LAST UPDATED: February 13, 2020
Best Ratcheting Wrench Sets: Robust Tools for Various Applications
These ratcheting wrench tool sets are affordable and top-quality
Entering our 7th season of /DRIVE on NBC Sports, and with millions of YouTube and Facebook followers, The Drive is a leading authority of all things automotive.
The Review Team
-
21 Products
-
16 Hours
-
14 Reviews
How We Decided
The Drive and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Read more.
PUBLISHED ON February 13, 2020
If you like to have the exact tools you need in your toolbox, you should own a good-quality ratcheting wrench set. Too often, people try to use the wrong wrench on a project, which often leads to failure. Wrench sets feature specific-sized tools that are non-adjustable, and a complete set of tools makes your job much easier. Check out our buying guide below to find the best ratcheting wrench sets on the market.
This wrench set features 10 SAE wrenches and 10 metric wrenches. The tools are made with a mirror finish for easy cleaning and feature a slim profile for accessing small spaces.
Craftsman provides a lifetime warranty. These are good automotive tools for weekend auto jobs in the garage. They withstand tough bolts, and are well-designed.
There is no flip switch to change the ratcheting direction, and you need to flip the wrench over instead. During shipping, the wrenches may scatter in the package instead of being placed in their proper compartments.
This set of wrenches has a 15-degree offset to reach tight spots. They are made from strong alloy steel and feature a long pattern beam length for better leverage and torque.
These wrenches come with a lifetime manufacturer's warranty and are a great starter set. They are fluid in their movement and reliable for everyday use. The wrenches feel super sturdy and have a tough finish.
The ratcheting mechanism on the wrenches may have too much play and feel loose and flimsy. Some wrenches in the set may fail after a short period of use.
This master ratcheting wrench set is fully polished, and the tools feature a 72-tooth, five-degree swing. The set includes 13 standard-length combination gear wrenches as well as a molded rack.
This set covers any SAE nut or bolt in the automotive world. They are a good price for what you get, and the quality and feel is very good.
They don't have a reversing lever, and they aren't designed to break bolts loose. The ratchet wheels may come out of the wrenches in certain applications.
Why Trust Us
All of our reviews are based on market research, expert input, or practical experience with most products we include. This way, we offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
The Craftsman 20-Piece Ratcheting Wrench Set is a great all-around choice if you’re in need of ratcheting wrenches. This set includes some of the most popular ratchet wrench sizes, equipping you with the right tools for a wide variety of different jobs. Each wrench features either SAE or metric sizing, and you’ll get 10 SAE wrenches and 10 metric wrenches in sizes ranging from 1/4 inch to 11/32 inch to 9/16 inch to 8 millimeter to 15 millimeter to 18 millimeter. The wrenches are made out of durable metal and covered in a full polish mirror finish that shines in your tool kit. Even better, every piece of this ratcheting wrench set is backed by Craftsman’s lifetime warranty, which ensures you can trust in their value and reliability.
The Craftsman 20-Piece Ratcheting Wrench Set is a great all-around choice if you’re in need of ratcheting wrenches. This set includes some of the most popular ratchet wrench sizes, equipping you with the right tools for a wide variety of different jobs. Each wrench features either SAE or metric sizing, and you’ll get 10 SAE wrenches and 10 metric wrenches in sizes ranging from 1/4 inch to 11/32 inch to 9/16 inch to 8 millimeter to 15 millimeter to 18 millimeter. The wrenches are made out of durable metal and covered in a full polish mirror finish that shines in your tool kit. Even better, every piece of this ratcheting wrench set is backed by Craftsman’s lifetime warranty, which ensures you can trust in their value and reliability.
The GearWrench 12-Piece Metric Ratcheting Wrench Set is more than just an affordable, budget-friendly tool set. This ratcheting wrench set offers excellent value for your money too. It includes 12 different wrenches in various sizes, with each wrench constructed out of alloy steel for extra strength and a long lifespan. Each wrench has a 72-tooth ratcheting box end that needs just 5 degrees of motion to get fasteners moving. That’s much less torque and twist than your standard wrench, allowing you to expend less energy and less force. An off-corner loading design on the box end also provides you with better grip and less risk of fastener rounding. These ratcheting wrenches have their sizes stamped right on the beam so you can quickly and easily identify the size you need.
The GearWrench 12-Piece Metric Ratcheting Wrench Set is more than just an affordable, budget-friendly tool set. This ratcheting wrench set offers excellent value for your money too. It includes 12 different wrenches in various sizes, with each wrench constructed out of alloy steel for extra strength and a long lifespan. Each wrench has a 72-tooth ratcheting box end that needs just 5 degrees of motion to get fasteners moving. That’s much less torque and twist than your standard wrench, allowing you to expend less energy and less force. An off-corner loading design on the box end also provides you with better grip and less risk of fastener rounding. These ratcheting wrenches have their sizes stamped right on the beam so you can quickly and easily identify the size you need.
