Best Wire Cutters for the Money 2022 | Reviews and Buyers Guide

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You’ve got things to do, and we get it. You shouldn’t have to waste time searching for the best wire cutters so that you can cut a few wires here or there. Our wire cutters reviews and buyer’s guide teach you how to select the best type of wire cutter for your needs if you’re looking for a good tool at an affordable price.

 

wire cutters

A good set of wire cutters can make electrical wiring jobs so much easier. Working with electricity carries a risk of an electrical shock and fire, so you most definitely need the right tools.

We tested 5 of the best wire cutters currently available and have written a detailed review of each. For quick reference, we have displayed our results in a comparison table and have written a buyer’s guide, which you can read at the bottom of the page.

Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect in this best wire cutters review article:

  • First, we compare our top 5 wire cutters side-by-side in a comparison table – ideal if you’re short on time!
  • Next, we take an in-depth look at each model’s features and benefits we think you’d like
  • Then, we’ll advise you on some of their limitations and issues you might need to know
  • And finally, you get to know a lot more about wire cutters thanks to our detailed buyers guide

How does that sound?  Great, let’s get going!

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Comparison of our Favorite Wire Cutters:

CLICK on any image below to see Ratings and Reviews on Amazon

 

5 Best Wire Cutters – Reviewed:

 

1. Klein Tools 11055 Wire Cutter (Best Overall)

Best Overall
  • These Klein Tools wire cutters will cut, strip, and loop 10-18 AWG Solid and 12-20 AWG Stranded wire.
  • We enjoyed testing this bit of kit! It’s compact and lightweight and we found the cuts to be clean on both solid and stranded wire.
  • The nose is serrated and this enabled us to get a good grip for pulling, bending, and shaping of the wire. It has holes that greatly assist bending and looping wire and the markings on the nose are clear and easy to read.
  • Hand fatigue is a real pain and massive time killer but these have comfort grip curved handles and a coil-spring to assist opening.
  • Measuring 9.13 x 5 0.63 inches and weighing just 6.4 ounces these are the perfect tool for jobs in confined spaces.
  • It comes with a manufacturer’s lifelong warranty, so as long as you don’t deface, alter, or deliberately damage them you’re pretty much covered.
  • A great cable cutter and wire stripper for DIY’ers and the professional trade.
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Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Comfortable handle
  • Precision wire stripper holes
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Compact
Cons
  • Pricey

 

2. IRWIN VISE-GRIP Wire Stripping Tool (Best Value)

Best Value
  • IRWIN are famous toolmakers and their 8-inch wire cutters are available in single, 2-pack, and 4-pack. It’s a great cable cutter to have for electrical work as it will cut, bend, shape, strip, and crimp wire between 10-22AWG.
  • The handles are comfortable and they feature a textured grip that prevents slipping.
  • The design is also pretty smart. It has some special features such as 6 AWG selection dials enabling you to strip different wire gauges, bolt cutter, and is up to ANSI standards.
  • They are great value for money too as the tool does so much for the price you will pay.
  • One drawback with them is their wire cutting is a letdown. To cut wires you have to ensure they are set back in the jaws and this limits the use of the tool somewhat. Cutting hard wires will be difficult and you will risk damaging the blades.
  • It comes with a manufacturers lifetime warranty.
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Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Multiple uses
  • Affordable
  • Great value
Cons
  • Poor wire cutters

 

 

Further reading: 9 Different Types of Pliers – Which One is Right For You?

 

3. Hakko Micro Wire Cutter

  • These micro-wire cutters from Hakko are made from heat-treated carbon steel and feature a dolphin style hand grips that prevent slipping.
  • We liked the spring return as that prevents hand fatigue and the handles are ergonomically curved and can fit comfortably in either hand.
  • These wire cutters have a 9mm long jaw with an angled head that can cope with cutting up to 16 gauge soft and copper wire.
  • The name suggests they are designed only for small wires but they do work admirably. If you have more heavy-duty work you’ll need to look elsewhere.
  • You’ll need to treat these with respect as they do break easily but for the price you pay they are great for small and occasional jobs around the home.
Buy on Amazon

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Compact
  • Comfortable
Cons
  • Small wires only
  • Damaged easily

 

