Air Ratchet vs Cordless Ratchet: Which One Should You Buy?

Side by side

Example figures are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 19 October 2026.

Air ratchet vs cordless ratchet: power source first

Power source is the whole argument. The two Ingersoll Rand listings are air powered: the 1770G is a standalone 1/2 in. air ratchet, and the 2317G is a combo kit with a 1/2 in. impact wrench and a 3/8 in. air ratchet. The SOARFLY is a 16.8V cordless ratchet with two 2000mAh batteries and a charger in the box. An air ratchet needs a compressor you already own, and neither air listing states compressor specs, so match the tool to the tank you have. A cordless ratchet needs nothing but a charged battery.

Torque and speed

Both Ingersoll Rand ratchets state 55 ft-lbs of max torque at 170 rpm: the 1770G on a 1/2 in. drive and the 170G inside the 2317G kit on a 3/8 in. drive. The SOARFLY states 40 ft-lbs in electric mode and 110 ft-lbs in manual ratchet mode, with a 0 to 450 rpm stepless trigger. The SOARFLY states the higher max speed here; the air pair states the higher electric-mode torque. The 2317G kit also brings a 500 ft-lbs impact wrench, which is a different tool class from the ratchets and should not be compared against them.

Weight and reach

The 1770G weighs 2.6 lb and the 170G inside the kit weighs 2.6 lb as well; the SOARFLY listing states no weight. The 1770G is 10.4 in long and the SOARFLY 6 in. The SOARFLY adds an extended neck design for tight spots, a built-in LED and a battery display. The 1770G answers with a 1/2 in. drive and a heat-treated TwinPawl Plus head. An air hose follows you around the bay; a battery does not, but the battery runs out.

What is in the box

The 2317G kit is the fullest box: the 231G impact wrench, the 170G ratchet, a 5-piece socket set and a blow-molded case. The 1770G is the ratchet alone. The SOARFLY kit brings the ratchet, two batteries, a charger, 7 sockets, a 3 in. extension bar, a 1/4 in. adapter, gloves and a storage case. The SOARFLY box is the most complete cordless answer; the 2317G box is the most complete air answer.

Example ratchets

All three are scored on performance, build, value, safety and warranty.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score.

Garage Fit Check

• The 2317G kit needs a compressor; the listing states no compressor requirements, so check your tank against the tools’ needs.
• The 1770G is the ratchet alone: no hose, no sockets, no case in the box.
• The SOARFLY ships two 2000mAh batteries and a charger; no weight is stated.
• The 500 ft-lbs figure belongs to the 231G impact wrench in the kit, not to either ratchet.
• The 2317G kit and the 1770G are each backed by a 1-year limited warranty.

Ratchet buying advice for the home garage

Start with torque, because a ratchet that cannot break a bolt loose is a paperweight. The two Ingersoll Rand air ratchets state 55 ft-lbs, while the SOARFLY states 40 ft-lbs in electric mode and 110 ft-lbs in manual mode: more than enough to spin fasteners, with the manual rating covering the final snug. Do not let the kit’s 500 ft-lbs figure fool you; that belongs to the 231G impact wrench in the 2317G kit, not to either ratchet. If your fasteners are regularly rusted or torqued past 100 ft-lbs, reach for the impact wrench first and let the ratchet do the spinning.

Then match the tool to your air situation. Both Ingersoll Rand listings are air powered and state no compressor requirements, so the compressor, hose and fittings are on you: a small pancake compressor that runs a nail gun may starve an air ratchet on long pulls. The 2317G kit is the starter bundle, an impact wrench and an air ratchet with a 5-piece socket set and a blow-molded case in one box, backed by a 1-year limited warranty. The 1770G is the ratchet alone at 2.6 lb: no hose, no sockets, no case. The SOARFLY asks nothing of your shop air; it ships two 2000mAh batteries and a charger, and the listing states no weight. If a compressor already lives in your garage, air is the cheaper tool; if not, cordless costs less than a compressor.

Finally, weigh speed against stamina. The SOARFLY states 0 to 450 rpm against 170 rpm on the air pair, so it spins fasteners off faster once broken loose. Air ratchets run as long as the compressor does, while the cordless runs as long as the two batteries last. For one-car DIY work the difference is small; for all-day teardowns, air wins on endurance and cordless wins on not dragging a hose under the car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a compressor for an air ratchet?

Yes. Both Ingersoll Rand listings are air powered and state no compressor specs, so the compressor is on you.

Which ratchet is strongest?

The Ingersoll Rand ratchets state 55 ft-lbs; the SOARFLY states 40 ft-lbs in electric mode and 110 ft-lbs in manual mode. Do not compare the kit’s 500 ft-lbs impact wrench against the ratchets.

Which is fastest?

The SOARFLY states 0 to 450 rpm against 170 rpm on the air pair.

Does the 2317G kit come with sockets?

Yes: a 5-piece socket set and a blow-molded carrying case.

Does the SOARFLY come with batteries?

Yes: two 2000mAh batteries and a charger.

Related: the best cordless ratchet roundup, the cordless ratchet vs impact wrench comparison, the brushless vs brushed cordless ratchet comparison and extended reach vs standard cordless ratchet.