The Best Electrician Tool Belts Tested in 2023

The Klein Tools Tradesman Pro tool belt is one of the best tool belts for electricians on the market. It features a padded electrician belt that has a mesh inner liner, so it is breathable and comfortable to wear for a long time. The pouches feature hook-and-loop backing that allows you to adjust your position on the belt as well, making access to essential tools a priority.

With a ballistic-weave material and rubber-reinforced bottoms, this Klein Tools belt is strong and durable enough to last for years. It also has a heavy-duty nylon belt with an extremely thick leather belt end to keep things light but sturdy. A built-in handle makes the belt easy to carry when you aren’t wearing it as well. The two pouches have wide-open pockets for easy access and designated areas for screwdrivers, drill bits, a tape measure, and even a small drill.

We liked a lot about the Klein Tools Tradesman Pro tool belt. This belt features a hook-and-loop closure that temporarily holds the belt in place until the extremely thick belt is fastened, so putting the belt on is easy. It also has a neat flip-down drill bit holder to easily access common bits and driver bits. The padded belt is comfortable and breathes reasonably well so we could stay cool while working.

We liked that the pouches are positionable a few inches forward or backward, allowing you to move them to a more comfortable position. Plus, they stay in place thanks to the hook-and-loop backing. Our main complaint is that the suspender loops are stitched into the belt, so there isn’t any adjustability.

Read our full review: Klein Tools Tradesman Pro Electrician’s Tool Belt

Product Specs 

• Type: Standard belt
• Number of pockets: 12 pockets and 24 tool holders
• Materials: Mesh, ballistic weave, rubber, and leather
• Size(s): Medium, large, and extra large

Pros

• The belt consists of thick nylon and extremely thick, durable leather with heavy-duty stitching
• Hook-and-loop backing keeps pouches in place wherever you set them
• Built-in drill bit holder allows access to common driver bits much more easily than digging through pockets
• Wide, structured pockets make reaching in for items and storing large tools easier

Cons

• Stitched-in suspender loops don’t allow for any adjustability or removal

Get the Klein Tools Tradesman electrician tool belt at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Folks who need a lightweight electrician’s belt at a very affordable price should consider the AWP mini electrician tool pouch. This pouch features a compact design with a total of six pockets and seven tool holders, ensuring there is room for the most essential tools. It also has a tape chain (though it’s actually a strap) as well as a carabiner for keys or tool lanyards.

This tool belt is primarily made from polyester, which is lightweight and durable. It has a belt loop and a belt clip so the wearer can clip the tool holder onto a pant pocket or pant belt. It’s worth noting that it does not come with a belt of its own.

Although this belt lacks a lot of thrills or fancy features, it serves its purpose at this price point. We liked that there were enough pockets for our most essential items, including several screwdrivers, wire strippers, and other small hand tools. We also liked that this pouch would stand up on its own if we took it off and placed it on a table, since this allows the pouch to serve as a tool station of sorts. The exterior pockets were a bit shallow, and the metal belt clip isn’t the most comfortable way to carry this tool belt, but overall, we feel it provides plenty of value.

Product Specs 

• Type: Pouch
• Number of pockets: 6 pockets, 7 tool holders
• Materials: Polyester
• Size(s): NA

Pros

• The low price ranks it as a great choice for those who want to save money
• Small in size but contains quite a few pockets for storing essential items
• Can stand up on its own on a table or other surface and serve as a tool station

Cons

• Exterior pockets are pretty shallow, so some tools don’t sit deep enough
• The belt clip on the back of the tool belt is uncomfortable

Get the AWP electrician tool belt at Amazon.

The Occidental leather tool belt was designed with functionality in mind, featuring hand-specific tool holders to avoid having to reach across the body for a tool. This is a bonus for anyone who is a southpaw because the pouches can be switched for left-handed optimization.

This leather tool belt comes at a premium price, but the belt’s leather construction will ensure long-lasting durability that might see tools wearing out before the tool belt. Occidental Leather’s patented NoSpill holders use the flexibility of leather to form fit around the tools in the belt, keeping them in place when not in use. The two pouches have 37 pockets and tool holders between them. And if that isn’t enough, this belt comes in sizes from small to extra large to help buyers find the best fit.

To be quite fair, this leather tool belt has more pockets than we had electrical tools to test it. It can handle several screwdrivers, pliers, and strippers, and even clips for metal conduit, fasteners, and a small drill. There isn’t a ton of adjustability in the belt, but it does come in small, large, and extra-large sizes (and we barely fit our small-size test belt; a medium would help), but the belt’s leather is thick and wide, and it’s just tacky enough to stay put when snugged down.

It’s also worth noting that all Occidental belts are made with extremely high-quality leather, heavy-duty nylon stitching, and lots of reinforcement. While this belt is big and heavy, and best suited for electrical construction work, it will likely last most electricians for their entire careers. We’ve tested and owned other Occidental belts, and they’re always worth the premium price tag.

