Wrench Set Sizes in Order

On this page (6 sections)

1. What order do wrench set sizes follow?
2. Which set covers the sizes you actually need?
3. How do you choose between SAE and metric?
4. How should you set up and use a wrench?
5. What buying and care mistakes should you avoid?
6. Which wrench set sizes should you buy?

Wrench set sizes go from small to large in SAE inches or metric millimeters. Buy for the fasteners you need to turn, then check the full size list rather than judging a set by its piece count.

A range such as 8 to 24 mm tells you the endpoints, but it does not promise every size between them. Wrench style matters too: a fixed box end, ratcheting end, and flex head solve different access problems.

What order do wrench set sizes follow?

Arrange wrenches by opening size, with SAE and metric in separate groups. The marking describes the width across a nut or bolt head's opposite flat faces, not the bolt's thread diameter or the wrench's length.

Metric sizes are easy to sort because larger numbers mean larger openings. SAE fractions need a little more care: 7/16 in comes before 1/2 in because 1/2 equals 8/16.

Common SAE wrench set sizes in order

A common SAE sequence runs from 1/4 through 1 in, with some sets adding smaller sizes, intermediate fractions, or larger openings.

Read each column downward, moving left to right. This is a reference sequence, not a promise about any particular set's contents.

Less common entries can sit between these sizes. For example, 9/32 in falls between 1/4 and 5/16 in, while 11/32 in falls between 5/16 and 3/8 in.

Common metric wrench sizes in order

Metric wrenches follow whole-number millimeter sizes, but sets often leave gaps.

A useful reference sequence is 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 mm. Smaller wrenches can matter for compact hardware, while larger equipment may need sizes beyond this sequence.

If you also need sockets, use our SAE and metric socket set size chart. A matching size label fits the same nominal fastener size, but the wrench set and socket set may include different selections.

Which set covers the sizes you actually need?

Choose by exact coverage first, then by access and storage. These 4 sets suit different jobs, and none includes every size a repair might require.

EFFICERE: for occasional repairs and a portable kit

The 24-piece master combination wrench set suits someone who wants conventional wrenches for mixed household and garage jobs. Its roll-up pouch gives each tool a storage place and packs into a larger tool bag.

Its SAE sizes are 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 13/16, 7/8, and 1 in. Metric coverage is 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, and 24 mm.

Choose it when you want a straightforward set to carry between jobs. The 15-degree offset box ends provide clearance for your fingers around nearby surfaces.

Skip it if you need ratcheting action or any of its missing intermediate sizes. In particular, check for 9, 16, 20, or 22 mm requirements before making it your only wrench set.

GEARWRENCH: for repeated work with broad midrange coverage

The GEARWRENCH 30-piece set suits regular maintenance where you want to keep the box end on the fastener between strokes. Its thin heads and beams help where surrounding parts restrict access.

Metric coverage includes every whole-number size from 8 through 22 mm, plus 24 mm. SAE coverage follows the reference chart above and adds 11/32 in.

The ratcheting box ends need as little as a 5-degree swing, and markings on both ends of the beams help you identify sizes. GEARWRENCH's off-corner loading design is intended to improve grip and reduce rounding.

Choose this set for repeated turning with limited handle movement. Skip it if your main need is miniature hardware below 8 mm, SAE fasteners above 1 in, or a pivoting head.

Craftsman: for miniature hardware and larger SAE fasteners

The Craftsman 32-piece set suits a workbench that handles both small hardware and larger inch-size fasteners. It includes miniature wrenches rather than using every piece to fill the middle of the range.

Metric coverage is 5 through 15 mm and 17 through 22 mm. SAE sizes are 7/32, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 7/8, 15/16, 1, 1-1/16, and 1-1/8 in.

Large markings help with size identification, and the box ends have a 15-degree offset for knuckle clearance. This is a useful choice when both ends of its size range match your equipment.

Skip it as a complete answer if you need 16 mm or 13/16 in, since both are absent. It also uses conventional box ends rather than ratcheting ones.

WORKPRO: for awkward angles on smaller fasteners

The WORKPRO 22-piece set suits jobs where a fixed handle angle blocks access. Its box-end heads pivot up to 180 degrees, letting you change the handle angle while keeping the head seated.

Metric sizes are 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 mm. SAE sizes are 1/4, 9/32, 5/16, 11/32, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, and 3/4 in.

