Regardless of which state you’re licensed to work in as an electrician, there are several essential tools you’ll need to be able to handle any job. a good pair of lineman pliers – also referred to as cutting pliers – can be your best friend out in the field. This specialty tool is made from solid, machined-forged steel construction and features a tapered gripping nose that helps you cut, straighten, and bend wire, cable, and sheet metal.
Just behind the lineman’s head is a cutting craw that you can also use to cut small screws. Then, between the lineman’s head and its rubber-coated handles, just below the fixed pivot, are several additional tools you’ll commonly use in the course of your daily work as an electrician, including a fish-tape notch, terminal crimper, and wire cutter.
Comparatively, traditional slip-joint pliers are made from various materials, thicknesses, and qualities, and feature an adjustable pivot that allows you to change the jaws’ diameter. They also utilize a rounded, serrated jaw that will enable you to grab onto spherical surfaces, such as pipes.
Whereas lineman’s pliers are mostly specific to the electrical trade, you can use a pair of slip-joint pliers in a wider variety of situations, including for loosening and tightening nuts and bolts.
Our Picks for Best Pliers for Electricians
Best Lineman Pliers: Channellock 9-Inch
Best Insulated Pliers: Greenlee Insulated Plier and Screwdriver Set
Best Needle Nose Pliers: Channellock 6-Inch
Best Plier Set: Gearwrench 6 Piece Pitbull Dipped Handle Mixed Set
Best Diagonal Cutting Pliers: Channellock 7-Inch
Best Slip-Joint Pliers: Wilde Tool 6 3/4-Inch Angle Nose
Best Wiring Pliers: Crescent 8 1/4-Inch
Best Locking Pliers: Crescent 10-Inch Straight Jaw
Features to Look For in Electrical Pliers
Lineman’s pliers are typically between 8 and 9.5 inches long, whereas needle nose pliers can be as small as 4 inches, depending on your needs and preferences. Regardless of the model, a streamlined shape is ideal, which leads to easier handling. You’ll also want to consider models with a tapered handle, coated with industrial-quality materials – usually nickel-chrome – for long-lasting performance, and built-in crimpers.
Licensed general contractors and other professional handymen will likely require a broader set of pliers than many electricians. For this reason, at minimum, you’ll want to carry different slip joint plier sizes, needle nose pliers, tongue-and-groove pliers, and locking pliers while still focusing on quality materials and construction.
Best Lineman Pliers: Channellock 9-Inch
Lineman pliers are tailor-made for electricians and include a narrow clamping surface, a side-cutting blade, integrated crimpers, fish tape pullers, and a reaming head for smoothing the sharp surfaces on knockouts.
Channellock’s 9-inch lineman pliers feature high-carbon steel construction for durability, and their extreme leverage technology makes cutting and general use a breeze. The pliers also come with a rounded nose and crosshatch-pattern jaws for more comfortable gripping and twisting, laser heat-treated cutting edges, a knife-and-anvil style cutting edge, and a rubber-insulated comfort grip handle.
Pros:
- Made in the USA.
- Sturdy construction.
- Ergonomic design.
- Long-lasting cutting edges.
- Competitively priced.
Cons:
- No crimper, fish tape puller, or reaming head.
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Best Budget Option: Sheffield’s Easy Cut Linesman Pliers
Despite its competitive price, Sheffield’s Easy Cut Linesman Pliers feature a shorter 7-inch profile, hardened and tempered S-2 drop forged steel construction, and a rust-resistant chrome finish. This quality set of pliers is rounded out with a thick, ergonomic rubber grip for all-day comfort.
Pros:
- Ultra-competitive price.
- Hardened, tempered, drop-forged steel construction.
- Rust-resistant.
- Shorter profile for access to tighter areas.
Cons:
- No crimper, fish tape puller, or reaming head.
Best Insulated Pliers: Greenlee Insulated Plier and Screwdriver Set
Insulated pliers work like any other type but feature thicker insulated grips that help protect against accidental contact with high-voltage lines. Many insulated pliers are tested and rated up to specific voltages.
Greenlee’s insulated plier set comes with 8-inch diagonal cutting pliers, 8-inch long-nose pliers, 10-inch pump pliers, and 9-inch side-cutting pliers. You’ll also get bonus 3/16 and ¼-inch cabinet tip screwdrivers, along with a #2 Phillips tip screwdriver.
Each tool in the set features dual-layer insulation for shock protection that’s rated for 1,000 VAC, individually tested to 10,000 VAC, and exceeds IEC 60900 and ASTM F1505 standards.
Pros:
- Comes with four pairs of pliers and three different screwdrivers.
- Includes custom roll-up carrier for storage.
- Handle grips are dual-layer insulated.
- Rated for 1,000 VAC.
Cons:
- Steep price compared to budget models and sets.
