Best Electrician Tools List: Top 10 Electrical Tools of 2024

Today I’m going to show you the best tools used by electricians around the world.

These tools are a must-have for electricians who don’t want to waste their time and money working with poorly made electrical tools.

Whether you’re a journeyman or an apprentice electrician – you need a quality set of electrical tools.

There are a lot of electrical tool brands out there, which can make it a bit confusing to know if you’re getting a good set of electricians tools.

So we’ve done the hard work for you.

Here is a list of the Top 10 Best Electrician Tool Brands of 2024:

1. Multimeter – Fluke 117
2. Electricians Toolbelt – Occidental Leather
3. Voltage Sensor – Sperry Instruments
4. Electricians Wire Strippers – Klein Tools
5. Linesman Pliers – Knipex
6. Electrical Fish Tape – Southwire
7. Electricians Insulated Screwdriver – Klein Tools
8. Electrical Safety Glasses – Dewalt
9. Headlamp – Neolight
10. Tape Measure – Stanley

Let’s jump straight into the reviews.

Top 10 Best Electricians Hand Tools

Multimeter – Fluke 117

The Fluke 117 Multimeter isn’t just a tool; it’s a reliable partner for any electrician. Its performance speaks for itself, delivering what you need, when you need it, without any fuss.

Consistent, dependable, and straightforward, the Fluke 117 is everything an electrician looks for in a multimeter.

Fluke’s tagline for this multimeter is literally “The Ideal Multimeter for Electricians”. I was initially skeptical – I’m sure every company thinks that their multimeter is “Ideal”. 

While that may be true, Fluke’s 117 multimeter stays true to its tagline.

Everything about this multimeter just screams quality. The crystal clear display. The LED backlight. The AutoVolt function (which autodetects AC/DC voltage for you). Its CAT III safety rating. Its intuitive and easy-to-use user interface. Its True RMS accuracy.

All the way down to the way it feels in your hand. Fluke has really outdone themselves on this one. There was clearly a lot and back and forth between electricians and the engineers at Fluke to produce this baby.

And unlike many competitors, Fluke is standing behind the quality of their devices. The Fluke 117 multimeter comes with a generous 3-year warranty.

Here’s a list of features that come with the Fluke 117:

• Measures resistance, continuity, frequency, and capacitance
• Provides Min/Max/Average to record signal fluctuations
• AutoVolt and low input impedance modes to provide faster, more accurate readings
• Features compact ergonomic design for one-handed operation
• A 3 year warranty
• CAT III 600 V safety rated
• A large white LED backlight to improve measurement visibility in poorly lit areas
• AutoVolt and low input impedance modes provide faster, more accurate readings
• VoltAlert™ technology for fast, go/no-go non-contact voltage detection
• Comes with a holster with probe holders for easy storage

The only downside to this multimeter is that it’s slightly pricier than some alternatives (see our reviews of the best multimeters available). But. I don’t care. And you shouldn’t either.

Because as electricians we rely on our multimeters a lot. It’s an essential tool for an electrician. So going for cheaply made no-name brands ends up hurting you in the end.

The money you save upfront on a cheaper multimeter is worthless when you consider that (a) it’s not going to last as long and (b) you’re losing time on every job you work on when you use a second-rate device.

Fluke has an established track record for creating high-quality, accurate measuring devices (they have one of the best tone generator and probe kits on the market).

So save yourself the headache – get a Fluke 117. An excellent addition to any electrician tools list.

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Electricians Toolbelt – Occidental Leather

The Occidental Leather Toolbelt embodies comfort, convenience, and quality, all wrapped into one. It’s designed to make your job easier, ensuring every tool has its place, right at your fingertips.

This toolbelt provides a tonne of storage space. It’s comfortable, and surprising lightweight – weighing in at a low 5.3 pounds.

The belt has an adjustable strap and comes in 6 different sizes – from Small to XXX-Large. So it’s very easy to find the perfect fit.

One of the bags attached to the belt features four large compartments for larger pieces of equipment, while the other bag holds over 30 pouches. There are dozens of different tool compartments, pockets, clips, and straps. There’s plenty of room for your full list of electrician’s tools.

The toolbelt features specialized compartments designed to hold specific tools – like screwdrivers, pliers, and an insulation resistance tester. These are very handy and give each tool a nice snug fit – securing them in place while you’re walking around.

The belt itself is constructed from high-quality leather. It looks good, it feels good, and it’s made in the USA. Which is exactly what you want from something that you’ll have strapped around you for hours at a time.

While it’s not the cheapest toolbelt on the market, its superior craftsmanship and comfort more than makeup for this. That said if you’re looking for a lower-cost option, check out our reviews of the best electrician’s tool belts.

Opting for a budget toolbelt might seem like a good idea initially, but often they fall short in durability and comfort, leading to additional costs over time.

Better to buy a quality tool belt that you’ll actually use than a cheap toolbelt that’ll just take up space in your cupboard. This is a fantastic belt to hold all of your electrical tools in.

