The innovative MEGAPRO all in one multi-bit screwdriver is of the highest quality, developed for trades people and DIY warriors. Made in America.
- New 2018 tests against 15 new screwdrivers confirm the MegaPro 13-in-1 (or the nearly identical Channellock tool) is our pick for the best multi-bit screwdriver.
Your guide
- Doug Mahoney
In five years of researching and testing screwdrivers, we've found that the MegaPro 13-in-1 Multi-Bit Ratcheting Screwdriver is the one tool that gets everything right. Other tools have additional features or a finer ratchet, but for a solid ratcheting action, fantastic bit storage, a useful selection of bits, and an oddly comfortable handle, the MegaPro is the one to beat.
Our pick
MegaPro 211R2C36RD 13-in-1 Ratcheting Driver
This manual screwdriver combines smooth ratcheting action with excellent bit storage and a uniquely comfortable handle to be the most well-rounded, capable tool of its kind.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $24.
Channellock 131CB 13-in-1 Multi-Bit Ratcheting Screwdriver
In side-by-side tests, the Channellock and MegaPro performed identically. Other than the color, they’re exactly the same tools. Get whichever costs less.
Buying Options
The MegaPro 13-in-1 works as well at actual screwdriving as many other high-quality tools. What really sets it apart is the excellent bit storage, which makes it easy to find, store, swap—and never drop—its six unusually tough double-sided bits. Those bits store in its handle, a comfortable rubberized grip with a unique feature: a free-spinning rear cap, which lets you turn the tool with one hand while using the other to press it into a screw (without the friction burning a fiery hole into your palm). Paying around $30 for a screwdriver may make your jaw drop, but in the five years we’ve been recommending it, we’ve received more positive feedback on this than just about any other Wirecutter pick. If you don’t lose it, this is probably the last screwdriver you’ll ever need to purchase.
We tested the MegaPro 13-in-1 alongside the Channellock 13-in-1 Multi-Bit Ratcheting Screwdriver, and they perform identically. Other than the color, they’re the same tool; MegaPro confirmed to us that it manufactures the Channellock on a private-label basis. We recommend buying whichever tool is cheaper or easier for you to get.
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Runner-up
MegaPro 211R1C36RD Ratcheting Automotive Screwdriver
Nearly identical to our main pick, this automotive version takes universal 1-inch bits. But it typically costs a little more and the bit selection isn’t as good.
Buying Options
If the MegaPro and Channellock 13-in-1s are not available, we recommend the MegaPro 211R1C36RD Ratcheting Automotive Screwdriver. In almost all ways, it’s identical to our pick; the same handle, the same nice ratchet, and the same style of storage system. The difference is that it takes smaller, single-sided 1-inch bits, rather than the double-sided bits that our pick takes. It’s nice that these are more easily replaceable, but the initial selection that comes with the screwdriver isn’t as useful. It’s also usually about $10 more expensive.
Budget pick
Husky Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver
This is similar to our main pick but nowhere near as refined or as comfortable to hold. Easy availability and a lifetime warranty make it the best option in the lower price range.
Buying Options
If you’re on a tighter budget, we like the Husky Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver. It stood out among the lower-priced screwdrivers for its bit storage, lifetime warranty, and easy availability at Home Depot. It can store only six bits at a time, which is a little limiting, and the handle isn’t as comfortable to hold as the MegaPro’s. But it still gets the job done.
Everything we recommend
Our pick
MegaPro 211R2C36RD 13-in-1 Ratcheting Driver
This manual screwdriver combines smooth ratcheting action with excellent bit storage and a uniquely comfortable handle to be the most well-rounded, capable tool of its kind.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $24.
Channellock 131CB 13-in-1 Multi-Bit Ratcheting Screwdriver
In side-by-side tests, the Channellock and MegaPro performed identically. Other than the color, they’re exactly the same tools. Get whichever costs less.
Buying Options
Runner-up
MegaPro 211R1C36RD Ratcheting Automotive Screwdriver
Nearly identical to our main pick, this automotive version takes universal 1-inch bits. But it typically costs a little more and the bit selection isn’t as good.
