The 10 Best Screwdriver Sets of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Basic as they are, screwdrivers are not a one-size-fits-all tool, nor does one type of screwdriver fit all situations. That’s why we researched 40 screwdriver sets before landing on the following top–notch sets that we could test and recommend to our readers.
Keep reading to learn more about the key features and considerations that guided our selection process. Later on, find out how each of these sets performed in our field tests, and why we considered them among the best screwdriver sets around.
- BEST OVERALL: Craftsman 8-Piece Bi-Material Screwdriver Set
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Vickay 6-Piece Magnetic Screwdriver Set
- BEST FOR MECHANICS: Gearwrench 20-Piece Dual-Material Screwdriver Set
- BEST HEAVY-DUTY: Milwaukee 2-Piece Demo Screwdriver Set
- BEST FOR ELECTRICIANS: Hurricane 13-Piece 1000V Insulated Screwdriver Set
- BEST MULTIBIT: Klein Tools 11-in-1 Magnetic Screwdriver/Nut Driver
- BEST RATCHET: Milwaukee 9-in-1 Ratcheting Multi-Bit Driver
- BEST PRECISION: Klein Tools Precision Screwdriver Set With Case
- BEST FOR WOODWORKERS: Felo Tools 5-Piece Wooden Handle Screwdriver Set
- BEST SCREWDRIVER BIT SET: Jackson Palmer 218-Piece Ultimate Screwdriver Bit Set
How We Tested the Best Screwdriver Sets
We searched dozens of popular and obscure brands and more than 15 retailers to find quality screwdriver sets in numerous categories. Comparing more than 40 different screwdriver sets against our shopping criteria, we ultimately whittled the list down to the recommendations in this guide. Following on our vetting process, we spent 8 hours field-testing these sets to ensure that they could aptly be called the best.
Our tests began with unboxing the tools. For each set, we noted the number and types of screwdrivers as well as a description of the materials and other physical details.
For general-purpose screwdrivers, we set up a simple comparison trial with four screwdrivers (or bits) from each set. Starting with a softwood 2×4 that had pilot holes predrilled, we used each tool to install and remove three deck screws. Then we repeated the process in an oak plank with wood screws. To test the precision screwdrivers, we replaced a smartwatch battery and disassembled an old CPU for recycling. To test the insulated screwdrivers, we installed two outdoor ceiling fans.
We noted the overall performance, user comfort, and any special features that stood out during operation. We also noted anything that seemed to be lacking in these areas. Finally, we compiled our notes on a scoring rubric before awarding each category.
Our Top Picks
We selected the following tools to help shoppers find the best screwdriver set for home maintenance, repairs, and building projects. Ahead, learn what is included in each set and how they performed in our tests.
Best Overall
Craftsman 8-Piece Bi-Material Screwdriver Set
This Bob Vila Approved product carries our brand’s highest level of recommendation.
Bob Vila Approved recognizes the household and DIY products that impressed us most in our real-world testing and that exemplify core values of the Bob Vila brand, including craftsmanship, innovation, and value for the dollar. Winners of this designation come recommended by our professional review team and are personally approved by Bob Vila.
Product Specs
- Number of screwdrivers: 8
- Head types: Phillips, slotted
- Handle type: Polypropylene plastic
What We Like
- Ergonomic cushion-grip handles with textured grip for variable twisting control
- Tough alloy-steel shafts with black-oxide tips improve screw contact, reduce cam-out issues
- Set includes PH1, PH2, PH3, 3/16, ¼, and 5/16-inch screwdrivers, plus PH2 and ¼-inch stubby screwdrivers
What We Don’t Like
- Round handles roll across hard surfaces
Every home and business needs a few common screwdrivers for routine maintenance. This set of eight Craftsman screwdrivers includes all of the most important Phillips and slotted screwdriver-head sizes in 1½ -, 3-, 4-, and 6-inch shaft lengths. These tools are made of alloy steel with black-oxide tips for toughness, secure fit, and reduced cam out (when a screwdriver bit slips out of a screw head), plus ergonomic polypropylene plastic handles for a secure grip with added torque.
We really liked the feel of the Craftsman set and its uncomplicated mix of options. The screwdrivers were comfortable to work with while manually installing and removing wood screws and deck screws in softwood and hardwood lumber. The soft textured polypropylene handles felt secure in the hand and allowed us to apply strong torque without slipping. The black-oxide tips fit nicely into the screw heads and held securely while we worked.
