Hand Tools · Roundup · DIY
Wrench Sets: Which One to Own (Combination, Ratcheting or Adjustable)
TEKTON Combination Wrench Set with Holder, 15-Piece (1/4 - 1 in.) 18772
GEARWRENCH 30 Piece 12 Pt SAE/mm Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set 86702
Crescent 3 Piece Adjustable Cushion Grip Wrench Set, 6, 8 and 10 Inch (AC26810CV)Photos from the Amazon listings. Scores are our own, not customer ratings.
Quick answer
Most homeowners should start with a basic combination wrench set in both inch and metric sizes. Add a ratcheting set if you work on cars, bikes or machines often, and keep a small set of adjustable wrenches for odd sizes. We picked the TEKTON 15-piece combination set, the GEARWRENCH 30-piece ratcheting set and the Crescent three-piece adjustable set.
What are the wrench sets worth owning?
A wrench is a tool that grips a nut or bolt head so you can turn it. A set matters because bolts come in many sizes, and a wrench that is one size off rounds the corners and ruins the fastener. Home toolboxes usually need three kinds:
- Combination wrenches: one open end and one box end, in graduated sizes. The everyday workhorse.
- Ratcheting wrenches: a combination wrench whose box end ratchets, so you turn without lifting the tool off the bolt.
- Adjustable wrenches: one wrench with a thumb wheel that opens to different sizes. The flexible backup.
We picked one set of each kind: the TEKTON 15-piece combination set for most jobs, the GEARWRENCH 30-piece ratcheting set if you work on machines often, and the Crescent three-piece adjustable set for odd sizes. We chose them from the maker's own specs, independent video tests of the brands and buyer feedback. Where there is no independent test of the exact set, we say so.
If you are also stocking the pliers drawer, see our pliers basics article. If you are assembling a larger starter kit, our screw assortment guide covers the fasteners these wrenches turn.
Why you'll want them
A wrench fits where a socket cannot. A socket and ratchet is great, but it needs straight-on access. A wrench slips in from the side, works on bolts above a pipe and holds a nut while you turn the bolt on the other side.
Furniture, bikes, cars and fixtures all use bolts. Bed frames, bike seats, mower decks and faucet nuts use hex bolts and nuts in both inch and metric sizes. A basic set covers most of them.
The right size protects the fastener. A snug fit grips the flats of a bolt head and spreads the force. An adjustable wrench or a wrong-size wrench can slip and round the corners, turning a five-minute job into a drill-out.
Cheap wrenches can be good enough. In Project Farm's tests of combination wrenches, a very inexpensive store-brand wrench passed the rusty-bolt grip test, while a few more costly brands lost grip early because their box ends were too tapered. Price is not a simple guide.
Ratcheting saves time. In tight spaces, each swing of a plain wrench means lifting it and re-seating it. A ratcheting wrench stays on the bolt. The trade is a thicker head and a small amount of free play before the ratchet engages, which Project Farm measured as lost swing in his ratcheting comparison.
Who it's for
- First-time homeowners assembling furniture, working on bikes and tightening fixtures
- DIYers who tinker with cars, mowers and equipment
- Anyone building a starter toolbox who wants a set that covers the common sizes
Who should skip it
- People who only need to tighten a few nuts. One adjustable wrench would do the job.
- Heavy-duty mechanics. If you wrench for a living, look at professional-grade sets from tool-truck brands and test them against your own needs.
- Anyone who wants a socket set. Sockets and ratchets are a different tool. These sets are for jobs where a socket cannot fit.
How to use them
Wrenches are simple, but small habits protect your knuckles and your bolts.
- Choose the right size. Try the box end on the nut. It should slide on with almost no wobble. If it wobbles, go down a size. If it will not fit, go up.
- Use the box end first. A box end wraps all the way around the head. Use the open end only when you cannot get a box end on, as in a line fitting or a bolt on a long shaft.
- Seat the wrench fully. Push it all the way onto the head so the jaws touch the flats, not just the corners.
