The best wrench sets

Updated

2020-08-13T20:05:00Z

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wrenches

Gearwrench
  • If you're like me, and it seems like you never have the right wrench on hand, you need a full wrench set.
  • The GearWrench Drake Combination Wrench Set is our top pick because it comes with 20 or 32 high-quality wrenches in both inches and millimeters, so you'll have the right wrench at the right time.

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There's a saying among those who rely on tools to do their work: If you want to complete a job successfully, you need to use the right tool. Combination wrenches may be the ultimate example of needing the right tool for each job. As a combination wrench has a specific size that is not adjustable, trying to use the wrong wrench on a nut will go poorly.

With wrenches, you also have to deal with both SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers — AKA inches) and metric sizes. Trying to use a combination wrench that's even 1/32 of an inch off won't end well.

So when you want the peace of mind of having the right combination wrench on hand for the job, it's helpful to own a wrench set. These sets will contain several wrenches of varying sizes, giving you a much better chance of having the right wrench on hand.

There's more to consider than your might thing when shopping for wrenches. For a quick primer on what to consider, scroll to the bottom of this guide. In our guide, we've included combination, ratcheting, and stubby wrench sets to suit a variety of needs.

These are the best wrench sets:

  • The best wrench set overall: GearWrench Drake Combination Wrench Set
  • The best for staying organized: TEKTON Combination Wrench Set
  • The best stubby wrench set: TEKTON Stubby Combination Wrench Set
  • The best on a budget: SYM Tools Combo SAE and Metric Wrench Set

Prices and links are current as of 8/13/20. We removed our pick for the best ratcheting set because it was redundant. Our best overall pick is already includes ratcheting capabilities.

The best wrench set overall

GearWrench

The GearWrench Drake Combination Wrench Set comes with SAE and metric measurements, a ratcheting ring end, and both stubby and full-size wrenches.

If you want a versatile wrench set that will cover almost any task, you'll really appreciate the GearWrench Drake Combination Wrench Set, which is available in a 32- or 20-piece set with a carrying rack.

The 32-piece set includes 20 full-size wrenches and a dozen stubby wrenches, which operate well in tight spaces. These combination wrenches feature a ratchet on the ring end, which is extremely handy, as well as a standard open-end on the other end.

The combination wrenches vary in SAE sizes from 1/4 to 13/16 inches and in metric size from 8 mm to 17 mm. The stubby wrenches also are available in inches and millimeters. Though the ratchet rings are handy, some users have noted that they can slip a bit.

Pros: Versatile collection of wrenches in both metric and SAE measurements, ratchet capability on one end, 32-piece set includes a dozen stubby wrenches for working in tight spaces

Cons: Set doesn't contain large wrenches, the ratcheting end slips a little bit

The best for staying organized

TEKTON

The TEKTON Combination Wrench Set comes with store-and-go racks for easy transportation and organization, so you're ready for any job.

One of the toughest things about maintaining a good set of wrenches is keeping them organized as you take them from job to job. The TEKTON Combination Wrench Set fixes that problem by putting the wrenches on two storage racks that are easy to carry and don't take up a lot of room.

This travel wrench set is available with either 22 or 30 pieces. The 30-piece wrench set has 15 SAE wrenches between 1/4 inches and 1 inch and 15 metric wrenches between 8 mm and 22 mm. The TEKTON wrenches have a durable build quality, thanks to a premium chrome vanadium steel construction.

The wrench racks are color-coded to keep SAE and metric wrenches separate, too, which is a great feature. These wrenches can't stack up to some more expensive sets from other manufacturers, but they are more than durable enough considering the price you'll pay.

These TEKTON wrenches do not have a ratcheting end, so keep that in mind.

Pros: Nice collection of different wrench sizes in both SAE and metric measurements, good build quality for the price, store and go racks make carrying the wrenches wherever they're needed an easy process

Cons: Build quality doesn't stack up to some more expensive sets, no ratcheting feature

The best stubby wrench set

TEKTON

The TEKTON Stubby Combination Wrench Set is made up of small wrenches that work perfectly in tight spaces.

Working in tight spaces can be a challenge with many wrenches. You want a long wrench to give you more torque most of the time, but some jobs just call for a short wrench.

When you must work in tight spaces, the TEKTON Stubby Combination Wrench Set will give you the performance you need. The open-end side on these short combination wrenches has a 15-degree angle to further simplify working in tight spaces.

This TEKTON combination wrench set is available in two configurations. The SAE wrench set contains eight pieces with sizes between 5/16 inches and 3/4 inches. The metric wrench set has 12 pieces, ranging in size from 8 mm to 19 mm.

Pros: Short wrenches that will work great in small spaces, ships with a carrying rack that's perfect for keeping the set organized, available in either an SAE or a metric set, nice finish on the wrenches

Cons: Small wrenches don't offer as much torque as longer wrenches, questionable quality control

The best on a budget

SYM Tools

If you only need wrenches for an occasional job at home or to carry in your car, the SYM Tools Combo SAE and Metric Wrench Set is an affordable option.

It's tough to beat the price of the SYM Tools Combo SAE and Metric Wrench Set. It comes with 22 combination wrenches and a storage rack. Certainly, these wrenches aren't going to give you the highest quality performance, but they will give you a versatile set of combination wrenches to use for occasional projects around the house.

Because of the handy storage rack that comes with this SYM Tools wrench set, you'll be able to store these wrenches easily and stay organized.

You'll appreciate having both SAE and metric wrench sizes in a single set that has such a low price. These wrenches are made of drop forged steel, so they should be relatively durable for household tasks. However, these SYM Tools wrenches are not as thick and heavy as some other wrenches, which may cause some problems with longevity.

Pros: Extremely low price point, good storage rack that will keep these combination wrenches organized, both SAE and metric wrenches included in the set, great option to carry in a vehicle for emergencies

Cons: Overall quality can't match up to more expensive wrench sets, doesn't offer large size wrenches

Kyle Schurman

Freelance Writer

Kyle has been a freelance writer for 20 years, focusing mainly on consumer products. He has written product reviews, overviews, and how-to articles based on thousands of hands-on product tests.

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