Tested & Reviewed: The 5 Best Ball Trimmers for a Close, Comfortable Shave 

It doesn’t take a genius to understand why a lot of guys want to find the very best trimmer for balls:

Ladies like ’em trimmed.

As journalist Alissa Scully wrote for YourTango a few years back:

“If your balls look like a Pomeranian, we’re going to… be grossed out by licking [them].”

But while trimming your balls may be socially advantageous, it can also be a little dangerous if you don’t have the right tools.

Your groin area is home to some of your most sensitive skin, and the hair down there tends to be curly and coarse, all of which makes your balls trickier (and potentially more perilous) to shave.

And that’s where ball trimmers come in.

Purpose-built for your pubic area, a good balls trimmer provides a smooth shave that keeps your sack looking and feeling fresh, while reducing the risk of nicks, cuts and unwanted skin irritation.

After spending way too much time* delving into the world of ball trimmers – including personally testing multiple models – I’ve put together a list of the best ball hair trimmers that will help you safely and smoothly keep your guys well groomed.   

*Like, a weird and almost certainly unhealthy amount of time. 

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Top Picks↓

You can learn (a lot) more about why we like each trimmer below, but here’s a quick rundown of our favorites:

• All-Around Best Ball Shaver: Manscaped Lawn Mower 4.0
• Easiest to Hold/Maneuver: The Meridian Trimmer Premium
• Best Budget-Friendly Trimmer: Balls.co “Archibald” Trimmer
• Best Non-Electric Option: Gillette Intimate Razor
• Best Full Body Hair Trimmer: Philips Norelco BG 7030 

All-Around Best Ball Shaver:
Manscaped Lawn Mower 4.0
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Easiest to Hold/Maneuver:
The Meridian Trimmer Premium
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Best Budget-Friendly Trimmer:
Balls.co “Archibald” Trimmer
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Best Non-Electric Option:
Gillette Intimate Razor
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Best Full Body Hair Trimmer:
Philips Norelco BG 7030 

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Who Wrote This Article

Irreverent Gent Founder and Editor-in-Chief Dave Bowden has been a service journalist for more than a decade—and obsessed with style and grooming for even longer. 

His grooming advice and style recommendations have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, and Men’s Health, among many others.

How We Chose The Best Ball Trimmers

In-Person Testing & Online Reviews

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Smoothness &
Closeness of Shave

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Safety, Softness &
Ease of Use

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For us, the most important features in a good ball trimmer are smoothness, safety and ease of use. 

We personally tested four out of the five trimmers on this list (the ones we tested are indicated below), and included the fifth only after doing a deep dive into its 20,000+ reviews on Amazon. 

The main criteria we used to assess and rank each model were the quality and materials of the blades; how close they get while shaving (and how smooth they leave your boys); and whether they provide a safe, comfortable and cut-free shaving experience.

To learn more about how we rate and review products, check out our product review and round up policy here.

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Take Care of Your Pair Hair:

The Best Trimmers for Shaving Your Balls

All-Around Best Testicle Shaver ↓

Manscaped Lawn Mower 4.0

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Features & Specs: 

• Tried in Person? ✅
• Blade Material: Ceramic 
• Attachment/Guide Combs? 2
• Onboard Flashlight? Yes
• Waterproof? Yes

Why We Like It: 

This is actually a somewhat controversial pick because the 4.0 model isn’t Manscaped’s latest —but in my opinion, it’s still the greatest. 

The 4.0 was released a couple years ago, but after reviewing it thoroughly and comparing it to both the newer 5.0 model and its main competitors, I prefer the 4.0.

I’ve tested multiple trimmers with ceramic blades, including both the Lawn Mower 5.0 and two models from different brands listed below, and found that the 4.0 offers the best overall combination of closeness, comfort and convenience.

Interestingly, I would say that the Meridian Trimmer gets slightly closer, but the difference was marginal, and the Lawn Mower 4.0 provided both a more comfortable shaving process and better features, including an LED light that definitely helps you see what you’re doing down there. 

In addition, the 4.0 actually has more minutes of battery life than the 5.0, probably because the newer model introduces a new detachable foil head that lets you use it as more of a full-body trimmer than a dedicated pubic-hair trimmer. 

But I found it to be less effective than other foil shavers I’ve used in the past, and it kind of seems that by trying to expand into other parts of your body, Manscaped took its eye off the prize (which is to say, your private parts). 

