Best Pliers for Electricians
21st Jan 2026
Electricians rely on pliers more than almost any other hand tool.
You’re trimming conductors inside a cramped back box, twisting solid cores, pulling cables, cutting fixings and working deep inside a consumer unit.
But choosing the right pliers for each task makes your job easier, and that’s what this guide is all about.
Best All-Round Pliers for Electricians (Insulated)
Our pick: 1000V Insulated Side Cutter Parallel Plier for Hard Wire - 160 mm
If you could only carry one pair of pliers on site, this would be it.
At 160 mm, this tool delivers the leverage electricians expect from a traditional combination plier and is certified to 1000V for use on live (or near-live) electrical systems.
The parallel-action jaws also provided added control, helping prevent over-compression of wire, making them suitable for first fix, second fix and general site work.
Reasons to buy:
- Certified 1000V insulation, tested to IEC 60900:2018, for safe use up to 1000V AC and 1500V DC.
- 160 mm length provides the leverage needed for cutting most cables with ease, at a usable size for daily use.
- Parallel-action jaws grip evenly along their full length, preventing slip when twisting solid cores.
- Integrated side cutter multiplies hand force (up to 23x) for efficient cutting of hard and soft wire.
- Open-throat jaw design allows long conductors and meter tails to be fed through before straightening, which offers far more flexibility and accuracy.
- V-slot jaw improves grip and alignment on round wire and cable.
- HRC 57 case-hardened jaws and blades ensure it can handle daily professional use.
Ideal for: Domestic and commercial electricians who want one high-leverage, 1000V certified tool to grip, straighten, twist and cut cable all day.
Best Insulated Side Cutters for Electricians
Our pick: 1000V Insulated Diagonal Cutting Pliers for Hard Wire - 160 mm
Dedicated side cutters are always useful, especially for repetitive cutting.
These cutters are certified to 1000V and compound hand force by 22x, making them ideal for termination work, fault finding and repetitive cable prep.
Reasons to buy:
- Compound-lever action multiplies hand force by 22x.
- Induction-hardened cutting edges to HRC 64 ensure a long service life.
- Certified 1000V insulation, tested to IEC 60900:2018, for safe use up to 1000V AC and 1500V DC.
- The long-lasting return spring speeds up repetitive cutting tasks over long days.
- The compact 160 mm size suits tight working areas.
Ideal for: Electricians doing high-frequency cutting, termination work and precise cable preparation.
Best Pliers for Tight Spaces and Second Fix Work
Our pick: Long Nose Side Cutter Parallel Plier - 160 mm
Second fix is where access is tight and mistakes are visible.
This long-nose combination plier is designed for awkward angles, shallow back boxes and crowded accessories, offering reach without sacrificing grip or cutting performance.
The 50 mm usable jaw length gives you excellent reach, and the parallel-jaw design stops you from crushing the wire you’re trying to work with.
Reasons to buy:
- Long tapered jaws improve access and visibility inside sockets and switches.
- Parallel-action jaws maintain stable, full-length grip on conductors.
- The integrated side cutter lets you make quick cuts without swapping tools.
- 50 mm usable jaw length helps you manipulate wire tails with accuracy.
- Case-hardened jaws and blades to HRC 57 ensure long-term reliability.
Ideal for: Second-fix electricians working on sockets, switches, lighting accessories and compact enclosures.
You can browse other long-nose plier variations here.
Best Pliers for Heavy-Gauge Cable and First Fix Work
Our pick: 1000V Insulated Side Cutter Parallel Plier for Hard Wire – 200 mm
For electricians regularly cutting thicker Twin & Earth and heavier conductors, this 200 mm plier offers increased leverage and reduced hand effort compared to shorter tools.
The longer handles multiply hand force by up to 25×, making demanding first-fix and cable-cutting tasks easier and less fatiguing.
Reasons to buy:
- 200 mm length provides greater leverage for cutting thicker cable such as Twin & Earth.
- Integrated side cutter multiplies hand force by up to 25×.
- Certified 1000V insulation, tested to IEC 60900:2018, for safe use up to 1000V AC and 1500V DC.
- Parallel-action jaws grip evenly for controlled handling.
- Hardened jaws and blades (HRC 62-65) for heavy-duty use.
Ideal for: Electricians carrying out first-fix work or frequent cutting of larger Twin & Earth cable where maximum leverage is required.
Best Pliers for Cable Management and Neat Installs
Our pick: Cable Tie Installation Pliers - 160 mm
Nothing ruins a tidy install faster than sharp cable-tie tails.
