5 Pipe Cutters Compared (2026) — Types, Documented Capacities and Materials

Please note: Product availability and information are based on our research at time of writing and are subject to change. Always check Amazon for the latest details before purchasing. Our assessments are research-based: we compared RIDGID’s product pages, ordering tables and warranty terms and the Amazon listings, read and captured on 12 October 2026, and we have not cut pipe with these tools or tested the quality of their cuts. One of the five tools is documented only by its listing, and we say so.

Introduction

A pipe cutter is chosen by the pipe: its outside diameter, its material, and how much room there is around it. Rotary tubing cutters score and part metal tubing with a wheel as you turn the tool around the pipe; ratchet cutters shear plastic pipe with a blade; and close-quarters cutters are small rotary cutters for places a full-size body will not swing. This roundup covers five tools with five different roles: a close-quarters cutter with a manual feed screw, a standard screw-feed cutter with a reamer, a close-quarters cutter with RIDGID’s AUTOFEED wheel and a detachable ratchet handle, a multi-size set with a deburring tool, and a ratchet blade cutter for plastic. Every capacity and material statement below comes from RIDGID’s product pages and ordering tables for the four RIDGID tools or, for the TOLESA set, from the Amazon listing captured on 12 October 2026, and we say which. If you are not sure what pipe you have, start with our pipe material identification guide; for plastic drain pipe see PVC pipe cutters, and for a leak that needs a repair rather than a new section, pipe repair kits.

We do not rank these tools, assign star ratings, report buyer demand or infer stock or price from a product page, and we make no claims about cut quality, durability or precision, which are the makers’ descriptions. The Check Price buttons keep the article’s owner-approved Amazon links so you can inspect the current seller, selected variant and offer yourself. Two of the five pages sell more than one size or set; each link selects one specific version, named in its entry.

Quick Comparison: Type, Capacity and Materials

The table gives each tool’s type, documented capacity and the materials its source names, with the source under each entry. The four RIDGID capacities are RIDGID’s ordering-table figures; the TOLESA figures are the listing’s. The Check Price links are the article’s owner-approved Amazon links; each selects one specific version, so check the selection before you order. Offers and sellers change.

Full Reviews — 5 Pipe Cutters

Each entry gives the documented type, capacity and materials with the source named, followed by the product box with the owner-approved Amazon link. Where a figure comes from the listing rather than the maker, the entry says so. None of the entries reports a test, a measured cut, a price, a stock status or a sales figure.

1. RIDGID 40617 Model 101 Close Quarters Tubing Cutter, 1/4 to 1-1/8 in — Close-Quarters, Manual Feed

Close-quarters, manual feed

RIDGID’s Close Quarters Tubing Cutters page (RIDGID product page) lists catalog 40617, Model 101, with an E-3469 standard wheel and a 1/4 to 1-1/8 in (6 to 28 mm) capacity, and describes the family as designed for restricted spaces on small-diameter hard and soft copper, aluminum, brass and plastic tubing, with a strong, lightweight slide and wheel housing and a large knurled feed-screw knob for control of cutting pressure. The page adds that the rollers on models 101, 101J and 118 are grooved for close-to-flare cuts, that a ratchet handle (catalog 32933) is sold separately for the 101 and 118, and that the family carries RIDGID’s full lifetime warranty. The Amazon listing identifies part number 40617, Model 101, and its bullets repeat the 1/4 to 1-1/8 in capacity and the copper, aluminum, brass and plastic materials, with a spare cutter wheel.

This is the plain close-quarters cutter: you tighten the knob a little after each turn around the tube. It has the same capacity and the same documented metals as the Model 118 in entry 3, which RIDGID lists in the same close-quarters family with an AUTOFEED wheel and a ratchet handle added; RIDGID’s pages give no dimensions, so we make no claim about their relative size. RIDGID’s full lifetime warranty (warranty terms) covers defects in workmanship and material for the life of the tool, with repair or replacement at RIDGID’s option, and excludes misuse, abuse and normal wear and tear. Cut quality and durability are RIDGID’s descriptions, not results we measured.

RIDGID

RIDGID 40617 Model 101 Close Quarters Tubing Cutter, 1/4 to 1-1/8 in

Best for: Close-quarters, manual feed

RIDGID's Model 101 is a close-quarters tubing cutter for 1/4 to 1-1/8 in (6 to 28 mm) OD tubing per RIDGID's ordering table, documented by RIDGID for hard and soft copper, aluminum, brass and plastic tubing, with a knurled feed-screw knob and RIDGID's full lifetime warranty against defects.

