5 Best Hose Clamp Pliers 2023 – Reviews & Guide

Hose clamps can be a pain if you don’t have the right tools. If you try to do jobs on motors without these tools, it ends up taking more time than necessary. Or you can damage a hose clamp, which turns an easy job into an expensive job.

It’s important to get the right tool for the job, but it’s also important that you get it at a great price, and that you don’t end up with one that doesn’t last. It can be hard to figure out which tools will live up to your expectations when shopping online.

Our reviews cover the best and worst parts of each model. With that information in mind, you’ll be able to find the right tool for you at a great price.

A Glance at the Winners of 2023

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Astro Pneumatic Tool	Large capacity Great durability No cable stretch	CHECK PRICE
		Drake Off Road Cable-Type	Flexible cable Can lock clamp Works well with large and small clamps	CHECK PRICE
		BETOOLL Set 9pcs	Good ergonomics Includes tools for very small clamps Includes flexible and regular pliers	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Mainpoint	Great price Locks closed Angled for tight spaces	CHECK PRICE
		8MILELAKE Flexible	Locks in place Inexpensive	CHECK PRICE

The 5 Best Hose Clamp Pliers

1. Astro Pneumatic Tool Hose Clamp Pliers – Best Overall

The Astro Pneumatic Tool 9409A Hose Clamp Pliers are the best hose clamp pliers on the market today. They come with a large capacity, so they’ll do just fine with almost any hose clamps. This model has no noticeable cable stretch, so it will last far longer than competing models. It also has a fine-adjustment knob, which allows you to get a little more or less force when needed.

This is one of the most durable products out there, so if you’re looking for a tool that will last for years of heavy use, you’ll be happy with how this one performs. The price isn’t terrible either, so you won’t be out an arm and a leg when you buy it. The one downside is that it requires more force to operate than many models, so some people will need to use two hands to squeeze it. However, there aren’t any reports of people who can’t get the job done, even if they have to use two hands. Overall, this is the model people are most likely to be satisfied with.

2. Drake Off Road Cable-Type Pliers

There is a lot to like about the Drake Off Road Cable-Type Hose Clamp Pliers, our runner up pick for the best hose clamp pliers. They can lock open or closed, so you’ll be able to set them down and use both hands on the task you need to finish. They also come with a noticeably more flexible cable than most models on our list. If you know you’ll need to access many hard-to-reach clamps, this is probably the right model for you on that factor alone. This tool’s range isn’t as large as that of our top model, but it does work reasonably well with both large and small clamps.

This tool has excellent quality on the whole, and you should expect it to last for years, even if you use it a lot. What ultimately keeps it out of the top spot is its coarse ratchet teeth. The large spaces between set points can make it so that this tool doesn’t have a tight grip when locked, and hose clamps can sometimes spring loose. That’s a big pain, though you can compensate for it. Overall, this is still a good model for the price.

3. BETOOLL 9pcs Hose Clamp Plier Set

The BETOOLL 9pcs Hose-Clamp Pliers Set includes a wide variety of tools that will help users get the job done, no matter how obscure. It comes with a flexible pair of pliers, which is good for getting into tight spaces, and a variety of standard pliers, each customized to pair perfectly with a particular type of hose clamp. Most pliers on our list are going to struggle with the smallest hose clamps, but this set comes with tools that can open and close even the smallest models. This set also has excellent ergonomics, which you’ll really value if you end up using them frequently.

However, this set has more tools than most people will ultimately need. You won’t find a huge variety of hose clamp types on a single model, so you’re not going to use all these tools unless you work on a lot of different vehicles. Also troublesome is the fact that these tools aren’t professional-grade. They don’t hold up to heavy use, so professionals won’t find that this set lives up to their expectations. Ultimately, that makes this set poor value, despite its good utility.

4. Mainpoint Hose-Clamp Plier – Best Value

The Mainpoint Hose Clamp Pliers aren’t a fancy flexible pair of hose clamp pliers, but that doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t consider them. This model comes with an angled nose, which makes it easier to use than most non-flexible pliers. This means you can get into spaces you couldn’t normally access with typical pliers. It also locks closed and open, so you can free up your hands to work on the tubing. Plus, it has the lowest price on our list, which makes it the best overall deal for the money.

However, many people will be disappointed that this isn’t a flexible pair. Theoretically, you could get a flexible pair at this price point, though few in the market seem to want to at this time. These are also designed for use on European-style hose clamps. There’s a chance they’ll work on American or Asian-designed models, but they won’t work on everything. They could still be right for the model you’re working on, but they definitely won’t be right for all buyers. Overall, they’re a good deal for the price, especially if you know you need a European model.

5. 8MILELAKE Flexible Pliers

The 8MILELAKE Flexible Hose-Clamp-Plier comes at a price many people will suspect is too good to be true, and that turns out to be the case. The best thing about this model is that it’s cheap, as far as flexible models go. If you’re looking to save money, it’s easy to see why you might choose it. It also comes with a lock, so you can free up your hands to work while leaving these pliers engaged.

However, this tool has some serious problems that will render it a horrible deal for most people. It has extremely poor durability. Many users report that it broke on the first or second use, which tools should never do. It doesn’t have great force, so it’s impossible to open or close more resistant hose clamps. Finally, it has a relatively short cable, so you won’t be able to do all the jobs with this model that you could get done with another. Overall, this model has some potential due to its low price, but the poor quality and substandard operation mean it will leave most people frustrated.

Buyer’s Guide – Picking the Best Hose Clamp Pliers

The most important decision when shopping for hose clamp pliers is whether you want to invest in a flexible or standard model.

Flexible models are better for situations where the hose clamps are awkwardly situated, or where you’d like to have free hands to work on the project. However, they tend to be more expensive. They also have more moving parts, so they are more generally prone to breakdowns.

Standard models are great when you know what kind of hose clamps you’ll be working with, as you can get a model that specifically matches those clamps. In some situations, you won’t be able to get to the hose clamps easily with a standard pair. However, most hose clamps will be accessible, though you may have to bloody your knuckles a little to get the pliers in position.

Other types of pliers that we’ve reviewed:

• Slip-joint pliers
• Snap ring pliers
• Pliers sets

Conclusion

The Astro Pneumatic Tool 9409A Hose Clamp Pliers is our pick for the best hose clamp pliers due to its large capacity, lack of cable stretch, and fine-adjustment knob. In second is the Drake Off Road Cable-Type Hose Clamp Pliers, which come with a flexible cable, compatibility with large and small clamps, and a locking function, though the coarse ratchet teeth keep them out of first place. The BETOOLL 9pcs Hose-Clamp Pliers Set includes multiple different tools and good ergonomics, but its poor durability keeps it out of the top two. In fourth, the Mainpoint Hose Clamp Pliers are angled for tight spaces and easily lock closed to free up your hands, and their great price makes them the best overall choice for the money on our list. The 8MILELAKE Flexible Hose-Clamp-Plier is inexpensive, but its poor durability, lack of high-end force, and relatively short cable mean it can rise no higher than the last place on our list.

We hope that our reviews and buyer’s guide have helped you better understand hose clamp pliers and find the right model for you.