10 Best Bolt Cutters – Our Top Picks and Reviews

Bolt cutters are useful; in fact, it takes a lot of stress off from our hands. No matter if you are a regular DIYer or someone who owns a small mechanic shop, your toolbox is not complete without best bolt cutters. But finding the one that perfectly suits your needs is not a cakewalk.

It takes time, effort, and money to select the best one, especially with so many options available. However, I’m here only to make things effortless and convenient for you. So, here I have prepared a complete buying guide while reviewing the best bolt cutters available in the market. Go through my best bolt cutters reviews and choose the one as per your requirement.

10 Best Bolt Cutters

• Best for Locks: TEKTON 3410 Bolt Cutter
  “Adjustable and replaceable, amazing design, comfortable”
• Best Bang for the Buck: WORKPRO W017004A Bolt Cutter
  “Versatile cutting, easy to use, superb comfort”
• Best Affordable: KNIPEX 7101160 Bolt Cutter
  “Amazing performance, easy to manoeuvre, sturdy enough”
• Best Extra Long: Neiko 00558A Bolt Cutter
  “Ergonomic textured handle, convenient cutting, value for money”
• Best Compact: TEKTON 3386 Bolt Cutter
  “Super durable jaws, ultimate comfort, Powerful and versatile”
• Best for Master Locks: Great Neck BC8 Bolt Cutter
  “Comfort, ease of operation, compact design”
• Best Comfort Grip: Olympia 39-114 Bolt Cutter
  “Ergonomic grip, compact, innovative”
• Best Rated: Capri Tools CP40209 Bolt Cutter
  “Extensive Warranty, secure, comfortable”
• Best Designed: Tradespro 831714 Bolt Cutter
  “Excellent performance, lightweight, unique design”
• Best Budget: GreatNeck BC30 Bolt Cutter
  “Extraordinary strength, hardened cutting edge, short cutting edges”

Best Bolt Cutters

From customizing or shortening the cables and brakes of your bike shifter to breaking through chains, hardware cables, or padlocks, a bolt cutter comes really handy. Bolt cutters are the example of first-class machines, which means they have the fulcrum in between the effort and load. So, the more the distance between the effort and the pivot point, the greater the leverage will be.

Hence, while choosing the best bolt cutter, the material quality is not the only thing you need concern about. From lengths, sizes, weight, blade quality to handle grip, adjustability, there are many things you need to consider while buying a bolt cutter. However, here I have taken care of all the parameters and selected the best bolt cutters for specific jobs. Have a look now!

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1) TEKTON 3410

If you are in search of the best bolt cutters for locks, then you have come to the right place. The TEKTON 3410 is the one that will best suit your needs. The bolt cutter comes with drop-forged hardened alloy steel jaws making it perfect for cutting padlocks, threaded rods, chains, and bolts.

Features and Benefits

Moreover, the jaws are sturdy enough and offer a wide opening which you can use to cut items with a diameter of 5/16″. The whole cutter has an effective design that ensures maximum cutting power with minimum effort.

In fact, the long tubular handle makes TEKTON 3410 much easier and balanced to handle while performing tough bolt cutting jobs. The soft rubber grip handle offers a comfortable and firm grip over the tool. The other thing I found very useful in TEKTON 3410 is its slimmer jaw profile. It allows you to reach a smaller space quite easily and maintain quality and precision while cutting.

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2) WORKPRO W017004A

Are you looking for a cutter at an affordable price for occasional household use? Well, I have WORKPRO W017004A on my list of best. Available at a price of just around $15, you can use this tool for cutting soft metals and chain, bolts, etc.

Made up of drop forged chrome molybdenum alloy, this cutter offers amazing performance for household works such as fencing, cutting roof-sheet, etc. The hand tool can take up even some light commercial works also.

Features and Benefits

Ergonomic design, along with the bi-material anti-slip grip, offers superb comfort and amazing precision over your cutting job.I used thid WORKPRO W017004A bolt cutter to cut away some chain link fencing from some stumps, and I must say it worked really nicely.

