Socket Set Size: Which Sizes You Need (2026)
Socket set size means drive size, socket range and depth: how to match a set to the fasteners, with four impact socket sets compared.
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Socket set size comes down to the drive size, the socket sizes in the box, and whether the set covers both SAE and metric fasteners. A mid-size drive set with a full spread of shallow and deep sockets handles most home garage work, while a smaller drive set suits smaller fasteners and tight spaces. This guide walks through drive sizes, ranges and depth, then shows four sets that cover them.
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Below: drive sizes, SAE and metric ranges, shallow versus deep sockets, and the four sets that cover them.
TEKTON 3/8 Inch Impact Socket Set, 68-Piece
A 68-piece 3/8 inch drive impact socket set, shallow and deep in SAE and metric, with socket rails.
Pros
- Widest range here: SAE 1/4 to 1 inch and metric 6 to 24 mm
- Meets 1.3 times the ANSI/ASME proof torque minimum
- Twist-to-lock socket rail holds sockets in place
- Laser and stamped markings on every size
Cons
- Heaviest stated weight here at 15.34 pounds
- No ratchet handle is included
- No extension bars are stated
- 68 pieces, fewer than the 96-piece SEDY set
96-Piece 3/8" Drive Impact Socket Wrench and Bit
A 96-piece 3/8 inch drive impact socket and bit set, SAE and metric, standard and deep, with a ratchet handle, universal joint and spark plug socket.
Pros
- 96 pieces, the most in this guide
- SAE 5/16 to 3/4 inch, metric 8 to 22 mm
- Laser-etched size markings, readable in low light
- Ratchet handle, universal joint, bit holder, adapters, spark plug socket
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No weight or dimensions are stated
- Power bits named but not itemized
- Cr-V steel; the Klein set uses Cr-Mo steel
WETT 55-Piece 1/4" Drive Impact Socket Set
A 55-piece 1/4 inch drive impact socket set, SAE and metric, deep and shallow, with a 72-tooth ratchet handle, extension bars and a universal joint.
Pros
- SAE 5/32 to 9/16 inch and metric 4 to 15 mm, deep and shallow
- 72-tooth ratchet, 3 and 6 inch extension bars
- Universal joint, 360 degree range of motion
- Laser-etched markings on every metric standard socket
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- 1/4 inch drive suits smaller fasteners, not the larger sizes here
- No spark plug socket is included
- Storage is a carrying case, not a rail or tray
Klein Tools 65121IMPCT KNECT Deep-Well 3/8-Inch
A 23-piece 3/8 inch drive deep-well impact socket set, SAE and metric, with color-coded rings, a 3 inch impact adapter and a MODbox organizer.
Pros
- Deep-well sockets for extra access to longer bolts
- Color-coded rings and bold stamped size markings
- Cold forged, heat-treated Cr-Mo steel, impact rated
- 3 inch adapter fits a 1/4 inch impact driver
Cons
- Warranty is 'call vendor for warranty', no term stated
- Deep-well only; no shallow sockets are included
- Top ends stop at 13/16 inch SAE and 19 mm metric, below the TEKTON set
- 23 pieces, the fewest in this guide
How to read socket set size: drive, range and depth
The drive is the square hole the ratchet fits into, and it sets how much torque the set is built for. A 1/4 inch drive suits smaller fasteners and tight spaces, while a 3/8 inch drive is the general garage size: three of the four sets here run on a 3/8 inch drive, and only the WETT set runs on a 1/4 inch drive.
SAE sizes are given in fractions of an inch and metric sizes in millimeters, and a home garage that works on both kinds of fasteners needs both. The ranges here run from a 5/32 inch SAE low on the WETT set to a 1 inch SAE high on the TEKTON set, and from a 4 mm metric low to a 24 mm metric high on the same two sets.
Shallow sockets sit low on the fastener and suit nuts and bolts with little exposed thread, while deep sockets reach nuts on long studs and longer bolts. Three of the four sets include both shallow and deep sockets; the Klein set is deep-well only, so it covers long bolts but carries no shallow socket.
| Set | Drive | SAE range | Metric range | Shallow and deep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEKTON 68-Piece Set | 3/8 in. | 1/4 to 1 in. | 6 to 24 mm | Shallow and deep |
| SEDY 96-Piece Set | 3/8 in. | 5/16 to 3/4 in. | 8 to 22 mm | Standard and deep |
| WETT 55-Piece Set | 1/4 in. | 5/32 to 9/16 in. | 4 to 15 mm | Deep and shallow |
| Klein 23-Piece Set | 3/8 in. | 5/16 to 13/16 in. | 8 to 19 mm | Deep-well only |
The range is what you are buying: count the sizes at the ends of the range, not just the piece count.
How to pick the right socket set size
- List the fasteners first: the nuts and bolts the work involves, in SAE and metric.
- Pick the drive. A 1/4 inch drive suits smaller fasteners and tight spaces; a 3/8 inch drive covers general garage work.
- Check both ranges: the set must cover the largest SAE and metric sizes on the list.
- Check the extras: a ratchet handle, extension bars, a universal joint and adapters decide whether the set works on its own.
- Check the markings. Laser-etched or bold stamped size markings that stay readable in low light save time at the bench.
- Check the standard: the TEKTON set meets a minimum of 1.3 times the ANSI/ASME proof torque standard, and it is the only set with a stated warranty term, with no time limits.
Use impact-rated sockets on impact tools, and keep chrome sockets off them. Wear eye protection, and never work under a vehicle held up by a jack alone.
Use rated jack stands on solid ground, wear eye protection with power and air tools, keep fuel-burning equipment out of a closed garage, and follow the manual for every tool. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
The gear that covers the range
The four sets below cover the drive sizes and ranges in this guide, from the 1/4 inch drive set to the 68-piece 3/8 inch drive set.
FAQ: garage tools
What socket set size do I need for general car work?
A 3/8 inch drive set with SAE and metric sockets, shallow and deep, covers most home garage work.
What is the difference between 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch drive?
The drive is the square that the ratchet fits into. A 1/4 inch drive suits smaller fasteners and tight spaces, as with the WETT set, while a 3/8 inch drive covers general garage work, as with the other three sets.
Do I need both SAE and metric sockets?
Yes, if the work covers both kinds of fasteners. All four sets here include both: SAE sizes in fractions of an inch and metric sizes in millimeters.
What are deep sockets for?
Deep sockets reach nuts on long studs and longer bolts that a shallow socket cannot cover. The Klein set is deep-well only, while the other three sets include deep sockets alongside shallow ones.
What does 6-point mean?
A 6-point socket has six contact points that grip the flat sides of a hex fastener. The TEKTON, SEDY and WETT sets state a 6-point design; the Klein listing does not state a point count.
Related: the engine and shop equipment hub, the picks for the best impact metric socket set, and the best 3/8 torque wrench.
