Best RJ45 Crimpers 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

Wire crimpers are not only for professionals on construction sites who work with network connections, but they’re also useful for homeowners. To save you time searching for good products and comparing them, we compiled a list of five reviews highlighting their features.

Examining several high-quality products is important, but what’s more important is knowing which features to look out for. That’s why this article contains a buyer’s guide, which will help you determine the features a product needs to do the job you require.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Klein Tools VDV226-011-SEN All-in-One Cable Crimper	Sturdy Good safety mechanism	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		TRENDnet TC-CT68 Crimping Tool	Affordable Ratchet mechanism for safety Perfect for DIYers	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Platinum Tools 100054C Clamshell Crimp Tool	Durable Delivers great results Professionally used	CHECK PRICE
		UbiGear Network/Phone Cable Crimp Crimper	Versatile kit Affordable	CHECK PRICE
		WORKPRO RJ45 Crimping Tool Kit	Durable Affordable	CHECK PRICE

The 5 Best RJ45 Crimpers 

1. Klein Tools All-in-One Cable Crimper – Best Overall

Klein Tools crimper has an ergonomic grip and sturdy steel construction. It works well with flat-satin phone cables and round STP/UTP. The high-carbon steel crimping dies provide modular-crimp connector installation for data and voice applications.

Klein Tools Cable Crimper is suitable for Twisted Pair, RJ45, and Ethernet cables, though you shouldn’t use it with AMP connectors. It works well on 4, 6, and 8-position modular connectors. You’re less likely to get injured with this tool because of the ratchet safety release and the blade guard on the cutting knives. The full-cycle ratchet mechanism prevents the connector from releasing before full compression.

This tool is 7.5 inches long and weighs 11 ounces, so it’s light and compact, and Klein Tools used yellow and black grips so that you can easily identify the tool. One of the drawbacks of the VDV226-011-SEN All-in-One Cable Crimper is that the ratchet sometimes gets stuck. After comparing this product to the rest on the list, we found that it was the best overall RJ45 crimping tool.

2. TRENDnet TC-CT68 Crimping Tool – Best Value

This crimping tool from TRENDnet is geared toward homeowners who don’t want to splurge on fancy tools. It works great with Ethernet and telephone cables, and it’s easy to use and convenient. The TRENDnet tool is great at stripping, cutting, and crimping cables for 6 and 8-position modular plugs.

It’s made from steel, so it will last if you take good care of it. The handles are comfortable, and it’s 10 inches long and weighs only 11 ounces, so it’s light and compact. The ratchet mechanism allows you to close the tool when not in use. Besides the fact that it’s affordable, TC-CT68 also comes with a 1-year warranty. Just ensure that the ratchet mechanism doesn’t get in the way while you’re crimping.

The features of this tool and its price make it a great product for DIYers. After we compared TRENDnet’s crimper to the rest on the list, we decided it was the best RJ45 for the money.

3. Platinum Tools Clamshell Crimp Tool – Premium Choice

If you don’t mind splurging a bit to get a premium tool, the Platinum Tools Clamshell crimp has features to justify the price. The patented crimp and trim system works well at flushing trims on extended conductors for all EZ Connectors. It has a ratcheted, high-leverage platform that helps you get consistent terminations, and the steel die head assembly has 360-degree connector support.

Professionals will like this tool, especially its built-in cutter and stripper for flat and round cables. It works great on large OD cables that can be challenging to terminate because of the thicker insulation and wire gauges. Platinum Tools made the 100054C compatible with EZ-RJ45 and EZ-RJ12/11 connectors but not AMP.

It’s 10 inches long and weighs 16 ounces, so it’s slightly heavier than the other crimpers on the list. This is a high-quality crimper, but you must pay a higher price for the specialized performance.

4. UbiGear Network/Phone Cable Crimp Crimper

This is a kit, so UbiGear included a cable tester with RJ45/RJ11/RJ12 but didn’t include a battery or a charger. It shows you LED lights flashing in rotation after correctly connecting all the wires. The kit also includes a wire stripper and 100 modular plugs. The crimper works on RJ11/RJ12/RJ22/RJ45 and is 9 inches long.

