The Best Bolt Cutters for Your At-Home Needs, Tested
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Wield enough power to cut through steel with one of these mighty bolt cutters—field-tested to determine the best models.
Whether it’s to cut that padlock with the missing key from the backyard shed or to trim metal chain links for fencing installation, there are plenty of good reasons to have a quality bolt cutter in your collection of tools.
While bolt cutters are a crucial tool for cutting heavy wiring, rods, and fencing, models range widely in the type and thickness of steel they’ll cut. We tested some of today’s top-rated bolt cutters to see which ones were true standouts. We cut fencing, all thread (threaded bolt rods), baling wire, and more. The performance of some models definitely impressed us, but not all the bolt cutters we tested lived up to our high standards. Our favorite was the Crescent H.K. Porter 0190MCP 24-Inch Bolt Cutter; we loved its double-compound hinge design, nonslip padded grips, and tubular steel handles.
With so many brands and sizes of bolt cutters available, figuring out which is the right tool for the job can be confusing. Learn what to look for when choosing a pair of bolt cutters and discover how the following models earned a spot on this lineup of the best bolt cutters.
- BEST OVERALL: Crescent H.K. Porter 0190MCP 24-Inch Bolt Cutter
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: WorkPro W017004A 14-Inch Bolt Cutter
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR ALL THREAD: DeWalt DCS350D1 20V MAX* Threaded Rod Cutter Kit
↓ Jump to Review - BEST CUSHION-GRIP: Tekton 3400 18-Inch Bolt Cutter
↓ Jump to Review - BEST COMPACT: Tekton 3386 8-Inch Bolt Cutter
↓ Jump to Review - BEST COMPOUND-ACTION: Crescent H.K. Porter 0090MCP 18-Inch Bolt Cutter
↓ Jump to Review - BEST EXTRA-LONG: Pittsburgh 36-Inch Bolt Cutters
↓ Jump to Review
Our Top Picks
The following bolt cutters feature durable handles and powerful cutting jaws, and they excelled in our hands-on testing. Each bolt cutter in our lineup is better suited for some uses than others, but each is a standout in its category. One is sure to be a beneficial addition to your tool caddy.
Best Overall
Crescent H.K. Porter 0190MCP 24-Inch Bolt Cutter
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Length: 24 inches
- Weight: 7.74 pounds
- Compound action? Yes, double compound
What We Like
- Bolt cutter hinges feature double-compound technology that increases the user’s leverage and makes cutting easier
- Nonslip padded grips help keep users’ hands from getting sore
- Cut up to ⅜-inch rebar in tests, making it powerful and versatile
What We Don’t Like
- Hinges were stiff at first but loosened up after making several cuts
Even with a quality bolt cutter, cutting through metal can be an uphill task requiring significant upper-body strength. This bolt cutter from H.K. Porter makes cutting more manageable thanks to its double-compound hinge design, which increases the handle’s leverage.
We used this bolt cutter to cut through a variety of metal, including cattle panels, baling wire, fencing, 3/16-inch all thread (threaded bolt rod), and ⅜-inch rebar. These H.K. Porter bolt cutters are classified as “center cut,” meaning both sides of the blades are sharpened to a center point. This is one of the most common styles of cutters, and we didn’t have any problems cutting through the cattle panels, baling wire, or all thread. It took a little more squeezing power with these 24-inch cutters to get through the rebar, but we made it.
The double-compound hinge design features extra arm hinges that increase cutting pressure. We felt the design worked well for amplifying the leverage necessary to cut through the most challenging test: the rebar. H.K. Porter bolt cutters also feature nonslip padded grips that make it easier to grasp and squeeze the arms together without hurting hands.
The tubular steel handles didn’t bend during our tests, and we exerted quite a bit of pressure. The only downside we noticed was that the hinges were tight, making the arms slightly difficult to open. While this was initially annoying, the hinges loosened up after we cut through 20 to 30 metal items.
