Pros

• Its sturdy, all-steel construction should hold up to extended use
• We like how easy it is to read the torque values
• Produces enough torque to handle larger wheel lugnuts

Cons

• Accuracy should be adequate for most, but there are even more accurate models out there

As the proud owner of this wrench, I personally attest to its accuracy, ease of use, and versatility. The torque ranges from 10 to 150 foot-pounds, which was everything I needed when I put it to the ultimate test: replacing the engine in my truck. And its all-steel construction made me confident that it would be able to withstand the rigors of the entire job.

The torque values are clearly marked with black numbers contrasting the steel handle for readability, even in poor lighting. Then, when you’re done using the wrench, Tekton provides a durable storage case to keep it protected.

Key Specs

Type	Click
Drive Size	½ in
Torque Range	10–150 ft-lb
Accuracy	+/-4%

Pros

• We like the included ½-to-⅜-inch drive adapter, which gives the tool more versatility
• Socket extension makes it easier for us to work bolts in hard-to-reach places
• The molded carrying case protects the tool when it’s not in use

Cons

• Some users report that the wrench fails to click at certain values, leading to over-tightening

EPAuto’s ½-inch torque wrench is made of incredibly durable chrome-vanadium steel and features an easy-to-read torque range scale that includes both foot pounds and newton meters on the handle.

Slip-resistant knurled rubber on the handle gives you a solid grip, even when your hands are greasy or dirty. To sweeten the deal even further, EPAuto throws in a socket extension for accessing hard to reach places and providing the necessary clearance from the rims when tightening lug nuts. It also comes with a handy molded carrying case that keeps the torque wrench and extender from getting separated.

Key Specs

Type	Click
Drive Size	½ in with ⅜-in adapter
Torque Range	10–150 ft-lb
Accuracy	+/-4%

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Pros

• We love the alerts on this torque wrench, which prevent overtightening
• The reversible drive head is handy when tightening bicycle pedals and other left-hand threaded bolts
• Features a high torque range

Cons

• Its digital features are nice, but they come with a steep price tag

When the utmost accuracy is paramount, this ½-inch digital torque wrench from GearWrench offers a top-of-the-line solution. Right off the bat, it delivers an impressive torque range between 25 and 250 foot-pounds, and it boasts an accuracy rate of ±2 percent in the clockwise direction and ±3 percent for counterclockwise torquing.

Not only does it measure in foot-pounds with an incredible degree of accuracy, but it also displays torque in newton meters and inch-pounds on the highly legible LCD screen. The wrench features a target torque alert that warns you when you’re approaching your desired torque setting, then vibrates, beeps, and flashes when it’s reached that specification.

Key Specs

Type	Digital
Drive Size	½ in
Torque Range	25.1-250.8 ft-lb (highest max torque on our list)
Accuracy	+/-2% clockwise, +/-3% counterclockwise

Craftsman 1/2-Inch Drive Torque Wrench

Now 35% Off

Pros

• The extra long handle adds leverage for reaching high torque settings
• Bright red markings make measurements easily visible
• Ergonomic grips is easy on the hands when applying max force

Cons

• Lacks the build quality of pricier torque wrenches

We like the length of this Craftsman torque wrench. At 30 inches long, it’s a good 6 to 10 inches longer than other 1/2-inch torque wrenches with the same high max torque output. That added length means added leverage, so you don’t need to pull as hard to reach higher torque settings.

Couple all that with a rubberized grip, and this is one of the easier torque wrenches to use for larger nuts and bolts. Another plus is the red markings on the black handle for guidance while dialing in measurements. There’s also a locking mechanism that prevents the settings from changing.

Key Specs

Type	Click
Drive Size	1/2 in`
Torque Range	40-250 ft-lb
Accuracy	+/-4% clockwise, +/-4% counterclockwise

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Pros

• Compact size and low torque range works well for smaller fasteners on a bike
• Park is the brand of choice for professional bike mechanics
• Dial adjuster allows us to make precision torque settings

Cons

• Wrench doesn’t make an audible click at lower settings

Larger torque wrenches are overkill for bicycles. This compact wrench’s 18 to 124 inch-pound torque range is ideal for working the smaller hex bolts you’ll find on bikes.

The dial-adjustment system has a gauge with a red line that makes it easy to dial in precise settings, so there’s no guesswork. There’s also a conversion sticker on the side for inch-pound settings, and itt works for both clockwise and counterclockwise fasteners.

If this particular tool is too small for your needs, Park also makes a larger 3/8-inch model that’s ideal for torquing fasteners on bike pedals and bottom brackets.

