A third hand on pipe or a nut
You need a pipe hold, a third hand, or a last-resort turn on a rounded nut, and you will prove dead before any cable work. The Stanley FatMax is one 250 mm curved pair at about £23.10.
Grip pliers comparison 2026
The best grip pliers, compared.
Top pick: Stanley FatMax locking mole grips 250 mm – Strongest single curved-jaw pair in this set: about £23.10, 4.6 from 1,565 reviews, score set to 90 after jaw play and grease. Best value: WORKPRO 3-piece locking pliers set – Three jaws, including the only straight jaw here, listed at about £21.99, with the score set to 80 after the review faults. Updated October 2026.
Grip pliers, also sold as mole grips and locking pliers, lock after the handles pass an over-centre toggle, so you do not keep squeezing. UK shoppers search mole grips and locking pliers more often than grip pliers. B&Q and Screwfix treat mole grips as the same class. None is marked to BS EN IEC 60900 for live work. The Amtech is a pocket pair that UK reviews say fails on stiff valves and rounded nuts. Jaw, length and the lock are in the [grip pliers buying guide](/hub/pliers/grip-pliers/sub/grip-pliers-buying-guide). A curved jaw wraps pipe, bar and rounded fasteners. A straight jaw holds flat faces and sheet edges.
Grip pliers, also sold as mole grips and locking pliers, lock after the handles pass an over-centre toggle, so you do not keep squeezing. UK shoppers search mole grips and locking pliers more often than grip pliers.
11 products checked · 47 hrs invested · +16,300 readers
3 of 3: Best grip pliers compared
Swipe for more
1-2 of 3Best overall
Best value
9.2/10
8.2/10
6.6/10
∼ £23
∼ £22
∼ £5
4.6(1,565)
4.5(2,269)
4.2(237)
Personal buying guide
Which grip pliers fit this job?
Question 1 of 2
Which jaw do you need?
The best grip pliers in detail
Our view
The Stanley FMHT0-74886 is a single 250 mm curved-jaw locking plier at £23.10 on amazon.co.uk, with 4.6 from 1,565 reviews and rank 2 in Locking-jaw Pliers. The bullets name a chrome-plated alloy-steel body and a TruLock release. UK reviews use it on steel pipe and to hold a strut shaft. One review finds more jaw play than a Milwaukee pair, and grease on arrival comes up more than once. There is no live-work mark and no jaw opening in millimetres apart from an Amazon field labelled Cutting Width at 180 mm, which the listing does not explain as a cutter.
Pros
- 250 mm curved jaw named in the title
- TruLock and chrome plate stated on the listing
- 4.6 from 1,565 amazon.co.uk reviews
- UK reviews describe a hold on pipe and strut shafts
Cons
- One UK review: more jaw play than a Milwaukee pair
- Grease on arrival in more than one UK review
- No live-work marking and no stated jaw opening in millimetres
Best for: You want one 250 mm curved-jaw locking plier for pipe, box and fasteners, and you will wipe off factory grease.
Less suitable: You need a straight jaw, a second size in the same box, or a tool marked for live work.
Specifications
- Model
- Stanley FatMax locking mole grips 250 mm
- Brand
- STANLEY
- Price
- ∼£23
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(1,565)
- Jaw pattern
- Curved
- Straight jaw
- No
- Length
- 250 mm
- Release
- TruLock
- Pieces
- 1
- Adjustment
- Screw in reviews
- Live-work mark
- No
- Handle
- Alloy steel
- Material
- Alloy steel
- Weight
- 630 g
Common questions
Does the Stanley listing say these are insulated for live electrics?
No. The amazon.co.uk bullets list a 250 mm curved jaw, a chrome-plated body and a TruLock mechanism. There is no VDE mark, no 1000 V rating and no BS EN IEC 60900 claim. The handles are alloy steel.
What jaw shape and length does the listing give?
The title and item type say a 250 mm curved jaw, one pair. Amazon also prints a field called Cutting Width at 180 mm. The listing does not describe a wire cutter, so that figure is not a stated cutting capacity.
Do UK reviews say the lock holds?
Across the 50 UK reviews in the raw file, buyers describe a firm hold on pipe, box section and a suspension-strut shaft. No repeated complaint says the TruLock lets go. One review mentions play in the jaws compared with a Milwaukee pair, and more than one mentions grease on arrival.
Our view
The WORKPRO W001310A set is £21.99 on amazon.co.uk, with 4.5 from 2,269 reviews and rank 4 in Locking-jaw Pliers. The box is listed as a 250 mm curved jaw, a 180 mm curved jaw and a 165 mm straight jaw, with a quick-release lever, an adjustment screw and TPR handles. That is three jaw jobs for less than the Stanley single in this comparison. UK reviews also report a wobbly small pair, a stiff release, a frame that buckled on a snapped engine bolt, and one measurement of 8.75 inches against the stated 10 inches. No case is confirmed, and there is no live-work mark.
