10 Best Cordless Clippers for Barbers in 2023 [Buying Guide]

Clippers are must-have tools for barbers and frankly when it comes to corded-vs-cordless battle the odds are even for both sides. Cordless clippers provide you the freedom of movement that you need when moving around. Corded ones, on the other hand, give you the constant power that you need when working for long hours as a professional.

However, you may have other opinions, but cordless clippers are considered better at sculpting a beard, around ears, and also on the burns and nape.

Moreover, cordless clippers become better options when you make house calls and that has become more of a reality in the pandemic. I say this because they are easy to travel with without having to carry all the wires and chargers.

If you are over the corded-vs-cordless consideration and have decided to go with cordless clippers, being a professional you want a clipper that is efficient, durable, and versatile.

We have decided to make this a bit easier for you as we have selected 10 of the best cordless clippers you can find for professional use. So, without further ado, let’s get right into it.

Here is the list of best cordless clippers for barbers

1. Panasonic ER-GP82 Professional Hair Clipper – Premium Performance At A Premium Price

Although Panasonic is more known for its class-leading foil shavers, it is not far behind when it comes to clippers. Panasonic ER-GP82 followed ER-GP80 which was a huge success, so it had some big shoes to fill, and frankly, it has not disappointed.

This clipper has a new carbon/titanium coating on its blades which protects the blades from rusting and corrosion. This coating also reduces friction against hair and heat development, so you can use this clipper for longer durations without its blades heating up making it ideal for professional use.

A new trend that we see in this series is the absence of the thumb-adjustable taper lever. This lever is present in most professional clippers and enables the user to change the length of the cut on the go. However, in these clippers, instead of the lever, we see a dial system at the front of the clipper.

This system starts at 0.8 mm and opens in increments of 0.3 and goes all the way up to 2.0 mm. This feature is pretty efficient but as said it is a new trend and thus it will take you a couple of cuts to get used to it. In addition to this, you get three comb guides that can be cut at six lengths ranging from 3 mm to 15 mm. These guides are bulky, hard to put on, and are not the best of features about this clipper.

Another advantage of the dial system or the absence of a lever is for left-handed barbers as most of the time lever does get in the way of their grip as most clippers are made for right-handed barbers.

This clipper is well made and weighs in at just 245 grams. However, it has that heavyweight and solid feel to it which this premium clipper deserves. Moreover, it is well balanced, has a curved shaft, and with a grippy material on the backside provides excellent grip.

This shaver incorporates a motor which Panasonic refers to as an “Intelligent” motor. This motor detects the density of the hair and changes the power available to the clipper accordingly. This feature is efficient and you won’t feel this shaver underpowered even for the coarsest of hair. This feature also makes this clipper great for black men because of its mastery of coarse hair. We also see this feature in Panasonic’s high-end foil shavers like Arc 4 and Arc 5 series.

Moreover, this motor works at 10,000 RPM (revolutions per minute) which is easily one of the fastest motors in clippers. Nonetheless, normally, we expect such powerful motors to be noisy, but not in Panasonic ER-GP82 as this shaver is surprisingly quiet.

This heavy-duty motor backs the Japanese steel blades with a titanium coating, X-taper 2.0. These blades are sharper than the earlier version and last even longer. Moreover, they have a 45-degree angle to them and that provides optimal contact with the hair and skin and enhances cutting efficiency.

2. Wahl Professional 5-Star Magic Clip Cordless – A Worthy Professional Clipper

Wahl makes a huge range of clippers for both professional and personal use and its Magic Clip is probably the best-selling cordless clipper at the moment. The cordless version followed the initial corded version which was also a huge success, but there are quite a few other differences in both clippers than just the cord.

The good thing about the cordless Magic Clip is that you can use it even when the cord is plugged in. And you get a cord worth 2.4 meters in length which is a pretty good length to work with.