View on Amazon

---

Pros and Cons ▾ tap to expand

✓ Pros
• Compact body for restricted spaces, per RIDGID
• Documented for hard and soft copper, aluminum, brass and plastic tubing, 1/4 to 1-1/8 in OD, per RIDGID
• Rollers grooved for close-to-flare cuts; spare E-3469 wheel listed, per RIDGID and the listing

✗ Cons
• Manual feed: the knob is tightened after each turn, unlike the AUTOFEED Model 118
• Same capacity and documented metals as the Model 118 in this lineup; the 118 adds AUTOFEED and a ratchet handle
• RIDGID's warranty covers defects in workmanship and material, not misuse, abuse or normal wear

2. RIDGID 32920 Model 15 Screw Feed Tubing Cutter, 3/16 to 1-1/8 in — Standard Screw-Feed Cutter

Standard screw-feed cutter

RIDGID’s Screw Feed Tubing Cutters page (RIDGID product page) lists catalog 32920, the #15 Screw Feed Tubing and Conduit Cutter, and describes the family as making clean, square cuts on copper, brass, aluminum and thin-wall steel, with the larger X-CEL knob and, on models 10, 15 and 20, a fold-away reamer, under RIDGID’s full lifetime warranty. RIDGID’s ordering table on the same page lists catalog 32920 as the #15 Screw Feed Tubing and Conduit Cutter with an F-158 standard wheel and a 3/16 to 1-1/8 in (5 to 28 mm) capacity; the Amazon listing repeats the capacity, the materials, the X-CEL knob, the reamer and the warranty.

This is the full-size tubing cutter of the group: a longer body that needs room to swing around the pipe, a feed screw you advance as you turn, and a built-in reamer for the inside burr a wheel cutter leaves. It is the only cutter here that RIDGID documents for thin-wall steel, and it is not documented for plastic. The Amazon page also offers a larger-capacity version; the article’s link selects the Model 15. RIDGID’s full lifetime warranty covers defects in workmanship and material for the life of the tool and excludes misuse, abuse and normal wear and tear. Cut quality is RIDGID’s description, not a result we measured.

RIDGID

RIDGID 32920 Model 15 Screw Feed Tubing Cutter, 3/16 to 1-1/8 in

Best for: Standard screw-feed cutter

RIDGID's Model 15 is a screw-feed tubing cutter with a 3/16 to 1-1/8 in (5 to 28 mm) capacity per RIDGID's ordering table, documented by RIDGID for copper, brass, aluminum and thin-wall steel, with the X-CEL knob and a fold-away reamer.

View on Amazon

---

Pros and Cons ▾ tap to expand

✓ Pros
• Documented by RIDGID for copper, brass, aluminum and thin-wall steel
• X-CEL knob and fold-away reamer, per RIDGID
• Full lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and material, per RIDGID's terms

✗ Cons
• Larger standard-cutter body than the close-quarters models here, so it needs room to swing
• Not documented for plastic pipe
• A larger-capacity version shares the Amazon page; the link selects the Model 15

3. RIDGID 32573 Model 118 2-in-1 Close Quarters AUTOFEED Cutter with Ratchet Handle, 1/4 to 1-1/8 in — Close-Quarters with AUTOFEED and Ratchet Handle

Close-quarters with AUTOFEED and ratchet handle

RIDGID’s 2-in-1 Close Quarters AUTOFEED Cutter page (RIDGID product page) defines the term: the Model 118 close-quarters cutter is sold with a detachable ratchet handle, so “the cutter can be used alone or with the ratchet handle”, which attaches to the cutter and works in ratchet steps as small as 10 degrees for fine indexing in restricted spaces. The cutter’s AUTOFEED wheel means the knob “only needs to be tightened once”; the tool adjusts to any size from 1/4 to 1-1/8 in (6 to 28 mm) OD; RIDGID documents it for hard and soft copper, aluminum and brass; a spare E-3469 wheel is stored in the knob; and the handle is also compatible with the Model 101. RIDGID’s ordering table lists catalog 32573 as “118 2-In-1 Close Quarters Quick-Feed Cutter with Ratchet Handle” beside 86127, the same Model 118 without the handle. The Amazon listing identifies part number 32573, Model 118.

