Best Left-Handed Scissors for Kids: A Parent’s Fit and Age Guide

By Label Our Lefty Editorial Team · Updated October 17, 2026

Last Updated: October 17, 2026

For most left-handed children aged 4 to 7, the Fiskars 5-inch SoftGrip Left-Handed Pointed-Tip Scissors are the best starting point, and for ages 8 to 11 the Fiskars 6-inch Left-Handed Big Kids Scissors are the natural step up. If you want the cheapest true left-handed pair for a classroom bin or a first try, the Westcott 13594 5-inch hard-handle scissors do the basic job for the cost of a snack.

The key phrase is “true left-handed.” A pair of scissors that merely has symmetrical handles is not the same thing. In a genuine left-handed design the blades are swapped, so the top blade sits on the left and the child can see the line they are cutting. Squeeze a right-handed pair in the left hand and the blades tend to push apart and hide the cut line, which is a common reason lefty kids get frustrated and decide they are “bad at cutting.” This guide compares six real, currently sold pairs, explains how to match size, tip and handle to a child’s age, and covers the buying mistakes that cause most returns.

A word on method. We did not physically use these scissors. This guide is built from manufacturer descriptions, retailer listing details and independent product pages, and where sources disagree on a detail such as tip shape or age range we say so rather than guess. Because scissors are cheap and come in many near-identical versions, always confirm the listing says “left-handed” before you buy.

Top Picks at a Glance

• Best Overall (ages 4 to 7): Fiskars 5-inch SoftGrip Left-Handed Pointed-Tip Scissors.
• Best for Older Kids (ages 8 to 11): Fiskars 6-inch Left-Handed Big Kids Scissors.
• Best Budget: Westcott 13594 Left-Handed 5-inch Hard Handle Scissors.
• Best Comfort Grip for Longer Projects: Maped Sensoft Left-Handed Student Scissors 6.33-inch.
• Best Multipack with Blade Covers: GAIFONGRE 6-inch Real Left-Handed Kids Scissors, 3-pack.
• Best for Siblings and Classrooms: OneName 5-inch Left-Handed Kids Scissors, 6-pack.

Quick Comparison Table

1. Fiskars 5-inch SoftGrip Left-Handed Pointed-Tip Scissors: Best Overall for Ages 4 to 7

• 5-inch length, labeled for ages 4 to 7
• True left-handed reversed blades with a safety-edge design
• Pointed tip for control, stainless steel blades
• Soft-grip handle with large finger and thumb loops
• Sold in several colors; the manufacturer markets a lifetime warranty on its kids line

Best for: kindergarten through second grade, general crafts and school work. Skip if: your child is still a toddler or a very new cutter and you want a rounded tip.

Fiskars is the name most teachers reach for, and the left-handed 5-inch is the model that most closely matches what a typical 5-year-old can control. The pointed tip sounds scary, but it exists for a practical reason: kids need to start a cut in the middle of a sheet and cut a tight corner, which rounded tips make awkward. The “safety edge” blades are designed so they cut paper well but are less likely to nick skin, though no scissors are injury-proof and young children should still be supervised.

The soft-grip handle matters more than parents expect. Left-handed hands squeeze scissors a little differently from right-handed ones, and a rigid plastic loop can dig into the base of the thumb during longer cutting sessions. A cushioned loop distributes that pressure. The large loops also help children who are still developing grip strength and accommodate a two-finger grip if the child is not yet comfortable with a single-finger grip.

Check the listing carefully, because Fiskars sells many near-identical kids scissors, some of them right-handed or ambidextrous. The product to look for is the “Left-Handed” version, and the title should say so. One more practical thought: because the blades are reversed, a lefty child using the scissors with the right hand will find them awkward, so label the pair for your child if there are righties in the house.