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Best Budget Option: OEL Tools 5030 9-Inch Insulated Linesman Pliers
OEL Tools 5030 9″ insulated linesman pliers feature extra-thick, two-color insulation for protection against electric shock, along with protrusions that help improve grip while you’re working. These 2-pound pliers are tested to 10,000VAC, rated to a maximum exposure of 1,000VAC, and their flame-retardant handles are impact-resistant.
Pros:
- Extra-thick insulation for added shock protection.
- Protrusions for added grip.
- Two-color insulation allows you to recognize when the pliers need to be replaced.
- Tested to 10,000VAC; rated to 1,000VAC.
Cons:
- The robust design translates into a heavier 2-pound weight.
Best Needle Nose Pliers: Channellock 6-Inch
A pair of needle-nose pliers features a long, narrow design, rounded handles with rubber-coated grips, and an ultra-narrow tip used to bend wires in tight, cramped spaces where lineman’s or other pliers might be too large or unwieldy. Just in front of the needle nose pliers’ fulcrum, you’ll often find a cutting edge.
These 6-inch needle-nose pliers from Channellock boast heat-treated, high-carbon, drop-forged C1080 stainless steel construction for long-term durability. We also like its laser-treated knife and anvil-style side cutter, cross-hatched jaws for improved grip, and rubberized handles for comfort.
Pros:
- Durable stainless-steel construction.
- Built-in side cutter.
- Cross-hatched jaws.
- Rubberized grips.
- The 6-inch size lends well to most situations.
Cons:
- You might need a larger or smaller model, depending on the scenario.
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Best Budget Option: Stanley’s 5-Inch Needle Nose Pliers
Stanley’s 5-Inch Needle Nose Pliers are constructed from forged steel, with a rust-resistant finish and a hand-ground chrome-nickel cutting edge. The pliers’ jaws are machined to improve grip, its handles are double-dipped to maximize your comfort, and there’s a spring behind the fulcrum for enhanced release.
Pros:
- Forged steel construction.
- Rust-resistant finish.
- Chrome-nickel cutting edge.
- Double-dipped handles.
- Machined jaws.
Cons:
- Cutting edge footprint is smaller than some competing models.
Best Plier Sets: Gearwrench 6 Piece Pitbull Dipped Handle Mixed Set
Plier sets allow you to purchase multiple models at once, often at a lower price than if you bought them separately. In most instances, a basic set contains 2 to 4 kinds – usually slip-joint, needle-nose, lineman, and tongue-and-groove pliers. However, some sets can have eight or more pliers, depending on the type.
The 6-piece Pitbull plier set from Gearwrench Pliers makes the top of our list with its alloy steel construction and polished finish, professionally dipped handles, and
unique K9 Jaws that open up to a 35-degree angle and deliver up to 35% greater cutting power. Some models also include nail and wire holders, a bolt grip zone, and a fish tape channel.
Each set includes a pair of 8-inch diagonal cutting pliers, 8-inch long-nose pliers, 8-inch slip-joint pliers, 9.5-inch lineman’s pliers, and ten and 12-inch tongue-and-groove pliers.
Pros:
- Professionally dipped handles.
- Alloy steel construction.
- Polished finish.
- K9 Jaws for up to 35% greater grip and cutting power.
- Special features like nail and wire holders, bolt grip zone, and fish tape channel.
- Contains most of the essential pliers you’ll need for different situations.
Cons:
- No storage included.
Best Budget Option: Stanley’s 3-Piece Plier Set
Stanley’s 3-piece plier set comes with a pair of 6-inch diagonal cutting pliers, long-nose pliers, and slip-joint pliers, all of which feature machined jaws for a secure grip and bi-material handles for maximum comfort and control. The cutting pliers also boast induction-hardened cutting edges to help extend their lifespan.
Pros:
- Comes with the necessary pliers most users will need.
- Machined jaws for a secure grip.
- Hardened cutting edges.
- Bi-material handles.
Cons:
- The set is missing some potentially necessary plier types, depending on your needs and preferences.
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Best Diagonal Cutting Pliers: Channellock 7-Inch
Instead of grabbing like other models, diagonal cutting pliers feature offset edges that come together at a diagonal angle. You’ll also find a shorter head in front of the fulcrum than many other plier types.
Compared to scissors that cut by shearing, these design features indent and wedge wires. The small size of most diagonal cutting pliers also allows them to reach into areas where other pliers might not fit.
Channellock 7-inch diagonal cut pliers are constructed from forged high-carbon steel and use Xtreme Leverage Technology (XLT) to reduce hand fatigue. We also like its laser heat-treated and hardened cutting edges, polished finish, and precision machining for the ultimate in performance.
Pros:
- High carbon-steel forged construction.
- Anvil-style cutting edge.
- Rust-preventative coating.
- Polished finish.
- Comfort grips.
- Made in the USA.
Cons:
- More expensive than some alternative models.
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Best Budget Option: Stanley 6-Inch Diagonal Cutter Pliers
The 6-inch diagonal cutter pliers from Stanley boast durable drop-forged, chrome-nickel steel construction, and tough, hand-ground cutting edges designed to slice through soft and hard wire alike. You’ll also enjoy a comfortable grip with its oil-resistant dipped handles and a fixed joint design for cutting ease.
