With many types of wrenches, like pipe, socket or pedal wrenches (distinctive specialty wrenches used to fix bicycles, or pedal boats), the hard part is knowing which to use to tighten or loosen a nut or bolt.
All generally work the same: the wrench slot opening fits around the square or hexagonal head of the nut or bolt while providing a firm grip with mechanical advantage with torque.
This guide provides friendly background information on the vast range of available wrenches and also helps you decide which would be best for your project.
Types of Wrenches
#1. Socket Wrench.
Best for: Tight spaces with multiple sizes of fasteners.
A socket wrench is a common tool for automotive professionals and DIYers alike. The wrench comes with multiple heads based on the nut or bolt size.
To change the head, pull the socket off of the wrench and push the new socket onto the drive square on the end of the wrench.
This type of wrench has a ratcheting mechanism that locks the wrench when force is applied in the direction you are turning, then unlocks when the wrench is turned in the opposite direction and spins freely.
This enables fastener tightening or loosening quickly without repositioning the wrench for each turn.
#2. Ratcheting Wrench.
Best for: Tightening and loosening bolts without needing to reset the wrench.
Like a socket wrench, a ratcheting wrench has the ratcheting function, which will engage and apply force in one direction and disengage in the opposite direction. The wrench does not need to be removed and repositioned after each wrench turn.
Ratcheting wrenches are similar to a box-ended wrench but have a ratcheting device inside the end of the wrench. The mechanism improves the tool’s ability to work on nuts and bolts in tight spaces, where it would be difficult to reposition the wrench for each turn of the fastener.
#3. Pipe Wrench.
Best for: Working with large plumbing fittings, pipes, and fasteners.
A pipe wrench is purely an apparatus for working with pipes. To be specific, they are the articles used when working with plumbing pipe, fittings, and large fasteners. These are long, heavy metal tools that have metal teeth purposely to grip the material you are working on, so the wrench doesn’t slip while applying torque to the fitting.
The downside of the wrench is that the teeth will leave small scratch marks and indentications behind in the metal. Pipe wrenches are great for large fittings and fasteners, but they do not serve the same purpose for small fasteners because the piping wrench is cumbersome and will have difficulty gripping a fitting with a small surface area.
#4. Open-Ended Wrench.
Best for: Hard-to-reach nuts and bolts.
The open-ended wrench is a recognizable type of wrench. It has two open ends, usually of slightly different sizes, so one wrench can work on a broader range of fittings.
The open-ended wrench is also a general-use type of wrench, which is why you commonly see them in standard tool kits in various sizes. The long neck of the wrench allows one open-ended head to slide into narrow crevices to reach nuts and bolts that may otherwise be impossible to loosen or tighten.
#5. Oil Filter Wrench.
Best for: Loosening and tightening oil filters.
Another special-use wrench is the oil filter wrench, which is designed specifically to loosen and tighten oil filters. Oil filter wrenches are used by mechanics and experienced DIYers who change oil on various vehicles.
The oil filter wrench has one short side and one long round side, which bend around the oil filter and grip it tightly. You may also see a chain-style oil filter wrench and strap-style oil filter wrench. Both strap-style and chain-style work on the same principle of forming a tight-loops over an oil filter to loosen or tighten the oil filter.
#6. Monkey Wrench.
The monkey wrench is another commonly used type of wrench. A monkey wrench is an adjustable tool that has parallel, smooth jaws that can fit a range of nut or bolt sizes with an adjustable screw. The monkey wrench has a straight handle.
Because of the monkey wrench’s design, it can grip fasteners tightly, while the smooth jaws prevent surfaces from damage. You typically see the monkey wrench in plumbing, mechanical, or general repairs. The strong design inherent to the tool allows them to handle thick and bulky fasteners, making it easier to change one fastener’s size compared to another.
If you are looking for a strong monkey wrench to assist with some heavy-duty tasks, we recommend this style from Deen. The grooves that are cut into the mouth of the wrench helps to prevent rounded corners of nuts and bolts, as there is less of a need to tighten fasteners by brute-force.
Another strong option is a monkey wrench from Engineer. This wrench has a non-slip handle and a thin-jaw design that helps reduce the weight of the tool, making it a popular choice for women or people who require a lighter-weight design.
#7. Chain Wrench.
