In this guide we’ll look at the best torque wrench.
We’ve compared build quality, performance, design and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
What are the best torque wrenches?
More Detailed Torque Wrench Reviews
Silverline 633567 Torque Wrench 1/2inch Drive 28-210 Nm
The Silverline 633567 Torque Wrench 1/2-inch Drive 28-210 Nm is the best torque wrench because it’s made from chrome vanadium steel, comes with an extension bar and 1/2 and 3/8-inch converters and includes a storage case.
Chrome vanadium steel is very hardwearing and strong. Because it is made of such a strong material this wrench will be able to hold up under heavy jobs. It also means that the square drive will hold its shape well making it easy to use for years.
This torque wrench has a torque range of 28-210Nm. It also comes with an extension bar and some converters which allows you to tailor your wrench to multiple tasks straight out of the box. This enables you to get many jobs done with the same wrench.
This set also comes with a storage case to protect your wrench and keep all your accessories together.
Overall, this is the best option for a torque wrench thanks to the fact that is hardwearing has good accessories and comes with a case to store it all in.
Monzana Torque Wrench 1/2 0.5 Inch Ratchet Micrometer Square Drive Chrome Vanadium Steel 28-210 Nm Incl. Sockets, Extension and Storage Box
The Monzana Torque Wrench 1/2 0.5 Inch Ratchet Micrometer Square Drive is a good choice because it is made from chrome vanadium steel, has a torque range of 28-210Nm and a reversible ratchet head.
This wrench is made from chrome vanadium steel which is a great material for tools thanks to its strength and its ability to hold its shape. This wrench has a range of 28-210nm which is a good range for this size wrench. It allows it to cope with heavy duty tasks that need a lot of torque whilst still being able to do precise and delicate tasks. Having a reversible head enables you to accurately undo bolts and nuts with the desired torque setting as well as tighten them.
This is a good option for anyone that requires a solid wrench that is reversible.
Sealey AK6682 1/2"Sq Drive Extendable Flexi-Head Ratchet Wrench
The Sealey AK6682 1/2″Sq Drive Extendable Flexi-Head Ratchet Wrench is also a good option because it has a soft grip handle, easy torque adjustments and a flexible head.
The soft grip handle makes this product easy to grip and comfortable to use for extended periods. This wrench uses a quick release locking ring that makes it very easy to adjust the length of the shaft to fit the space you have. The system to adjust the torque is also very intuitive and simple. The head is flexible allowing you to move it up and down 180 degrees. This is great because you can use this flexible head to get into positions where it would be difficult to tighten a nut and bolt with a standard wrench.
This is a good option if you need a flexible and easy to adjust wrench with a good soft grip handle.
VonHaus Torque Wrench 1/2" Drive Chrome Vanadium, 28 - 210 Nm Torque Range, 125mm Extension Bar, Forward & Reverse Ratchet Action – Includes Storage Case
The VonHaus Torque Wrench 1/2″ Drive Chrome Vanadium, 28 – 210 Nm Torque Range is another good option because it’s reversible, has a 2-year warranty is long and heavy.
The head of this wrench is reversible allowing you to tighten and loosen nut and bolts with the desired torque setting. The wrench weighs in at 2kg as is also 52cm long. This allows you to apply good force and create leverage making it easier to tighten and loosen nuts and bolts even at the highest setting.
The two-year warranty covers you if anything goes wrong and shows the manufacturer has confidence in their product.
This is a good option if you will be working on heavy-duty nuts and bolts and need a long and heavy wrench to get the job done more easily.
Norbar 1/2-inch Torque Wrench Ratchet with Adjustable 60-300Nm Dual Scale
The Norbar 1/2-inch Torque Wrench Ratchet with Adjustable 60-300Nm Dual Scale is a good option because Its accuracy is within +/-3%, it features quick and easy adjustability and has a flexible head.
This wrench has very accurate and calibrated torque ratings. This ensures you are using precisely the right torque. If you are working on delicate or precise products having good accuracy is a must. Adjusting the torque is very quick and easy on this wrench thanks to the fast clip that unlocks it and simple scale system to allow you to easily align the handle to the correct torque.
The flexible head allows you to angle the head precisely, allowing you to reach difficult spots where nuts and bolts are often tricky to fasten.
This is a good option if you are looking for a very accurate wrench for precise tasks.
Tacklife Torque Wrench 1/2" Inch Drive 13.6-203.5 NM 10-/150 lb-ft, with 3/8’’ Adaptor, 46.5 cm Length, Reverse Ratchet Action HTW2A
The Tacklife Torque Wrench 1/2″ Inch Drive 13.6 – 203.5 NM is another good option because it goes down to a low torque, comes with converters and has a +/-4% accuracy rating.
This product has a torque range of 13.6 to 203.5. 13.6 is a very low so this allows you to work on delicate objects. The wrench uses a half inch square drive and comes with converters for 3/8inch and an extension bar allowing this wrench to handle a wide range of tasks.
