Good hair clippers are often quite expensive, aren’t they? I mean, you can understand all the premium materials that go into the construction, sharp blades and robust motors can weigh down on the price tag.
But there exist some affordable options too, which can perform surprisingly better than what they’re worth!
Therefore, it’s my privilege to introduce you with some of the best cheap hair clippers that are fully functional and can perform diverse grooming tasks!
In this article, I’m not only reviewing my top 5 affordable hair clippers, but also comparing them side by side to let you pick out your favorite from the lot!
Contents
Best Cheap Hair Clippers to Buy in 2024
Let’s get the feature review and performance aspects of each affordable hair clipper out of the way in this section!
| Product | Verdict |
|---|---|
| FADEKING Professional Hair Clipper | Best for All-Round Cuts |
| Wahl Color Pro Cordless | Best for Beginners |
| AMULISS T-Blade | Best for Outlining |
| Wahl Chrome Pro Corded | Best for Barbers |
| Wahl Peanut Classic Corded | Best for Home/Self Groomers |
Note: The star ratings for each hair clipper is solely for their price to performance ratio and doesn’t represent their overall status.
FADEKING Professional Hair Clipper
In your list for best cheap hair clippers, I’m starting off with the most unique clipper in my arsenal – the Fadeking clipper which shares uncanny resemblances with BaByliss devices!
I’m absolutely in love with the package design of this tool – A nifty and durable Fadeking packaging encases the clipper, its guide combs, charger, cleaning brush, lubricating agent and a bib.
Also, the design stands out the clipper and it doesn’t look cheap from any angle! If you’re a barber or a home consumer, whenever you’ll pull it out you’ll get positive reactions from people surrounding you.
The material used is quite premium for the price you’re having to pay and it’s great to hold on to! Lower half of the handle is textured and therefore slip-proof.
However, the device is quite heavy, as you can understand from the metal used for building the tool, the weight balance is something I’m not a fan of.
But with some practice, you’ll learn to walk past the head-heavy design and maneuver it around at will!
This device endorses a Fading Tooth Top (#440C) blade coupled with an adjustment lever – something that’d definitely come in handy while drawing some nice fade cuts.
Inside the package, you’re getting a total of 9 guide combs sized at 1/16”, 1/8”, 3/16”, 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 1mm, 2mm and 3mm.
Although the Fadeking device is not zero gapped, it can most certainly allow you to smooth out different lengths of hair and even create textured cuts.
Fadeking clipper runs at 6,500 RPM with its heavy-duty motor. From personal experiences and tests, I’ve found it to be adequately powerful and sufficient for diverse hair volumes.
Also, the 60 minute battery life of the device is just perfect to rank it among the top cordless hair clippers at the current time!
You’ll find a numeric LED counter at the bottom half of the Fadeking clipper to know exactly where you are in terms of charge level and it’s powered through a USB Type-C port.
Due to the adjustment level, steel blades and all of the guide combs, you’ll find it to be a highly versatile tool for diverse haircuts and it’s an all-rounded from my perspective.
And you’re getting all of that without having to spend an arm and a leg the way might have to do if you opted for an Andis clipper with the same functionalities!
What I Like
- Versatile clipping within a budget
- Durable and covered by a long guarantee period
- Comes with all the necessary accessories and more
What Could be Better
- Weight balance could improve
Wahl Color Pro Cordless
Much like Fadeking, Wahl has introduced a budget variant by deviating from their premium line of clippers as they introduce the Wahl Color Pro cordless variant run by a NiMH battery.
There are two separate variants of this clipper, one of which is a corded version and the other contains a li-ion battery – offers longer clipping hours but also much costlier than this one.
If you’re wondering how Wahl managed to strike down the price to such a reachable level, it has to do with the Color Pro cordless’ manufacturing done in China.
Despite that, this clipper is indeed a jack of all trades! From the outlook, you’ll get a cheap feeling which Wahl didn’t try to hide by constructing the housing with regular plastic.
It’s great for beginners in the sense that all of the guide comb sizes are color coded and the explanation is written down on the housing to pick between the 14 cutting guides you’re given.
The first great thing about this tool is it weighs only 8 ounces, so moving it around on someone else for prolonged durations or even over your head is not going to be a problem.
I was quite surprised by the retaining grip Wahl achieved on the device only by creating plastic textures on the housing!
You’ll also find a dedicated thumb rest – which isn’t tactile but the curved out plastic does indeed let you hold your thumb in place at all times.
The blade is quite generic but the teeth are deeper than those throwaway clippers you’ll find at the market – great if you’re into doing fades!
At this price range, it’s really ambitious to expect an adjustment lever with this device and the guide combs are your only options at getting different lengths.
I don’t think the motor is something extraordinary as mine struggled to get through denser hair and required some additional passes for getting my expected result.
