The best 3/8 inch socket sets, compared.
Top pick: CASOMAN 49-piece 3/8 inch socket set Best value: WORKPRO 39-piece 1/4 and 3/8 inch socket set – Highest value part among the other listings: about £19.99 with a 3/8 inch 72-tooth ratchet and 4.5 from 5,253 ratings, with only six sockets on the 3/8 inch drive. Updated October 2026.
A 3/8 inch socket set is the square-drive kit you use on car, bike and mower fasteners, in the band trade guides put at roughly 8–19 mm. The square on the ratchet and on every socket has to be 3/8 inch. The stamped number is the nut size. A reducer adds a joint. It is not a reason to buy a larger drive for a job this size can finish. You tell a suitable set by counting the 3/8 inch sockets, not the piece count on the box. A 6-point socket bears on the flats and is the safer default on a rusty hex nut. A 12-point socket suits a 12-point fastener and rounds a soft hex nut more easily. Chrome vanadium is the usual hand alloy. Chrome molybdenum is the usual impact alloy. A shallow socket needs room above the nut, and a deep socket clears a stud. A sockets-only rail needs a 3/8 inch ratchet you already own. Drive, points and steel are set out in the [3/8 inch socket set buying guide](/hub/hand-tools/3-8-inch-socket-set/sub/3-8-inch-socket-set-buying-guide).
A 3/8 inch socket set is the square-drive kit you use on car, bike and mower fasteners, in the band trade guides put at roughly 8–19 mm. The square on the ratchet and on every socket has to be 3/8 inch.
28 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Do you already own a 3/8 inch ratchet?
The CASOMAN CS041 is listed at about £39.97 as a 49-piece 3/8 inch shallow and deep set in metric and SAE, all 6-point, in a blow-moulded case that weighs 4.16 kg. Across 5,585 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.7, which matches the Draper star line on a larger sample, and the score is lower because no ratchet is included and the impact line does not match the steel. The printed sizes run from 8 mm to 22 mm, skipping 20 mm, and SAE from 5/16 inch to 3/4 inch, both shallow and deep, with 3 inch and 6 inch extensions and a universal joint. Two of the 50 reviews read say these are not impact sockets: the steel line is chrome vanadium (50BV30) with a black phosphate finish, while the title says impact. Sockets shift if the case is tipped, and oily size marks are hard to read. The title says 49 pieces, the set name says 48, and the warranty bullet says a limited lifetime while the manufacturer field says 1 year. No widespread snapping showed up in those 50 reviews.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own a 3/8 inch ratchet and want a large hand-socket case, and you will not put these on an impact wrench.
Less suitable: A first kit that still needs a handle, or any job on a 3/8 inch impact wrench.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a ratchet in the box?
No ratchet is named in the contents list.
Does the listing claim impact sockets?
The title says impact. The steel line says chrome vanadium (50BV30).
Which sizes are listed?
Metric deep and shallow sockets run from 8 mm to 22 mm and skip 20 mm. SAE deep and shallow sockets run from 5/16 inch to 3/4 inch.
The Draper Expert 16359 is an 18-piece metric 3/8 inch set at about £26.47, with a 72-tooth reversible soft-grip ratchet in a case that weighs 1.57 kg. Across 2,898 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.7, and in the 50 reviews read for this comparison people use it on cars, motorbikes, a campervan and house jobs. One owner undid rusted, thread-locked car-seat nuts after five years, and others say it still felt sound after three years of regular use. The millimetre sizes are not printed in the listing bullets, so you cannot confirm 10 mm or 19 mm from those lines alone. Two buyers say it is not the Draper Expert line they expected, the case catch is described as floppy, and the ratchet handle is a little short. The socket will not seat until you press the silver release button. No split sockets or broken ratchets appeared in those 50 reviews, and the page cites DIN 3122 and ISO 3315 for a hand ratchet, not impact-wrench use. It is the highest score in this set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A compact metric hand kit for car, bike and house jobs when you want the ratchet in the box and you are not using an impact wrench.
Less suitable: You need the millimetre list before you buy, a long lever for wheel nuts, or sockets for an impact wrench.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this set include a ratchet?
Yes. The listing describes a 72-tooth reversible soft-grip ratchet.