I found the compact size and strong; sturdy handles pretty handy as it offers great leverage while completing my cutting job. Unfortunately, you can’t use this cutter to cut padlocks. The tool offers the cutting capacity of HRC less than 42: 7/32 inch, HRC less than 25: 1/4 inch. The blades are well-aligned and offer a decent performance.

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3) KNIPEX 7101160

The KNIPEX 7101160 is not a heavy-duty option, but if you own a small shop or a DIYer and looking for the best bolt cutters for wires, nails, and small screws, this is the best hand tool you have. The cutter comes with precision cutting edges; therefore, no matter if you want to cut the soft or hardwire with KNIPEX 7101160, you can complete the job quite easily.

The bolt cutter allows you to cut bolts, nails, rivets with a diameter of up to 4.4mm. Moreover, it has an efficient fulcrum joint design that gives you optimal performance at minimum effort.

Features and Benefits

The tool has Chrome Vanadium alloy heavy-duty structure. Additionally, KNIPEX 7101160 has forged and multi-stage oil-hardened material for maximum durability. I have used the tool to cut through some steel wire, and I am quite amazed by the performance so far. The cutting jaws line up pretty decently and help the jaws overlapping while losing the cutting edge.

Though the jaws don’t open very wide, the end portions have a decent amount of cutting force. Therefore, I didn’t have to put huge effort while cutting the steel wires. Available at a cost-effective price, this tool cutter can be your best option if you need something sturdy enough to last long.

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4) Neiko 00558A

If you are searching for the best quality bolt cutter with versatile cutting applications, then Neiko 00558A is the best option we have for you. The cutter comes with a sharper Chrome Molybdenum steel jaws; therefore, the jaws hold its sharpness even after extensive uses. In fact, the bolt cutter has high-frequency blades which are heat treated that retains its strength.

The best fact is that the blade does not get dull and significantly resists damages and dents under tough usage. You can use it to cut chains, padlocks, bolts, and various types of tough materials.

Features and Benefits

I liked the ergonomic design and, of course, the textured handles. Moreover, Neiko has efficiently engineered the product by keeping a simple lever-fulcrum work principle in mind. Therefore, you can always generate enough power with the minimum effort while working with this bolt cutter.

I used my Neiko 00558A to cut my bike lock cable and a bike chain first. Then I used the product for some fencing work. I must say the performance has impressed me. So if you are looking for a premium quality cutter at an optimal price Neiko 00558A is the one you should consider.

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5) TEKTON 3386

TEKTON 3386 is an 8-inch mini bolt cutter that allows you to cut through chains and wires up to 3/16-inch wide. Though the tool has a small structure, it has a compound hinge design and offers powerful as well as reliable performance. The tool comes with forged and hardened alloy steel jaws to ensure maximum durability.

Features and Benefits

Plus, TEKTON 3386 features tubular steel handles guarded with soft rubber grips. Therefore, you can always expect a firm grip and ultimate comfort while working for long with the tool. I have used the cutter for my gardening and fencing works, and it has performed quite well.

From 11 gauge woven fence to 17 gauge galvanized electric fence, it helped to cut through all this material with ease. Considering the fact that the tool is available at around $15, I think the TEKTON 3386 offers the best value for the money you invest.

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6) Great Neck BC8

The next product is GreatNeck BC30, on my list of bolt cutters reviews. This model is a perfect combination of compact design and swift operations. If you want a sturdy bolt cutter that will provide crisp cutting control while doing the job with precision, go for the GreatNeck BC30.

Features and Benefits

Moreover, the size of the bolt cutter is 30-inch that makes it convenient to cut padlocks. Along with that, the cutting edges are made smaller than the handles. So, you can even cut the toughest chain link with ease. Not only that, the jaws of the tool are made of premium quality S2 steel, which makes those strong enough to cut through different materials like wire, bolts, nails, barb wire, and soft to medium metals.