Although the kit only included Phillips and slotted screwdrivers, the three tip sizes of each type that were represented in this kit account for most household projects. Also, this was only one of two kits we tested that included stubby (1.5-inch) screwdrivers, which are indispensable for low-clearance work. The main downside was that the round handles tended to roll across hard surfaces. However, for a starter tool kit, this screwdriver set makes an excellent choice.
Get the Craftsman screwdriver set at Amazon, Ace Hardware, Lowe’s, or NAPA.
Best Bang for the Buck
Vickay 6-Piece Magnetic Screwdriver Set
Product Specs
- Number of screwdrivers: 6
- Head types: Phillips, slotted
- Handle type: Polypropylene plastic and thermoplastic rubber trilobe
What We Like
- Budget-friendly price point for basic screwdriver set
- Includes common sizes of slotted and Phillips-head screwdrivers
- Chrome-vanadium steel shaft with permanent magnetic tip
- Trilobe handles prevent tools from rolling on hard surfaces
What We Don’t Like
- Tip-size range skews toward smaller sizes
The Vickay screwdriver set makes a great choice for the average person who doesn’t typically engage in complicated DIY tasks. It includes both slotted and Phillips-head screwdrivers, the two most commonly needed screwdriver types. Each screwdriver in the set features a cushioned grip to help reduce hand fatigue and muscle strain.
This affordable set comes with three slotted screwdriver choices and three Phillips screwdrivers that range in size to take on a variety of common tasks at home. Screws will cling to the magnetic tips on these screwdrivers, helping to ensure accuracy and control while driving screws. A chrome-vanadium steel shaft on each screwdriver adds strength and durability and resists corrosion.
The Vickay 6-piece set offered excellent value, with a comparatively low price point plus functionality and flexibility. The tip sizes were skewed small, but the tiny size “0” Phillips-head and ⅛-inch slotted heads offered precision-like functionality that is particularly useful for electronics repair. The other four drivers (PH1, PH2, 3/16, and ¼-inch slotted) are the right size for minor home repair and DIY projects.
This set also featured nicely defined trilobe handles (trilobe refers to the three “lobes” of rubber overmold, which alternate with the hard plastic surface of the handle for improved grip and torque) that resisted rolling on hard surfaces and the strongest magnetic tips of any set we tested. The grips were comfortable to work with and easy to get a strong hold. Overall, this set is a nice choice for a bargain price.
Get the Vickay screwdriver set at Amazon.
Best for Mechanics
Gearwrench 20-Piece Dual-Material Screwdriver Set
Product Specs
- Number of screwdrivers: 20
- Head types: Phillips, slotted, Torx
- Handle type: Plastic and rubber trilobe
What We Like
- Oil- and solvent-resistant trilobe handles for durability and comfort
- Chrome-vanadium steel alloy shafts with magnetic black-oxide tips for strength and grip
- Select screwdrivers include hex bolster for wrench-assisted screwdriving
- Kit includes 2 stubby screwdrivers and 6 precision screwdrivers for maximum versatility
What We Don’t Like
- Premium price point for quality tools
- Handle lobes are not flat enough to prevent the tools from rolling
- Handle did not offer much cushion for extended use
Gearwrench’s set features 20 screwdrivers in the most common sizes and types. A dual-material grip provides comfort and precision, while an ergonomically shaped handle enhances hold and driving force.
Gearwrench’s Speed Zone, located on the handle just before the shaft, has a more textured surface for added grip. This gives users better control and improved speed when they need to back off quickly or run down screws.
We really liked the versatility of this large screwdriver set. It includes two stubby screwdrivers and a few others with long, 8-inch shafts, which should offer good reach for most automobile, outdoor power equipment, or household projects. Plus, the kit includes an assortment of six precision screwdrivers to help with smaller tasks. Twenty screwdrivers is quite a lot, so this may be enough to outfit the garage and garden shed.
In our tests, the smooth trilobe handles felt firm and just grippy enough to get a good hold under normal conditions, but sweaty or greasy hands might slip on the surface. The handles did not provide much cushioning to speak of and the lobes were not flat enough to prevent the screwdrivers from rolling.
