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The right screwdriver makes a world of difference. Instead of damaging the fastener head or having the blade slip and scratch the surrounding surface, you’ll have positive engagement to work accurately and efficiently.
If you work with delicate screws and other small fasteners, precision screwdrivers are something of a necessity. When it comes to working on small components and modern electronics, buying the best precision screwdriver set can be a modest expense that has immense value in helping ensure you can do a job properly.
The following collection of top picks include some of the best precision screwdriver sets in each class.
- BEST OVERALL: Wiha 75992 System 4 Precision Interchangeable Bit Set
- RUNNER-UP: XOOL Precision Screwdriver Set, Phillips, Flat, Torx
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: EFFICERE 9-Piece Precision Screwdriver Set
- BEST FOR PROS: iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit – Electronics Repair Kit
- BEST FOR ELECTRONICS: Syntus Precision 63-in-1 Screwdriver Set
- BEST WITH MAGNETIC DRIVER: Nanch 22-in-1 Precision Screwdriver Tool Kit
- BEST MINI SET: KALIM 11PCS Mini Precision Screwdriver Set
- BEST ERGONOMIC SET: Wera Kraftform Micro Screwdriver Set
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Precision Screwdriver Set
As with general-purpose screwdriver sets, there is considerable variety when shopping for the best precision screwdriver set. The following considerations detail your options so you can build a complete picture of the features and benefits each set can offer. Knowing these details makes it easier to select the right tools, whether you are an enthusiastic amateur or a full-time professional.
Purpose
All screwdrivers have two fundamental purposes: to insert or remove a screw or fastener. While that is true for a wide range of DIY screwdrivers for many household tasks, a precision screwdriver often has to offer a little more.
If you know how easy it is to drop a screw accidentally, you also know that it’s a nuisance hunting around for it. With precision screws, the situation could be much worse. If it’s lost within a delicate mechanism, the tiny screw could be very difficult to retrieve and might even cause serious damage. Additionally, the screw might be too small to hold in your fingers for initial alignment.
The variety of fasteners out there also needs to be considered. A precision screwdriver set will often need to adjust more types of fasteners than just the common flathead or Phillips-head screws. The sections below provide solutions to help with these challenges.
Screwdriver Type
Precision screwdrivers can be divided into two main types: all-in-one fabrications with a handle, shank, and blade, or those with a single handle and a variety of interchangeable bits. The latter are similar to the kind of tools you’ll often find in a mechanic’s or engineer’s rolling tool box but on a much reduced scale.
All-in-one precision screwdrivers can be bought as individual items, but they’ll typically come in a set of four to 12 tools, usually supplied in a case or tool roll. They either have molded-on plastic handles like standard screwdrivers or are all-steel constructions, commonly known as mini or jeweler’s screwdrivers.
Interchangeable precision screwdriver sets frequently include many more items than just screwdrivers. More than 100 pieces are included in some cases. They can be general-purpose in nature or focused on tasks such as laptop or phone repair, gunsmithing, or watchmaking.
Size and Presentation
A precision screwdriver set is smaller and lighter than a standard screwdriver. Mini precision screwdrivers usually come in a plastic case that can slip easily into the pocket of a jacket, toolbelt, or overalls. While metal cases tend to be more durable than plastic cases, they also can come in a fitted tool roll made of heavy-duty nylon. Budget precision screwdriver sets may not include a case or roll, and are provided as loose tools. That’s fine if you have a good tool box to carry them around in.
How the screwdrivers are presented in the case varies. With precision screwdrivers that have interchangeable bits, you’ll often find a hinged lid that opens to present the tools at an angle, making it easy to select the one you need. Size and fastener type may be clearly marked. All-in-one screwdrivers in tool rolls may be similarly marked, but not always. While some have marked handles, it can be frustrating to have to check each tool before using it.
Material
A precision screwdriver can be divided into three parts: the handle, the shank (shaft), and the blade (replaceable bits).
On larger precision screwdrivers, the handle is usually plastic, typically hard-wearing cellulose acetate. Rubber inserts may be added to improve comfort and grip. On miniature or jeweler’s screwdrivers, handles are usually steel.
Shanks are almost always steel alloy, either chrome-molybdenum or chrome-vanadium. Both are widely used for making tools and combine great strength with a degree of flex. They also are highly resistant to rust. A chrome plating may be added, making them easier to wipe clean. Aluminum is occasionally used as it’s light and doesn’t rust. It is not as strong as steel alloys, so it is restricted to those precision screwdrivers where only modest torque is needed to turn the fastener.
