The objective of the current study is to analyse the hydro-thermal characteristics of leeward cut fins with various trimming values and finalise a specific fin that benefits by maximum material saving and negligible compromise in heat transfer. The leeward section of a fin is cut in two ways: angular and chordwise. For angular cutting, four different angles (15°, 30°, 60°, and 90°) are considered, while for chordwise cutting, a fin is trimmed along a chord present at D/3, 2D/3, and D mm from the vertical diameter. The spacing between fins is varied (2–4 mm). For turbulence modelling, the transition SST model is implemented. Streamlines reveal that the intensity of a vortex formed downstream of the tube depends on the fin-trimming value. For a higher fin cutoff, a lower pressure drop is obtained. The heat transfer rate analysis reveals that angular cutoffs of 15° (8.3 % material saving) and 30° (16.6 % material saving) have 2.5 %–3.1 % less heat transfer than the standard case. Chordwise cut at D gives 1.1 % less heat transfer but saves only 2.7 % fin material than the standard case of no cutoff. Z/E factor, a ratio of heat transfer for a unit temperature drop to power provided, is used to determine hydro-thermal performance. The value of the Z/E ratio is the highest for the benchmark case. However, for angular cutoffs of 15° and 30°, the Z/E factor is less by 4 and 6.7 %, respectively, than the standard case. Examining the outcomes of this study, we recommend using an angular cutoff of 30° or lower to get significant material savings for an equivalent heat transfer.