This clipper has a traditional Wahl color scheme and is lightweight at 290 grams. I have to say this falls in a good weight range for professional clippers as you won’t get tired of holding this clipper all day long. The lightweight enhances its already good ergonomics as it fits nicely into the hand, has designated areas to slide your fingers, and has a huge thumb rest at the front. However, I would have liked grippy material incorporated as the grip is a bit slippery, especially if you have sweaty palms. But, you can get over this by placing a piece of cloth between you and the clipper.

From a construction point of view, Wahl Magic Clip Cordless has a plastic construction but is well-made and feels sturdy on the whole. I have to say it can withstand a few barber chair-level falls.

This clipper has a rotary motor that works at 5500 RPM and gives blades back and forth movement parallel to each other. This is opposed to the frantic blade movement we see in some of the other motors which make the blade prone to misalignment with use over time. On the downside though, this powerful motor is a bit loud for my liking.

Talking of blade, Wahl Magic Clip has Wahl’s zero-overlap or staggered-tooth blade. This blade is different from the most commonly used blades in clippers. Staggered-tooth blade is great at making skin-tight fades and blends. I have to say Wahl Magic Clip is one of the best cordless clippers for fades. Moreover, this blade has a two-hole fit to the clipper which means it fits securely and does not rattle at all when in use.

Besides, the blade has a stainless steel construction which is anti-rust but some users have complained that the blade does rust with use over time. However, you can get over this by regularly lubricating the blade and if it rusts bad enough, you can easily replace these blades as replacement blades are readily available.

When we talk about this clipper’s cordless usage, it can run for 90 minutes with a full charge of 120 minutes. This is a good runtime with a single charge and can give 5-6 cuts.

3. Andis Master Cordless Clipper CL-12470 – A True Master of Its Art

Andis makes quality professional clippers and has a number of admirers for their Master series. The clipper we have chosen for this list comes in a metal aluminum casing. This casing makes this clipper durable and perfect for extensive professional use by barbers. However, rather surprisingly, despite its metal construction, this clipper is relatively lightweight at 10 ounces only. This weight is similar to that of the Magic Clip which has plastic construction.

Ergonomically, however, Andis Master seems top-heavy and lacks a thumb rest. Moreover, it has a shiny metal surface that catches fingerprints and smudges. You can get over these drawbacks by simply placing a thin cloth piece between your hand and the clipper.

This cordless version has a similar design to the popular corded Andis Master 01557. You will love that the cordless version takes convenience to a whole new level. And you can use it both corded and cordless. However, one major downgrade I feel is that the cordless version is a bit noisier than the corded version. Nonetheless, it still isn’t loud enough to be an annoyance.

Andis Master Cordless has a rotary motor and Andis says it performs 7200 strokes per minute (SPM) which is quite powerful. For the blade, it has the same blade used in Andis Fade Master. As you can guess, this blade is great for fades and blends. This is a carbon steel blade. Carbon steel blades are generally better than stainless steel blades at durability and give better heat distribution. However, they are prone to rust and that’s why Andis instructs to oil the blade daily.

Andis Master Cordless runs on a lithium-ion battery and has a runtime of 90 minutes and it takes only one hour to fully charge. The power of the clipper remains almost constant throughout its runtime. It also has a thumb-adjustable lever that can change the cut length on the go from 0 to 1 mm. I like that this lever is firm enough that it does not move when the clipper is in use but loose enough to easily move when you want it to.

So, Andis didn’t want to further increase the price of this clipper. So, as a professional, if you already own these magnetic combs from any earlier clipper, you don’t need to spend the extra bucks for them. However, if you don’t you can always buy them separately.

4. BaBylissPRO MetalFX Series – Built to Last and Perform

BabylissPro has four clippers in its MetalFX series with each of them coming in a different metallic finish. Depending on the color of the finish, we have Black, Gold, Silver, and Rose. Rose and Gold are shiny and gold and silver have a kind of matte finish to them. Therefore, depending on your taste, you can choose the one you like, either shiny or matte.

One difference apart from the finish of these clippers is the type of blade they come with. Rose and Silver FX come with high-carbon stainless steel blades and are taper blades. Black FX, on the other hand, comes with a black graphite blade which is a fade blade. Gold FX, however, comes with a titanium-coated stainless steel blade which is also a tapered blade. Nonetheless, the good thing is that you can use any of these blades with any of the clippers, but keep in mind the price difference.

