There’s always fencing to be done on a homestead or farm, and the best fencing pliers make your life a lot easier. I have one set of pliers I always carry with me. They’re the pliers that can do anything – grab wire, twist it, cut it – I’m ashamed to admit that sometimes, they’re even used as a hammer (shock! horror!).
Then, if I’m on a serious fencing mission or building a chicken run, I also carry a good pair of cutting pliers.
The best fencing pliers for most people are the KNIPEX CoBolt Compact Bolt Cutters. These pliers make it ridiculously easy to cut through wire, something my general-purpose fencing pliers struggle with, even though they will do the job in a pinch.
But there are plenty of options out there for people who need pliers that have staple starters, crimpers, and other features. So, let’s review all the very best fencing pliers on the market and figure out which one will suit your fencing tasks best!
What’s Inside:
- The 6 Best Fencing Pliers
- 1. Best Overall: Knipex CoBolt Compact Fencing Pliers/Cutters
- 2. Highest Quality: Klein Tools High Leverage Fencing Pliers
- 3. Most Durable: Crescent Button Fencing Pliers
- 4. Best All-Purpose: Milwaukee Comfort Grip Fencing Pliers
- 5. Best Value: Irwin Vise-Grip Fencing Pliers
- 6. Best Budget: Bates Fencing Pliers
- Best Fencing Pliers Buyer’s Guide
- What Are The Best Fencing Pliers For You?
The 6 Best Fencing Pliers
Before we take a deep dive into the pros and cons of these great fencing pliers, let’s have a quick overview of the pliers that made the list:
- Comes in 6,8, and 10 inch lengths
- Can cut through anything
- Come incredibly sharp -perfect for cutting
- Great for crimping
- Doesn't have the prying hook
- Great Value
- Flat nose with three wire cutters, pipe grips, and teeth in extreme tip of nose
- Hardened Steel
- Double a staple puller, staple pincher, hammer, fencing wire crimper, fencing wire puller, and fencing wire cutter
- Made from nickel chromium steel
- Anti-pinch, non-slip ProTouch Grips
- Double a staple puller, staple pincher, hammer, fencing wire crimper, fencing wire puller, and fencing wire cutter
- Incredible price
- The steel body is durable, even if the handles are not
- Cuts Very Well
- Has many features though the staple puller is dull
As you can see, all these fencing pliers have some really good things going for them, which is why we rely on them on our homesteads. However, you now have to decide which fencing pliers will be the best for how you want to use them.
So, without further ado, let’s test and review each one to find your perfect pliers!
1. Best Overall: Knipex CoBolt Compact Fencing Pliers/Cutters
These durable, sharp, and heavy-duty bolt cutters are the absolute best for cutting, hammering, twisting, and manipulating fencing materials.
They cut through an astonishing 1/4 inch diameter wire, so no fencing material can stand up to these guys' power.
This pair of fencing pliers is the bomb. They’re not exactly fencing pliers, but if you have fencing to do, there will be cutting to do, and these pliers slice through wire like a knife through butter.
These fencing pliers cut wire up to 1/4″ in diameter. They’re of true quality and made in Germany. They also have a lever-action design that applies much more force than standard pliers – up to 20 times more, in fact.
These pliers will cut cotter pins, nails, fish hooks, and any type of fencing. They’re made of chrome vanadium electric steel and are super lightweight. You can carry these in your pocket all day long and not notice them.
2. Highest Quality: Klein Tools High Leverage Fencing Pliers
Klein Tools has been manufacturing high-quality hand tools for over 160 years, all made in the USA. These fencing pliers are no exception.
Accordingly, these pliers feature a high-leverage design that gives you 46% more cutting and gripping power than standard pliers.
These pliers are made of induction-hardened steel for exceptional durability and strength. These pliers come with cross-hatched jaws to provide sure-gripping on the wire. They’re perfect for fencing projects and can even crimp insulated terminals and splice!
They’re also super easy to handle with “hand form” handles, hot-riveted joints, and unique handle tempering (no wire snap!). Definitely one of the best fencing pliers you can add to your toolset.
3. Most Durable: Crescent Button Fencing Pliers
These are the fencing pliers I have now, combined with the Knipex pliers that are currently the best fencing pliers on this list. These are great pliers. They’re made from tough and durable tool steel ( a steel alloy), and they do all the fencing jobs you need them to do.
My main issue with them (which is why they’re not on number 2) is that they’re not particularly great at cutting. Maybe if you have big, strong hands, this isn’t the case, but I much rather use my Knipex cutters for cutting. Then I’ll use these Crescent pliers to grab the wire, twist it, rip it, whatever I need to do. And hammer…
A great all-around fencing plier that lasts for years and years.
4. Best All-Purpose: Milwaukee Comfort Grip Fencing Pliers
Milwaukee is well-known for its quality tools, and it’s one of my husband’s favorites. He works on big machinery as a diesel mechanic, and his tools have a tough life.
Milwaukee tools have proven that they’re up to the job and they’ve lasted really well, even under harsh conditions.
These comfort grip pliers are a multi-purpose design, which is what you want in the best fencing pliers. The best ones do all your fencing jobs, so you only have to carry one tool!
These fencing pliers double a staple puller, staple pincher, hammer, fencing wire crimper, fencing wire puller, and fencing wire cutter all in one. How good is it that it includes the “hammer” feature? We don’t have to feel bad anymore for using them to whack stuff with!