- Pull toward you. Pulling is safer than pushing. If the wrench slips, your hand moves away from the work instead of into it.
- Position for leverage. Hold the wrench near the end of the handle for more turning force. Do not slide a pipe over the handle unless the wrench is built for it.
- Hold the other side. When tightening a nut and bolt, use a second wrench on the bolt head so it does not spin.
- Use a ratcheting wrench in tight spots. Swing it back and forth in a small arc without lifting it off.
- Loosen stuck bolts with oil. Spray penetrating oil, wait a few minutes and try again. Never hammer on a wrench that is not designed for it.
- Snug, then finish. Tighten until firm, not as hard as you can. Over-tightening can strip threads or break small bolts.
- Clean and store. Wipe the wrenches and put them back in the rack so sizes stay together.
Common mistakes
- Using an adjustable wrench like a hammer or a pry bar. It will spring open and damage the jaws.
- Setting the adjustable jaw loose. Tighten the thumb wheel until the jaw grips firmly, and pull so the force goes onto the fixed jaw.
- Mixing inch and metric. A close-but-wrong size is the quickest way to round a bolt.
What to look for when buying
Sizes and range. Make sure the set covers the sizes you use. Inch sets usually run 1/4 to 1 inch and metric sets about 8 to 24 mm. A combined inch-and-metric set is the most useful single purchase, but it costs more.
Open end and box end design. The TEKTON set uses 12-point box ends offset 15 degrees for finger clearance and open ends angled 15 degrees so you can flip the wrench to catch a fastener more often, according to the maker. These are common, useful features.
Chrome vanadium steel and polish. Most quality sets use chrome vanadium steel with a polished chrome finish. The finish resists rust, and a smooth head wipes clean.
Ratchet quality. In Project Farm's ratcheting test, cheaper ratcheting wrenches had extra play before the ratchet engaged, which wastes swing in tight spots. A ratcheting wrench with finer teeth and less slop is worth more.
Storage. A rack or a tray makes a set much easier to live with. Some premium sets are sold without a case, so budget for a rack.
Inch or metric: how to tell which you need
Look at what you work on. Older American-made hardware, many plumbing fittings and a lot of lumber-yard hardware use inch (SAE) sizes. Most cars built in the last few decades, most bicycles and most imported flat-pack furniture use metric sizes. If you are not sure, try a wrench on the bolt: an inch wrench that almost fits a metric bolt will slip and round it, so a snug fit is the test, not a close one. A household that does a bit of everything ends up wanting both, which is why a combined inch-and-metric set such as the GEARWRENCH 86702 is attractive, and why many people buy a TEKTON-style inch set first and add a metric set later.
Keeping a set in good shape
Wrenches last for decades if you treat them well. Wipe off oil and grit after use, because dirt in a box end can hide a bolt's flats and cause slips. Dry them before storing to stop rust on the cut edges, and return each wrench to its slot in the rack so you can see at a glance which size is missing. Never use a wrench as a hammer, and do not slide a pipe onto the handle for extra leverage unless the maker says it is designed for that.
Warranty and support. Some brands have a reputation for easy warranty service. Forum posters praise TEKTON's customer service and describe GEARWRENCH as an established brand. These are opinions, so check the current terms yourself.
Owner reports. Look at newer reviews. Brands change factories and materials over time, and a good set from several years ago may not match what is on the shelf now.