Overall it’s still an excellent brand and the 5.0 is a good trimmer, but the 4.0 is a great one, so it’s too bad they messed with perfection. 

Why Some Might Not: 

While the 4.0 is still my favorite, it’s not perfect. 

For one thing, Manscaped’s products are some of the more expensive trimmers on the market:

Despite being one of the older models, the 4.0 still has a pretty high price point—at about 90 bucks, it’s the second-most-expensive unit on this list. 

My personal preference is to pay a little bit more to make sure I’m getting a high quality product (especially when I intend to rub said product all over my junk). 

But if you’re strapped for cash, there are cheaper trimmers – and even cheaper razors – that also do a good job. 

Check Price ➤

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 Most Ergonomic Design ↓

The Meridian Trimmer Premium 

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Features & Specs: 

• Tried in Person? ✅
• Blade Material: Ceramic 
• Attachment/Guide Combs? 2
• Onboard Flashlight? No
• Waterproof? Yes
• Discount available? Yes – use IRREVERENTGENT at checkout to get 15% off 

Why We Like It: 

As I mentioned above, Meridian’s flagship product actually provides a (slightly) closer shave than either of the Manscaped models I’ve tested, and for some guys that alone is enough to rank it among the best pubic hair trimmers. 

When I reviewed the Meridian a while back I was particularly impressed with how ergonomic it is—it’s easier to hold on to and maneuver around hard to reach areas than any other trimmer on this list.

Its light weight and has a rubbery-feeling casing that provides a good grip, making it easier to hold on to when you’re in the shower. 

Like the Lawn Mower 4.0, it also has a long battery life, offering 90 minutes of run time on a single charge, which is on the high end of what you can expect from a rechargeable battery. 

Why Some Might Not: 

The Meridian Premium comes with two adjustable guide combs, but beyond that it doesn’t have the same bells and whistles as some of the other trimmers on the market. 

The most notable absence is the lack of a built-in flashlight, which is a shame, because I found the one on the Lawn Moer to be pretty handy for below the belt manscaping.  

Update:
A Newer (Even Better?) Model  

The ball-trimming Gods (there are so ball-trimming Gods!) must have read this article, because not long after I published it, Meridian came out with an updated model that has more features. 

In addition to the Meridian Premium shaver that I reference above, they also now have one called the Meridian Plus, which has a lot more features. 

It has the same ceramic blades as their previous balls shaver, but the Plus also has the main features that make the Lawn Mower so convenient, including the flashlight, a ​​​​built-in travel lock, and a charging station. 

I haven’t had a chane to try the Plus in person, but if it combines the close shave of the Premium with the best features of the Lawn Mower, I suspeict it could be a great option, and possibly supplant Manscaped as the all around best bet.   

Check Price ➤

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Best Cheap Ball Trimmer ↓

Balls.co “Archibald” Trimmer

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Features & Specs: 

• Tried in Person? ✅
• Blade Material: Ceramic 
• Attachment/Guide Combs? 1
• Onboard Flashlight? Yes
• Waterproof? Yes
• Discount available? Yes – enter IRREVERENTGENT at checkout for 15% off 

Why We Like It: 

Balls.co is the UK’s answer to brands like Meridian and Manscaped, and like its North American counterpart, its flagship prodcut is an electric razor designed specifically for your most sensitive areas. 

It has a lot of the core features that people have come to expect from a good pubic hair trimmer, like ceramic blades and a built-in flashlight, but distinguishes itself in a few key ways.

First and foremost is the price: at just 70 bucks, it’s quite a bit cheaper than both Manscaped and Meridian, but still provdies excellent value for the price. 

Second, the length of the blade itself can be adjusted to three different settings (rather than just blunted by using a guard comb), giving you a lot more range and choice in your preferred setting. 

Plus it comes with a wrist strap that you can use to keep it from falling off in the shower, which is not nearly as impactful as the blade settings, but a nice little add-on.

Why Some Might Not: 

While the price is certainly right, there are a few drawbacks. 

The biggest one is probably the fact that it ships from the UK. Shipping to North America is free, so that’s a 👍, but it takes longer to arrive (especially if you’re in Canada like me). 

The other thing I’ve notice about this one is that it’s not quite as easy to grip and maneuver as the Meridian. The strap definitely helps negate that, but once you get used to the Meridian, it’s hard to go back. 