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Voltage Sensor – Sperry Instruments

An indispensable tool for any electrician is a reliable non-contact voltage tester. Sperry Instruments Voltage Sensor stands out for its durability, ease of use, and accuracy, making it a top recommendation.

Sperry has done a fantastic job of making a durable voltage sensor that is portable, lightweight, and easy to use.

What I love about this sensor is that it has an adjustable sensitivity dial, allowing it to detect the presence of AC Voltage from as low as 12 V to up to 1000 V AC.

It’s also really obvious when a voltage is detected.

Not only will you see a 360 degree flashing red light, but there is a distinct “beeping” sound – which is very useful.

The voltage sensor has some great safety features. The fully insulated probe tip eliminates the risk of contacting live electrical wires, while the patented battery check feature ensures that the tester and batteries are operating properly. This is crucial for eliminating false negative readings.

Here’s a list of features for Sperry Instrument’s Voltage Sensor:

• Adjustable non-contact sensitivity detects voltage from 12-1000V AC
• Audible and 360-degree flashing visual indication
• Allows for sensitivity adjustments in multiple-wire applications
• Operates from single AAA battery
• Patented battery self-test feature
• Soft grip with a contoured design
• Pocket clip
• CAT III 1000 V Safety Rated

Now with all these features, you would be forgiven for thinking that this voltage sensor is going to cost you a pretty penny. But it’s actually very well priced. If you’re looking to explore other options, check out our full review on the best non contact voltage testers.

But to us, this voltage sensor is an easy buy for any electrician on a budget. An excellent addition to any electrician tools list.

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Electricians Wire Strippers – Klein Tools

Cutting and stripping electrical wires are a daily part of an electrician’s duties.

Klein Wire Cutters 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’s wire strippers really are best in class. The strong-gripped serrated nose makes it easy to bend, shape, and pull wire.

And: they’re made in the USA.

Here’s a list of features of Klein Wire Cutters:

• Cleanly shears 6-32 and 8-32 screws
• Double-dipped comfort grips with curved handles
• Cuts, strips, and loops 10-18 AWG Solid and 12-20 AWG Stranded wire
• Holes for looping and bending wire
• Precision ground stripping holes
• Strong-gripping serrated nose for easy bending, shaping and pulling of wire
• Coil spring provides fast self-opening action
• Easy-to-read markings
• Made in the USA

Klein has a proven track record of good value for money, with one of the best electrical circuit tracers on the market at a great price. That said if you’re looking for a more detailed comparison of wire strippers, you can check out our full post on the best wire strippers for electricians.

But regardless of whether you’re an apprentice electrician or Master Electrician – Klein’s wire strippers are a fantastic hand tool to add to your electrician tools list.

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Linesman Pliers – Knipex

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 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. Unlike other hand tools, your hand won’t be cramping up after 5 minutes.

The handles are insulated in accordance with national and international standards for insulated tools (IEC 60900 and ASTM F1505), and they also comply with NFPA-70E. They are insulated up to 1000 V and are clearly marked with the official 1000-volt rating symbol.

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

The 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. If you’re looking for a lower-cost alternative, check out our reviews of the best lineman pliers.

But they are still reasonably priced – especially when you consider the quality craftsmanship and engineering that have gone into perfecting these pliers. A highly recommended addition to any electrician tools list.

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Electrical Fish Tape – Southwire

It’s amazing how much easier a job gets when you’re using a good quality reel of fish tape (learn what fish tape is).

Working with clunky, hard-to-pull fish tape is an easy way to suck the fun out of a job.

Clearly, Southwire understands this frustration, as they have gone above and beyond to make a fish tape which is extremely easy to pull in and out.

The fish tape is made with high quality 1/8”-wide tempered spring steel. This ensures that the fish tape doesn’t wear out as you constantly wind and unwind the fish tape.

Laser-etched footage markings in 12-inch increments make it ridiculously easy to determine the conduit length during a pull. The fish tape itself comes in 5 different lengths:

• 25-foot
• 50-foot
• 65-foot
• 125-foot
• 240-foot

Often when one size isn’t big enough, there is a huge jump in the next length increment. What I like about Southwire’s 5 different lengths is that you’re not paying extra for an overly-large reel length.

Getting the right-sized length means that you’re not paying extra for a fish tape you’re not going to use – saving your money.

When evaluating fish tape, it’s important to pay close attention to the case itself. If you’re like me, you are constantly dropping your reel of fish tape. That’s why it’s essential to have a high-impact case to properly absorb the beatdown your fish tape receives every time it hits the ground.

This fish tape does a great job at this, and you can comfortably bring this fish tape to site without having to worry about dropping it.

And last but not least: the handle. Too many fish tape reels have a handle made for baby hands.

Southwire came to the realization that babies aren’t actually their target audience. So they designed a handle that a grown man’s hands can comfortably fit in.

Overall: Southwire’s fish tape is an essential tool for both veteran and apprentice electricians. If you’re looking for an in-depth review of different fish tape brands, check out our best fish tape reviews. But in any case, this reel is an excellent addition to any electrician tools list.