The cable tests correspondingly double-twisted cables and can determine if the connection is wrong and if it’s an open or short circuit. The remote tester can test remote cables up to 1,000 feet in length. UbiGear has included a leather case as part of the kit but hasn’t included two AAA batteries.

The appealing feature of this kit is the price. It’s affordable and comes with several handy tools. However, UbiGear didn’t use high-quality materials to make the product.

5. WORKPRO RJ45 Crimping Tool Kit

You can use the Workpro RJ45 for Ethernet and telephone plugs. It’s compatible with RJ11 and RJ45 connectors and works well for crimping, cutting, and stripping jobs. The Workpro crimper has an ergonomic handle, which is comfortable and won’t slip out of your hands because of the Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) and ABS wrapping.

The kit includes a mini wire stripper that provides good stripping and functions as a wire winder. The RJ45 crimper is made from thickened cold-rolled steel, so you can count on it to last a long time if you take care of it. The ratchet mechanism protects plugs by controlling different terminations, and the crimper is light because it’s only 9 inches long and weighs 15 ounces.

The kit consists of the crimper, 20 RJ45 connectors, 10 RJ11 connectors, and a mini wire stripper for a reasonable price. It’s just a pity that it’s not suitable for more connectors.

Buyer’s Guide – How to Purchase the Best RJ45 Crimpers

Knowing which products are the most prominent on the market is important, but you must also know the important features when choosing a crimper for specific jobs.

Types of Crimpers

Handheld

These are used for smaller wires, but the premium products can tackle thick wires. You can use some of the models to strip and cut.

Hydraulic

You can apply more pressure with hydraulic crimpers than with handheld ones. They can be used on thick wires, but they tend to be more expensive than handheld models. The other cost that you’ll incur with hydraulic crimpers is maintenance.

Periodically, you must change the oil and oil filter to ensure the hydraulics do not clog up. The other check you’ll have to do is to ensure no air or dust is inside.

Hammer

Most hammer crimpers are compact and affordable. They can also crimp various wires, and you can crimp a range of wire sizes after adjusting the height of the movable wedge. The issue with hammer crimpers is that you have to make several strikes on a thick wire. That means it will be more time-consuming, and you will exert more energy.

Connections

The three most important connections that your RJ45 crimper should be compatible with are the 4, 6, and 8 positions. There are other positions that your crimper should be compatible with, but those should be the very least. Before, an RJ45 cable was only used for telephone connections, but technological advancements have resulted in category five and six connections.

Use

Depending on whether you’re a DIYer or a professional will determine what kind of crimper you choose. If you need it for telephone lines around the house, you can buy a simple crimper. Professionals dealing with large OD cables that can be challenging to terminate because of the thicker insulation and wire gauges use premium tools.

Choosing a crimper that can strip, crimp, and cut cables is ideal, and several crimpers are produced for homeowners that can perform all those functions. So, multifunction crimpers are the best option and can be found for an affordable price.

Durability

A product made from thickened, cold-rolled steel is usually the best option. It’s essential that the crimper you buy is sturdy so that you can get consistent results over a long period and don’t have to replace the tool frequently. The connector die and handle should be durable. The thickness of the crimper should also be balanced with the weight to ensure that it’s not too heavy so you can use it for prolonged periods.

Indent vs. Compression

In most cases, you’ll use an indent-style crimp for crimping fine-stranded and compacted conductors. If you choose indent crimping, you can use a simple handheld crimper to get the job done.

With compression crimping, it applies the force consistently from all directions. It’s also effective at preventing conductor damage. Compression crimping is the industry norm if you work with aluminum and copper cables. The vital thing aspect of compression crimping is to match the crimping dies with the materials and dimensions.

Other Useful Reviews:

• More wire crimping tools
• Wire strippers
• Wire cutters

Conclusion

Our reviews have highlighted all the features of the five products. To make your search even easier, we’ll review the products we felt were suitable for specific situations. After comparing the products and their features, we decided that the Klein Tools VDV226-011-SEN All-in-One Cable Crimper was the best overall product. It stood out from the pack. A crimper with great features is essential, but the price must justify the features. We found that TRENDnet TC-CT68 Crimping Tool was the best RJ45 for the money. If you want a premium product, the Platinum Tools 100054C Clamshell Crimp Tool is ideal.

Featured Image: Klein Tools All-in-One Cable Crimper, Amazon