Pros:

• True left-handed blades that keep the cut line visible
• Soft cushioned loops for small hands
• Pointed tip handles corners and starting cuts
• Widely available in classroom-friendly colors

Cons:

• Pointed tip is not ideal for toddlers or unsupervised use
• Multiple look-alike versions can cause ordering errors

2. Fiskars 6-inch Left-Handed Big Kids Scissors: Best for Ages 8 to 11

• 6-inch length, labeled for ages 8 to 11
• Safety-edge blades designed for school projects
• Left-handed handle shape and reversed blades
• Soft handle area; exact blade length and material: stainless steel is typical for the line, but check the listing

Best for: upper elementary school, posters, cardstock and crafts. Skip if: your child is under 7 or has small hands.

By age 8 most children have the hand span to manage a 6-inch pair, and a longer blade makes a real difference with poster board, felt and long straight cuts. The extra blade length means fewer cutting strokes, which means cleaner lines and less hand fatigue. Because the Fiskars Big Kids line shares design language with the 5-inch pair, a child who is used to the smaller scissors will adjust easily.

The risk is moving up too early. If a six-year-old is handed a 6-inch pair because “she is tall for her age,” the loops may be too wide and the handle weight can throw off control. A simple test is to have the child open and close the scissors with one hand: they should be able to open the blades fully without shifting their wrist or using the other hand to help.

Pros:

• Longer blade for poster board and long cuts
• Same left-handed geometry as the smaller Fiskars
• Safety-edge design on the blades

Cons:

• Oversized for children under 7
• Limited color choice in some listings

3. Westcott 13594 Left-Handed 5-inch Hard Handle Scissors: Best Budget Pick

• 5-inch length, blunt tip
• Hard molded plastic handles shaped for left-handed use
• Stainless steel blades
• Labeled for ages 4 to 8; assorted colors, so the color is random
• Limited manufacturer warranty listed by the brand (reported as five years)

Best for: classroom supply bins, travel pencil cases, a spare pair. Skip if: your child needs cushioned loops for long projects.

This is the pair to buy if you are not sure your child is going to cut much at all. It is a basic, honest school scissors with a blunt tip that is gentle on small hands and furniture. Blunt tips are good for children who tend to wave scissors around, and they work for cutting along lines and simple shapes. Starting a cut in the middle of a page is harder, so you may need to start the cut with a fold or let your child begin from an edge.

One caution: Westcott sells several 5-inch kids scissors, including right- and left-handed combos. Some store pages even contain typos about handedness. If you want a true left-handed pair, make sure the model number 13594 appears in the listing. Because the color is random, siblings who want a specific color may have to trade.

Pros:

• Very low cost for a true left-handed design
• Blunt tip is gentle for young or distractible kids
• Sturdy hard handles suit classroom use

Cons:

• No soft grip; less comfortable for long sessions
• Color cannot be chosen
• Blunt tip is less precise on small shapes

4. Maped Sensoft Left-Handed Student Scissors 6.33-inch: Best Comfort Grip

• 6.33-inch (about 16 cm) stainless steel blades
• Flexible, soft handle loops designed to adapt to different hand sizes
• Mirrored, reversed blades for left-handed use
• Tip style: the retailer title says pointed, other retailers describe it as blunt, so check before buying
• Manufacturer age range: not listed for this model; the size is generally positioned for older students

Best for: tweens, long craft sessions, children who complain that hard handles hurt. Skip if: you need a small pair for a preschooler.

Maped’s Sensoft line is built around its flexible loops. Instead of a rigid plastic oval, the finger and thumb holes flex slightly, which makes a noticeable difference for children with small hands who would otherwise have to grip hard. The company also states that the plastic content includes recycled material in the current version, which is a nice bonus for school-supply buyers who care about waste.

Sources do not agree on the tip type or the age range for the 6.33-inch left-handed version, so treat both as open questions. If the tip matters to you, look at the images in the listing or buy the smaller 5-inch Sensoft variant that Maped markets to younger children. In practice, a pair this size fits best from roughly the middle of elementary school upward.