The magnetic tips were helpful while starting and removing screws, while the hex bolsters on the six largest screwdrivers made it easy to use a wrench for added torque; if the hex section were ½ inch longer, it would be even easier to use. We also liked the control offered by the spin caps on the precision drivers.
With magnetic, black-oxide tips for added recess grip and torque, this makes an excellent set for DIY mechanics and home improvement specialists.
*Editor’s note: The set we received for testing is, as of publishing, not the most current version of this set. Both versions offer many of the same features. We have linked to our tested version here, but the newer version is also available through the same link.
Get the Gearwrench screwdriver set at Amazon.
Best Heavy-Duty
Milwaukee 2-Piece Demo Screwdriver Set
Product Specs
- Number of screwdrivers: 2
- Head types: Phillips, slotted
- Handle type: Plastic and rubber trilobe with steel cap
What We Like
- Forged-steel hex shank extends through the handle; provides durability and shock absorption
- Comfortable trilobe handle offers excellent and comfortable grip
- Impact-resistant steel handle caps improve durability for demolition projects
What We Don’t Like
- Screwdriver tips are not magnetic
- Large tip sizes are only suitable for large screw heads
If the first tool requirement for a project is heavy-duty performance, these Milwaukee screwdrivers may fit the bill. The wrench-ready hex shanks are constructed of forged steel. The metal core goes all the way through the handle, ending in an impact-resistant, heat-treated steel cap at the top of the handle. The comfortable trilobe-handle design gives users an improved grip for improved leverage. This 2-piece demolition screwdriver set also includes quick reference markings on the handles for easy tool identification.
These Milwaukee demolition screwdrivers are stoutly constructed for heavy-duty use, which made them outliers in our tests. We had to purchase larger screws and drill wider pilot holes into our hardwood and softwood pieces to test them accurately.
The synthetic trilobe grips were extremely comfortable with generous proportions and a slightly cushioned surface, allowing us to deliver maximum torque. The tips gripped the screw heads well and stayed in the slots without slipping. The weight-to-length ratio of these drivers felt well-balanced, thanks to the shaft-through-the-handle, or full-tang, design. We liked that the hexagonal shaft shape extends from the handle all the way to the tool tip, allowing us to use a wrench at the most convenient point for added leverage. Forged steel hex shafts and steel strike caps make these screwdrivers a top pick for tough jobs.
Get the Milwaukee 2-piece screwdriver set at Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, or Blain’s Farm & Fleet.
Best for Electricians
Hurricane 13-Piece 1000V Insulated Screwdriver Set
Product Specs
- Number of screwdrivers: 11
- Head types: Phillips, slotted, Torx, Pozidriv
- Handle type: Plastic, removable insulated locking handle
What We Like
- Hardened chrome-vanadium steel magnetic tips with manganese phosphate surface for increased durability
- Provides insulated electrical protection up to 1,000 volts
- Space-saving kit includes a removable locking handle and 11 interchangeable drivers
- Kit includes a voltage probe to test for energized circuits safely before starting work
What We Don’t Like
- This kit does not include square drive bits (but this one does)
When working with electrical systems in the home, like replacing a light fixture or
repairing a loose wire on a wall outlet, an insulated screwdriver helps reduce the risk of accidental electrocution. Hurricane’s screwdriver set comes with 11 insulated screwdrivers and one interchangeable handle that will resist up to 1,000 volts of electricity. An included electroprobe tests the target material for electrical current.
The set includes four slotted, two Phillips-head, three Torx, and two Pozidriv screwdrivers made of chrome-vanadium shafts and manganese-phosphate tips, as well as a compact carrying case for safe storage.
In our screw-driving and removal tests, the Hurricane insulated screwdriver set worked efficiently. The textured plastic handle felt comfortable in the hand and held securely to the interchangeable screwdriver shafts with only the slightest wobble in the connection.
We also used these screwdrivers for electrical and support screws while installing several outdoor ceiling fans. The magnetic bit tips conveniently stuck to lightweight electrical junction box screws to prevent drops, but heavier exterior wood screws dropped off. The voltage probe worked to detect live outlets by simply inserting the tip into the outlet while covering the rear contact plate with the thumb.
We liked the neatly organized heavy-duty carry case but found the absence of a square drive bit (a common requirement for electrical work) a bit odd. Still, for common household electrical repairs and maintenance, this kit could come in really handy.
Get the Hurricane screwdriver set at Amazon<