Trade Essentials for Electricians

The Electrician's Toolkit

Whether you're serving your apprenticeship, tackling a home rewire, or running a full-time contracting business, the right tool makes the job faster and safer. We've pulled together the essentials — screwdrivers, pliers, measuring and testing equipment, cutting tools and PPE — from trusted trade brands, all in one place.

Screwdrivers — Singles

A good screwdriver earns its place in the bag through use, not looks. From single VDE-insulated drivers to full slotted and Pozi sets, this range covers the essentials every electrician reaches for on site.

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Screwdrivers — Sets

Side Cutters & Shears

Diagonal cutters for wire and small-gauge conductors, plus heavier cable shears for first-fix runs and armoured cable. Multi-component grips keep control high through a full day's use.

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Knipex — Precision Pliers, Made in Germany

Knipex has been making pliers in Wuppertal, Germany since 1882, and it's the brand most electricians reach for without thinking twice - chrome vanadium steel, induction-hardened cutting edges, and grips designed to save your hand on the fiftieth cut of the day, not just the first. You don't need years on the tools to feel the difference: the ergonomics and the sharpness make everyday jobs - stripping, cutting, gripping - noticeably easier from the first use, which is exactly why we'd point a first-year apprentice at the same pliers as a 20-year veteran.

  • - Chrome vanadium electric steel, oil-hardened and tempered
  • - VDE 1000V insulation on electrician-rated ranges, tested individually
  • - Precision-ground cutting edges stay sharp through heavy site use
  • - Ergonomic multi-component grips reduce hand fatigue on long jobs
Knipex in action

Pliers

Combination, long-nose and side-cutting pliers for terminating, forming and holding conductors. Insulated to VDE 1000V standard where it matters most.

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Pipe Grips & Waterpump Pliers

For jobs that go beyond cable — tightening glands, holding conduit, or working alongside plumbing and containment. Built for leverage without slipping.

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milwaukee

5m Magnetic Wide Blade Tape Measure

Get it right, first time.

  • 35mm wide blade, 5m/16ft, dual-scale metric/imperial markings on both sides
  • Magnetic hook for one-person use on ferrous surfaces — steel back boxes, trunking, containment
  • Nylon-extrusion coated blade with reinforced anti-tear coating on the first 15cm, impact-resistant body
4932499208 Stock status: In stock

Net price: €19.96

Gross price: €24.55

Milwaukee 4932499208

Holesaws & Arbors

Sized for back boxes, conduit entries and cable routing, with arbors sold separately so you build the exact set your jobs demand.

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Wire Strippers & Utility Knives

Strip cable without nicking the conductor. Automatic and manual strippers alongside retractable utility knives for cable prep and general site cutting.

fluke

Fluke ST240 Socket Tester

A 30-second check on any 13A socket.

  • 230V 13A — plugs straight into standard or RCD-protected outlets
  • Identifies 6 wiring conditions via bright LEDs and a reference chart
  • Integrated RCD test confirms RCD-protected outlets are functioning
ST240+ Stock status: 9 in stock

Net price: €39.13

Gross price: €48.13

Fluke ST240+ Socket Tester

Crimpers

Ratchet and mechanical crimping tools for terminals, ferrules and lugs — because a loose connection is a callback waiting to happen.

All crimpers

Squares & Levels

For marking out back boxes, trunking runs and fixing points, torpedo and box-frame levels keep first fix looking as good as it performs.

Hacksaws & Blades

Junior and full-size hacksaws paired with blades for metal, plastic and mixed-material cutting — replace blades often, save the saw.

fluke

Fluke 1AC-II VoltAlert

Know it's live before you touch it.

  • Touch-to-test, non-contact voltage detection — 200V to 1000V AC
  • CAT IV 1000V rated, with Voltbeat continuous self-test
  • Glows red and beeps the instant it senses voltage; 2 AAA batteries included
1AC Stock status: In stock

Net price: €31.64

Gross price: €38.91

Fluke 1AC II Non-Contact Voltage Tester

Safety Gloves, Glasses & Masks

Cut-resistant gloves, safety glasses and dust masks — the tools that protect the person using the tools.

Tool Boxes & Storage

From a basic box for the essentials to a modular tote for a fully kitted-out van, storage that keeps your gear organised, protected and ready to grab on the way out the door.

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Building Your Kit, One Job at a Time

Nobody arrives with a full van on day one — most electricians build their kit tool by tool, job by job, upgrading as the work demands it. Whether you’re an apprentice buying your first VDE screwdriver set or a contractor replacing a well-worn pair of Knipex, everything here is stocked, in-branch and online, at Electrical Wholesaler.