As the name suggests for this series, these clippers have all-metallic housing which makes them durable and perfect for extensive professional use. The clipper has a simple and somewhat old-fashioned design. It fits perfectly into the hand and has a knurled surface which provides a good grip and prevents the clipper from slipping. However, despite its metallic finish and relatively higher length of 7.5 inches, it weighs fairly lightweight at 0.7 pounds or 317 grams.

The biggest marketing point for this clipper has been its brushless pivot motor. In general, brushless motors are considered better than their brush counterparts. This is because they operate effectively at all speeds, have higher efficiency and better output power-to-size ratio, have reduced size, and are generally quieter.

In other features, we see a 5-stage metallic lever on the side. These clippers incorporate a lithium-ion battery and have a cordless runtime of two hours and take around three hours to fully charge. Moreover, it comes with eight guide combs with 1/18″, 1/8″, 3/16″, 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″ & 3/4″ sizes.

5. Oster Professional 76550-00 Octane – Innovation and Efficiency Personified

Oster clippers have been around for a long time and over the decades they have given the market some class-leading and innovative products. One art they have truly mastered is the production of efficient detachable clippers. In detachable clippers, instead of the guide combs, you get metal blades, these are clip-on blades and you can change these blades on the go. I say “on the go” because you have to change the blades while the clipper is running.

A detachable clipper is a great tool for a barbershop, especially if you have a high volume of clients. They save you time and save you money and that is because they are going to do the multitude of hairs a lot quicker.

The clipper we have for this list, Oster Octane, comes with two blades, in 000 and 1. The 000 blade gives you a cut length of 0.5 mm and the size-1 blade gives you 2.4 mm length. The 000 size is great for fades and size 1 is good for tapering. However, you can attach any of as many as 14 sizes available from Oster.

These blades are made up of steel and come from Oster’s Titan series. The blades in this series run cooler than some of the old Oster blades and are sharp and precise. Just as a side note, this clipper is also compatible with Andis’s blades. So, if you happen to have any of the Andis blades, you can use that, and they run relatively cooler than Oster’s blades.

The clipper has a black carbon fiber finish on the front and looks pleasing to the eye. The outer body of this clipper is made up of high-quality plastic and can withstand some abuse. Moreover, you will like how snuggly it fits into the hand and feels balanced. The middle of the shaft is curved inwards and provides a nice platform for the hand and the grippy polymer on the backside enhances an already secure grip. This clipper weighs 0.9 pounds which is in the good weight range for a professional clipper. But, it has a length of 8 inches and that makes it look bulky.

Moreover, you will like that this clipper comes with a stand that has two charging ports, so you can charge the clipper and a spare battery. Although this clipper comes with only one battery, you can always buy a second one and charge it while you use the clipper with the first battery. In the battery, Oster Octane has a lithium-ion battery and has an impressive cordless runtime of 120 minutes.

6. Wahl 100 Year Anniversary Clipper – A Truly World-Class Performer

To mark its 100th anniversary, Wahl released a limited-edition cordless clipper in Wahl Clipper #8191. This clipper has a vintage design and comes with a metallic casing. However, despite its metallic casing, it weighs only around 230 grams or 0.5 pounds. At this weight, it is lighter than most of the plastic clippers out there. It has a chrome finish, but it is not shiny by any means.

There is a large thumb rest on the front. However, it does not have any thumb grooves and that makes it suitable for both right-handed and left-handed users. This shaver is somewhat slippery and does catch fingermarks.

This clipper has Wahl’s blade no. 1006 which is essentially a tapered blade and is made up of rust-resistant stainless steel. Because of its curved shape, this blade is efficient at scooping through the hair, so is great at tapering and bulk removal. The blade without any guide combs cuts at a length of 1-3 mm and it has a relatively extended surface area which increases its speed of work. This is a two-hole blade and that fits securely into the body and does not rattle.