So “2-in-1” does not mean two kinds of cut or a second material: it is one close-quarters cutter plus a ratchet handle, and the cutter alone is the Model 118. Against the Model 101 in entry 1 it offers the same capacity and the same documented metals, with two additions: the AUTOFEED wheel, which removes the tighten-after-every-turn step, and the handle, which turns the cutter in short strokes where a full rotation of the hand is not possible. RIDGID’s page for this model names copper, aluminum and brass but not plastic. The ratcheting steps and ease of use are RIDGID’s descriptions, not results we measured.

RIDGID

RIDGID 32573 Model 118 2-in-1 Close Quarters AUTOFEED Cutter with Ratchet Handle, 1/4 to 1-1/8 in

Best for: Close-quarters with AUTOFEED and ratchet handle

RIDGID's 2-in-1 is the Model 118 close-quarters cutter with AUTOFEED (the knob is tightened once) sold together with a detachable ratchet handle, so it can be used alone or with the handle in ratchet steps as small as 10 degrees; 1/4 to 1-1/8 in OD, for hard and soft copper, aluminum and brass, per RIDGID.

View on Amazon

---

Pros and Cons ▾ tap to expand

✓ Pros
• 2-in-1 per RIDGID: the cutter works alone or with the supplied ratchet handle for tight spaces
• AUTOFEED wheel: tighten the knob once and keep turning, per RIDGID
• Spare E-3469 cutter wheel stored in the knob, per RIDGID

✗ Cons
• Same capacity and documented metals as the Model 101 here; the difference is AUTOFEED and the ratchet handle
• RIDGID documents copper, aluminum and brass for this model, not plastic
• The listing's own bullets are sparse; identity rests on the model and catalog numbers

4. TOLESA T1PC02 Pipe Cutter Set, 3/16 to 2 in Cutter with 1/8 to 3/4 in Mini Cutter, Deburring Tool and Reamer — Multi-Size Set with Reamer

Multi-size set with reamer

We found no manufacturer website for TOLESA, so this entry relies on the Amazon listing, which gives model number T1PC02 and describes the “1/8 to 2 in” item as a four-piece set: a heavy-duty rotary cutter for 3/16 to 2 in, a mini cutter for 1/8 to 3/4 in, a deburring tool and a pipe reamer, in an aluminum-alloy body with SKD cutter wheels and six ball-bearing rollers, used by tightening the knob and rotating the tool around the pipe, and stated for stainless steel, copper, aluminum, brass and PVC. The page also sells other size sets; the article’s link selects the 1/8 to 2 in set.

The practical point is that the 1/8 to 2 in range on the title is the combined range of two cutters, not one tool, so this entry is a kit for someone who wants a larger-capacity cutter, a small one for tight spots and the finishing tools in one purchase. Nothing here is documented by a maker: the wheel material, the listed materials and the set contents are the seller’s statements, and we have not cut anything with it.

TOLESA

TOLESA T1PC02 Pipe Cutter Set, 3/16 to 2 in Cutter with 1/8 to 3/4 in Mini Cutter, Deburring Tool and Reamer

Best for: Multi-size set with reamer

The listing describes a four-piece set rather than one cutter: a 3/16 to 2 in aluminum-alloy rotary cutter, a 1/8 to 3/4 in mini cutter, a deburring tool and a reamer, with SKD cutter wheels and a stated use on stainless steel, copper, aluminum, brass and PVC; no manufacturer document was found.

View on Amazon

---

Pros and Cons ▾ tap to expand

✓ Pros
• Two cutters covering 1/8 to 2 in between them, plus a deburring tool and reamer, per the listing
• Aluminum-alloy body with SKD cutter wheels and six ball-bearing rollers, per the listing
• Stated for stainless steel, copper, aluminum, brass and PVC, per the listing

✗ Cons
• Specifications come from the Amazon listing only; we found no manufacturer website
• The 1/8 to 2 in range is the combined range of two cutters, not one tool
• The same page sells other size sets; the link selects the 1/8 to 2 in set

5. RIDGID 23498 RC-1625 Ratchet Action Plastic Pipe and Tubing Cutter, 1/8 to 1-5/8 in — Ratchet Blade Cutter for Plastic

