Best Linesman Pliers For Electricians: Top 8 Picks of 2024 Reviewed

My hands were throbbing in pain.

My linesman pliers could barely open wide enough to fit the electrical wire I needed to slice. And even when they could – they struggled to actually cut it. It was then I learned a crucial lesson – don’t waste your time with a poorly made set of lineman pliers.

Using a high-quality set of lineman’s pliers makes your work easier, and more enjoyable. A good set of lineman’s pliers should effortlessly cut wire, have comfortable cushion hand grips, and be nice and lightweight – all at an affordable price.

There are a lot of popular electrical plier brands out there – like Knipex, Klein and Channellock – which can make finding the best set of linesman pliers difficult for apprentice electricians and lineman.

So we’ve taken the hard work out of finding a good set of electrical pliers – here’s our review of the Top 8 Linesman Pliers on the market.

Klein Linesman Pliers

• Cuts through screws, ASCR, and most hardened wire
• Smooth slicing motion
• Made in the USA

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Knipex Linesman Pliers

• Easy cutting – effortlessly slices through wires
• Comfortable cushion-grip handles
• Safety Rated to 1000V

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Irwin Linesman Pliers

• Durable nickel chromium steel construction
• High gripping strength
• Great price

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Top 8 Best Electrical Pliers For Electricians

Klein Lineman Pliers – Best Overall

Klein sets the bar high in the industry with their Linesman Pliers. These Lineman’s High Leverage Side Cutting Pliers are not just any tool; they’re a must-have for electricians, thanks to their robust design, solid construction, and fair pricing.

There are more than capable of handling heavy-duty projects where wires over 1 inch need to be cut.

We love their ability to cut through hot-metal with ease. This is all made possible because of the tool’s high-leverage design. Klein placed the pliers’ rivet towards the cutting edge – giving it 46% more cutting power than many other poorly made electrical pliers.

These Linesman Pliers feature bright heavy-duty plastic handles – making them comfortable and easy to spot. You’ll find these very comfortable to use in all your DIY projects.

These well-made steel pliers cut through nails and copper wire like soft butter. Its cutting jaws kiss close, giving you the ability to cut through hardwire in a ‘click-clack’ motion.

For those heavy-duty jobs, Klein’s Linesman Pliers are equipped with a precision-hardened plier head. Klein’s unique handle tempering helps with absorbing the “snap” when cutting through wire.

The time and effort saved with these electrical pliers make them an easy buy for anyone who wants to simplify their electrical projects.

Knipex Insulated Lineman Pliers – Premium Choice

Knipex’s Linesman Pliers are the Rolls Royce of pliers.

Once you get yourself a pair of these, you’ll realize how much time you were wasting using a set of low-quality electrical pliers.

A lot of engineering has gone into perfecting this elegantly simple plier design. The weight of these pliers is very well balanced, and they feel great in your hands.

The soft-grip handles provide a good balance of firmness and cushion to your wrists. This helps in minimizing hand fatigue while allowing you to keep a solid grip on the pliers (which is crucial working as a lineman or electrician).

Knipex pliers meet rigorous national and international insulation standards, including IEC 60900 and ASTM F1505, and comply with NFPA-70E. They offer insulation up to 1000 V, ensuring safety with clear 1000-volt rating markings.

Another thing that’s great about these electrical pliers is their inner grip area. The serrated cross-hatched knurled gripping zone allows you to conveniently remove nails and other stuck objects.

This gripping zone is also really handy for gripping and pulling wires.

It’s hard to put into words just how great these lineman’s pliers are. They just work. They do everything you would expect from a pair of ideal lineman pliers:

• They slice through wires like soft spaghetti
• The grip handles are extremely comfortable
• They are insulated up to 1000 V (as per insulated tool standards)
• They are able to quickly remove nails and other unwanted objects
• They can easily grip and pull wires

The only downside to these lineman pliers is that they’re not the cheapest available.

But they are still reasonably priced – especially when you consider the quality craftsmanship and engineering that have gone into perfecting these pliers. Highly recommended set of electrical pliers for any electrician or lineman who’s serious about efficiency. Combined with a good pair of lineman boots, you’ll find your workday just got a whole lot easier.

Irwin Lineman Pliers – Great Value

For most on-the-job electrical tasks, the Irwin Linesman Pliers are your best friend.

They have ProTouch grips that provide extra comfort and minimize hand fatigue.

Irwin’s affordability doesn’t compromise its quality. These pliers boast 3-zone comfort grips and hardened cutting edges, adept at slicing through piano wire, ASCR, screws, and nails effortlessly.

Irwin Lineman’s Pliers delivers up to 3x more gripping power than the traditional locking pliers. They also feature a 10QR curved jaw for torquing and gripping multiple surface shapes and for creating pressure points on four points on any bolt head or style nut.

You won’t have to worry about a replacement when getting these electrical pliers. The pliers come with machined jaws that provide the maximum gripping strength. Since it meets the ANSI specifications, these pliers will help you complete your projects in no time.

These pliers are made from high-quality chromium steel, and the weight feels very well-balanced in your hand. Irwin has a proven track record for making high-quality pliers at a great price, producing some of the best diagonal cutting pliers on the market.