Key specs to look for
| Spec | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Wrench type | Combination wrenches have an open end and a box end. Ratcheting wrenches add a ratchet to the box end. Adjustable wrenches change size with a thumb wheel. Most people end up owning more than one kind. |
| Sizes in the set | Inch (SAE) sizes run roughly from 1/4 to 1 inch, and metric from 8 to 24 mm. Check which ones your projects need. A set that skips sizes usually skips the ones you need most. |
| Box end points | 12-point box ends fit square and hex heads and are easy to place. Six-point ends hold rounded or rusty bolts better. Many people want both. |
| Steel and finish | Chrome vanadium steel with a full polish resists rust and wear. Look for sizes stamped clearly on both ends. |
| Head thickness | Thin heads and low profiles fit tight spots. Ratcheting heads are thicker than plain box ends. |
| Storage | A rack, roll or tray keeps sizes in order and speeds up work. Some sets, such as the GEARWRENCH 86702 listing, are sold with racks but no case. |
| Warranty | Most major brands back their wrenches. Read the current terms for the exact set before you buy. |
Where to get them
All three sets are sold on Amazon. We rate the TEKTON as mid tier, the GEARWRENCH as pro tier and the Crescent as budget tier. Before you buy, check that the title names the exact set number and whether it is inch, metric or both.
Combination wrenches: the set to buy first
The TEKTON 15-piece combination set (18772) covers 1/4, 9/32, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, 15/16 and 1 inch, according to the maker. The box ends are 12-point and offset 15 degrees, the open ends are angled 15 degrees, and the wrenches are made from chrome vanadium steel with a mirror chrome finish. They come in a folding holder. TEKTON lists the wrenches as made in Taiwan and the holder as made in the USA.
The Tools in Action review of TEKTON's combination wrenches praises the chrome vanadium construction, flat-topped beams and high polish, and says the beams are thicker than average but not as heavy-duty as the premium sets. In Project Farm's ratcheting comparison, the Tekton wrench was one of the best values. He said it was the one he would choose if he had to pick only one. In his combination wrench test, the Tekton refused to break in the break-load test, ending with a twist in the handle. The owner reviews we found for this exact set are few, so we lean on the brand's testing record.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Full run of inch sizes with no gaps. | Inch sizes only, so you will need a metric set too. |
| Folding holder keeps sizes in order. | Not as thick or heavy-duty as premium professional sets, according to one review. |
| 12-point box ends and angled open ends help in tight spots. | Few independent owner reviews of this exact set. |
| Praised for value and customer service by forum posters. |
TEKTON Combination Wrench Set with Holder, 15-Piece (1/4 - 1 in.) 18772
- Covers every inch size from 1/4 to 1 inch with no gaps, per the listing
- Chrome vanadium steel with 12-point box ends offset for finger clearance
- Tekton was the video tester's value pick in a ratcheting wrench comparison
How we scored it
Usefulness 9/10 · Value 9/10 · Durability 8/10. This is our own opinion, based on specs, buyer reviews and independent tests. It is not an Amazon or customer rating.
GEARWRENCH 30 Piece 12 Pt SAE/mm Ratcheting Combination Wrench Set 86702
- Ratcheting box ends speed up work in tight spots, and the set covers both inch and metric sizes
- Off-corner loading is meant to grip bolts without rounding them, per the maker
- One set can replace two separate combination sets
How we scored it
Usefulness 9/10 · Value 7/10 · Durability 8/10. This is our own opinion, based on specs, buyer reviews and independent tests. It is not an Amazon or customer rating.
Crescent 3 Piece Adjustable Cushion Grip Wrench Set, 6, 8 and 10 Inch (AC26810CV)
- Three sizes cover jaw openings from about 15/16 up to 1-5/16 inch, per the maker
- Cushion-grip handles and a laser-etched inch and metric scale
- A handy backup for odd sizes, plumbing nuts and holding a second fastener
How we scored it
Usefulness 8/10 · Value 8/10 · Durability 7/10. This is our own opinion, based on specs, buyer reviews and independent tests. It is not an Amazon or customer rating.
Ratcheting wrenches: for people who work on machines
The GEARWRENCH 30-piece ratcheting set (86702) has 12-point ratcheting wrenches covering inch sizes from 1/4 to 1 inch and metric sizes from 8 to 24 mm, with racks for storage. The maker describes an off-corner loading design intended to grip the flats of a bolt rather than its corners, and the heads are thin enough for tight spots, with sizes stamped on both ends.
