Diagonal Cutters vs Side Cutters: What Is The Difference?
28th Oct 2026
If you are shopping for wire cutters, you will see the same tool sold as diagonal cutters, side cutters, side cutting pliers and snips.
But are diagonal cutters and side cutters the same tool? And how are they different from flush cutters, end cutters and other wire cutters?
In this guide, we explain the difference between diagonal cutters and side cutters, how they compare to the other types of wire cutter, and which pair you need for your job.
Are diagonal cutters and side cutters the same?
Yes, diagonal cutters and side cutters are the same tool: pliers with hardened cutting edges in place of gripping jaws, which cut wire by indenting and wedging it apart (as opposed to shearing it like scissors).
Each name describes where the cutting edges are. The tool is called diagonal cutters because its cutting edges are set at an angle to the joint rivet, and side cutters because its cutting edges run along the side of the jaws, unlike end cutters, which cut across the tip.
Maun’s diagonal cutting pliers (side cutters) are made in Nottinghamshire, England, in 140 mm and 160 mm lengths. They have induction-hardened cutting edges to HRC 64, and Maun’s compound-lever action multiplies your hand force 18 times on the 140 mm pliers and 22 times on the 160 mm pliers, so you can cut hard wire such as piano wire with far less effort. You can see the full range of Maun diagonal cutting pliers here.
What else are side cutters called?
Side cutters are also called diagonal cutters, diagonal cutting pliers, diagonal pliers, side cutting pliers, diagonal cutting nippers, nippers, snips and wire cutters.
The name you hear depends on where you are and the trade you work in. In the UK, side cutters, snips and nippers are the everyday names, while in the US the tool is usually called diagonal cutters, which electricians shorten to dikes (or dykes) and diags. Wire cutters is a broader name that covers every tool made to cut wire.
If you want to know more about how they work, see our guide to what diagonal cutting pliers are used for.
When does “side cutters” mean a different tool?
“Side cutters” can also mean any pliers with cutting edges on the side of the head, as well as diagonal cutters. Combination pliers, side cutter parallel pliers and fencing pliers all have side cutting edges, which is why Maun’s side cutters range includes them as well as diagonal cutting pliers.
The main difference is that diagonal cutting pliers only cut, while these pliers grip and cut. Maun’s side cutter parallel pliers have parallel jaws, with a V-slot that feeds and holds wire and rod along the jaw length, and compound-lever cutters for hard and soft wire. Because the jaws grip along their whole length, you can hold, pull, straighten and twist wire, then cut it, without changing tools.
We recommend diagonal cutting pliers if you mostly cut wire, as they give you high leverage and hard cutting edges in a compact tool. If you also need to grip, pull or straighten wire, such as when you tension fencing wire, twist tie wire or work with spring wire, we recommend side cutter parallel pliers, as they grip and cut in one tool. You can find out more in our guide to side cutter parallel pliers.
Are side cutters the same as flush cutters?
No. Flush cutters are a kind of side cutters with a flat cutting face, made for a flush cut on soft wire, so the two names are not interchangeable.
Side cutters come with three types of cutting edge, which range from the most cutting force to the closest cut:
- Standard (bevelled) edges: the bevelled cutting edges meet and wedge the wire apart, which gives the most cutting force. They leave a slight point on the cut end and suit hard wire such as piano wire and spring steel wire.
- Semi-flush edges: part of the bevel is ground flatter, so they cut closer to a surface and still give good cutting force. They suit electrical work where you need a neat cut but a small protrusion won’t get in the way, such as preparing wires for terminal connections.
- Flush edges: a flat cutting face leaves a flush end against the workpiece. The flat edge gives less cutting force and wears faster on hard wire, so flush cutters are made for soft wire such as copper, aluminium and precious metal wire in electronics and jewellery work.
Maun’s diagonal cutting pliers have standard bevelled edges for cutting hard wire, and Maun also makes semi-flush cutters for a closer cut on soft wire.
What is the difference between side cutters and wire cutters?
Wire cutters is the general name for any tool made to cut wire, and side cutters are one type of wire cutter. Here are the main types of wire cutters and what each one is for:
- Side cutters (diagonal cutters): angled cutting edges along the side of the jaws wedge solid wire apart. Use them for general wire cutting, from copper conductors and cable ties to hard wire and piano wire.
