clippers

These Vogarb clippers have a wide mouth and blade that makes them tailored for the toughest of nails, but there may be a learning curve. Read More

Pros

  • Sharp enough for thick nails
  • Locking mechanism for safety
  • Travel friendly

Cons

  • Has a learning curve
Product image of Azurro Clipperpro Omega Select Toenail Clippers
Best Heavy Duty

Azurro Clipperpro Omega Select Toenail Clippers

The Clipperpro Toenail Clippers have ergonomic handles and a mechanism that reduces the force required to make a reasonable cut. Read More

Pros

  • Ergonomic handles
  • Force-reduction technology
  • Swivel design

Cons

  • May swivel too easily
  • Not optimal for very large hands
Product image of Healthy Seniors Nail Clipper Set (3 Pieces)
Best for Arthritis

Healthy Seniors Nail Clipper Set (3 Pieces)

Whether you need wide jaws for cutting or indented handles for gripping, this three-piece set is great for both hands and feet. Read More

Pros

  • Dedicated tools for hands and feet
  • Perforated handles
  • Rotating head for unique grips

Cons

  • Clippers may be too wide for smaller users
Product image of Depsunny Foldable 32" Long Handle Toenail Clippers w/Magnifier
Best Long Handle

Depsunny Foldable 32" Long Handle Toenail Clippers w/Magnifier

These clippers have a long handle for those who can't bend. Just be sure to have a vacuum ready to clean up a little mess. Read More

Pros

  • Magnifier for low vision
  • Pole can be purchased at different lengths

Cons

  • Makes a mess
Product image of Polamd Electric Manicure & Pedicure Kit
Best Electric

Polamd Electric Manicure & Pedicure Kit

The Polamd file may not be perfect for everyone, but it requires very little dexterity and has a few different speed levels. Read More

Pros

  • Variable trimming speeds
  • Needs very little dexterity to use
  • Can be used for all ages

Cons

  • Doesn't come with a wall charger
  • Not quite as effective as traditional clippers

As we age, our nails are not only thicker and more difficult to trim, but toenails in particular are harder to reach. Combined with a loss in dexterity and eyesight, regular drugstore clippers typically won’t do for many seniors.

Here are the best clippers for toenails, accommodating for grip, grip size, jaw size, sharpness, and price.

Editor's Note: The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.

The Vogarb nail clippers on a yellow and white background
Credit: Reviewed / Vogarb

If thick nails are your main issue, the Vogarb clippers will cut through anything tough.

Best for Thick Nails
Vogarb Nail Clippers

There’s a catch-22 to these Vogarb nail clippers, which get high praise for their catch basin that reduces cleanup. Reviewers say they’re sharp enough for the thickest of nails but require some practice to prevent nicks.

The wide mouth opening in particular (up to 0.47 inches) and wide blade (0.63 inches) do make these ideal for toenails, but several users said they use the wider radian edge to cut rounded corners on fingernails, too. The lock mechanism not only adds an element of safety, but means this device folds flat to fit into its included travel case (which also has a pocket for an included double-sided file).

Pros

  • Sharp enough for thick nails

  • Locking mechanism for safety

  • Travel friendly

Cons

  • Has a learning curve

The Clipperpro toenail clippers on a yellow and white background
Credit: Reviewed / Azzuro

Clipperpro makes some seriously heavy-duty clippers that make big cuts with little effort.

Best Heavy Duty
Azurro Clipperpro Omega Select Toenail Clippers

They may look futuristically sleek and simple, but the Clipperpro packs a punch. The surgical steel fingernail trimmer model was engineered with the input of orthopedic surgeons, while Clipperpro’s version for feet aligns with advice from podiatrists (who recommend a straight-edge trimmer to prevent ingrown toenails).

The ergonomic rounded handles are easy to grip for those with dexterity issues, especially since traditional clippers require more motor control with the pincer fingers. The spring mechanism—what Clipperpro calls its Double Action Force Multiplier—reduces pressure required to operate the handles, even for thick toenails. And, the swivel head means it’s easier to use whether gripping with the right or left hand.