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Electricians Insulated Screwdriver – Klein Tools

The Klein Tools Insulated Screwdriver is the ideal screwdriver for an electricians tools list.

I have no idea how Klein made such an outstanding screwdriver at such an affordable price. They didn’t outsource to China either – this baby is made in the USA.

The cushion-grip handles provide increased torque and comfort – making it very easy to insert and remove screws.

Two layers of insulation provide protection against electric shock up to 1000 V. This molded dual-layer insulation meets or exceeds all ASTM and IEC standards for insulated tools.

The screwdriver is clearly marked with the official 1000-volt rating symbol.

You can get your Klein insulated screwdriver with a variety of different tips:

• Phillips Tip
• Square Recess Tip
• 1/4 Inch Cabinet Tip
• 3/16 Inch Cabinet Tip

If you’re looking for a full set of screwdrivers, then check out our article on the best electricians screwdriver set.

The only downside to this screwdriver is that it lacks a magnetic tip. Which for many people, isn’t even a downside.

So if you’re looking for a professional-grade insulated screwdriver at an affordable price, grab yourself an insulated screwdriver from Klein. It’s an incredible addition to any electrician tools list.

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Electrical Safety Glasses – Dewalt

The Dewalt DPG55-1C Safety Glasses are a premium set of glasses at an affordable price.

Their dual-injected rubber frame and cushioned brow protection make them very comfortable to wear.

The anti-fogging polycarbonate lenses give you crystal clear vision while maintaining a strong impact resistance.

These safety glasses meet and exceed the ANSI Z87.1+ standards and offer 99.9% UVA/UVB protection. The lenses are also available in 5 different tints.

The padded temples provide extra protection from dust and debris. And importantly: they have a stylish and lightweight frame.

Dewalt has proven that you don’t need ugly-looking safety glasses to properly protect your eyes. If you’re looking for a more in-depth review (or looking to spend a bit more), check out our full guide on the best safety glasses.

But in our opinion, these electrical safety glasses are a sensational addition to any electrician tools list (not to mention a bargain).

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Headlamp – Neolight

Although a headlamp isn’t typically an item you would expect to find on an electrician’s tools list – it’s an important one for any nighttime or low-light work. The two most important features of a good headlamp for work are:

(1) How bright it is

(2) How long the battery lasts

The engineers who made the Neolight Head Torch clearly understood this, and have successfully made an ultra-bright, long-lasting headlamp.

It’s packed with 5 super-bright LEDs – able to light up objects up to 500 meters away.

To make sure you don’t accidentally blind someone – Neolight has thoughtfully included 4 different lighting modes. These are great for times when you don’t need as much light, or when you’d prefer a red or warm white light.

The battery on this thing is huge. It lasts up to 10 hours with a single LED, or 4 hours in Ultra Brightness mode (Strobe). While it’s rare that you’ll need to use Ultra Brightness mode for a long period of time – it’s relieving to not have to constantly worry about when the battery is going to run out.

The adjustable strap ensures that you can wear this headlamp on your bare head or with protective headgear on, making it versatile enough for more hazardous work.

You get lots of flexibility in how you charge your headlamp – it comes with a USB charging cable, a US wall outlet charger and USB Charging Cable.

And since it’s rated to a Waterproof IPX5 rating – it’s protected against water spray from all directions. We wouldn’t recommend completely submerging it, but it’s resistant enough to put up with rain or snow.

If you’re looking to save money on your next headlamp without compromising on functionality, Neolight’s headlamp is a fantastic addition to your electrician tools list.

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Tape Measure – Stanley

Anyone who has worked with a cheap tape measure will know that the lower price tag is never worth it.

You need a tape measure that can smoothly retract in and out. Cheap tape measures are narrow and lose their shape as soon as they are extended a few feet. This is counterproductive and very frustrating.

The Stanley Tools FaxMax Tape Measure doesn’t suffer from this annoying issue. It comes with nice and wide 1¼ inch tape – ideal for long extends.

The FatMax is able to withstand a true beatdown during a job. There’s no need to delicately place this thing down onto a pillow every time you don’t need it. The FatMax’s tough rubber ABS overmold protects it against large drops.

The design of the metal hook at the end of the tape (known as the tang) can literally make or break a good tape measure.

Size matters when it comes to your tape measure’s tang. A weak little tang isn’t worth your time. You won’t be able to hook onto anything – and it will break within a month.

The FatMax has a strong & thick tang. This makes it incredibly easy to hook onto objects – and it means it will last.

The Stanley FatMax has quality written all over it. That’s why it came as no surprise to me that the Stanley FatMax is made in the USA.

Stanley Tools know they’ve made a quality tape measure and are willing to stand behind it. That’s why all of Stanley Tool’s tape measures come with their limited lifetime warranty.

If you’re looking for a full list of tape measures, then check out our article on the best tape measure for electricians.

But please – don’t waste your time with a second-rate tape measure. Get a FatMax – you won’t regret it. It’s a great addition to any electrician tools list.

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