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Any mechanic or DIYer will tell you you should never work on a car without the proper equipment. A hard task can quickly turn hellish, which is why I put together a list of automotive tools that deserve a spot in your garage alongside your power tools, hand tools, and bike tools.
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From a proper mechanic’s tool set to a can that claims to get any nut off, no matter how rusted, this collection of time-tested auto tools features the essential products you need to conquer any car repair with maximum efficiency and zero frustration. My favorite of the batch is the Craftsman 262-Piece Master Socket Set, which is an inexpensive but jam-packed tool kit that’ll take on most garage projects.
Check out the rest of the 2025 Men’s Journal Best Tools Awards, including the best work lights, lawn and garden tools, outdoor tools, and more.
Best Mechanics Tools at a Glance
- Best Mechanics Tools Overall: Craftsman 262-Piece Master Socket Set
- Best Compact Socket Set: DeWalt DWMT73804
- Best Corded Impact Wrench: Eastvolt 800W
- Best Battery Impact Wrench: Walmart Hyper Tough
- Best Jack/Jack Stand: Powerbuilt UniJack 3 Ton
- Best Torque Wrench: Lexivon Torque Wrench
- Best Creeper: Pro-Lift C-2036D Z-Creeper Seat
- Best Screwdriver for Tight Spots: Pittsburgh Ratcheting Right Angle
- Best Miscellaneous: Free All Rust Eater
Best Mechanics Tools of 2025
Best Overall: Craftsman 262-Piece Mechanic Tool Set, Master Socket Set
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Why I Chose It
When working on a car, there’s no such thing as “too many tools,” and this Craftsman 262-piece mechanic tool set agrees. This set boasts low-profile ¼-inch, ⅜-inch, and ½-inch drive 72-tooth ratchets with a 5-degree arc swing, open-end wrenches, a screwdriver and plenty of bits to go along with it, and every size of Allen wrench you can think of. Craftsman also boasts a 25-percent thinner head than their older sets, meaning you can have better luck taking off bolts in those hard-to-reach corners. All of this comes in a well-organized three-drawer box, and at the time of writing, it’s on sale for a mere $149.
Customers seem to love it too, with an average Amazon rating of 4.7 stars from 8,069 people. With such a wide variety of tools in one spot, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something you can’t do or remove on any car you get your hands on.
Best Compact Socket Set: DeWalt DWMT73804 34-Piece Socket Set
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Why I Chose It
Who says a good socket set has to break the bank? This 34-piece DeWalt set has both SAE/metric ¼-inch and ⅜-inch drive sockets in every size, as well as two extensions and a drive adapter. This wrench also sports 72 teeth, making for smooth movements and small arc swings. All of these come in a durable, lockable box that can stack with other DeWalt boxes to create the ultimate tool tower.
And all it costs is just $48. I’ve personally owned it for the past two years and have put it to good use on both my project cars without issue. Although the description doesn’t rate these sockets for impact wrench use, I can attest that they’ve not cracked or broken on the few occasions I’ve used them in this way. I wouldn’t trust them for constant impact use, though. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another set that offers the same value and variety as this one does.
Best Impact Wrench: Eastvolt 800W Electric Impact Wrench
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Why I Chose It
You might be asking why we picked a corded versus a cordless impact for this category, and the answer is torque. Being plugged into the wall gives this impact more power, 450 lb-ft in this case, to be exact. That’s a pretty hefty amount compared to the 275 lb-ft of a cordless Ryobi impact that costs over twice as much. This particular Eastvolt impact also comes with four sockets, although at 17mm, 19mm, 21mm, and 22mm, they tend to be on the larger side. The case is another nice touch, ensuring that your impact and sockets stay safely in one place.
A price of $50 may seem cheap for an impact wrench, but a 4.2 rating from 1,082 customers seems to say that low price isn’t much of a variable here. I have also owned this particular impact wrench for two years, and I once used it to easily pull the rusted lug nuts from a Chrysler New York that had sat for decades. I’m confident it could pull a house out of the ground if given the chance.
