10 Best Electrical Tools To Use For Contractors In 2022

In 2020, the global power tools market reached a value of $25.2 billion.

As a contractor, the quality of the work you do is greatly affected by the equipment you have at your disposal. There are so many options for electrical tools, so finding the right ones isn’t always easy.

In this guide, we have listed 10 of the best electrical tools on the market. If you want to know what they are and why you need them, keep reading.

1. DeWalt 20V MAX* XR(R) Cordless Cable Stripper Kit

Manual cable strippers are a common tool all electricians have used, but they can be difficult to work with at times and might leave cables frayed. A cordless cable stripper kit is the perfect solution to strip cables perfectly every time with minimal effort.

The DeWalt DCE151TD1 can strip aluminum and copper cables from 6 AWG to 750 MCM (CU) and 900 MCM (AL). The kit comes with a reference chart that covers the full range of cable diameters it can strip, and multiple quick-release brushing to cover the range.

It has a built-in LED light to help provide visibility in low-light environments and a variable speed trigger helping with speed control and allowing reverse.

The kit comes in a convenient storage box to help keep everything organized. The tool can also be bought on its own without the rest of the kit.

2. Makita 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Hybrid 4-Function Impact-Hammer-Driver-Drill

A drill is a staple tool for any contractor, but for more capability, you can opt for an impact driver. The main difference between the two is the amount of torque – a standard impact driver will produce significantly more than even a top-of-the-line drill.

This allows you to drive long and wide screws into all materials easily and quickly. The Makita XPT02Z has no trouble drilling into wood, plastic, metal, or concrete.

The XPT02Z has a brushless motor designed with efficiency in mind. It can run at a high power/speed with long battery life (up to 50% longer per charge).

With four functions (drill, driver, hammer, and impact), this is a very versatile tool. Depending on your electrical tool budget, this could be an ideal way to save, as this one tool can perform the functions of several.

In impact driver mode, it can produce up to 1,300 in. lbs. of torque and offers two different speed modes in each of the other modes. A tightening mode (T-mode) reduces the rotation and impact speed before driving the screw, which helps to minimize screw breakage, screw thread stripping, and risk of damage.

3. DeWalt 20V MAX* Dieless Cable Crimping Tool Kit

One of the most important wiring tools you can have is a crimping tool. These come in various designs but all serve a similar purpose of joining materials or components. This is done by pressing parts together and creating a crimp or seal.

A typical use would be to connect a component to the end of an electrical cable. Some crimping tools are hand-powered, some are battery-powered, and some require a power outlet.

The DeWalt DCE350M2 is a cordless battery-powered model with several useful features.

You can pivot the head a full 360° to work at difficult angles, and it has guard rails to protect the crimping head when working with small-diameter cables.

DeWalt has implemented Crimp Connect software, an onboard intelligence system that generates detailed information about completed crimps such as:

• Date
• Time
• Force
• Successful cycles

This software also provides reports on service history and calibration information, making it easier to maintain properly. This information, along with power on/off and the battery level, is displayed on an LED interface.

By the head is an LED light to help in low-light situations, and it even has clips to attach a shoulder strap if desired.

4. DeWalt 20V MAX* Cordless Cable Stapler

If there is one thing that all electricians work with all the time, it’s cables. Beyond getting everything connected properly and making sure everything is working, you’ll want to make sure you keep things tidy and organized.

Safety is key, and loose cables can often present a trip hazard. This is especially important if the work you’re doing involves numerous cables that would easily become messy. A cable stapler is perfect for keeping cables neatly pinned down and secure.

Manual cable staplers are a cost-effective option but are not as convenient and secure as a battery-powered model.

The DeWalt DCN701B is an excellent example of this. Being battery-powered means stapling cables becomes effortless, and you can be certain the staples will be secure.

It is compatible with 1 inch DeWalt DRS1800 staples and comes with a cable guide to help make sure your shots are correctly lined up. Despite being battery-powered, it is still compact enough for use in tight spaces and has an extended trigger for easier use in different orientations.

Like other DeWalt electricians’ tools, the built-in LED light makes work in dark areas much easier and it has an adjustable hook to hang on a tool belt.

5. DeWalt 20V MAX* Cordless ACSR Cable Cutting Tool Kit

You may often find yourself needing to cut cables. Cable cutters or pliers are suitable for this, but they can quite easily leave a cable damaged or distorted. On top of this, you may find manual cable cutters to be quite limited in terms of the cables they can cut through.

An electric cable cutter can help with this. Being battery-powered, they can generally cut through a wider range of cables cleanly and easily.

The DeWalt DCE155D1 is rated to cut through 1590 ACSR, 750 MCM Copper, or 1000 MCM Aluminum. This would be all but impossible with a manual cable cutter.