Pros

  • Ergonomic handles

  • Force-reduction technology

  • Swivel design

Cons

  • May swivel too easily

  • Not optimal for very large hands

A white box with a cartoon image of an elderly  couple. There are three silver tools next to the box: a fingernail clipper, a toenail clipper, and a flat nail file.
Credit: Reviewed / Healthy Seniors

The Healthy Seniors Nail Clipper Set has bespoke tools for hands and feet, making it a great purchase for those who want to ensure all 20 digits are taken care of.

Best for Arthritis
Healthy Seniors Nail Clipper Set (3 Pieces)

Good things come in threes, especially when it comes to a multipurpose set for both hands and feet. Users praise the long, perforated handles on the hand clippers as easy to grasp for those with arthritis—plus, the rotating head makes trimming from multiple angles easy. The wide-jaw toenail trimmer is ideal for larger, thicker bottom digits. The set comes with an included file, and all pieces are made with premium stainless steel.

Pros

  • Dedicated tools for hands and feet

  • Perforated handles

  • Rotating head for unique grips

Cons

  • Clippers may be too wide for smaller users

A woman uses the Depsunny toenail clippers. They have a long handle witgh clippers attached to the end. The nails can be viewed via a magnifying glass at the top of the handle
Credit: Reviewed / Depsunny

If you can't reach your toes, this pole design from Depsunny lets you cut your nails with no bending required.

Best Long Handle
Depsunny Foldable 32" Long Handle Toenail Clippers w/Magnifier

The magnifier near the toenail clippers is clutch on this nail clipper model, whose lightweight and foldable pole can be purchased in two different lengths depending on the user’s height. While the ergonomic handle works well for both right and left-handed users, it looks a bit like a bicycle pump with a center thumb press to operate.

Other Long-handled toenail clippers from Depsunny get two thumbs up from users for alternatives that, while not foldable, have a handle that looks more like a grip strengthener that’s easy to use and comes in multiple lengths. Amazon reviewers’ main feedback around these models is about cleanup, and many suggest keeping a vacuum nearby since there’s no attached receptacle for trimmings.

Pros

  • Magnifier for low vision

  • Pole can be purchased at different lengths

Cons

  • Makes a mess

The white polamd electric trimmer on a yellow and white background
Credit: Reviewed / Polamd

Some large adaptive clippers tend to make big cuts with ease. These electric trimmers have multiple settings to relieve some potential anxiety.

Best Electric
Polamd Electric Manicure & Pedicure Kit

This product may not immediately look like it’s completely tailored for seniors or those with limited dexterity, but it’s a favorite of our Senior Accessibility Editor as well as dozens of Amazon reviewers who are elderly or taking care of aging people.

While the set comes with five different drill bits for all manners of smoothing, trimming, and thinning, we’ve had the most luck sticking to the included Sapphire Disc drill bit. Just place the attachment on the head, turn it on, and touch the file to any fingernail or toenail you need cut. As long as you can pull your foot close enough to reach, there’s essentially no dexterity required.

It’s also great that this electric file trims at a variety of different speeds, ranging from “baby” up to “adult” and even “fast.” All modes work as advertised, and they allow the user to scale to a speed that’s comfortable for them. Equally accessible is a small light that, while not overly bright, may help those with low vision get a better feel for how the nails are being trimmed.

It’s worth noting that file attachments will need to be replaced about once per year, and the set doesn’t come with a wall adapter for charging either. Though, most USB AC adapters for a phone should work. For those used to the simplicity of electric shavers, this Polamd filer could be right in your wheelhouse.

Pros

  • Variable trimming speeds

  • Needs very little dexterity to use

  • Can be used for all ages

Cons

  • Doesn't come with a wall charger

  • Not quite as effective as traditional clippers

Pink Harac nail nail clippers on a yellow and white background. A user squeezes their large, round handle.
Credit: Reviewed / Harac

These nail clippers are easy to squeeze in your hand, and they can also be placed on a table for one-handed use.

Best Tabletop or One-Handed
Harac Nail Clippers

Not only is the design of these bubble-like grippers ideal for arthritic hands, but Harac comes in a variety of can’t-lose bright colors. The blades are made of high-quality Japanese steel, renowned for its use in chefs’ knives, and these are manufactured and inspected in Seki City, the nation's leading cutlery destination.

