Unlike most dog fur, poodle fur is short, thick, and curly, meaning it can easily form mats.
Keeping their coat trimmed makes it easier to brush and maintain while making your poodle look great.
Clippers can have a number of issues, however, including:
- Power sources not working consistently
- Blades that are difficult to maintain and replace or that are uncomfortable for your poodle
- Noises that can turn your poodle off from being groomed at all
To help you avoid these pitfalls and find the perfect set of clippers for your poodle, we asked our veterinary advisor Dr. Jamie Whittenburg to review all of the major brands of dog clippers on the market to find the best fit for a poodle.
Dr. Whittenburg, selected the Wahl Professional Animal Chromado Lithium Dog Clipper Kit as her favorite all-around dog clippers. They’re powerful clippers with an adjustable 5-in-1 blade to make grooming easy and convenient.
While these are Dr. Whittenburg’s top pick, you can read on to get her top tips for selecting the right clippers for your poodle, who these clippers may not be a fit for, and Dr. Whittenburg selected the top option for clippers for several uses.
The 5 Best Dog Clippers for Poodles
- Best Overall – Wahl Professional Animal Chromado Lithium Dog Clipper Kit
- Best Budget – Hatteker Dog Shaver Clippers
- Best Corded – Wahl Clipper Pet-Pro Dog Grooming Kit
- Best Quiet – Oneisall Dog Shaver Low Noise Hair Clippers Set
- Best Heavy Duty – HANSPROU Dog Shaver Clippers for Thick Heavy Coats
The 5 Best Dog Clippers for a Poodle Compared
Here are the top picks from our veterinarian. Compare the ratings and features of different models.
| Editor’s Picks | Model | Rating | Blade | Run time | Constant speed control? | Includes guide combs? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Wahl Professional Animal Chromado Lithium Dog Clipper Kit | 5-in-1 | 90 mins | |||
| Best Budget Buy | Hatteker Dog Shaver Clippers | Adjustable | n/a (corded) | |||
| Best Corded | Wahl Clipper Pet-Pro Dog Grooming Kit | Self-sharpening, snag-free | n/a (corded) | |||
| Best Quiet | Oneisall Dog Shaver Low Noise Hair Clippers Set | Stainless steel and ceramic | 150 mins | |||
| Best Heavy Duty | HANSPROU Dog Shaver Clippers for Thick Heavy Coats | Titanium and ceramic | n/a (corded) |
*Ratings are on a scale of 1 to 5 and based on reviews, feedback, and opinions of actual customers
In This Article
Who Should Buy a Dog Clipper for Their Poodle
- Owners who want to style their poodle’s fur – If you chose a poodle because of its unique style, you want them to look it’s very best. That means paying special attention to grooming.
- Poodle parents whose pet’s coat is hard to maintain – Shorter poodle hair is much easier to brush and clean than longer hair, so you’ll likely want to keep your pet’s fur trimmed.1
- Pet parents who already have clippers for themselves (or other breeds) – You shouldn’t use human hair clippers on your poodle. Other breeds may not need such strong clippers so you may find your existing dog clippers aren’t suitable.
Who Should Not Buy a Dog Clipper for Their Poodle
- Pet owners looking for a fancy or intricate style for their poodle – If you want something complicated, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. Take your poodle to be groomed regularly by someone with the experience and credentials to do a great job.
- Nervous pet parents who are anxious about clipping their poodle’s fur safely –If you don’t feel comfortable using clippers on your poodle’s coat, then take them to a professional groomer instead.
Buying Guide: Research Tips From a Veterinarian
As a veterinarian, I’m often asked how to choose the right clippers for different breeds of dogs, including poodles. Many pet parents enjoy grooming their poodles at home or would like to avoid groomer’s bills. Choosing the right pair of clippers for the job is important, and I always recommend speaking to a professional groomer in your area to get their recommendations. They’ll have plenty of experience using dog clippers. You should also ask friends, neighbors, and your own veterinarian for recommendations.
If you’re buying online, always read reviews (if available). This gives you honest feedback from other pet owners who’ve used the product. Look for reviews from poodle owners in particular.
- Always look for solid construction and quality materials – You don’t want to buy a new set of clippers only for them to break after you’ve used them a few times. Look for sturdy clippers with multiple blades or guards to allow you to select the length of clipped hair that you want. Avoid models with only one blade or guard.
- Choose a low vibration and low noise model if possible – This is particularly important if your dog is new to being groomed, or if they’re generally fearful and anxious.
- Consider how easy it’ll be to clean the clippers – If possible, pick clippers with detachable blades. This makes them easy to clean and means you can change them once the blade becomes dull through use.
- Think about the pros and cons of corded or cordless clippers – Cordless clippers are easier to maneuver but you’ll want to opt for ones with good battery life. Alternatively, you might find that corded clippers suit your situation best.
How Much Do They Cost?
Between $30 and $200
Dog clippers for poodles vary a lot in price. Most clippers for home use will cost somewhere between $30 – $200. The price depends on a range of several factors and it’s generally a case that you’ll get what you pay for. High-end models, like our top pick, will be a pleasure to use, with advanced grooming features like speed control. They may also come with extras like cleaning brushes and blade oils. Very cheap models are likely to be noisier and may wear out easily.
