The Best Ratcheting Wrench Sets (Review and Buying Guide) in 2023 | Autance

It’s probably not a surprise to see a Gearwrench product take the top spot on our list. This brand is known for building respectable tools at a competitive price point and backing them up with a great warranty. That said, you’ll get plenty of use out of this set of ratcheting wrenches. This 20-piece set includes SAE and metric sizes. The 10 SAE sizes range from 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch, and the 10 metric range from 6mm to 18mm. Each wrench utilizes a 72-tooth ratcheting mechanism with a five-degree swing arc. That makes this set shine in tight spaces, and the spanner end allows you to use it exactly as you would most combination wrenches.

One drawback of this selection is the poor design of the packaging. It’s clumsy, frustrating, and disposable. As for the wrenches, there are a few issues concerning quality control, according to some users.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive set of wrenches for your tool box, this is a great option. This set contains five ratcheting wrenches. Each one has two box ends with different sizes for a total of 10 different sizes. We should also mention that the wrenches feature a reversible ratcheting mechanism. These are SAE wrenches, which are ideal for older domestic vehicles and odd jobs. Sizes range from 1/4 inch to 7/8 inch, making the set useful despite the low piece count. The package is relatively simple, but it can double as a storage solution. It’s not everyone’s favorite, but it helps to keep a drawer organized, and the carry handle is great for transporting it to small jobs.

Because it’s so affordable, you can expect some issues. Even though the wrenches are tested to meet industry standards, they won’t hold up to regular abuse.

There are several factors that make a tool like this a versatile option. This five-piece set features metric ratcheting wrenches. Each wrench has two box ends of different sizes. Each end is also reversible, so you can change direction whenever necessary. Not only that, but the box ends also feature raised collars. The collars enable you to use these ratcheting wrenches to deal with recessed fasteners. The collars might add to the wrenches’ profiles, but they make a big difference. As if that’s not enough, these are also swivel wrenches. All of these features combined make these wrenches perfect for a wide range of jobs. One more thing to love is the 90-tooth count in the ratcheting mechanism that makes for a super short swing arc.

Altogether these tools are great and have the quality you’d expect from big-name tools. They even have a lifetime warranty. However, the warranty process is a hassle, and it can be a significant pain to replace the tools if they break.

You can’t talk about tools without Craftsman coming up in the conversation. Craftsman is the brand your daddy and his daddy, in all likelihood, relied on for many years. It’s another brand that offers quality tools at a reasonable price in combination with an excellent warranty. This 20-piece ratcheting wrench set fits the mold of all Craftsman tools. It features a great variety of metric and SAE sizes, all of which are of the quality we could expect from a tool bearing the name. SAE sizes range from 1/4-inch to 3/4-inch, and metrics span from 6mm to 18mm. A nice touch to these wrenches is the slim profile that aids with working in tight spaces.

These wrenches do what they say they will. They’re reliable enough for use at the home shop, they feature a good operation and fit into tight spaces. The only thing to be leery of is durability in harsh settings or during extreme use.

The Gearwrench ratcheting set is another no-brainer. This 16-piece set includes a range of Metric sizes spanning from 8mm to 25mm. Each features a ratcheting end along with a spanner wrench on the opposing side. They also feature a high tooth count, which makes for smooth operation and a short swing arc. They have fixed directions, but the directional indicator helps you quickly identify if you turn faster clockwise or counterclockwise. What’s important to note is that these wrenches also feature swiveling heads that help you reach tight spots. The package is also worthy of attention as it doubles as a storage solution. And if you don’t need the Metric sizes, an SAE variant is readily available.

That swiveling heads offer a significant advantage when working on hard-to-reach fasteners on your vehicle. But they’re not perfect. A considerable portion of users report them as being too loose or becoming too loose rather quickly.

Here, we have an option for someone looking for a little more than just a set of tools. This set comes with a total of 22 ratcheting wrenches in SAE and metric sizes. Metric sizes include 6mm to 18mm, and SAE sizes from 1/4-inch to 3/4-inch. Each wrench has a 72-tooth ratcheting mechanism that makes for a tight swing arc, complimenting their use in tight spaces. One thing to love about this kit is that it comes with a tool roll for organizations eliminating the need for an additional purchase. A nice touch of this tool roll is that each pocket is labeled to call out what size goes where, making for effortless organization.

The quality isn’t bad, but it’s not the best. Obviously, at a lower price, you might expect this, but it’s still worth noting. However, customer service seems to be excellent when it comes to helping customers replace tools they are having issues with.

In today’s day and age, most folks are going to work with metric size. Therefore, they don’t need a kit that mixes in SAE sizes. If you’d prefer a more extensive set of metric sizes only, this is the set for you. This set includes a total of 18 wrenches and includes sizes ranging from 6mm to 24mm. The wrenches in this set al feature a 72-tooth mechanism that makes a significant difference in tight spaces. These do only operate in one direction, but the stamped directional indicator on the head of each makes it easy to identify the orientation you’re working with. As a bonus, this set includes a great to roll with labeled pouches for organization.

It’s unfortunate to see the high amount of reviews stating the ratcheting mechanisms come apart quickly. While customer service is quick to come to the aid of those who experience this, it can still be a significant setback.

No matter how fancy your wrench is, if it can’t reach the fastener then it’s useless. This set of wrenches features extra-long bars to reach into virtually any space you need to. Each wrench also features a swiveling head to ensure you can get it onto those spaces that make you hate engineers. With that said, this six-piece set offers a total of 12 different metric sizes. The sizes range from 6mm to 19mm. The package the set comes in is something to appreciate as well. Even though it’s pretty simple, it is still intended to aid in storing the wrenches in an organized manner.

The flaw of these wrenches is the integrity of the joint on the wrench head. It’s not as rigid as it should be. When faced with the extra torque of the extra-long bars, they tend to fail.

The tight spot advantage of these ratcheting wrenches is something everyone needs to consider. As you might expect, ratcheting wrenches have a significant disadvantage on account of the extra size that needs to be added to the head. These cut off all the fat they could with the use of aerospace-grade vanadium and steel alloy. That, in combination with the 72-tooth mechanism, makes for superior performance in tight spaces. The set includes 24 of these wrenches in both SAE and metric sizes. SAE sizes range from 1/4-inch to 7/8-inch and Metric from 8mm to 19mm. A nice touch to this set is the storage system. The two separate cases help to keep the tools organizes neatly and easy to transport.

Unfortunately, there are a few too many reviews saying the mechanism comes apart easily to ignore. While customer service is great, it’s still something to be aware of when using it.

We are closing out our list with an entry that has a lot to offer to the buyer. Right out of the gate, we should mention that the price is pretty great when you consider all that it has to offer. It is a 26-piece set that includes a range of metric and SAE sizes. SAE sizes range from 1/4-inch to 3/4-inch and Metric from 6mm to 18mm. The ratcheting mechanism in these wrenches feature 72 teeth, creating a 5-degree swing arc. The chrome vanadium construction of the wrenches helps make for a virtually unbreakable body and fantastic performance of the spanner end, and a slim profile. To top things off, this set comes complete with a tool roll for organized storage.

These are a solid set of tools that serve weekend warriors and novice mechanics well. Overall, they’re worth every penny for these folks. However, the ratcheting mechanism is the weak link and will wear out sooner than one might expect.