Buying Options
Budget pick
Husky Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver
This is similar to our main pick but nowhere near as refined or as comfortable to hold. Easy availability and a lifetime warranty make it the best option in the lower price range.
Buying Options
Why you should trust us
I’m no stranger to screwdrivers. I spent more than a decade as a carpenter, foreman, and jobsite supervisor building high-end custom homes in the Boston area. I have also been writing about and reviewing tools since 2007, with articles appearing in This Old House, Fine Homebuilding, Popular Mechanics, The Journal of Light Construction, Popular Science, and Tools of the Trade. In addition, I take a very hands-on approach with my own 245-year-old farmhouse, and I fully gutted and rebuilt the last house I lived in. Just looking at the raw hours since I first picked up a tool in a professional manner, I’ve probably spent at least a year of my life with a screwdriver in my hand.
To get a second opinion on screwdriver preferences and features, I turned to Stuart Deutsch of ToolGuyd.com. Unlike my own carpentry and construction background, Deutsch has a physics and engineering one, so it’s not surprising that as a tool writer he’s particularly sensitive to how exactly things work. He also has very little patience for inferior products.
Who this is for
A screwdriver is the essential tool for minor home repairs. It's required for everything from changing the battery on a kid's toy to installing a smoke alarm to adjusting the loose handrail at the stairs. Good multi-bit drivers, like the kind we’re recommending, tend to run in the $20 to $30 range. This price may make your jaw drop a little, but our recommendation is for the long haul.
We all know even bad screwdrivers can get the job done, but if you're reading a review of a screwdriver, you're probably looking for something better and wondering if it's worth it. We feel you're easily justified in investing in a better screwdriver—not only is this one of the most commonly used tools in anyone's collection, but it's also immediately clear how much better a high-quality screwdriver is. You'll work faster (using less effort), you'll do less damage to the screwheads, and minor repairs and home projects will feel much more manageable.
How we picked
The best all-around screwdriver for the toolbox or kitchen drawer should be a ratcheting, multi-bit screwdriver with easily accessible bit storage.
Ratcheting: Ratcheting screwdrivers are faster and easier to use than regular screwdrivers. Our experience is that we’ll take a non-ratcheting screwdriver over a bad ratcheting one, but a good ratcheting screwdriver trumps all. The overall effect is that you can tighten or loosen a screw while your hand and the screw remain in contact with the tool the entire time. Most ratcheting screwdrivers contain a gear and pawl mechanism that allows you to turn the screwdriver (handle and stem) one way, and then turn just the handle back to reposition and reset it, and then turn the handle and stem again. Ratcheting screwdrivers have a toggle, usually up at the base of the stem, that moves the ratcheting mechanism from clockwise to counterclockwise depending on whether you’re tightening or loosening a screw. Most also have a third position that locks the stem into place, making the tool behave like a traditional screwdriver.
Because there is no need to keep resetting the screwdriver in the screwhead or to release your hand from the tool, ratcheting screwdrivers work much faster than traditional screwdrivers. For the same reasons, they’re better in tight, awkward spaces, especially those where you can’t really see the screwhead, like at the back of a cabinet or on the underside of a table while tightening a leg.
It’s true that an experienced user like a long-time electrician can work a regular screwdriver almost like a ratcheting one by putting pressure on the butt end of the tool with the ball of their index finger and quickly working their fingers around the handle to move the driver. It’s a good trick to know, but a ratcheting screwdriver gives you the same functionality no matter how you’re holding it.
Multi-bit: For the utmost convenience, a screwdriver should be able to accept multiple bits. Typical tasks such as minor home repairs and furniture assembly can require a wide array of bit shapes and sizes. Keeping a supply of individual screwdrivers for all of these uses gobbles up valuable space and leads to you owning tools that rarely get used. As an example, adjusting door hardware can require three different tips: a Phillips for the hinges, a Torx for the knob set screw, and a slotted for the strike plate.