The guillotine is perfect for cutting a cable without distorting the profile, so any connectors can then be attached with ease.

If you need to replace the guillotine, this can easily be done in the field so it won’t bring your work to a stop, and it comes with a built-in LED light.

6. DeWalt 8V MAX* Gyroscopic Screwdriver

As a contractor, you know that efficiency on the job is key. There are a number of things you can do, and tools you can use, to speed things up.

A screwdriver may be the most widely used tool in the world and is essential for almost any contracting work. Using a traditional screwdriver isn’t a problem, but depending on the nature of a job, it can waste a lot of time.

Using an electric screwdriver makes things a whole lot easier, and if you’re working with a lot of screws, the time saved can be very noticeable.

The DeWalt DCF680N2 is a battery-powered screwdriver designed with speed, precision, and control in mind. It has variable speed options suitable for different materials such as plastic, wood, and light-gauge metal.

The handle can be adjusted for either an in-line grip or pistol grip for added convenience. It holds 1 inch bit tips and has a 1/4 inch hex allowing for quick but change.

The 8V battery pack charges in one hour and the screwdriver indicates the battery charge status, so you know when it needs charging.

7. DeWalt 65-Foot Laser Distance Measurer

All contracting work requires accuracy and precision. This is in all aspects, including distance. Traditionally distance is measured with a tape measure, and while they do the job, it can sometimes be difficult to get precise measurements.

This is especially true if you are working alone, or need to take difficult measurements like the height of a ceiling. To make things a lot easier, you can invest in a laser distance measurer.

The DeWalt DW065E is a perfect entry-level model, allowing you to take accurate measurements of up to 65 feet. Not only can this device measure lengths, but also areas and volumes.

The housing is made to be durable enough to stand up with the rest of your electrician tools and has a backlit LCD screen so you can easily read measurements even in the dark.

A continuous measuring option allows you to track and read measurements in real time, and it has a memory system to retain up to three previous measurements if needed.

The accuracy is ±1/8 inch, which is far better than you are likely to get with a tape measure.

8. DeWalt 20V MAX Lithium-Ion LED Work Light

A lot of the time you will be working in well-lit situations, and many electrical tools come with built-in LEDs to provide extra illumination. It is, however, inevitable that sometimes this won’t be the case.

If you’re working somewhere with poor lighting, even simple jobs could become incredibly difficult, especially if you’re using a tool that doesn’t provide sufficient light.

There are plenty of options when it comes to worksite lights, with one of the most convenient being the DeWalt DCL040. It is not the most powerful light available, but it is one of the most versatile, which is often more important.

The output is 110 lm, which is beaten by other more powerful models but is still sufficient in the majority of circumstances. What makes this one stand out is the flexibility.

It has a rotating head with 120° of movement. More often than not, low-light situations are the result of having to work in tight spaces. When that is the case, having a light that you can easily adjust is incredibly useful.

You can sit this torch on the floor or another surface, or use the built-in hook to hang it and get a different angle.

9. Makita 23″ Contractor Tool Bag

You can get as many tools as you want, but you need to make sure you can move them around. Some tools come with their own bags and cases for added convenience.

For tools that don’t, or if you just want to keep all of your tools stored together, a larger tool bag is the way to go.

Contractor Tools has several different tool bags available, with the biggest being the Makita 23" Contractor Tool Bag. Makita is known for its high-quality products, and this is no different.

It is made of durable materials, but is still lightweight, which is good as your tools are likely to weigh you down quite a bit. It has a spacious main compartment for your tools, and six smaller exterior pockets, so you have various options for how you store different pieces of equipment.

The two main handles have a velcro strap for carrying by hand, and it also has a removable shoulder strap, so you can carry it however you prefer.

We also have two smaller versions available (20″ and 14″) if you feel like that would be more suited to your needs.

10. Tajima VR Safety Knife

A knife is one of the most basic, but one of the most important items that no electrician tool kit should be missing. As an electrician, you might use a knife to strip cables, cut back insulation, score drywall, or even just open boxes.

The Tajima VR Safety Knife is a simple, but effective model. It has a locking mechanism to hold the blade in place, and it will automatically retract when the lock is removed for improved safety.

It uses V-REX blades and comes with three as standard to get you going. It is lightweight and compact, so it will easily fit into a tool belt or even your pocket.

Choosing Between the Best Electrical Tools

While those on this list are some of the best electrical tools available, you might want to go for something a bit different depending on your needs.

Contractor Tool Supply is a leading electrical tool provider. If you need any help figuring out what is best for you, we are always happy to offer advice. Click here to contact us today.