The best side cutters, compared.
Top pick: Knipex 70 06 160 diagonal cutter – Highest score in this set, 94, from 4.7 out of 5,750 reviews, and the only 1000 V and VDE line on the listing. Best value: HOUSERAN 6 inch flush cutters, 2-pack – Score 92 at about £10.99 for two sprung flush cutters listed up to 12 AWG, with hard steel excluded on the listing. Updated October 2026.
Side cutters, also sold as diagonal cutters, shear wire from the side of the head. You buy them in the UK for copper, cable ties, floral wire and light workshop jobs. A usable pair is set by the edge, the stated wire class, and whether the handles are actually insulated. A bevelled 160 mm cutter is the general tool. Live cutting is not a feature of any listing here. Ordinary house wiring should be isolated and proved dead. The [side cutters buying guide](/hub/cutting-tools/side-cutters/sub/side-cutters-buying-guide) sets the job, the wire class, then the insulation mark. It leaves a small point on both ends and keeps a stronger edge. A short spring flush cutter is for soft wire and a flat finish.
Side cutters, also sold as diagonal cutters, shear wire from the side of the head. You buy them in the UK for copper, cable ties, floral wire and light workshop jobs.
38 products checked · 61 hrs invested · +24,300 readers
Swipe for more
1-2 of 11
Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you cutting?
The Knipex 70 06 160 at £27.26 is the 160 mm diagonal cutter in this set sold as 1000 V insulated, with a VDE line, bi-material yellow and red sleeves, and induction-hardened edges about 62 HRC. Across 5,750 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.7, the largest sample here. The saved listing says precision edges for soft and hard wire and does not print a millimetre capacity; Knipex's own page states Ø 4.0 mm soft, Ø 3.0 mm medium-hard and Ø 2.0 mm hard, which is that maker page, not the Amazon capture. Most of the 40 UK reviews in the file praise the edge and the grips. One says the tip snapped while cutting 1.0 mm cable after about three months. Another says not to cut pattress screws with them. A 1000 V mark is not a permit to work live. In this set it is the top pick when you want a 160 mm cutter with an insulation mark on the listing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 160 mm diagonal cutter with a 1000 V and VDE mark on the listing, for soft and hard wire after the circuit is dead.
Less suitable: Cable-tie tails that need a flush face, pattress screws, or anyone treating the mark as permission to cut live.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this Knipex cutter sold as insulated?
Yes. The title says 1000V-insulated and the specification line says VDE. The saved listing does not print IEC 60900.
Does the amazon.co.uk file give a wire diameter?
No. It says precision edges for soft and hard wire, and about 62 HRC. It does not print a millimetre capacity.
What failures show up in the UK reviews?
Most of the 40 UK reviews in the file praise the edge and the grips. One says the tip snapped while cutting 1.0 mm cable after about three months. Another says not to cut pattress screws with them.
The KAIHAOWIN KH001X6 six-pack at £22.90 is a set of 6 inch flush-style cutters in high-carbon steel, listed for plastic or soft electrical wire and not for hard electrical wire. Across 1,952 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.6, the largest sample on a KAIHAOWIN pack in this folder. The listing talks about one-handed use and less fatigue, and it does not name a spring. Across 33 UK reviews in the saved listing, complaints include a tip snapping on thin wire, jaws bending, the edge going blunt after a few cuts, and a break on first use. Treat the pack as disposable flush cutters for ties and soft wire, not as six workshop diagonal cutters. Plastic-coated handles are not an insulation mark.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A bench that burns through flush cutters on ties and soft wire and wants six in one order.
Less suitable: Hard electrical wire, a single durable 160 mm pair, or anyone reading the plastic coating as 1000 V insulation.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say these are spring-loaded?
No. It says one-handed use and less fatigue, and it does not name a spring.
Will the listing support hard electrical wire?
No. The bullet says they suit plastic or soft electrical wire and are not suitable for hard electrical wires.
What do UK reviewers report when the edge is overloaded?
Across 33 UK reviews in the saved listing, complaints include a tip snapping on thin wire, jaws bending, the edge going blunt after a few cuts, and a break on first use.