Best Jack/Jack Stand: Powerbuilt UniJack 3 Ton 6,000 Pound Capacity
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Why I Chose It
This is an interesting one that one of my close mechanic friends told me about. Rather than spend money on a jack and four jack stands, you can just buy four UniJacks and get both jobs done at the same time. A single UniJack has a 6,000-pound capacity, a lift range from 11 to 21 inches, and a safety lock, so lifting most trucks and SUVs should be no issue. If the 6,000-pound UniJack for $92 is more than you need, a 4,000-pound version for $64 is also available with a lift range from 8⅝ to 18⅜ inches.
Best Torque Wrench: Lexivon Torque Wrench 1/2-Inch Drive
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Why I Chose It
Properly torquing bolts to spec is vital for certain components of a car to ensure they’re neither overtightened nor under tightened. A torque wrench is your friend for such a job, and while digital ones can make the job a little easier, their cost can make them prohibitive for many DIYers, and a regular torque wrench is a breeze to use once you get the hang of it. This Lexivon torque wrench is not only a bargain at $86, but it also sports a ½-inch drive with reinforced gears and a dual range of 10~150 lb-ft. If that range isn’t enough for your uses, you can opt for ones that go from 25-250 lb-ft to 30~300 lb-ft.
Best Creeper: Pro-Lift C-2036D 36-Inch Z-Creeper Seat
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Why I Chose It
Working under your car is just about inevitable. Anything from a simple oil change to something more complicated, like exhaust or transmission work, will require you to get down on your back. That said, doing it on a hard floor is not the most pleasant idea, which is where a creeper comes in to save the day. These benches on wheels allow you to roll in and out from underneath your vehicle easily, but this Pro-Lift model can also double as a chair for work that requires you to squat. Not only is this more comfortable, but it can do wonders for your knees in the long run. At only $45 and with a reported 300-pound weight capacity, this convertible creeper seat a must for any serious automotive DIYer.
Best Screwdriver for Tight Spots: Pittsburgh Ratcheting Right Angle Multi-Bit Screwdriver Set, 8 Piece
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Why I Chose It
We unfortunately don’t live in a perfect world, which means that not all screws in a car are accessible with a regular screwdriver. That’s where this Harbor Freight right-angle screwdriver comes in. Its small size and angled head provide access to the tightest areas, with the product page boasting it requires “only 1 inch of clearance.” The ratcheting mechanism is a nice touch too, enabling quick removal of a screw once it has been loosened and saving your wrist in the process. While it’s compatible with any screwdriver bit, it also comes with a set of seven of the most popular screw shapes and sizes, including a Torx 15 and 20. At a mere $3, this screwdriver has saved me numerous headaches while working on my Datsun, and I now have one in both of my project cars and toolboxes.
Best Miscellaneous: Free All Rust Eater Deep Penetrating Oil
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Why I Chose It
If you’ve spent any amount of time around old cars, especially those that have sat for a while, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the curse of the rusted fastener. PB Blaster and heat tend to be popular choices, but I’ve found that Free All gets the job done all on its own. Free All claims a three-part formula made of 35 percent lubricant, 30 percent “rust eater,” and 35 percent seeking agent that reportedly frees bolts faster than the competition. Depending on your needs, you can get it in a 1.5-ounce can, a 6-ounce can, an 11-ounce can, or a massive 1-gallon canister. The included nozzle tip also adds precision and range for those hard-to-reach places.
What to Look for in Mechanics Tools
Depending on the frequency with which you’ll be using your tools, sometimes paying the extra buck for a brand name is worth it. If you’re only going to be working on a car from time to time, there’s no shame in buying a Harbor Freight or store brand tool to get the job done. The latter is also true for things like brushes, picks, etc.
Oh, and if you’re going to be using your sockets in an impact wrench, make sure they’re rated for that. Impact sockets are made of a harder material that can withstand the abuse of an impact wrench without shattering.
When buying tools that rely on grip and require a lot of movement, such as pliers or screwdrivers, ensure you get ones with comfortable, anti-slip handles. Lastly, consider whether you need your power tools to be corded or cordless. If you want the highest power available, corded is your best bet. If you prefer portability instead, go for cordless.
Why You Should Trust Me
I have been an automotive writer for the past five years and am currently a full-time writer and editor at Autoblog. Between my 1975 Datsun 620 and my 1986 Nissan 300ZX, I’ve learned which tools are essential for reviving a car and keeping it running once it’s back on the road. I have also used plenty of tools from various brands and can attest to which ones are worth paying for and which ones are not.
