15 Must-Have Tools for Electricians: Essential Gear for EVERY Apprentice Needs

Introduction

Stepping into the world of electrical work? The right tools can make or break your efficiency on the job. In this guide, we’ll dive into the must-have tools for electricians—whether you’re an apprentice just starting out or a seasoned pro looking to upgrade your gear. I’ll share the exact tools I use, the brands I trust, and budget-friendly alternatives so you can make the best choices for your toolkit.

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Let’s go ahead and hop into it.

Essential Tools

Here’s a quick list of must-have tools for electricians:

• Tape Measure
• Diagonal Cutters
• Lineman’s Pliers
• Utility Knife
• Level
• Screwdrivers
• Wire Strippers
• Voltage Detector
• Channel Locks
• Tool Bag
• Beater Screwdriver
• Hammer
• Adjustable Wrench
• Impact Driver
• Tool storage

1. Tape Measure

We’ll start with the tape measure here. There’s a lot of different options. This is the Milwaukee Stud. It’s the 25-footer, and I like a magnetic tape measure. There’s a couple things you’re going to look for. I’ll show you guys a couple different options.

The tape clip on this one’s nice. It’s got a great standout, super wide blade, and it’s magnetic. I like magnetic stuff. I’m a commercial electrician, so magnetic is important. That being said, 25 ft is pretty much non-negotiable. You might as well buy a good one of these because they’re not extremely expensive.

I have two other options here. This is the Stanley FatMax. This one is not magnetic, which is why I have it because I was looking for something not magnetic. It’s got a great standout. I love everything about it. This is the Klein. It’s a 25-footer, magnetic. This is an older version. I’ve had this one for quite some time. These are both great options.

One that I cannot find right now, it’s on a work site somewhere, is my tape measure from ToughBuilt. They’ll have those at Lowe’s as well. Fantastic tape measures. Just make sure you get something with a wide blade on it. I also prefer there to be writing on the back because when you’re measuring overhead, it’s a lot more difficult to turn your tape over and for the standout to stay consistent.

I’d really like for there to be writing on the bottom. There is not writing on the bottom of this Stanley FatMax, but there is writing on the bottom of the Klein and there’s also writing on the bottom of the ToughBuilt. Just make sure that you actually get one that is magnetic, especially if you’re going to be in commercial, because it just makes life way easier.

2. Diagonal Cutters

Alright, we’re going to go ahead and pull out these babies here. These are diagonal cutters. These are one of my favorite sets of pliers. I use these so frequently. As you can see, there is a pointy tip here. These are a very long pair, and they’re also insulated. That’s not necessary. 8-inch diagonal cutters is as short as I would go. That’s normal, that’s average. This is a 10-inch pair. They are much larger than usual. This isn’t necessary.

Also, insulated tools here in America is not a necessity. We are not required to, and you won’t be unsafe because of the safety regulations that are set up before you get there to actually work on stuff. You want a good solid pair of these. I know you guys can go buy cheap pairs at Home Depot or Lowe’s. You want to have a great quality pair.

This is from Knipex. These are the 10-inch insulated set. They’re my favorite set. I’ve got all the pliers from Knipex, all the 8-inch, 10-inch diagonal cutters. They are all amazing. I really like Knipex. That being said, Klein is also a great option here. This is actually my first set of diagonal cutters, and they worked wonderfully for me.

The head is a little bit pointier here, which is very nice. That’s one of the things that we like about these is that the head is in front. The cutting jaw is in front. There’s nothing to obstruct, and we will show you guys why here in a second. These are one of the main pliers that you’ll use as an electrician. They’re one of the main three.

This set here is from Klein. They just have a rubber handle on them. They’re not insulated. It’s not required. I like to do that. I’m a service electrician. You don’t have to. I like the way it looks. They’re super comfortable in your hand. These aren’t bad, but they’re not as comfortable as this. That being said, they’re also much more affordable. High quality, not cheaper quality. Great quality, just the handles are different.