What our tester says: “I didn’t find any nicks on the steel blades from cutting the metal items—something that can occur with low-quality steel blades.”—Glenda Taylor, Product Reviews tester & writer
Read our full review: Crescent H.K. Porter 0190MCP 24-Inch Bolt Cutter
Get the Crescent H.K. Porter 24-inch bolt cutters at Amazon, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Acme Tools, or Grainger.
Best Bang for The Buck
WorkPro W017004A 14-Inch Bolt Cutter
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Length: 14 inches
- Weight: 2.05 pounds
- Compound action? Yes
What We Like
- Affordable pair of midsize bolt cutters that cut 3/16-inch all thread in testing
- Compound (lever-fulcrum) hinges give users more leverage for cutting bolts
- Ergonomic nonslip grips are comfortable to grasp and reduce hand fatigue
What We Don’t Like
- Hinges may rust, so users should dry the cutters if they get wet
Bolt cutters are one of those tools that most DIYers use infrequently. With that in mind, some shoppers may not wish to make a significant investment, and there’s no need to overspend for a medium-size bolt cutter. We tested the 14-inch version of the WorkPro bolt cutter, which turned out to be quite effective at cutting wire and bolts. It can fulfill bolt-cutting needs without taking a big chunk out of shoppers’ wallets.
For its size, we felt the WorkPro cutter was pretty effective. We expected to exert a lot more power, but the lever-fulcrum hinges (a compound hinge) cut through several metal items, including baling wire and cattle panels, with only a moderate amount of exertion. The blades are center cut, and the manufacturer says they’re made from chrome-molybdenum steel. Whatever they contain, they’re rugged and durable. On a whim, we tried to cut 3/16-inch all thread. It didn’t work, but our effort didn’t chip or bend the blades.
It started snowing when we were testing, and the cutters got some moisture on them. We took them into the shop to dry out, but we noticed some rust on the hinges the next day. For that reason, we recommend using them in dry weather or promptly wiping them dry if they get wet.
What our tester says: “The grips are soft and ergonomic—designed to fit the hand—so I could get a solid hold without slippage.”
Get the WorkPro bolt cutters at Amazon, Sears, Kmart, or Walmart.
Best for All Thread
DeWalt DCS350D1 20V MAX* Threaded Rod Cutter Kit
Photo: The Home Depot
Product Specs
- Length: 11.125 inches
- Weight: 12.5 pounds
- Compound action? Not applicable
What We Like
- This bolt cutter works on hydraulics, so users can take it easy
- Multiblade jaws make clean end cuts; little or no filing is needed
- Rechargeable battery is interchangeable with other DeWalt 20V power tools
- Comes with a handy tool bag for keeping items organized
What We Don’t Like
- Not suitable for cutting any wire or rods except threaded ones
We’ve owned and tested many DeWalt tools over the years and feel DeWalt is a top power tool producer. However, we’d never tried the brand’s hydraulic bolt cutter—we didn’t even know DeWalt made one. We know now, and we are impressed!
Anyone who’s done mechanical work or needed to cut off too-long bolts has likely run into the issue of cutting a bolt and getting a jagged end that had to be filed down by hand. This is a nonissue with the DeWalt bolt cutter. All we had to do was put a threaded bolt between the cutter’s jaws and pull the trigger. The curved blades on the tool (which comes with a 2-amp hour rechargeable battery and charger) immediately tightened around the bolt and cut it cleanly in half. We cut all thread up to 3/16 inch, and the DeWalt didn’t strain once under the task.
The manufacturer says the tool cuts up to ⅞-inch threaded bolts, and while we didn’t have any on hand to test, we think the DeWalt has enough cutting power to do the job. It features a forged steel head, multiple cutting blades, and steel handles with rubberized grips for control and comfort. A convenient carrying case provides storage for the cutter and a set of spare blades.
