5 Best Speed Squares (2021 Review)

The Swanson Tool S0107 is one of the best speed squares because it’s well machined and comes with a useful layout bar for out of square corners. Designed by founder Albert Swanson back in 1925, this is the original and best speed square UK carpenters can get their hands on.

Die cast from one piece of solid aluminium alloy, this is a durable roofing square that will last a lifetime and comes with a few tricks up its sleeve- the patented diamond cut-out works like a window so you can square off lines scribed onto a board, and the legendary Swanson Blue Book is an in-depth guide to getting the most out of the best speed square.

Based in Devon in the heart of the South West, Toolzone have made a handy speed triangle for making quick and accurate perpendicular lines on a range of sheet materials. Made from robust aluminium and finished in matte black for quick reading and weather resistance, the Toolzone 12″ Heavy Duty Aluminium Speed Square is probably the best speed square UK made.

What sets this heavy square tool apart from the competition is that it’s a metric speed square. Seeing as they’re a US invention, the majority of carpenters squares are imperial only, which makes it harder to use for those of us used to metric measurements. It’s a full-size framing square that you’ll use all the time.

The Swanson Tool S0101 comes with all the same useful features of their full-size woodworking square, but in a “pocket” size. Made of the same materials as their best speed square, it’s the perfect tool for making quick, straight cuts or scribing rafter cuts.

Proudly made in the USA, this is a framing square that’s built to last from aluminium alloy. This isn’t just a rafter square though, it’s a useful multitool once you’ve learned all its tricks. Use it as a fence for cutting boards square or as a protractor, it’s up to you what you do with this speed triangle.

One of the biggest names in tool production, STANLEY make a trusted and reliable speed triangle for use in woodworking and metalworking. Finished in matte black with bright yellow permanent markings, this 170 mm Stanley STA46053 Adjustable Quick Square is easy to use and built to take a beating.

We like this quick square because it does the job for a fraction of the price of the best speed square.

US heavyweights Johnson Level & Tool make some of the best speed squares and other measuring equipment for professional use. Made of aluminium and powder coated for durability, the RAS-1AM roofing square is die-cast and then CNC machined for greater accuracy.

Proudly made in the USA to exacting standards, this framing square has a continuous scribing notch for marking out where to rip boards and comes with a useful manual for learning all this rafter square’s features. And when you’re done for the day, the bottle opener in the middle will come in more than handy.