3. Lineman Pliers

Alright, so we’ll go ahead and move on to the next plier, which is the lineman. These are the electrician’s pliers. You guys, this set of pliers here is from Knipex. They have the red and yellow. They’re insulated. This is, I believe, a 9 and 1/2-inch pair of lineman. These are great.

The set I have here is from Knipex. Whatever people around you call them, they’ll probably make fun of you. Say “Knipex.” That’s where most of my views come from is people commenting about how dumb it is, but that’s how they pronounce it. So fight me. This set here is from Knipex. This is one of the main sets of pliers. Diagonal cutters, the first, these are lineman.

These are a lot more expensive, mostly because of the handles. We have the Klein lineman here. These are also my original pair of pliers. Great set of pliers here, and I actually am looking to upgrade my Klein pliers. I want to see what their new pliers look like, so I’m actually working on getting a set of those right now.

But they actually come in a set with the diagonal cutters, the lineman, and the third set of pliers that’s coming up here for extremely affordable. They are actually a great set of pliers. Like I use these still sometimes when I’m working in certain factories and stuff if I don’t want to absolutely destroy these. These are amazing. They work great. They’re phenomenal. They’re high quality. They cut well. They are just machined well. I have no complaints about Klein at all.

Great pliers. It’s really about preference once you actually start spending money on pliers, real money on pliers. You realize that all the top brands are pretty much the same. They’re all great. They all give you a really great product. So stuff like that, especially when you’re starting out, if your budget’s limited or if you don’t want to spend that much money on pliers, it’s a great way to go.

4. Utility Knife

This next one here is near and dear to my heart. This is my Fiskars utility knife. I believe I picked this one up from Lowe’s. They have them on Amazon as well. It’s got a super smooth action. Now, these are super everywhere and super affordable.

I do have a couple different options, and I also have a couple options for if your company won’t allow you to carry box knives. Some companies are weird. My first company was like that. I actually wasn’t allowed to carry any sort of utility blade at all, which was super bogus. But one of the things I really learned to love was hawk bill knives.

At the time, this one here is from ToughBuilt. It’s available at Lowe’s. I do love a good hawk bill. It’s great for stripping wire. It’s great for getting under tape, stuff like that. It’s hard to sharpen, but that being said, this is not an expensive knife, and it’ll stay sharp for long enough.

The flipping action on this is great. It’s got a little liner lock on there. I also have a utility knife from ToughBuilt. This one here is the pry bar knife. I like this one a lot because of the heftiness of it. It’s got some really good heft to it if you will. But there’s a little bit of weight. Super good quality.

It’s got a little pry bar here. I don’t use the pry bar super often, but I like the flip-out on this. It’s got a little wire stripper section there. I don’t ever use that. I just use it as a knife, a regular plain knife. But this one here is from ToughBuilt. I really like this knife a lot as well. So just some great options here.

Honestly, any knife will do, but you do want it to be a little bit smooth. You’ll find that if it is difficult to open, it makes your life just a little bit more difficult than it should be, especially with trying to work fast because that is one of the names of the game when you finally get into it.

5. Level

Next up, a tool that I actually don’t have a substitute for is this Klein level. I’ve got a substitute on the way, but this Klein level here is everything you need. It’s their 6-inch level. It’s got 0°, 90°, 45°, and 30°. 45° and 30° are big for bending conduit. So that is something, especially if you’re in commercial work. It’s super important.

It’s got a no-dog on it, which is important for big pipe. Not going to explain that one too much. Just know that if you’re an electrician, it is kind of a big deal if you’re into that kind of thing. There are super great magnets on this. The magnets are insane. I mean, like wild. They are strong, which is super important because you don’t want your level falling off, especially if you’re working at heights. It’s kind of a big deal. You don’t want it just falling off everywhere.