This wrench is tested and rated at +/- 4% accuracy. This is excellent, particularly if you are purchasing this wrench for its low torque settings for use on delicate tasks as it is imperative that you have accurate torque for these intricate tasks.
This is a good option if you need a wrench that can be set to a very low torque setting accurately.
Torque Wrench Buyer’s guide
Wrench material
Wrenches are normally made of some sort of steel. The better the quality the longer your wrench should last and the stronger it will be. The best material for torque wrenches is chrome vanadium steel as this is very strong and long-lasting. This steel can withstand a lot of wear and tear allowing the head of your wrench to maintain its shape. By maintaining its shape, it makes it easier to use.
Reversible ratchet head
Having a reversible ratchet head allows you to use the wrench to loosen nuts and bolts as well as tighten them. Often torque wrenches will work to loosen bolts but will do so at the maximum torque value. This is because you can’t over loosen a bolt or nut. However, some torque wrenches also loosen at a specific torque, which is handy when working on more delicate fixings as you will not damage them.
Square drive
Square drive is the standard fitting for a torque wrench and the size of your drive will determine the size of nuts and bolts you can work it with. You can get adapters to attach to the square drive to allow them to work with different size nuts and bolts. The most common sizes for a square drive are 1/4inch 3/8inch 1/2 inch and 3/4inch. You will want to get the size that fits with the nuts and bolts you most commonly use.
Torque range (Nm)
Torque is measured in Newton-meter (Nm) or sometimes LB-ft/LB-in which is pounds-feet/pounds inches. Larger wrenches will normally be able to go to a higher torque range than a smaller model. For a medium size wrench, a good range would be 28-210nm
Adjustable shaft length
Some torque wrenches have adjustable shaft lengths. This is useful as you can make it longer or shorter to fit certain gaps or to reach things high up. By lengthening the bar, you also create more leverage making tightening bolts or nuts on high torque settings easier.
Extension bar
Extension bars allow you to increase the length of the handle to get into difficult spots. They also create more leverage to allow you to create more force and tighten things more easily when using higher torque settings. Getting a wrench with an extension bar included is always a bonus.
Converter
Converters can attach to your square drive to change its size. So, if you have a ½ inch square drive and you need a 3/8 inch for a specific purpose, you can use the converter to adapt the square drive to fit. It’s handy if your torque wrench comes with a few converters to make your set more adaptable.
Sockets
You can attach different sockets to the square drive. Having a set that comes with multiple sockets included is very useful. Having a wide range of sockets allows you to tighten and loosen a wide array of nuts and bolts.
Box
Often torque wrenches will include a box. This is a bonus as it helps protect the wrench and keep it in good condition. If you wrench comes with, or you own accessories, such as extension bars or different heads/sockets, the box is a handy place to store these.
Micrometre-scale
This is a measurement of how accurate the torque setting of your wrench is. Different manufacturers have different tolerances which leads to different scales of accuracy. This accuracy is measured in +/- x% anything at +/- 5% or below will be accurate enough unless you have a specific use case that will require extreme accuracy.
Soft grip handle
Some wrenches will come with a soft handle. This can help you as it makes them more comfortable to use for long periods of time. It also makes it easier to grip and turn the torque wrench. Soft handles are nice to have but not a necessity.
FAQs
What is a torque wrench?
Torque wrenches are designed to allow you to tighten nuts and bolts to a specific tightness. Torque is a measurement of how much force is required to make an object rotate. So, torque wrenches allow you to set a certain amount of torque before you start tightening. This allows you to confidently tighten a bolt knowing that you will not over tighten or under tighten it.
Torque wrenches are very useful when you have a specific tightness that is required. Having the torque setting gives you confidence to tighten the bolt enough as you cannot overtighten the bolt or nut.
How do I use a torque wrench?
The most common type of torque wrench is called a click adjustable torque wrench.
Torque wrenches normally have locks that need to be unlocked before you can start using the wrench. This lock is normally located at the bottom of the handle and can simply be twisted to loosen it. Once loosened the handle should spin freely.
Once the handle is unlocked you can start to dial in the torque setting on your wrench. Most torque wrenches have a simple system to determine the amount of torque you are using. You should be able to align the line on the handle with the line of the desired torque setting on the graph. Then you may also need to twist the handle to move it up and down said graph until your line on the handle lines up with the desired line on the graph for the torque setting you require.
Once these handle lines are aligned with your desired torque setting you can re-tighten the lock and have the desired torque setting.
Then you can use your torque wrench as you would a normal wrench. Turning it to tighten a bolt or nut. Once you reach the correct tightness for the settings you dialed in previously the wrench will begin to click and won’t tighten the bolt anymore. You can now confidently know that that nut or bolt is tightened correctly and move on.
How does a torque wrench work?
Torque wrenches work by setting the desired torque setting for a specific nut and bolt tightness. Then you can freely tighten that nut or bolt without worrying about overtightening it. Once the desired torque setting is reached the wrench will not tighten anymore and will click to let you know that you have reached the desired setting.