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Putting together a couch or completing other home improvement projects is easy with screwdrivers. To help you find high-quality screwdrivers, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best screwdriver sets on Amazon and came up with this list of recommended products. Keep reading to find the right screwdriver set for you.
Top 4 Screwdriver Sets
- Best Case: DEWALT Screwdriver Bit Set
- Best Basic Set: Craftsman Screwdriver Set
- Best Comprehensive Set: HORUSDY 101-Piece Magnetic Screwdriver Set
- Most Customizable: ORIA Precision Screwdriver Kit
Best Case: DEWALT Screwdriver Bit Set
This screwdriver set comes in a hard plastic carrying case that can be stacked with other DEWALT cases. The case has slots to store each of the 71 pieces and a locking, transparent lid to make viewing and transporting the pieces easy.
Key Features
- 71 pieces
- Carrying case
- Heads made of steel
- Lifetime warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Customers said that the DEWALT Screwdriver Bit Set was durable and comprehensive, making it useful for both home and auto purposes. Disappointed customers said that the bits didn’t stay in the driver. Some also expressed frustration over the lack of customer support.
Best Basic Set: Craftsman Screwdriver Set
This Craftsman set comes with eight screwdrivers, giving you just enough tools to complete the occasional task around your home. Made with alloy steel shafts, black oxide tips, and rubber handles, the screwdrivers are reliable and durable.
Key Features
- Eight pieces
- Heads made of alloy steel
- Lifetime warranty
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers said that this set was durable and reasonably priced. Several were also pleased with the mix of head types and handle lengths. One-star reviews mentioned the handles breaking after minimal use.
Best Comprehensive Set: HORUSDY 101-Piece Magnetic Screwdriver Set
This is the most comprehensive set in this review, containing one ratchet handle, 23 standard screwdrivers, eight precision screwdrivers, 60 bits, six nut driver bits, two offset screwdrivers, and one storage rack. The manufacturer values quality as well, as the parts are made with heat-treated alloy steel with a satin finish.
Key Features
- 101 pieces
- Storage rack
- Heads made of alloy steel
What Customers Are Saying
Customers appreciated the value and quality of this set. Several shoppers also liked how the storage rack kept their work area clean. Unhappy customers experienced wear and tear issues, such as the tips stripping.
Most Customizable: ORIA Precision Screwdriver Kit
ORIA offers its screwdrivers in black, blue, and other colors, allowing you to customize your set. All of the included heads are small, making them best for detailed work, such as repairing electronic devices. In addition to heads, it also comes with a shaft to attach the heads to, an extension rod to lengthen the shaft, and a flexible shaft to get to hard-to-reach screws.
Key Features
- 60 pieces
- Carrying case
- Heads made of alloy steel
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers said that the ORIA Precision Screwdriver Kit was versatile enough to use for a variety of projects and organized in the included case. However, unhappy reviewers said that the bits were loose-fitting and not as magnetic as advertised.
Buyer’s Guide
This buying guide explores the types of screwdrivers, the number of screwdrivers, and other factors that vary from set to set.
Screwdriver Type
There are several types of screwdrivers, but here are three of the most common.
- Slotted/flat: While a slotted screwdriver is popular and affordable, it’s easy to twist the screwdriver out of the screw head, which can cause damage to the screw.
- Phillips: The Phillips screwdriver was invented to overcome the camming out issue with the slotted screwdriver. It has an “X” shape, making it easy to secure a screw and apply twisting power.
- Torx: A torx screwdriver has six points like a star. This type of screwdriver builds off of the Phillips screwdriver, staying in the screw head better.
Number
Determine how many screwdrivers you need, and pick a set that coincides with that number. For a modest price, you can find sets of six or eight screwdrivers from a well-known tool manufacturer.
Handle
The handle on your screwdriver should be comfortable to hold but durable enough to withstand the tough conditions you’ll be using it in. A hexagonal handle made of hard plastic is the most common type of handle, but there are other materials, such as rubber, that will be kinder to your hands.
Shaft
The screwdriver shaft—the area between the handle and the blade—should be strong enough that it doesn’t bend under pressure. More affordable screwdrivers have a shaft made of steel, but a shaft with chrome vanadium is better because it bends without breaking and resists corrosion.
Blade/Tip
The blade that enters the screw should be hard and heat-treated so that it doesn’t deform under pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are screwdrivers magnetic?
Some screwdrivers are magnetic. The main benefit of a magnetized screwdriver tip is that it keeps a screw in place while you try to fasten it.
Do screwdrivers have insulation?
Some screwdrivers have plastic or rubber insulation over the shaft and handle. This is useful for when you’re performing electrical work because it prevents you from getting electrocuted if you’re working with live equipment.
Why do I need screwdrivers of different lengths?
A screwdriver with a long shaft and handle allows you to apply more twisting power, but it prevents you from tightening screws in hard-to-reach places. Having long and short screwdrivers allows you to tighten screws regardless of their location.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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