Your level, you want it to stay level. The bubbles are super clear. It’s only 6 inches, which I like. Sometimes you don’t have enough room to put more than that on somewhere. And aside from that, I just have no complaint. It’s a great level. It’s served me super well, and it’s not expensive. Super affordable.

6. Screwdrivers

Next up, super important are screwdrivers. Fun fact, all of my stuff is insulated. This isn’t necessary at all. I love this set of screwdrivers from Wera. It’s very affordable. I like carrying individual screwdrivers. This is just so all of you apprentices know that you don’t have to do what I am exactly doing. This is just the way that I do it. Just trying to let you guys know what I like, what I don’t like.

You can get a regular set of non-insulated screwdrivers. You can get an insulated non-insulated set of the weird drivers. You know what? You might even have journeymen that make fun of you if you get the insulated drivers because people are weird here and sometimes we don’t get insulated tools for no reason. Doesn’t make sense.

I like the handles. They’re comfortable. I like the red and yellow. It looks good. I really like the way that they look. That being said, a set of these is super affordable. If you’re about to go to work like tomorrow and you need to spend as little money as possible, I suggest you get one of these.

This is a ToughBuilt 12-in-1. It has all your screwdrivers with the different bits inside of this little baby right here. This pops out. The bits change. It’s got a Phillips, flathead, a smaller Phillips, smaller flathead, torx bits, all the things that you don’t even know what they probably mean. It’s got a couple nut drivers in it. It’s got all kinds of stuff.

It’s like in between $10 and $20. You can pick one up tonight, and it carries so many different tools. It’s super easy. So if you’re like getting something tonight, I don’t love using these all the time. That being said, some people use them 24/7 for the rest of their life. They love them. I’m not that guy.

Alright, I like individual screwdrivers. It is so much better for my workflow. I think they fit better. But this ToughBuilt one here is probably my favorite multi-driver. It’s been an absolute beast for me so far. If you’re in a pinch, grab this.

ToughBuilt also makes insulated drivers. These are all available at Lowe’s. Pretty much everything from ToughBuilt is available at Lowe’s or on Amazon. But these are their insulated drivers. They come in a nice little set. They are affordable, but I believe the ToughBuilt and the Wera are the same price. I just like the form of the Wera a little bit better.

That being said, these are American. Wera is not. And then finally, this is another option if you want to have regular screwdrivers and then have an insulated driver or it’s a little bit of both. It’s kind of a mixture of having a dedicated driver and also having a multi-driver.

This is an insulated driver from Klein. You twist this little knob down here, and this pops out. It’s got a flathead on this side and a number two Phillips on this side, which are your two most common things. You can also get different blades with different sizes and of screw and all that other stuff.

This thing is awesome. It’s got a thin shaft here. It’s pretty much a dedicated driver, but you only have to carry one. It doesn’t come with all the extra fancy stuff that this thing does. This is way ahead of its time. You guys will never know the struggles that we went through when we were when we were your age.

7. Wire Strippers

The last set of the main set of pliers that we use as electricians, these are wire strippers. These are kind of a big deal. Now, I will warn you that this pair of Knipex is probably the most outrageous set of things that I have here. It’s the most far beyond the comparison of what I’m going to show you of a normal wire stripper.

That being said, I like the functionality of this a lot. Like I said, way more expensive. So this is one of them that I will tell you, if you’re going to choose to spend the money or to not spend the money, if it’s something that’s a limiting option, don’t do this one right now. Wait. If you want to get these at all, some people don’t care to have this kind of wire stripper.

I like it. It’s got a little bit bigger head so you can use it. It’s just a super quality plier. The cutters on this are amazing. They’re shears, so they cross. Shears mean that when they cut, they go over each other. On lineman and diagonal cutters, they pinch. These shears are amazing.

It strips well. All strippers strip well. The main function of the plier is going to be the same. But these wire strippers here from Klein are like a third of the price or something stupid like that. These are also great. They work well. They strip amazingly. They don’t do all the other stuff the exact same to the same quality, but the stripping function is the exact same.