Key Specs

Type	Click
Drive Size	3/8 in
Torque Range	18-124 in-lb
Accuracy	+/-4% clockwise, +/-4% counterclockwise

Pros

• Large rubber handle is easier on the hands for high torque settings
• Will measure torque in both directions, which is handy for left-hand threaded bolt
• Large, 1/2-inch drive is ideal for torquing larger lugnuts on trucks

Cons

• We wish it came with an adapter for a 3/8-inch drive

This beam-style torque wrench is an affordable and easy-to-use precision tool. It’s accurate to within four percent of the listed measurement, and it provides torque in small, two foot-pound increments.

The silver lettering on a black measurement panel is easy to read. Plus, this torque wrench takes measurements clockwise and counterclockwise. It’s also built to last with steel construction and a rust-resistant chrome finish.

An oversized rubber handle gives you something substantial to grip while you’re taking torque readings. With its 1/2-inch drive and 150 foot-pound limit, it’s a good choice for lug nuts and other larger bolts.

Key Specs

Type	Beam
Drive Size	1/2 in
Torque Range	0-150 ft-lb
Accuracy	+/-4% clockwise, +/-4% counterclockwise

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Pros

• Offset head provides clearance when torquing lugnuts and other hard to reach fasteners
• We like how easy and precise it is to change settings
• It makes a loud reassuring click when you’ve hit the set torque

Cons

• Pricier than other split beam torque wrenches we’ve seen

This Precision Instruments torque wrench is a great option for anyone who finds themselves using this type of tool regularly. The settings are precise and easy to adjust. You also don’t need to adjust the wrench to its lowest torque setting when you’re done, as you do with standard click style torque wrenches that use a spring.

The flex head is convenient for creating clearance for your hand when tightening lugnuts and it makes a very loud click to let you know when you’ve reached the set torque. Of course, the tradeoff for these features and the tool’s ultra-premium construction is that it’s one of the more costly torque wrenches we recommend.

Key Specs

Type	Split Beam
Drive Size	1/2 in
Torque Range	40-250 ft-lb
Accuracy	n/a

Pros

• Handles larger fasteners with higher torque settings
• Reversible drive head works left-hand threaded screws
• Quick release button prevents it from getting stuck on fastener heads

Cons

• The torque range scale isn’t in contrasting colors, so some users report it’s difficult to read

This ½-inch torque wrench from CDI—owned by Snap-On, which is famous for quality and precision—is about as powerful as they come with an impressive torque range of 30 to 250 foot-pounds. Not only is that more than enough torque for automotive repairs, but it also works for heavy equipment and construction applications.

In addition to torquing in the standard clockwise direction, this wrench runs counterclockwise, which is useful for securing bolts with reverse threads, such as some lug nuts and some pieces of landscaping equipment.

A quick release button removes the sockets with ease after you’re done tightening, which might otherwise be challenging after applying such a heavy amount of torque.

Key Specs

Type	Click
Drive Size	1/2 in with 3/8-in adapter
Torque Range	30-250 ft-lb
Accuracy	+/-4% clockwise, +/-6% counterclockwise

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

What to Consider

Types of Torque Wrenches

Click

A click torque wrench gets its name from the audible “click” that sounds when you tighten a nut or bolt to the desired setting. To set the torque value, twist the rotating dial on the handle’s base—clockwise to increase the torque and counterclockwise to decrease it—until the indicator aligns with the torque value markings on the handle. Click torque wrenches, such as our top pick, the Tekton ½-Inch Drive Micrometer Torque Wrench, are relatively affordable and easy to use. While they have many applications, they’re most commonly used in the automotive industry to ensure various nuts and bolts are properly tightened to prevent them from coming loose.

Beam

A beam torque wrench, such as the Performance Tool Beam Style Torque Wrench, has a long arm (the “beam”) that runs from the head of the wrench to a scale near the base that measures torque. Consequently, you don’t need to set the torque to the specification you’re after; just tighten the fastener until the intended torque value registers on the scale.

This is typically the most inexpensive variety of torque wrench and among the most accurate. A beam torque wrench is quicker and easier to use than a click model if you are tightening several nuts and bolts to different torque specifications because you don’t need to reset the torque value for each fastener. That said, it’s more common to under tighten or over tighten a fastener with this type of torque wrench because the scale may be harder to read.

Split Beam

A split beam torque wrench, such as the Precision Instruments ½-Inch Drive Split-Beam Click Wrench, is essentially a click-style torque wrench with a different mechanism for setting the torque value. As opposed to twisting the handle, you twist a small dial located midway up the handle. Then, you tighten down the fastener until you hear the wrench “click.”

Setting the torque value with the dial saves time when compared to the process of twisting a knob up the length of the handle. This is particularly valuable if you are tightening multiple fasteners with different torque values. On the other hand, you pay up for this convenience, as split beam models are often more expensive than click wrenches.