Product Specs 

• Type: Standard belt
• Number of pockets: 37
• Materials: Leather and nylon
• Size(s): Small, large, and extra large

Pros

• It features hand-specific tool holders, so pros can get used to where their tools are
• Extremely high-quality leather, including the belt and the tool pouches
• It has more pockets than we had electric-specific tools to even test

Cons

• No medium-size options are available, and we barely fit into our test small

Get the Occidental Leather electrician tool belt at Amazon or Occidental Leather.

ToughBuilt’s utility pouch can offer just about everything a DIY electrician could ask for in a tool belt. It has 13 pockets total, including the main pocket with eight smaller pockets inside it, as well as four on the outside. It also has five tool holders, a chain for electrical tape, and a carabiner for keys or tool lanyards.

The ToughBuilt utility pouch features all-nylon construction except for the rubber-reinforced bottom. It also has a built-in handle with a thick rubber grip for comfort, and it comes with a nylon adjustable belt that goes up to 52 inches.

Since the average DIYer would rather spend their money building out their tool kit than the tool belt they haul it around in, the ToughBuilt utility belt is worth considering. We liked that this tool belt provided plenty of storage thanks to its large structured pocket that can hold a meter and plenty of tools. We also liked that this belt could stand on its own, meaning DIYers can bring it to their project and place it down without its contents spilling out.

We weren’t big fans of the thin, uncomfortable belt. Also, the tape chain is in the back of the bag, which makes it a challenge for righties to reach. But overall, the quality exceeds the price point, so it’s definitely a consideration.

Product Specs 

• Type: Tool pouch with belt
• Number of pockets: 13 pockets plus 5 loops
• Materials: Nylon and rubber
• Size(s): Up to 52 inches

Pros

• Provides plenty of storage for tools, including bulky items like meters or small drills
• The bag can come off the shoulder or hip and sit upright on its own without spilling its contents
• Relatively high-quality construction and design for an affordable price point

Cons

• The belt is stiff, thin, and uncomfortable
• Tape chain is in an awkward place and difficult for right-handed users to reach

Get the ToughBuilt electrician tool belt set at Amazon.

Electricians who would prefer to keep their load light while doing some light-duty work should consider the Klein Tools 5178 eight-pocket tool pouch. This pouch consists of a classic electrician’s pouch design with two main pockets and six smaller pockets, as well as four tool holders, a keychain holder, and a clasp for keys or a lanyard.

This tool pouch features thick leather and mostly rivet construction with some stitching reinforcement at the bottom and between pockets. It has a standard belt loop that you can feed a 2.5-inch work belt through, but it doesn’t have any handles or carrying straps.

This tool pouch is definitely built for the long haul. The leather is thick and quite stiff, and it hardly broke in during our hours of use. It holds tools securely due to the stiff leather, though the pockets aren’t tremendously deep (that might be our biggest complaint). It has just enough pockets for essential screwdrivers, pliers, wire strippers, and a pen tester, so finding the right tool was easy when crouching to work on a low outlet or when working one-handed. As time goes on, this pouch will continue to break in and become more pliable, but even in its brand-new stiff iteration, its contoured fit around the leg was comfortable and it stayed in place while walking.

Product Specs 

• Type: Pouch
• Number of pockets: 8 pockets and 4 tool holders
• Materials: Leather
• Size(s): Universal

Pros

• Stiff, heavy-duty leather ensures that this pouch will last, even becoming better with time
• Organizes only the essential tools for streamlined work on smaller projects
• Contoured to wrap around a leg for comfort and it stays in place while walking

Cons

• The pockets aren’t as deep as we would prefer

Get the Klein Tools 5178 electrician tool belt at Amazon or Acme Tools.

Folks who struggle to find a set of tool bags that they can tweak to get just right should check out Milwaukee’s electrician’s work belt. This tool belt features bags with hook-and-loop backing that keeps them wherever the user positions them on the padded belt, whether they be forward or backward.

This tool belt features lots of storage, including 22 true pockets and 12 tool holders (as well as two tape chains and a built-in clip for lanyard tools). It’s made primarily of nylon with reinforced bottoms and rivets throughout. It features suspender clips, a hammer loop, and plenty of pocket space for meters and other large items.

This Milwaukee belt was a serious contender for the top spot on this list. Between its affordable price and plenty of onboard storage, it has a lot going for it. It also has a really smart pouch design: There are padded standoffs that keep the pouches off of the user’s legs slightly, allowing for airflow underneath the tool bags. We didn’t like the stitched-in suspender straps because they don’t adjust, but we did like that we could adjust almost everything else on the tool belt. Size information is not readily available, but we measured roughly 32 to 50 inches in waist size adjustability.

Product Specs 

• Type: Pouch
• Number of pockets: 22 true pockets and 12 tool holders
• Materials: Nylon
• Size(s): 32 to 50 inches

Pros

• Lots of value at this price point, allowing you to get a fully functional belt for a good price
• Fits a wide range of waist sizes, plus you can adjust the pouch positioning for customized setups
• Padding on the bottom of each pouch allows for comfort and extra airflow underneath

Cons

• Suspender straps aren’t adjustable, which is a shame considering everything else adjusts

Get the Milwaukee electrician tool belt at The Home Depot.