We think there are at least 10 bit types you need in order to feel confident that you could tackle any task around the house. The ubiquitous Phillips bit alone has four common sizes, from the teeny P0 on electronics to the chunky P3 found on large door hinges. The same goes for slotted bits, which have three typical sizes that can be found on set screws, hinges, and radiator valves. Square drives (Robertsons) have two standard sizes—the smaller R1 is used in a lot of trim carpentry, while the larger R2 can be found holding down decks and in other exterior applications. Torx bits, gaining in popularity, have four common sizes.
An added bonus of a multi-bit screwdriver is that the screwdriver tip without a bit in it can be used as a ¼-inch nut driver, a size found in electrical work and larger appliances, among many other places.
Convenient bit storage: For a multi-bit screwdriver to be successful, it needs to have effective onboard bit storage, especially considering the grab-and-go nature of the tool. Having to spend time searching for bits, either digging through the kitchen drawer or rummaging around the tool bag, is unnecessary. We’ve seen a wide array of storage styles, and the best allow you to quickly identify and access the bit you’re looking for. Our least favorite are those that loosely store the bits in the handle. These force you to dump the bits out into your palm and sift through them to find what you need, juggling the tool while you dump the rest back in the handle. And then you have to pick up the few bits you inevitably drop on the floor. Good luck finding those.
Overall quality: A ratchet is a precision mechanism, and some companies do it better than others. Deutsch told us that the ones to look for have “better materials and smoother, better fitting gearing.” He continued, “You can usually tell immediately how well a ratcheting screwdriver is made by holding the handle in one hand and turning the drive end with the other.” Better ratchets tend to have finer gears, which gives more control over the tool, especially in an area where space is limited and you may not be able to fully twist your hand. Deutsch also recommended “staying away from the ratcheting screwdrivers that are prominently displayed in stores around Christmas and Father’s Day, unless you can test one first. If it fits your hand comfortably, has an easy-to-use direction switch, and the gearing sounds okay, then it might be a good buy. If you can’t test it and it’s priced at $5 to $8, don’t expect great performance.”
In 2018, we looked at 15 new ratcheting multi-bit screwdrivers. This is in addition to the 13 we previously looked at.
How we tested
We used the screwdrivers to hang towel bars, tighten hinges, install toilet paper holders, make adjustments to radiator valves, tinker with pocket door hardware, and do some light electrical work. We assembled toys, adjusted cabinet doors, fixed a sagging gate, and hung some light fixtures. We put together a prefab bookshelf, repaired a busted worklight, and installed three screen doors. Our list could go on, but it’s safe to say we used the tools on many things any moderately handy person would use them on, doing the little things that may need to be addressed in a home, condo, or apartment.
In addition to this loose-form testing, we checked the bit tips for stability by trying to strip them out. To do this we sunk a 3-inch drywall screw into wood and then, using the screwdriver tips in a cordless drill, we tried to remove the screw while holding the drill at an angle. We then moved the back of the drill around in a circle like we were stirring a pot. This caused the driver tip to skip and chatter over the screwhead. It never gained purchase but caught it enough so that the working edges of the bit got a severe thrashing.
While doing all of this testing, we kept a close eye on each screwdriver’s handle comfort, the ease of its ratchet toggle, the convenience of the bit storage, and all of the other subtle features and details that separate the good from the bad.
Our pick: MegaPro 13-in-1 or Channellock 13-in-1
Our pick
MegaPro 211R2C36RD 13-in-1 Ratcheting Driver
This manual screwdriver combines smooth ratcheting action with excellent bit storage and a uniquely comfortable handle to be the most well-rounded, capable tool of its kind.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $24.
Channellock 131CB 13-in-1 Multi-Bit Ratcheting Screwdriver
In side-by-side tests, the Channellock and MegaPro performed identically. Other than the color, they’re exactly the same tools. Get whichever costs less.
Buying Options
The MegaPro 13-in-1 is the one screwdriver we found that does everything right. (Assume any statements in this section about the MegaPro 13-in-1 also apply to the Channellock 13-in-1.) There are other tools that have additional features or a finer ratchet, but for a solid ratcheting action, fantastic bit storage, a useful selection of bits, and an oddly comfortable handle, the MegaPro 13-in-1 is the one to beat. It has been our pick since 2013, it’s still the best after a new round of testing in 2018 against 15 new screwdrivers. It combines all of the right features like no other screwdriver, helping you work faster and more comfortably than with any other tool.