The blade or bit takes the brunt of the wear. On budget screwdrivers they can be the same steel as the shank. Other materials used are High Speed Steel (HSS), S2 steel, high carbon steel, titanium and stainless steel, each of which has increased hardness and durability.
Handle Grip
The handle grip is particularly important in precision screwdriver sets because it needs to offer control while working in challenging situations. A minor slip could be the difference between a successful repair or further damage.
The shape of the handle may allow for the same full grip as a standard screwdriver, but they are often shorter with a rotating end cap. This end cap sits in the palm of your hand while a narrowed or tapered section allows you to turn the tool using just your fingertips. Precision screwdrivers for watchmaking are an example.
Handles on pocket precision screwdrivers are most often steel that has been textured (knurled) to provide additional grip. They often incorporate a useful clip. On some models a hole passes through, allowing a bar to be inserted to provide additional torque when undoing stubborn fasteners.
One interesting handle design comes from a stubby precision screwdriver that has interchangeable bits stored within its handle. It provides good versatility while remaining extremely compact.
Shanks, Blades and Bits
While the shank seems a basic part, its length has considerable impact on your choice. Sometimes space restrictions will require a short model. Stubby precision screwdrivers exist as both individual tools and as tools with interchangeable bits. At the other end of the scale there are long, slender shanks designed to reach fasteners buried deep inside a device. Most shanks are round, but some have small flats or a hexagonal section. This allows a wrench to be fitted to provide extra torque if a fastener is proving difficult to shift.
With more than a dozen different types of fasteners in common use, having the right blade or bit is crucial. “Something close” is not acceptable, as any loss of engagement between tool and fastener invariably results in loss or damage. On high-quality precision screwdrivers, blades and bits are machined to be an exact fit.
For additional help with positioning, many blades and bits are magnetized. This also can be useful for picking up a screw that gets dropped. The magnetic field is not strong enough to cause problems with delicate electronics. When screw holes are hard to reach, a blade with a retractable claw may help. It provides a secure hold until the fastener is in position, at which point the claw is released by pressing the screwdriver cap.
Additional Features
The best precision screwdriver sets offer innovative solutions to a variety of problems often associated with repairing modern equipment such as game consoles, smartphones, and tablets. Some precision screwdriver shanks are fitted with a small chuck and are capable of accepting a flexible shaft. This makes it possible to reach screws that might otherwise be inaccessible. Others incorporate an extension, so a single screwdriver can be used with different length shafts.
Getting inside some of these devices isn’t done by undoing screws, but by using plastic tools to pop cases open. Several of the precision screwdriver sets on our list include these and other useful items like pliers, snips, or tweezers that have an electrostatic discharge (ESD) coating to prevent damage to sensitive electronics.
Our Top Picks
Now that you know more about precision screwdriver sets, it’s time to start shopping. The top picks were selected based on the criteria listed above as well as the tasks proposed in the category, the value offered, and the manufacturer’s reputation for reliable, durable products. The following list includes some of the best precision screwdriver sets available.
Best Overall
Wiha 75992 System 4 Precision Interchangeable Bit Set
In such a competitive market, it’s not easy to choose an overall best precision screwdriver set. While Wiha’s 27-piece collection looks similar to many others, their manufacturing standards have few rivals when it comes to durability and accuracy.
It’s not the largest collection available, but with slotted, Phillips, torx, and hex bits, plus an ESD-safe, nonconductive handle and an extension bar, it has just about everything most hobbyists or professionals need. The case is metal rather than plastic, an example of Wiha’s reputation for product excellence.
Runner-Up
XOOL Precision Screwdriver Set, Phillips, Flat, Torx
Screwdrivers with interchangeable bits offer lots of flexibility, but good all-in-one models provide a tactile quality that’s hard to beat. The best are a pleasure to use, and that’s true of this nine-piece set which offers several clever design touches.
The textured handle gives high grip areas, and the hexagonal hole allows you to apply additional torque with a lever. There’s also a rotating cap so you can use your fingertips for delicate adjustments. Shafts are super-strong S2 steel. Blades are black oxide coated for rust protection and come in slotted, Phillips, torx, and pentalobe patterns. There’s also a magnetizer accessory and a nylon tool roll for storage.
Best Bang for the Buck
EFFICERE 9-Piece Precision Screwdriver Set
The three most common types of fasteners you find around the home are slotted, Phillips, and torx. This nine-piece budget precision screwdriver set provides three sizes of each, which work with fasteners in everything from reading glasses to guitars and thermostats to laptops.
