Why We Love the Channellock Wire Cutters for 2023

The Channellock E337CB Diagonal Cutting Pliers put the wire cutter in Wirecutter.

When I tested 13 pairs of wire cutters for Wirecutter, I used them to make hundreds upon hundreds of cuts through wire, hardware cloth, and even nails. At the time, I chose the Channellock E337CB Diagonal Cutting Pliers as the best. Since then, they have become one of the most important tools I own.

Channellock's pliers cut with more power than the competition, and the large, padded handles are among the most comfortable.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $26.

I raise sheep, cows, and pigs, so I deal with fencing installation and repairs year-round. This can mean days at a time of snip, snip, snip. I have a few pairs of wire cutters, but it's been years since I picked up any of the others. The Channellocks cut easily, and they’re comfortable to hold. That might sound like a low standard for a pair of wire cutters, but only the Channellocks meet it every time.

The cutting jaws are in a "knife and anvil" style, meaning that one of the jaws has an edge, but the other is slightly flattened. So the Channellocks cut more like a knife on a cutting board. Time and time again, the Channellocks can cut wires the other pairs just can't.

The Channellocks cut easily, and they’re comfortable to hold.

The handles have generous padding, so no matter how much I’m squeezing them, they stay relatively comfortable. It's surprising how few wire cutters have cushioned handles. Most have simple dipped plastic handles, which offer zero padding. (This is bizarre, considering that the whole point of the tool is to apply enough pressure to the handle to cut through wire.)

It took hundreds of cuts and years of reader requests for us to finally post the best wire cutter: The Channellock E337CB is a truly superior snipper.

All of these benefits are great for a heavy tool user, but they directly translate to everyone else, too. If you’re not accustomed to using hand tools, why not get the wire cutters that take the least amount of effort and are the most comfortable to hold? And wouldn't you want a pair with the most complete cutting ability?

Channellock is a ubiquitous name in quality hand tools. Originally called the Champion Bolt & Clipper Company, Channellock was founded in the late 1800s by George DeArment, a farrier. More than 130 years later, the company is run by the fifth generation of the DeArment family (which settled on the Channellock name in 1963, after its iconic multi-position pliers, designed in 1933).

Since 1904, the company has been based in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and it's been in the current location since 1923. It now manufactures more than 75 different pliers, all 100% made in Pennsylvania.

We haven't seen a significant deal on these wire cutters in years, so if you find them for less than $20, they are worth grabbing.

$23 Average street price$17 Best price we’ve ever seen

The Channellock E337CB Diagonal Cutting Pliers are extremely durable, and it's nearly impossible to damage them during regular use. Our advice is to stay away from cutting items that are clearly beyond the scope of the tool (like thick steel bars or chunky, 16d nails). But even then, the likely result is a slight dent in the jaws. The cutters will still work for regular cuts.

This post is part of our 2020 "52 Things We Love" series, an ode to Wirecutter picks that have withstood the test of time. Read the entire series.

Doug Mahoney

Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering home improvement. He spent 10 years in high-end construction as a carpenter, foreman, and supervisor. He lives in a very demanding 250-year-old farmhouse and spent four years gutting and rebuilding his previous home. He also raises sheep and has a dairy cow that he milks every morning.

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