The bit storage is exceptional and is one of the many areas where the tool stands apart from the pack. To access the bits, the butt end of the handle pops out and slides straight back revealing a stem surrounded by six bit holders, each of which houses a double-sided bit, sort of like a six-shooter. The carousel spins, and there is plenty of room around the bits to easily find the right one and remove it. Even though it extends out of the rear of the handle, the carousel itself has hardly any wobble to it. Other screwdrivers had similar systems, but none matched the 13-in-1’s stability or the ease with which it slides in and out of the handle or pops back into place. While stored, the bits stay secure no matter how much you shake the handle around or drop the tool (and we’ve dropped the tool a lot). We like that the carousel mechanism locks in nice and tight, yet can be easily opened with one hand using the thumb and forefinger.
Another excellent, unique aspect of the rear cap is that it can spin independently from the rest of the body. Only MegaPro screwdrivers have this feature. With it, you can press the tool into the screw with your palm and still easily rotate the screwdriver with your other hand. Because the cap spins, the pressure from your palm won’t be fighting against the twist of the handle. Also, the fact that your palm is pressing against a stationary piece instead of a twisting one, means you won’t “rug-burn” a fiery hole into your palm. It’s a great feature and one we found particularly useful when dealing with partially stripped screws or big hinge screws that we were worried about damaging.
The handle of the MegaPro 13-in-1 is another high point. Even with the roomy storage capacity for the six bits (which really are 12 different driver tips), the comfort of the grip far exceeded that of any of the other screwdrivers, even those that cost more than twice as much. It has a teardrop shape that tapers at the neck, providing a nice groove for the thumb and forefinger. The gripping area of the handle is mostly rubberized and has a series of nubs in it for better purchase. It’s a very comfortable design, and it felt natural no matter how we held it.
The ratcheting mechanism of the MegaPro 13-in-1 has 28 teeth, which is about in the middle range of the screwdrivers we tested. Some had as low as 10 teeth, while most of the better ones had around 40, yet some had as many as 72. So the MegaPro 13-in-1 may not have the subtlest most responsive ratchet, but it’s very quiet and we think the high-quality feel to it is undeniable. In all of our years using it, we’ve never had it slip once.
The bit selection of the MegaPro 13-in-1 is comprehensive and should be able to handle just about every standard screwdriving task in a home. It comes with six double-headed driver bits, totaling 12 bits. The 13th function is the ¼-inch hex end of the stem, where the bit sits. This can be used for hex-headed screws like the kind you might find holding the rear panel of your washing machine or on a pipe band clamp.
The bits included with the MegaPro 13-in-1:
- Phillips #0, 1, 2, 3
- Slotted #4, 6
- Robertson (square drive) #1, 2
- Torx #10, 15, 20, 25
MegaPro offers a lifetime warranty that covers manufacturer’s defects. It doesn’t cover misuse or wear and tear, so if you run over it with the lawn mower, you’re out of luck. The warranty also doesn’t cover the bits. In a 2010 video, Hermann Fruhm, the founder of the company, states that since 1994, they’ve never had a single handle break and in that same time they’ve never had a bit strip out in the stem of the tool.
I’m not the only one who likes the MegaPro 13-in-1. The tool has received extremely high marks from reviewers.
Ethan Hagan, writing at BobVila.com, says, “The smooth-action ratcheting mechanism excels, and the tool’s innovative bit storage is a refreshing change from the jumble found on many competitors’ products.”
Stuart Deutsch, in his review of it (focusing on the Channellock version), says that “everything about the Channellock 13-in-1 just screams of quality—from the bit-holding cartridge and comfortable texture grip, to the ratcheting mechanism and direction selection switch.”
