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You will strip more cable in a year than you can count, so the wire strippers in your pouch matter more than their price suggests. A good pair strips cleanly in one squeeze without nicking the copper. A bad pair crushes insulation, leaves strands behind or slips on the cable, and you pay for that in wasted time and the odd bad termination.
We checked what is on sale on Amazon UK, compared the listings and picked the wire strippers that make sense for UK electricians and installers. Prices and review counts were checked at the time of writing.
Quick Verdict
The Knipex Precistrip16 is the best wire stripper here for people who strip cable all day, but at £92.59 it is a serious spend. The Knipex Evostrip at £63.95 is the better-value Knipex and has more than 10,000 reviews. If you want something cheaper, the Stanley FatMax automatic stripper at £21.48 has more than 12,600 reviews and is the best budget pick.
Best Wire Strippers at a Glance
| Wire stripper | Price | Type | Best for |
| Knipex Precistrip16 12 52 195 | £92.59 | Automatic, 0.08-16mm², fine adjustment | Daily heavy use |
| Knipex Evostrip 12 40 200 | £63.95 | Self-adjusting, 200mm | Best premium all-rounder |
| Knipex 16 64 125 | £24.99 | Flat and round cable stripping tool | Stripping twin and earth sheath |
| Wiha Industrial Electric | £30.71 | 160mm wire stripper | Hand-tool purists |
| Stanley FatMax Automatic | £21.48 | Automatic, 10-22 AWG | Best budget pick |
| S&R VDE 160mm | £14.44 | VDE 1000V insulated pliers | Cheapest insulated option |
What to Look for in Wire Strippers
Automatic or Manual
Automatic and self-adjusting strippers grip the conductor and strip the insulation in a single action, whatever the size within their range. They are fast and consistent. Manual strippers with graduated notches are cheaper and simpler, but you need to pick the right notch every time.
Stripping Range
Check the cross-sectional area the tool covers. Most UK installation work sits between 1.0mm² and 6.0mm², with occasional larger cable. The Knipex Precistrip16 covers 0.08 to 16mm², which is a wide range for a single tool. Many cheap automatic strippers are listed in AWG sizes, so convert before you buy.
Insulation and VDE
Insulated handles tested to 1000V are a sensible precaution if there is any chance of working near live parts. They are not a licence to strip live cable, and you should always isolate first.
Length Stop and Adjustment
An adjustable length stop gives you consistent strip lengths, which matters on terminals and connectors where too much exposed copper is a problem.
The Best Wire Strippers
Knipex Precistrip16 12 52 195
The Precistrip16 is an automatic insulation stripper for conductors from 0.08 to 16mm², with fine adjustment and an adjustable length stop. At £92.59 it is the most expensive tool here. It has strong reviews on Amazon UK, with Knipex tools showing over 10,000 reviews on the listing. If you strip cable every day, the speed and consistency make the price easy to justify.
Pros: Wide 0.08-16mm² range, fine adjustment, adjustable stop.
Cons: Expensive.
Best for: Daily heavy use by installers and panel builders.
- With adjustable length stop for precision work repeated accurately each time
- Inscription area for customisation
- Comfortable operation with ergonomic dual-component handle
- With tether attachment point, suitable for KNIPEX Tethered Tools accessories
- Easily replaceable blade cassette
Knipex Evostrip 12 40 200
The Evostrip is a self-adjusting insulation stripper at 200mm long. At £63.95 it costs about £29 less than the Precistrip16 and has more than 10,000 reviews. It strips without needing to set a size, which is quick for mixed work.
Pros: Self-adjusting, trade reputation, very well reviewed.
Cons: Costs three times the budget Stanley.
Best for: Electricians who want a premium tool without paying the top price.
- Versatile applications thanks to generous stripping range of 5 - 22 mm, and up to 25 mm without length stop
- Adjustable setting wheel in fine increments: The adjustable cutting depth allows the pliers to master the most demanding insulation jobs – even under extreme temperature conditions
- Top-mounted cable cutter for copper and aluminium conductors offers maximum visibility: Embossed, visible and tangible arrow always shows the exact cutting position, clean cuts thanks to optimised cutting edge geometry for finely stranded conductors up to 10 mm², solid conductors up to 6 mm²
- For solid, multi-stranded and finely stranded conductors with plastic or rubber insulation, also for ribbon cables up to 10 mm wide
- Raised, non-slip handle collar in front of the cable cutter provides reliable grip
Knipex 16 64 125
This Knipex tool is made for stripping flat and round cable, including the outer sheath of twin and earth. At £24.99 with nearly 700 reviews it is a sensible companion to a conductor stripper rather than a replacement for one.
Pros: Strips flat and round cable sheath, sensible price, Knipex build.
Cons: Not a conductor stripper.
Best for: Stripping twin and earth sheath cleanly.
- For flat cables up to 12 mm in width
- For stripping all common round and damp-proof installation cables Ø 4.0 to 13.0 mm (e.g. NYM cable 3 x 1.5 mm² up to 5 x 2.5 mm²)
- Stripping device for cross-sections 0.8 / 1.5 / 2.5 mm² (AWG 20 / 16 / 14)
- With opening spring and locking device
- For use in confined and difficult to access work areas
Wiha Industrial Electric Wire Stripper
The Wiha Z55016009SB is a 160mm wire stripper at £30.71 with 35 reviews. It suits people who prefer a traditional hand tool to an automatic. Review numbers are low, so the record is thinner than the Knipex or Stanley options.
