Best Tool Bags for Electricians [2023 Buying Guide]

In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know before purchasing a tool bag. Whether you’re a young apprentice, or a seasoned journeyman, here are our recommendations for the best tool bags for electricians below.

Best Tool Bags for Electricians

#8. Klein Tools 55431 Tool Bag with Padded Shoulder Strap

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Key Features

• 31 compartments for maximum tool storage
• Fully molded bottom for protection from various elements
• 1680d ballistic weave for durability
• Orange interior to aid visibility
• Twist on/twist off removable LED light can be positioned to illuminate inside the bag or the workspace
• Shoulder strap with extra padding and handles for convenient carrying
• Swivel hook and magnet for hands free use

Pros and Cons

Pros: 

• Compact size, but has 31 different pockets in it
• Bright orange interior, allowing an easier time to find your tools anytime
• Built-in LED for dark areas
• Great zippers on the inner section ensuring your tools secure inside

Cons: 

• Might not be enough to carry bigger tools (i.e. a drill)
• A little pricey for what you get
• Better open style tool carriers available below

#7. DEWALT DG5582 Electrical and Maintenance Tool Carrier

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Key Features

• 23 multi-use interior pockets, sleeves and slots
• Vertical pockets for quick access
• Padded web carrying handles and adjustable padded shoulder strap for comfortable and convenient no-hands transport
• Spacious, can hold a multitude of tools
• Base pad feet, help reduce abrasion

Pros and Cons

Pros: 

• Comes with padded adjustable shoulder straps for comfort
• Durable and sturdy
• Base pad protection from wear and tear

Cons: 

• The zippers don’t open very far, so tools at the bottom can be hard to reach

#6. DEWALT DG5597 Open Top Tool Carrier

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Key Features

• 34 pockets: Quick-clinch level cradle utility knife pocket, electrical tape strap and measuring tape clip
• Comfortable and padded shoulder strap: This DEWALT tool bag features an adjustable, non-slip padded shoulder strap and padded bar handle for added comfort during transport.
• Open-top design for easy access: with collapsible bar handle allows for excellent visibility and access to all contents.
• Heavy-duty poly and ballistic poly fabric construction and includes base pads to protect the bottom of the tool carrier.

Pros and Cons

Pros: 

• Durable with heavy-duty poly and ballistic poly fabric construction
• Reinforced base pads protect the base of the carrier
• Open-top design allows easy access, but also allows us to carry larger tools
• Collapsible bar handle for extra convenience
• 34 pockets in total (16 interior and 18 exterior); 3 are flap-covered and one zippered pocket

Cons: 

• Relatively heavy base weight
• Not the cheapest option

#5. CLC Custom Leathercraft 526 Electrician’s Tool Pouch

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Key Features

• Made of top-quality leather material and cordura polyester interior
• Heavy-duty nylon stitching for extra versatility
• 17 hard-molded pockets and sleeves
• Box-shaped design to prevent tipping with specific tool holders
• Product Dimensions: 15.3 x 9 x 7.5 inches
• Weight: 3 lbs
• Color: Tan

Pros and Cons

Pros: 

• Durable with rugged leather and polyester fabric construction
• Heavy-duty stitching further establishing the bag’s durability
• Compact and lightweight but has 17 hard-molded pockets
• Unique box-shaped style, preventing it from tipping
• Comfortable leather-reinforced handle

Cons: 

• Pocket layout is not the best available
• Doesn’t feature a tape measure clip

#4.  CLC LeatherCraft 1528 Large Electrical Tool Bag

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Key Features

• 22 pockets tool bag, features 14 outside pockets and 8 inside pockets to organize a wide range of tools and accessories
• Multi-compartment plastic tray included. Comes with an 8.75” x 6.5” multi-compartment plastic tray to help organize small parts
• Features a box-shaped design to keep your smaller part secured and organized
• Extra padded carrying handle, ensuring more comfort to carry the tool bag, and adjustable shoulder strap for convenience
• Large divided pockets with elastic loops to accommodate large tools

Pros and Cons

Pros: 

• Convenient design, easily access your tools
• 22 pockets in total for an affordable price and compact size
• Comfortable handle, easy to carry anywhere
• Thick padding to protect your tools and add to the durability
• High-quality shoulder straps

Cons: 

• The main compartments have no cover
• Some customers find it easy to misplace or lose their items with this design

#3. CLC 1530 43-Pocket Electrical and Maintenance Tool Carrier

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Key Features

• This tool bag from CLC features 43 pockets to organize all of your tools and accessories.
• Zippered side panels on this heavy-duty tool bag prevent spillage of tools when carrying the tool bag
• Vertical pockets keep tools in sight on this durable tool bag.
• A large main inner compartment holds a variety of hand and power tools
• Main compartments have heavy-duty, double-pull zippers
• Textured, padded, adjustable shoulder strap and padded carrying handles
• Heavy-duty poly fabric body with poly ballistic trim and binding
• Dimension: 18x7x14 inches

