best wire strippers

Best Wire Strippers: Top 6 of 2024 Reviewed

Last updated on February 28th, 2024.

Using a good pair of wire strippers is as smooth as slicing through soft butter with a chef’s knife.

While a bad pair of wire strippers have uncomfortable handgrips and constantly requires you to re-strip wire.

So to help you separate the good from the junk—we’ve reviewed the Top 6 Wire Strippers of 2024.

Buy with the confidence that you’re getting one of the best wire stripping tools on the market.

Let’s dive straight into the reviews.

Preview Product Key Features
Klein Tools 11055 Wire Cutter and Wire Stripper, Made in Usa, Stranded Wire Cutter, Solid Wire... Klein Tools 11055 Wire Cutter and Wire Stripper, Made in Usa, Stranded Wire Cutter, Solid Wire...
  • Cuts, strips, and loops 10-18 AWG Solid and 12-20 AWG Stranded wire and cleanly shears 6-32 and 8-32 screws
  • Precision ground stripping holes
  • Strong-gripping serrated nose for easy bending, shaping, and pulling of wire
KNIPEX Automatic Wire Stripper 10-24 AWG, 7.25 KNIPEX Automatic Wire Stripper 10-24 AWG, 7.25
  • Precision Grade Performance Tools
  • The Number 1 Choice Of Tradesman Worldwide
  • Comfortable In Use And Quality Assured Design
IRWIN VISE-GRIP Wire Stripper, 8 inch, Cuts 10-22 AWG, Plier Style Nose, ProTouch Grip for Maximum... IRWIN VISE-GRIP Wire Stripper, 8 inch, Cuts 10-22 AWG, Plier Style Nose, ProTouch Grip for...
  • Wire cutter with induction hardened cutting edge stays sharp longer
  • Strips and cuts 10-22 AWG
  • Pliers style nose allows wire stripper to pull and loop in wire
STANLEY Wire Stripper, 6-Inch (STHT74938) STANLEY Wire Stripper, 6-Inch (STHT74938)
  • Handle lock for safely storing in tool belts or tool boxes
  • Spring return provides smooth and consistent operation
  • Powder coated finish which provides rust and corrosion resistance
Milwaukee 48-22-3079 6-In-One Combination Wire Stripping and Reaming Pliers for Electricians Milwaukee 48-22-3079 6-In-One Combination Wire Stripping and Reaming Pliers for Electricians
  • WIRE STRIPPING: Strip 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 gauge bare wire. Alternatively, strip 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 gauge stranded wire
  • LOOP MAKING: Two holes in the center of the unit will accept 8-32 and 6-32 wires to make loops for grounding screws
  • REAMING: Smooth out your pipe edges from between 1/2 to 1 inches
Greenlee 1955-SS Stainless Steel Wire Stripper for 10-18 AWG Solid and 12-20 AWG Stranded,... Greenlee 1955-SS Stainless Steel Wire Stripper for 10-18 AWG Solid and 12-20 AWG Stranded,...
  • STAINLESS WIRE STRIPPER: Efficiently strips 10-18 AWG solid and 12-20 AWG stranded conductors to create precision ground stripping holes for easy, consistent jacket removal
  • SHEARS AND CRIMPS: Cleanly shears 6-32 and 8-32 bolts and crimps 16-10 insulated and non-insulated terminals for a superior performance every time
  • DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: High-grade stainless steel construction withstands heavy-duty use on the jobsite to last 5 times longer for years of quality use

Top 6 Best Wire Strippers

Klein Tools Wire Strippers

Klein Tools Wire Strippers allow you to cleanly shear, strip, and loop wire. They have a variety of holes for stripping different standard sizes of wire. The curved handles and double-dipped comfort grips are extremely comfortable (I’d expect nothing less from ‘comfort grips’). This helps minimize hand fatigue after a long day on the job!

Klein Tool’s wire strippers stand out as the top choice, setting the industry standard for excellence. Their robust, serrated nose ensures precise bending, shaping, and pulling of wires across various gauges, all while maintaining the wire’s integrity. For professionals in electrical work, this tool transforms challenging tasks into simple, efficient processes.

And best of all—they’re made in the USA.

