Seasons participates in affiliate programs with various companies. Links originating onSeasons’s website that lead to purchases or reservations on affiliate sites generate revenue for Seasons.This means that Seasons may earn a commission if/when you click on or make purchases via affiliate links.
For one reason or another you’re in the market for a pill cutter. Perhaps the pills are too big to swallow, you’re trying to lower medication costs (see more about this in our buying guide), you’re suffering from dysphagia, or your old one gave out. Whatever the reason, we’re here to help you pick the best product for you or a loved one.
Though you may be tempted to use a household item like knives, scissors, or even your teeth to split pills, this can be difficult and is not recommended.
There’s a pill cutter for that! Pill cutters offer a safe, reliable, and accurate way to split pills of all shapes and sizes. But all pill cutters aren’t created equal.
Here’s a look at some of the best pill cutters currently available, along with key information about the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
We’ve also included a detailed buying guide at the end of this piece to help you quickly and easily find the best pill cutter for you or a loved one.
The best pill cutters
- 1 Equadose Pill Splitter
- 2 FANSTINOW Pill Cutter and Keychain for Small or Large Pills
- 3 Ezy Dose Cut N’ Crush
- 4 ALLEX Large Pill Splitter Scissors
- 5 JohnBee Pill Cutter
- 6 DUBSTAR Portable Pill Crusher
- 7 EqualSplit Pill Splitter
Equadose Pill Splitter
Equadose’s pill splitter splits tablets of all shapes and sizes and doubles as a pill box. Its modern design features opposing double blades that leave you with two perfect halves. The patent-pending blades are made of aerospace-grade aluminum and are angled so that they won’t dull over time, yet they are not sharp to the touch.
To use this tablet cutter, simply center the pill’s scoring (if any) with the cutting blade, swivel the translucent blue lid over to close, and squeeze to split. If you don’t have the scoring lined up correctly, you can end up with different sizes or crushed meds. Some larger pills may be too tall to fit in the mechanism with the lid on, but you can still use the device without closing the lid.
This pill splitter may be difficult to use for those with neuropathy, poor eyesight, or dexterity issues, since tablets are centered by eye and you have to manually squeeze the sides to split.
A registered nurse and her design engineer husband are the dynamic duo behind Equadose’s quality healthcare products. The company offers a lifetime warranty on this product, which is made in the United States.
Pros
- Splits pills of all shapes and sizes
- Lifetime warranty
- Made in the U.S. from quality materials
- Twin blade design
Cons
- May not be suitable for those with poor eyesight or dexterity issues
- More expensive than other options
- Must align the device correctly in order to achieve equal pieces
Key Features
- Hinged opposable blades
- Can accommodate pills of all sizes
- Quality materials
- Squeeze to cut
- Lifetime warranty
Specifications
- Brand: Equadose
- Dimensions: 3 x 1.2 x 0.6 inches; 0.32 ounces
FANSTINOW Pill Cutter and Keychain for Small or Large Pills
This easy-to-use pill cutter works for small and large pills alike. The FANSTINOW Pill Cutter doubles as a pill box, has an adjustable design and comes with a bonus keychain element. Safety tests have ensured that this device will protect your fingers, and the thick blade makes for a dense structure to reduce breakage.
The strong bladed foundation of this product allows it to firmly grip pills of various shapes, including oval-shaped medications. Extra storage allows for this cutter to hold up to eight pills. The keychain holder is sealed, waterproof and portable, and every order offers a lifetime guarantee.
Pros
- V-shaped design
- Multifunctional
- Extra long warranty
- For any pill size
- Safe
Cons
- Limited to cutting pills into ½, ¼ or ⅛
Key Features
- Plastic material with dense and thick blade that reduces breakage
- V-shaped design for various pill sizes
- Storage unit included to hold extra pills
- Waterproof keychain included
Specifications
- Brand: FANSTINOW
- Dimensions: 1.73 inches height, 0.8 inches diameter
Ezy Dose Cut N’ Crush
Unlike the rest of the pill cutters on this list, this versatile, multipurpose tool can also crush pills that need to be dissolved in food or drinks.
The Ezy Dose Cut N’ Crush works on the majority of pills, tablets, and medications. Simply place your pill on the cutting platform, then firmly close the lid to precisely cut your meds. The cutter’s flexible arms hold pills of all sizes steady for accurate cutting. Its stainless steel blade stays sharp and won’t dull over time.
While this particular cutter is a bit bulkier than the rest on this list, it also includes a drink cup, pill crusher, and built-in storage compartment that holds up to four pills. This also makes it easy to take medications on the go.
Pros
- Affordable
- Multipurpose cutter and crusher
- Includes drink cup and built-in storage
Cons
- Larger than other splitters
- Lots of pieces
Key Features
- Includes splitter, crusher, drink cup, and storage compartments
- Stainless steel blade
- Works for the majority of pills
Specifications
- Brand: Ezy Dose
- Dimensions: 2 x 2.8 x 6 inches; 1.44 ounces
ALLEX Large Pill Splitter Scissors
If you can use scissors, you can use the ALLEX pill splitter. While regular scissors aren’t recommended for splitting pills, this device is specially designed to do just that. The rounded medical-grade stainless steel blades precisely cut pills without shattering them.