The HOUSERAN two-pack at £10.99 is a pair of 6 inch spring flush cutters listed up to 12 AWG, about 2 mm solid copper, with a high-frequency hardened flush edge and a warning that hard steel will damage it. Across 732 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.6. The colour field says pink; the title and bullets say a non-slip red handle, so both lines sit on the same page. One reviewer says the spring tends to fall out. Others praise a flush cut on cable ties, 1.5 mm² copper and craft wire, and say not to use the tip on copper. Two cutters at this price undercut a six-pack that still forbids hard electrical wire. In this set it is the best value when the job is ties and soft copper, not steel. The handle is not a 1000 V mark.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Cable ties and soft copper up to 12 AWG when you want two sprung flush cutters without paying for a six-pack.
Less suitable: Hard steel, cutting on the tip, or any work that needs an IEC 60900 handle.
Specifications
Common questions
What wire limit is printed?
The bullet says up to 12 AWG, and it says hard steel will damage the edge.
Which handle colour does the file state?
The colour field says pink. The title and bullets say a non-slip red handle. Both lines are in the saved listing.
What do UK reviewers say about the spring?
One says the spring tends to fall out. Others praise a flush cut on cable ties, 1.5 mm² copper and craft wire, and say not to use the tip on copper.
The KAIHAOWIN KH016 five-pack at £18.90 is a set of 5 inch spring flush cutters listed for plastic or soft electrical wire, floral wire and craft use, and not for hard electrical wires. Across 218 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.6, a thinner sample than the KH008 10-pack. Eleven UK reviews are in the file. Most are short praise of sharpness. One says the steel is too soft for cable and that they are for zip ties. One warns that the tips are sharp. The title and the bullet both say spring-loaded, so the jaws stay open unless you add your own wrap. Five cutters cost more than the ten-pack of KH008, so you are paying for this listing, not for a better wire class. Plastic-coated handles are not VDE.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Soft wire, floral wire and zip ties when you want five sprung 5 inch flush cutters and accept a smaller review sample.
Less suitable: Cable that the UK note already calls too hard, or a buyer who only needs one insulated 160 mm pair.
Specifications
Common questions
Are these 5 inch cutters spring-loaded?
Yes. The title and the bullet both say spring-loaded.
What does the listing exclude?
Hard electrical wires. It names plastic or soft electrical wire, floral wire and craft use.
What do the UK reviews say about cable?
Eleven UK reviews are in the file. Most are short praise of sharpness. One says the steel is too soft for cable and that they are for zip ties. One warns that the tips are sharp.
The US PRO 1820 set at £12.68 puts one 6 inch, one 8 inch and one 10 inch drop-forged diagonal plier in a box, with no soft, medium or hard diameter and no insulation mark. Across 132 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.6, a thinner sample than the flush packs. Eighteen UK reviews are in the file. Two say the edges do not cut: one could not cut a split pin, and one says the edges are not aligned. Others call the set decent for the price. At 833 g you are buying three lengths, not three certified capacities. A longer handle is leverage, not a harder edge. Check that each pair meets before you trust a split pin or a copper tail. Alloy-steel handles are not IEC 60900.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A workshop drawer that wants three handle lengths and will check the edges on arrival.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a printed millimetre capacity, a flush tie cut, or a 1000 V mark.
Specifications
Common questions
What sizes are in the box?
The listing says one 6 inch, one 8 inch and one 10 inch diagonal cutting plier, drop-forged.
Is a wire capacity stated?
No. There is no soft, medium or hard diameter, and no insulation mark.
What do the poor UK reviews say?
Eighteen UK reviews are in the file. Two say the edges do not cut: one could not cut a split pin, and one says the edges are not aligned. Others call the set decent for the price.
The BOENFU 6 inch flush cutter at £7.99 is a chrome-vanadium spring tool listed up to 2.3 mm, with an angled head and a plastic anti-slip sleeve. Across 5,250 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.4, and the listing ranks in Wire Cutters rather than only in Side-cutting Pliers; rank is not a test. The standard on the page is DIN ISO 5743, a pliers dimension line, not IEC 60900. UK reviewers say there is no lock, so the jaws stay open, and that the sleeve is only a plastic wrap. Some say the blades do not meet at the tips. One says 0.8 mm paperclip wire chewed the edge. Another says thin garden wire chipped it. Others praise a flush cut on florist wire and cable ties. Stop if the handles close and the wire has not parted.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A single cheap flush cutter for cable ties, florist wire and soft copper inside 2.3 mm.