I have been using GreatNeck BC8 bolt cutter for the past 2 years. Each time I go for an operation, the tool pulls it off at an amazing speed. I found that the ergonomic grip handles have a huge contribution to the easiness of operation. Moreover, the hardened cutting edges of the tool are sharp enough to provide long life to the tool.

The best part is that the jaws are made of heat-treated forged premium quality Chromium-Vanadium steel, which ensures precise cutting. One more thing is worth mentioning, the jaws of the GreatNeck BC30 has a 3/8-inch open capacity. So, you can easily cut thick metals into pieces.

Furthermore, the compound jaw function of this tool makes the bolt cutting process a cakewalk. If you want to make the most of your investment in the long run, nothing can beat the GreatNeck BC30.

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7) Olympia 39-114

Olympia 39-114 is a 14-inch close-packed bolt cutter. It has patented foldable jaws that allow it to fit inside your bag effortlessly. The CR-MO hardened steel cutting heads help in heavy-duty cutting with extra strength.

Moreover, the most commendable feature of this bolt-cutter is its extra-wide handles that require less of your hands-strength. Along with that, the product is featured with an ergonomic grip of comfort.

Features and Benefits

In case you’re looking for a steady bolt-cutter with a restful grip that significantly pulls down the pressure of your hands, Olympia 39-114 should be the best choice for you. I bought this productbefore a year and used it for several purposes, like – cutting a barbed wire or wire cattle panels. I must admit that it worked great for me.

Moreover, the jaws open quite wide, so you can cut anything with a diameter of 5/8’s inch. It also cut the tow chains that I used. Apart from these, they easily cut thin pencil rods or thin bike chains. However, for hardened steel rods or thick chains, the aligned blades of this bolt cutter might break off.

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8) Capri Tools CP40209

Capri Tools CP40209 is an 8-inch advanced bolt-cutter with compact features. The CR-MO steel blades are excellent in hard or heavy cutting. It comes with a wide jaw to cut through wires and rods with large dimensions. Moreover, the serrated blades are sturdy and firm, so it significantly pulls down the pressure from your hands. It’s a hardy cutter with an excellent grip and perfect product for self-control.

Features and Benefits

For the past two years, I’ve been using Capri Tools CP40209 bolt cutter, and it certainly cuts through almost everything. The jaws open at its widest point to a maximum 3/8″ and are 5/8″ long. From threaded rods, chains to bolts, and much more, you can easily cut through this tool.

Plus, the product is extremely handy with a leverage design that provides you with an extra force and very little effort. Sturdy materials, including a vengeance, can easily be cut with the double heat provided CR-MO blades. Moreover, if you talk about the grip, it’s both secure and comfortable. And certainly, it comes with a one-year warranty. So you must give it a try if you’re looking for a small bolt cutter.

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9) Tradespro 831714

Tradespro 831714 is a 14-inch long bolt cutter with a unique design and sturdy materials. The compound cutting design offers you with less effort performance. The non-slip rubber grips have a very strong grip with wide-open jaws, which can cut through almost every steady material you put in front.

Moreover, the equipment is absolutely perfect with sharp blades of an inch, which can open to a maximum of 3/4 inch at its widest. Furthermore, for wire shelving and heavy-wire cutting, this tool works quite great.

Features and Benefits

I tried cutting a bike bolt and even a hog wire, and it didn’t have any issue with these two. Tradespro 831714 is made with forged and hardened alloy steel with heat treatment. It’s light-weighted equipment of around 2 pounds, so there shouldn’t be any such problem with the grip.

Additionally, the sharp and steady blades can cut off the regular size padlocks easily. I haven’t tried cutting chains, though; I believe it won’t have an issue cutting the wire nails. However, it might be just too little for heavy chain-like material, as it’s just a great little thing.

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10) GreatNeck BC30

GreatNeck BC30 is formed with forged S2 steel construction with a great cutting capability. The equipment comes with a long life with a hardened cutting edge. Plus, it offers good leverage and steady design to offer you a great performance with very little effort.

