What are the best kitchen shears you can buy in Australia right now?
The best kitchen shears in Australia for most home cooks are the OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors, rated 4.8 from 13,007 ratings on Amazon AU. The listing names micro serrated blades, a herb stripper and blades that separate for cleaning. The Joseph Joseph PowerGrip lists a thumb grip for chicken bones.
Kitchen shears and kitchen scissors are used as names for the same tools on Amazon AU: the Global listing is titled Classic Kitchen Shears/Scissors, the KAI listing Kitchen Scissors and the Zwilling listing Shears, so this guide uses both words. The listings here name different jobs, from herbs, cardboard and meat to chicken bones and tight screw tops. Once the shears are sorted, stainless and nonstick frypans compared covers the pan for the stovetop.
Each card below links to its Amazon AU listing. Ratings and counts on this page are the figures shown on each listing, and the method section gives the check date. Two of the seven cards carry a dated stock note in their own sections. Specs come from the listing text, and where a listing contradicts itself we say so.
The quick answer: our top kitchen shears at a glance
Pick by the job. The OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors are the top pick for everyday cooking and herbs. The Joseph Joseph PowerGrip lists a thumb grip for chicken bones, the Zwilling Twin lists a rotary opener, the Global GKS-210 is designed to match Global knives, and the KAI DH3311 is listed as Made in Japan. For the grating side of prep, see our best cheese grater in Australia for parmesan and citrus zest.
- Herbs and everyday cutting: OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors, rated 4.8 from 13,007 ratings, with a herb stripper and blades that separate for cleaning.
- Chicken bones, skewers and string: Joseph Joseph PowerGrip, rated 4.5 from 2,622 ratings, with a thumb grip for two handed use.
- Paper, cardboard, fabric and tight screw tops: Zwilling Twin Multi Purpose Shears, rated 4.7 from 6,704 ratings, with a rotary opener in the handle.
- Matching Global knives: Global GKS-210, rated 4.6 from 482 ratings, made from cast steel and hand wash only.
- Made in Japan: KAI DH3311, rated 3.5 from 2 ratings, so the record is thin.
| Pick | Best for | Blades separate (listing) | Hand orientation (table) | Rating |
| OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors | Herbs and everyday cutting | Yes: blades separate for thorough and easy cleaning | Ambidextrous | 4.8 (13,007) |
| Zwilling Twin Multi Purpose Shears | Household cutting and a rotary opener | Not stated in the listing | Left Hand | 4.7 (6,704) |
| Joseph Joseph PowerGrip | Chicken bones, skewers and tough string | Not stated in the listing | Ambidextrous | 4.5 (2,622) |
| Global GKS-210 | Matching Global knives | Not stated in the listing | Ambidextrous | 4.6 (482) |
| KAI DH3311 | Made in Japan, thick blade | Yes: removable blade for cleaning | Right Hand | 3.5 (2), a thin record |
Each card below links to its Amazon AU listing. The table lists five cards; the other two have dated notes in their own sections.
How we chose these kitchen shears
We are an aggregator and editorial team, not a testing lab, and we did not cut with these pairs ourselves. Each card is built from two sources: the Amazon AU listing for the pair, which covers its title, bullet points, product information table and description, and the maker's own wording on that listing.
- The Amazon AU listing. Ratings and counts are the figures shown on each listing. A card with a dated stock note explains it in its own section.
- The maker's information. Specs come from the maker's bullet points and the product information on each listing, such as blade length, weight and hand orientation.
- Conflicts are shown. Where a listing's bullets and its product table disagree, such as on the blade edge, we say so on the card.
- Jobs, not scores. We match each pair to the jobs its listing names: herbs, packaging, chicken bones, screw tops or matching a knife set.
Last checked: 22 October 2026.
Best overall: OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors
The OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors are the pair we put first for most kitchens. They are rated 4.8 from 13,007 ratings on Amazon AU, the highest rating among the seven listings, and the buy box shows Amazon AU as the seller. The bullets name a herb stripper, micro serrated blades and blades that separate for thorough and easy cleaning.
The listing describes a stainless steel design that slices through cardboard, twine, meat, vegetables and more, with micro serrated blades that grip items securely and prevent slipping. A herb stripper removes fresh herbs from tough stems, cushioning pads on the grip absorb pressure while cutting, and the handle has a soft non slip grip.