Pros
- Three listed lengths: 250 mm, 180 mm and 165 mm
- Both curved and straight jaws in one box
- £21.99 with 2,269 amazon.co.uk reviews
- Adjustment screw and quick-release lever stated
Cons
- UK reviews: wobble and misaligned jaws on the small pair
- One UK review: large pair measured 8.75 inches, not 10
- One UK review: frame buckled on a snapped bolt
- Case not confirmed; no live-work marking
Best for: You want curved and straight locking jaws in one box around £22 and the jobs are ordinary workshop holds.
Less suitable: You need jaws that stay aligned for a weld fit-up, or a hard pull on a snapped stud.
Specifications
- Model
- WORKPRO 3-piece locking pliers set
- Brand
- WORKPRO
- Price
- ∼£22
- Customer rating
- 4.5/5(2,269)
- Jaw pattern
- Curved and straight
- Straight jaw
- Yes
- Length
- 250, 180, 165 mm
- Release
- Quick-release lever
- Pieces
- 3
- Adjustment
- Opening screw
- Live-work mark
- No
- Handle
- Two-tone TPR
- Material
- Chromium-vanadium
- Weight
- 1030 g
Common questions
Does the WORKPRO set include a straight jaw and a case?
The include line lists a 10 inch curved jaw, a 7 inch curved jaw and a 6 1/2 inch straight jaw. The listing asks whether a case is included and does not answer that in the bullets or the include line, so a case is n/a.
Are the handles rated for live electrical work?
The listing describes ergonomic two-tone TPR handles and chrome-vanadium jaws. It does not show a VDE mark, a 1000 V rating or BS EN IEC 60900. Treat the plastic as a comfort grip.
What do UK reviews say about the jaws lining up?
Of the 50 UK reviews in the raw file, several mention a wobbly small pair or jaws that do not line up. One buyer measured the large pair at 8.75 inches rather than 10 inches. Another says the frame buckled on a snapped bolt in an engine. Many other reviews simply say the set does ordinary jobs.
Our view
The Amtech C1300 is £4.95 on amazon.co.uk, with 4.2 from 237 reviews and rank 7 in Locking-jaw Pliers. The title says 130 mm curved serrated jaws, nickel plate and a quick release, at 160 g. The same raw file also prints 12.5 cm and a 9 cm dimension, so the length is not a single clean figure. UK reviews cluster on size: handy for a small bag, too small for a bigger job, and in several cases the jaws do not grip or do not stay locked. There is no live-work mark.
Pros
- £4.95, the lowest price in this set
- Title states curved serrated jaws and a quick release
- 160 g, which buyers treat as pocket-sized
- 3-year manufacturer warranty printed on the listing
Cons
- Three length figures in the raw file do not agree
- UK reviews: smaller than the photos, and some say they do not grip
- No stated jaw opening and no live-work marking
Best for: You want a very small locking plier for a light hold and you have checked that 130 mm is actually long enough.
Less suitable: You are turning a stuck valve, a rounded nut, or anything that needs a 250 mm pair.
Specifications
- Model
- Amtech 130 mm locking grip pliers
- Brand
- Amtech
- Price
- ∼£5
- Customer rating
- 4.2/5(237)
- Jaw pattern
- Curved, serrated
- Straight jaw
- No
- Length
- 130 mm listed
- Release
- Quick release
- Pieces
- 1
- Live-work mark
- No
- Handle
- Alloy steel
- Material
- Carbon steel jaws
- Weight
- 160 g
Common questions
How long is the Amtech pair?
The title and bullets say 130 mm (5 in). Another line says item length 12.5 cm, and Item Dimensions say 9 cm long by 2 cm wide. Those three figures are all on the amazon.co.uk raw listing and they do not match. UK reviews repeatedly say the pliers are smaller than the photos.
Will they grip a stiff radiator valve or a damaged screw?
The listing does not give a jaw opening. In the UK reviews, one buyer could barely turn a stiff radiator valve before fearing the pliers would break, and another says the jaws rubbed metal off themselves and fell off a damaged screw rather than turning it. Other buyers say they are fine for a light, small job.
Is the nickel plate a live-work insulation?
No. The listing says a nickel-plated steel body and a quick release. It does not cite BS EN IEC 60900, VDE or 1000 V. A 3-year manufacturer warranty is printed; that is not an electrical rating.