They have a forged head, so they last longer in tough conditions, rust protection, and curved handles for nice ergonomics.
5. Best Value: Irwin Vise-Grip Fencing Pliers
Another great set of all-in-one fencing pliers. They’re made from nickel chromium steel with machined jaws for extra grip. These fencing pliers are a great price too.
They feature Irwin’s ProTouch Grips for extra comfort and control, and to reduce hand fatigue. You’ll really appreciate that if you’ve got a few miles of fencing to do!
Some things reviewers on Amazon mentioned:
It is particularly great for removing fence staples from old fencing (which can be such a hassle). I read on other people reviews complaints about the pliers being stiff and hard to open or use. This is not my experience at all.
These fencing pliers are very well made and not some skinny cast junk like I’ve seen before. I expect these will last a good long time and help to build and repair miles of fence (If I don’t drop them in the grass). The grip fits well in my hand with or without gloves which is a plus.
The angle of the crook is too steep to pound out an old staple from a post, the tolerances on the machined grooves are too large to genuinely grip a wire for tension, and the machined groves in the plier head are too large to genuinely grip two wires for a wrap.
6. Best Budget: Bates Fencing Pliers
Our cheapest best fencing pliers for today! Coming in at an incredibly affordable price, these iron pliers are quite a bargain. These have great reviews, around 64 of them with an average of around 4.4 out of 5. That’s pretty good for a $15 pair of fencing pliers.
They’re 10″ pliers with a 7/32″ cutting capacity. It’s a multi-purpose tool as well. You can use them as fencing pliers, staple pullers, nail pullers, cutters, and as a hammer. They’re made from polished alloy for durability and to prevent them from rusting.
Corrugated head for extra grip too. These pliers aren’t the highest quality. With tools, you generally do get what you pay for. They’re also best for large hands, and they take a fair bit of hand strength to cut through wire. Still, if you’re after cheap fencing pliers, they’re worth a go.
Best Fencing Pliers Buyer’s Guide
The best fencing pliers will, obviously, cut through fence wire. But they should be able to do a bit more than gnaw through barbed wire.
So, let’s go over some basic features to look for when shopping for a pair of reliable fencing pliers:
What Are Fencing Pliers?
Fencing pliers are a tool used for working with wire or barbed wire fences. They’re designed to handle various tasks, including cutting, gripping, and bending wire. The best fencing pliers are multi-purpose tools that can help you do everything from pulling staples to crimping wire.
They usually feature curved handles for ergonomics and comfort, along with forged steel vutters, crimpers, and staple pullers.
Features To Look For in Fencing Pliers
Fencing pliers are a multi-use tool that you carry with you when you’re out fencing. Fencing pliers often have the following features:
- A hammer head. This is used for hammering stuff in, like knocking in staples (for example, to attach fencing wire to a wooden post).
- Wire cutters. There are slots on the sides of the pliers (side-cutters) and often also on the inside of the jaws to cut wire. The quality of your fencing pliers will dictate how big a wire you can cut. If you need to cut a lot of wire, general-purpose fencing pliers might not be your best bet, and it’s easier to carry a pair of small bolt cutters with you. Like the Knipex fencing cutters, which are my favorite cutting tool.
- A spike. The spike, also called a staple starter, can be used to get old staples out.
- Pincers. For grabbing wire, twisting it, or anything you need to hold onto to. They’re often machined or corrugated for extra grip.
- Grips. The grips are to hold onto, of course, but they can also be used to tension wire and to join wires together. It’s always nice to have ergonomic handles, but at the end of the day, if plain pliers cut well, you won’t need much of a grip.
However, some of the best fence pliers don’t have all these features. That’s fine, seeing as some pliers excel in very specific areas.
Take the KNIPEX CoBolt Compact Bolt Cutters, for example. These pliers don’t have a staple puller. But they can cut through thick wire like its butter.
What’s The Best Material For Fencing Pliers?
The best material for fencing pliers is chrome vanadium steel, but other suitable varieties of steel include carbon steel, drop-forged steel, durable nickel chromium steel, and other chromium steel alloy metals. As long as the pliers are harder than plain steel, they should be able to cut through chain links and twisted barbed wire.
Always be sure to check that the pliers you select are suitable for cutting through harder metals like steel, as that;’s what most wire fencing is made of. You’re safe if you select anything off this list, as all these pliers are harder than steel.
What Are The Best Fencing Pliers For You?
These durable, sharp, and heavy-duty bolt cutters are the absolute best for cutting, hammering, twisting, and manipulating fencing materials.
They cut through an astonishing 1/4 inch diameter wire, so no fencing material can stand up to these guys' power.
When you’re buying the best fencing pliers, look at the quality. This is the one tool you don’t want to do without on a farm, so if you’re carrying only one tool with you – make sure it’s a good one!
What are your favorite fence pliers? Do you have a pair that you stand by? We’d love to hear about your experiences and favorites in the comments below.
Thanks so much for reading! I hope you have a fence-tastic day!
Keep Reading:
james landry
Monday 21st of March 2022
If you’re in need of sturdy and durable fence-cutters, check Bates Best Fencing Pliers out. All my colleagues hold this product in high regard, mainly because of its simple yet efficient features.
james landry
Saturday 2nd of April 2022
My only reservation about the fencing plier is that it isn’t designed for people with small hands.