Our Methodology: Why Trust Pet News Daily
As a veterinarian, I’ve talked to many pet owners, groomers, and other veterinarians about the best dog clippers on the market. I’ve chosen these top five clippers for poodles based on my professional experience as a veterinarian, along with considering their features and durability. I’ve judged them based on safety, noise levels, battery life (where applicable), options for different hair lengths, cutting performance, and ease of use. – Dr. Jamie Whittenburg
The Best Dog Clipper Reviews
1. Best Overall – Wahl Professional Animal Chromado Lithium Dog Clipper Kit
The Wahl Professional Animal Chromado Lithium Dog Clipper Kit has an adjustable 5-in-1 blade that makes grooming easy and convenient for multiple areas of your poodle’s body. Because the clippers are cordless and lightweight, they’re easy to use without making your hand or wrist tired.
The 5-in-1 blade adjusts between sizes #9, #10, #15, #30, and #40. These clippers are powerful and do a great job clipping hair but also run quietly, which is a must for noise-sensitive poodles.
- High-quality clippers that are comfortable to use
- Adjustable 5-in-1 blade with a range of fur lengths
- Powerful clippers that don’t make too much noise
- Lots of extras included, like blade oil and a cleaning brush
- Expensive, so may not be affordable on a tight budget
- Some reviewers have said the battery fails after a few years of use
2. Best Budget – Hatteker Dog Shaver Clippers
The Hatteker Dog Shaver Clippers are fantastic if you’re looking for clippers that won’t break the bank. They might be small, but they feature a 36V high-speed motor that helps to avoid drag in the hair while cutting pet hair cleanly and smoothly.
The clipper’s blades can be adjusted from 1.2mm to 1.8mm, plus they come with 6 guide combs that will change the length of the hair (3, 6, 9, and 12mm). They’re corded and don’t need to be charged, so you won’t need to worry about the battery running out while grooming.
- Budget-friendly clippers that get the job done well
- Blades can be adjusted from 1.2mm to 1.8mm
- Includes 6 guide combs
- Some reviewers said they didn’t cut well or stopped working quickly
- No carrying case included
3. Best Corded Clippers – Wahl Clipper Pet-Pro Dog Grooming Kit
Long known as a leader in clippers, Wahl has made their Wahl Clipper Pet-Pro Dog Grooming Kit affordable yet effective. These clippers feature a patented Power Drive System, which enables them to easily cut through thick coats.
The kit also comes with four different colored guide combs, making it easy to find the guard you want. The clippers are powerful but quiet with low vibration, making for a calm and easy grooming session with your poodle.
- Power Drive System makes it easy to get through thick poodle coats
- The self-sharpening blades provide snag-free cutting
- The kit includes a carrying case
- Corded clippers can be tricky to maneuver
- Quite heavy clippers compared with some other models
4. Best Quiet Clippers – Oneisall Dog Shaver Low Noise Hair Clippers Set
Made specifically to be low vibration and very quiet, with a noise level of only 50db, the Oneisall Dog Shaver Low Noise Hair Clippers Set is an excellent choice for noise or vibration-averse dogs. This pair of clippers are cordless and easy to work with. They have a long-lasting rechargeable Li-ion battery, and they can be used while charging too.
The detachable blades offer a clean, professional-looking cut. You get six guard combs (3mm/6mm/9mm/12mm/15mm/18mm) with this set, so you can get your poodle’s hair to exactly the length you want.
- Quiet, low-vibration clippers
- Can be used while charging
- LED battery display shows how much battery you have left
- May struggle with very deep, tough mats
- The scissors that are included are low quality
5. Best Heavy Duty – HANSPROU Dog Shaver Clippers for Thick Heavy Coats
The powerful 12V high-speed motor lets the HANSPROU Dog Shaver Clippers for Thick Heavy Coats cut through thick hair with no sticking. They come with a titanium alloy blade as well as a ceramic moving blade to give you even better-cutting performance.
Though these clippers are heavy-duty for thick, matted poodle hair, they are still quiet and have a low-vibration design. The set includes four guard combs for altering the length of clipped hair. There are also two modes to adjust the width.
- High-quality titanium alloy blade plus ceramic moving blade
- Heavy-duty clippers that can get through matted coats
- Quiet, low-vibration design
- A few reviewers said the blade clogged with hair quickly
- Guards may fall off quite easily
Frequently Asked Questions
In our Poodle collar buying guide our veterinary advisor Dr. Coates selected the Fida Heavy Duty Dog Collar as the best option for Poodles.
Article Sources
Pet News Daily uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
- Madson C. Why your dog’s coat gets matted—and what you can do about it. Preventivevet.com. Published May 8, 2019. Updated December 15, 2021. Accessed March 10, 2022.
- American Kennel Club. Poodle (standard). Akc.org. Accessed March 10, 2022.
Dr. Jamie Whittenburg is a graduate of Texas Tech University and Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine. A practicing veterinarian for 16 years, she works with cats, dogs, and small exotics. She has a special interest in feline medicine and surgery. In 2013, she opened her own practice, Kingsgate Animal Hospital. When not working, Dr. Whittenburg enjoys hiking and reading.