Pros and Cons

Pros: 

• Can handle a decent amount of weight
• 43 pockets in total, can fit many different types of tools
• Vertical pockets for quick access
• Padded shoulder strap and handles

Cons: 

• Strap latch can only handle up to 60 lbs of the total weight
• Not water-resistant

#2. Klein Tools 554158-14 Tradesman Pro Tote

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Key Features

• Tool Organizer with a large zipper pocket to secure small parts and tools
• 20 pockets for greater tool storage
• Fully molded bottom for stability and protects from the elements
• Orange interior to find tools faster
• 1680d ballistic weave for durability
• Shoulder strap with extra padding for comfortable carrying

Pros and Cons

Pros: 

• The fully molded base for stability
• Durable and rugged design with ballistic weave
• Very comfortable padded shoulder strap and handle
• 20 pockets while being very compact

Cons: 

• Not enough pockets for some people
• Tools may spill out from the open tote design

#1. Gatorback B240 Electrician’s Tool Pouch with Back Support Belt

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Key Features

• High-quality memory foam is ergonomically molded and shaped to provide support and long-term comfort.
• The molded air-channels allow for airflow under the belt to prevent overheating and reduce sweating.
• The inside material is an ultra-breathable Lycra fabric that further promotes airflow.
• Measures 8″ at the widest part of the back support and tapers down to 3″ at the front.
• Riveted and back-tack stitched material with an extra layer of heavy-duty nylon on every pocket to prevent wear on the pouches
• Convenient carrying handles on the belts for comfortable transportation of the belt when not being worn
• The pouches are removable and rearrangeable on the belt, allowing us to set up our rig according to our exact needs

Pros and Cons

Pros: 

• Specifically designed for a professional electrician
• Very comfortable to wear, and designed to reduce sweat
• Can carry a great capacity of tools with organized pockets and pouches on both sides
• The fashionable look can fit all types of users

Cons: 

• Only available in black
• A little bulky when fully loaded

Who Makes the Best Tool Bags for Electricians?

There are many different manufacturers that offer really good tool bags at the moment, with various price tags and unique value propositions.

However, there are three top brands that deserve our special attention:

Klein Tools

Klein is a US-based manufacturer that has been around since 1857, and so it has been around for more than 160 years.

Klein offers high-quality tools and equipment for virtually any kind of work, and for tool bags, they offer a wide variety of tool bags designed for various different toolsets; from compact and small tool bags to very large ones.

Klein’s bags are manufactured with durable materials and can withstand harsh working environments.

Dewalt

Dewalt is another reputable company that has been around since 1924, famous for its line of professional workhouse tools and accessories.

Available across the US with 830 authorized service centers, so customer support won’t be an issue.

Carhartt

Carhartt is another iconic brand in the tools and equipment industry that has been around for more than a century since 1889.

Their tool bags and tool belts are specially manufactured to handle all-day work and can withstand the harshest working environments.

What Features Should You Look For In a Tool Bag?

At the first glance, choosing a tool bag is fairly simple: as long as our tools can fit, it should be okay. However, is that actually the case?

Although the tool bag might seem like a pretty simple purchase, there are actually several important factors we should consider, they are:

Durability and Construction Quality

This one is probably pretty obvious.

If you are an actively-working electrician, you will need to transport your tool bags to different places, and they are frequently exposed to impacts, water damages, dust, and other things.

So, the tool bag must be designed to be durable and can withstand daily wear and tear. Choose materials like leather, polyester, nylon, polypropylene, or canvas cloth.

This is especially true if you are planning to bring larger tools in tool bags, or expensive tools that need to be protected properly.

The material must be water-resistant or waterproof to prevent water damages and consider tool bags with multiple stitches, reinforced bases, and durable/comfortable handles.

Capacity 

Obviously storage capacity is also an important factor to consider. If the tool bag can’t store all your tools, then it’s basically useless.

Consider the size of the bag and the number of tools it can pack to determine its capacity. Make sure you don’t buy a tool bag that’s too small for your needs.

On the other hand, a tool bag that is too big will be a hassle to carry, so it’s important to find the right balance.

Also, capacity isn’t only about space, but the maximum weight the tool bag can carry. Make sure it can withstand the weight of the tools you want to carry.

Compartments

You should get a tool bag with enough interior and exterior pockets and compartments depending on your needs.

If you have only a limited number of pockets, this may provide difficulties in cases when you need to bring a lot of different types of tools in the bag.

Also, make sure the compartments and pockets are easily accessible so you can easily find the tools you need when in the field.

If you are planning to carry bigger tools, make sure there are large enough compartments to accommodate these needs.

Fastener System

 Not only the bag itself must be durable, but the fastener system (typically zipper) must be made of high-quality material that is preferably water-resistant or water-proof.