This unique style can be used by placing one of the flat parts of the handle on a table and pushing with the palm, arm, or elbow—especially helpful for those with reduced grip strength. Nail trimmings are gathered in the body, and blades are a bit bigger than standard clippers for those with sight limitations.

While our Senior Accessibility Editor prefers to use these for his fingernails and the Polamd set for toenails, users have found success uisng both devices for both purposes.

Pros

  • Design compensates for weak grip

  • Can be placed on flat surfaces

  • Available in a variety of colors

  • File included

Cons

  • May be tough for some to use on toenails

The SHZG nail clippers on a yellow and white background
Credit: Reviewed / SHZG

The L shape of these nail clippers is a huge win for ergonomics.

Best Ergonomics
SHZG Toenail Clippers

The unique “L” shape of these bent-head stainless steel clippers with a wide opening may look unconventional at first, but users love the orientation so there’s less awkward maneuvering of feet (making a figure four with an ankle on a knee or crouching low) to cut toenails. Reviewers say not only are they light and the handles non-slip, but are a lower price than many others they tried for thick nails (especially those they tried for their big toes).

The EZ Grip nail clippers on a yellow and white background
Credit: Reviewed / GlossyEnd

The EZ Grip's large handle and swivel head make them a great value purchase for anyone who thinks adaptive nail clippers might be for them.

Best Value
GlossyEnd EZ Grip 360 Degree Rotary Clippers

While the low price point compared to other accessible nail clipper options certainly makes the EZ Grip one of the top-searched models, it also gets positive reviews for ergonomics and durability. Users praise the 4-inch width and larger handle, whose indentations make it less slippery and easier to handle (especially for bigger hands).

There’s no awkward turning to get the proper angle for the stainless steel blade, which rotates 360 degrees (making this a great model for both right and left-handed users). Several Amazon reviewers noted that these were still going strong after at least a year of use.

Pros

  • Value priced

  • Large handle

  • Ergonomic indents

  • Swivel design

Cons

  • May be a little too bulky

  • Slight learning curve required

The Swissklip nail clippers on a yellow and white background
Credit: Reviewed / Swissklip

If there are two users in your house with different dexterity needs, these Swissklip nail clippers may be a great purchase for everyone.

Best Multi-user
Swissklip 360

The podiatrist-recommended Swissklip fingernail trimmers tick all of the right boxes for users, too: a long (4-inch) handle that opens wide and can fold flat, 360-degree swivel action for the head, and little pressure needed to make precision cuts. Many said that these Swisskips can be used for nails on both the hands and feet (depending on thickness) and are great for spouses who share and have one who is right-hand dominant and the other left.

Pros

  • Long, wide and foldable handle

  • Swivel design

  • Versatile for multiple users

Cons

  • Some users found these clippers a little too bulky

What You Need To Know About Toenail Clippers

How to Use Toenail Clippers

No matter which of these pairs of clippers you choose to buy, there are some basics steps you should follow when cutting your nails. First, make sure the surfaces of your feet are as clean as possible. If you just got out of the shower, that might be a good time to cut.

When it comes to cutting, use your chosen toenail clipper to cut in a straight line in the shape of the nail. You want it to be as straight as possible to avoid any sharp edges. To ensure those sharp edges are completely gone, feel the nail with your fingers. If you touch anything sharp, do your best to brush over it with a traditional nail file in vertical fashion. Some of the clippers listed here have filers included, so you can try using one of those as well, if you want.

How to Disinfect Toenail Clippers

The SHZG and Vogarb nail clippers next to each other on a yellow and white background
Credit: Reviewed / SHZG / Vogarb

Regardless of the clippers you choose to use, keeping the area clean is a major part of the routine that shouldn't be ignored.

Simply place your nail clippers in rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean them. For safety, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reccomend cleaning the clippers before each individual use. This tip may be especially important to seniors and people with disabilities who are more succeptable to illness or those acting as a caretaker for these populations.

Meet the tester

Carley Thornell

Carley Thornell

Contributor

@

Carley Thornell is an award-winning journalist and health-tech writer whose first job was in an occupational therapy office. Her father was a disabled Army veteran, which made her passionate about all things healthcare and accessibility. Carley also covers DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) topics for many other publications.

See all of Carley Thornell's reviews

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.

Shoot us an email