You guys, make sure when you’re getting these that you’re actually getting the ones that strip whatever size wire you’re supposed to be stripping. So if you’re a regular electrician, that’ll be 18 through 10 or 16 through 8 solid. That’s all you need to know.

8. Voltage Detector

Next up, this is a voltage detector. Now, I’m not going to give y’all a bunch of warnings about this. This one’s from Fluke. Okay, I like this one a lot. It’s been the most reliable. People are going to warn you about these. You can’t always trust them. Sometimes they’ll lie to you. You need to rely on your journeymen. Okay, especially as an apprentice. Rely on your journeyman. Rely on your journeyman. Rely on your journeyman. They’ll teach you how to use this. I’m not going to because they’ll be in the situation with you. They’ll get to show you when to use it, when not to use it, when it works, when it doesn’t.

I like this one because it vibrates. It doesn’t beep. I hate the beeping. The green is the regular sensitivity. If you press it again, it’s orange, and it’ll be on low sensitivity. If you press this button here, you can turn the flashlight on. So that’s cool. I like that it’s two-in-one. It kind of helps out quite a bit because you’re going to need a flashlight too. I don’t use this as my main flashlight, but this thing is definitely going to be necessary because it’s a quick and easy way to tell if there’s voltage on something. Sometimes you will use this a lot. Sometimes you’ll never use it.

9. Channel Locks

Finally, these here are my cobras. They’re Knipex cobras. This is what we know in America as channel locks. Everybody calls this type of plier “channel locks.” The actual name is a water pump plier. These are my favorite pair because of the push button. You set them and just leave them for that all day because that’s what size of pipe you’re running or whatever you’re doing. I run a lot of pipe. That’s what I like these for. They grip really well with this style of jaw. I’ve done a lot of videos on these. You guys can go look them up if you want to know a ton more about them.

This 10-inch pair is the only pair of these that’s semi-affordable, but these are still not quite as affordable. Knipex is expensive, and there’s a reason for it. They’re super high quality. If you are in a pinch, get the channel lock version. I don’t have my channel locks here at the house right now. Another option for these is the ToughBuilt V-jaw pliers. They are also push button. Okay, they’re a little bit heavier than the Knipex, but they look clean. They’re black. You’ll see the handles are this far apart when they are closed, but as soon as you move them down a level, they have the handles together, which is what you want because it makes life a lot easier for grabbing on a pipe, doing stuff like that when you can actually have your hand closed instead of way open like a lot of other pliers do.

This is a ton more affordable than the cobras. That being said, I do like the functionality of the cobras a lot better than these. I will be super transparent about everything else in this list. If I’ve said it, I promise you I mean it, and it’s a high-quality tool if it’s on this list because I will not tell you to buy garbage. I won’t do it. I don’t like garbage tools, and I don’t think anybody should buy them ever, even if they’re in a pinch. I think you should get quality, even if it’s not as expensive. Just not garbage. Alright, we don’t want garbage around here because you’re going to be using these tools every day. Get something that’s usable.

These are super important, though. You’ll use these for pipe. You’ll use them to twist nuts and bolts and different stuff like that, lock rings, all the fun stuff. And it’s actually the last tool in the pouch. So we’ll go ahead and hop into the stuff in this wonderful, wonderful tool bag.

10. Tool Bag

Now, truth be told, this is a Veto Pro Pack, and it’s hecka expensive. Alright, it’s crazy expensive. If you’re an apprentice, if you can afford it, do it. I bought a couple when I was an apprentice. I was also making really good money, so and I was living at home. So whatever, whatever you want to say, whatever you want to do. But if you don’t want to spend that much money, the good quality tool bag that I would recommend is this one from Klein or any of the Milwaukee. Anything that has a hard bottom. Okay, that is what I would recommend. I wouldn’t recommend anything that doesn’t have a hard bottom to it because you’re going to put it down. It’s going to fall over. It’s going to do all kinds of stuff, and you don’t want that. Get a hard-bottom backpack. I like backpacks, but it’s also really dependent on what the other guys around you use, especially if you’re going to constantly be with one person. Go check that out.