- Flush cutters: a flat cutting face gives a flush cut on soft wire, such as electronic component leads and jewellery wire.
- End cutters: also called end cutting pliers or end nippers, they have cutting edges across the tip of the jaws, at right angles to the handles, so you can cut nails, staples and wire close to a surface. Find out more in our guide to end cutting pliers.
- Side cutter parallel pliers: parallel gripping jaws with compound-lever side cutters, for jobs where you grip and cut the same wire.
- Combination pliers: gripping jaws with a cutting edge at the back of the jaws, near the pivot, for light cutting between gripping jobs.
- Cable cutters: curved shearing blades wrap around multi-strand cable and cut it cleanly instead of pushing the strands apart.
- Bolt cutters: long-handled cutters for bolts, rod and wire too thick for pliers.
Which Maun side cutters should you choose?
The right pair of Maun side cutters depends on what you cut and whether you also need to grip the wire:
- For lighter wire and close work: the Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire 140 mm (2990-140), which cuts piano wire up to 1.6 mm, hard wire up to 2.0 mm and soft wire up to 3.0 mm in diameter.
- For thicker and harder wire: the Maun Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire 160 mm (2990-160), which cuts piano wire up to 2.0 mm, hard wire up to 2.5 mm and soft wire up to 4.0 mm in diameter.
- For gripping and cutting in one tool: the Maun Side Cutter Parallel Plier for Hard Wire 160 mm (4950-160), which multiplies your hand force 23 times. For the heaviest wire, the Maun Side Cutter Parallel Plier for Hard Wire 200 mm (4950-200) multiplies it 25 times, and its cutting edges, hardened to HRC 62-65, cut hard wire up to 3.0 mm in diameter.
- For a closer cut on soft wire: the Smooth Jaws Semi-Flush Cut Side Cutter Parallel Plier for Soft Wire 125 mm (4980-125) or the Smooth Jaws Semi-Flush Cut Side Cutter Parallel Plier for Soft Wire 140 mm (4980-140), whose smooth jaws won’t mark the workpiece.
- For cutting close to a surface: the Maun End Cutting Plier for Hard Wire 150 mm (3010-150), which multiplies your hand force 14 times and cuts nails and wire flush with the surface.
- For live electrical work: Maun’s 1000V insulated versions, certified to IEC 60900:2018 for use on or near live conductors up to 1000V AC and 1500V DC. Choose the 1000V Insulated Diagonal Cutting Plier for Hard Wire 140 mm (7100-140) or 160 mm (7100-160) to cut, or the 1000V Insulated Side Cutter Parallel Plier for Hard Wire 160 mm (7104-160) or 200 mm (7104-200) to grip and cut.
Whichever pair you choose, wear safety glasses when you cut hard wire, as the cut end can fly off, and isolate the circuit before you cut electrical cable. Never use side cutters that are not insulated on live wire.
You can buy all Maun side cutters from Maun’s official website, www.maunindustries.com, with free UK delivery, and every pair comes with a 12-month warranty, extended to 2 years when you register your tool.
FAQs
Are lineman pliers the same as side cutters?
No, lineman pliers are not the same as side cutters. Lineman pliers, which are usually called combination pliers in the UK, grip with flat serrated jaws and have a cutting edge near the pivot, while side cutters have no gripping jaws and are made only to cut. If you want one tool that grips well and cuts hard wire, we recommend side cutter parallel pliers, as their compound-lever cutters give you far more leverage than the cutting edge on a pair of single-pivot pliers.
Are side cutters and snips the same?
Yes, snips is another name for side cutters in the UK. However, tin snips (also called aviation snips) are a different tool: they are hand shears for cutting sheet metal, and they cut like scissors instead of wedging the metal apart.
What is the difference between a cable cutter and a wire cutter?
A cable cutter shears multi-strand cable with curved blades that wrap around it, while a wire cutter such as a pair of side cutters wedges solid wire apart with straight, bevelled cutting edges. If you cut multi-strand cable with side cutters, the wedge cut pushes the strands apart, so use a cable cutter for stranded cable.
That’s everything you need to know about diagonal cutters vs side cutters.
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.
Scroll back up to re-read any key points, browse our related pages below, or contact us with any questions.
More on cutters:
How-to guides: