Quick Answer
Best wire strippers for electricians, by job
Most electricians: Klein 11055 (10-18 AWG solid, spring, made in USA). Swing-lock alternative: Milwaukee 48-22-6109. Need 8 AWG solid: IDEAL 45-615. Stripper plus cable shears in one: Knipex StriX (adjustable, not self-adjusting). Self-adjusting with NM jacket stripping: Klein 11061 or Milwaukee 48-22-3082.
- Specs checked against maker pages on October 12, 2026
The picks at a glance
Representative photo, not the Klein 11055; Representative photo, not the exact model. Photo: HutheMeow, CC BY-SA 4.0
Klein 11055
Everyday 10-14 AWG branch-circuit work
10-18 AWG solid · price tier $
Amazon's listing title reads 11055EP; the listed spec matches the 11055.
Klein 11055 product pageRepresentative photo, not the Milwaukee 48-22-6109; Representative photo, not the exact model. Photo: HutheMeow, CC BY-SA 4.0
Milwaukee 48-22-6109
One-handed locking and a molded grip
10-18 AWG solid · price tier $
IDEAL Reflex T-Stripper shown (same family); Similar model shown. Photo: J.C. Fields, CC BY-SA 3.0
IDEAL 45-615
Stripping 8 and 10 AWG solid often
8-16 AWG solid · price tier $
Representative photo, not the StriX; Representative photo, not the exact model. Photo: HutheMeow, CC BY-SA 4.0
Knipex StriX
Cutting multi-core cable and stripping one size repeatedly
Up to 10 mm² (AWG 8), 5 mm insulation diameter max solid · price tier $$$
Klein 11055: best for most electricians
Representative photo, not the Klein 11055; Representative photo, not the exact model. Photo: HutheMeow, CC BY-SA 4.0
Klein 11055 Solid and Stranded Wire Stripper/Cutter
Price tier $
Amazon's listing title reads 11055EP; the listed spec matches the 11055.
Klein 11055 product pageWHAT THE MAKER LISTS
- ✓ Strips 10-18 AWG solid and 12-20 AWG stranded copper
- ✓ Coil spring opens it for you; closure lock keeps it shut in the pouch
- ✓ Shear-type cutting blades, and it shears 6-32 and 8-32 screws
- ✓ Serrated gripping nose and holes for looping and bending wire
- ✓ Lightest listed weight in this group: 5.4 oz (153 g); made in USA
TRADE-OFFS
- ✗ Thin double-dipped grips rather than a molded ergonomic handle; some people want more cushion for long stripping sessions
- ✗ Stops at 10 AWG solid, so it will not strip 8 AWG
Klein's basic solid-and-stranded stripper/cutter covers the conductor sizes most residential and light-commercial work uses, and it adds a serrated nose, looping holes, screw shearing and a closure lock. Klein covers it for the normal life of the product.
Milwaukee 48-22-6109: swing-lock alternative
Representative photo, not the Milwaukee 48-22-6109; Representative photo, not the exact model. Photo: HutheMeow, CC BY-SA 4.0
Milwaukee 48-22-6109 Wire Stripper/Cutter for Solid and Stranded Wire
Price tier $
WHAT THE MAKER LISTS
- ✓ One-handed swing lock that stays locked in the pouch
- ✓ Spring loaded for easy opening
- ✓ Curved cutting blade and a molded ergonomic handle
- ✓ Threads and cuts #6 and #8 bolts
- ✓ Rust-protection finish and a limited lifetime warranty (Milwaukee)
TRADE-OFFS
- ✗ Milwaukee's own spec table did not load, so the gauge range (10-18 AWG solid, 12-20 AWG stranded) comes from distributor listings; check the stamped markings
- ✗ Milwaukee does not state where it is made
Like the 11055 it spring-opens and strips the same everyday gauges. It differs with a one-handed swing lock, a molded ergonomic handle, a curved cutting blade and a rust-protection finish. Listed length is 7-1/8 in, slightly shorter than the Klein's 7.4 in.
IDEAL 45-615: for 8 awg solid
IDEAL Reflex T-Stripper shown (same family); Similar model shown. Photo: J.C. Fields, CC BY-SA 3.0
IDEAL 45-615 Reflex Super T-Stripper
Price tier $
WHAT THE MAKER LISTS
- ✓ Strips 8-16 AWG solid and 10-18 AWG stranded: the only pick here with an 8 AWG solid hole
- ✓ Curved handles with textured sleeves and a Thumb-Valley thumb rest, which IDEAL says add comfort and precision
- ✓ Locking mechanism keeps it closed when not in use
- ✓ Shear-cut 6/32 and 8/32 bolt holes and a narrow plier nose
- ✓ Made in USA; limited lifetime warranty (IDEAL)
TRADE-OFFS
- ✗ No 18 or 20 AWG solid holes; the solid row starts at 16 AWG
- ✗ IDEAL lists bolt-cutting holes but no dedicated wire-cutting blade
If you strip 8 or 10 AWG solid often, the 45-615 covers 8-16 AWG solid where the Klein and Milwaukee stop at 10. Despite the 'T-Stripper' product-line name, it has normal curved plier handles. The CC-licensed photo of a Reflex T-Stripper shows a coil spring; IDEAL's page does not mention one.
Knipex StriX: stripper plus cable shears
Representative photo, not the StriX; Representative photo, not the exact model. Photo: HutheMeow, CC BY-SA 4.0
KNIPEX StriX 13 62 180 Insulation Stripper with Cable Shears
Price tier $$$
WHAT THE MAKER LISTS
- ✓ Stripping blades set once with a knurled screw; no gauge holes to pick
- ✓ Strips solid, stranded and fine-stranded conductors up to 5 mm insulation diameter or 10 mm² (AWG 8)
- ✓ Integrated cable shears cut copper and aluminum cable up to 15 mm diameter; 50 mm² stranded copper
- ✓ Graduated jaw marks 11 mm and 16 mm strip lengths
- ✓ Made by KNIPEX in Wuppertal, Germany
TRADE-OFFS
- ✗ Not self-adjusting: change conductor size and you reset the blades
- ✗ Heavier: 200 g, against 153 g for the Klein 11055
The StriX is a two-in-one: an adjustable-blade insulation stripper plus real cable shears. It suits electricians who strip one conductor size repeatedly and also cut multi-core cable. It is not an automatic stripper; Knipex sells those as separate models.
If you want a self-adjusting stripper
Self-adjusting strippers grip and strip without choosing a hole, and the two below also strip the jacket on 12/2 and 14/2 NM cable. They are bigger tools: the Klein 11061 weighs 12.6 oz, more than twice the 11055's 5.4 oz. Knipex also sells true automatic insulation strippers, such as the ComStrip 12 62 180, which Knipex says needs no manual adjustment. The StriX above is not one of them.
Klein 11061 Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper/Cutter
- Solid: 10-20 AWG · Stranded: 12-22 AWG
- NM cable: Yes, 12/2 and 14/2 NM-B
- Adjustment: Self-adjusting, with a tension dial and an adjustable stopper
- Cutter: Cuts up to 8 AWG solid
- Weight: 12.6 oz (357 g)
- Warranty: Normal life of the product (Klein hand-tool warranty)
Milwaukee 48-22-3082 Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper & Cutter
- Solid: 10-20 AWG · Stranded: 12-22 AWG
- NM cable: Yes, 12/2 and 14/2 NM
- Adjustment: Self-adjusting, with tension and strip-length dials
- Cutter: Built-in copper wire cutter; cuts 12/2 NM in one pass
- Weight: Not stated by Milwaukee
- Warranty: Limited lifetime (Milwaukee)
How to choose wire strippers
- Match the gauges you strip most. A 10-18 AWG solid stripper covers 14, 12 and 10 AWG branch-circuit conductors. If you strip 8 AWG solid, you need an 8-16 AWG solid tool like the IDEAL 45-615. Not sure which conductor a circuit needs? See 12 AWG ampacity and 10 AWG ampacity.
- Solid and stranded rows differ. Fixed-hole strippers mark separate solid and stranded rows, because a stranded conductor of the same gauge is a little larger. Use the row that matches the wire.
- Fixed-hole, adjustable or self-adjusting. Fixed holes are light and simple. An adjustable blade (Knipex StriX) is set once per conductor size. Self-adjusting tools (Klein 11061, Milwaukee 48-22-3082) need no hole choice and add NM jacket stripping, at more weight.
- Spring and lock. A spring opens the jaws for you, and a lock keeps them shut in the pouch. The Klein 11055 and Milwaukee 48-22-6109 list both, the IDEAL 45-615 lists a lock, and Knipex's StriX datasheet lists neither.
- Screw and bolt shearing. The Klein shears 6-32 and 8-32 screws, the Milwaukee cuts #6 and #8 bolts, and the IDEAL has 6/32 and 8/32 bolt holes. Handy for trimming device screws.
- Conductor vs NM jacket. Gauge holes strip individual conductors. Stripping the outer jacket of NM cable takes a jacket stripper or a self-adjusting stripper that lists NM capability.
- Insulated versions. Plastic-dipped grips are not insulation. If your work calls for insulated tools, buy a model the maker rates and marks for 1000 V and follow your employer's procedures.
Spec table
Values are the makers' own except where marked distributor-listed. "Not stated" means the maker's page does not say.
