The 6 Best Exhaust Pipe Cutters
Updated by · How we research
Chain, ratcheting and rotary exhaust cutters compared by pipe size, stainless ability and working room. The OEMTOOLS 27045 is the best all-round pick. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A chain-style exhaust cutter can make a clean, square cut under a car in a space too tight for a saw, but most are built for thin mild-steel pipe and bog down on stainless or double-wall tubing. This guide is for home mechanics and shop techs swapping mufflers, tailpipes and converter sections, from small sedans to big diesel trucks.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The OEMTOOLS 27045 keeps the top spot. It's still the simplest way to cut exhaust pipe in a tight spot, and it's easy to find. Most of the old list had gone: the ABN Tool and Stanley Proto cutters are unavailable, the Black & Decker 20V Max listing is gone, and the Ares 15009 link now leads to a pipe expander. We dropped the Sealey Ratcheting cutter because the JEGS 555-80696 does the same job for far less.
The new picks follow what readers search for: a cutter that handles stainless, one for big diesel pipe, a cheap chain tool for a one-time muffler swap and a bench cutter for square ends. The GearWrench 2031DD stays on merit, though it had no seller when we checked. A common search is for cutting out a catalytic converter, so the buyer's guide now spells out the EPA's rules on replacing one. The rankings rest on the size ranges and wall limits the makers print, mechanics' forum threads about which tool to use, and owner feedback.
November 14, 2020:
Due to repeated complaints about its durability and effectiveness, we removed the Lisle Cutoff Tool from our list. We also found that the Grip-On 10-Inch lacked the quality and precision necessary for a good exhaust pipe cutter, and removed it as well.
We added the Sealey Ratcheting, an expensive, but high-quality model. It probably wouldn’t make sense for the casual user to spend so much on a specialized tool like this, but if you’re a professional and do a lot of exhaust pipe cutting, the Sealey Ratcheting could be a great investment.
We also added the ABN Tool, which is a similar style to a few of our other picks, but at a considerably lower price. It doesn’t appear to be noticeably inferior, so if your budget is tight, it could be a great choice.
If your cutting work isn't going to be limited to exhaust pipes, and want a tool that’s a bit more functional, these regular pipe cutters might be a better bet.
Regardless of which option you choose, make sure to follow the proper safety protocols when handling and operating a pipe cutter. Their sharp blades may be small, but they can cause serious injury if grabbed or handled incorrectly.
September 05, 2019:
Although you probably won’t find one in an automotive tool set, an exhaust pipe cutter is a convenient implement for those who often work on cars or trucks. We’ve looked for models with adequate strength and simple usability, ultimately keeping the OEM Tools Tailpipe Cutter and GearWrench 2031DD as top picks. We’ve also added the Stanley Proto thanks to its hand-ratcheting mechanism, but it’s quite a bit more expensive than the former two, so it might be best for professional use. After some consideration, we have also opted to add a reciprocating saw, the Black & Decker 20V Max. We suggest that this be left to those with experience in both exhaust modification and power tools, however, because the potential for damage and/or uneven results is greater than with a chain-style cutter. And as with any other selection, be sure to wear the proper safety gear.
Special Honors
Milwaukee M12 Hackzall When pipe is too rusty, too thick or stainless, a compact reciprocating saw is often the faster answer. Milwaukee's M12 Hackzall is small and light enough to run one-handed under a car, with a variable-speed trigger and a tool-free blade clamp. It's sold as a bare tool, so you'll need an M12 battery and charger. milwaukeetool.com
Chain, Ratchet Or Rotary: Pick The Cutter For The Space
Most pliers-style chain cutters, like the OEMTOOLS and GearWrench models, cover pipe from about three-quarters of an inch to just over 3 inches.
Where the pipe sits decides the tool. A chain cutter wraps a loop of small hardened wheels around the pipe. You squeeze the handles to bite in, then rock the tool back and forth until the wheels cut through. It needs only a little room around the pipe, which is why it's the standard tool for cutting a muffler or tailpipe off a car. Most pliers-style chain cutters, like the OEMTOOLS and GearWrench models, cover pipe from about three-quarters of an inch to just over 3 inches. For truck pipe, Powerbuilt's single-handle cutter takes pipe from 3-1/2 to 6 inches, but it needs two hands and room to crank.