The chain wrench is a tool used to grip and turn cylindrical objects like pipes, especially when other wrenches don’t grab properly.
A chain wrench is a handle that has a length of chain secured to it so that the chain wraps around the object, and when the handle is pulled, the chain grips the pipe with friction and allows for significant torque.
Chain wrenches are ideal for working with larger diameter pipes or in tight of spaces where a standard wrench doesn’t fit.
The chain wrench is adjustable and can reach around different diameter pipes, thus making the tool suitable for a wide range of tasks in plumbing, construction, and industrial tasks, especially when it is necessary to apply strong and reliable gripping for turning smooth or irregular shaped objects.
#8. Crescent Wrench.
Best for: Tightening and loosening a variety of fasteners.
The crescent or adjustable wrench is so popular with DIYers because it is versatile. These wrenches have an open end that can be changed in size by simply turning a screw at the back of the jaws.
Instead of finding an open-ended wrench that fits a fastener or fitting, you can adjust the crescent wrench to fit.
#9. Pedal Wrench.
Best for: Repairing and maintaining bikes, pedal carts, or pedal boats.
The pedal wrench certainly has a fitting name, as this type of wrench is used specifically for working on pedals.
While pedal wrenches are typically found in bike repair shops, some people on fairground maintenance crews may also use them to repair or maintain pedal cars or pedal boats.
#10. Box-Ended Wrench.
Best for: Tightening or loosening hexagonal or square nuts and bolts.
The box-ended wrench (sometimes referred to as a ‘spark plug wrench’) has two closed ends of slightly varying sizes so that each end can be used to loosen or tighten fasteners of slightly different sizes.
The user simply slides the end of the wrench over the nut (or bolt head) and turns in the desired direction.
Because the ends of box-ended wrenches are closed shapes, they grip fasteners better than open-ended wrenches, and they experience less chance of slipping or stripping the fit during use.tings.
#11. Dog Bone Wrench.
Best for: Repairing bicycles.
Often found at bicycle repair shops, the dog bone wrench is also referred to as the dumbbell wrench because it’s shape resembles a dumbbell or dog bone.
A dog bone wrench has a thin handle that’s stretched between two bulky heads and each head is shaped like a box and contains several sockets of different sizes.
The dog bone wrench is a versatile tool that makes quick repairs to bicycles and, for that matter, any object with fasteners that closely match the size of sockets.
#12. Combination Wrench.
Best for: Universal fit, fastening, and loosening.
To accommodate the requirement of either a box-ended wrench or an open-ended wrench, one can utilize a combination wrench. A combination wrench has one open end and a closed box-end.
The open end that is crescent shaped makes it easier to reposition quickly when loosening a fastener, and the generating end (the closed box-end) has the advantage of keeping a better grip on tough nuts and bolts.
#13. Striking Wrench.
Best for: Releasing fasteners that are stuck/rusted.
Striking wrenches are intended to provide a large amount of force when loosening a stuck or rusted fastener.
The wrench has a block on the end that is specifically for striking with a hammer, so you can stop worrying about breaking a regular wrench when dealing with a stuck nut and bolt.
Striking wrenches are heavy-duty wrenches that are typically used in metals, plumbing, electrical work and similar.
#14. Crowfoot Wrench.
Best for: Fittings that are in tight spaces.
A crowfoot wrench is simply the head of an open-ended wrench without the handle. It is a ratchet fitting like a socket wrench that fits over the end of a nut or bolt and provides access where most wrenches can’t reach.
Crowfoot wrenches can be used alone as a starter, or they can connect to the end of a socket wrench square drive, or in combination works better for even longer spaces when using an extension drive that is larger, through smaller spaces.
#15. Cone Wrench.
Best for: Adjusting cones of cup and cone bearings on a bicycle.
Cone wrenches are, of course, seen in bicycle repair shops and with some home-levelers. These are thin pieces of metal with square holes on each end to tighten, or loosen, the cones of cup and cone bearings on a bicycle.
#16. Lug Wrench.
Best for: Removing and reinstalling car wheels.
Most people will have or should have a lug wrench in their vehicle in the event of a flat tire. A lug wrench is a tool used to tighten and loosen big lug nuts that hold a wheel onto a vehicle.
They are typically one to two feet long and have an L-shape design. However, you can also find X-wrench lug wrenches with four heads that vary in size, just as the L-shaped lug wrench only has one head.
