The 12 Best Adjustable Wrenches of 2023

Best Overall

Channellock 8WCB WideAzz 8-Inch Adjustable Wrench

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The Channellock WideAzz 8-Inch Adjustable Wrench is likely to become your most reached-for wrench, thanks to its superior design, which incorporates just about everything you might look for in a crescent wrench. While it's also available in a 10-inch length, we like the 8-inch model because it is long enough for reaching most nuts and bolts, but not so long that it's awkward to turn in a tight spot. Plus, the jaws expand to an impressive 1 1/2 inches—the feature that gives the tool its name. You'd generally need to use a 12-inch wrench to get that kind of jaw capacity.

The jaws are a bit thinner and longer than most other 8-inch crescent wrenches, making this a great choice when reaching into awkward or tight spaces. Once you have the wrench tightened around the nut, you'll find that the WideAzz grips tightly without easily slipping out of place. There's a scale on one side of the wrench showing SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) measurements in fractions of inches, and a metric ruler on the other side, which is helpful when you need to tighten a fastener precisely. The four-threaded adjustment knob—sometimes referred to as the "knurl"—helps reduce jaw "wiggle," which is a common but annoying issue with many adjustable wrenches.

The wrench is made of chrome vanadium steel for durability. The handle is covered with slightly rubbery blue plastic, which helps you keep a firm grip on the tool even if your hands get wet or sweaty.

Price at time of publish: $42

_{Length: 8 inches | Jaw Capacity: 1 1/2 inches | Measurement Scale: SAE and metric | Weight: 12 ounces}

Best Budget

Irwin Vise-Grip 2078610 Adjustable Wrench

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You can get a reasonably priced adjustable wrench without sacrificing quality, and the Irwin Vise-Grip is the proof. This 10-inch wrench has a 1 1/4-inch jaw capacity, which is large enough for most common uses around the home or garage. It's made of chrome vanadium steel for extra durability, and the handle is covered with a comfortable plastic grip that keeps the tool steady in your hands even when working on wet plumbing fittings. One side of the wrench has metric measurements between the jaws, while the other side has SAE measurements in 1/16ths of an inch.

While the adjustment knob of this wrench has only three threads, it doesn't suffer much from annoying wiggle or play when gripping a nut. For the price, this is a great addition to your tool box, whether you use tools daily or just once or twice a year. The wrench is also available in a 10-inch length if you need something a bit bigger.

Price at time of publish: $28

_{Length: 10 inches | Jaw Capacity: 1 1/4 inches | Measurement Scale: SAE and metric | Weight: 1 pound}

Best Splurge

Knipex 86 05 180 Pliers Wrench

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This ingenious tool combines the functions of an adjustable wrench and pliers into one handy device that not only grasps nuts and bolts for easy tightening or loosening but has many other uses as well. It can be used to snap edges of tile, hold pieces together while an adhesive dries, cut cable ties, and hold, turn, bend, or clamp just about any other object that can fit within its maximum jaw capacity of 1 3/8 inches. Unlike typical crescent wrenches, this tool does not have an adjustment screw but rather has a push-button adjustment function with 13 possible positions. This allows you to angle the self-ratcheting tool into the angle best suited for your needs while maintaining a secure grip without wiggle or slip.

The Knipex Pliers Wrench is made of chrome vanadium steel and has ergonomically designed comfort-grip handles. It has a slim head that easily reaches into tight spaces and an overall length of 7 1/4 inches. While you might not need this admittedly expensive wrench if you rarely open your tool box, it's well worth the investment if you work as a handyperson, plumber, or mechanic, or just like being able to carry one reliable tool in place of several wrenches, sockets, and pliers.

Price at time of publish: $52

_{Length: 7 1/4 inches | Jaw Capacity: 1 3/8 inches | Measurement Scale: SAE and metric | Weight: 10 ounces}

Best Set

Workpro 4-piece Adjustable Wrench Set

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If you do a lot of work on plumbing or other projects that require a variety of wrench sizes, it's convenient and also economical to buy a set rather than purchase individual wrenches. And with this 4-piece set from Workpro, you get a 6-inch, 8-inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch adjustable wrench, all made from strong chrome-plated steel. While this isn't a professional-level set of tools, it's more than adequate for basic repairs and other commonly handled DIY tasks around the house or garage.