11. Beater Screwdriver

Alright, now we’ll go ahead and hop into this because number one is a very, very important thing. This is a beater screwdriver. Now, what this does is you beat on it, and you beat things with it, and you beat things on it. This one’s got a striking cap on it. It’s a metal cap, and it goes all the way through to the tang. This one is from Wera. It’s my favorite one. It’s super affordable. I wouldn’t recommend any of them as much as I recommend this one.

That being said, I like all my stuff to match. This is what I carry the most because I always carry the other Wera screwdrivers the most. Your beater, I don’t know. Maybe you’re not like me. Maybe you don’t need your stuff to match. But personally, I do. So I do have some other options here. This one here is from Klein. You can get these. Just get a big one. It really doesn’t matter the size. I’ll leave a link to all of these in the description, but the size doesn’t matter as long as it’s a thicker flathead.

The Wera one is actually a chisel driver. It’s actually meant to be beat on. This one is not, but it’s what people use it for. Alright, we all know. Everybody knows. It’s got a really thick shaft to it. It’s got a wide head, and it’s great for being beat on. I’ve also got this one here from ToughBuilt. This one’s actually got the shank too. It’s great. It’s super industrial, super heavy-duty. These are just great options. Alright, they’re all great options. They’re all super affordable.

You’re going to want one of these real quick into your apprenticeship because you don’t want to be banging on your good flathead that you’re trying to put into outlet covers and stuff like that. You just don’t want to do it. So get a beater. That’s what you beat your boxes out with. It’s what you tighten up your lock rings with. It’s what you attack your foreman with. Do whatever you want with it. I don’t care, but just get you one.

12. Hammer

Very similar to the beater is a hammer. I’ve only got one in this option here. There’s so many. I really don’t care what hammer you get. I love this one from ToughBuilt. The thing I will say: don’t get anything over 16. I would get a 16. Don’t get a 14. Get a 16-ounce hammer. I really like the flat top, flat face, but I don’t like the faces that are crossed. I like this one. This look from ToughBuilt. I’ve got one from Estwing as well. I’ve got one from Wiha. They’re awesome. Okay, they’re all awesome.

A hammer is a hammer at the end of the day. It’s not really about how cool it is and how much money spent on it. I really do like this one a lot from ToughBuilt. It’s so incredible. That being said, 16 is the weight. You don’t want anything heavier than that. That’s my opinion on hammers. Short and sweet because I don’t really use hammers all that much. It’s not like an everyday thing, especially not if I’m just working with wires. Sometimes you use them a lot. Sometimes you don’t.

13. Adjustable Wrench

Alright, this next one here is a treat. It’s an adjustable wrench. I love these plier wrenches from Knipex. This thing, you’ll know what I’m talking about here in a second when I show you what the actual tool is that most people have. This thing is a beast, and it’s a lot more expensive at the same time. This one is super cool. Basically, this is for nuts and bolts and stuff that you don’t want to mar up.

This is what you probably are traditionally used to seeing, and it’s something like this that you have to thread open instead of adjusting like that with the push button. This one here is from ToughBuilt. It’s cool. It’s an adjustable wrench. You guys, you’ve probably got like 14 laying around your house if you got a dad. Hopefully, you got a dad. It’s the pliers wrench that I use all the time. It’s the tool that I use for this constantly. It’s so much better. It’s also so much more expensive.

You probably have like four of these laying around your house if they’re not the ones from ToughBuilt, because the ToughBuilt one just came out, and it’s actually fantastic. It’s got little measuring things on it, and it spins really well. It’s all black, thin, and cool. It’s got a little hole through it and the yellow, and it’s ToughBuilt. I like ToughBuilt stuff. ToughBuilt stuff’s cool, and it’s affordable, which I love.