We did not find an independent test of this exact set. In Project Farm's ratcheting comparison, a lower-cost GearWrench ratcheting wrench did well for its cost, although it had noticeable slop before the ratchet engaged, and a GearWrench combination wrench led his open-end break-load test. Forum posts describe GEARWRENCH as an established brand with complete sets, though some call it overpriced for imported tools. One listing says the set has no storage case, so check what is in the box.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Both inch and metric sizes in one set. | Costs more than a plain combination set. |
| Ratcheting ends save time in tight spaces. | Ratcheting heads are thicker than plain box ends and have some free play. |
| Racks keep sizes in order. | No independent test of this exact set that we could find. |
| A well-known brand with wide support. |
Adjustable wrenches: the flexible backup
The Crescent three-piece adjustable set (AC26810CV) has 6, 8 and 10 inch wrenches. According to Crescent, the jaw capacities are 15/16 inch, 1-1/8 inch and 1-5/16 inch for the three sizes. The handles are molded rubber, a laser-etched scale shows inch and metric sizes, and the finish is chrome. Crescent backs the set with a lifetime warranty and the set ships with a storage pouch.
We found no independent test of this exact set. Adjustable wrenches are a backup tool: they fit odd sizes and hold a nut while you turn the bolt, but a fixed wrench grips the flats better. Check for jaw slop in the newest reviews, and that the thumb wheel still moves smoothly.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Three sizes cover most nuts and bolts around the house. | Adjustable jaws can slip and round off a nut if set loosely. |
| Cushion grips are comfortable. | Not a replacement for fixed wrenches. |
| Etched scale in inch and metric. | We found no independent tests of this set. |
| A good second tool next to a combination set. |
Which one first?
Buy the combination set first. Add the ratcheting set if you work on cars, bikes or machines often enough to feel the lost time. Keep the adjustable set for odd sizes and as a second wrench. If you want one purchase that does it all, the GEARWRENCH 30-piece set covers inch and metric and works in tight places, but it costs more.
Watch and read more
Video reviews
- Best Wrench? Let’s Settle This! Snap On vs MAC Tools, Matco, Proto, SK, GearWrench, Kobalt… — Project Farm
Tests combination wrenches for rusty-bolt grip, open-end grip and breaking load. Budget wrenches such as Husky held up well on the rusty bolt, and a GearWrench and a Tekton also showed up well in the tests. - Best “Ratcheting” Wrench? Craftsman, GearWrench, Blue Point, Proto, Wera, DeWalt, SK… — Project Farm
Tests ratcheting wrenches for swing arc, rusty-bolt grip, open-end strength and breaking load. A low-cost GearWrench ratcheting wrench did well for its cost, and he names Tekton the best value.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a combination wrench and a ratcheting wrench?
A combination wrench has an open end and a box end on opposite sides. A ratcheting wrench replaces the box end with a ratchet, so you do not lift the wrench off the bolt after every swing. Ratcheting wrenches are faster, but the head is thicker and a little less strong.
Do I need both inch and metric wrenches?
Yes, for most households. Older American products and hardware use inch (SAE) sizes, while most cars, bikes and imported furniture use metric. A set that covers only one will leave you stuck at some point.
Are adjustable wrenches good enough?
They are good backups and good for odd sizes, but a fixed wrench fits the nut more snugly and is less likely to round it. Keep an adjustable set for flexibility and a combination set for most jobs.
Should I buy a 12-point or 6-point wrench?
Twelve-point ends are easier to put on a bolt because they have more angles to catch. Six-point ends hold rounded or rusted bolts better. Most standard sets are 12-point, which is fine for most jobs.
Are Tekton wrenches any good?
In Project Farm's wrench tests, a Tekton wrench held its own against much more costly brands. In the ratcheting test he said that if he had to choose one wrench for value, it would be the Tekton. Forum posters also praise its customer service. Independent testing of this exact 15-piece set is limited.
How do I stop rounding off bolts?
Use the right size, make sure the wrench is fully seated and pull toward you instead of pushing. If a bolt is rusted, spray penetrating oil first and wait. A six-point box end or socket grips more of the flats than an open end.
Sources
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