Best ferrule crimping pliers
Updated: 21 October 2026
“Best” is the wrong word until you say what the crimp is for. The best ferrule crimping pliers for a first box of 1.5 mm² and 2.5 mm² flex are not the same listing as a marked-die plier for 16 mm², and neither is a hex tool whose reviews say the jaw will not open. This page gives each shortlist pick a condition, and a reason to leave it on the shelf. Prices, stars and the full rows stay on the [ferrule pliers comparison](/hub/pliers/ferrule-pliers). The listings and review notes were read on 19 October 2026. Nothing here is a lab test.
“Best” is the wrong word until you say what the crimp is for.
“Best” is the wrong word until you say what the crimp is for. The best ferrule crimping pliers for a first box of 1.5 mm² and 2.5 mm² flex are not the same listing as a marked-die plier for 16 mm², and neither is a hex tool whose reviews say the jaw will not open. This page gives each shortlist pick a condition, and a reason to leave it on the shelf. Prices, stars and the full rows stay on the ferrule pliers comparison. The listings and review notes were read on 19 October 2026. Nothing here is a lab test.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Stated capacity | Jaw | Leave it if | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  KNIPEX Knipex ferrule pliers 97 72 180 | 0.25–16 mm² | Nine marked half-round dies | You want a ratchet kit | 9.8 | about £35.96 | View offer |
| Best value |  Preciva Preciva square ferrule kit CP621200 | 0.25–10 mm² | Self-adjusting square ratchet | You need twins or 16 mm² | 9.6 | about £22.99 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Preciva Preciva ferrule kit with 260 dual ferrules | 0.25–10 mm² | Profile not named | The outline must be named | 9.6 | about £23.99 | View offer |
On this page
A home kit up to 10 mm²
If you want one box for occasional flex up to 10 mm², the Preciva CP621200 is the condition that fits most often. It is £22.99, a self-adjusting square ratchet, with 1,200 ferrules claimed, and the listing shows 4.7 from 28,186 reviews. Smaller sizes run out first, and twins are not stated.
The Preciva at £23.99 is the neighbour when you need twins: 1,000 singles and 260 duals claimed, 4.7 from 139 reviews, and no square or hex named. Profile questions belong on the square or hex ferrule crimper page.
When you need 16 mm²
The Knipex 97 72 180 is the pick when the conductor is up to 16 mm² and you already buy ferrules to the drawing. It is £35.96, with nine marked half-round dies for 0.25–16 mm² to DIN 46228 parts 1 and 4, and 4.8 from 875 reviews. There is no ratchet and no assortment. One review says the wires pull out. The VDE line prints no voltage, so this ASIN is not a live-working tool.
The Weicon 10100513 is the hex ratchet for repeated 0.5–16 mm² work if you accept £85.99. The maker’s sheet says not to use it on live conductors. Leave the AivaToba YXQ008-16-NEW if 16 mm² must release cleanly: UK reviews say the jaws do not spring open. How the stroke should feel is on how to crimp a bootlace ferrule.
Tool only under £13
The Flintronic at £9.99 is the cheap tool-only ratchet if you already own ferrules and you can live with AWG 23–7 and no mm² line. It is 4.6 from 107 reviews. Square or hex is not stated. It is a poor first buy if you also need sleeves.
The Holy Feather at £12.99 claims a swivel handle and HSC8 6-4 style jaws. The listing has no review line and no mm². Leave it until a rating exists, unless you can return it if the jaws miss the ferrules you own.
Leave these if the crimp must be repeatable
Skip the Riiriou at £13.99 if a jam on the first squeeze is unacceptable. It has 3.9 from 15 reviews. UK notes describe a jam, later sticking, and a pin that falls out. A bullet says the pliers are electrically conductive.
Skip the Preciva CP47210 at £24.99 if you need more than nine reviews. One verified UK review says the tool is too small for most of the crimps. A large stock does not repair a jaw that will not take the sleeve.
Common questions
Which kit is the sensible home pick in this set?
For stranded flex up to 10 mm², with ferrules in the box and a named square jaw, the Preciva CP621200 at £22.99 is the usual condition. Restock the small sizes, and look elsewhere if you need twins or 16 mm². The AivaToba square kit at £17.99 is the cheaper home alternative when twins are claimed and a 21-review file is enough for you.
Is the Preciva with 28,186 reviews automatically the winner?
No. That number is the amazon.co.uk listing count. Report it, and do not treat it as a verified census or as a fake total. One 2019 UK review mentions a poor third-party grade. The tool still has to match your mm² and your terminal. A huge count does not add 16 mm² to a 10 mm² jaw.
When is the Knipex 97 72 180 the one to buy?
Buy it when you want nine marked half-round dies from 0.25 to 16 mm², you will select the nest yourself, and you already purchase ferrules. It is £35.96 with 4.8 from 875 reviews. Skip it if you want a ratchet kit, a case of sleeves, or a live-work rating. The VDE line on this listing has no voltage.
Is the Weicon worth £85.99 if it has no UK reviews in the file?
Only if you repeat hex crimps from 0.5 to 16 mm² and you want the emergency release and the strap eyelet on a tool-only plier. The 4.5 from 49 reviews has no UK text in the sample we read. For a few crimps a year, the price is the reason to leave it. The sheet says not to use it on live conductors.
Who should avoid the Riiriou and the AivaToba hex that will not open?
Avoid the Riiriou if the crimp has to be repeatable. UK reviews describe a first-use jam and a loose pin, on a 15-review file at 3.9. Avoid the AivaToba YXQ008-16-NEW if you need 10 mm² or 16 mm² to enter and release. Reviews say the jaws do not spring fully open, and one 16 mm² crimp could not be released.
Can a best-buy kit be used to change a consumer unit?
The kit can crimp a ferrule. It does not authorise the job. In England and Wales, replacing a consumer unit, adding a new circuit, or working in a bath or shower room is notifiable building work. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules. If you cannot identify the conductor or the terminal, use an electrician.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 19 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file. The price bands are this set, not a market average.
- IET Wiring Matters: terminal blocks and regulation 526.9 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: building work, replacements and repairs (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- IET: Part P FAQ for England and Wales (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Knipex 97 72 180 product page (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Weicon 10100513 data sheet (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- RS Online: crimp tools guide (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Termnex: bootlace ferrule colour codes (retrieved 19 October 2026)