These pliers are purpose-built for tensioning and flush-cutting cable ties, leaving a smooth finish that will not cut hands or snag cables later.
Reasons to buy:
- Flush cutting action leaves no sharp edges.
- Controlled tensioning prevents overtightening.
- One-handed operation for speed in panels and overhead work.
- Designed specifically for cable ties up to 5 mm.
Ideal for: Electricians working on consumer units, control panels, trunking, baskets and data cabinets.
Best Pliers for Panel Wiring and Bootlace Ferrules
Our pick: Bootlace Ferrule Crimping Pliers - 0.5 mm2 to 16 mm2
Ferrules improve connection reliability and are increasingly expected in your panel work.
These pliers deliver consistent, even crimps across common electrical sizes and have HRC 57 case hardened jaws for durability.
Reasons to buy:
- Multiple crimp nests for common ferrule sizes from 0.5 mm2 to 16 mm2.
- Even compression for reliable terminations.
- Long handles allow ferrule to be crimped firmly with minimal effort.
- Robust steel construction for workshop and site use.
- Long-lasting return spring helps with repetitive work.
Ideal for: Electricians and panel builders preparing stranded conductors for terminals and breakers.
Best Pliers for Strip-Out, Flush Cuts and Removal Work
Our pick: End Cutting Pliers for Hard Wire - 150 mm
For flush cutting, clip removal and remedial work, end cutters are hard to beat.
They are designed to cut close to surfaces and to lever out fixings cleanly and with a cutting capacity of up to 1.6 mm piano wire, they can handle everything you work with on a daily basis.
Reasons to buy:
- Compound-lever action multiplies hand force by 14 for less cutting effort.
- Induction-hardened cutting edges HRC 64 for durability.
- Rounded head profile allows controlled rocking when pulling clips or nails.
- The compact 150 mm size improves access if you’re working in tight spaces.
Ideal for: Electricians carrying out rewires, rip-outs and remedial work.
Best Pliers for SWA Glands and Commercial Finish
Our pick: Smooth Jaws Flat Nose Parallel Plier - 160 mm
In commercial and industrial environments, presentation matters.
Standard water-pump pliers use aggressive serrated jaws that easily scratch brass glands, locknuts and finished metalwork. This smooth-jaw parallel plier offers a far more professional solution, gripping securely without leaving marks.
Reasons to buy:
- Smooth jaws grip brass, chrome, and plated fittings without damage.
- The parallel action lets you grip the whole fastening evenly, which stops you from rounding the gland nuts and locknuts.
- It also provided a vice-like grip, which reduces the force you need to hold fittings steady.
- The flat nose design fits into tight spaces where spanners struggle to reach.
- Perfect for tightening bushes or locknuts from the rear.
Ideal for: Commercial electricians installing SWA glands, galvanized conduit, metal containment and finished accessories.
Why Parallel-Action Pliers Matter for Electricians
Traditional scissor-action pliers grip at a single point, increasing the risk of slipping or damaging insulation – as you need to apply a lot more pressure to grip an item properly.
Parallel-action pliers fix this, as they keep the jaws perfectly parallel when closing, creating even, full-length contact across the workpiece.
Key benefits
- More stable grip on wire and fixings.
- Less force required to hold objects securely.
- Reduced slippage in tight spaces.
- Better control when twisting or straightening conductors.
This jaw design is a core reason electricians choose Maun.
Learn more about parallel-pliers here.
Insulated vs Non-Insulated Pliers
If you work on or near live electrical circuits, it’s always best to use insulated pliers certified to IEC 60900:2018.
Rubber-coated handles alone do not provide electrical protection.
Look for:
- Double-triangle 1000V symbol.
- IEC 60900:2018 marking.
- Insulated handles with hand-stop guards.
You can browse our insulated pliers range here.
Is VDE a Legal Requirement for Insulated Pliers and are Non-VDE Tools Safe?
No VDE is not a legal requirement for insulated pliers, the legal requirement is be certified to IEC 60900:2018.
VDE is simply a 3rd party company that performs testing and certification for tool manufacturers to IEC 60900:2018.
Non-VDE tools are perfectly safe, provided they are certified to IEC 60900:2018, have the double triangle symbol next to a 1000V marking and have the manufacturer’s name and model reference on the tool:
Final Summary
Those are our top picks for electrician pliers.
If you have any feedback or improvements you’d recommend for this post, we’d love to hear from you.
This post was brought to you by Maun, experts in tools since 1944.
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