A ratcheting cutter uses a C-shaped head with one cutting wheel that walks around the tube in short strokes. It's slower to set up but handles harder metal, and it fits where a chain tool's handles can't swing. A rotary cutter, the kind plumbers use, gives the squarest end, but it has to travel all the way around the pipe, so it's a bench tool for new pipe rather than an under-car tool.
Whichever you pick, put a drop of oil on the wheels before each cut, tighten a little at a time and keep the tool square to the pipe. A cut that wanders makes clamps and slip joints leak.
Stainless, Double-Wall And Rusty Pipe
Chain cutters are made for thin mild-steel exhaust pipe, and they struggle with anything tougher. GearWrench states that its cutter won't handle double-wall pipe, and a mechanics' roundup notes the same limit along with the need to keep the wheels oiled. On stainless pipe, chain wheels dull quickly. A ratcheting cutter rated for stainless, like the JEGS 555-80696, or a saw is the better tool.
Old, rusty pipe is its own problem. The outside crust dulls wheels, and a thin, rotted wall can crush instead of cutting cleanly. Many mechanics just cut rusted sections out with a reciprocating saw and a metal-cutting blade, then clean up the end that stays on the car with a file. A compact cordless saw such as the Milwaukee M12 Hackzall fits in tight spots under a car, but saws throw sparks and are much louder than a hand cutter.
If the job is a single clean cut in good pipe, a chain or ratcheting cutter is quieter and leaves a neater edge. If it's a long, rusty system coming off in pieces, a saw is usually faster.
Catalytic Converters, The Law And Working Safely
Cutting a catalytic converter out is legal only when you're putting a proper replacement back in. The EPA's answers on vehicle emissions tampering say removing or disabling emissions equipment is tampering under the Clean Air Act, and its exhaust repair policy sets out when a replacement converter is allowed. Straight-piping a car is illegal, and some states, including California, add their own rules on which replacement converters are legal.
For safety, let the exhaust cool completely before you start. Support the vehicle on jack stands, never on a jack alone. Wear eye protection, since rust and scale fall as you cut, and wear gloves, because freshly cut pipe edges are sharp. Keep saws and grinders well away from fuel lines and the tank, and have a fire extinguisher close by when sparks are flying. Hand cutters make no sparks, which is one reason many people prefer them near the tank.
How we researched this
We compared 16 exhaust cutters and related tools, including chain, ratcheting and rotary designs, and read the makers' specs and package text for the six finalists. We read mechanics' forum threads and a tool roundup, analyzed owner feedback, read the EPA's guidance on converter replacement, and checked each brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. We found no independent lab tests of exhaust cutters.
Sources (7)
- EPA: frequent questions related to transportation air pollution
- EPA: exhaust system repair policy (PDF)
- Powerbuilt: 6-inch tail pipe cutter
- Milwaukee Tool: M12 Hackzall 2420-20
- Position Is Everything: best way to cut exhaust pipe
- Reddit r/MechanicAdvice: best tool to cut exhaust
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: recalls
Frequently asked questions
Can an exhaust pipe cutter cut stainless steel?
Most chain cutters struggle with stainless and dull quickly on it. Use a ratcheting cutter rated for stainless, like the JEGS 555-80696, or a reciprocating saw with a metal-cutting blade.
What's the best tool for cutting out a catalytic converter?
If the converter bolts in, unbolt it. If it's welded in, a chain cutter or a compact reciprocating saw cuts the pipe on either side. Remove one only to install an approved replacement; removing it without one is tampering under the Clean Air Act.
Is there an electric exhaust pipe cutter?
Not as such. The usual powered options are a cordless reciprocating saw or an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel. Both are faster than a hand cutter, but they're louder and throw sparks, so keep them away from fuel lines.
Which blades work best for cutting exhaust pipe with a saw?
Use a bi-metal blade made for metal, with fine teeth, so at least two or three teeth touch the thin pipe wall at once. Carbide-tipped blades last longer on stainless and thick, rusty pipe.
How do I cut a 5-inch exhaust pipe?
Most chain cutters stop around 3 inches. For bigger pipe, use a large single-handle chain cutter like the Powerbuilt 940538, which reaches 6 inches, or a reciprocating saw.
How do I cut exhaust pipe without a saw?
Use a chain cutter under the car or a rotary pipe cutter on the bench. Both work by hand, make no sparks and leave a cleaner edge than most saws.
