In this guide, we will take a look at 10 of the best screwdriver sets for electricians.
We have tested various screwdrivers from various brands from various price ranges compiling a short-list of the best screwdriver sets for electricians. We know time is money. If you’re just looking for a list of top performers, below is a table of our recommended picks.
| Top 10 | Best Screwdriver Sets for Electricians | Quick Features |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Milwuakee Insulated Screwdriver Set (10-piece) | Great build quality. Great selection of tips. 1000V Insulated. |
| #2 | Greenlee Insulated Screwdriver Set (9-piece) | Very good build quality. Great value. |
| #3 | Klein Tools Insulated Screwdriver (8-in-1) | Interchangeable tips. 1000 V Insulation. Handy carrying case. |
| #4 | DEWALT Insulated Screwdriver Set (10-piece) | Quick change design. Very durable. Excellent price point. |
| #5 | Milwaukee Insulated Screwdriver Set (4-piece) | Excellent quality. 1000V Insulated. Premium Screwdrivers. |
| #6 | Klein Tools Screwdriver Set (8-piece) | Great price. Good selection of tips. Not Insulated but great general purpose. |
| #7 | Wiha Insulated SoftFinish Screwdriver Set (7-piece) | Great overall value. Decent build quality. V-rated Insulated. |
| #8 | HORUSDY Insulated Screwdriver Set (6-piece) | Extremely affordable. 1000V Insulated. Magnetic Tips. |
There you have it, our recommendations for the 10 best screwdrivers available in the market today. If you want more insight into how we selected the best screwdrivers for electricians, keep reading.
Insulated vs Non-Insulated Screwdriver Sets
An insulated screwdriver is a specially-designed screwdriver for electricians and/or for handling electrical appliances in general. It is characterized by its “insulated’ material, typically using durable non-conductive materials to cover its handle and shaft. So, only the tip of the screwdriver is conductive.
Alternatively, we can also use non-conductive material for the tip of the screwdriver, like in the case of rubber-tipped screwdrivers, but the main idea remains the same: the insulation protects the screwdriver’s user from the dangers of electrical currents.
If the screwdriver is conductive and it touches live parts of equipment, the user can be electrocuted, which can be life-threatening in severe cases.
By having some parts of the screwdriver properly insulated with a non-conductive material, it’s now safe to hold the screwdriver to drive screws in live electrical appliances.
On the other hand, insulated screwdrivers can also prevent damage to electronic parts in the equipment, that might be destroyed in the event of electrical short.
In short, if you know you’re going to be working in and around live electrical parts, it’s a good idea to invest in a set of insulated screwdrivers.
What are the Best Brands for Electrician’s Tools?
As you know, there are many different brands for home and professional tools available in the market today. So, which ones are the best for electrical tools?
With so many different options from brands all over the world, choosing just a few of them is obviously very difficult. Yet, for the sake of this guide, here are our top five picks and our reasons for each.
Klein Tools
Klein is an American-based power tool manufacturer that has been around for a whopping 160+ years since 1857.
Klein offers a wide range of tools from a variety of tool kits, multimeter, plumbing tools, various saws, and even telecom tools. Regarding screwdriver, Klein offers some of the best models available in the market today, including its really popular insulated screwdriver set.
Durable and high-quality build for all its tools, making it a favorite brand among electricians and power tool users.
Greenlee Tools
Greenlee is a subsidiary of Emerson and has been making various tools for 150+ years.
Especially famous for its wide range of electrical tools, Greenlee also offers really good insulated screwdrivers and screwdriver sets for electricians. However, Greenlee also manufactured a wide range of power tools from heavy-duty wire-pullers to hydraulic crimping and cutting tools.
Milwaukee Tools
Milwaukee is another American-based company that has been around since 1924. Since then, The company has gone multiple ownership changes, and most recently was acquired by Techronic Industries in 2005.
Milwaukee offers various different power and construction tools and is mainly famous for its Sawzall brand, Milwaukee’s reciprocating saw tool. Milwaukee is also known for being the manufacturer of Milwaukee Hole Shooter, the world’s first lightweight, ¼” chuck one-handed drill.
Milwaukee’s products are known for being very durable and reliable, even in the most rugged working conditions.
DeWalt Tools
The last but not least of the American companies in this list, DeWalt was founded by Raymond E. DeWalt, the inventor of the radial arm saw back in 1923.
DeWalt offers a wide range of tools, motored and static, wired and wireless including several models of screwdrivers, impact drivers, drills, saws, and even laser levels, among others. DeWalt also offers various accessories like drill bits and various toolboxes, and outdoor equipment like lawnmowers.
Bosch Tools
Bosch is a very famous German-based company that has been around since 1886.
Bosch is especially famous for its line of power tools, but also various tools targeted for home/residential usage. Bosch’s tools are relatively more expensive than other European brands but are arguably higher quality.