Which millimetre sizes are in the box?
The title says metric. The millimetre list is not printed in the bullets.
Is impact use claimed?
No impact-wrench claim is printed. The standards cited are DIN 3122 and ISO 3315.
The Amazon Basics 46-piece set, model DS-DNLYX006, is about £37.52 and prints shallow and deep metric and SAE sockets on a 3/8 inch drive, plus 5/8 inch and 13/16 inch spark plug sockets. Across 693 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.6. The ratchet is a 72-tooth pear head, with 3 inch and 6 inch extensions and a universal joint, in a case the title sizes at 13.1 × 9.7 × 3 inches. Reviewers use it on brake discs and pads, a motorcycle, a lawnmower and gym equipment, and one mechanic cites the 72-tooth swing for daily use. Smaller sockets sit loose and fall out if you open the case the wrong way up, and deep sockets are described as stopping halfway. One ratchet selector would not stay in position, and one ratchet broke after a single use. Metric sockets are 6-point and the SAE sockets are 12-point. The material line says chrome molybdenum, the title does not say impact, and the reviews disagree on whether it belongs on an impact wrench.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want shallow and deep, metric and imperial, in one 3/8 inch case and you will check the foam before you tip the box.
Less suitable: An impact wrench, a tight budget, or a rusted nut that needs a long breaker.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the set include a ratchet?
Yes. The listing includes a 72-tooth pear-head reversible ratchet.
Are shallow and deep sockets both included?
Yes. The contents list shallow and deep metric and SAE sockets, plus 5/8 inch and 13/16 inch spark plug sockets.
Does the listing claim impact use?
Impact is not stated in the title or bullets. The material field says chrome molybdenum steel.
The WORKPRO W003067 is a 39-piece mixed 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch set at about £19.99, and the contents line names only six 3/8 inch sockets, three metric and three SAE. Across 5,253 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.5, the largest sample in this set. In the 50 reviews read, people use it on batteries, bikes, furniture, mowers and light car work, and one review mentions rusted bolts on a 20-year-old car. The 3/8 inch ratchet is 72-tooth with quick release, in a plastic case about 24 × 13 × 5 cm. Reviewers say the sizes do not go large enough for a bike wheel or a wheel change. Sockets can fall out if the case is knocked, the spinner ball does not hold a socket, and the extension will not fit the reducing socket. The piece-count field says 39 while the number of items says 40, and impact use is not claimed. On the scoring used here it is the best-value row, which still leaves you with only six 3/8 inch sockets.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A lower-priced boot kit for light fasteners when you accept that most of the box is 1/4 inch.
Less suitable: A full 3/8 inch shallow-and-deep case, wheel nuts, or a tray that has to keep every socket seated.
Specifications
Common questions
How many sockets are 3/8 inch?
Six: three metric and three SAE. The rest of the sockets are 1/4 inch.
Is a ratchet included?
Yes. It is a 3/8 inch 72-tooth reversible ratchet with quick release.
Is this sold as an impact set?
Impact use is not claimed.
The Silverline 868518 is 13 metric 6-point 3/8 inch sockets on a plastic rail at about £10.95, with no ratchet and a stated weight of 530 g. Across 134 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.2. The printed sizes are 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 21 mm, so 7 mm and 18 mm are absent. In the 28 reviews read, people use them on a 3/8 inch wrench and a torque wrench, and one loaded a 12 mm socket through a 60 cm extension without damage. The rail clips are stiff and awkward to unclip when the set arrives. Reviewers call them adequate for home and light use, and not trade-brand quality. No broken sockets appeared in those 28 reviews. Impact use is not claimed, so you need a 3/8 inch driver you already own.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own a 3/8 inch ratchet or torque wrench and you can work around the missing 7 mm and 18 mm.
Less suitable: A first set that still needs a handle, or a job that needs 7 mm or 18 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this set include a ratchet?
No. The contents are 13 metric 6-point sockets on a holder.
Which sizes are missing from the contents line?
7 mm and 18 mm are absent. The printed sizes are 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 21 mm.
Is it an impact set?
Impact use is not claimed. The listing says it needs a 3/8 inch driver you already own.