The GearWrench 13-Piece SAE Master Ratcheting Wrench Set provides you with a great selection of SAE wrenches that’ll suit many different jobs. But this tool set really shines when it comes to working in tight, confined, or hard-to-reach spaces. These ratcheting wrenches feature a sleek head design that allows you to better access the toughest spots, slipping into places where a normal wrench might not fit. You’ll get 13 wrenches, all with 72-tooth ratcheting box ends that need just 5 degrees of turning to get fasteners loosened or tightened. These wrenches cover a wide range of different SAE sizes, and each wrench features a stamp that helps you quickly identify the right wrench for any job. Made out of alloy steel for strength and finished with a full polish chrome finish, this ratcheting wrench set is full of tools that’ll last.
The GearWrench 13-Piece SAE Master Ratcheting Wrench Set provides you with a great selection of SAE wrenches that’ll suit many different jobs. But this tool set really shines when it comes to working in tight, confined, or hard-to-reach spaces. These ratcheting wrenches feature a sleek head design that allows you to better access the toughest spots, slipping into places where a normal wrench might not fit. You’ll get 13 wrenches, all with 72-tooth ratcheting box ends that need just 5 degrees of turning to get fasteners loosened or tightened. These wrenches cover a wide range of different SAE sizes, and each wrench features a stamp that helps you quickly identify the right wrench for any job. Made out of alloy steel for strength and finished with a full polish chrome finish, this ratcheting wrench set is full of tools that’ll last.
The ToolGuards Ratcheting Wrench Set With ToolRoll is a fantastic option if you’re searching for a completely comprehensive tool set with portability. This ratcheting wrench set is designed to be packed up and taken on the go at a moment’s notice. It includes 22 pieces — 11 metric wrenches and 11 SAE wrenches, all in various sizes and marked with their size for easy identification. Those wrenches give you a lot of versatility and flexibility, ensuring you always have the right tool on hand for any job. Made out of strong chrome vanadium steel with a mirror finish, all of the wrenches are packed in a protective tool roll. That tool roll gives every wrench its own storage space and keeps them organized in a compact package.
The ToolGuards Ratcheting Wrench Set With ToolRoll is a fantastic option if you’re searching for a completely comprehensive tool set with portability. This ratcheting wrench set is designed to be packed up and taken on the go at a moment’s notice. It includes 22 pieces — 11 metric wrenches and 11 SAE wrenches, all in various sizes and marked with their size for easy identification. Those wrenches give you a lot of versatility and flexibility, ensuring you always have the right tool on hand for any job. Made out of strong chrome vanadium steel with a mirror finish, all of the wrenches are packed in a protective tool roll. That tool roll gives every wrench its own storage space and keeps them organized in a compact package.
If you’re looking for the ratcheting wrench set that’ll cover every one of your possible needs, the Jaeger Ratcheting Wrench Set is a great option. This tool set is meant to be a complete master set, ensuring you have every ratcheting wrench you could possibly need. It includes both metric and SAE wrenches in a wide range of different sizes for a total of 24 pieces. Every wrench is made with Jaeger’s 5-degree ratcheting movement, which allows you to easily work in tight spots and narrow spaces where you don’t have enough room to swing with a standard wrench. The ratcheting wrenches in this set include 72 teeth inside their box ends. They’re made out of aerospace-grade vanadium to create an extra hard steel alloy and are drop-forged and heat treated for even more durability.
If you’re looking for the ratcheting wrench set that’ll cover every one of your possible needs, the Jaeger Ratcheting Wrench Set is a great option. This tool set is meant to be a complete master set, ensuring you have every ratcheting wrench you could possibly need. It includes both metric and SAE wrenches in a wide range of different sizes for a total of 24 pieces. Every wrench is made with Jaeger’s 5-degree ratcheting movement, which allows you to easily work in tight spots and narrow spaces where you don’t have enough room to swing with a standard wrench. The ratcheting wrenches in this set include 72 teeth inside their box ends. They’re made out of aerospace-grade vanadium to create an extra hard steel alloy and are drop-forged and heat treated for even more durability.
Tips
- Buy the highest quality wrenches you can find that are made for industrial use. Don't waste your money on cheap knockoffs that will fail with frequent use.
- For versatility, find a ratcheting wrench set that supports both metric and SAE measurement systems. That way, you only need to purchase one set instead of two.
- Examine the sizes of the wrenches in the kit. The more it provides, the better. There are a variety of different fittings and fasteners, so make sure the kit has the correct sizes for the task.
FAQs
Q: How do ratcheting wrenches work?
A: They feature gear and pawl that let the wrench spin freely in one direction while creating a ratcheting motion in the other. When you turn the wrench, the pawl locks on the teeth, which creates torque.
Q: What are the benefits of ratcheting wrenches?
A: They make your task easier because you can turn a bolt a few degrees and then go back to your starting point without removing the wrench or undoing the work. They also work faster than a combination wrench or adjustable wrench.
Q: Does a ratchet wrench work in tight spaces?
A: Yes. Since you don't need to remove the tool from the fastener to get a swing, it works very well in tight spaces where traditional wrenches won't fit.
Final Thoughts
Our pick for the best ratcheting wrench set is the Craftsman 20-Piece Ratcheting Wrench Set. It features 10 SAE wrenches and 10 metric wrenches, which are well-designed and tough. The tools also come with a lifetime warranty.
For a more budget-friendly option, consider the GearWrench 12-Piece Metric Ratcheting Wrench Set.