Best Cable Cutters

This is a comfortable, easy-to-use model with impressive cutting power from a trusted brand.

This model can cut through an impressive 600-MCM-thick copper wire or 750-MCM aluminum wire. The ratchet design allows for one-handed cutting, with the ratchet turn doing all the cutting work. The comfortable grip ensures that even longer jobs won't wear on a user's hands. The ratchet design also makes the cleanest cut possible, an important consideration when threading or splicing cables.

Apex Wire Rope and Cable Cutter

While the ratchet system offers a cleaner cut than most cable cutters, some users report a slightly crooked cut when cutting through the thickest cables.

Best Bang for the Buck

H.K. Porter

With long, rubber-tipped handles that create more torque for extra cutting power, this model offers professional-grade cuts for users on a budget.

For a non-ratchet model, this product gives surprisingly clean cuts for up to half-inch wire rope or one-inch aluminum or copper cable. The long handles not only give users more reach but also allow users to apply more force than smaller cable cutters, making it easy for these blades to get through cables too thick for smaller models. Even with the long-handle design, the unit remains lightweight at just under five pounds.

Unlike compact units, this model is too large to fit in most utility pockets or toolboxes, making it impractical for some users or jobs.

Designed for cutting soft metal and thinner cables of the average home, this model is a good option for the occasional household cable-cutting chore.

This unit will cut up to two-aught-thick copper cables and four-aught-thick aluminum, which may not meet industrial standards but is plenty for common household cutting tasks such as splicing or threading coaxial cable. The blue comfort grips allow users to avoid any strain on their hands during jobs, and the compact model can be stored away easily when not in use.

FatMax Curved Jaw Cable Cutter

Though excellent for occasional use, these blades may dull quickly if used frequently for cutting thicker wires.

Stanley

This lightweight and noticeably comfortable model offers quick, clean cuts through the most common household cables in a tool that is compact and portable.

The well-insulated handle grips not only offer an extra layer of security when cutting electrical cables but also cause the least possible strain on users' hands. At 11.2 ounces, this is a comparatively light model, and its compact size and weight make it easy to transport if necessary. The blades can handle up to a half-inch of thickness, more than enough for the soft cables of the average home.

As with any compact cable cutters designed for home use, this model may not make clean cuts on thicker industrial cables.

KwikTool USA

Ratcheting Cable Cutter

This model boasts surprising cutting power for a unit designed for home use and offers the convenience of a ratcheting model.

While it may not quite cut through the thickest industrial cables, its 400-MCM copper and 600-MCM aluminum cable capacity are impressive for a model designed for home use. Not only does the ratchet design make cleaner cuts than a scissor-cut model, but it also permits the user to make even difficult cuts with one hand, a nice feature for those who work on DIY projects at home. The comfort grips provide insulated protection up to 1,000 volts.