The WORKPRO W003126 is a 14-piece 3/8 inch set at about £12.99: six short metric sockets at 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 17 mm, six hex bit sockets, and a 72-tooth ratchet on a magnetic rail that weighs 920 g. Across 48 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.1, from 22 reviews read for this comparison. Buyers mention gym equipment, bike work and a motorcycle oil change, and the rail sticks to a metal bench. Coverage stops at 17 mm, so there is no 19 mm socket in the contents line. One box had a duplicate H6 and a missing H10, the direction lever is described as stiff, and the handle felt short. One UK buyer returned it unused as not fit for purpose. There is no closed case and no impact claim. The item-torque field prints 200 newton metres, which is a listing figure, not a test witnessed for this comparison.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A short metric rail for bike, gym and light motorcycle jobs when 17 mm is the largest fastener you expect.
Less suitable: A 19 mm car fastener, a closed case in the boot, or hard tightening on a long bolt.
Specifications
Common questions
Which sockets are included?
Six short metric sockets: 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 17 mm, plus hex bit sockets H3, H4, H5, H6, H8 and H10.
Does it come in a closed case?
No. Storage is a magnetic socket rail, not a closed case.
Is impact use claimed?
No impact-wrench claim is printed for the sockets. The largest listed socket is 17 mm.
The LSLANSOON LY3304 is a 40-piece mixed 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch set at about £11.39, with a ratchet whose tooth count is not printed, in a blow-moulded case that weighs 980 g. Across 73 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 3.6, the lowest stars in this set. In the 32 reviews read, a few buyers keep it as a cheap boot kit, and others report breakage within minutes of a simple job. Squares are described as not fully formed, so some sockets will not mount, and one box arrived with a 3/8 inch wrench and 1/4 inch sockets and no adapter. The spinner crumpled in the hand, and an adapter broke on first use. Individual socket steps are not printed; the range line says SAE 5/32 inch to 3/4 inch and metric 4–17 mm across both drives. The case is called impact-resistant, which describes the box, not the sockets. Sockets fall out, and leftover pieces do not fit the holes.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only if you treat about £11.39 as a spare boot kit you will check, socket by socket, before a roadside job.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a fastener undone the same day, or a set with a printed size list and a clean review file.
Specifications
Common questions
Which drives are in the set?
1/4 inch and 3/8 inch. The exact socket steps are not printed.
Is a ratchet included?
Yes. The tooth count is not printed.
Are the sockets claimed as impact sockets?
Impact is not claimed for the sockets. The bullet calls the case impact-resistant.
The TecoTek TC044EU is 13 semi-deep 12-point metric sockets from 7 mm to 19 mm at about £21.57, with no ratchet and a stated weight of 1.1 kg. The amazon.co.uk listing has no star line, and the product data has no reviews to read. The title and a durability bullet claim impact use, and the bullets say forged chrome molybdenum with a black phosphate finish. Other fields on the same page say external hex, hex shank and bit set, which do not describe a square-drive socket. Storage is not stated. The standards line says it meets or exceeds ANSI, which is the maker’s claim rather than a UKCA mark. At 12-point, a rusty hex nut is easier to round than with a 6-point socket. Without a UK review, the chrome-molybdenum and impact lines stay unread claims.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already run a 3/8 inch impact wrench and you will check the steel stamp on arrival before you use it.
Less suitable: A hand ratchet kit, a 6-point job on a rusty nut, or anyone who needs review evidence before buying.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a ratchet included?
No. The contents line is 13 semi-deep 3/8 inch sockets and no ratchet.
Which sizes are included?
Metric 12-point semi-deep sockets from 7 mm to 19 mm in 1 mm steps.
Does the listing claim impact use?
Yes. The title and the durability bullet claim impact. The material bullet says forged chrome molybdenum steel.
Eight 3/8 inch socket sets on amazon.co.uk were scored from listing facts and review notes. Shelf prices, stars and review counts were read on 19 October 2026. There was no lab test and no torque bench. A tooth count is the number the listing prints. A five-degree swing is 360 divided by 72, not a measured arc. Stars, review sample, listing fit and value in this set are weighted 35, 25, 25 and 15. Defects taken from review notes and listing clashes deduct up to 12 points and are not a fifth weight. The highest total is the top pick, once. If two totals tie, the larger review count wins. The highest value part among the others is best value, once. If those value parts tie, the lower shelf price wins. Other products have no award.