14. Impact Driver

Now, last but not least—and it’s last though because it is least—is an impact. It’s last because you might not need one. Alright, it depends. Find out what your company provides, what they give you. Sometimes you don’t have to buy an impact. Sometimes you do. If you have to buy your own power tools, you do. This is my favorite thing. It’s the thing I use constantly every day.

This is my M12. I would say the M12 is great for the impact, but if you don’t want to go into two platforms, get the M18. I would just start with the M18. You can start with the Fuel. You can start with the regular. Get whatever you need. But I really like Milwaukee for this. Milwaukee is the preferred brand for most electricians. But that being said, if you go to a company and they’re a DeWalt company, don’t feel pressure to get Milwaukee. Like, get DeWalt if that’s what your company uses. That way, if you need a battery one day and you’re working with everybody, they’re not going to make fun of you, and you’re actually going to be able to keep working because you actually use the same battery. You can borrow one or borrow their charger, borrow whatever you need.

15. Tool Storage

When it comes to tool storage, everybody will be different. Most people would think of rolling tool cabinets as their capacity and mobility. If you’re in new construction, a lot of the guys around you might have big tool belts, which could be the workflow of your company. If that’s the case, get a big work belt so you fit into that workflow. However, my setup isn’t like that, so I’m going to talk about what works best for me.

Tool Cabinet

Staying organized is key to being efficient on the job, and a reliable tool cabinet can make all the difference. The ARTMAN Tool Cabinet Roller is a great option for electricians who want secure and accessible storage for their tools. Featuring multiple drawers with smooth glides, a durable steel frame, and heavy-duty caster wheels, this cabinet keeps everything in place while allowing easy mobility around your workspace. Whether you’re storing pliers, screwdrivers, or power tools, this cabinet helps you maintain order and maximize productivity. If you’re serious about tool organization, investing in a high-quality tool cabinet like this is a smart move.

Tool Belt

First and foremost, a tool belt. This is my tool belt here. I’ll show you some details in a minute. It carries all the tools I use immediately, one after another. I also keep a tool bag for tools I don’t walk around with all the time. I like to keep my tool belt light. It’s a smaller belt, but I can add more if needed.

Occidental Telecoms Pouch

This is the Occidental Telecoms pouch. As you can see, there are a ton of different slots. I keep big pliers in the back, and there’s plenty of room for extra tools if needed. It’s a leather pouch, which I like a lot, but leather is more expensive. I’ll show you a backup pouch in a second. I also have a tape slot on it. Every piece of this setup was bought individually—like this extra-large tape pouch.

Alternative Pouch

I love this belt and use it frequently. It has a clip for my knife, a tape holder, and a ring for other tools. It’s pricier, and you won’t find it everywhere, but a good alternative is the ToughBuilt pouch. This is their six-pocket model, which is much more affordable and versatile. It has a clip on the back, so you can easily attach it to your belt and swap out pouches. It has multiple slots for tools, a tape clip on the front, and great quality for a lower price.

Conclusion

Before buying tools, ask your employer for a tool list. If they don’t provide one, call them and ask what you need for your first day. Also, observe what tools your coworkers use and adapt to the workflow.

Having the right tools is essential for any electrician, whether you’re just starting out or refining your setup. In this guide, we’ve covered the must-have tools for electricians, from tape measures and wire strippers to impact drivers and tool bags. A reliable storage solution is just as important, and the ARTMAN tool box is a great choice to keep your tools organized and accessible on the job.

When selecting your tools, consider the brands and options mentioned in this guide to find the right balance between quality and budget. Investing in the right tools will improve your efficiency, safety, and overall performance in the field.

We’d love to hear from you! What are your go-to electrician tools? Do you have a favorite brand or an essential tool that wasn’t mentioned? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let’s keep the conversation going.