The 7 Best Wrench Sets to Tackle DIY Projects

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In order to prepare yourself for a wide variety of DIY tasks, having a reliable wrench set on hand is essential. These invaluable hand tools provide you with the ability to grip and turn nuts and bolts–used in very many applications in the home and garage–as well as generate a huge amount of leverage. Furthermore, having an entire set on hand, as opposed to just one or two sizes, means you’ll be able to fit them to a range of fasteners, while assembling furniture or loosening large bolts under the hood of your car.

Read on for quick info on the wrench sets we recommend, followed by things to keep in mind as you’re deciding and how we went about determining the best. Our full reviews of these and more models are down below.

The Best Wrench Sets

• Best Overall: Tekton Combination Wrench Set

• Best for Occasional DIYers: Horusdy 26-Piece Combination Wrench Set

• Best for Mechanics: DeWalt 168-Piece Mechanic Tool & Socket Set

• Best Hex Wrench Set: Bondhus 20199 Balldriver L-Wrench Double-Pack

• Best for All-Around Use: Crescent Adjustable Wrench Set

What to Consider

Type

It’s important to choose the type of wrench that best suits your needs. Although there are dozens of classifications, these are the most common wrench types:

1. Combination: These wrenches have an open, U-shaped end, and a closed “box” end, both of which share a fixed size compatible with a hexagonal fastener. The open end is convenient for slipping around fastener heads where clearance is limited, while the box end–which grips all six sides of the fastener–is better for applying maximum force. Their fixed design allows for superior strength and leverage, but also means you need a separate wrench for each size of fastener.

2. Adjustable: Unlike with fixed wrenches that only fit one size, you can customize the jaws of adjustable wrenches to different measurements. Crescent wrenches are the most common adjustable wrenches—they have a worm screw which you can use to lengthen or shorten their “bite,” or the distance between their jaws. This versatile design packs the functionality of an entire set of fixed wrenches into one or two tools, but their moving parts result in less gripping strength.

3. Socket Wrench: A socket wrench, or “ratchet,” consists of a ratcheting handle with a square fitting on one end, which accepts different sizes of cylindrical sockets. These sockets fit around the fastener head, and the ratcheting mechanism allows you to pivot the handle back and forth without having to lift off and reposition the wrench on the fastener with every swing. Since they require very minimal space to operate, socket wrenches are great for use in cramped areas, like in automotive work. Combination wrenches sometimes feature a ratcheting box end, which serves the same purpose.

4. Hex: Hex wrenches, also called “Allen keys,” are straight hexagonal bars bent into an L-shape. Each wrench is sized to fit into the female receptacle of a bolt or screw, which you then tighten or loosen by spinning the free end of the wrench. Hex wrenches almost always come in sets and, although they’re not as common as the other kinds, are invaluable when you need them. You’ll find that many furniture sets that are shipped in pieces and you need to assemble come with a basic Allen key.

Material

Most wrenches are made using some kind of steel alloy to give them the durability, hardness, and structural strength to work effectively. While the highest-end brands use chromium vanadium steel (drop-forged for maximum strength), other alloys like chromium-molybdenum are still fine options. We would never recommend compromising on quality to save a buck, but if you’re not using your wrenches for frequent, heavy-duty applications, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on high-end materials.

Wrenches also come with different finishes that add durability and corrosion resistance, with chrome being the most common. Polished chrome looks great and is easy to clean, while textured or satin chrome is easier to grip when wet or greasy. Black oxide is another finish to consider. Wrenches with it tend to be cheaper, and their rough texture provides a bit more grip. But they’re naturally harder to find in low-light conditions.

Size

All wrench sets provide a range of sizes, but you also need to take their measurement system into account. Apart from adjustable types, almost all wrenches use either Society of Auto Engineers (SAE) or Metric measurements. SAE, also called “standard” or “imperial” wrenches, are sized in inches–or fractions of an inch–while Metric wrenches use millimeters. Both SAE and Metric fasteners are fairly common, so it’s best to purchase a wrench set with both measurement types.

How We Selected

When choosing the wrench sets for this guide, I first called upon my own personal experience using wrenches, particularly as a full-time furniture assembler. After including the brands and specific models that I have come to trust over the years, and researching well-regarded review sites and online customer reviews, I landed on a pool of almost two dozen options. After sourving several samples for hands-on testing, I spent two weeks using them for tasks around my home and car. After these tests, I landed on the seven wrench sets listed here.