Pros:

• Flexible soft handles reduce pressure on fingers and thumb
• Reversed blades for a clear cut line
• Comfortable for long projects

Cons:

• Listing details conflict on tip type and age range
• Large for younger children

5. GAIFONGRE 6-inch Real Left-Handed Kids Scissors, 3-Pack: Best Multipack with Covers

• 6-inch length, blunt safety tip
• Marketed for ages 5 to 12
• Comes as a 3-pack with protective covers
• Soft comfort grips and stainless steel blades
• Pointed-tip 7-inch sibling product also exists for ages 8 and up

Best for: families who want one pair at home, one in the school bag and one spare. Skip if: you prefer an established name for school.

The blade covers are the quiet selling point. Left-handed scissors tend to disappear into backpacks, and a cover protects both the blade and the contents of the bag. A three-pack is also a simple way to stop the daily “where are the scissors?” scramble. The 6-inch size is a little large for a five-year-old, but the stated age range goes up to 12, so it is a reasonable “grow into it” choice for second and third graders.

As with any lesser-known brand, quality can vary between batches. When the package arrives, open and close each pair a dozen times and cut a piece of printer paper and a piece of thin cardstock. The blades should meet along their full length without chewing the paper. If one pair feels loose or gritty, return the set rather than forcing a child to struggle.

Pros:

• Three pairs for home, school and backup
• Blade covers protect fingers and bag contents
• Blunt tip suits younger users

Cons:

• Lesser-known brand; quality can vary
• Sizing runs larger than most 5-year-olds need

6. OneName 5-inch Left-Handed Kids Scissors, 6-Pack: Best for Siblings and Classrooms

• 5-inch length, left-handed design
• Ergonomic comfort-grip handles
• Stainless steel blades
• Six pairs per pack
• Exact tip shape and age label: not listed in the data we reviewed

Best for: birthday craft tables, left-handed siblings, a teacher with several lefty students. Skip if: you want a single high-quality pair.

A six-pack changes the economics for anyone who regularly needs more than one pair. Craft parties, preschool rooms and classroom cubbies are where scissors vanish, and replacing them one at a time is an annoying cost. A 5-inch size with a comfort grip is also the correct dimension for roughly ages 4 to 8. Because we could not verify the tip shape from the listing summary, check the product photos and description before assuming it is blunt.

The trade-off is typical for bulk packs: fewer brand-level assurances and the need to spot-check each pair. Keep them as a “shared bin” set and keep one premium pair at home for your child’s favorite project.

Pros:

• Six pairs in one pack, handy for groups
• Comfort-grip handles
• Right size for early elementary

Cons:

• Generic brand; inspect each pair on arrival
• Tip style should be confirmed from the listing

Also Consider

LIVINGO Left-Handed Kids Scissors 3-Pack (5 inch)

A three-pack of blunt-tip safety scissors with blade covers and comfort grips, marketed for ages 4 and up. A reasonable alternative to the GAIFONGRE set in a smaller size.

Armilem Left-Handed Kids Scissors 8-Pack

An eight-pack with stainless steel blades and soft grips, around 5.7 inches with blunt tips per the listing. Best for classrooms or party tables.

Asdirne Left Kids Scissors

A budget single or multipack with blunt-tip stainless steel blades and a soft grip. Good for home craft drawers.

Fiskars 7-inch SoftGrip Left-Handed Student Scissors

A step up for kids 12 and older who need a longer blade for fabric, felt or poster board. The same brand family as our top picks.

How We Chose

We started with the kinds of scissors left-handed children actually use: school-issue 5-inch pairs, 6-inch scissors for older kids, and multipacks for families and classrooms. We looked for real left-handed blade geometry (not just a left-hand label), age ranges that matched typical hand sizes, and products currently sold in the United States. Sources included manufacturer pages from Fiskars, Westcott and Maped, retailer listing details and independent product pages. Where sources contradicted each other, as in the case of the Maped tip style and age range, we noted the conflict.

We did not physically use these scissors, so we do not make claims about how sharp they stay or how long the screws last. Price tiers are given in words only. We limited each brand to two products so one name does not crowd out the rest.

Buying Guide: Choosing Left-Handed Scissors for a Child

Confirm the blades are truly reversed

Hold the scissors in your left hand with the handle pointing toward you. The blade nearer your thumb should be the top blade so that you can see the edge being cut. If the listing only says “ambidextrous” or “for left and right,” the scissors will work, but they are not optimized for a lefty, and many kids find them harder to control than a true left-handed pair.