A final benefit of the MegaPro 13-in-1 is that it’s available in two versions and colors, which could make shopping more clear-cut if one or the other is a lower price or easier to find. We found through testing that Channellock's 13-in-1 performs identically to the MegaPro 13-in-1, so we spoke with Fruhm, MegaPro’s CEO (and inventor of the unique bit storage system), and he confirmed that MegaPro manufactures the Channellock 13-in-1 on a private-label basis. The colors of the two tools are different, with Channellock’s as more of a blue and red superhero combination, which may be more your style than MegaPro’s red and black. L.H. Dottie also sells a version of the 13-in-1 that is typically more expensive than these two, but if you see it for less than the MegaPro or the Channellock, it’s an option too.
Long-term test notes
I’ve been using the same MegaPro 13-in-1 for the past eight and a half years, four of which were spent in a construction site setting. It served as my main screwdriver through a full house gut and renovation as well as a house move and the screwdriver-heavy tasks that are involved with getting settled into a new home.
After years of constant use, the tool still works great, and aside from a couple of paint splatters and a scratch here and there, the MegaPro is exactly as it was when it came out of the packaging. I’m still using the original bits, which show zero deterioration. Even the Phillips #2, the most-used tip, has maintained its shape with no rounding over of the edges. Our torture test didn’t cause any wear or tear on the bits at all, and neither has routine work.
I’ve found that the success of the storage system makes it very difficult to lose a bit. With the convenient storage carousel of the 13-in-1, there is a spot for each one of the bits. A lot of screwdrivers, like the Milwaukee Multi Bit Driver, use the screwdriver tip as one of the storage spaces, meaning that there are seven bits but only six storage slots. The assumption here is that one of the bits is going to live in the tip of the screwdriver. This isn’t ideal because they’re more easily lost this way, for example, if you have to set a bit down somewhere to use the empty end of the tool as a nut driver.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Many of the screwdrivers we tested are compatible with standard 1-inch driver bits that magnetically sit in the end of the stem. These bits are widely available at hardware stores and home centers, and if one gets damaged, it can be replaced with minimal difficulty. The MegaPro 13-in-1 uses double-sided bits with a spring-loaded ball bearing at the middle of the shaft to lock them into the stem, which are proprietary and distinct to the tool. We mentioned that the storage system makes it easy to avoid losing bits—but if that happens, there’s no question they’re more difficult to replace and more expensive. For what it’s worth, a commenter, Patrick, in ToolGuyd’s review claims that when he needed a replacement bit, he called MegaPro “and they sent me a bit for free.”
Runner-up: MegaPro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Automotive Screwdriver
Runner-up
MegaPro 211R1C36RD Ratcheting Automotive Screwdriver
Nearly identical to our main pick, this automotive version takes universal 1-inch bits. But it typically costs a little more and the bit selection isn’t as good.
Buying Options
If the 13-In-1 and the Channellock are not available or if you feel strongly that you will eventually need a wider selection of bits, MegaPro also offers the 211R1C36RD 13-in-1 Ratcheting Automotive Screwdriver. This is the same screwdriver as our main pick, but it’s compatible with 1-inch driver bits and not the double-sided ones like the 13-in-1. These smaller bits are not only easier to replace if lost, but also allow you to customize your bit selection. The tip of the screwdriver is also magnetic, so they won’t fall out during use, and the stem is just a little bit longer, but in all other ways it’s identical to our main pick.
As good as this screwdriver sounds, there are two reasons our preference is with the 13-in-1. First, this automotive version is designed for the mechanic, so the initial bit selection isn’t as well-rounded as our pick. It’s missing the smaller square drive and the #0 Phillips, replacing them with a wider selection of Torx sizes, which are less likely to be used in a home setting. For some, removing these bits and buying alternatives will be no problem, but we feel that most will be happier simply buying the 13-in-1 (our pick) knowing that it already comes with the best selection of bits. While there is no question that the bits in the 13-in-1 are more difficult to replace, we’ve found that they’re extremely durable and, due to the excellent storage system, very difficult to lose. We’ve been using a MegaPro for almost nine years and are still on the original bits.
Second, the automotive version is typically more expensive, often closing in on the $40 mark.
Budget pick: Husky Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver
Budget pick
Husky Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver
This is similar to our main pick but nowhere near as refined or as comfortable to hold. Easy availability and a lifetime warranty make it the best option in the lower price range.
