How to Sharpen Scissors

Scissors Can Be Sharpened (And You Might Already Have What You Need)

Scissors can be sharpened—and you probably have something in your home that you can use to make better cuts!

How to Sharpen Your Scissors

• Sharpen the beveled side of your scissors.

• Hone by snipping the scissors together—they're self-steeling!

• The best tools to use:

  • Diamond or ceramic plates or rods

  • Fine belt sharpeners (like the Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener)

No Sharpener? Use What You Have

If you don't have those tools, you can still sharpen scissors using:

• A honing rod

• A piece of hardened steel (like a drill bit)

The concept is the same as sharpening a single-bevel blade:
Maintain the angle the manufacturer put on it.

Understand Scissor Angles

Like knives, scissors have varying angles:

• 0° – Children's safety scissors

• 25° – Delicate specialty kitchen scissors

• 40–45° – Typical general-use scissors

Once you've established your angle:

• Sharpen like you would any blade until you raise a burr on the non-beveled side.

• Swipe the burr off with a ceramic rod or honing steel.

• Check the pass-through of the scissors as they open and shut—they may have drifted during dulling if the edges forced each other out.

Shop the Right Tools

Shop our best sharpeners with angle guides for scissors: 

SHOP THE COLLECTION

Quick Summary

Scissors dull over time, but they're easy to bring back to life with the right tools—or even with what you already have at home. This guide walks you through sharpening the beveled edge, explains common blade angles, and helps you restore clean, precise cuts.

Watch the Video

Want to see it in action?
Check out the video below for a simple demo on sharpening scissors the right way.