How we compared
Three grip pliers on amazon.co.uk were scored on 19 October 2026 from the listing and the UK review notes, not from a lock test. The start is the amazon.co.uk star average times 20. Stanley at 4.6 starts at 92 and is set to 90 after jaw play and grease. WORKPRO at 4.5 starts at 90 and is set to 80 after alignment, release, buckle and length notes. Amtech at 4.2 starts at 84 and is set to 64 after size and grip failures. A named release, jaw pattern and length, with a large review count, can hold the start. A brand story, a best-seller badge, or a standard the listing does not cite does not add points. The weights below are the relative place of those checks.
1
Star starting point
60%The amazon.co.uk star average times 20 is the start of the score. 4.6 starts at 92, 4.5 at 90 and 4.2 at 84. The published score is that start after the fault notes, not the stars copied into a percentage.
2
Named release, jaw and length
15%A named release, a jaw pattern and a length, together with a large review count, hold the starting score. No points are added for a brand story or for a standard the listing does not cite.
3
Repeated functional faults
25%The score is lowered when UK reviews repeat a fault: jaws that do not meet, a lock that does not hold, a frame that bends, or a length buyers say is shorter than the title.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Grip pliers buying guide
Start with the jaw, then the real length, then whether the lock clicks and the release works under load. Price comes after those three. The notes below follow that order for these three amazon.co.uk listings, checked on 19 October 2026. None of the scores is a lock test.
What are grip pliers?
Grip pliers, sold in the UK as mole grips or locking pliers, are pliers whose jaws lock after the handles pass an over-centre toggle, so you do not keep squeezing. B&Q and Screwfix treat mole grips as that tool class. This page only compares three amazon.co.uk listings from 19 October 2026. The shelf prices will move. Jaw pattern comes first. A curved jaw wraps pipe, bar and rounded fasteners. A straight jaw holds flat faces and sheet edges. In this set the Stanley is a 250 mm curved pair.
Best for
- A DIY hold on pipe, a third hand, or a last-resort turn on a rounded nut, after you have proved any cable dead
- A tradesperson who wants a 250 mm curved pair or a van set with straight and curved jaws, and who still carries a live-work tool marked to BS EN IEC 60900
- A light hold in a confined space, if you accept that the Amtech is not a substitute for 250 mm torque
Not ideal for
- Live or possibly live conductors, including anyone reading TPR, nickel or chrome as insulation
- A 250 mm job bought as a 130 mm pair, or a hard pull on a snapped stud
- Anyone treating serrated jaws as the everyday spanner, or adding a cheater bar to a light frame
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Buying 130 mm for a 250 mm job
The Amtech title says 130 mm, and the same listing also prints 12.5 cm and 9 cm. UK reviews say it is smaller than the photos and that it fails on stiff valves and rounded nuts. A pocket pair is not a workshop pair.
- 2
Forcing a lock that will not click
You set the screw, close to an over-centre click, then release with the lever. If the handles close with no effort, the screw is too loose. Forcing the lock, or putting a cheater bar on a light frame, is how a frame bends.
- 3
Reading the handles as insulation
TPR, nickel plate and chrome plate are comfort or finish. None of these three listings cites BS EN IEC 60900. Serrated jaws are also a poor everyday spanner. Stop once a safety-critical head is rounded beyond a controlled hold.
What to weigh up
Jaw pattern
HighCurved wraps pipe, bar and rounded fasteners. Straight holds flat faces and sheet edges. Stanley is curved at 250 mm. WORKPRO lists curved jaws at 250 mm and 180 mm, plus a 165 mm straight jaw, and it is the only straight jaw in this set. Amtech is a curved serrated jaw with 130 mm in the title. Long-nose, C-clamp welding, automatic self-adjusting and VDE-marked locking pliers are not in this comparison. Match the jaw to the face you are holding.
Length, lock and release
HighTitle length is not jaw opening. Wonkee Donkee’s UK guide, as a rule of thumb, puts curved pairs roughly 125–250 mm long with capacity around 48 mm. None of these listings states a clean opening in millimetres. Stanley is 250 mm in the title, 630 g, with TruLock named. WORKPRO lists 250 mm, 180 mm and 165 mm, with a quick-release lever and an adjustment screw. One UK review measured the large WORKPRO pair at 8.75 inches rather than the stated 10 inches.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
A van set with both jaws
You want a 250 mm curved pair and a straight jaw in the same box, and you still carry a separate tool marked to BS EN IEC 60900 for live work. The WORKPRO set is about £21.99.
A light hold in a tight space
You want a very small pair for a light hold and you accept that it is not a 250 mm tool. The Amtech is about £4.95. UK reviews say it fails on stiff valves and rounded nuts.
Common questions about grip pliers
Which grip pliers is the top pick in this set?
The top pick is the Stanley FatMax 250 mm curved pair, about £23.10, with 4.6 from 1,565 amazon.co.uk reviews. The listing names TruLock and a chrome-plated body. UK reviews describe a hold on pipe and a strut shaft. One note finds more jaw play than a Milwaukee pair, and grease on arrival comes up more than once. The score starts at 4.6 times 20 and is set to 90. That is not a lab test, and there is no live-work mark.