Folks who either need a belt for their pants with a little extra utility or a base belt for hanging their favorite electrician’s pouch from will want to consider the Klein Tools 5207 tool belt. This electrician’s tool belt has two built-in loops made from durable leather that can hold a hammer or other tools, as well as a tape chain that keeps electrical tape at the ready for any wiring job.

This belt is made from durable, thick leather. It features rivet reinforcement as well, ensuring that the tool loops can carry some weight. The belt comes in a medium size that stretches from 32 to 40 inches, and a larger size that stretches from 38 to 46 inches.

There isn’t a ton of utility to this belt at first glance. We were able to carry a hammer in the larger loop and a pair of large linesman pliers in the smaller loop, as well as some tape on the chain. However, it’s a great base for adding an additional pouch tool, though we felt weight should be kept low for comfort purposes. But, if it’s simply about keeping the wearer’s pants up while adding a little bit of utility, this belt’s quality makes it a solid choice.

Product Specs 

• Type: Just a belt
• Number of pockets: 0 pockets, 2 tool loops, and a tape chain
• Materials: Leather
• Size(s): 32 to 40 inches or 38 to 46 inches

Pros

• Adds a bit of extra utility to a belt than simply holding up a pair of pants
• Offers a handy place to hang a hammer, a pair of pliers, and a few rolls of tape
• Serves as a solid base for you to add your favorite electrician’s pouch

Cons

• It’s only slightly more functional than a standard work belt

Get the Klein Tools 5207 electrician tool belt at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Whether because of back pain or just a preferred style of carry, not every electrician wants a tool belt, and Klein has an answer: the Tradesman Pro nine-pocket pouch. This pouch comes with two carrying options: a heavy-duty rubber handle or a padded shoulder strap. This allows pros or DIYers to get the job done without hanging their tools off their hips.

The Tradesman Pro pouch features seven true pockets and two tool holders with open bottoms. It also has a strap for tape measures and two sets of D-rings for attaching the strap or handle. It can hang from a 2.5-inch tool belt instead of the shoulder if desired, though it doesn’t come with a belt. The pouch is made of heavy-duty nylon with some rivet reinforcements, the bottom is double layered for durability, and the structured main pocket allows it to stand up on its own.

Overall, we thought this tool bag was great, but it had some give-and-takes. For instance, the flat, reinforced bottom makes it very stable when placed on the ground or a worktable but can become top-heavy and tip when using the lower D-rings. We also liked that this belt has so many carrying options (three), but belt carry isn’t all that comfortable because there isn’t any padding (it’s meant to be attached to a hook-and-loop padded belt). Still, very few shoulder pouches can carry the necessities as well as a meter, and that was our favorite feature of this pouch.

Product Specs 

• Type: Pouch
• Number of pockets: 7 pockets, 2 tool holders
• Materials: Nylon
• Size(s): N/A

Pros

• Multiple carry options for plenty of flexibility: shoulder strap, carrying handle, or a 2.5-inch belt
• Small enough to be a shoulder-carry pouch but large enough to hold necessities and a meter
• Very stable when placed on the floor or a worktable thanks to its reinforced main pocket

Cons

• The belt-carry option isn’t super comfortable; it’s designed for a hook-and-loop padded belt system
• Using the lower D-rings makes it top-heavy and it will tip

Get the Klein Tools 5242 electrician tool belt at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Grainger.

CLC has plenty of experience building relatively high-quality tool storage products for affordable prices. This tool belt features seven true pockets, 10 tool holders, plus a tape chain, lanyard clip, and tape measure clip, providing lots of storage. It even has enough room for a meter in the main pocket, which is divided into two sections.

This tool belt is made entirely of polyester with rivet reinforcement. The bottom is doubled and features a structured design, so it is durable against sharper tools like screwdrivers. It also has a built-in nylon padded handle as well as a belt loop that can fit a belt up to 2.5 inches thick. And all of this comes at an affordable price point, making it an option worth considering.

Is the CLC 12-pocket pouch perfect? No, it has some downfalls. For one, it will not stand up on its own, despite the product pictures. It’s also not comfortable on a belt, since it’s designed to be attached to a hook-and-loop padded belt system. However, it holds quite a few tools, though the interior tool holders are really only a 1.5-inch strap stitched into the pouch and not actually sleeves or pockets to keep tools more secure. But overall, it’s a nice-quality tool belt for the price, even if it could benefit from some design changes.

Product Specs 

• Type: Pouch
• Number of pockets: 7 pockets, 10 tool holders
• Materials: Polyester
• Size(s): N/A

Pros

• Lots of storage, and can even handle a meter in 1 of the divided main pockets
• Durable nylon construction with a reinforced bottom for durability and sharp tool protection
• It’s an affordable option for folks who’d rather save a bit on their electrician tool pouch

Cons

• It will not stand up on its own despite the product pictures
• Pretty uncomfortable on a standard work belt; designed for a hook-and-loop padded belt system

Get the CLC electrician’s tool belt at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or Acme Tools.