#17. Impact Wrench.
Best for: Fast, powerful, pneumatically driven, tightening and loosening.
Impact wrenches are one of the more expensive type o wrenches. An impact wrench looks similar to a drill, but has a large body and a trigger to drive the wrench head in a similar function to a drill. Instead of drill bits, an impact wrench uses a socket, and the socket is dependent on the size of the fasteners you are replacing.
To drive these sockets, it connects to an air compressor. An air compressor provides the impact wrench is able to drive the sockets rapidly and to change the level of force applying for tightening or loosening.
#18. Plumber’s Wrench.
Best for: Gripping pipes and plumbing fittings.
With a name like a plumber’s wrench, the tool’s intent is not really hard to guess. It is used for pipes, plumbing fixtures, and related fasteners. It has a set of jaws shaped like hexagonal nuts, and the jaws can be open or closed by a control handle, just like pliers.
You can open the jaws with a slide bolt for a tighter grip on bigger pipes or fittings. Channel locks, also a term for plumber’s wrenches, are highly useful pieces of equipment for a large variety of plumbing projects.
#19. Fan Clutch Wrench.
Best for: Removing fan clutches.
A fan clutch wrench is used for removing the fan clutch from a car, truck, van, or other vehicle. This type of wrench has a U-shaped opening at one end that allows the user to quickly remove or install a fan clutch.
In addition, for a clutch holding tool, this tool has a square-shaped opening on the other end, and when used with another wrench, one can remove or replace a hex nut.
#20. Strap Wrench.
Best for: Gripping round or circular objects.
A strap wrench is designed to loosen or tighten a round or circular object, like a strap style oil filter wrench. A strap wrench has a rubber, fabric, or metal strap (or chain) that extends out the handle and loops through the handle to make a closed loop.
To use, fit the loop over the container lid or round plumbing fitting that you want to turn, then adjust the loose portion of the loop to tighten the strap to grab the fastener, and provide the force necessary to tighten or loosen the fitting.
#21. Pliers Wrench.
Best for: Adjustable grip on nuts, bolts, and plumbing fittings.
Pliers wrenches have flat edged jaws that are at about a 45-degree angle to the handle. To grab the target, the user opens and closes the jaws like a normal set of pliers. The opening of the jaws can be adjusted to be bigger or smaller by sliding a bolt between two or more locations on the upper handle of the wrench.
This tool works great for switching fasteners that are different sizes quickly. The jaws can be adjusted quickly and easily.
#22. Allen Wrench.
Best for: Unscrewing or gripping screws or similar fasteners.
An allen wrench is a hexagonal bar that has been bent into an L-shape. Each end of the bar can be inserted in the matching hexagonal hole on a screw or other fastener, allowing the user to tighten or loosen the fitting.
Some types of furniture are shipped with an allen wrench and directions on how to assemble the furniture, so you can quickly install and tighten fasteners with an allen recess.
#23. Self-Adjusting Wrench.
Best for: Automatically adjusts to the right size to grip the fastener.
Self-adjusting wrenches are a standard plumbing tool to hold pipes in place or turn fasteners. The head of this wrench has one small fixed size and one larger, rounded side that opened wider based on the size of the pipe or fitting.
To apply pressure to the fitting, just turn the wrench. The teeth inside of the wrench head will bite into the material and prevent the wrench from slipping. Also, the jaws of the self-adjusting wrench automatically ratchet back between turns, allowing the user to continue to tighten or loosen fasteners without re-positioning the wrench.
#24. Saltus Wrench.
Best for: Enhanced manoeuvrability and working at odd angles.
The Saltus wrench can also be called a flex-head socket wrench because one end of the wrench has a socket that pivots on a small, durable hinge. The other end of the wrench is an ordinary open-ended head.
These types of wrenches are offered at a variety of sizes, so you can to find correct ones based on the size of the fasteners you are working with.
#25. Flare Nut Wrench.
Best for: Improved grip when working with hexagonal nuts and fittings.
A flare nut wrench is like a box-end wrench and an open-ended wrench combined because the shape of each end is the same as a box-end wrench but each end has an opening like an open-ended wrench.
The difference in a flare nut wrench is that the opening of the flare nut wrench head is much narrower than that of an open-ended wrench head.