Wahl 100 Year Anniversary Clipper has a V9000 motor and this performs 6500 RPM per second. This motor stays cooler for longer and that is because it has a higher stall torque.

7. Andis 73000 Envy Cordless Clipper – Best Budget Cordless Clipper.

Next up, we have a budget-efficient but quality clipper from Andis. This cordless version followed the original corded Envy clipper but is 25% lighter. It weighs 9.9 oz or 290 grams and its lightweight makes it great for barber use. This clipper is compared heavily to Wahl’s Magic Clip and its weight is one of the comparable features.

It is made up of good-quality plastic and has good ergonomics with a thinner profile.

Andis Envy Cordless incorporates a rotary motor that gives out 5500 strokes per minute. This is not the fastest motor you are going to come across and is not probably the best for some of the coarsest hair. One of the plus points it has is that it deals with wet hair efficiently.

The blade is a fade Envy blade which is different from the blade we see in the Andis’ Master series. This blade is made up of carbon steel which makes it more durable than stainless steel blades. With the thumb-adjustable lever, it can change between size 000 and 1 and is great for all-around styling. The good thing about this blade is that it can be zero-gapped easily.

Andis 73000 comes with a lithium-ion battery and has a cordless runtime of greater than two hours. It takes 90 minutes to fully charge. However, you can also use this clipper corded and the good thing about this cord is that it has a nice length of 6 feet. Another thing to like about this cord is that it is a thinner cord than the ones we see in other clippers. This makes it easy to carry when you are working and is more maneuverable. There is a hanging loop at the bottom side of the clipper for easy and convenient storage.

8. Caliber 357 Magnum Rechargeable Cordless Clipper – Lacklustre Looks But Shines with Performance

Caliber makes a variety of cost-effective professional shavers and Caliber 357 Magnum along with 50 Cal are their best-selling shavers. Caliber 357 is now into its third generation and the newer version has improved on the battery timing and the overall quality. We now have a good thumb rest area and the logo has been embossed on there, so it does not fade away like previous versions.

One major reason to include 357 Magnum on this list of best cordless clippers for barbers is its extraordinary cordless runtime. It runs for as long as four hours or 240 minutes with one single charge. It fully recharges in two hours. The battery it uses is a lithium-ion battery which is pretty much standard these days and has very few shortcomings.

This runtime is hard to beat especially considering the fact that it has a powerful rotary motor to run which produces 8200 RPMs. Rotary motors are also good at generating a lot of torque. So, this clipper has a nice combination of speed and power. This makes it efficient enough to cut through the thickest of hair without trouble. On top of it, Caliber has incorporated noise reduction technology, so this shaver runs quieter. On decibel tests, it produces around 73-74 DBS which is pretty low for a rotary motor.

Caliber 357 Magnum weighs 9.3 ounces or 263 grams which makes it lightweight. The clipper is easy to work with and feels agile with its good ergonomic design. It has a plastic polymer construction which is good enough to last you some time.

Another good feature of this clipper is its four-level clipper taper lever. This is better than the two-level lever we see in most clippers. The levels on this lever are 0.5 mm, 1.4 mm, 2.2 mm, and 3.0. This means you are able to have more precise cutting lengths and that too on the go. However, the click points wear down rather quickly. What makes it even more customizable are six guard combs which go from 1/16th of an inch to half an inch or 1/2. Moreover, you also get four interchangeable color lids in gold, black, red, and blue.

9. WAHL Professional 5-Star Cordless Senior – An Efficient One-Does-All Clipper

Wahl Cordless Senior along with its corded version are two of the most popular clippers in the industry. Let me say if you have one of these clippers, they are capable of doing more than 80% of your work. They will cut through anything. These clippers have a traditional Wahl look to them, and that goes well with their name “Senior”. They recently made a move from blue color to black, and in addition, the side lever and power button moved to be golden, and that makes this clipper more stylish.

Cordless Senior comes in a metal casing, so that makes it durable. However, it still weighs reasonably lightweight at just 13 ounces. But, due to metal casing, it still has that solid feel you expect from a professional clipper. People love this clipper for its powerful motor and its blade, but one thing which also stands out is its ergonomics. It has a kind of, rectangular body with finger indentations on the back of the clipper and one at the front for better grip. It also has a relatively short body at 6.25 inches which fit well in your hand.