Digital

A digital torque wrench, like the GearWrench ½-Inch Drive Electronic Torque Wrench, features an LCD screen that lets you set the torque value and registers the torque you’re applying to the fastener as you tighten. The wrench then notifies you when you reach your desired torque value in one or more ways: a beep, a vibration in the handle, a flashing light on the screen, or some combination of these. A digital torque wrench is the most accurate and easiest to use but also usually the most expensive.

Torque Range

You measure torque using either the imperial scale in foot-pounds or inch-pounds or the metric scale in newton meters. Most mechanical torque wrenches (the click, beam, and split beam types) include a dual-range scale with foot- or inch-pounds on one side and the corresponding newton meter scale on the other. Digital torque wrenches usually display all three that you toggle through on their LCD screens.

Depending on the wrench, the torque ranges anywhere from 0 to 300 foot-pounds, 0 to 1,000 inch-pounds, or 0 to 400 newton meters. To perform most automotive work, you’ll need a wrench with a range of 10 to 150 foot-pounds or 10 to 200 inch-pounds (and the corresponding newton meter). A smaller range of around 10 to 80 foot-pounds typically suffices for plumbing or HVAC jobs.

Drive Size

A torque wrench’s “drive” protrudes from the wrench’s head and is the square-shaped piece where the socket drive connects. As such, the drive size on the torque wrench must match the socket size. Additionally, the drive size heavily influences the maximum amount of torque a wrench is capable of withstanding and exerting. Larger drives generally correspond to higher torque values.

Handle length also plays a role in the amount of torque a wrench produces, so a larger drive also corresponds to a longer handle. Smaller drive sizes and shorter handle lengths have the lowest torque ranges but are also easier to maneuver in cramped and confined spaces (such as nuts and bolts deep inside your car’s engine bay). Larger drive sizes produce the most torque but are best for tasks where you have plenty of room to operate the longer handle (such as tightening lug nuts).

Torque wrenches are most commonly available with ¼-, ⅜-, and ½-inch drives; the latter two sizes are the most versatile for automotive applications. A ¼-inch drive is commonly found on power tools and works well on small engines (like landscape equipment), as well as plumbing and HVAC components.

Accuracy

You use a torque wrench to ensure that nuts and bolts are within a very specific and narrow range of torque. Because of this, a wrench’s ability to accurately measure the torque you apply is key to avoiding under- or over-tightening.

Torque wrench manufacturers perform calibration tests to measure a wrench’s accuracy. Accuracy ratings average around ±4 percent of the torque value indicated by a wrench’s scale, though higher-end wrenches can be calibrated as precisely as ±2 percent. Many of the high-end models also come with a certificate of calibration to prove that the wrench you purchased was calibrated prior to packaging.

Flexible vs. Fixed Head

A flexible torque wrench head pivots several inches up or down. This gives you some wiggle room when you’re working in tighter spaces where it might be difficult to fit a torque wrench. A fixed head does not pivot at all and is always perpendicular to the handle.

James Fitzgerald

Do torque wrenches require special sockets?

Torque wrenches don’t require special sockets and can use the same sockets compatible with a standard ratchet wrench. That being said, the drive size on the wrench needs to match the drive size on the socket. For example, a torque wrench with a ½-inch drive can only be used with a socket with the same ½-inch drive, unless you attach a drive-head adapter (⅜- to ½-inch for example) onto the wrench.

Do torque wrenches require maintenance?

****Torque wrenches don’t require a lot of maintenance, but they do require proper care. Although torque wrenches are fairly durable tools, you should do your best to avoid dropping them and carefully store them when they’re not being used. Click-type torque wrenches should also have the torque setting turned all the way down after you use it to prevent wearing out the internal spring.

What’s the difference between a torque wrench and an impact wrench?

****Impact wrenches are power tools—powered by either compressed air or electricity—that apply short, powerful bursts of twisting force to loosen or tighten bolts. Their most common uses include removing rusted, frozen, or heavily torqued bolts that can’t be loosened manually and tightening down a large quantity of bolts much quicker than a manual wrench could. Besides the difference of being a manually operated tool instead of a power tool, torque wrenches are capable of tightening bolts to exact torque specifications while impact wrenches can’t.

Tony Carrick is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in technology, home improvement, DIY, home security, and outdoor recreation. He’s tested and written about everything from home security systems to power tools to gas grills. His product guides, how-to articles, and feature stories can be found in such publications as Bob Vila, Angi, U.S. News and World Report, Field & Stream, Futurism, and Switchful. When Tony isn’t writing, he can be found working on his latest home improvement effort at his home in North Carolina.

James Fitzgerald is a home improvement freelance writer with over a decade of experience in a variety of trades—he has worked as a ranch hand, construction carpenter, tree climber, maintenance technician, and handyman. His freelance work focuses on DIY, landscaping, gardening, and home improvement. James’s writing has appeared in Bob Villa, The Family Handyman, The Spruce, HomeServe USA, Forbes Home, and This Old House.