Buying Options
If you’re on a tighter budget, we also like the Husky Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver. It’s usually about half the cost of the MegaPro 13-in-1 and it shares a lot of the same characteristics but it’s not as refined. Compared with the MegaPro, the handle isn’t as comfortable, the storage not as successful, and the ratchet not as smooth. All of the less expensive screwdrivers we looked at had compromises, as does this one, but the Husky works better than the rest. It also offers a lifetime warranty and easy availability at Home Depot.
The Husky doesn’t compare well to the MegaPro, but it’s usually about half the price, so we weren’t expecting it to. But compared with the other screwdrivers in the same price range—typically less than $15—it has the best combination of features and quality. For instance, the WorkPro Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver has a nice ratchet but terrible bit storage. The InstallMates 12-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver has very good bit storage but a grinding, low-quality ratchet. The Husky 13-in-1 splits the difference, and while there isn’t much about the screwdriver that is exceptional, there also isn’t anything that’s an outright failure either.
One limitation of the Husky is that it only has room in the storage area for six bits. It comes with 12—and it would be great to be able to store them all onboard. You can pick and choose what to put in the handle, but that still leaves you with six that have to live elsewhere. It also has two different stems, so you can pick the length that you want to use based on the task. This feature might sound nice, but it’s not one we ever felt the need to use. And this, too, is a loose object you’ll have to store elsewhere.
The competition
Of the other screwdrivers we tested, the majority were all dismissed based on either overall quality or how the bit storage was managed.
The Vessel TD-6816MG is on the smaller side yet has a very nice feel to it. The ratchet is excellent, and the 72 teeth made it among the finest we looked at. Bit storage is an issue though. It comes with two different 8-bit cartridges that can be inserted into the butt of the handle (only one at a time). We found getting the cartridge on and off to be tedious and difficult and prefer having the MegaPro’s 12 bits at our disposal at all times.
The Ideal 35-688 21-in-1 Multi-Bit Ratcheting Screwdriver is another good-quality screwdriver that suffers from weak bit storage. The bits are in a carousel, like the MegaPro 13-in-1’s, but the cap has to be unscrewed to access them. Compared with our pick, it just takes too much time.
For almost $70 we were expecting great things from the Snap-On 8¾ Standard Ratcheting Screwdriver. It has a fantastic ratchet mechanism that just oozes quality, but the bits are stored loose in the handle. To get a new one, you need to unscrew the cap, dump the bits on your hand, sift them around with a finger until you find the one you want, funnel the rest back into the handle with your hand, and finally screw the cap back on. Even the top-tier ratchet doesn’t offset this level of tediousness.
The WorkPro Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver is a budget model that comes up short. The bits are long and don’t even fit in the handle storage area. Nothing stands out about the tool.
The same can be said about the Electriduct Ratcheting Screwdriver. It has a telescoping stem, which sounds neat, but not something we’ve ever felt we needed. Worse though is that the storage is accessed with a screw cap. Also the handle isn’t that comfortable.
The InstallMates 12-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver is like a budget version of the MegaPro 13-in-1. It has a very similar design and bit storage (minus the spinning cap). Unfortunately, the ratcheting action is bottom of the barrel. It feels cheap and often made a little grinding noise. For a less expensive option, the Husky is a better choice.
The Husky 12-in-1 Quick Loading Ratchet Screwdriver stores the bits on the exterior of the handle. It's a fiddly system and nowhere near as simple as the MegaPro’s storage.
We also tested the Rolgear 15-in-1 Multi-Bit Silent Ratcheting Screwdriver, which is currently unavailable, but appears to also be sold under the MLTools name. It has a toothless ratchet, so it can be reset with almost no movement of the handle. It’s a very responsive system. The downside of the tool is that the bit storage is on outside of handle, and we found that the bits worked themselves around a little and would poke our hand while using the screwdriver. Also, the ratchet toggle is a little fussier than we prefer.
The DeWalt Max Fit Telescoping Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver has no onboard storage and doesn’t feel very high quality.