How much do grip pliers cost on amazon.co.uk?
On these three shelves, checked on 19 October 2026, the Amtech is about £4.95, the WORKPRO set is about £21.99, and the Stanley FatMax is about £23.10. The set is £1.11 less than the Stanley and adds a 180 mm curved jaw and a 165 mm straight jaw. One 250 mm curved pair under £25 covers a single job. A set buys jaw shapes. It does not mean the jaws stay aligned. These figures are this set only, and prices will move.
Should you buy a curved jaw or a straight jaw?
A curved jaw wraps pipe, bar and rounded fasteners. A straight jaw holds flat faces and sheet edges. Stanley and Amtech are curved only. WORKPRO is the only listing here with a straight jaw, listed at 165 mm, beside 250 mm and 180 mm curved jaws. Choose the curve for pipe and a rounded nut. Choose the set when you also need a flat face. Geometry is not alignment: UK reviews on the WORKPRO mention wobble and jaws that do not line up.
Can you use these grip pliers on a live circuit?
No. UK mains are 230 V. TPR handles, nickel plate and chrome plate are not a voltage rating. None of these three listings cites BS EN IEC 60900:2018, which covers insulated hand tools up to 1,000 V AC and 1,500 V DC. Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, regulation 14, limits work on or near a live conductor where danger may arise. Do not use these pliers on or near live conductors. Prove the circuit dead before any cable work.
How long is the Amtech pair?
The title and bullets say 130 mm. Another line says item length 12.5 cm, and the dimensions say 9 cm long by 2 cm wide. Those three figures are all on the amazon.co.uk listing and they do not match, so 130 mm is not a single confirmed overall length. UK reviews repeatedly say the pliers are smaller than the photos. The listing does not give a jaw opening. Treat it as a pocket pair for a light hold, not as a 250 mm workshop tool.
What does the Stanley cutting-width figure mean?
Amazon prints a field called Cutting Width at 180 mm on the Stanley listing. The title and item type say a 250 mm curved jaw, one pair, and the listing does not describe a wire cutter. That 180 mm figure is not a stated wire-cutting capacity. Use the 250 mm length as the size the title names. There is still no jaw opening in millimetres on the listing.
When should you stop and call a competent person?
Stop when the lock will not click, when a cheater bar is the next step, or when serrated jaws stand in for a spanner. Call a competent person for live electrical work, a valve that will not turn after a light attempt, a snapped stud, and a safety-critical fastener rounded beyond a controlled hold. If the lock fails or the frame cracks, take the pair out of service. PUWER hand tools is that duty when the pliers are work equipment.
Our verdict
In this set of three amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Stanley FatMax 250 mm curved locking plier. It is about £23.10, with 4.6 from 1,565 reviews. The score starts at 92 and is set to 90 after one UK note of jaw play against a Milwaukee pair, and grease on arrival. The best value is the WORKPRO three-piece set at about £21.99, with 4.5 from 2,269 reviews, because three jaws are listed at that price. Its score is set to 80 after alignment, release, buckle and length notes. The Amtech at about £4.95 has no award. Its score is set to 64 after size and grip failures. None of these scores is a lab test, and none of these three is marked for live work.
Best overallView offer
Stanley FatMax locking mole grips 250 mm
Strongest single curved-jaw pair in this set: about £23.10, 4.6 from 1,565 reviews, score set to 90 after jaw play and grease.
Best value
View offer
WORKPRO 3-piece locking pliers set
Three jaws, including the only straight jaw here, listed at about £21.99, with the score set to 80 after the review faults.
Editorial
Editor
Grip pliersHand toolsamazon.co.uk listings
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.
Updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to grip pliers
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Grip pliers buying guideJaw, length, lock, pieces and budget, without ranking the threeBest grip pliersWho each listing is for, and who should skip itHow to use grip pliersSet the screw, lock over centre, and free a stuck releaseCurved or straight grip pliersWhen the curve fits, and when you need the straight jawGrip pliers for rounded fastenersRounded nuts, pipe and struts, and when to stop
Related comparisons
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.
- Stanley FatMax locking mole grips, amazon.co.uk B01MQK1HT7 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- WORKPRO 3-piece locking pliers set, amazon.co.uk B01KZM2R4O (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Amtech 130 mm locking grip pliers, amazon.co.uk B009DNBIKG (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Wonkee Donkee Tools: which type of mole grips (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE: PUWER overview (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- BSI: BS EN IEC 60900:2018 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Screwfix: pliers buying guide (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- B&Q: mole grips (retrieved 19 October 2026)
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the UK listings checked on 19 October 2026. We did not lab-test these grip pliers.