Since it’s the NiMH battery powered tool, runtime isn’t going to surpass your expectations – 40 minutes of usable charge and another 10 that’s barely doing anything.
Wahl tells you it’s a washable clipper despite not having any waterproof rating. I’ll advise against taking it anywhere near water and manual cleaning should be your only way to go about.
Why is the Color Pro Cordless a great option within budget? It can cut smoothly, durability matches Wahl standards, you may even trim your beard with it and overall a gift your husband would definitely love!
What I Like
- Lighter housing enhances maneuverability
- Durable materials used despite the cheap feeling
- Friendly for new grooming enthusiasts
What Could be Better
- Battery life is quite average
AMULISS T-Blade
Another tool that’ll catch your eyes out of the box and this time it’s the Amuliss clipper (you can also call it a trimmer) with its fine T-Blade at your service!
Good zero gap clippers can do a lot of stuff within a very limited time and Amuliss isn’t much different – but the condition is, you’ll have to work on shorter hair lengths most of the time.
The reason behind saying this is the width of the T-Blade, it’s not as wide as regular hair clippers and you’ll know why as soon as you see the size of the entire thing!
Amuliss clipper fits perfectly in the palm of my hands and I can even hold it like a pen if I’m doing some edging up work on my brother’s hair fringes.
For the size, I must say the weight did surprise me! It’s a 7 ounce device and the credit is due to its all metal housing design.
You’ll find one of the most decorated hair clippers ever once you see the handle – the Amuliss head staring back at you with its fine craftsmanship in brushed gold color.
The ergonomics are ensured by the embossed and solid texture design. Also, the weight balance has been nailed by the team upon jumbling everything into this tiny tool!
As I mentioned, the T-Blade is zero gapped and made with carbon-steel – something that’ll last and grant comfortable skin to blade contact over any type of skin.
The motor is quite decent and to my reckoning, it ranks somewhere along the 5,000 RPM range – although Amuliss has managed to keep the actual numbers hidden.
So, what can you do with it? As a professional, it could easily be your go to line up device and it’ll deliver some neat results with utmost accuracy.
For home groomers, it’s a tool for self-trims on shorter hair, outlining the hair or beard edges, or you could even trim your beard down to zero but it’s going to take a while to cover the entire area.
The three guide combs inside the package will allow you longer clipping lengths but from what I’ve experienced, the outcomes aren’t always seamless.
I was most impressed by the 100 minute battery life since I didn’t expect such a tiny device to hold juice for this duration.
Also, it’s a great tool to carry around – not only because of the size or weight – but also for the long battery life and USB Type-C port for recharging.
An LED numeric indicator shows you charge levels but mind you, it’s not 100% accurate yet manages to give you a rough estimation.
With all of the things this Amuliss T-Blade clipper is capable of doing, I have no fear in stating it as one of the best cheap hair clippers that can fulfill your unique clipping duties!
What I Like
- Tiny and ergonomic
- T-Blades can create perfect line ups
- Long battery life
What Could be Better
- Not meant for mass clipping
Wahl Chrome Pro Corded
Wahl Chrome Pro is a neat-looking electric clipper and you’d actually be surprised to learn its price because the looks make it feel like a really expensive one from the revered brand!
The housing style can be made out from the title of the clipper ‘chrome’ as the top half does give you a reflection of that name.
If you think it’s a metallic clipper, you’d be just wrong. Instead, Wahl chose to construct the device with premium and durable materials to make it affordable for a wide group of consumers!
One downside is the clipper is corded and your movement would be restricted to some extent. However, the 3.09 meter long cable (longest one from Wahl) makes sure you have sufficient liberty to maneuver around at will.
Now let’s dive into the ergonomics! This device is one of the best-looking Wahl tools I’ve ever come across!
Apart from the shiny silver fringes, the chest region is covered with matte plastic and makes room for a dented thumb grip. 10/10 in grip retention and the plastic back’s shape reinforce that tactile confidence.
You’re getting some agile Precision blades ready for mass clipping as well as some fine blending of different haircuts.
With the adjustment lever letting you shift between 1 mm and 3 mm, you’re about to hop right in the buzz cut hype train (don’t forget to learn how many sizes these cuts come in)!
As per the accessories, there are 8 guide combs from 3 mm to 25 mm, so we’re covering a lot of ground with this highly affordable hair clipper!
You might be wondering how powerful the motor is here. Well, I can’t talk numbers but I can reassure you it’s 35% stronger than the generic Wahl motors.
Such an electromagnetic vibrating motor can do the work of a professional and a large reason is its corded design.
Then again, it has weighed down on the housing by cranking it up to 20 ounces, but the perfect weight balance makes it nifty and pleasant to work with!
If you’re thinking about storage, Wahl has you covered! There’s a plastic storage in which everything arrives at your doorstep and allows safe storing and transporting it with you.