Check Price ➤

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Best Razor for Balls ↓

Gillette Intimate Razor Blade

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Features & Specs: 

• Tried in Person? ✅
• Blade Material: Steel
• Attachment/Guide Combs? No
• Onboard Flashlight? No
• Waterproof? Yes

Why We Like It: 

The three models above are the best electric shavers for your balls, but Gillette’s “Intimate” model is the best option for anyone who wants a manual razor. 

The small size of a manual razor makes it easier to get all the little hard to reach places around your junk, and this one has a pivoting head, which helps even further. 

In addition, the replaceable blades are more lubricated than Gillette’s standard cartridges, giving them a softer glide that helps reduce nicks, cuts and razor burns. 

But with that said, if you prefer to use standard cartridges, you can. 

The handle also works with Gillette’s Fusion 5 cartridges, so you can leverage the pivoting features of the angled head on your face and/or other body parts.   

Why Some Might Not: 

This one’s probably obvious. 

This is the only non-electric model on the list, and while it provides the closest, smoothest shave, there are drawbacks from going manual. 

For one thing, you pretty much have to use this in the shower because you’ll definitely want a wet shave, whereas electric razors can be used safely while dry. 

The other big issue with a manual razor like this is that, the closer you shave, the more you increase the risk of ingrown hairs. 

The ceramic blades on the electric models get close enough to leave things neat and tidy, but not so close that your hairs might get stuck as they grow back. 

You can mitigate that risk with the right shaving technique and skincare products, but personally I prefer to avoid it altogether by just using an electric. 

Check Price ➤

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Best for Full-Body Trimming ↓

Philips Norelco BG7030

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Features & Specs: 

• Blade Material: Stainless Steel
• Attachment/Guide Combs? None (but 5 different length settings) 
• Onboard Flashlight? No
• Waterproof? Yes

Why We Like It: 

This is the only model on the list that I haven’t tested personally, but it deserves including for two main reasons. 

First, the reviews are excellent. You always have to take online reviews with a grain of salt, but as a rule of thumb, the more reviews there are, the more legitimate they’re likely to be. 

(It’s relatively easy to get a 10 or 20 good reviews, but a lot harder to get a 1,000—or even 100, for that matter.) 

This one has more than 20,000 reviews on Amazon alone, and 71% of them are five stars, suggesting that it’s a legitimate crowd pleaser. 

And that makes sense, because there are a lot of good features here. 

First, unlike the other trimmers listed above, this one is designed to be a full-body trimmer. 

It’s got two different shaving heads: an adjustable trimmer head on one side with settings for five different lengths, and a foil head on the other for areas where you want a close, smooth shave. 

That combo makes it argubaly the most diverse trimmer on the list, which is good news if you’re a particularly hairy guy (like me). 

Having to buy one device for your chest hair, another for your nuts and a third for your face can get real expensive real quick, so being able to combine it all in one is pretty handy. 

Why Some Might Not: 

This seems like a legitimately good product, but being a jack of all trades often makes you a master of none. 

The fact that you can use it on pretty much any body part definitely makes it more convenient, but it doesn’t have the same precision or comfort as the dedicated ball trimmers listed above. 

For one thing, it’s bigger than the others, which is great if you’re mowing through a forest of chest hair, but not the best for maneuvering around your manhood. 

Plus, it’s got stainless steel blades, which are in all likelihood sharper than the ceramic alternatives, but also more likely to cause nicks and cuts if you’re not careful. 

Check Price ➤

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How to Get a Close, Smooth & (We Really Can’t Stress this Enough) Safe Shave Every Time 

“Find the best method for your manscaping, you must”
– Yoda* 

*I haven’t seen the Star Wars training montage in awhile, but I’m pretty sure that’s in there

There’s not much point in buying the best tool for a job if you don’t know how to do the job itself. 

So now that you know which trimmers will do the best job trimming your pubes, it’s probably a good idea to take five minutes and learn how to prun ’em properly. 

We’ve put together a step-by-step ball-shaving guide that walks you through the whole process to make sure each shave is clean, close, smooth and safe. 

(Well, as safe as it can be when you’re taking a device with vibrating blades and rubbing it all over your private parts.)

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FAQ

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More Resources ↓

More Manscaping Advice from Irreverent Gent:

• In-Depth Meridian Trimmer Review – Is it worth the money?
• Can you use Nair on your balls? An Irreverent Gent Investigation
• The Best Hair Removal Cream for Private Parts
• In-Depth Manscaped Lawn Mower 4.0 Review
• The Best Razors for Shaving Your Head
• The Best Electric Trimmers for Bald Head Shaving