Less suitable: Paperclips, garden wire, steel, or a buyer who needs a latching sheath or insulated handles.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the spring let you close these cutters?
The listing says a steel return spring opens them again. UK reviewers say there is no lock, so the jaws stay open, and that the sleeve is only a plastic wrap.
What standard is on the listing?
DIN ISO 5743. The file does not name IEC 60900 or VDE.
Where do UK reviewers say the edge fails?
Some say the blades do not meet at the tips. One says 0.8 mm paperclip wire chewed the edge. Another says thin garden wire chipped it. Others praise a flush cut on florist wire and cable ties.
The KAIHAOWIN KH008 10-pack at £16.90 is a set of 5 inch spring flush cutters listed for soft copper up to 16 AWG, about 1.3 mm solid, and the same bullet says hard steel is not recommended. Across 1,367 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.4. UK reviewers say the tips are very sharp and that no guard is named in the included components, so the jaws sit open in a drawer. Reviews also report broken jaws on speaker cable and on 0.8 mm copper-coated steel, which is the pack hitting work the listing already excludes. Ten spare cutters make sense for cable ties and craft copper, not as ten substitutes for a 160 mm diagonal cutter. Rubber on the handle is a grip, not an IEC 60900 mark.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Cable ties, floral wire and soft copper around 16 AWG, when you want ten spare flush cutters rather than one 160 mm pair.
Less suitable: Hard steel, copper-coated steel, speaker cable that overloads the tip, or any cut near a live conductor.
Specifications
Common questions
Are these KAIHAOWIN cutters spring-loaded?
Yes. The listing says an internal spring returns the jaws. UK reviewers also say the tips are very sharp and that no guard is named in the included components.
What wire does the listing say they will cut?
The bullet says up to 16 AWG soft copper. It says hard steel wire is not recommended. UK reviews report broken jaws on speaker cable and on 0.8 mm copper-coated steel.
Are the handles insulated to IEC 60900?
The listing does not name IEC 60900, VDE or 1000 V. The handle material line says rubber.
The KAIHAOWIN KH004 two-pack at £9.99 is a pair of 6 inch chrome-vanadium side cutters with plastic-coated handles. The title claims flush; the only bullet describes the steel and the handle, and it does not state a wire diameter or a spring. Across 811 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.4. Twelve UK reviews are in the file. Two say there is no cover or clip and that the jaws stay open. Others praise a sharp cut on cable ties and model kits. The set name also says 6.5 inch against a 6 inch length line, so treat the size as this listing's own wording, not as a measured jaw. Without a printed limit you stop at soft ties and sprue, and you do not promote the plastic coating into insulation.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A cheap two-pack for cable ties and model sprue, if you will wrap the open jaws and stay on soft work.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a printed millimetre or AWG limit, a latch, or an insulated 160 mm cutter.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the bullet say these are spring-loaded?
No. The page asks the question. The only bullet describes chrome-vanadium steel and a plastic-coated handle.
Do UK reviewers mention a cover?
Yes. Two of the 12 UK reviews say there is no cover or clip and that the jaws stay open. Others praise a sharp cut on cable ties and model kits.
Is an insulation standard named?
No. The file does not name IEC 60900 or VDE.
The Sharp-tec BR-DP-160 at £12.99 is a 160 mm blue diagonal cutter with heat-treated edges and a TPE handle, listed for copper, aluminium and soft iron with no diameter printed. Across 1,005 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.2, and that review text matches the red Sharp-tec file in this folder, so it is not a second sample. The listing claims pivot-action leverage and a 65 percent effort figure in the seller's wording; it does not name a spring, and one UK review in that shared text says they do not spring back. The same reviews describe misaligned jaws, edges that meet only at the tip, a gap when closed, burrs, and tools that arrived rusty. Check that the edges meet on paper before you cut copper. TPE is a grip, not a voltage mark.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 160 mm household diagonal cutter for soft copper or aluminium, if you will check the jaws on arrival.
Less suitable: Anyone treating the shared 4.2 line as a second test, or anyone who needs a stated millimetre capacity or IEC 60900 insulation.
Specifications
Common questions
Does Sharp-tec name a spring on this blue pair?
