Best Lineman's Side-cutting Pliers of 2025

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Lineman's side-cutting pliers are an essential tool for any electrician or tradesperson. These pliers are designed to cut through thick wire and cable, and are also useful for gripping and bending materials. They are made from high-quality materials that ensure durability and longevity, making them a reliable tool for any job. With their comfortable grip and precision cutting ability, these pliers are a must-have for anyone who works with electrical wiring or other materials that require cutting and gripping.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Lineman's Side-cutting Pliers
Vanquish 8 Inch High-Leverage Linemans Pliers
The Vanquish Linemans Pliers are designed for durability and efficiency. Made from CR-V steel, their heat-treated surface enhances hardness and toughness, making them ideal for cutting through tough materials. The ergonomic handles ensure a comfortable grip, reducing hand fatigue during prolonged use. With a high-leverage design, these pliers require 30% less effort to cut wires compared to standard options, allowing you to work more efficiently. Perfect for various tasks, they are versatile tools for both DIY enthusiasts and professionals.
Klein Tools High Leverage Side Cutter Pliers
The Klein Tools Pliers are designed for cutting ACSR, screws, nails, and most hardened wire with ease. Their high-leverage design places the rivet closer to the cutting edge, giving you 46% more cutting and gripping power compared to standard pliers. You can expect long-lasting performance thanks to the induction hardened cutting knives. Additionally, the hot-riveted joint ensures smooth operation without any handle wobble, making your tasks more efficient and comfortable.
IRWIN VISE-GRIP Lineman's Pliers 9-1/2"
The IRWIN Lineman's Pliers are crafted from durable nickel chromium steel, ensuring long-lasting performance. With ProTouch grips, you can enjoy extra comfort while working, significantly reducing hand fatigue. The induction hardened cutting edge remains sharper for an extended period, making your cutting tasks easier and more efficient. Additionally, the machined jaws provide maximum gripping strength, allowing you to tackle tough jobs with confidence. These features combine to enhance your overall experience and effectiveness in various applications.
Klein Tools 9-Inch Side Cutter Pliers
The Klein Tools Side Cutters are designed with glow-in-the-dark grips, allowing you to easily find your tool in dark areas. These grips charge under both natural and artificial light, making them convenient for use in low-lit conditions. They are capable of cutting ACSR, screws, nails, and most hardened wires, ensuring versatility in various tasks. With a high-leverage design, the rivet placement provides 46% more cutting and gripping power compared to other pliers, making your jobs quicker and easier.
BOOSDEN Mini Lineman's Pliers Set of 5
The BOOSDEN Mini Pliers are crafted from high carbon steel, ensuring durable jaws and cutting edges that remain sharp for longer. These 5-inch side cutters are perfect for gripping components, twisting screws, and cutting or bending wire. Featuring a spring design, they make operation effortless, saving you time and energy during tasks. The comfortable rubber handles reduce friction, providing a non-slip grip that enhances your control and comfort while using the pliers, whether for electrician work or jewellery making.
Klein Tools 9-Inch Side Cutter Pliers
The Klein Tools Side Cutters are designed for comfort and efficiency. With thicker dipped handles, they provide a secure grip, even when wearing gloves, making them ideal for various tasks. You will appreciate their high-leverage design, which offers greater cutting power, allowing you to tackle tougher materials with ease. The induction-hardened cutting knives ensure longevity, so you can rely on them for repeated use. Additionally, the hot-riveted joint guarantees smooth action without any handle wobble, enhancing your overall experience.
IRWIN 8-Inch Vise-Grip Lineman's Pliers
The IRWIN Lineman's Pliers are designed with durability in mind, featuring nickel-chromium steel construction that ensures longevity. The ProTouch grips offer exceptional comfort, helping to reduce hand fatigue during prolonged use. You will appreciate the induction-hardened cutting edge, which remains sharper for longer, making cutting tasks easier. Additionally, the machined jaws provide maximum gripping strength, allowing you to tackle a variety of tasks with confidence and efficiency.
SPEEDWOX 6 Inch High Leverage Lineman Pliers
The SPEEDWOX Lineman Pliers are designed for various tasks, making them a versatile tool for your toolbox. The multi-function nature allows you to easily remove screws, nuts, and bolts while cutting both solid and soft wire. With a high leverage design, you will find that it provides greater force at the cutting edge, making tough jobs simpler. The ergonomic handles ensure comfort and a non-slip grip, which enhances safety and efficiency during use.
Klein Tools 80043 Heavy Duty Tool Set
The Klein Tools 80043 Set offers exceptional cutting and gripping power, thanks to a rivet positioned closer to the cutting edge. This feature makes it ideal for cutting ACSR, screws, nails, and wire, ensuring you can tackle various tasks with ease. The hot-riveted joint provides smooth action and eliminates handle wobble, which enhances your control during use. Additionally, the diagonal cutters are designed with high leverage, empowering you to cut through tougher materials without excessive effort.
KAIHAOWIN 4-in-1 Linesman Pliers with Stripper
The KAIHAOWIN Linesman Pliers are designed for versatility, enabling you to cut, strip, crimp, and grip wires with ease. The effort-saving design features a high-leverage mechanism and built-in spring, reducing hand fatigue and making your tasks more efficient. Made from premium high-carbon steel, these pliers promise exceptional durability and strength, ideal for tough conditions. The ergonomic, non-slip handles provide a comfortable grip, while the safety lock ensures secure storage when not in use, adding to your convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why are they called lineman's pliers?
Lineman pliers are named for the occupation of electrical linesmen. The job of being an electrical linesman was born in the 1840s, with the invention of the telegraph.
2. What are New England style lineman's pliers?
SIDE CUTTING PLIERS WITH NEW ENGLAND NOSE are a well-made pair of what's also known as "lineman pliers." They have a robust rubber grip, heavily etched gripping jaws and a fairly sharp set of cutting knives. They fit nicely in the hand, even when wearing heavy gloves.
3. What are side cutting pliers called?
Diagonal pliers (or wire cutters or diagonal cutting pliers or diagonal cutters or side cutters or dikes or Nippy cutter) are pliers intended for the cutting of wire (they are generally not used to grab or turn anything).
4. What is a lineman's plier used for?
Lineman's pliers are used by electricians to straighten, cut, grip, twist, push, and pull wire. They are used to cut and bend light gauge metal and pull staples and nails. The angular edges on the outside edge of the jaws are designed to ream down ridges and burs on the inside lip of cut pipes.
During our lineman's side-cutting pliers research, we found 65 lineman's side-cutting pliers products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 35,151 customer reviews through our big data system to write the lineman's side-cutting pliers list. We found that most customers choose lineman's side-cutting pliers with an average price of £30.23.
The lineman's side-cutting pliers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of lineman's side-cutting pliers, including Vanquish, KLEIN TOOLS, IRWIN, BOOSDEN, SPEEDWOX.

Jennifer Fraser is a licensed contractor specializing in sales, maintenance, and kitchen, bathroom, and home appliances, tools, and utilities. She owns a store in Leeds where you can get any home and tool appliance. Jenny has a degree in literature, but she combines her knowledge and experience with her degree to publish DIY articles on solving home appliances issues to keep up the family enterprise.