4. BOENFU Wire Cutter

  • A good alternative to Hakko is this model from BOENFU. We tested their 6-inch wire cutter but there is also a 3.5 inch and a multi-pack if you need more than one.
  • What we liked about this is the cutter is hardened and it is, therefore, easier to cut all types of wires, up to 1.8mm. The handles have an Anti-electric shock function but are not particularly comfortable as they are made from PVC.
  • Made from chrome molybdenum alloy steel it measures 6.3 x 4.33 x 0.39 inches and weighs 4.8 ounces.
  • An issue to be aware of is they are not for heavy-duty wire. The metal cutters will break!
  • These are a decent buy for a homeowner who has lightweight electrical jobs to do but for the professionals, you’ll need to look elsewhere because they just won’t last a job!
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Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Anti-shock handles
Cons
  • Easily broken
  • Light wires only

 

5. DOWELL Wire Cutters

  • We came across this model from Dowell on our search for wire cutters to test and we were shocked at how cheap it was! That’s why it made our list.
  • It has a similar design to the IRWIN and can strip copper and aluminium wire between 10-22 AWG
  • There is a spring that assists opening of the handles which non-slip and sit fairly comfortably in either hand.
  • These are not heavy-duty, nowhere near it in all honesty. The cutting tool is useless and the wire stripping was hit and miss as it often cut the wire instead of stripping it. All-in-all, a very frustrating experience with this one.
  • We can’t recommend this tool, even if they’re only slightly more expensive than a Starbucks!
Buy on Amazon

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Cheap
Cons
  • Terrible cutter
  • Poor design
  • Poorly made
  • Bad value

Video: How To Use Wire Cutters

 

Buy Wire Cutters on Amazon

Wire Cutters Buyers Guide

From our testing, there are considerable differences in the quality and overall experiences between the models. Wire cutters are simply a different type of plier that specializes in electrical work, and so having one that can cut, shape, bend, pull, and crimp will save you a lot of time. It was clear from our testing that some of the models just weren’t up to it.

You will need a wire cutter that can make clean cuts because you’re working with and fixing something that will carry a live current and poses an ongoing risk of electrical shock or fire. Don’t compromise on the cutting performance, as you will need to keep the integrity of the wire.

What kind of wire will you be cutting?

The answer to this question will almost certainly determine which wire cutter is suitable for you. If you are doing jobs around the home, you’ll only need to look for one that can cut soft metals, such as copper.

However, if you have tempered steel wires, such as music wire found on piano strings or duct wire located on heating and air ducts, you’ll need a tool capable of cutting the wire safely and cleanly. A helpful reminder tip is to look at what the device is made from, as you can’t miss another metal that is harder than the blade. You’ll end up with a ruined wire cutter.

Hand fatigue

As with most hand tools, they can affect your hands over prolonged use. Buying a wire cutter from a manufacturer that has done its best to reduce it will mean you will work more comfortably and efficiently.

Thnk about the tight areas you’ll be working in, and some electrical work is precise. You can’t do that right if your palms and fingers are tired and aching. We found that the better tools aren’t that more expensive, and it’ll be worth spending an extra $5-$10 to improve your comfort.

Versatile

If you only need a wire cutter for occasional jobs around the house, getting a tool that can cut, strip, and crimp wire will serve you best. It’ll certainly save you some money if you buy a decent multi-tool wire cutter. If you’re a professional, you may want to invest in high-quality tools that do specific jobs.

Durability

As you’d expect, this is directly linked to how much you pay for the tool. The cheaper tools are made from more inexpensive materials, and they’re not going to last long and won’t cut heavier-duty wires.

It’s a false economy buying something so cheap that it will struggle to get the job done. You’re only going to end up frustrated and will have to spend time looking for a better tool. Time better spent elsewhere! From our research, $20 will buy you a perfect wire cutter.

Wire Cutters Bottom Line

Unlike some tools, wire cutters are inexpensive – even for the best ones. And this makes them appealing. Our Best Overall pick went to Klein Tools 11055 Wire Cutter. It’s well made, well designed, and easy to use.

Our Best Value award was given to IRWIN VISE-GRIP. Although the wire cutting could improve, everything else worked very well—an excellent tool for the money.

As always, we hope we have given fresh insight into wire cutters and what to look for when buying a pair. Please keep safety at the forefront of your mind when working with wires.

Here are some other articles you may like:

Best RJ45 Crimper – Reviews and Buyers Guide

Best Safety Wire Pliers – Reviews

10 Best Multimeters – Reviews and Buyers Guide

 

Here are some other pliers to compare:

CLICK on any image below to see Ratings and Reviews on Amazon

Walts DIY is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.

Walter Snyder
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