Starter kit: what the first paid job needs
An electrician's kit is mostly hand tools and testers, plus the bending and pulling gear for the work you take on. Test before you touch, every time.
| Item | Why you need it | Price on the maker's site |
|---|---|---|
| Lineman's pliers, diagonal cutters and needle-nose pliers | Daily cutting and twisting | Varies by brand |
| Wire strippers sized for the wire you use most | Clean strips without nicking copper | Varies by brand |
| Insulated screwdrivers and nut drivers | Devices, panels and covers | Varies by brand |
| Non-contact voltage tester | A quick check before you open a box | $45 (Fluke 1AC II non-contact voltage tester, Fluke) |
| Multimeter | Voltage, continuity and troubleshooting | $305 (Fluke 117 multimeter, Fluke) |
| Clamp meter | Load and current checks | $208 (Fluke 323 clamp meter, Fluke) |
| Fish tape and glow rods | Pulling through walls and conduit | Varies by brand |
| Cordless drill, impact driver and a hole saw kit | Boxes, studs and joists | Varies by brand |
| Step ladder, fiberglass | Non-conductive and stable | $229 (Little Giant King Kombo 6 ft fiberglass Pro bundle, Little Giant) |
| Voltage tester with continuity, for lockout checks | Proving dead before work | $237 (Fluke T6-1000 electrical tester, Fluke) |
Pro kit: what a busy shop adds
Add these when the calendar is full and the starter kit is slowing you down. Most electricians buy them one at a time, when a job pays for one.
| Item | Why it pays | Price on the maker's site |
|---|---|---|
| Conduit bender and a reaming tool | EMT runs in basements and garages | Varies by brand |
| Right-angle drill and auger bits | Running cable through framing fast | Varies by brand |
| Circuit tracer or breaker finder | Finding the right breaker on old panels | Varies by brand |
| Cable puller or wire pulling lube and grips | Long or heavy pulls | Varies by brand |
| Multi-position ladder | Stairwells and uneven floors | $535 (Little Giant Revolution 2.0, Model 17, Little Giant) |
| Label maker | Panel directories that pass inspection | Varies by brand |
Van stock: what you restock every week
Parts and supplies that let you finish on the first visit. Keep a short list on your phone and restock on the same day each week.
- Receptacles, switches, GFCI and AFCI devices. Most service calls.
- Old-work and new-work boxes. Adding outlets and lights.
- Romex in the common gauges. Short runs and repairs.
- Wire nuts, connectors and staples. Every job.
- Breakers for the panels you see most. Same-day panel fixes.
- Cover plates and blank covers. Finishing the job clean.
What a electrical kit costs
The 5 starter kit items we could price add up to $1,024 at the maker's listed price, out of 10 on the list. The rest vary too much by brand and size to give one honest number, so price them with your supplier.
The 1 pro kit items we could price add up to $535 at the maker's listed price, out of 6 on the list. The rest vary too much by brand and size to give one honest number, so price them with your supplier.
Testers and hand tools are a small share. The van, ladders and the bending and pulling gear for service upgrades swing the total most.
Prices are the ones shown on each maker's own site on the date in the sources. Dealers and sales change them, so treat them as a starting point.
Where to buy it
Most electricians buy hand tools and small parts wherever is closest, and set up a trade account for the items they buy every week. Our electrical suppliers list names the distributors and pro programs for this trade, and the Home Depot Pro vs Lowe's Pro page compares the two big-box programs row by row.
With Koira: the office side of the kit
The kit gets you to the job. Koira runs the rest: estimates with signing and deposits, invoices and card payments and your day plan, all on the free Office plan. Start with the electrical services list to set your prices.
Sources
- Fluke: Fluke 1AC II non-contact voltage tester, checked October 9, 2026
- Fluke: Fluke 117 multimeter, checked October 9, 2026
- Fluke: Fluke 323 clamp meter, checked October 9, 2026
- Little Giant: Little Giant King Kombo 6 ft fiberglass Pro bundle, checked October 9, 2026
- Fluke: Fluke T6-1000 electrical tester, checked October 9, 2026
- Little Giant: Little Giant Revolution 2.0, Model 17, checked October 9, 2026
- Insureon: Insurance cost for electricians, checked October 9, 2026
Last checked October 9, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.