Moreover, the product has a crisp design and offers amazing strength and cutting control. I’ve been using this equipment for a long time, and I must say this is one of the finest mini cutting tools I’ve ever found out.

Features and Benefits

In order to cut off the hardest chain link, GreatNeck BC30 is made up of crisp and short cutting edges. The steel jaws easily cut through nails, barb wires, bolts, wires, and almost every material from soft to medium-hard. Moreover, the steady ergonomic jaws can be controlled easily with a very sturdy grip.

The jaws can open up to a maximum of 3/8 inches at its maximum. The jaw functions with a compound action to provide you with more strength. Moreover, the steel handles are powder-coated, which offer hardy rubber grips with pure comfort and ensures long life. It can be one of the most valuable additions to all the craftsmen’s collections. However, it does come with a limited lifetime warranty.

If you would like to get reviews of other hand tools, kindly visit our Guide page.

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Bolt Cutters Buying Guide

Now you know all about these 10 best bolt cutters. Before you buy any, you must have a fair idea of its usage and other nitty-gritty to ensure you get the suitable one only. Thus, I have prepared a bolt cutters buying guide here. So, scroll down now and have a look.

How to Use Bolt Cutters?

Bolt cutters may not be a common tool in your box, but it is indispensable if you forget the combination of your lock. But in such cases, finding the right tool isn’t everything. You have to have the proper knowledge of its usage. That is why I have shared the step-by-step process of using a bolt cutter here. Have a look.

Step 1: Firstly, adjust the cutter by turning the bolt on the cutter head. This will let you have the exact tension on the blades.

Step 2: Next, mark the target you are going to cut. Marking is necessary to ensure that you strike exactly where required.

Step 3: Then, you need to open the cutter blades by pulling apart the handles in the outward direction.

Step 4: At this point, approach the marked target. Put the blades on the exact position to make sure it stays closer to the handle intersection.

Step 5: Finally, close the blades and apply force. Pressing the handles towards each other will generate a good amount of force that will cut the material easily.

How Thick can Bolt Cutters Cut?

A bolt cutter is meant to cut through chains, locks, or another fastener. If you need to cut a lightweight, light metal made chain or lock; you can definitely go for the medium-duty bolt cutter. But if you need to cut any thick material made chains or locks, having a heavy-duty bolt cutter is necessary. With a bolt cutter, you can even cut through 3/8-inch thick padlocks.

However, that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to cut any hardened steel with a bolt cutter. For this, you need a specialized tool. If you ask me, “what can bolt cutters cut through?” My reply will be- a number of materials. Yes, with a sturdy bolt cutter, you can cut padlocks, mesh, chain links, bolts, cables, even twisted wire. So, yes, there is no dearth of applications of bolt cutters.

Most of the people get confused, thinking, “what size bolt cutters do I need?” For them, I would say you need to consider your requirements first before purchasing any specifically sized bolt cutter. Suppose you need to cut a padlock of 3/8-inch. In this case, you need a 24-inch bolt cutter to get your job done. But any size, less than that, won’t be able to pull off the job conveniently.

Can Bolt Cutters Cut a Padlock?

Generally, the standard sized padlocks come with shackles of up to 1/4-inch diameter. Whereas, a medium-sized bolt cutter has a jaw capacity of 5/16 inch. Such typical 24-inch bolt cutters can easily cut through a medium quality padlock. But if you need to cut any lock with high security and shackle-diameter, then you need a bolt cutter from 24-36 of range.

However, since you know that a padlock can be easily cut with a good bolt cutter, so, let’s learn “how to cut the padlock with bolt cutters?” Here I have shared a step-by-step process below. Take a look.

Step 1 : First, take a bolt cutter of 24-36 inch range

Step 2 : Now, pull the handles outwards and put the lock shackle in between the jaws or blades of the cutter

Step 3: Once you have a good grip, squeeze the grips and press them inward with force

That’s all! You’re done with your cutting job!