Its 72-tooth ratcheting mechanism works with a 5-degree swing, and a storage box keeps the set together. Choose it when angled access matters more than coverage of larger fasteners.

Skip it if you regularly need sizes beyond its upper limits or need 11 mm. A flex head changes the handle angle; it does not make an oversized opening fit a smaller fastener.

How do you choose between SAE and metric?

Follow the equipment's specifications rather than choosing whichever wrench feels close. A mixed workshop can justify both systems, while a kit dedicated to one machine should follow that machine's fasteners.

Start with its manual, service instructions, or parts information. If those do not identify the size, measure across the fastener's opposite flats with calipers, then confirm the fit with the wrench.

Do not use the threaded shaft's diameter to choose the wrench. Head markings can identify properties such as strength grade, but they do not reliably state the required opening.

Our guide to SAE or metric socket sets explains the same measurement choice for sockets. Keep the two systems separate in storage so you can find the correct wrench quickly.

How should you set up and use a wrench?

Seat the correct size fully and check the handle's path before applying force. Clear away dirt that prevents the tool from sitting squarely on the fastener.

Use the box end when you can slide it over the head or nut. The open end helps when access from above is blocked or the fastener surrounds a line.

Check that a ratcheting end turns in the direction you need. Also watch the space around it: backing a bolt outward can trap a closed box end against a nearby obstruction.

Pull with controlled pressure when practical, keeping your hand clear of sharp edges. If the wrench rocks, slips, or starts to climb off the fastener, stop and check its size and seating.

Do not add a pipe for extra leverage or strike an ordinary wrench with a hammer. For specified final tightness, use a torque wrench rather than guessing from hand pressure.

If a socket has a clear path to the fastener, it may be easier to use for repeated turns. See how to use a socket set for the basic steps.

What buying and care mistakes should you avoid?

Avoid missing sizes, poor fit, and storage that hides gaps. Those problems matter more than owning the set with the highest piece count.

• Buying by endpoints: A wide range can still omit the one size your repair needs.
• Counting both ends as extra coverage: A combination wrench normally has the same nominal size at both ends.
• Treating ratcheting as extra leverage: It reduces repositioning; it does not justify forcing a stuck fastener.
• Ignoring surrounding space: Check access above the fastener, beside it, and along the handle's swing.
• Putting tools away wet: Wipe off moisture, dirt, and grease before returning them to storage.

Keep wrenches in size order and check for empty spaces after a job. Inspect the openings and ratcheting action before reuse, and set aside tools with cracks, distorted jaws, or unreliable engagement.

If you're building a larger kit, our mechanics tool sets buying guide explains how wrenches fit alongside sockets and ratchets. For help avoiding duplicate tools, read how to choose a mechanics tool set.

Which wrench set sizes should you buy?

Choose the wrench set sizes that cover your equipment's actual fasteners, then pick the head style that suits the available space. Write down your required sizes and compare them with the complete contents before ordering.

Choose GEARWRENCH for broad midrange coverage with ratcheting action, or EFFICERE for occasional conventional-wrench work in a roll-up pouch. Choose Craftsman for miniature sizes and larger SAE coverage, or WORKPRO when pivoting heads solve an access problem.

A set that covers most jobs plus one separately bought missing size can be more useful than a larger set with the same gap. If you're adding sockets, compare socket drive sizes next: drive size describes the ratchet connection, not the fastener opening.

Frequently asked questions

What are the standard wrench set sizes?

There is no single standard range for wrench sets. Common SAE sets cover fractional sizes from 1/4 to 1 in, while many metric sets cover sizes between 8 and 19 mm or beyond.

Read the complete size list because the smallest and largest sizes do not reveal gaps.

Are SAE and metric wrench sizes interchangeable?

Use the measurement system and exact size specified for the fastener. Some SAE and metric openings are close, but extra play can let the wrench slip and damage corners under load.

If you cannot identify the size, measure across opposite flats and confirm a snug fit before applying force.

What wrench sizes are most useful for home repairs?

The most useful sizes are the ones fitted to your furniture, equipment, and vehicles. Check manuals or measure accessible fasteners before choosing a set.

Dual-system coverage helps with mixed equipment, but a missing size you need matters more than several extra sizes you may never use.

How do I read wrench sizes?

The size marked on a wrench describes its opening across the fastener's opposite flats. A 13 mm marking means metric, while 1/2 in means SAE.

Neither marking describes the handle length or bolt thread diameter, so match the wrench to the head or nut rather than the threaded shaft.