Spanner sets are the home mechanic’s best friend, and an essential set of tools to own. Nuts, bolts and other fastenings are present is just about every car, from the engine bay to the boot.
You never know when you might need to tighten something up or loosen a bolt off, but on that day, you’ll want the best tools for the job.
To ensure you have what you need at your disposal, we recommend picking up a quality spanner set. Despite most sets all roughly being alike, they can vary in range of items, the quality of the metal or the ergonomic value of the carry case. Along with screwdrivers and many other garage tools, they’re a must-have for any small or large workshop.
The best spanner sets at a glance:
Editor’s pick: Draper Redline Metric Spanner Set – buy from Amazon
Best simple ring spanner set: Clarke Obstruction Ring Spanner Set – buy from Machine Mart
Most comprehensive: Sealey Metric Combination Spanner Set – buy from Amazon
Of course, like the range in socket sets, the better these qualities are, the higher the premium. So, we’ve put together a list of our favourite spanner sets to help guide you toward the perfect choice.
The best spanner sets
Editor's pick
You get 11 spanners in metric sizes from 6mm up to 19mm and stored in a handy rack, ready to go straight in your toolbox. The open-ended jaws are offset to make it easier to work on fasteners with tight access and they are formed in hardened chrome-Vanadium steel.
Pros
- Great value
- Wide selection
Cons
- Poor storage case
| Pieces | 11 |
| Sizes | 6mm-14mm, 17mm and 19mm |
| Extras | Rack |
Best compact set
You won't be able to apply the same amount of torque as a longer spanner and so they may feel like harder work, but if you can't get a normal-length spanner into where the nut or bolt is, these may save the day for you. A ten-piece set with sizes from 10mm to 19mm.
Pros
- Easy to wield in tight areas
- Useful carry case
Cons
- Hard to torque
| Pieces | 10 |
| Size | 10-19mm |
| Extras | Carry rack |
Best simple ring spanner set
These can be a very useful addition to your toolkit and will only need to get to an awkward fastener once to make them worth owning.
Pros
- Ideal for fasteners in obscure places
- More grip than usual spanner
Cons
- One trick ponies
| Pieces | 5 |
| Sizes | 8x10, 11x13, 14x15, 17x19, 21x22mm |
| Extras | Holder with carry handle |
Best foot wrench set
Available in both six-flat designs as pictured here, or with ring-spanner style teeth. Also useful for tightening fasteners to a specific torque when access is poor.
Pros
- Great for fasteners with specific torque
- Ideal for awkward spaces
Cons
- Requires auxiliary extension
| Pieces | 8 |
| Sizes | 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 22 mm |
| Extras | Wall-mountable rail |
Best flared spanner set
Pros
- Designed for high torque applications
- Useful carry bag
Cons
- Specialist use only
| Pieces | 6 |
| Sizes | 6x8, 9x11, 10x12, 13x14, 14x17, 19x22mm |
| Extras | Carry bag that can be hung |
Best imperial spanner set
You get 8 spanners ranging in 8-19mm (5/16 - 3/4 inch) with angled ring ends and 15 degree short return angle - which makes accessing and fastening bolts in confined areas of your car just that little bit easier.
Pros
- Designed to last
- Useful storage case
Cons
- Not a great size variety
Most comprehensive spanner set
You get 16 pieces in total with sizes ranging from 6-22mm, which should be adequate enough for a wide array of jobs throughout your vehicle.
Pros
- Many different sizes to use
- Very handy foam storage case
Cons
- Ring ends aren't as angled
What types of spanner sets are there?
Unlike the simplicity of screwdrivers, there are two main types of spanner; open-ended and ring. Though there are also sorts of other, more-specialised options. Each has advantages and disadvantages and if you can’t decide, then perhaps a combination set is for you. These are open-ended at one end and ring at the other.
Open-ended spanners
Open-ended spanners are the classic spanner shape. They’re not specialist tools unlike glow plug removers. They will fit a nut or bolt and provide a drive on two of the flat sides which, assuming the spanner and nut or bolt are in good condition and a proper fit, can be the most efficient way to apply the necessary torque. However, as they will only fit on the flats, this means that you may need a 60° turn of the fixing to be able to get the spanner on again to make the next rotation. Sometimes, you may not have that amount of space. In addition, it’s not uncommon for open-ended spanners to slip if the fastener is particularly tight. This is a result of either rounding the corners off the fastener or the jaws of the spanner parting, meaning it won’t fit properly anymore.
Ring spanners
Ring spanners sit completely around the fastener and typically drive on six of the corners of the nut or bolt. As a ring spanner would normally have 12 drive teeth. This means it only needs to rotate 30° before it can re-engage and continue to drive the fastener. However, as it drives on corners rather than flats, this can lead to rounding of either the fastener or the teeth in the spanner on tight fittings. Typically, a ring or open-ended spanner will have different sizes at each end. But a combination spanner will have the same size of open-end and ring, one at each end. This can be very useful but it does mean that if you are using two spanners for a job, you might need two sets if the nut head and bolt are the same sizes. This is perhaps, where a magnetic tool tray might come in handy.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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