The product information table adds the details the bullets leave out: a Santoprene handle, a blade length of 10 Centimeters, an item weight of 100 Grams and a hand orientation of Ambidextrous. Because the blades separate, you can wash both blades and the hinge area after cutting raw chicken, then dry them and fit the pair back together.
The same table gives the item dimensions as 22.2L x 8.8W centimetres, a brushed finish and a black colour, with stainless steel named as both the material type and the blade material. The listing shows one pair, and its included components row reads 1 x OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors, with model number 1072121.
Its Item Highlight row lists Soft Grip Handles, Stainless Steel Serrated Blades, Cuts Herbs, Poultry and Easy to Clean among its terms. That row says serrated blades while the Blade Edge row says Straight, which is the same conflict we flag below. Every job these lines name is a food job, which is why we match this pair to everyday cooking, while the Joseph Joseph listing is the one that names chicken bones.
What to check on the OXO listing
The listing disagrees with itself on the blade edge: the bullets say micro serrated blades, while the product information table says Blade Edge Straight. We describe the pair by its bullets, so check the edge in the listing images if smooth cuts matter to you. The bullets and table give no dishwasher instruction, so wash by hand and dry straight away. The warranty row reads Manufacturer Warranty Description 1 and explains nothing further, so we state no warranty length.
Zwilling Twin Multi Purpose Shears: a rotary opener in the handle
The Zwilling Twin Multi Purpose Shears are rated 4.7 from 6,704 ratings on Amazon AU. The listing names a handy integrated rotary opener in the handle for tight screw tops, fibreglass reinforced plastic handles that are shatterproof, comfortable to hold and lightweight, and stainless steel that gives a smooth, sharp cutting edge. The buy box shows Ships from Amazon, sold by MONSTER HOUSE.
This is a household multi purpose pair rather than a kitchen only one. The bullets describe cutting a wide variety of materials including paper, thick cardboard, fabric and carpet, and call the shears a necessity in the home. Food is not among the materials the bullets list, so treat it as a drawer pair for parcels, craft jobs and tight screw tops, and look at the OXO or Joseph Joseph for the food jobs their listings name.
The product information table gives a stainless steel blade, a fibreglass reinforced plastic handle, a blade length of 95 Millimeters and an item weight of 0.2 Pounds. The listing's description also says ZWILLING has upheld high quality products in the kitchen and beauty sector since 1731.
The details section gives a model number of 1005565 and a manufacturer of Zwilling J.A. Henckels AG, and its included components row reads 1 x Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin L Multi-Purpose Shears, Black. The item type row reads TWIN L Multi-Purpose Scissors, so this listing uses shears and scissors for one pair. The finish row reads Corrosion Resistant,Plastic,Smooth,Steel and the colour row reads Black, while the title says Black/Silver.
What to check on the Zwilling listing
The listing is unclear on hand use: the product information table reads Hand Orientation Left Hand, while the bullets say nothing about hand use, so confirm before you buy. The table gives Blade Edge Straight, which fits the smooth, sharp cutting edge in the bullets. The bullets do not say whether the blades separate for cleaning, and the listing text gives no country of origin, so we state neither.
One more disagreement sits in the size figures. The details section lists an item length of 8.07 Inches and an item width of 2.83 Inches, while the product information table lists item dimensions of 12.2L x 0.5W centimetres. The two do not obviously agree, so we quote neither as the overall size.
KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears
Could not be bought on 22 October 2026: Amazon AU showed no buy box for the KitchenAid All Purpose Kitchen Shears with Protective Sheath. The listing is rated 4.7 from 65,675 ratings.
The bullets describe a thick blade that is difficult to sag and can be cut anywhere, a serrated blade with a fine uneven edge that prevents the cutting from slipping, and a removable blade for cleaning. The blade and screws are stainless steel, and the handle is polypropylene with elastomer resin. The bullets give a weight of 5.3 oz (150 g), and the product information table lists Blade Edge Serrated.
Because the blade is removable, this is one of two listings here, with the OXO, that say the pair comes apart for washing. The thin record is the reason it is not the first pick: two ratings are too few to say how the pair holds up.
The product information table lists a stainless steel material type, an alloy steel blade material, a brushed finish and a plastic handle material, with item dimensions of 21.2L x 9.2W centimetres and a black and white colour. The bullets instead name a stainless steel blade and a polypropylene handle, so the blade steel and the handle are each described two ways. The first bullet calls the pair the Sekisoku Kitchen Shears DH-3311, a second name for the same listing, and the bullets give a size of 8.3 x 3.5 x 0.6 inches.
