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The Best Ratchet Cutters

hand wearing a glove operating a ratchet cutter on a metal pope
Southwire

A ratchet cutter is an important tool to have in your tool kit to provide a precise and clean cut on cables, wires or pipes. You can cut rapidly through thick cables with the end result being a clean-cut piece.

Best Overall: SogYupk USA KTRC11 Ratcheting Cable Cutter

dark gray metal ratchet cutter with red handles
SogYupk

This ratchet cutter comes equipped with a 1000-volt insulated handle and quick-release lever, for easy and clean cuts with low fatigue. The maximum cutting capacity includes copper up to 400 MCM, aluminum, and multi-conductor cables up to 600 MCM. This lightweight and compact cutter is 11 inches long with a two-inch jaw opening, which can be locked into a closed position for storage.

Best For Budget: AIRAJ Pro PVC Pipe Cutter

orange ratchet cutter with a single metal blade
AIRAJ

This durable ratchet cutter has a blade made of high-quality manganese steel. The hardness has a strong shear force and a self-locking ratchet design. The self-lock during use will prevent the cutter from springing back. Simply put the pipe into the corresponding knife-edge, continuously clamp and tighten the handle to cut the pipe. It is suitable for cutting all types of plastic pipes and other household maintenance.

Best Heavy Duty: Southwire Ratcheting Cable Cutter

black metal ratchet cutter with black and yellow handles
Southwire

This durable ratcheting cable cutter can cut up to 750-kcmil and 1000-kcmil for aluminum cables. The hardened steel blades ensure consistent cuts and the quick-release lever opens the blade at any time during the operation. The two-step ratcheting mechanism requires fewer strokes per cut. The molded grip allows for extra stability and comfort during use.

Also Consider: TEMCo Wire & Cable Cutter

black metal ratchet cutter with blue handles
TEMCo

Effortlessly cut coarse-strand copper and aluminum cables up to 240 MCM with this ratchet cutter. The hard, black oxide head won’t chip or flake and the blades are tempered and ground for precision. The blades can also be opened mid-cycle.

For both professional and household use, it is great to have a ratchet cutter on hand for tough cutting.

Rachel Shubin Rachel Shubin
Rachel Shubin is a freelance journalist who is passionate about telling stories. Along with writing reviews for LifeSavvy, she writes a book column for Cape May Magazine and is a reporter for the Cape May Star & Wave Newspaper. When Rachel is not writing, she can be found advocating for mental health awareness and animal rescue, reading novels, exploring Cape May, or working on her polymer clay jewelry business, Piper + Pearl Co. Read Full Bio »
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