Pros: Wiha build quality, traditional hand tool feel.
Cons: Few reviews, stock was limited when we checked.
Best for: Electricians who like a classic stripper.
- Standards: DIN ISO 5743 Tested in accordance with IEC 60900.
- Head shape: Pr zisions cutting prism for simultaneous cutting of cable insulation.
- Design: With multi-polished head. With easy and lockable adjusting for adjusting to the stripping conductor cross section. Opening spring for effortless and sentimental handling of the pliers.
- Material: High quality C 70 tool steel, hardened.
- Application: Easy stripping of cables and strands up to diameter 5 mm/10 mm² conductor cross section. For working in the area of live parts up to 1,000 V AC.
Stanley FatMax Automatic Wire Stripper
The FatMax automatic stripper strips 10 to 22 AWG wire with spring-loaded handles and an adjustable wire stop. At £21.48 it has more than 12,600 reviews. Note the AWG sizing: it is better suited to smaller conductors and flex than to larger installation cable.
Pros: Cheap, automatic, enormous review count.
Cons: AWG sizing suits smaller conductors and flex.
Best for: A budget automatic for small conductors.
- This Stanley FatMax automatic, spring loaded Wire Stripping Plier strips inner and outer sheaths on wires and cables 0.2-6mm
- The pliers have crimping capability and are colour coded for crimps on common insulated and non insulated terminals 1.5-6mm
- They have bi-material handles, allowing easy grip and the simple application of large forces needed for crimping and stripping
S&R VDE Wire Stripper Pliers 160mm
A budget VDE-insulated stripper pair at £14.44, with over 700 reviews. It is a simple notch-type tool in chrome vanadium steel. It will not match a Knipex for speed, but it is insulated to 1000V and costs very little.
Pros: Cheap, 1000V insulated handles, over 700 reviews.
Cons: Manual notch type, slower than automatics.
Best for: A low-cost insulated stripper for the spare pouch.
- WIRE STRIPPERS ELECTRICAL: Strip all common round cables safely up to Ø 5.0 mm under 1000V – fast, precise and damage-free. Ideal electrical wire strippers for professional electricians and installation work.
- WIRE STRIPPER PLIERS IN CR-V STEEL: Forged from chrome vanadium steel with phosphated surface and galvanic coating for maximum durability, corrosion resistance and long-lasting sharpness on every cable stripping job. ngth, wear resistance, and long-lasting performance
- WIRE STRIPPERS ELECTRICAL: Strip all common round cables safely up to Ø 5.0 mm under 1000V – fast, precise and damage-free. Ideal electrical wire strippers for professional electricians and installation work.
- TECHNICAL SPECS: Length 160 mm (6.3 in), max. cable diameter Ø 5.0 mm, VDE-tested 1000V insulation, adjustable knurled screw for precise diameter setting, DIN-certified – suitable for all standard round cable types.
- VERSATILE CABLE STRIPPER TOOL: Strips twin and earth cable, flex and round cables; also functions as electrical wire cutters. Suitable for workshop, construction sites, domestic electrical installations and panel wiring.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the Knipex Evostrip if you want a single tool that does most things well and lasts. Add the Knipex 16 64 125 if you spend a lot of time stripping twin and earth sheath. If budget is tight, the Stanley FatMax is a perfectly good automatic for small conductors, and the S&R VDE pliers are a cheap insulated back-up.
Looking After Your Strippers
Keep them clean and dry, and do not use them to cut hardened wire or steel. The blades are for copper and insulation, and a nick in the edge will cause poor strips for the rest of the tool’s life. Wipe off dirt and a drop of light oil on the pivot keeps the action smooth.
Tips for Cleaner Strips
Match the Tool to the Cable
Use a stripper rated for the conductor size. An automatic stripper set for a thin flex will crush and cut larger solid cable.
Strip Only What You Need
Use the length stop for consistent strips. Too much exposed copper is a problem at terminals, and too little means a bad connection.
Inspect the Copper
After stripping, look at the conductor. Nicked or cut strands weaken the termination and can heat up under load. If you see damage, cut back and start again.
Strip Sheath Separately
For twin and earth, remove the outer sheath with a sheath stripper or a sharp knife held carefully away from the conductors, then strip the individual cores. It prevents nicks in the insulation of the cores underneath.
FAQs
What is the best wire stripper for electricians?
For daily use, a Knipex self-adjusting or automatic stripper is the usual choice. For occasional use, a cheaper automatic from Stanley will do.
Are automatic wire strippers worth it?
Yes if you strip a lot of cable. They are quicker and more consistent than notch-type tools, which cuts nicked conductors.
Can wire strippers cut cable?
Many have a cutting section for small conductors, but do not use them on large or hardened cable. Use proper cable cutters for that.
Do I need VDE insulated strippers?
Insulated handles are a sensible extra safety measure, but you should always isolate before stripping and never rely on handle insulation alone.
Why do my strippers nick the copper?
Usually the notch is too small for the conductor, or the blades are worn. Use the right size or replace the tool.
Final Thoughts
A decent stripper pays for itself in saved time. Spend on the Knipex Evostrip if you strip cable most days, buy the Stanley FatMax if you need a cheap automatic, and keep a budget VDE pair as a spare.