Klein Tools have outdone themselves again with this wire stripper. The amount that you’re getting for the low price is something to feel in your hands and see online reviews of it to believe.

Klein’s reputation for crafting top-notch electrical tools like their circuit tracers speaks volumes, ensuring that this wire stripper provides exceptional value. But don’t just rely on our assurance – the plethora of glowing reviews from satisfied customers underscores the tool’s proven performance and reliability.

CHECK PRICE
Advantages
  • Made in the USA
  • Cuts, strips and loops 10-18 AWG Solid and 12-20 AWG Stranded wire
  • Holes for looping and bending wire
  • Cleanly shears 6-32 and 8-32 screws
Disadvantages
  • Grips only come in blue

Knipex Automatic Wire Strippers

The Knipex Automatic Wire Strippers are an excellent choice for the everyday electrician. They can cut wires that are about 2.5 mm2 thick and have a fiberglass reinforced body, making them sturdy enough to endure heavy-duty tasks!

The self-adjusting feature allows it to work well with any wire size while still being easy on your hands due its automatic nature; you’ll be able to complete projects more efficiently as a result of this time-saving device’s ease of use and speed!”

The Knipex Automatic Wire Stripper is ideal for professionals seeking both durability and efficiency, enhancing productivity and ensuring long-lasting performance on any job site.

Cutting your insulation wire has never been easier! Get the most out of this product with its self-adjustable depth gauge that allows you to remove insulation located at end. The adjustable length stop ranges from 6 mm – 18mm, giving a constant stripping length when doing repetitive work.

Investing in these pliers means getting unmatched quality and durability. The fiberglass housing not only imparts exceptional strength but also enables the precision cutting of aluminum wires up to 2.5mm, ensuring convenience and reliability in every cut.

With Knipex’s proven track record for making high-quality electrical tools like these, it shouldn’t be hard choosing one if not two pairs today as their products are guaranteed to last long term without any issues or defects occurring

The Knipex Wire Cutters are a great choice for professionals who want to get the most out of their time and money. The wire cutters can work with single, fine, or stranded cables from 0.2-6mm thickness (with standard insulation) without any problem at all!

You’ll be able to easily strip away your wires in no time if you have these handy tools on hand during projects – they’re worth every penny

CHECK PRICE
Advantages
  • Adjusts automatically to the respective cable cross-section
  • Durable - Can cut cables up to 10-20 AWG
  • Works well with larger gauges
  • Use the precise setting you wish to strip from 22-8 AWG wires with ease
  • Self-adjusting wire stripper
Disadvantages
  • Slightly pricier than other options
  • Inaccurate tension for smaller gauges

Irwin Vise-Grip Wire Strippers

If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly pair of wire strippers, be sure to consider this product from Irwin. Not only are they safe and easy on your hands thanks to their self adjusters that allow them to fit 10-22 AWG wires, but these pliers also come with an induction hardened cutting edge so it’ll stay sharp longer while handling copper or aluminum wiring!

These wire cutters will provide quick and easy stripping, as well as cutting. The tool has a crimping section too- all you have to do is use the right one for your desired connection!

The bold labeling on this cutter makes it simple to identify what type of connections you are looking for; whether that be standard or metric cuts. This wire cutter also features an assisted jaw opening which helps when there’s no time in sight- get back into the game without missing a beat!

With their soft rubber grip, the Irwin self-adjusting wire strippers offer superior control and handling, allowing you to use them without your hand getting sore. The vise grips allow for a comfortable gripping experience while also providing precision cutting capabilities with minimal effort on behalf of the user.

The Irwin Vise Grip Wire Cutters are available at an affordable price point which is great for those looking to save money during tough economic times or professional electricians who work in demanding environments where they need reliable tools that don’t break easily.

If you’re looking for an affordable wire stripper, the Irwin Vise-Grip Self-Adjusting Wire Cutter is a great choice. This tool can be used on any size of cable or cord and will handle even the toughest jobs with ease – no matter what your budget may be!

