Oil Filter Wrench Sizes: Chart for Every Filter
Oil filter wrench sizes match the filter diameter or the handle length, and this guide shows how to match the wrench to the filter on the car.
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The drain pan is under the car, the old oil is out, and the filter will not move by hand. That stuck filter is the moment oil filter wrench sizes start to matter: the wrench has to match the filter it grips, and the wrong size slips or will not fit around the filter. Oil filter wrench sizes are stated as the filter diameter a wrench fits or the length of its handles, and the right wrench is the one that matches the filter on the car and the room around it.
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Below: how oil filter wrench sizes are stated, the kinds of wrench in the reference set, and the steps to match a wrench to the filter.
Oil filter wrench sizes: what the size means
A band wrench size is a diameter range. The Orion Motor Tech set in the reference listings lists 4 swivel-handle steel band wrenches that cover 2-3/4 inch to 5-1/4 inch, so a filter inside that range fits the band and a filter outside it does not. A socket size is a fixed fit instead: the same set lists a 64mm socket, which fits a filter end that measures 64mm across. Pliers are sized by handle length, and the set lists 9 inch and 12 inch adjustable pliers, with the longer handles giving more leverage where there is room to swing them. A 3-jaw wrench grips the end of the filter and turns it with a ratchet, and the set lists a 1/2 inch to 3/8 inch drive adapter so the wrench works with either ratchet.
The drive matters as much as the diameter. A band wrench with a swivel handle turns from an angle, and the set lists a 180 degree swivel design that helps around hoses, frames and tight engine parts. The pliers adjust through a 5-position sliding joint, so the pliers fit more than a fixed filter size, and the serrated jaws grip a stuck filter. The set is a 9 piece set, and the maker lists high-strength steel with sandblasted and electrophoresis-treated surfaces, plus a storage case that keeps the tools together.
| Kind | Size stated | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Steel band wrench | 2-3/4 inch to 5-1/4 inch diameter | Filters inside that range, turned with a swivel handle |
| Adjustable pliers | 9 inch and 12 inch handles | Stuck filters gripped by serrated jaws, with a 5-position sliding joint |
| 3-jaw wrench | Jaw range not stated; 1/2 inch to 3/8 inch adapter | Filter ends turned with a ratchet |
| Socket | 64mm across the filter end | A filter end that measures 64mm |
The size on the box is the size that matters, not the size of the set. A 9 piece set covers more filters than a lone wrench because it holds band wrenches, pliers, a 3-jaw wrench and a socket in the same case, and the storage case keeps the set together between oil changes.
How to match an oil filter wrench to the filter
- Measure the filter across its widest part. The band wrench range in the reference set runs 2-3/4 inch to 5-1/4 inch, so a filter inside that range fits the band and a filter outside it needs a different kind of wrench.
- Check the room around the filter. The band wrench lists a 180 degree swivel handle for hoses, frames and tight engine parts, and the pliers reach where a band cannot wrap.
- Pick the drive you already own. The set lists a 1/2 inch to 3/8 inch drive adapter, so a 3-jaw wrench or a 64mm socket turns with either ratchet.
- Match the socket to the filter end. The 64mm socket fits a filter end that measures 64mm across, so check the end before buying.
- Reach for pliers on a stuck filter. The pliers list serrated jaws and a 5-position sliding joint, with 9 inch and 12 inch handles for leverage.
- Keep the set together. The 9 piece set lists a storage case, so the band wrenches, pliers, 3-jaw wrench and socket stay with the adapter between oil changes.
Check the filter size before buying, not after the old oil is out. Check the filter the car takes in the manual or the parts catalogue, and the wrench size follows the filter, not the car.
An oil filter cutter opens a used filter to look inside it. It does not loosen a filter, so it never replaces a wrench: cutters inspect, wrenches remove. See our picks for the best oil filter cutter for inspection after the change.
Band, pliers, jaw and socket: which one fits the job
A band wrench suits a filter with room around it: the steel strap wraps around the filter and the 180 degree swivel handle turns it from an angle. Pliers suit a stuck filter: the serrated jaws bite and the 5-position sliding joint adjusts, with 9 inch handles for tight bays and 12 inch handles where there is room to swing them. A 3-jaw wrench and a 64mm socket suit a filter end that a ratchet can reach, and the 1/2 inch to 3/8 inch adapter lets the same wrench work with either drive. For a full rundown by size, see our picks for the best small oil filter wrench and the best large oil filter wrench, or a full set in our picks for the best heavy duty oil filter wrench set.
A set beats a lone wrench when the household runs cars with different filter sizes. A 9 piece set holds 4 band wrenches, pliers in 9 inch and 12 inch, a 3-jaw wrench, a 64mm socket and the adapter, so the next oil change starts with the size already in the case.
FAQ: garage tools
What size oil filter wrench do I need?
Match the wrench to the filter diameter. A band wrench in the reference set covers 2-3/4 inch to 5-1/4 inch, and a 64mm socket fits a filter end that measures 64mm across, so measure the filter and pick the wrench that covers it.
What does a 64mm oil filter socket fit?
A filter end that measures 64mm across. The socket turns the filter with a ratchet through the 1/2 inch to 3/8 inch adapter in the set, and it fits only a filter end of that size.
Will a band wrench fit any filter?
No. A band wrench fits only the filters inside its stated range: the set lists 2-3/4 inch to 5-1/4 inch for its 4 band wrenches. A filter outside that range needs pliers, a 3-jaw wrench or a socket that matches its size.
Do I need a 1/2 inch or a 3/8 inch drive?
Either drive works with this set, because the set lists a 1/2 inch to 3/8 inch drive adapter. Pick the ratchet that reaches the filter, then fit the adapter to it.
Can pliers remove a stuck filter?
Yes, when the jaws can grip the can. The pliers in the reference set list serrated jaws and a 5-position sliding joint, with 9 inch and 12 inch handles for leverage, and the longer handles help where the filter has room to turn.
Related: our picks for the best heavy duty oil filter wrench set, the best oil filter wrench for diesel trucks, the cheap oil drain pan and the best oil change kit under 40.