One caveat, though—this tool is only for cutting threaded bolts. We tested it on a smooth bolt, and it stalled. This was our fault and not the tool’s since it’s not designed to cut anything but threaded bolts, but it does limit the tool’s use.
Get the DeWalt bolt cutters at The Home Depot, MSC, Ace Tool, Amazon (tool only), or Acme Tools (tool only).
Best Cushion-Grip
Tekton 3400 18-Inch Bolt Cutter
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Length: 18 inches
- Weight: 3.2 pounds
- Compound action? Yes
What We Like
- Cushioned grips reduce hand fatigue that can occur when exerting maximum force
- Cuts through baling wire and cattle panels with relative ease
- Features a compound hinge configuration that increases leverage for easier cutting
What We Don’t Like
- Blades suffered a couple of nicks after cutting through steel bolts
Sometimes it’s not the hinge design that keeps users from being able to cut through steel rods and bolts. Sometimes it’s the discomfort that comes with applying a lot of pressure to the handles of the bolt cutters. Fortunately, we didn’t have that problem with Tekton’s 18-inch bolt cutters that come with cushioned nonslip grips.
The cutters feature center-cut jaws and compound hinges for added leverage. We tested them on cattle panels, baling wire, and 3/16-inch all thread. The Tekton 3400 cutters made it through all three types of metal, but we had to exert a lot of pressure to cut through the all thread. That type of pressure would have led to sore hands with some models, but the cushioning on the Tekton grips saved us from serious hand fatigue.
The downside is that after we powered through multiple steel bolt cuts, we found a couple of nicks on one of the blades. That was disappointing, but these are still good cutters for thinner bolts or softer metal. We recommend not pushing them too hard to keep them in top working order.
Get the Tekton 18-inch bolt cutters at Amazon, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Zoro.
Best Compact
Tekton 3386 8-Inch Bolt Cutter
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Length: 8 inches
- Weight: 9.1 ounces
- Compound action? Yes
What We Like
- Lightweight and compact, these bolt cutters are easy to carry in a tool pouch or pocket
- The rubber handle grips resist slipping and add cushion for hands
- The compound hinges help this little cutter cut through baling wire and more
What We Don’t Like
- Light-duty-only bolt cutters—don’t expect them to cut what larger models will
For such a small bolt cutter, we found that this 8-inch Tekton packed quite a punch. It features compound hinges for added power and leverage. And the grips are made from soft rubber to absorb some of the pressure. We cut quickly through the baling wire, and it took just a bit more effort to cut through the metal on a cattle panel.
The manufacturer says these bolt cutters will cut through 3/16-inch wire, and maybe it will, but we didn’t have any for testing and feel the user would need to exert quite a bit of muscle to pull that off. We did test them on 3/16-inch all thread, and they didn’t make a dent. However, that doesn’t reflect negatively since they’re not made for that purpose. Even if the short handles don’t supply enough leverage to cut thick bolts and steel rods, they were durable enough to resist twisting or bending, and their soft rubber grips provided some comfort for our hands. Despite using as much pressure as possible while trying to cut the all thread, we were impressed that we didn’t see any chips or blade distortion on the cutters afterward. As long as users remember that these are light-duty cutters, their 9-ounce weight and 8-inch length will easily fit in a tool belt or tool box for impromptu cutting at work.
Get the Tekton 8-inch bolt cutters at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Walmart.
Best Compound-Action
Crescent H.K. Porter 0090MCP 18-Inch Bolt Cutter
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Length: 18 inches
- Weight: 5 pounds
- Compound action? Yes, double compound
What We Like
- Double-compound hinge technology provides extra leverage for metal cutting
- Nonslip padded grips help to reduce hand fatigue; ideal for longer projects
- Precision-ground steel blades withstand heavy cutting without damage
What We Don’t Like
- Hinges are stiff at first but loosen up after several cuts
As our second pair of H.K. Porter bolt cutters to earn a spot on this lineup, these 18-inch power players feature excellent cutting ability in a