The company makes anything from screwdrivers to impact drivers to jigsaws, and are very durable and high-quality.
Best Screwdriver Sets for Electricians
Below is our top recommendations for the best screwdriver sets for electricians. All screwdrivers sets listed balance build quality, price, selection and comfort.
#1. Greenlee Insulated Screwdriver Set (9-piece)
Greenlee is another reputable company known for making high-quality and reliable products. This 9-piece screwdriver set is indeed expensive compared to what we’ve got in this list so far, but they are also very high quality.
Comes with a wide variety of sizes which is versatile enough for most electricians, very comfortable grip, and very good dual-layer insulation.
Although it’s expensive, it is a great investment if you are looking for a high-quality set.
Pros:
- Very high-quality and durable build by Greenlee
- 9 pieces of screwdrivers included with a great variety of sizes and shapes
- Very good dual-insulation
- Comfortable grip
Cons:
- Expensive
#2. Wiha Insulated Screwdriver Set (10-piece)
Another relatively affordable option. While Wiha is a relatively unknown brand compared to big names like Bosch or Klein, these are actually pretty good screwdrivers that are relatively durable. A key highlight is their ergonomic grip that is very comfortable and steady to hold.
Includes three flathead screwdrivers, two Phillips, and two square screwdrivers, which is a pretty versatile combination. A great choice if you don’t want a very expensive set with enough quality and versatility.
Pros:
- Relatively affordable for a 7-piece insulated set
- Ergonomic, very comfortable grip
- Quite durable with a permanent bond
Cons:
- Not the most durable
- Not magnetic tip
#3. Klein Tools Insulated Screwdriver Set (8-in-1)
A great set from Klein, including two #2 Phillips, two 1/4-Inch Slotted, one #1 Phillips, one #1 Square, one #2 Square, and one 3/16-Inch Slotted, which should cover virtually all needs of an electrician.
Being Klein screwdrivers, obviously, they come with very good qualities: durable, comfortable grip, great insulation, and great locking mechanism for the blade/tip.
Includes a carrying pouch, which although it’s not the best quality, a great value considering it is pretty durable.
If you are just looking for a set of insulated screwdrivers for your electrician’s jobs, this is arguably the most well-rounded option of all we’ve reviewed in this list.
Pros:
- Amazing value for its quality and the number of tips included
- Great handle with a comfortable grip
- A great locking mechanism can securely handle the tips and easy to remove
- Great insulation
Cons:
- The included square tip is not as durable as the rest
#4. DeWalt Insulated Screwdriver Set (10-piece)
A 10-piece screwdriver set from DeWalt, another prominent American power tool manufacturer. Very durable with great build, and the selection of the tips included should cover most electrical applications for many electricians.
Includes two handles: a traditional, comfortable handle, and a narrower handle with a rotating end cap (useful for electrical appliances). Also, pretty affordable being a 10-piece screwdriver set considering its build quality.
Pros:
- High-quality and durable
- 10-piece screwdriver set with a very versatile selection of tips
- Two handles included
- Relatively affordable
Cons:
- The included case is relatively low-quality
#5. Klein Tools Screwdriver Set (8-piece)
The only non-insulated screwdriver set on our list. However, we felt no list would be complete without this classic set of Klein screwdrivers. Klein has been a leader in the trades for their excellent build quality and these without question are among the top general purpose screwdrivers tested.
This 8-piece set includes 3 cabinet-tip, two Phillips-tip, and two keystone-tip styles. This is a general purpose kit of the most popular screwdrivers used by electricians.
Pros:
- High-quality and durable
- Lifetime Warranty
- Very affordable
Cons:
- These are not insulated screwdrivers
Types of Screwdrivers used by Electricians
Based on Tip Shape
As we know, screwdrivers come in many different shapes and sizes. The different types of screwdrivers are commonly differentiated by the tip shape, which will dictate which kind of screw it can be used upon. However, there are also specialty screwdrivers that are designed only for specific applications.
Here are some of the common screwdriver types that are used by electricians:
Flathead Screwdriver
The most common type not only for screwdrivers but arguably of any hand tools in general. Also called the slotted screwdriver since we can only use it with slotted screw heads due to its flatted tip, it was invented as far back as the 15th century in Europe.
Comes in many different sizes, but the most common sizes are 5.5mm and 8 mm wide (for the shaft tip). Flathead/slotted tip is also often called cabinet tip.
They are popular mainly due to their versatility: you can use it as a chisel in emergencies, and it may also fit a Phillips-head screw of similar width. However, they tend to slip sideways when a lot of pressure is applied, making it less ideal when used with a power-driven device.
