The Best Screwdriver Sets

Perhaps there's no single tool more necessary and versatile than the screwdriver. If you're going to be doing any kind of home repair, auto repair, or even toy repair, a good screwdriver set is the first item on your list. Shopping for a dependable screwdriver set may seem a little intimidating at first, as there are a lot of questions to answer. Some of those questions include: which ones do I need? What's a Phillips screwdriver? Will metric work in place of standard? How many sizes do I really need? Do you start with vodka on the rocks and add orange juice or the other way around? (Ok, different screwdriver, but you get the picture). As dad used to say, it's all about the right tool for the right job, so let us help you take a little stress out of the shopping process with some of our research into the best screwdriver sets.

Cremax Professional Cushion Grip

Your First And Last Set

Cremax offers a little bit of everything you need for home repair and more in their comprehensive screwdriver set.
Best Overall

Find on Amazon

Simplicity, ease-of-use, comfort and durability are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind with the Cremax Professional Cushion Grip Screwdriver Set. Providing an all-in-one solution with five flathead (also called standard) screwdrivers and five Phillips-head screwdrivers (the type with the cross-top), this may be the only screwdriver set you’ll ever need. Constructed with chromium-vanadium steel surrounded by a soft, ergonomically-designed handle, these tools are as strong as they are comfortable to use. Each handle is printed with the size of the head so that it’s easy to read in dark closets or basements. Best of all, each tip is magnetized, which helps to prevent screws from slipping out or falling into crevices. All in all, this one’s the obvious winner of our highest award.

Pros:

  • Comes in a pouch carrier
  • Non-slip handles
  • Bright yellow handles are easy to find

Cons:

  • Does not include Torx or Hexagon heads
  • Round handles mean the tool can roll away

Cremax Non-Slip Repair Kit

A Magnetic Personality

If you're serious about not losing screws, the Cremax Non-Slip Screwdriver Set is the answer to your prayers.
Best Magnetic

Find on Amazon

Picture this: you’re unscrewing a small shelf from the wall of your kitchen, and just as the screw comes out of the drywall, it falls down onto the counter and clink – down it goes into the garbage disposal. At a time like this, you either need that other screwdriver – the kind with vodka and orange juice – or the Cremax Non-Slip Screwdriver set. Featuring strong magnetic tips, Cremax screwdrivers are specifically designed to keep the screw attached to the tool until you pull it off yourself. With 16 screwdrivers and a screwdriver holder with 40 separate bits, you’re sure to find the exact tool you need for every job around the house and then some. The Cremax Non-Slip is perfect for working on cars, large appliances, and a whole lot more. With 57 pieces in total – all of which are replaceable by the manufacturer in case of loss – you’ll have every tool you need – and the screws, too.

Pros:

  • Portable storage box
  • Adapter for 6 different screw types
  • Ergonomic, non-slip handles

Cons:

  • No storage slot for bit holders
  • Not for use on rusty screws

Keama 6-Piece Mini Screwdriver Set

When Size Doesn't Matter

As devices and appliances get smaller and smaller, the more important it is to have the Keama 6-Piece Mini Screwdriver Set on hand.
Best Mini Set

Find on Amazon

If you’ve experienced the frustration of having a lens pop out of your eyeglasses or tried to replace that microscopic battery in your child’s toy by using your fingernail to unscrew the battery compartment, then you know how important to your mental health it is to have a set of small screwdrivers at the ready. The Keama 6-Piece Mini Screwdriver Set is perfect for those tiny screws you find in jewelry, watches, small appliances, and electronics. With two Phillips and four flathead screwdrivers ranging in size from 1.4mm to 3mm, all touting carbon-steel shafts and a handy, plastic carrying case with sizes readily marked, the Keama 6-Piece Screwdriver Set is a necessary addition to your home or garage’s tool chest.

Pros:

  • Lifetime warranty
  • Easy to turn
  • Rugged and durable tips

Cons:

  • Not magnetic
  • Not small enough for some watch designs

Craftsman Phillips Screwdriver Set

Stop Stripping, Start Screwing

Craftsman (perhaps the top name in professional tools) offers a must-have Phillips-head screwdriver set for your toolbox.
Best Phillips Head Set

Find on Amazon

As mentioned earlier, the type of screw that has a “+” pattern on the top is known as a Phillips head screw. You may have tried to remove one of these using a flathead screwdriver, only to become aggravated when you accidentally strip the head, rendering the screw impossible to turn. The truth is, most home improvement tasks, as well as small appliance repairs, require a Phillips head screwdriver, and our preferred choice is this Craftsman 5-piece set. Craftsman is a name that has been trusted by contractors and other professionals for decades, and this best-in-class set shows why. Both the handle and the alloy-steel blades are built for low and high-torque situations, reducing the chances of stripping, while the satin-nickel finish prevents rust and corrosion. All in all, this is the perfect addition to any toolbox, and it’s one that won’t let you down.

Pros:

  • Lifetime warranty
  • Ergonomic handles
  • Trusted brand

Cons:

  • Short handles
  • Small variety of sizes

Dewalt Screwdriver Bit Set

Just A Little Bit Better

From another top name in tools comes an all-in-one bit driver set, making this perhaps the only screwdriver set you'll ever need.
Best Bit Driver Set

Find on Amazon

If you’re going to be tackling a wide variety of home projects and other Fix-It List items, you may need the Dewalt Screwdriver Bit Set. A bit set is a little different than the regular screwdriver set in that it comes with one “handle” that looks like a screwdriver, but instead has a universal adapter head into which you can insert any type of screwdriver bit on the market: flathead, Phillips, Hex bits, Pozi Drive bits, Robertson bits and a whole lot more. With 71 pieces included, there are bits in both standard and metric measurements. It may seem like overkill for the beginner, but the Dewalt Screwdriver Bit Set ensures that you’ll never be without the right tool you need to get the job done.

Pros:

  • Sturdy carrying case included
  • High-torque handle
  • Lifetime warranty

Cons:

  • Chrome finish can chip
  • Not magnetic

Frequently Asked Questions

I can never remember: is it clockwise to loosen a screw and counterclockwise to tighten…?

Yeah, we struggled with that one for years before our drunk uncle taught us this: righty tighty, lefty loosey. It’s kind of silly, but now you’ll remember it forever. You’re welcome.

How do I loosen a really tight screw?

As psychiatrists say, the first step is to recognize that you’ve got a problem. Seriously, if you try too hard to loosen a stuck screw, you may end up stripping out the top, and then you’ll have a much bigger issue on your hands. Here’s the method we like to use to loosen even the toughest screws. First, spray the top of the screw liberally with a spray lubricant, like WD-40. If you don’t already have a can of WD-40, make the investment and get one. (Seriously, most of the world’s problems can be solved with a can of WD-40 and a roll of duct tape.) Now, let the WD-40 soak in for about fifteen minutes, then insert your screwdriver into the head of the screw and tap it lightly about five times with a hammer. Your screw should now be ready to come out.

Why is it called a “Phillips” head screwdriver?

The Phillips head screw (and screwdriver) is named after Henry Frank Phillips, a businessman from Portland, Oregon. Strangely, Mr. Phillips didn’t invent the Phillips screw. Rather, he is recognized as the person who brought it to market and made it popular. The inventor was John P. Thompson in 1932, who thought a cross-head screw would have greater self-centering properties.