| Spec | Klein 11055 | Milwaukee 48-22-6109 | IDEAL 45-615 | Knipex StriX | Klein 11061 | Milwaukee 48-22-3082 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid AWG | 10-18 AWG | 10-18 AWG (distributor-listed) | 8-16 AWG | Up to 10 mm² (AWG 8), 5 mm insulation diameter max | 10-20 AWG | 10-20 AWG |
| Stranded AWG | 12-20 AWG | 12-20 AWG (distributor-listed) | 10-18 AWG | Same range: solid, stranded and fine-stranded | 12-22 AWG | 12-22 AWG |
| NM cable | No (individual conductors only) | No (individual conductors only) | No (individual conductors only) | No | Yes, 12/2 and 14/2 NM-B | Yes, 12/2 and 14/2 NM |
| Opens with spring | Yes, coil spring | Yes, spring loaded | Yes (coil spring visible on the Reflex T-Stripper; IDEAL's page does not mention it) | Not stated by Knipex | No hold-open spring listed | Not stated |
| Lock | Closure lock | One-handed swing lock | Locking mechanism | Not stated by Knipex | Not stated | Not stated |
| Adjustment | Fixed, precision-ground holes | Fixed holes | Fixed holes | One blade pair, set with a knurled screw (not self-adjusting) | Self-adjusting, with a tension dial and an adjustable stopper | Self-adjusting, with tension and strip-length dials |
| Cutter / shear | Shear-type blades; shears 6-32 and 8-32 screws | Curved cutting blade; threads and cuts #6 and #8 bolts | Shear-cut 6/32 and 8/32 bolt holes; IDEAL lists no dedicated wire-cutting blade | Cable shears: Cu/Al cable to 15 mm diameter; 50 mm² stranded copper | Cuts up to 8 AWG solid | Built-in copper wire cutter; cuts 12/2 NM in one pass |
| Length | 7.4 in (18.8 cm) | 7-1/8 in (distributor-listed) | Not stated by IDEAL | 180 mm (about 7.1 in) | 8.25 in (21 cm) | Not stated by Milwaukee |
| Weight | 5.4 oz (153 g) | About 0.35 lb (distributor-listed) | Not stated by IDEAL | 200 g (about 7.1 oz) | 12.6 oz (357 g) | Not stated by Milwaukee |
| Made in | USA | Not stated by Milwaukee | USA | Germany (KNIPEX Werk, Wuppertal) | Not stated on Klein's page | Not stated by Milwaukee |
| Warranty | Normal life of the product (Klein hand-tool warranty) | Limited lifetime (Milwaukee) | Limited lifetime (IDEAL) | Not verified on Knipex's site | Normal life of the product (Klein hand-tool warranty) | Limited lifetime (Milwaukee) |
| Price tier | $ | $ | $ | $$$ | $$ | $$ |
| Source | Maker page | Maker page · Distributor listing | Maker page | Maker page | Maker page | Maker page |
How we checked
We checked each spec against the Klein, Milwaukee, IDEAL and KNIPEX product pages and datasheets on October 12, 2026. We did not hands-on test these tools, so this page makes no speed, feel or durability claims. Prices change, so we show a price tier ($ to $$$) instead of a number; check the current price on the listing.
Reviewed 2026-10-12.
Frequently Asked Questions
What wire strippers should a first-year apprentice buy?
Check your program's tool list first. If it just says wire strippers, start with a fixed-hole stripper for 10-18 AWG solid and 12-20 AWG stranded, such as the Klein 11055 or Milwaukee 48-22-6109. Both spring open and lock shut. Add an 8 AWG-capable stripper like the IDEAL 45-615 only if you strip 8 AWG solid.
Do Klein 11055 wire strippers have a spring?
Yes. Klein lists a coil spring that gives the 11055 self-opening action, plus a closure lock for storage.
Which wire strippers handle 8 AWG solid?
Of the picks here, the IDEAL 45-615 strips 8-16 AWG solid, and the Knipex StriX strips up to 10 mm² (AWG 8) once its blades are set. The Klein 11055 and Milwaukee 48-22-6109 stop at 10 AWG solid.
What's the difference between self-adjusting and regular wire strippers?
Regular strippers have fixed gauge holes, so you pick the hole that matches the conductor. Self-adjusting strippers such as the Klein 11061 and Milwaukee 48-22-3082 grip and strip without choosing a hole, and both list 12/2 and 14/2 NM jacket stripping. The trade-off is size: the Klein 11061 weighs 12.6 oz, more than twice the 11055's 5.4 oz. The Knipex StriX is neither: its blades are set by a knurled screw.
Can I strip Romex (NM cable) with these tools?
The four fixed-hole and adjustable picks strip individual conductors, not the NM jacket. For the jacket, use an NM-jacket stripper or cable ripper, or a self-adjusting stripper that lists NM capability: Klein's 11061 and Milwaukee's 48-22-3082 both list 12/2 and 14/2 NM.
When should I replace wire strippers?
Replace them when the stripping holes start nicking the conductor or the cut is no longer clean. A nicked conductor is a weak point, so do not keep using a worn hole.
Head to head
Klein vs Milwaukee Wire Strippers
The Klein 11055 and Milwaukee 48-22-6109 head to head, spec by spec.
Related resources
- First-Year Electrician Starter Tool SetThe core hand tools for year one, strippers included.
- Second-Year Electrician Upgrade KitWhat to add once your work changes.
- Electrical Tools GuideThe full electrician tool list by category.
- How SparkShift picks gearOur method for tool picks and what we do not claim.
- 12 AWG Wire AmpacityKnow the conductor before you strip it.
- Klein vs Knipex Lineman's PliersThe other everyday cutting tool, compared on maker specs.