We can further differentiate a flathead screwdriver into two subtypes:
Flared flathead/slotted screwdriver – In this subtype, the tip of the driver has a flattened shape and so the shaft is narrower than the edge.
Parallel flathead/slotted screwdriver – In this subtype, the tip of the driver has an equal width between the shaft and the edge. This design is slightly better at preventing the tip from slipping off the screw head, making it more secure.
Phillips Screwdriver
Also known as cross-head screwdrivers due to the shape of the tip that is identifiable by a flared “+”. The design also features an angled tip, allowing us to fit the screwdriver deeper into the screw head, which further prevents the tip from sliding out sideways the screw heads.
So, the greatest benefit of a Phillips screwdriver is security and precision, allowing users to screw or unscrew the screw heads faster and more precisely to save more time.
However, Phillips drivers are intentionally designed to cam out (slip out) of the screw heads when after we exceed a certain torque limit, which can be both its strength and weakness (i.e. for a very tightly-screwed head, the cam out feature would make it more difficult to unscrew it).
Due to its security and precision, however, it’s also very popular and you can easily find Phillip screw heads in many different appliances and furniture.
Hex Key Screwdriver
A rather unusual screwdriver type, but has become increasingly popular in the past few years. As the name ‘hex’ suggests, the tip of this screwdriver resembles a six-sided (hexagonal) shank.
The hex key might not come in the form of a traditional screwdriver, but an L-shaped six-sided metal that lacks a handle or tip, which is commonly included with packaged furniture. This type of hex key is also called an Allen key or Allen wrench.
There are, however, hex keys that come in a screwdriver form, which can fit hex-head screws from 0.03″ to 3/8″ in size. This type of screwdriver offers a longer shank and a more comfortable handle than their Allen key counterpart.
Although hex bits and screws are more common in furniture and vehicles (i.e. bicycle), there are some electrical appliances that require a hex key for its maintenance.
Torx Screwdriver
Torx screw heads are shaped like a 6-point recessed star, and so Torx screwdrivers are often called “star” screwdrivers. Torx drives were originally designed only in security appliances and equipment, with the star-shaped heads providing very high torque tolerances.
Great for any applications where slippage resistance is important like wood-to-concrete applications, structural framing, and so on. However, they have since grown more popular in various commercial-grade electrical appliances.
Robertson Screwdriver
The Robertson screw heads are shaped like a recessed square, so it’s often called the square head. Very popular in Canada where it was invented in the early 1900s. The Robertson head has arguably the highest torque tolerance compared to other types and is also very durable.
Still relatively not popular in the US and various parts of the world, but square head tips are frequently included in screwdriver sets. Robertson screw heads are also gaining popularity in recent years, so we can expect increased usage outside Canada in the near future.
Other Notable Types Based on Shape
- Clutch-head screwdriver: characterized by its bowtie-shaped slots. We can typically find bowtie-shaped heads in vehicles, especially older ones. Also called bowtie screwdriver.
- Frearson screwdriver: looks very similar to a Phillips screwdriver at first glance, but there are some key differences. A Phillips has a rounded point, but the tip of a Frearson has a sharp point, which accommodates a higher torque tolerance.
- JIS screwdriver: JIS stands for Japanese Industrial Standard, and is also similar to Phillips and Frearson in shape, but has a slightly angled design (not as angled as Frearson) to prevent camming out.
- Pozi-drive screwdriver: Originally designed as an upgrade to the Phillips screw heads, with four additional diagonal lines on top of the + shape. This design is intended to improve torque and prevent cam-out.
- Nut/hex screwdriver: Has a hexagonal socket instead of a tip, so functions similarly to a socket wrench.
- Triangle screwdriver: also called TA screwdriver, quite common in electronic applications. Used to drive triangle-shaped screw heads.
- Tri-point screwdriver: has a tip that resembles a Y shape at equal 120-degree angles. You can find tri-point screw heads in Apple and Nintendo products, among other electronic appliances.
- Tri-wing screwdriver: the tip resembles a pinwheel with three straight ‘wing’ extensions in a clockwise direction. Common in aerospace equipment, but now are also popular in many home electronics devices.
End Words
The best screwdriver sets for electricians we have shared above are our top picks. These sets will suit anyone from professional electricians, electronics hobbyists, students, and trades from other disciplines.
Our number one pick here goes to the GreenLee Insulated Screwdriver Set for its great overall quality and balance between price and value, but all models presented are great screwdrivers with their own advantages and disadvantages.
Of course, since this guide is geared towards electricians and other similar trades, an essential tool every electrician needs is a digital multimeter.
We’ve done a comprehensive buying guide for digital multimeters as well as a buying guide for digital clamp meters.
Interested in cordless tools? No problem, check out our cordless drill buying guide after you’re done here.
We hope you’ve gathered enough information from this buying guide, and can make a better purchase decision with what we’ve shared.