This makes a greater contact area between the wrench and the hexagonal fasteners while gripping and allowing force to be applied without the wrench slipping on the fittings.
#26. Basin Wrench.
Best for: Working under sinks.
The basin wrench, barely recognizable as a wrench to most people, is an irregularly-shaped tool for disconnecting faucets under sink basins.
The basin wrench has a long, T-shaped handle with a head at the bottom with a curved jaw that somewhat resembles the top of an “S.”
A basin wrench will allow you to turn the faucet fittings under the sink without bending or stretching or crawling inside a cabinet below the sink. Some would say a basin wrench does not provide the best control of which few features the tool does provide.
Therefore, many licensed plumbers or local do-it-yourselfers would choose a plumber’s wrench or plier wrench as a substitute for a basin wrench.
#27. Torque Wrench.
Best for: Tightening fasteners to a predetermined torque level.
Torque wrench tools are designed for working on vehicles, machinery, or other projects requiring a high level of torque when fastening. A torque wrench tighens (or loosens) a fastener to a predetermined torque level so that the fitting is neither over-tight or under-tight for the application.
Torque wrenches are well known in automotive repair shops and are made in a few styles such as manual, digital, and others. It is important to mention that torque wrenches are not designed to loosen fittings. Using a torque wrench for this purpose can damage the torque wrench forcing you to recalibrate the tool or purchase a new torque wrench.
#28. Tap Wrench.
This tap wrench functions like a key that fits a square drive of a tap. It is used to cut female threads, for example, inside a nut. Tap wrenches come in T-shaped, or as a double-handle bar with an attachment socket in the center.
#29. Spud Wrench.
The spud wrench, an open-wrench spike on the opposing end was used to line the holes on the pipes, has fallen out of common use.
The plumber’s wrench has made it all but obsolete, but it can still be found in the occasional toolbox.
#30. Alligator Wrench.
The alligator wrench has serrated jaws in the front and smooth jaws in the back. It got the name “alligator” because of the way it gripped nuts.
The handle of the wrench resembles a tooth more than a modern pipe wrench consisting of jaws and was designed to manage square heads for fittings. It has been rare to see a full-sized version outside of a film.
#31. Armorer’s Wrench.
This armorer’s or single-piece wrench has a C-shaped serrated head and involves a square slot and/or a hole for the ratchet handle. They come in many designs and typically in the specific type or size of the model of gun. They are used for gun repair and maintenance.
#32. Drum Key.
A drum key/ square-hole socket wrench consists of a T-shape wrench with a flat handle. As the name suggests, it tunes different percussion instruments like drums. A drum key with long handles gives you more torque than a drum key with short handles.
#33. Bung Wrench.
A bung wrench is a socket wrench in many different styles and designs also called a drum plug wrench. It was specifically designed to remove the plastic or metal bung (cap) on a drum or barrel.
#34. Hammer Wrench.
A hammer wrench has a short, thick profile and block end you strike with a hammer to transmit a blunt force. It is also known as a striking wrench. Use a hammer wrench to tighten large flange fittings and fasteners.
A hammer wrench can release a stuck or rusted nut/bolt by applied force. It is a heavy-duty wrench used for electrical, plumbing, and metal work.
#35. Spoke Wrench.
Spoke wrenches are small, specifically designed to adjust company spokes on wire wheels. One end has a slot to fit around the spoke, and the other end has a drive head to fit around the nipple nut.
Because of their size and shape, a spoke wrench can be rotated completely in a cycle without removing the tool. To get a spoke wrench, visit a bike repair shop. Some adjustments may look closer to a small open wrench, while others look more like the curved flat metal.
Choosing a Wrench
Before you buy a wrench for your workshop, think about the different projects you usually take care of at home or work. Choose a wrench for whatever job you need to do. Suppose you are tightening regular nuts and bolts; then an ordinary DIY wrench, such as a crescent, open-ended, or box-ended wrench will suit you.
For automotive repair, you may need an oil filter wrench, fan clutch wrench, or torque wrench, of course. Or, you may be able to use a ratcheting wrench or a socket wrench, also to loosen (or tighten) fasteners in a tight spot.
More specific wrenches would be basins or pedal wrenches and you will only need to use them for specific jobs. After assessing your needs for the job, check the wrench size to see if it will work for the fasteners you are working with in the first place otherwise you will be spending your money on something that will not work for the project.