No. The listing claims pivot-action leverage and does not name a spring. One UK review in the shared review text says they do not spring back.
What wire is named?
Copper, aluminium and soft iron. No diameter is printed. The 65 percent effort claim is the seller's wording in the bullet.
What jaw faults appear in the UK reviews?
The saved review text, which matches the other Sharp-tec file, includes misaligned jaws, edges that meet only at the tip, a gap when closed, burrs, and tools that arrived rusty.
The Sharp-tec BSL-30068 at £9.99 is a 160 mm red diagonal cutter in carbon steel with a TPE handle, listed for copper, aluminium and soft iron and with no diameter. It is 220 g against 300 g on the blue BR-DP-160, a different model number and a lower shelf price. Both saved listings carry the same 4.2 from 1,005 review text, so the stars are not a second UK sample. Those shared reviews complain about misaligned jaws, edges that meet only at the tip, a gap when closed, blunt edges, and at least one pair that arrived rusty. Heat-treated edges on the bullet do not cancel a gap you can see. If you want this length cheap, check the close on paper and keep the cheaper red listing in mind against the blue one at £12.99. TPE is still only a grip.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A cheaper 160 mm Sharp-tec than the blue listing, if you will inspect the jaws and accept a shared review file.
Less suitable: Anyone counting 1,005 reviews twice, or anyone who needs a stated diameter or an insulated handle.
Specifications
Common questions
How is this red pair different from the blue Sharp-tec listing in the files?
This file is model BSL-30068, carbon steel, 220 g, red, £9.99. The blue file is BR-DP-160, alloy steel, 300 g, £12.99. Both saved listings carry the same 4.2 from 1,005 review text.
What wire does the bullet name?
Copper, aluminium and soft iron. No diameter and no IEC 60900 or VDE line.
What do those shared reviews complain about?
Misaligned jaws, edges that meet only at the tip, a gap when closed, blunt edges, and at least one pair that arrived rusty.
The FLZOSPER 4.5 inch mini at £4.59 is a chrome-vanadium flush cutter with a return spring and a PVC handle, listed for soft materials, electronics, jewellery, tie wraps, floral wire, plastic and edge banding. No diameter is printed, and steel wire is not rated. The raw amazon.co.uk file has no customer-review line and no review text, so there is no UK sample of whether the edges meet or how long the tip lasts. At 60 g it is the lightest single cutter in this folder, which only helps if the job is a tie or a sprue in a tight space. PVC on the handle is a grip, not IEC 60900. Until reviews exist, you are buying a length and a spring, not a proven edge.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A cheap 4.5 inch spring mini for ties or floral wire, if you accept a listing with no reviews in this file.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a UK review sample, a stated millimetre capacity, or an insulated 160 mm cutter.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this mini cutter spring-loaded?
Yes. The listing says a spring returns the tool to the open position.
Does the listing rate it for steel wire?
No diameter is given. The uses named are soft materials, electronics, jewellery, tie wraps, floral wire, plastic and edge banding.
How is it rated on amazon.co.uk in this file?
The saved listing has no customer-review line and no review text.
Scores sit on a 0–100 scale from the amazon.co.uk listings in this set. They are not a lab result. Stars and review volume, the stated wire class, the edge, and any insulation mark on the listing drive the score. A missing review line, a shared Sharp-tec review block treated as two samples, a cutting-width field that repeats the tool length, jaws that do not meet, and a flush tip used on steel all lose weight. The highest score is the top pick. The best usable price among the cheaper covered cutters is the best value. One of each. The weights below sum to 100.
Stars and review volume
40%amazon.co.uk star rating and how many ratings sit behind it. A missing review line loses weight. The two Sharp-tec files share one review block, so that sample is not counted twice.
Listing completeness
25%Whether the listing states a wire class, an edge type, and an insulation mark. A rubber, PVC or TPE grip is not treated as IEC 60900. An Amazon cutting-width that repeats the tool length is not a jaw capacity.
Sentiment and defects
20%UK review notes of jaws that do not meet, tips that snap, and edges that notch on steel, paperclips or copper-coated steel. A flush tip used on steel or copper-coated steel is a deduction.