The 6-inch wrench has a 3/4-inch jaw capacity, the 8-inch wrench opens to a maximum of 15/16ths of an inch, the 10-inch wrench has a 1-1/8-inch jaw capacity, and the 12-inch wrench's jaw capacity is 1 5/16-inch. That's slightly below average for crescent wrenches, so you won't want these if your projects often involve very large nuts and bolts, but they will handle the most common sizes of fasteners.

Price at time of publish: $25

_{Length: 6, 8, 10, 12 inches | Jaw Capacity: Varies | Measurement Scale: SAE | Weight: 3 pounds for the set}

Best Extra-Large

Olympia Tool 01-015 15-Inch Adjustable Wrench

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This beast of a wrench measures nearly 15 inches in length and weighs almost 3 pounds, so it's going to take up quite a bit of space in your tool box. But if you need a sizable wrench for tightening or loosening equally sizable nuts and bolts, then this is your best choice. Made of chrome-plated alloyed steel, this sturdy tool has a jaw capacity of 1 3/4 inches, and the adjustment knob works smoothly without excessive wiggle or play. A bit unusual for a crescent wrench, this one does not have "teeth" on the inner surface of the jaws for extra grip. That can be a good feature, however, if you are concerned about damaging the object you are turning.

This is a very useful adjustable wrench for automotive work, plumbing or irrigation projects, attaching or detaching trailer or boat hitches, or similar tasks that involve large fasteners. If 15 inches isn't big enough for your needs, Olympia Tool also makes the same wrench in 18-inch and 24-inch sizes. All are reasonably priced, durable options that are good additions to a handyperson's tool box.

Price at time of publish: $13

_{Length: 14 3/4 inches | Jaw Capacity: 1 3/4 inches | Measurement Scale: SAE | Weight: 2.98 pounds}

Best Slim Jaw

ENGINEER TWM-07 Super Thin Jaws Adjustable Wrench

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Some tasks, such as working on bicycles, garden equipment, furniture, and home appliances, call for an adjustable wrench that has thinner jaws than the average tool, thus allowing you to grasp a small fastener easily. That's when you need a slim-jaw option like this one from ENGINEER. Its extra-thin jaws are only 2 mm thick and are slightly pointed, so you won't struggle to get a grip on small nuts and bolts. Made from chrome-vanadium steel, this is a sturdy tool that will last.

The overall length of the wrench is 6 1/2 inches, and the maximum jaw capacity is 15/16ths of an inch, so this is a fairly small crescent wrench that weighs a mere 4.6 ounces. You won't be able to exert a lot of force with this wrench, but that's not usually a requirement for the fasteners it's sized for. The wrench has a metric scale but no SAE measurements.

Price at time of publish: $26

_{Length: 6 1/2 inches | Jaw Capacity: 15/16 inches | Measurement Scale: Metric | Weight: 4.6 ounces}

Best Spud

Crescent AT210SPUD Adjustable Construction Wrench

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Also called an "adjustable construction wrench," the adjustable spud wrench differs from the typical adjustable wrench with its tapered handle that ends in a point. The pointed end is used to line up bolt holes in various types of construction jobs, such as plumbing, installing parts, or setting up scaffolding. This spud wrench from Crescent is 10 inches long and has a maximum jaw capacity of 1 5/16-inch. It weighs a little less than 1 pound.

The wrench is made of alloy steel with a black oxide finish that resists corrosion and rust. It has a tension spring to help stabilize the jaw and reduce play or wiggle. The tool has both metric and SAE measurements laser-etched between the jaws. The wrench is also available in a 16-inch length if you need a construction wrench for oversize fasteners.