These pliers are extremely rust-resistant – even in moist conditions. Irwin has backed up their pliers with a lifetime guarantee.

While they don’t quite have the sheer cutting strength of Knipex or Klein, these are a great value set of lineman’s pliers.

If you’re looking for a cheap, quality set of pliers – Irwin Linesman Pliers are a great choice.

Channellock Electrical Lineman Pliers

Channellock’s innovative Xtreme Leverage Technology has transformed linesman pliers for the better. By positioning the rivet close to the cutting edge, it significantly reduces the force needed compared to traditional high-leverage designs.

The combination of heat-treated cutting edges and XLT makes this set of electrical pliers a great asset in any electrician’s toolbox.

The Channellock Linesman Pliers come with comfortable blue grips. These grips make it easier to wield the tool, even when cutting through high-density wire. The blue handles also make the pliers easy to spot inside your toolbox.

You’re going to love the diverse range of metals this set of pliers can cut through. The Channellock Linesman Pliers can cut piano wire (0.47 to 0.091 inches), soft wire (0.162-inch diameter), medium hard wire (0.047 – 0.091), and hard wire (0.047 – 0.091 inches).

For those heavy duty cutting jobs, the Channellock Linesman Pliers are a great mid-range set of pliers. But they struggle to differentiate themselves from Klein Lineman’s Pliers, which offer similar features at a lower price-point.

VamPLIERS Electrical Lineman Pliers

Every electrician should have VamPLIERS Linesman Pliers ready to go. Crafted in Japan from hardened Kobe steel, these pliers glide through Torx screws, nuts, and bolts with unparalleled ease.

VamPLIERS patented plier design means you won’t have any issues cutting through rusted material either. The insane strength of these electrical pliers makes it super easy to cut through both standard and rusted metal.

As a free bonus gift, these VamPLIERS also come with a FREE tool pouch. Click here to order your VamPLIERS with a free touch pouch (at no extra cost to you).

If you’re looking for an ergonomic pair of pliers, VamPLIERS won’t leave you disappointed. The ergonomic T-shaped elastomer handle gives you a lot of leverage for twisting, gripping, crimping, and pulling wire.

As VamPLIERS are 20% lighter than standard linesman pliers, first-time electricians will feel at ease when using this tool. As they have many of the features of combination pliers, they’re definitely the best combination pliers on this list.

For first time linesman who wants a pair of pliers that will last – VamPLIERS Linesman Pliers are a great choice. Not only are they designed for hardwire cutting, but it’s also RoHS compliant for use within most industries.

Overall VamPLIERS are a great pick up if you’re looking for a premium set of lineman’s pliers that aren’t quite as pricey as Knipex. They’re also the best set of combination pliers on this list if you’re looking to bend, cut, strip, and grip wire with your set of electrical pliers.

Southwire Electrical Lineman Pliers

Southwire Lineman Pliers features induction hardened cutting blades that ensure a long-lasting, and efficient cutting surfaces for soft and hard wire. Due to its strength, it’s able to cut through ⅛” and ¼” fish tapes without experiencing any damage.

You’ll get a lot of cutting power with these electrical pliers. For example, there are file teeth on the jaws of the pliers to help remove burrs located in the conduit. It has a drop forged 6150 alloy steel to help with his durability.

Plus, it features a crimping die for terminals, lugs, and non-crimping die. These pliers are able to cut through screws, nails, ASCR, and hardened wire. So you’ll have no issues when cutting through the toughest of wires.

Created from forged steel, these are a durable, well-crafted set of cutting pliers.

Similar to VamPLIERS – these are by no means a bad set of pliers. But. They are in a weird spot in the market.

Klein’s Linesman Pliers have more cutting power and are cheaper. Knipex’s Linesman Pliers are better no matter which way you look at it – they’re just a bit more pricey.

So really you should only pick up a pair of Southwire Lineman’s Pliers if you’re specifically looking for a set of pliers with lots of grip padding – but aren’t quite willing to spend the money on Knipex’s pliers.

Craftsman Electrical Lineman Pliers

The Craftsman Linesman Pliers were built to last.

They are constructed out of forged high-carbon steel, making them a great choice when working with hot objects.

These electrical pliers have a high-leverage rivet location – yielding a 26% improvement in gripping and cutting. You won’t have to worry about these pliers failing on a thick piece of wire.

The precision-matched jaws are perfect for cutting, twisting, and gripping.

The main things that hold these pliers back are their grips. While they’re tear resistant, their cushioning is poor – which can lead to hand fatigue over time.

Consider getting a pair of Craftsman Lineman’s Pliers if you’re looking for a durable and robust mid-range set of pliers.

Dewalt Electrical Lineman Pliers

Last on our list is the Dewalt Linesman Pliers.

Although these might be good enough for small personal projects, we’ve noticed some difficulties when cutting through thicker wire.

The pliers handle correctly and have a convenient spring mechanism. However, they are unable to open fully for it to handle regular electrician’s work. The lock switch doesn’t work and frequently slides out of position.