Match size to hand and age

A good rule of thumb is 5 inches for roughly ages 4 to 7, 6 inches for ages 8 to 11, and 7 to 8 inches for ages 12 and up. The best check is the open-and-close test: your child should be able to fully open the blades with one hand, with the thumb in the smaller loop and one or two fingers in the larger loop, without lifting the elbow. If the handles are too wide, they will cut with the entire hand rather than the fingers, which is tiring.

Choose the tip for the child, not the box

Blunt tips are better for toddlers, preschoolers and children who play with scissors. Pointed tips offer more precision and are fine for most kindergarteners and up when used under supervision. A good approach is to start with blunt for ages 3 to 5 and switch to pointed once your child can reliably keep the blades pointed down when walking.

Look at the handle material

Soft-grip or flexible loops are more comfortable and suit children with small or weaker hands. Hard molded handles are durable and cheap, and they are fine for short school tasks. If your child draws and cuts for long stretches, the extra cushioning is worth it.

Think about the pack size

Single pairs suit one child. Three-packs suit families who want one for home, school and the car. Six- and eight-packs make sense for teachers and parties. If you buy a pack, check each pair when it arrives, and label them with a name or sticker, because a lefty pair is easily claimed by a right-handed sibling.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Buying “for left and right” scissors and calling them left-handed. They are ambidextrous at best.
• Going too big. A larger pair will not make a child cut better.
• Forcing a right-handed pair on a lefty. It often leads to a sore hand and messy cuts.
• Ignoring the cut line. Teach children to keep the paper moving, not the scissors.
• Skipping supervision with pointed tips. Use blunt scissors for the youngest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age should a child get left-handed scissors?

Most children can start with blunt-tip safety scissors around ages 3 to 4, and true left-handed pairs help from the first day. Many manufacturers label their 5-inch pairs for ages 4 to 7.

Are left-handed scissors really different from right-handed ones?

Yes. The blades are swapped so the top blade sits on the left side, and the handles are shaped for the left hand. That keeps the cut line visible and lets the blades close naturally in the left hand.

Can a left-handed child use right-handed scissors?

They can, but it is often harder. Squeezing a right-handed pair in the left hand can push the blades apart and block the child’s view of the cutting line.

What size scissors should I buy for a kindergartener?

Five-inch scissors are the standard choice for ages 4 to 7. Blunt tips are common for kindergarten, while pointed safety-edge versions work for children with good control.

Are blunt-tip scissors safer than pointed ones?

Blunt tips lower the chance of poking, but any scissors can cause harm if misused. Safety-edge blades and supervision matter, and children should be taught to carry scissors with the blades closed and pointed down.

Do I need left-handed scissors if my child is ambidextrous?

Not necessarily. If your child switches hands, a pair of well-made ambidextrous scissors may be fine. Watch which hand they use for cutting and choose accordingly.

How do I know if the scissors are too big?

If your child cannot fully open the blades with one hand or has to use the whole fist to close them, the scissors are probably too large. Try a smaller size.

Which One Should You Buy?

• Ages 4 to 7, one good pair: Fiskars 5-inch SoftGrip Left-Handed.
• Ages 8 to 11, school projects: Fiskars 6-inch Left-Handed Big Kids.
• Cheapest true left-handed pair: Westcott 13594.
• Long sessions and tweens: Maped Sensoft 6.33-inch.
• Backup pairs with covers: GAIFONGRE 6-inch 3-pack.
• Siblings, parties and classrooms: OneName 5-inch 6-pack.

Whichever you choose, confirm “left-handed” in the title, do the one-hand open-and-close test, and label the pair so it stays with your lefty.

Sources

• Fiskars product pages for kids left-handed scissors
• Westcott product page for the 13594 left-handed kids scissors
• Maped Helix USA product page for the Sensoft left-handed student scissors
• Retailer listing details for GAIFONGRE and OneName left-handed scissors

Last updated: October 2026

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