The Milwaukee 10-in-1 Square Drive Ratcheting Multi-Bit Driver has a nice feel, but the bit storage is on the outside of the handle and, like similar models, is needlessly fussy and not as quick as the MegaPro’s.
The Klein Ratcheting Screwdriver doesn’t have a particularly comfortable handle and is designed for an electrician who will use the various nut driving features. It’s not the best choice for a homeowner.
We looked at two popular “stubby” screwdriver models in our 2018 tests. These very short drivers can be great for tight spots—behind a heavy appliance, or in some other tight spot a full-sized screwdriver can’t fit. They’re nice to have, but we don’t think they’re essential. In fact, I can’t even remember the last time I needed one. But if you’re already certain you need this tool, the first one to consider is the Milwaukee 8-in-1 Compact Ratchet Multi Bit Driver. It’s the more expensive of the two, typically selling for around $15, and it has a very solid pro-level build quality and the ratchet has a nice feel to it. The bit storage is functional, and the ratchet toggle is easy to use.
The Stanley 66-358 Stubby Ratcheting Screwdriver usually costs less than half of the Milwaukee and feels plasticky in comparison. The Stanley’s storage is difficult to use, with loose bits stored in an open chamber with a screw cap, which isn’t our preference.
We previously dismissed a number of other models in our 2013 testing.
The Craftsman 9-41796 Ready Bit Screwdriver was a previous runner-up and is similar to the MegaPro models (to the point that we suspect a co-branding agreement). The handle is chunky though, and we much prefer the teardrop of our main pick and runner-up.
The Irwin 1948774 8-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver is like the Klein in that it can hold only five bits (the other three are nut drivers), and they’re stored on either side of the stem, so to access them you need to remove and flip the stem. We much prefer the organized handle storage of the MegaPro models.
The Lutz 15-in-1 has a chunky 10-tooth gear so you have to really rotate the handle for it to catch. The six double-headed bits live in the handle, and one is stored in the tip of the stem. To get at the bits, you need to rotate the end piece until a cut-out opening lands on the desired bit. When the tool is in use, the bits rattle around a little.
The Kobalt 13-Piece Ratcheting Screwdriver was the most inexpensive model we tested and it shows. The stem wobbles all over the place and the bits are stored behind a screw cap that kept mis-threading when we tried to put it on.
The JH Williams WRS-1 is a well-made tool, but it suffers from poor design. It has a smooth 26-tooth ratchet and a nice forward/reverse toggle. The bits are stored in the hollow handle and are made accessible by unscrewing the rear cap. While in use, they just rattle around in the handle, and it’s a pain to swap one out.
The Stanley FatMax Hi-Speed Ratcheting Screwdriver has some sort of differential gearing (thanks to Deutsch for the explanation). If you turn the handle while holding the front-most collar, the stem spins at a very quick rate (four times the normal, according to Stanley). Unfortunately, this design comes at the expense of the locked stem position. The bits are stored on a removable carousel located at the rear of the handle. To access, you have to turn the rear cap a quarter turn and pull the piece out. The cap is small and is hard to grip, making the whole process far more difficult than what it takes to open the MegaPro. The handle is also on the bulky side. We tested the similar Kobalt Double-Drive, which has since been discontinued.
And speaking of massive handles, the Stanley 68-010 tops them all. The 7-inch handle is comfortable, but the toggle is difficult to use and the bit storage is up at the nose of the tool. Getting the bits out was difficult, and on more than one occasion I had to hit the tool repeatedly against my palm in order to get one free. As with most of the other sub-$20 tools, the bits were easily damaged during the durability testing.
Channellock’s other ratcheting screwdriver, the 181CB 18-in-1, has a variation on the hollow handle storage system. To get at the bits, you unscrew the cap in order to reveal six holes each with a double-sided bit in it. The threads on the cap are poorly done and became mangled very quickly, and we didn’t like how we had to plug five holes while dumping a bit out of the sixth. The ratcheting action is loud on this tool, and the whole thing feels heavy and clumsy.