Price at time of publish: $36

_{Length: 10 inches | Jaw Capacity: 1-5/16 inches | Measurement Scale: Metric and SAE | Weight: 0.95 pounds}

Best Compact

Fujiya Tools FLS-28G Pocket-Size Adjustable Wrench

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If you need a pocket-sized wrench for use on the smallest of fasteners or in the tightest of spaces, then this compact adjustable wrench from Fujiya is our recommendation. This beautifully designed tool measures a mere 4 1/4-inches in length and weighs only 3.6 ounces but still manages to have an impressive jaw capacity of 1 1/8 inches. The jaws are long and narrow for easier grasping of small fasteners and are specially designed to reduce the chances of "rounding off" or damaging nuts and bolts as you turn them.

You won't be bothered with a lot of wiggle or play in the jaws of this tool, which has a smoothly functioning adjustment knob that keeps the wrench steady once in position. The alloy steel wrench has a rubberized grip around the handle to help keep it securely within your grasp. It's marked with a metric scale but not SAE measurements.

Price at time of publish: $24

_{Length: 4 1/4 inches | Jaw Capacity: 1 1/8 inches | Measurement Scale: Metric | Weight: 3.6 ounces}

Best for General Use

Crescent AC210VS 10-Inch Adjustable Wrench

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If you want a good but basic adjustable wrench for your tool box, then it's hard to go wrong with this tool from Crescent, the company that invented the adjustable wrench over 100 years ago. This heat-treated alloy steel wrench has a chrome finish to ward off corrosion and rust and is designed to fit comfortably in your hand. This model is 10 inches long, which is a very versatile size, but if you want something shorter or longer, Crescent makes those as well. This 10-inch wrench has a maximum jaw capacity of 1 5/16 inch and is marked with both metric and SAE scales.

The handle of the wrench is a bit wider than many similar tools, which makes it easier to grasp firmly and also helps you apply more torque when facing rusted or tight fasteners. The adjustment knob is also a bit larger than average, which makes it easier to turn but doesn't increase jaw wiggle or play. The jaws are designed to grip the fastener tightly without slipping and without stripping or damaging the nut.

Price at time of publish: $18

_{Length: 10 inches | Jaw Capacity: 1 5/16 inches | Measurement Scale: Metric and SAE | Weight: 0.92 pounds}

Best Wide Jaw

Bahco 9033 R US X-Wide 10-Inch Adjustable Wrench

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If you need an adjustable wrench that opens up wider than most, then the Bahco X-Wide is the tool for you. This alloy steel tool with a black phosphate finish measures 10 inches in length and has an impressive maximum jaw capacity of 1 3/4 inches, which is larger than just about any other adjustable wrench of the same length. That means you can tackle oversize fasteners without having to deal with an extra-long wrench that might not be able to turn in the allotted space, and at 1.4 pounds, it isn't too heavy.

The slim head and tapered jaws of the wrench make it ideal for work in confined spaces, such as underneath the sink or behind the toilet. The handle of the wrench is covered in a grippy plastic material that makes it easy and comfortable to hold. While admittedly more expensive than most other options, this tool is ideal for plumbers, electricians, or maintenance workers who regularly need to use a professional-quality wrench in less-than-ideal quarters.

Price at time of publish: $56

_{Length: 10 inches | Jaw Capacity: 1-3/4 inches | Measurement Scale: SAE and metric | Weight: 1.4 pounds}

Best for Plumbing

Proferred Tools T08004 12-Inch Adjustable Plumbing Wrench

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If you do a lot of plumbing work, deal with natural gas fixtures, or even do automotive repairs, then you'll appreciate this adjustable plumbing wrench. With its extra-wide jaw capacity of a whopping 2-1/4 inches, extra thin jaw thickness, and extra deep jaw depth, this 12-inch wrench is the tool of choice for reaching large fasteners that are inconveniently located; something that's just part of the day's work for plumbers and repair workers.

Professional-quality, this wrench is made of steel with a black phosphate finish and a padded ergonomic handle that's easy on your hands, even when you need to apply extra force to turn a stubborn bolt. Both metric and SAE scales are etched into the wrench's jaws. If you need a smaller wrench, Proferred Tools also offers this same model in 6, 8, and 10-inch lengths.

Price at time of publish: $31

_{Length: 12 inches | Jaw Capacity: 2 1/4 inches | Measurement Scale: Metric and SAE | Weight: 1.9 pounds}