CHECK PRICE
Advantages
  • Self-adjusting Wire Stripping Tool
  • Affordable Price
  • Has a 10-22 AWG selection dial adjuster
  • Can be used for cutting, crimping, and stripping
  • Crimps insulated and non-insulated terminals
Disadvantages
  • Have to pull the levers open after usage
  • Doesn’t work well with larger wires

Stanley Wire Strippers

In the DIY world, you can’t have too many wire strippers. The Stanley Wire Stripper is a standard cutter that’s good for basic stripping and cutting tasks with sizes ranging from 10-20 AWG wires. With its reliable spring return, it provides consistent and smooth operation – not to mention being safer than using a pair of pliers!

For those who want an extra bit of corrosion protection in their toolbox or on their belt loop, this model offers some added powder coating; just be careful since these blades are tough enough to cut metal if used improperly. This would make an excellent addition to your collection whether as one more set (or another design) or even replacing something old.

For those engaged in heavy-duty cutting, the Stanley Wire Cutters are an excellent selection. They’re not just robust for stripping wires and peeling cable jackets but also feature an integrated wire stripper, designed to ensure safety during intricate tasks involving power cables or electronic equipment.

But one of the downsides isn’t just its construction: because these are not spring-loaded pliers they can make life difficult when trying to perform finer tasks like crimping contacts onto copper wiring–going with something else would save time in this instance!

CHECK PRICE

Advantages
  • Handle lock helps with safely storing in tool boxes or tool belts
  • Spring return provides consistent and smooth operation
  • Powdered rust which gives corrosion resistance
Disadvantages
  • Weak copper wire stripper
  • Bad wire cutter for 10-22 AWG wire
  • Doesn’t strip wires as easily as we’d like

Milwaukee Wire Strippers

Next on our list is the Milwaukee Wire Strippers. The handle spring makes it easier to close (for little hand fatigue). And the locking mechanism uses a one-handed metal latch, instead of a two-handed plastic side clip which may be difficult for children with small hands and shorter fingers.

These wire cutters can handle up to 10 gauge stranded wires and 8 gauge solid cables, plus handles have more arch that’s similar in shape as most try cable cutters so you get less force needed when cutting thicker cables.

Plus this design keeps your hands from sliding off during larger cuts or if there are multiple strands at once making these great tools not only safe but also effective with minimal effort!

When it comes to wire strippers, you can’t go wrong with Milwaukee. Their affordable set of four features plastic handles that provide a comfortable grip and work well for most stripping jobs. The only downfall is their limited adhesive on the handle which may cause them to fall off when using if they are not handled carefully.

CHECK PRICE
Advantages
  • Great budget wire cutter
  • Rust protection
  • Strips wire with relative ease
  • Curved cutting blade
  • Forged alloy steel
Disadvantages
  • Outclassed by the Irwin vise-grip wire cutter
  • Jaws don’t align with the wire cutter section
  • Plastic locking clip

Greenlee Wire Strippers

Greenlee Wire Strippers are a good way to keep your wire stripper needs in check. This is because the Greenlee has multiple functions such as stripping, plier nose, bolt threading/shearing, and loopholes that you can use when working on different projects at home or around town.

It also offers great durability with its cutlery grade stainless steel while still offering comfort for hands thanks to it’s rubberized handles that tend not be fall off easily even during rigorous work conditions like those found on construction sites

The blades on these wire cutters are quite sharp, so make sure to take extra care when you’re stripping wire. You don’t want a nasty accident while your hands get all bloody and gross!

I like that the Greenlee Wire Cutters come with replaceable parts in case something gets damaged during use – it’s nice not having to worry about being left high-and-dry if one of those pieces breaks off from heavy-duty work out in the field.

CHECK PRICE
Advantages
  • Precision Ground Stripping holes
  • Durable stainless steel design
  • Serrated nose and looping holes for bending
  • Low lock profile for fast and repetitive cutting
Disadvantages
  • Weak rubber handles
  • Poor insulation removal
  • Outclassed by Klein Tools Wire Stripper

About Thomas Hawkins

I run Electrician Apprentice Headquarters, a one-stop-shop for learning how to become a licensed electrician in the USA. I'm a licensed Master Electrician with over 20 years experience working in the Mining & Construction industries. Why do I do it? Well, because even plumbers need heroes.

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