The Bahco 808050 Ratchet Bit Screwdriver is a very nice tool. The 45-tooth ratcheting mechanism is smooth and the teardrop handle is comfortable. The downside is that the storage system holds only six bits and is difficult to use. You need to simultaneously press buttons on both sides of the handle to release a spring-loaded cartridge from the back of the tool. It’s very difficult to get the bits in and out of the holder.
The storage system on the DeWalt Ratcheting Screwdriver is similar to the MegaPro’s, but it doesn’t work well at all. The carousel sits loosely in the tool, so it wobbles all over the place while bits are being taken in and out. Pulling the carousel out of the handle takes two hands, and there is barely any place for fingers to make a purchase. Last, the little holding clips don’t do their job, so when we did manage to get the handle open, loose bits came tumbling out of the back of the tool. The ratchet is also clunky, and the stem wobbles in the handle.
The Wera 27 RA Ratcheting Screwdriver was definitely the coolest looking of the tools and the one with the most unique storage system. A button on the butt end causes about three-fourths of the handle to shift back, revealing a bit carousel in the center of the tool. There is space for six 1-inch bits. The shape of the handle is bizarre with three concentric concave areas for the hand to grab, but it’s very comfortable to use and all of the ridges seem to be in just the right places. It’s a very nice screwdriver, but it only holds six bits and typically costs around $40, so we feel the MegaPro is a better all-in-one option.
MegaPro also offers the 171BK/RD-R 7-in-1 Compact Ratcheting Screwdriver. It’s very similar to the 13-in-1, but the quality is just not as good. The rear cap doesn’t close with the same nice “pop,” the handle isn’t as comfortable, and the bit storage is a little more difficult to open. It’s only about an inch shorter than the full-size model, so there’s not even a huge advantage with the smaller size. If you’re considering a close-quarters screwdriver, you’re better off with a stubby.
Another class of ratcheting screwdrivers that exists is the two-speed style, like the Klenk SAB710 and the SpecTools Overdriver. These tools have a ring on the handle that can be held stationary in order to gear the ratcheting mechanism to a higher setting, which delivers four times the turning speed to the handle (but only for low-torque applications). These tools are well-received and do offer speed, but when compared with the MegaPro, they come up short in other areas like bit storage and general ergonomics.
We didn’t look at kits like the GearWrench 40-Piece Ratcheting Screwdriver Set and the Stanley Pistol-Grip Ratcheting Screwdriver Set that come in a case and have different handle attachments and a large number of driver bits, but those are overkill for someone who can make do with a regular screwdriver. They also need additional storage space and thus are less likely to be stored somewhere convenient, like in the kitchen drawer or in the trunk of a car.
Finally, there are quite a few very nice screwdrivers that we dismissed because they don’t have a ratcheting feature, which we feel is essential. Chief among these is the Picquic X-7 SixPac Plus, the Wiha Pop Up, and the original MegaPro 151NAS 15-in-1. Other screwdrivers, like the Marshalltown SDR19SG and the Husky Ratcheting Screwdriver Set, were dismissed because they only have the simple compartment in the handle and offer no bit organization like our picks. Also, we passed over the Nebo Ultra Socket Combination Kit because the storage compartment is accessed by a screw-on cap.
Aside from our picks above, MegaPro manufactures about 20 other screwdrivers. Of these models, the majority of them come with specialty bits designed with a specific trade or task in mind such as elevator maintenance, HVAC, and RV repair, just to name a few. They do offer a 15-in-1 model, which adds two additional square drive bits and has no ratcheting action. To store the additional bits, the handle is much bulkier and loses the hand-fitting ergonomics of the 13-in-1. The additional bits are quite rare and aren’t likely to be found in your house. In 10 years of construction, I don’t think I’ve ever run across a 0-size square drive screw. So basically the additional bits that you’re never going to use aren’t worth the loss of the ratcheting action or the comfortable handle. Of MegaPro’s tools, only the 13-in-1 combines a useful selection of bits with the ergonomic handle and a ratcheting function.
Sources
- Stuart Deutsch, ToolGuyd.com, email interview
- Ethan Hagan, Top Tools 2012: ChannelLock 13 'N 1 Ratcheting Screwdriver, BobVila.com
- Mana, mana, Amazon.com, January 10, 2012
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