25-Piece Combination Wrench Set

Featuring a wide range of both SAE and Metric sizes, this combination wrench set from Tekton is capable of handling practically any basic fastening task. But even more important than the quantity is the quality and overall usability of the wrenches themselves. Made of chrome vanadium steel, each piece–even the tiny smaller sizes–has a hefty, well-balanced feel in your hand, giving you the confidence to really crank away without fear of snapping.

The offset box ends also provide clearance for your fingers, and their 12-point design applies force to the sides of the fastener instead of the corners, reducing the chances of rounding off the head while loosening. I also appreciated the 15-degree angle of the open end, which is really convenient for using in tight spaces where you need to flip it around frequently.

26-Piece Combination Wrench Set

If you just want to be prepared for the occasional loosening or tightening task, and don’t have the need or budget for a higher-end set, this Horusdy option is a great choice. Its 26 pieces are split into equal parts SAE and Metric sizes, and their textured finish provides a secure grip while working.

I’m also a big fan of the multi-functional storage roll, which has separate pouches for each piece, clear size labels, and three grommets for mounting it on a wall. These wrenches aren’t as indestructible as more expensive sets, like the Tekton. But if you’re just using them occasionally, durability becomes less of an issue.

168-Piece Mechanic Tool and Socket Set

This comprehensive kit includes all the wrenches needed to tackle basic automotive maintenance tasks, including ratchet, combination, and Hex sets. When testing these wrenches, the first thing I noticed was how well-made and sturdy each of the components felt. The full-polished chrome finish doesn’t just look great, it’s easy to keep clean and read the size labels.

This many pieces can be hard to keep organized and secured, but the hard-sided storage box does an admirable job. The individual slots are snug enough to keep each tiny component in place, while loose enough that they’re still easy to remove and replace. My favorite part about this kit is the amount of extensions, universal joints, and adapters, which really sets you up for success when you come across fasteners located in awkward or tight areas.

Balldriver L-Wrench Double-Pack

Instead of struggling with the undersized and poorly fitted hex wrench that came with your furniture, keep this Bondhus set on hand for frustration-free assembly projects. These L-shaped tools have long handles for comfortable twisting and a ball-end that easily slides into fastener slots–even at angles up to 25 degrees. Two storage cases keep the SAE and Metric wrenches separate, and the way the wrenches fold against them conserves space.

Unlike poor quality hex wrenches that lose their edges over time, these are built to last with a protective, rust-resistant finish. If any issues do arise, Bondhus provides a lifetime warranty and replaces wrenches free of charge.

Adjustable Wrench Set

With adjustable jaws and three sizes to choose from, this Crescent wrench set is versatile enough to handle a wide range of fastening tasks. Their wide, cushioned rubber handles provided a comfortable and sturdy grip during my testing, and they were simple to wipe clean after getting greasy. While all three sizes are useful, I’ve found the 6-inch wrench to be especially handy, and its portability made it convenient to carry around in a pants pocket.

My favorite feature of these wrenches though has to be their laser-etched measurement scales. With SAE on one side and Metric on the other, you can quickly determine the size for any fastener, up to 1 1⁄ 3-inch or 33 mm. The included storage roll is made of thick, sturdy canvas, and if you prefer to keep your wrenches easy to access, handle holes allow you to hang them from a pegboard hook.

SuperCombo 15-Piece Wrench Set

Williams wrenches have been a favorite of industry pros for well over 100 years, providing the precision, reliability, and strength that tradespeople rely on. Every aspect of these wrenches is engineered to make them work as effectively and efficiently as possible. Instead of placing turning force on the fastener corners, the open ends of these wrenches only contact the flat sides, allowing you to apply maximum torque without deforming fastener heads. Special grooves in the open end provide the same torque-friendly fit.

Their long handles offer a comfortable, balanced feel and provide increased leverage when dealing with stubborn components. A nickel-chrome finish gives the handles a texture that’s comfortable to grip but easy to wipe clean.

86958 90T SAE Ratcheting Wrench Set

With 90 teeth inside their box-end ratcheting system–unlike the 72 typical in most ratchets–these wrenches make quick work of loosening and tightening. This precise mechanism allows you to get a grip and start turning the fastener after just 4 degrees of swing, which really comes in handy in tight spaces.

Their long, wide beams are easy to maintain a sturdy grip on and generate the leverage needed. While testing these wrenches, I also found that their size labels were especially easy to read, since their laser-etched numerals are filled with black ink. The thick plastic storage rack also had a heavy-duty sturdiness that I found other wrench sets lacked.

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