Price for a usable tool
15%Shelf price in GBP on the amazon.co.uk listing, including pack size. A cheaper pack only helps when the listing still names a usable wire class for the job.
Use this guide before the table. Start with the job, then the wire class on the listing, then insulation only if a circuit might be live. A bevelled 160 mm cutter covers mixed copper. A spring flush cutter covers ties and florist wire. High-leverage cutters are a different comparison when the wire is harder and the listing says so. Prices below are the amazon.co.uk lines in this batch, from about £4.59 to about £27.26. None of the scores is a lab result.
Side cutters, also sold as diagonal cutters, are pliers that shear wire from the side of the head. In the UK you buy them for copper, cable ties, floral wire and light workshop jobs. You tell a usable pair from a poor one by the edge type, the stated wire class, and whether the handles are actually insulated. A bevelled 160 mm cutter is the general tool. It leaves a small point on both ends and keeps a stronger edge. A short spring flush cutter is for soft wire and a flat finish.
Side and diagonal describe the same shear from the side of the head. The edge, the stated wire class and the insulation mark are what change the tool. A flush listing is not a better diagonal cutter.
In this batch the Amazon cutting-width field often repeats the tool length, such as 5 inches or 6 inches. That is not a jaw opening. Use the wire class in the bullets, or treat a missing diameter as unknown.
Rubber, PVC, TPE and plastic coatings are grips. Only a tool marked to IEC 60900, often sold as VDE and 1000 V, is an insulated hand tool. In this set that line is on the Knipex listing. It is still not a permit to cut live.
The first check is the job, then the wire class printed on the listing. Cable ties, sprue and florist wire want a flush edge. Mixed copper and a toolbox want a bevelled diagonal cutter around 160 mm. Sheet metal wants snips, not side cutters. Soft copper, medium wire and hard wire are different diameters. A bullet that says not for hard wire is a limit. In this set the KH008 names 16 AWG soft copper. The HOUSERAN two-pack names up to 12 AWG and says hard steel will damage the edge.
Insulation matters only when the work is electrical. A rubber, PVC, TPE or plastic-coated grip is not IEC 60900. Look for the double triangle and 1000 V on the tool. VDE is a certifier, not UK legislation. HSE's HSG85 points insulated tools to BS EN 60900. ISO 5749, and a DIN ISO 5743 line on a flush cutter, is a dimension standard, not an electrical approval. In this set only the Knipex 70 06 160 is sold as 1000 V insulated with a VDE line. That mark is not a permit to work live.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a cheap flush cutter for cable ties, models and florist wire, and you will stay on soft wire. The HOUSERAN two-pack lists up to 12 AWG and says hard steel will damage the edge. Two sprung 6 inch cutters at about £10.99.
You want a 160 mm cutter with a real insulation mark if a circuit might be live, plus a separate flush cutter for nylon ties. The Knipex 70 06 160 is the only listing here sold as 1000 V with a VDE line. That mark is not a permit to cut live.
You want 6, 8 and 10 inch diagonal pliers in one box and you will check the edges on arrival. The US PRO 1820 set states no wire class. A longer handle is leverage, not a harder edge.
The Knipex 70 06 160 scores 94, the highest in this set: about £27.26, 4.7 from 5,750 amazon.co.uk reviews, and the only 1000 V and VDE line. That is the top pick for a 160 mm cutter with an insulation mark on the listing. The amazon.co.uk file does not print a millimetre capacity, and the mark is not a permit to cut live. The HOUSERAN two-pack scores 92 at about £10.99, with 4.6 from 732 reviews, a stated limit of 12 AWG, and a plain warning against hard steel. That is the best value when the job is ties and soft copper. Three other listings also score 92 and cost more, or they omit a wire class. None of this is a lab test.
Knipex 70 06 160 diagonal cutter
Highest score in this set, 94, from 4.7 out of 5,750 reviews, and the only 1000 V and VDE line on the listing.
HOUSERAN 6 inch flush cutters, 2-pack
Score 92 at about £10.99 for two sprung flush cutters listed up to 12 AWG, with hard steel excluded on the listing.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Sources listed in the research digest for this comparison, retrieved 20 October 2026. Prices and review counts are amazon.co.uk listing lines. This is not a lab test.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk with the tag pcuk26-21. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk listing lines used for this comparison. We did not run a lab test.
