The 4 Best Hex Wrenches of 2025
L-shaped, long-arm, ball-end wrenches are the most useful type of hex wrenches to have around. The long-arm models have a better reach than what’s typically found on a hex wrench—in some cases, 30% to 40% more. As for the ball end, the tip of the long arm ends in a sphere shape that maintains the angles of the hexagonal head at askew angles—the wrench can be inserted into (and turn) a fastener at an angle of up to 25 degrees. “These are great when clearance for the tool is minimal,” Lyman told us. These features make the wrenches ideal for hard-to-reach spots, like tightening the set screw under a toilet-paper holder.
But what really makes or breaks a set of wrenches is the storage system. We’ve found that if you’re looking to spend under $25 for a set of wrenches, the wrenches themselves are all pretty generic and strong enough for light-duty around-the-house tasks. What’s not the same from set to set are the cases. And this is where things can go dreadfully wrong. With a nice case, each size is clearly marked. And it holds the wrenches firmly enough so that they don’t fall out—but not so tightly that it’s impossible to get them out. Not-so-nice cases—those that lock the wrenches in a vise-like grip or, conversely, hold them with the strength of a weak handshake—are frustrating, and they can lead to lost, mixed-up, or damaged wrenches.
Folding sets are really useful too, however. Folding hex kits offer easy portability, and because the body becomes a handle, you can put more oomph behind a turn. Lyman told us that “individual L wrenches work in more places, but the folding kits give more leverage and are more ergonomic to use than having a tiny wrench dig into your fingers as you attempt to loosen a stubborn bolt.” If you own only one kit, the L wrenches are better, but folding kits are great for tossing in the toolbox too. We narrowed the field by looking only at folding kits with composite handles from reputable manufacturers. The metal ones, like these from Eklind, are inexpensive but terrible on hands.
Decent sets don’t cost a fortune. Over the years, we’ve found plenty of nice sets—containing both metric and SAE with long arms and ball ends—in the $15 to $25 range. More-regular users might find their way up to the $50 range, paying that extra for added convenience features and durability. Some sets, like those from PB Swiss and Wiha, cost considerably more, but they offer durability and precision that is likely to be lost during light-duty home use. We aim to recommend quality tools, but it just doesn’t make sense to shell out over $80 for two sets of hex keys just so you can hang a few towel bars.
We tested these on the many tasks of the hex wrench. We enlisted the aid of two veteran carpenters: Aaron Goff, with 12 years of experience in high-end remodeling, and Mark Piersma, with 14 years of experience. Together, we analyzed the selected kits and used them in a shop setting. When we decided on the ones we liked the best, we used them around the house for about eight months while wrapping up a full gut-and-remodel of a 100-year-old farmhouse. We hung towel bars and toilet-paper holders, adjusted door hardware, and put together ready-to-assemble furniture. We also used the wrenches to adjust the kids’ bikes, fix their toys, and a hundred other little things that hex wrenches are used for. Since our original testing, we’ve kept our picks in the tool bag, and we have continued to use them for tasks when needed and, most recently, for RC car rebuilds.
