If you’re a professional electrician you’re probably on the lookout for the latest and greatest tools that can provide great results fast for all your electrical jobs. Most tools are easily available, but if you’re in the electrical trade, you know that there are some top quality branded tools that can last for decades and other cheaper tools commonly known as ‘throw away tools’ that need to be replaced over and over again.

More often than not quality always prevails over price and choosing the right tools wisely, even if you’re just starting out or want to build an electrical kit for home use will save you much time and headache in the long run. In this post we’ll help you select some of the top tools that every home user, beginner or pro electrician needs in their tool-bag:

1. TAPE MEASURE

• A must-have for beginners and pro electricians alike, a tape measure is essential for measuring heights for switch and outlet placement, centering lighting fixtures and so much more. For under $15 we recommend Lufkin self-centering tape, clear-coated blade protection for more durable markings and designed to fit comfortably in hand.

2. MULTIMETER

• Checking voltages and current is critical to any electrical job. A multimeter is an important all-in-one tester used to measure voltages, current and resistance in an electrical circuit and can help you locate power fluctuation causes like shoddy wiring. Klein Tools offers some budget and pro multimeters to suit your needs. For serious electricians we recommend the Klein Tools MM5000 Electrician’s TRMS Multimeter.

3. WIRE STRIPPER

• A handy tool to strip or cut off the insulation on wires. A good quality wire stripper will do a clean job every time and is designed with a cutoff portion and various sized cutting teeth for different sized wires or cable. Top models include ergonomically designed handles requiring less hand force and curved cutting blades to ensure cleaner, precise cuts. We offer many quality wire stripper options you can choose from starting as low as $10

4. FISH TAPE

• Also known as draw wire/tape, fish tape is used by electricians to route new wiring through walls, metal, electrical and PVC conduit. We recommend Wide Steel Fish Tape by Klein Tools – available in different lengths along with Klein cable lube to assist in guiding the tape through narrow spaces.

5. NON-CONTACT VOLTAGE DETECTOR

• There’ll be many times you’ll need to do a quick safety check to see if there is a current present or a circuit is indeed live. A voltage detector is either automatic or has an on/off switch. Pick the one that suits your budget and needs. We recommend the Klein voltage tester; a durable tester that will provide accurate test readings and a long service life on the job-site, in the shop and at home. At under $20 we recommend the Klein Tools NCVT-2 Dual Range Non-Contact Voltage Tester.