Despite the minimal cost, this set’s nonslip rubber handles offer a sure grip when you need a little extra effort, and rotating caps allow for fingertip control. The shafts are highly durable chrome vanadium steel. The blades are accurately machined, magnetized, and have a corrosion-resistant finish. These tools also comply with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) safety standards.
Best for Pros
iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit – Electronics Repair Kit
The iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit has been developed over a period of five years to provide electronics professionals with every tool required in a single comprehensive package.
It’s centered around a 64-bit precision screwdriver set that allows you to work with 15 types of fasteners. There’s also an antistatic wrist strap, a variety of opening tools and picks, plus ESD-safe tweezers, several spudgers for opening plastic enclosures, and a suction cup for lifting phone screens. It requires a bigger investment than some competitors and comes in a sensibly arranged tool roll so professionals have rapid access to the item they need.
Best for Electronics
Syntus Precision 63-in-1 Screwdriver Set
If you’re going to take on the complexities of modern desktop and laptop computers, cellphones, tablets, and game consoles, you need more than just a tremendous variety of different bits. You also need plastic gadgets to crack open or slide various access panels without scratching a case or damaging components.
The 63-piece electronics repair tool kit from Syntus provides all of this in a well-organized case. It holds the magnetic driver, extension rod, flexible shaft, and 57 S2 hardened steel bits for slotted, Phillips, pentalobe, and tripoint fasteners, plus the less-common hex and square screws and nuts found in some Apple models. It’s a versatile collection for both hobbyists and professional users.
Best with Magnetic Driver
Nanch 22-in-1 Precision Screwdriver Tool Kit
Nanch is a brand known for quality tools and the intelligent design elements they incorporate. This 22-piece set exemplifies those benefits. The handle is lightweight aluminum with a rotating top and a knurled grip to maximize finger control. Within the body is an extending shaft, allowing you to change the length to suit the job at hand.
Each of the bits is made from hardened steel for durability, and the set comprises slotted, Phillips, torx, pentalobe, hex, tri-wing, and triangle patterns in a range of common sizes. They are provided in a case that presents them at the perfect angle for rapid identification and access.
Best Mini Set
KALIM 11PCS Mini Precision Screwdriver Set
Mini precision screwdrivers, also commonly called jeweler’s screwdrivers, have been around for more than a century. They’ve changed little because they’re just about unbeatable for both home and professional use. Simple and efficient, they’re also very affordable.
This 11-piece set from Kalim has shafts and blades made with tough chrome vanadium steel that’s been further hardened and tempered for durability. They’re also rust-proof and magnetic. The handle is knurled to provide a good grip for your fingers, and there’s a rotating end cap so you can support them in your palm as you work. They come in a compact case with clear identification for each.
Best Ergonomic Set
Wera Kraftform Micro Screwdriver Set
This 12-piece precision screwdriver set from Wera takes screwdriver ergonomics to a new level by maximizing both hand comfort and how your fingers manipulate each tool.
The handle has a rotating end cap in the main body. It is contoured to provide three distinct areas: one for fast spinning, one for increased power, and one for greater precision. There’s also a useful anti-roll feature.
Ergonomics aside, these are superbly made tools with exact fit blades for slotted, Phillips, hex, and torx fasteners. They are supplied in a smart, hard-wearing nylon tool roll.
FAQs About Precision Screwdriver Set
Now that you better understand the functionality and versatility that the best precision screwdriver sets can offer, you may have some additional questions. Below you’ll find answers to several of the most popular questions.
Q. What is a precision screwdriver set?
A precision screwdriver set comprises tools for dealing with small fasteners. Frequently they are smaller than standard screwdrivers, though they may just be more slender. Often the set consists of a single handle with multiple interchangeable bits.
Q. How do you use a precision screwdriver?
Many precision screwdrivers are used just like a normal screwdriver. Smaller models have a cap on the end that sits in your palm with a body that rotates independently. It allows you to turn the screwdriver using only your thumb and middle finger.
Q. How do you maintain precision screwdrivers?
It’s always a good idea to buy a set in a case or tool roll, which prevents them from banging against other tools and getting damaged. Give them a quick wipe before you put them away, paying attention to the tips, which can pick up tiny particles that might cause wear or prevent proper engagement the next time you use them.
Q. How long do precision screwdrivers last?
Complete screwdrivers with hardened tips can last many years, whereas interchangeable precision screwdriver bits are more varied. Some are equally durable, but others should be considered a consumable item to be replaced as soon as they show wear.