Wahl Cordless Senior comes with a surgical or straight/flat blade. The good thing about this blade is that it comes zero-gapped. The flat surface makes it great for skin lines. This blade is backed by a powerful rotary motor that performs 6500 RPMs. This powerful motor with a sharp blade is also apt for bulk removal. Corded clippers mostly are better at bulk removal, but Wahl Senior is no less than a beast when it comes to bulk removal.

10. Andis 74000 Professional T-Outliner Beard/Head Trimmer – A True All-Rounder

To wrap up our list of best cordless trimmers for barbers we have yet another product from Andis. This is the only brand that has been mentioned more than once. It simply goes on to show the quality and the efficiency of the products that are being delivered by Andis. Although both of these trimmers come from the same brand, they are very different products.

From the design perspective, the company has stuck to the mantra “if ain’t broke, do not fix it”. The company, instead of revamping the entire design, has stuck to the original T-Outliner design which has a lot of admirers around the globe. Although there are some differences, the overall design is pretty much the same.

The most noticeable feature is probably the length of the trimmer which is a little longer than their previous products. Moreover, there is a LED light at the front of the trimmer that represents the different levels of batteries with different colors. Plus, when you put it on charging the LED blink as well which is kind of a cool feature.

Moving on, the casing of the trimmer has been made from plastic. However, it is not cheap by any means, it is sturdy and well-built. Moreover, the weight of the trimmer is also quite light which will let you hold it without getting your hands cramped. However, finishing is not that great which is why you would get plenty of fingerprints on the metallic body. Apart from that, it feels pretty good, especially when it comes to handling. The company has made it highly ergonomic, and with a weight as light as 8 pounds, it is easy to float around.

Like the previously mentioned product of Andis, this trimmer also features carbon-steel T-blades. And as you might know by now that it has its advantages but a fair share of drawbacks as well. The heat distribution is pretty great which keeps the blade cool. However, compared to stainless steel, these blades catch rust pretty quickly. Now it is up to you to assess which feature is most important. In case you go with the former, it is great, however, even if you choose stainless steel, there is not much to worry about.

The blades on this trimmer are easily removable and can be replaced by stainless steel. However, in case you find the process somewhat difficult there are tons of YouTube tutorials that show how exactly it is done.

Lastly, the battery timing on this trimmer is quite decent. You get up to 100 minutes of runtime on a fully charged battery. And when it goes down completely, you can always attach the cord and plug it directly into the socket. Though it does not charge the trimmer simultaneously, it is still quite a nice feature and comes in handy.

Cordless Clippers For Barbers: Buyer’s Guide

Clippers are the bread and butter for barbers and therefore they need to be superlative. Their work involves running these machines for hours on end. Thus, it is important that they know what they are getting. Below, we will go over different features that barbers need to look into before buying a cordless clipper. So, let’s get started.

Cordless Runtime/Charging Time

If you have decided to go with a cordless clipper, you need it to have good cordless runtime. Otherwise, there is no use in it if it isn’t going to last you even a couple of cuts. You should go with a clipper that can run at least 60 minutes cordless. That runtime will last you good five to six cuts.

Fortunately, most cordless clippers these days have good runtime and they can last you as long as four hours. A decent cordless clipper exceeds 60 minutes of runtime easily.

Besides the runtime, you also need to keep an eye out for the time it takes to charge the clippers. A good clipper should charge quickly and should last you a good time. A good clipper shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours to completely charge and the lesser the charging time the better.

Motor

The motor is the most important component of every piece of electronics, let alone the clippers. The more powerful and efficient a motor is, the better it would perform. It is simple science. Now the question is, how do you find the appropriate motor? The answer is pretty simple, find out the strokes it can deliver in a unit of time.