Pros:
- Chrome-nickel steel construction.
- Machined, slip-resistant jaws.
- Hand-ground cutting edges with a fixed joint.
- Comfortable dipped handles.
- Polished finish prevents rust.
Cons:
- Doesn’t feature the same quality of materials as high-end, more expensive models.
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Best Slip-Joint Pliers: Wilde Tool 6 3/4-Inch Angle Nose
Slip-joint pliers use a movable pivot mechanism at the fulcrum that allows you to increase or decrease their jaws’ size to accommodate different scenarios. Simply open the jaws to their widest point, move the pivot slot in the neck to the appropriate location, and close the jaws. Together, slip-joint pliers are useful for gripping and bending material.
Wilde Tool’s all-purpose angle-nose 6 ¾-inch slip-joint pliers feature three adjustment levels, a ¾-inch jaw opening, reinforced and polished construction for greater strength, and deep-milled jaws for improved grip. You’ll also find a countersunk nut-and-bolt system that helps you grip low-profile items better than other plier types, along with red vinyl grip handles for comfort.
Pros:
- Milled jaws with an angled nose.
- Polished finish.
- Flush fastener.
- Made in the USA.
- Lifetime warranty.
Cons:
- Doesn’t offer some of the higher-end features found on pricier models.
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Best Budget Option: Great Neck 6-Inch Slip-Joint Pliers
The 6-inch slip-joint pliers from Great Neck come with all the essential features you need, including two adjustments, a flush rivet design, triple chrome-plated finish, milled jaws, and knurled vinyl grips. And all of this at a competitive price.
Pros:
- Dual-adjustment head w/milled jaws.
- Flush rivet head.
- Chrome plated finish.
- Vinyl grips for comfort.
Cons:
- Made from less durable materials than higher-end models.
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Best Wiring Pliers: Crescent 8 1/4-Inch
Wiring pliers, also known as wiring tools, look like pliers but feature multiple notches that allow you to cut, strip, and crimp different wire gauges, cut bolts, and pull-and-loop wire. Most models also implement a blade at the tip for cutting various materials.
Crescent’s 8 1/4-inch wiring tool plier allows you to quickly and easily strip and cut wiring between 10 and 20 gauge. The tool’s curved, insulated grips improve comfort while also crimping terminals and cutting bolts.
Pros:
- Works with wiring between 10 and 20 gauge.
- Curved, insulated grips for comfort.
- Made in the USA.
Cons:
- Higher price than some competitors.
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Best Budget Option: Channellock 6-Inch Wiring Pliers
The made-in-the-USA 6-inch wiring pliers from Channellock feature precision-ground, heat-treated construction that cuts and strips 10- to 22-gauge wire without causing damage. The pliers also cut bolts, pull and loop wire ends, and crimp wires. You’ll enjoy the highly-visible, laser-etched wire gauge sizes and plastic grips for comfort.
Pros:
- Cuts, strips, pulls, and crimps wires between 10- and 22-gauge without causing damage.
- Scissor-type blades.
- Laser-etched wire gauges for improved visibility.
Cons:
- Straight handles might not provide as much comfort as curved options.
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Best Locking Pliers: Crescent 10-Inch Straight Jaw
Locking pliers, also commonly referred to as vice-grips, feature a built-in mechanism that allows its jaws to clamp a wide range of objects tightly. The rotating knob at the back of one handle adjusts a spring that will enable you to change the width of its jaws and finely control the force it applies.
Compared to many other types, locking pliers come in various sizes and configurations to accommodate different needs, including needle noses, clamps, and wrenches.
Crescent’s 10-inch straight jaw locking pliers feature a nickel-plated, rust-resistant finish, straight jaws, and an angled-tooth pattern for the best grip possible. Once its grip is set, you can turn the pliers’ knurled adjusting screw to fine-tune its surface pressure.
Pros:
- Nickel-plated finish for durability and resistance to rust.
- Allows for fine-tuned adjustments, even after you set your initial grip.
- You can also adjust using a hex key.
- Release lever features a plastisol dip for grip and comfort.
Cons:
- Higher price than some options.
- Some electricians might prefer a rounded jaw for clamping onto pipes, bolt heads, and nuts.
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Best Budget Option: Great Neck 7-Inch Straight Jaw Locking Pliers
Despite its competitive price, the 7-inch version of Great Neck’s straight jaw locking pliers features heat-treated, drop-forged alloy steel construction, coarse-milled jaw teeth, and a polished, chrome-plated finish that helps resist rust. You’ll also find a built-in wire cutter and an instant-locking-and-release mechanism.
Pros:
- Made from heat-treated steel.
- Rust-resistant coating.
- A curved jaw for gripping rounded objects.
- Coarse teeth for improved grip.
- Lifetime warranty.
Cons:
- Some electricians might prefer a straight jaw for maximum grip.