Ratchet blade cutter for plastic

RIDGID’s Ratchet Cutters with Ergonomic Grips page (RIDGID product page) lists catalog 23498, the RC-1625 Ratchet Action Plastic Pipe and Tubing Cutter, with an X-CEL quick-change blade (replacement 27858), a “burr-less” cutting operation that RIDGID says gives a square cut, grips on the bottom handle spaced at 1/2 in increments as a quick measuring scale, and these intended materials: plastic (PVC, CPVC, PP, PEX, PE, rubber hose) and multilayer tubing, under RIDGID’s full lifetime warranty. RIDGID’s ordering table on the same page lists catalog 23498, RC-1625, with a 1/8 to 1-5/8 in (3 to 42 mm) outside-diameter capacity; the Amazon listing repeats the capacity, materials, blade and warranty.

This is the one blade cutter in the roundup and the only tool RIDGID documents for plastic pipe by name; it is not documented for copper or other metal, so it does not replace a rotary cutter for those jobs. A ratchet cutter advances the blade a little with each squeeze, which is the mechanism RIDGID describes for a square cut without a burr; whether a given PVC or PEX cut comes out square depends on the pipe and the user, and we have not tested it. The listing shows no variants; the link selects the RC-1625. Our PVC pipe cutters review covers alternatives for plastic drain pipe.

RIDGID

RIDGID 23498 RC-1625 Ratchet Action Plastic Pipe and Tubing Cutter, 1/8 to 1-5/8 in

Best for: Ratchet blade cutter for plastic

RIDGID's RC-1625 is a ratchet-action blade cutter with a 1/8 to 1-5/8 in (3 to 42 mm) OD capacity per RIDGID's ordering table, documented by RIDGID for plastic (PVC, CPVC, PP, PEX, PE, rubber hose) and multilayer tubing, with an X-CEL quick-change blade and grips spaced at 1/2 in as a measuring scale.

View on Amazon

---

Pros and Cons ▾ tap to expand

✓ Pros
• Documented by RIDGID for PVC, CPVC, PP, PEX, PE, rubber hose and multilayer tubing
• X-CEL quick-change blade and burr-less square cut, per RIDGID
• Full lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and material, per RIDGID's terms

✗ Cons
• Not documented for copper or other metal
• Blade, not wheel: a different tool class from the rotary cutters here
• RIDGID's warranty excludes misuse, abuse and normal wear; blades are replacement parts

Pipe Cutter Buying Guide

Material decides the tool class

Rotary wheel cutters are documented by RIDGID for metal tubing: copper, brass and aluminum for all three RIDGID rotary cutters here, thin-wall steel for the Model 15 only, and plastic tubing for the Model 101 family page but not for the 2-in-1 Model 118 page. Ratchet blade cutters are documented for plastic: RIDGID names PVC, CPVC, PP, PEX, PE, rubber hose and multilayer tubing for the RC-1625 and does not name metal. If you are unsure what your pipe is, our pipe material identification guide comes first.

Capacity is an outside-diameter range

Every capacity in this article is a stated outside-diameter range: 1/4 to 1-1/8 in for the Models 101 and 118, 3/16 to 1-1/8 in for the Model 15 and 1/8 to 1-5/8 in for the RC-1625, all from RIDGID’s ordering tables, and, for the TOLESA set, 3/16 to 2 in and 1/8 to 3/4 in across two cutters, from the listing. Nominal pipe sizes are not outside diameters, so measure the pipe or check its marking before matching it to a range. Wall thickness and fittings close to the cut also matter, and none of the sources states a wall-thickness limit.

Close quarters, standard body, or ratchet handle

A close-quarters cutter (Models 101 and 118) is a short body that rotates around the tube in a space a standard cutter cannot; a standard cutter (Model 15) needs room for its handle to swing but adds a built-in reamer. RIDGID’s “2-in-1” Model 118 adds a detachable ratchet handle so the cutter can be turned in short strokes; the handle fits the Model 101 too and is also sold separately. If the two close-quarters models look alike in this lineup, that is because they have the same capacity and the same documented metals; the choice between them is manual feed against AUTOFEED and whether the handle is wanted.