When the zipper breaks, the whole tool bag is essentially useless, so you should pay extra attention to the quality of the tool bag’s fastening system.

When a review mentions that a specific tool bag’s zippers easily break, then it’s a big red flag.

Compactness and Transportability

The most ideal tool bag is one that is compact and lightweight enough but can carry a lot of tools in it, but obviously, such technology doesn’t exist yet at the moment.

So, even if you are going to choose a relatively big and bulky tool bag, don’t forget to consider portability.

Wheels can be a great addition to your tool bag, so you can easily transport the tool bag with ease even when it’s carrying heavy tools.

Also, make sure the tool bag has high-quality handles and straps that are also comfortable to hold without sacrificing durability.

Design 

Last but not least, the design of the tool bag.

Design doesn’t only dictate the tool bag’s aesthetics, but an ergonomic design also allows the tool bag to be comfortable and easy to carry and use.

Strategic placements of pockets and compartments will also help in allowing an easier time to access the required tool anytime you need them.

Regarding aesthetics, you’d also want to choose a style and color according to your preferences.

What Tools Are In An Electrician’s Tool Bag?

Knowing what tools you’ll carry in the tool bag would also help in making your purchase decision, and here are the essential tools that all electricians will need to carry in their tool bag:

Cable cutters 

A good set of cable cutters are more powerful than regular pliers and can be used to cut copper and aluminum conductors/cables. Also known as ‘eagle beaks’ due to their shape.

Pliers 

Heavy-duty pliers are very important for twisting and cutting wires. Not powerful enough to cut larger conductors and thick steel wires, but decent enough to cut small-gauge wires.

It’s best to get high-quality, durable pliers that can last a long time.

Side cutters 

Side cutters are used to cut small-gauge wires and also to cut cables in tight areas. Also a tool used very commonly by electricians.

Crimping pliers 

Pliers with built-in crimpers on their ends used to install butt splices and Sta-kons. You should get a pair that can crimp both insulated and non-insulated connectors.

Wire strippers

Wire strippers are used to strip the insulation off the wires. If you often do terminations daily, it’s best to invest in high-quality and durable wire strippers.

Needle nose pliers 

Needle-nose pliers are indispensable when you need to reach cables or conductors in those tight and hard-to-reach spaces.

Channel-Locks

ChannelLock is technically a brand name, but the term has been used to describe a specific type of tool the company makes (other brands now also make this tool).

The tool is primarily used to tighten conduit and connectors, and it’s best to have a few different sizes of Channel-Locks in your tool bag.

Screwdrivers 

A high quality screwdriver set is one item you don’t want to skimp out on. You’ll tighten and loosen a lot of screws as an electrician, and you should get enough screwdrivers in various sizes and head types according to your needs.

For live electrical work, it is recommended that you also have a good set of v-rated screwdrivers (voltage rated) as well.

Hex keys (Allen Keys)

Hex keys are another indispensable tool for any tradesman. It’s best to invest in a set that includes various sizes and are both metric and standard.

Wrench set 

You’ll need different sizes of wrenches, at least the commonly used sizes in your area. You might also need a crescent wrench when the size of the nut isn’t obvious.

Cable stripping tools

A good cable stripping tool is ideal for larger cables. Some clients may have restrictions on what kind of knives you can bring on the premises, so make sure to get electrician-specific knives that are typically allowed (they are also much safer to use than your regular box-cutters).

Hacksaw 

A high-quality hacksaw is important for cutting conduit, tray, strut etc. Typically you won’t need a big hacksaw in an electrician’s job, so you can stick with compact ones that can fit in your tool bag easily.

Tape measure 

Don’t cheap out on your tape measure. It is important to be accurate when measuring conduit, tray, lumber, strut, and so on. Get a 20 to 30 feet long tape measure that should be adequate for most tasks.

Hammer 

Of course, you can’t forget about a good-old hammer. It is useful for attaching staples, nails, and so on. Not a priority, but it’s recommended to get a decent one in your tool bag.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list by any means. However, with these essential items in your tool bag, you’ll be hitting the ground running.

Conclusion

For our absolute best pick, although admittedly this is very hard, we’ll go for Gatorback B240. Particularly if you’d like a smaller tool bag with a great support belt that will keep all your tools at your side.

Great value for its price (and it’s pretty affordable) with great durability while being very comfortable to carry around.

However, that’s not saying the others on this list are bad products.

We are confident that based on our tests, these best tool bags for electricians reviewed above are indeed the best available in the market today.

If you enjoyed this article, we think you might be interested in these are articles as well:

• Best Tap and Die Set for Electricians [Buying Guide]
• Best Screwdriver Sets for Electricians [Buying Guide]
• 10 Best Multimeters for Electricians [Buying Guide]
• 10 Best Cordless Drills for Electricians [Buying Guide]
• 10 Best Thermal Imaging Cameras for Electricians