What To Look For in a Stubby Screwdrivers
In this guide we’ll look at the best stubby screwdrivers.
We’ve compared weight, dimensions, included bits and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
Every product we recommend is carefully researched, fact checked and tested where possible. If you buy from a link, we may earn a small commission. Learn more.
In this guide we’ll look at the best stubby screwdrivers.
We’ve compared weight, dimensions, included bits and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
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Anyone familiar with the brand knows that Bahco make some of the most trusted hand tools available, and the stubby ratchet screwdriver we tested did not disappoint.
The Bahco Stubby Ratchet screwdriver set with its accurate 48-tooth steel ratchet system, will cover you for all eventualities, with flathead, Pozi-Drive and Torx bits included in the smart plastic case.
Our favourite feature is the excellent flexible drive shaft. It makes light work of hard to reach screws, and felt completely solid and non-slip. This great feature makes this short screwdriver the best stubby screwdriver set on our review.
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Stanley are a household tool brand, and the FATMAX line of tools are known for their clever design features and chunky grips. This Stanley ratchet screwdriver has both of these.
As the heaviest ratcheting screwdriver on the list, it really feels solid and durable. The 40-tooth ratchet is fine enough to give you plenty of torque to apply in hard to reach spaces.
The removable magnetic bit extension makes for a great little feature on its own, giving you 2 cm of extra length if you need it. The magnet holds the bits firmly in both modes, as you would expect from a changeable stubby screwdriver set.
What makes this the best ratcheting stubby screwdriver set though, is Stanley’s clever idea of storing the bits inside the handle. Instead of fumbling around in a case or your tool box, all the bits you need can be held inside the screwdriver itself.
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Klein are one of the USA’s best-known tool brands, and the 32561 stubby screwdriver is a capable piece of kit for getting into really tight spaces.
When you need the best stubby screwdriver, Klein are a trusted brand, and we were really pleased with the robust chrome plated shank and snug fit of the double-ended bit sets. Even though you can’t use standard hex-shaped bits, the four bits included in this stubby screwdriver set fit the most common screw head types.
The feature we liked the most in this stubby set was the cushion grip. Unlike some screwdrivers, the rubberised handle wrapped all around so there weren’t any smooth spots to lose grip on. The soft grip is great for applying that extra bit of torque to stubborn screws.
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Wiha are a well-respected German tool manufacturer, and we really like the 380104 Wiha stubby bit holder set. It lets you hold three flat head and three cross head bits inside the handle for quick access to the magnetised shank.
The handle is rubberised for good torque and grip, and the size makes this one of the best stubby screwdrivers for working in extremely confined work spaces.
The holder design means you can use and store any standard size bit, which is very useful for technicians on the road.
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Engineer are a quality manufacturer of innovative hand tools that fit the job when another tool just can’t reach. The shortest stubby ratcheting screwdriver on this list, this low-profile palm screwdriver will reach into gaps that other tools are just too big for.
The anodised aluminium handle is lightweight, but because it fits in the palm of your hand, you can apply a serious amount of torque in a tight space. The Engineer Low Profile Stubby ratchet’s mechanism feels solid and can be reversed simply by turning the whole screwdriver around and replacing the bit on the other side.
We liked the fact that this simple stubby screwdriver could be kept in a pocket or carried around in a tool box whilst taking up hardly any space.
No tool box or workshop is complete without a decent set of screwdrivers. But as anyone who has ever tried to work in a tight access area will know, you need the best stubby screwdriver set to get the job done right. Just because a screwdriver is short, it shouldn’t lack features or be uncomfortable to use.
The biggest innovation in manual screwdrivers has to be the ratchet. It means you can loosen or tighten screws without taking your hand away, and make the most of a comfortable hand position if you’re reaching into a tight space to work.
The more teeth a ratcheting tool has translates to a smoother action, so the best stubby ratcheting screwdriver will have anything above 45 for a really fluid action.
The other big help when it comes to any screwdriver has to be a magnetised bit holder. Knowing that you won’t easily drop a screw somewhere awkward can make all the difference.
We think that the best stubby ratchet screwdriver on the market is the Bahco 808050S22 set. The design of the screwdriver itself is comfortable and durable and the ratchet has plenty of teeth for a smooth action, but our absolute favourite feature was the flexible drive shaft. When you’re working in tight spaces, it’s an unbeatable combination.
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