Plus, they’re easy to use. Hold the scissors like you usually would, place your pill in the curved cutting slot, and clamp down on the handles. The device can handle pills of various sizes, including large pills up to 0.47 inches in diameter.
Please note that these could be dangerous for those with shaky hands, since the blade’s cutting edge is very sharp. Also, since this cutter doesn’t include anything to catch the pill pieces, you’ll need to be careful that the pill pieces don’t go flying onto the floor.
Pros
- Cuts pills without shattering them
- As easy to use as scissors
- Works on large pills
Cons
- Doesn’t include anything to catch the split pills
- Very sharp blades
- Can be hard to use on very small pills
Key Features
- Works on large pills
- Familiar scissor design
- Medical-grade stainless steel blade
Specifications
- Brand: ALLEX
JohnBee Pill Cutter
Like the Apex Pill Splitter, the JohnBee pill cutter features a V-shaped design that allows you to cut pills up to 0.8 inch long. Its handy built-in storage compartment can hold up to eight pills. We love that it also comes with a portable waterproof pill-holder keychain, so your loved one can always have their medication handy while on the go!
The sharp blade easily and accurately cuts pills or tablets into halves, quarters, or eighths. However, there is no blade guard, so be careful not to cut yourself when placing your pill on the chopping block.
Pros
- Built-in storage
- Comes with keychain
- Easy to use
Cons
- No blade guard
- Will not work on pills more than 0.8 inch
- Some complain the storage container is hard to open
Key Features
- Cuts pills or tablets up to 0.8 inch
- V-shaped design firmly grips pills for accurate cutting
- Built-in pill storage compartment
Specifications
- Brand: JohnBee
- Dimensions: 3.5 x 1.4 x 1.1 inches
EqualSplit Pill Splitter
The EqualSplit pill splitter has the same opposing double-blade design as the Equadose Pill Splitter. However, its sleek silver body and clear lid give it more style points at a lower price point than its counterpart. Both are pocket-sized, made of aluminum, and work the same way; however, EqualSplit has a square, more minimalist design.
The EqualSplit pill cutter works on all kinds of pills — small, large, scored, unscored, round, oval, and oblong — although it may be difficult to cut a triangular pill into equal parts. To use, swivel the lid open and pull the jaws apart. Lay the device flat and insert the pill into the center. Squeeze the jaws together slowly so that both blades are firmly pressed against the pill’s sides. Once the pill is centered, swivel the lid shut (if possible) and squeeze to snap the jaws closed.
Since you have to visually center the pill and manually squeeze the sides to split, this cutter is not a good pick for those with poor eyesight or arthritis.
On the plus side, though, you can use the device as a pill holder by keeping the swivel lid closed until you’re ready to take your pills.
Pros
- Works on pills of all shapes and sizes
- Sleek silver minimalist design
- Produces crisp divisions instead of powdery residue
Cons
- Have to visually center very small pills
- Hard to squeeze if you have arthritis
Key Features
- Pocket-sized
- Double-angled blades stay sharp but won’t cut you
- Squeeze to cut
Specifications
- Brand: EqualSplit
- Dimensions: 2.5 x 1 x 0.7 inches
Our best pill cutters guide
When choosing a pill cutter, you’ll want to consider safety, ease of use, precision, and efficacy. You’ll also want to consider the size and shape of the pills, how the device cuts (push or squeeze), and other features as outlined below.
As a word of caution, you can split your pills to save money on your prescriptions, as long as you’ve gotten permission from your doctor. You can ask your provider to prescribe a higher dosage for a similar price, then cut the pills to achieve the correct dose, effectively getting more bang for your buck. However, not all types of pills can be split.
I highly recommend discussing reasons for splitting your pills with your doctor and getting your doctor or pharmacist’s approval before splitting your pills.
Size and shape of pill
Some cutters are better for small pills, while some advertise that they are for large pills. If your pills are tiny, a large cutter may mutilate them, while a small cutter will do the same to large pills. If you need to split pills of many different sizes, look for a cutter that claims it can cut pills of all sizes.
Next, make sure the pill cutter can split your pill into the size you need: halves, thirds, quarters, eighths, etc.
Finally, make sure the cutter you’re considering is appropriate for the shape of your pills. For instance, it can be hard to split a football-shaped pill on a V-shaped cutting platform.
Push vs. squeeze
While this is a matter of preference for most, those with dexterity issues will want to avoid a squeeze mechanism. Also, as mentioned in the reviews above, visually centering a pill — as all squeeze devices require — may be difficult for those with poor eyesight (e.g. hard to cut half precisely).
Safety features
Some pill cutters have exposed blades that make it easy to cut yourself. Others come with blade guards or a safety shield to protect your fingers. These plastic barriers are placed flush with the blade to prevent injury. You can also look for a model with retractable blades for extra safety.
Size
If you often find yourself needing to split pills on the go, a smaller, more compact pill cutter would be a better choice than a bulkier one that is meant for home use.
Storage capability
Many pill cutters come with a built-in storage compartment that can store anywhere from four to eight pills to cut multiple pills in one go (if needed). If that sounds handy to you, make sure the cutter you buy has one.
Functionality
Some pill cutters are multifunctional, so if you have to divide pills, use a grinder function or crush them to dissolve into food or drinks, a pill splitting device that can do it all may be the best pill splitter for you.