What to check on the KAI listing
The product information table gives a Right Hand orientation, so left handed cooks should look at a pair listed as Ambidextrous, such as the OXO, Joseph Joseph or Global. The table has no blade length or item weight row, so we use the weight from the bullets. The rating of 3.5 from 2 ratings is a thin record, which means uncertainty rather than a verdict on the pair.
What should you look for when buying kitchen shears?
Look at five listing details: whether the blades separate for cleaning, the blade edge, the handle, the hand orientation and the care line. On Amazon AU the OXO and KAI listings say their blades separate, Global lists hand wash only, and the listings give weight for every pair and blade length for five of the seven.
Do kitchen shears need to come apart for cleaning?
Not always, but blades that separate are easier to wash after raw meat. The OXO listing says its blades separate for thorough and easy cleaning, and the KAI listing names a removable blade. The Joseph Joseph, Zwilling and Global bullets say nothing about separating, so check before you buy.
A fixed pair can trap residue in the hinge that is hard to reach, so rinse the hinge area carefully and dry it straight away. If you cut raw chicken often, a pair that comes apart is the easier one to keep clean.
Serrated or straight blades?
Serrated edges are described as gripping items so they do not slip. The OXO, Joseph Joseph, Global and KAI listings describe serrated blades, and the Zwilling bullets describe a smooth, sharp cutting edge. For the OXO and Global the product table says Blade Edge Straight, so we follow the bullets and flag the conflict on each card.
How important is handle comfort?
Handles matter most if you cut often. The OXO listing names cushioning pads on the grip and a soft non slip grip, with a Santoprene handle in its table. Global lists stainless steel handles with a dimple pattern, and the tables give 100 Grams for the OXO and 194 Grams for the Global.
The Zwilling table lists a fibreglass reinforced plastic handle and the Joseph Joseph table a stainless steel handle. The KAI bullets list polypropylene with elastomer resin. Comfort is personal, so the handle material and weight rows are a starting point rather than a verdict.
Are extra features like cap openers and herb strippers worth it?
Extras are worth it only if you will use them. The Zwilling listing names an integrated rotary opener for tight screw tops. The OXO and Joseph Joseph listings both name a herb stripper, and Joseph Joseph adds a blade notch for gripping items such as flower stems. Treat them as tie breakers.
What is the difference between kitchen shears and kitchen scissors?
On Amazon AU the two names describe the same tools. The OXO listing is titled Scissors and its product style reads Kitchen Shears, the KAI listing is titled Kitchen Scissors and its item type reads Kitchen Shears, and the Zwilling listing is titled Shears. Search both words.
Can left handed people use kitchen shears?
Check the hand orientation row on each listing. OXO, Joseph Joseph and Global list Ambidextrous in their product information tables. KAI lists Right Hand, so dedicated left handers should look elsewhere. The Zwilling table row reads Left Hand while its bullets say nothing about hand use, so confirm before buying.
Can you put kitchen shears in the dishwasher?
Check each listing's care line. The Global GKS-210 bullets say Handwash Only. The OXO, Zwilling, Joseph Joseph and KAI listings state no dishwasher instruction in their titles, bullets or product tables, so washing by hand and drying straight away is the safe default.
Is a premium pair like the Global GKS-210 worth it?
Only if the design and warranty matter to you. The Global GKS-210 listing names cast steel, a blade made from a single piece of steel, a design to match Global knives and a Limited Lifetime Warranty for Stainless Steel in its table. It is hand wash only, and the OXO is rated higher at 4.8 from 13,007 ratings.
What do the listings say about blade length, weight and handle material?
The product information tables give an item weight for most pairs and a blade length for five of the seven listings. The table below covers the five cards in the comparison table above, and takes the KAI weight from its bullets because its table has no weight row. The KAI table also has no blade length row.
| Pick | Blade length | Item weight | Handle material | Blade edge (table) |
| OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors | 10 Centimeters | 100 Grams | Santoprene | Straight |
| Zwilling Twin Multi Purpose Shears | 95 Millimeters | 0.2 Pounds | Fiberglass reinforced plastic | Straight |
| Joseph Joseph PowerGrip | 10 Centimeters | 150 Grams | Stainless Steel | Serrated |
| Global GKS-210 | 8.25 Inches | 194 Grams | Stainless Steel | Straight |
| KAI DH3311 | Not in the table | 5.3 oz (150 g), from the bullets | Polypropylene and elastomer resin, from the bullets | Serrated |
How long are the blades and the whole pair?