With such fancy tools and its multiple functionality that speaks nothing shy of quality, I can easily recommend it to professional barbers since I’m sure it’s bound to meet their standards!
What I Like
- Premium looks and great grip level
- Powerful motor guarantees every type of haircut
- A very long cord to liberate movement
What Could be Better
- Blades are not zero gapped
Wahl Peanut Classic Corded
Finally, my list for the best cheap hair clipper ends with the corded variant of Wahl Peanut Classic (yes, there is a cordless variant if you’re willing to pay significantly extra).
By its tiny size, you might think it’s a kid’s toy and boy you would be wrong to assume that! Because this clipper is the living embodiment of that phrase “good things come in small packages”.
What I didn’t mean by a ‘kid’s toy’ is that you’ll definitely be able to give your kids haircuts at home and they’re going to love it because of its comfort level!
Wahl Peanut corded edition comes in a transparent and fixed package which can be undone without dishonoring the plastic holder.
The tool is draped in off-white and the Peanut text is proudly written over its durable yet handy housing.
Yes, there are certain limitations with this clipper – one being you’ll have to adapt to a new gripping style due to its size while the other is its cutting efficiency reduced by the blade’s width.
Mind you, Wahl has used a 2068-300 – renowned for its sharpness as well as matching comfort. It’s ideal for sensitive scalps, kid scalps and even for elderly men’s fragile skin.
Peanut Classic offers a generic motor power and it’s not going to get through bulks of dense hair with minimum passes.
Rather, you should pick it out if you have regular, fine hair or even want a device to take care of your beard at the same time.
It’s almost weightless like a computer mouse – around 4.8 ounces without the cord. The cord length is 2.2 meters and I personally like this longer cable despite the handy size.
Although it doesn’t have an adjustment lever, you can switch between different cutting guides from what Wahl will provide you – 4 trimming guides between 1/8” to 1/2”.
Cleaning and maintenance is relatively straightforward for the clipper. The blades come off very easily, and can be brushed and lubricated thereafter.
Don’t take the corded variant as something limiting, rather it’s going to keep running relentlessly without heating up – that’s a positive you must take into consideration!
Peanut Classic may not be the most premium hair clipper out there, but it is indeed a useful tool up your sleeve for your daily grooming at a great price!
What I Like
- Tiny & handy tool for home grooming
- Can be easily be used for self-cuts and maintenance
- Made with durable materials
What Could be Better
- Needs some time to adjust the grip
Why Trust My Verdict?
Those of you who know me, you’re already aware that I’m hand testing all of my products and I make purchases out of my pocket on the grooming tools I feel are worthy of being assessed.
On that note, the hair clippers on my list today had been specifically obtained with their affordable price tag and overall price to performance ratio.
These tools are not only acclaimed by user ratings, but also have positive feedback from grooming professionals, some of whom I personally know.
And afterward, I’ve put these through some rigorous testing based on my metrics so I can give you the opportunity to learn how much performance you’d get out of the low cost!
Test Results for the Best Affordable Hair Clippers
Now it’s time for me to disclose the test results of these 5 hair clippers within budget which I’ve been hinting at since the beginning!
Blade Sharpness
When it comes down to blade sharpness, I’m ranking Fadeking at the top and would’ve done so even if it weren’t a contest among affordable hair clippers.
Closely behind is the Wahl Chrome Pro as its blade does have the quality as well as sharpness to belong to a professional environment.
Third place goes to the Amuliss T-Blade, it’s very narrow and yet accurately responds to your gestures to craft out some fine hairlines!
Finally, it’s a tie between Wahl Color Pro and Wahl Peanut Classic since their generic steel blades have failed to impress me in terms of sharpness like the rest in my list.
Skin Comfort
Comfort is an important factor while picking out budget clippers because some of the tools in the market can actually feel quite unnerving due to the materials.
Luckily, all 5 of the clippers in my list are comfortable to endure and the list is topped by the duo of Amuliss T-Blade and Wahl Peanut Classic – you wouldn’t feel anything while getting a haircut!
Second spot is a tie between Wahl Chrome Pro and Wahl Color Pro. Although these two tools house different categories of blades, they’re evenly matched when it comes to skin comfort.
Fadeking secures the final spot as it’s the least comfortable clipper on the list. It has to do with all the raw power output you’d get out of it which helps out in different ways.
Versatility
Which of these clippers is going to give you the most value out of all five? It’s quite simple – Fadeking has more versatility than any of the devices in my list.
This clipper has an adjustment lever with numerous guide combs included in the package. You can go for seamless cuts to blends to even fade with a singular device!
Chrome Pro is closely behind and there are only two reasons for it. One, it’s corded so the maneuverability is a little restricted, and two, the adjustable gap with the lever is less than Fadeking.