Durability wise, you’re better off getting a stronger pair of electrical pliers. These pliers are constructed out of sheet metal. We found that they were nowhere near as strong as other pliers we reviewed – like Klein’s or Knipex’s Linesman Pliers.

While most lineman pliers have a fully functional locking mechanism, the Dewalt Linesman Pliers do not. It will engage, but then it pops off when the handles are open.

Due to these quality issues – you’re better off buying another pair of pliers on this list.

What are Linesman Pliers Used For?

Lineman pliers are used to:

1. Cut Metal Objects: The strength of a lineman’s pliers means that they can be used to cut nails and screws. The cutting craw of the pliers can hold and cut the threaded screws up to size 10 and can cut through plain drywall screws and most nails.
2. Remove Bends From Soft Metals: You can use lineman’s pliers to remove warps and bends from lead or brass. Start by heating the metal via an acetylene torch. After that, cover it using an asbestos cloth and then add pressure in order to straighten the bent and warped edges.
3. Clean Rough/Smooth Metal Edges: Use the flat nose part of the lineman’s pliers to flatten sharp metal edges.
4. Bend and Straighten Sheet Metal, Cable, and Wire: Linesman wires are useful in creating 90° bends in sheet metal, and wire. Place a soft piece of cloth around the sheet metal, before using the pliers. Stretch your wire piece over your square nose of pliers to create precise 90° angles. For dedicated wire-stripping, you may be better off with a good pair of wire strippers.

Lineman pliers are also sometimes referred to as combination pliers, although technically they’re not the same thing. You can read more about the differences here. Although with that said, the best combination pliers and best lineman pliers have a good amount of overlap.

Types of Linesman Pliers

The most common types of linesman pliers are:

• Insulated Linesman Pliers
• Snap-on Linesman Pliers
• Linesman Pliers with Crimp
• Linesman Pliers with Spring

Insulated Linesman Pliers

For dangerous electric projects (where there’s a high chance you’ll get shocked), we suggest that you grab a pair of insulated linesman pliers. Unlike traditional pliers, the insulted linesman pliers are designed to protect the user from electric shocks, especially when working on live circuits.

Usually, insulated linesman pliers are certified with withstand a specific amount of voltage. (i.e. 1000V). When shopping for an insulated linesman plier, try to get one whose voltage limit matches the same voltage power of the unit you’re currently working on.

Snap-on Linesman Pliers

While not as durable as other pliers, snap-on linesman pliers are great for simple projects that require minimal durability. Most electricians carry a pair of snap-on pliers because they are easily replaceable and easier to use.

When using them, you’ll notice that they have a stiff joint. This means that you’ll have to physically open and close the pliers, while newer models tend to open on their own. So keep an extra pair just in case your previous tools aren’t working!

Linesman Pliers with Crimp

There are some pliers that come with crimpers to help with cutting the wire. Here are some benefits when using this “crimp connector” pliers:

• Because it doesn’t use any alloys, the joint is stronger mechanically.
• A well-designed crimp connector will be gas tight, which stops the moisture and oxygen from reaching the materials.

So if you’re planning on cutting alloy-based metal, then crimper pliers are the way to go. Crimper connector pliers will help you make accurate cuts without having to struggle with the wire. So have a few in your arsenal!

Linesman Pliers with Spring

Spring loaded pliers are good for all-purpose linesman work. Due to their design, they are less likely to obtain rust in comparison to other pliers.

Thus, if you’re going to need some pliers for everyday work, you can’t go wrong with spring-loaded pliers.

How to Sharpen Linesman Pliers

You don’t have to sharpen your pliers often unless you put them to work regularly. Although it might be easier to go out and buy a new set of pliers, you can repair the pliers you already have.

First, start by placing your pliers in an open position, you can have access to its wire-cutting blades. While you can sharpen the pliers with your hands, it’s not advisable because the small metal splinters might reach your skin.

Depending on the wear of the blades (whether its minimal corrosion or noticeable nicks on the blade), you’ll have to use either an emery board or a knife sharpener. For light corrosion, you can use an emery board. Just use the emery board and begin to file the blades.

For dents and nicks, you’ll have to use a knife sharpening blade. Cover the surface of the cutting blade so that it has a uniform sharpening. When filing, try to keep to its original angles and begin to close the pliers’ jaws so it can close correctly.

How to use Linesman Pliers

As we stated earlier, Linesman pliers are can be used for practically any task that involves cutting through wire.

For instance, if you want to pull out nails and extract screws, you start by gripping the bent head of the screw or nail and extract it out of the wood using the pliers.

Grab the top of the screw and turn it in the direction opposite of when it was inserted. When done, you’ll notice that your pliers have removed the faulty screw!

Combination Pliers vs Linesman Pliers

Lineman’s pliers are used by artisans, electricians, and other tradesmen to help with gripping, twisting, and removing wire.

It uses reinforced jaws, pincers, or insulated handles. There is a joint at the nose to help with optical gripping, and there’s a cutting edge on the craw.

Combination pliers offer more versatility. They can be used to bend, cut, strip, and grip wire. The gripping jaws can be used to compress objects and materials.

Combination pliers can also be used to close chain links – such as the ones used to create chainmail or jewelry.