The listings give length in different ways, so compare like with like. Blade length is 10 Centimeters for the OXO and Joseph Joseph, 95 Millimeters for the Zwilling and 8.25 Inches for the Global. The KAI table has no blade length row, and its bullets give a size of 8.3 x 3.5 x 0.6 inches.
Overall item dimensions are given for most pairs: 22.2L x 8.8W centimetres for the OXO, 13L x 11W centimetres for the Joseph Joseph, 22.9L x 15.2W centimetres for the Global and 21.2L x 9.2W centimetres for the KAI. The Zwilling table gives 12.2L x 0.5W centimetres while its details section gives 8.07 Inches by 2.83 Inches, so we leave its overall size out. Check the figure that matters to your drawer or knife block.
What do the listings say about materials and finish?
All five live listings name stainless steel somewhere, but they differ on the rest. The OXO and KAI tables list a brushed finish, the Joseph Joseph table a polished finish and the Zwilling table four finish types. The Global table names cast steel as the material type and a metal finish.
| Pick | Material type | Blade material | Handle material | Finish |
| OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Santoprene | Brushed |
| Zwilling Twin Multi Purpose Shears | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Fiberglass reinforced plastic | Corrosion Resistant,Plastic,Smooth,Steel |
| Joseph Joseph PowerGrip | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Polished |
| Global GKS-210 | Cast Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Metal |
| KAI DH3311 | Stainless Steel | Alloy Steel | Plastic | Brushed |
Two rows differ from their own bullets. The KAI bullets name a stainless steel blade and a polypropylene handle, and the Global bullets say Made from Cast Steel. When a table and the bullets disagree we say so on the card.
What are kitchen shears used for?
Kitchen shears are used for the cutting jobs a listing names. The OXO listing names cardboard, twine, meat and vegetables, the Joseph Joseph names chicken bones, wooden skewers and tough string, and the Zwilling names paper, thick cardboard, fabric and carpet. Herbs are the job the OXO and Joseph Joseph herb strippers are built for.
The OXO table also lists a Kitchen Shears product style and a Scissors point style, and its Item Highlight row names Cuts Herbs and Poultry. The Zwilling listing says the shears are a necessity in the home and names an integrated rotary opener for tight screw tops. None of the live listings gives a limit on how thick a bone or card the pair will cut, so we make no claim beyond the jobs named.
Do the listings give a warranty?
Only two of the seven listings carry a warranty row. The Global table reads Limited Lifetime Warranty for Stainless Steel, and the OXO table reads Manufacturer Warranty Description 1 with no explanation. The other listings show no warranty row in their tables, so we state no warranty length for any pair.
A warranty row is a field in the product table, and neither listing spells out the conditions. Read each listing before relying on the wording.
How should you read the ratings and counts?
A rating means more with a larger count. The OXO is rated 4.8 from 13,007 ratings, the Zwilling 4.7 from 6,704, the Global 4.6 from 482 and the Joseph Joseph 4.5 from 2,622. The KAI shows 3.5 from 2 ratings, which is too few to judge the pair.
Each rating is the figure shown on that listing. A pair rated 4.5 from 2,622 ratings has a larger count behind it than one rated 4.6 from 482, even though the second figure is higher. We match each pair to the jobs its listing names rather than ranking on stars alone.
Does hand orientation tell you everything for left handed cooks?
The hand orientation row is a product table field. The Zwilling row reads Left Hand and the KAI row reads Right Hand, and neither listing explains what the label means in use, so we read no more into it than the label itself.
How do you keep kitchen shears sharp and clean?
Wash by hand and dry straight away unless the listing says dishwasher safe, and keep them for food and packaging. The Global GKS-210 bullets list Handwash Only, and the OXO and KAI listings say their blades separate for cleaning. Sharpen only when cutting gets harder.
Hand wash and dry straight away. Water left sitting in the hinge can rust steel blades, so a quick towel dry after washing is a good habit with any pair. The Global GKS-210 bullets say Handwash Only.
Use blades that separate. The OXO and KAI listings say their blades come apart for cleaning, so after cutting raw meat take the pair apart, wash both blades, dry them and fit them back together.
Keep them for the kitchen. Cutting wire, cable ties or thick plastic with your good kitchen shears will dull and nick the edge. Keep a separate cheap pair for hardware jobs, and your kitchen pair will stay sharp for food.
Store them protected. A sheath, a scabbard or a slot in a knife block protects the edge and your fingers, because an exposed blade rattling in a drawer dulls faster and is a hazard.
Sharpen when needed. Quality shears can be honed, and a pair that separates is easiest to sharpen because you can work on each blade on its own. Sharpen only when cutting gets harder.
How do you sharpen kitchen shears?
Separate the blades if the pair comes apart, then work one blade at a time with a fine ceramic rod or a taper file along the existing bevel, drawing from pivot to tip in one direction only. Never run shears through a pull through knife sharpener, and keep the flat inner face flat.
This is general technique, not a claim from any listing. Finish by wiping the inside faces clean, because the flat inner face must stay flat for the blades to shear against each other. A knife sharpener with a separate ceramic rod does the job; a pull through slot does not. The OXO and KAI listings say their blades separate, so those two are the easiest to do properly.
Which kitchen shears suit which job?
Match the pair to the job its listing names. The OXO suits herbs, cardboard, twine, meat and vegetables, the Joseph Joseph names chicken bones, wooden skewers and tough string, and the Zwilling names paper, thick cardboard, fabric and carpet. The Global is for matching Global knives, and the KAI is listed as Made in Japan.
Herbs and everyday prep. The OXO is the only listing here with both a herb stripper and blades that separate. The Joseph Joseph also lists a herb stripper, but its listing does not say whether the blades separate.
Raw poultry and bones. The Joseph Joseph bullets name chicken bones, and its thumb grip is for two handed use. If you wash after raw meat often, note that its listing does not say the blades separate, while the OXO and KAI listings do.
Packaging and household cutting. The Zwilling bullets name paper, thick cardboard, fabric and carpet. The OXO bullets name cardboard and twine as well as food.
Left handed cooks. The OXO, Joseph Joseph and Global tables say Ambidextrous. Check the Zwilling listing first, because its table says Left Hand, and avoid the KAI, whose table says Right Hand.
Matching a knife block. The Global bullets say Distinctive Global Design To Match Knives, and its table lists a Limited Lifetime Warranty for Stainless Steel. It is hand wash only.
What did we leave out of this guide?
We rate only the seven pairs on this page, because each has an Amazon AU listing we checked, with a rating and a count. Pairs that appear in searches without a listing we checked, such as other brands people ask about, are not rated here, because we cannot quote a listing for them.
Frequently asked questions about kitchen shears
What is the best brand of kitchen shears?
No single brand wins every job. OXO is the overall pick here, rated 4.8 from 13,007 ratings on Amazon AU. The Joseph Joseph PowerGrip lists a thumb grip for two handed use on chicken bones, and the Global GKS-210 lists a design to match Global knives.
What are the best kitchen shears for cooking?
For everyday cooking, the OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors are the top pick here. The listing names micro serrated blades, a herb stripper, a soft non slip grip and blades that separate for cleaning. For chicken bones, the Joseph Joseph PowerGrip lists a thumb grip for two handed use.
What are some good scissors for kitchen use?
Good kitchen scissors cut food and packaging cleanly and wash properly. The OXO Good Grips pair is the top pick in this guide, and its blades separate for cleaning. The Zwilling Twin lists an integrated rotary opener in the handle, and the Global GKS-210 lists a finely serrated blade and hand wash only care.
What are kitchen scissors meant for?
Kitchen scissors are meant for cutting food and packaging. The OXO listing names cardboard, twine, meat and vegetables, and its herb stripper removes fresh herbs from tough stems. The Joseph Joseph listing names chicken bones, wooden skewers and tough string. Check each care line first, because the Global GKS-210 is hand wash only.
Which are the best kitchen scissors?
The OXO Good Grips Kitchen and Herb Scissors are the best overall in this guide, rated 4.8 from 13,007 ratings on Amazon AU. The Zwilling Twin is rated 4.7 from 6,704 ratings, the Global GKS-210 4.6 from 482 and the Joseph Joseph PowerGrip 4.5 from 2,622. Each card shows its own listing.
The bundle: build out your first kitchen
A great pair of shears is one tool in a well equipped kitchen. If you are setting up a first home, these NestPath guides cover the other essentials worth getting right, from the appliances you use daily to the prep gear that makes cooking easier.
About the author
Anish Puri founded NestPath in 2026 after going through the Australian first home buyer process himself. NestPath focuses on Australian first home buyers because the existing review sites are American, generic, or both. Anish handles editorial selection across the homeowner hub. Reach out: hello@nestpath.com.au