Wahl Color Pro and Peanut Classic are ranked third in versatility. You can clip your hair, trim your beard and style up your look moderately using these sets of tools.
Last spot goes to Amuliss T-Blade which is the best one here for lining up but not so great at doing other jobs, considering the type and width of its blade.
Ergonomics
In the ergonomics department, I found Fadeking and Wahl Chrome Pro to be the most tactile and grippy tools in my top 5.
Although Fadeking has an uneven balance, you can work around it over time once you build an understanding of the weight.
Wahl Color Pro and Amuliss T-Blades are right next in grip levels as their handle alone grants you ideal maneuverability at different angles ensured by their creative housing design.
Wahl Peanut Classic is the last to arrive because of its size and the absence of any visible grip spots. Also, it requires some getting used to since not everyone has the prowess of handling such a small hair clipper without prior experience.
Motor Power
If you consider raw motor power, then you must give credit to Wahl for developing Chrome Pro with such a robust unit at such an affordable price point!
It can chop through dense hair like many of its successors at higher prices and you’d definitely be getting your money’s worth if bulk removal is your prime concern.
Fadeking misses out on the top spot as its battery-run motor fails to match the superior torque from Chrome Pro but isn’t a long way behind.
Wahl Color Pro is third in line as the generic motor does grant you some all-round hair clipping in the general sense.
Amuliss T-Blade and Wahl Peanut Classic are restricted by their size to endorse a more powerful motor. They’re great for specific tasks but not good enough for efficiency or high-scale objective fulfillments.
Buyer’s Guide: Which One is the Best Budget Hair Clipper?
Five of the budget hair clippers in my list are unique in their own accord and it’s up for you to decide which one should be the ideal choice for your requirements.
As a rule of thumb, I reckon the Fadeking hair clipper is the most all-round tool in my list due to its timeless ergonomics, sharp set of blades, robust motor and all of the accessories it comes with.
Wahl Color Pro is a perfect entry point for beginners who never used a hair clipper personally. There’s room to learn and adapt into this field with this easy-to-use device.
With the T-Blade, Amuliss clipper is meant for lining up or edging up your hair. Yes, it could be used over balding heads as well but there are other more efficient clippers for the job at a higher cost.
Wahl Chrome Pro is worthy of being a go-to tool inside a barber shop because of its durable nature, professional-grade results and versatility in conjuring up refined hairdos.
Finally, Wahl Peanut Classic is one made specifically for home groomers or even individuals who’d like to do self-cuts. It’s easy to handle, affordable and yet durable!
FAQ
The FAQ section today answers some of the most essential questions concerning the best affordable hair clippers and queries that may arise surrounding the matter.
Q: Are cheap hair clippers durable?
Ans: For the most part, no, not all cheap hair clippers are durable. That’s what I discovered during my hunt for the best ones in this category. After my tests were done, I can deduce that the 5 tools I’ve enlisted are much more durable than plenty of other budget clippers you may find being sold widely online.
Q: Can I use cheap hair clippers for professional use?
Ans: Yes! Many of the cheap hair clippers can be used by professionals but mind you, they’d have to be used for specific needs only and not generic ones. For instance, Amuliss T-Blade can make itself an integral part of a barber shop only for outlining duties and not for bulk hair removal.
Q: Are cordless clippers better than corded ones?
Ans: It actually depends on what you’re looking for. Cordless clippers liberate your movement and maneuverability while corded clippers guarantee constant power as well as performance. Especially for budget clippers, if you’re torn between corded or cordless – I’d say, picking up a corded clipper is always better than buying a cordless clipper with very limited power or battery life.
Q: Can cheap hair clippers cut all hair types?
Ans: This answer also depends on a lot of variables. If you want a generic answer, then I’d have to say – most of the cheap hair clippers won’t cut all hair types. That said, you should set your priorities before buying a hair clipper at a lower price to serve you in the best possible manner. Thus, expecting it to rank evenly with something like a Wahl Senior would actually be an overestimation.
Q: Are cheap hair clippers safe for children?
Ans: For most parts, yes! Affordable clippers are usually made with slightly less agile blade teeth and limited motor power and are rendered safe for children. However, tools like Fadeking or Wahl Chrome Pro are actually quite sharp as well as powerful, so I wouldn’t let my kids play around with these without proper supervision!
Concluding Remarks
We’ve reached the end point of our today’s discussion on the best budget hair clippers you could buy off the current market.
The devices I’ve enlisted come in all sizes, functionalities and qualities. I’ve broken down their features and highlighted what each of their best uses could be.
While they are unique, one common factor among all is their durability as it’s been a priority for me during my search for the affordable clippers.
Although not all of the tools will grant you a professional-grade look out of the box, these will surely withstand the perils of time if you take good care of your hair clipper!