Hand tools are an important part of every toolkit. They help you build, repair and restore items around your home or a construction site quickly and efficiently. At Ace, you'll find a wide variety of socket sets, ratchet sets and other tools to complete your projects with ease. Shop online now to find the right socket set for your needs, from affordable standard socket wrench sets to durable, long-lasting impact socket sets designed for high-load applications.
Understanding Your Socket Set
When shopping for a socket tool set, you might see some unfamiliar terms. Knowing what these terms mean will help you buy the right socket set for your needs.
Socket Wrench Included
Many socket sets come with a socket wrench or wrenches to help you build out your tool set. Also known as a ratchet, a socket wrench is designed to make tightening and loosening fasteners more convenient. Looking for a specific ratchet? Find additional socket wrenches to complement your next project.
What are Impact Sockets?
An impact socket is designed to be used with impact tools powered by air or electricity. They’re capable of withstanding the high torque of impact wrenches to tackle heavy-duty and professional jobs.
Number of Points
You are most likely to find 6-point or 12-point sockets:
- 6-pointsockets: Ideal for heavy-duty work, 6-point sockets fit more snuggly and can easily handle jobs that need more torque. Their snug fit helps prevent slippage.
- 12-point sockets: Great for everyday repairs, 12-point sockets are also useful for fasteners in difficult-to-see positions as the additional points make it easier to fit over a variety of nuts and bolts.
Socket Wrench Drive Size
At Ace, you can find ¼ inch, 3/8 inch, ½ inch and ¾ inch drives. The drive size corresponds with the size of the job that needs completing.
- ¼ inch drives are ideal for small fasteners.
- ½ and ¾ inch drives will handle your bigger and tougher duties.
- 3/8 inch drives should handle most jobs.
Be Prepared for Every Job with a Mechanics’ Socket Set
A socket set with multiple-size fittings allows you to complete minor home repairs easily. These simple and easy-to-use tools allow you to tighten nuts and bolts, replace gaskets and handles and even work on furniture.
While a basic socket set can accommodate many home repairs, sometimes the job calls for specialized tools. A mechanics’ socket set can handle basic jobs as well as many automotive repairs. Keep a set in your garage and in your car to ensure you can get back on the road, no matter where you are.
You may also want to add useful specialty pieces to your socket and wrench sets. Torque wrenches, flare nut wrench sets, metric sets, and spark plug socket sets can help you handle any task quickly.
SAE Vs. Metric Socket Sets
When shopping for socket sets, you can choose between SAE sockets and metric sockets. The difference between the two lies in how they measure size:
- SAE sockets are measured in inches and fractions of inches.
- Metric sockets are measured using millimeters.
The SAE and metric designations are important to note because they let you know which sockets to use for specific fasteners. As nuts, bolts and other fasteners are also identified using metric or SAE systems, some socket sets work better for certain jobs than others. Although you may be able to complete a job on SAE fasteners with metric socket sets and vice versa, you risk stripping the fastener by doing so. Look for dually compatible sets.
Shop DIY and Mechanics Socket Sets at Ace
Shop mechanics’ socket sets, socket accessories and power tool accessories from brands like Crescent and Milwaukee. We also carry Craftsman socket sets, plus a variety of soldering tools, dry vacuums and tool storage solutions to help you get the job done quickly and easily. Whether you're a professional in the automotive or plumbing industry, an experienced DIYer or a novice with an interest in home maintenance, find sockets sets near you at Ace Hardware or online.