The motor that delivers more than 5000 strokes per minute is considered a decent one and would get the job done most of the time. However, if you want to go hardcore the options of the motors that provide more than 7000 strokes are also available. Because of their ability to cut faster, clippers with powerful motors are ideal to shape the edges. Those that have relatively low power are generally used to trim the areas that do not need much shaping.

Moreover, unlike the corded clippers that use three types of motors, the cordless ones usually use just the rotary motors. It is not a downside as the rotary motors are much faster and more efficient than the others. Plus, they can be used more frequently without getting heated up.

Build

Professional clippers are not cheap and you would want to get the maximum value of the money you paid to purchase them. This is why the build is a pretty important factor while purchasing the best cordless trimmer for barbers. Usually, you would find two types of casing on the clippers, either it is plastic or it is metal.

Metal, as you all know, is much sturdier and provides adequate protection to internal components. Plus, it gives a premium feel to the clipper as well. However, the clippers with metallic casing tend to be on the pricey side of the market. And they can also add some weight to the clippers.

Plastic, on the other hand, is a much lighter material and also comes at a cheaper price. However, compared to metals, it is not that strong and also feels pretty cheap in the hands. With that being said, you would find some clippers with a plastic casing that are very sturdy and feel solid. But, again, these clippers would cost a little higher than the ones with ordinary plastic casing.

Ergonomics

Professional barbers have to hold the clippers for long times and over and over again for their customers. The clipper with bad ergonomics would tire you up and is likely to cramp your hand. Therefore, the ergonomics of the clippers should be considered while making the purchase.

The clippers intended for professional use should have an optimal length and width. Plus, there should be a suitable area for the thumb rest. And most importantly, it should not weigh a lot. All these features would make sure you remain comfortable the entire day and do not go home with a cramped hand.

Blade

Blades are the second most component of the clippers after the motor which is why a lot of thought should go into it. To achieve a good haircut, you need to have a quality blade with appropriate sharpness. The factors that define the performance of blades are geometry, material, and teeth.

Material: The most commonly used materials in the blades are ceramic, carbon steel, and stainless steel. However, each of them has its fair share of problems and benefits.

Ceramic blades, for example, are pretty sharp but they are also very brittle. Similarly, the stainless-steel blades can resist rust but tend to heat up. Carbon steel, on the other hand, distributes the heat efficiently but tends to rust up quickly.

So, what is the solution? It is the combination of two materials like we have seen in some of Wahl’s trimmers. Blending the two materials like carbon and stainless steel produces a blade that is much more efficient at distributing heat and is also long-lasting.

Geometry: Geometry plays a key role in determining the life of the blade. The blades that have the right geometry do not wear out quickly and provide better longevity. Moreover, some of the companies are using geometry to create self-sharpening blades that increase their cutting capabilities over time.

Accessories

When it comes to accessories, the different companies use different approaches. Some companies add the accessories just to fill the boxes while others put a lot of thought into them. Some even use the accessories as gimmicks to trick the customers into buying their products. So, what should you do?

It is simple. Do not look for the quantity of the accessories that are available in a certain product, look for the quality instead. And also, look for the accessories that you are going to really use instead of paying extra bucks for something that is going to lay on your counter untouched.

Conclusion

Cordless clippers are a necessary tool for professional barbers as they give the much-needed freedom of movement. However, being cordless is just one feature that a professional needs to look for. It should also be backed by a powerful motor, an efficient blade, brilliant ergonomics, and durable constructions to serve professionals well.

Considering the number of clippers available nowadays, it is not an easy job to narrow down your choices. We did spend some hours and did the hard work and presented 10 of the best cordless clippers for barbers you can find in 2021.

All of them are good and should serve you well for most of your professional needs. However, if you would ask for my personal favorite, it has to be Panasonic ER-GP82. Although it comes at a premium price, it has the features, innovation, and efficiency to justify it to a great extent.

Later on, we went through different features you need to look for in a cordless clipper for barbers in our detailed buyer’s guide. We are hopeful that this article was of help and aided you in making an informed decision before getting your hands on your next clipper.

That’s all we have for now, but keep coming back for more up-to-date content and honest reviews in male grooming.