Feed, deburring and reaming

A screw-feed cutter is tightened a little after each turn; an AUTOFEED wheel, per RIDGID, cuts after the knob is tightened once. A wheel cutter leaves an inside burr that should be reamed before a fitting goes on: the Model 15 carries a fold-away reamer and the TOLESA set includes a reamer and a deburring tool, per their sources; the close-quarters cutters do not. Our pipe wrench vs adjustable wrench guide explains the pipe-wrench side of a repair, and how to fix a leaking pipe covers the common next step after a cut section is removed.

Sources and what we could not verify

RIDGID publishes product pages with ordering tables for the four RIDGID tools, and those are the source for capacities, materials, mechanisms and warranty. RIDGID’s full lifetime warranty, per its terms, covers defects in workmanship and material for the life of the tool, with repair or replacement at RIDGID’s option (or a refund after three failed attempts), and does not cover misuse, abuse or normal wear and tear; hand tools are returned to the place of purchase for service. TOLESA has no documentation we could find, so its entry rests on the listing alone. We have not used any of these tools; statements about clean, square or burr-less cuts are the makers’ descriptions. Check the current seller and selected version on the page before ordering. For powered and brand-specific alternatives see our Milwaukee pipe cutters review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can one pipe cutter work on both copper and plastic pipe?

Per RIDGID, the Model 101 close-quarters family is documented for hard and soft copper, aluminum, brass and plastic tubing, so that one tool covers both in its 1/4 to 1-1/8 in range. The RC-1625 is documented for plastic only and the Model 15 and 2-in-1 Model 118 pages name metals only. The TOLESA listing names copper and PVC among others, with no maker document behind it.

Q: What does RIDGID’s “2-in-1” mean on the Model 118?

It means the Model 118 close-quarters AUTOFEED cutter is sold together with a detachable ratchet handle: the cutter can be used alone or with the handle, which works in ratchet steps as small as 10 degrees. It is not a second cutting function or a second material; the cutter alone is also sold as catalog 86127.

Q: What is the difference between a close-quarters cutter and a standard tubing cutter?

Size and reach. A close-quarters cutter such as the Model 101 or 118 is a short body made for restricted spaces; a standard cutter such as the Model 15 has a longer body that needs room to swing and, on this model, carries a fold-away reamer. Capacities overlap: 1/4 to 1-1/8 in for the close-quarters models and 3/16 to 1-1/8 in for the Model 15, per RIDGID’s ordering tables.

Q: Do I need to deburr a pipe after cutting it?

A rotary wheel cutter leaves an inside burr, and the makers here supply reaming tools for that reason: the Model 15 has a fold-away reamer and the TOLESA set includes a reamer and a deburring tool. RIDGID describes the RC-1625 blade cutter as “burr-less” for plastic. Whether a particular cut needs more work depends on the pipe and the fitting.

Q: Are prices and availability shown here?

No current price or stock status is shown. The Check Price buttons keep the article’s owner-approved Amazon links so you can inspect the current seller, selected variant and offer before purchasing.

Conclusion — Which Pipe Cutter Suits Which Job?

Choose by material and clearance. For copper, brass or aluminum tubing in a tight space, the RIDGID Model 101 is the manual-feed close-quarters cutter and the RIDGID Model 118 2-in-1 has the same capacity and documented metals with an AUTOFEED wheel and a detachable ratchet handle. For the same metals plus thin-wall steel where there is room to swing a full-size body, the RIDGID Model 15 adds a fold-away reamer. For plastic pipe, the RIDGID RC-1625 is the ratchet blade cutter RIDGID documents for PVC, CPVC, PP, PEX, PE, rubber hose and multilayer tubing. For a larger-capacity cutter with a small one and finishing tools in one box, the TOLESA T1PC02 set is the listing-only option. These are documented roles, not results from a hands-on test; offers, sellers and variants change, so check the page before you order.

Sources

• RIDGID: Close Quarters Tubing Cutters (Model 101, catalog 40617)
• RIDGID: Screw Feed Tubing Cutters (Model 15, catalog 32920)
• RIDGID: 2-in-1 Close Quarters AUTOFEED Cutter (Model 118, catalog 32573)
• RIDGID: Ratchet Cutters with Ergonomic Grips (RC-1625, catalog 23498)
• RIDGID: Full Lifetime Warranty terms
• TOLESA T1PC02 set: Amazon listing for the 1/8 to 2 in set, captured 12 October 2026; no manufacturer website found.
• Amazon listings for all five items (untagged product pages, captured 12 October 2026) for identity and variants.