Stars
35%The amazon.co.uk star rating divided by 5, then multiplied by 35, and rounded to the nearest whole number. Halves round up. No rating line scores 0. The star line is the UK listing figure, not a lab score.
Sample
25%1,000 or more ratings score 25, 500–999 score 22, 100–499 score 14, and 20–99 score 8. Under 20, or no rating line, scores 0. The count is a sample size, not a durability test.
Listing fit
25%Points for a ratchet with a printed tooth count, a printed 3/8 inch size list, 6-point rather than 12-point or hex, a closed case rather than a rail, and a named material. The cap is 25. A mixed-drive box whose individual steps are not printed scores less than a full 3/8 inch list.
Value in this set
15%A shelf price of £15 or under scores higher than £15.01–£30, which scores higher than a price over £30. A ratchet, a rating of 4.5 or higher and 500 or more reviews add points. A rating under 4.0, a pattern of breakage on first use, or no rating line deducts points. The cap is 15. The top pick does not also take best value.
Confirm both squares are 3/8 inch, then count the 3/8 inch sockets, then read points, depth and steel. Piece count on the lid is a poor guide. A chrome hand socket is the wrong tool on an impact wrench. The notes below follow that order for these eight amazon.co.uk listings. None of the scores is a lab test.
A 3/8 inch socket set is a hand-tool kit built around a 3/8 inch square. You buy one in the UK for fasteners on a car, a bike or a mower, in the size band trade guides put at roughly 8–19 mm. The square on the ratchet and the square in the socket have to match. The number stamped on the socket wall is the nut size. If those two numbers are confused, the socket will not seat, or it will be the wrong nut. A reducer adds a joint. It is not a reason to treat a 1/2 inch driver as a 3/8 inch set.
A high number on the lid can be mostly 1/4 inch sockets, bits and bars. In this sample the 39-piece contents line names six 3/8 inch sockets, and the 40-piece title mixes two drives. Count the 3/8 inch sockets before you compare the boxes.
A 6-point socket bears on the flats. A 12-point socket suits a 12-point fastener and rounds a soft hex nut more easily. Match the point style to the fastener, not to whichever socket comes off the rail first.
Amazon Basics and CASOMAN reviews report sockets falling out if the case is opened the wrong way or tipped. Silverline’s rail clips are stiff to unclip. A case is part of the tool. If sockets leave their slots, you will not have the size you need at the roadside.
The first check is the square. The ratchet and every socket you mean to use have to be 3/8 inch. A reducer lets a smaller socket sit on a larger driver, and it adds a joint. It does not turn a 1/2 inch habit into the right drive for an 8–19 mm fastener. Wheel nuts stay a 1/2 inch job on most cars. The second check is the contents line, not the number on the lid. Draper is an 18-piece metric set with a 72-tooth ratchet, and the millimetre list is not printed in the bullets.
A 6-point socket bears on the flats of a hex nut. That is the safer default on a rusty fastener. A 12-point socket is for a 12-point fastener, and it rounds a soft hex nut more easily. Draper and Silverline are 6-point. TecoTek is 12-point. Amazon Basics is 6-point on the metric sockets and 12-point on the SAE sockets. LSLANSOON’s point line is hex. Depth is clearance. Shallow needs room above the nut. Deep clears a stud. Semi-deep is the mid length on the TecoTek list, 7–19 mm.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a chrome vanadium metric 6-point set with the ratchet in the box, for car, bike and house jobs, and you will not use an impact wrench. The Draper Expert 18-piece set is about £26.47, with a 72-tooth ratchet and 4.7 from 2,898 ratings. The millimetre list is not printed in the bullets.
A sockets-only rail is enough if the missing sizes do not matter. The Silverline 13-piece rail is about £10.95, 6-point metric, with 4.2 from 134 ratings. The contents line omits 7 mm and 18 mm, and there is no ratchet in the box.
Use sockets that state chrome molybdenum. Black paint, or the word impact beside chrome vanadium, is not that statement. The TecoTek 13-piece line claims impact and says forged chrome molybdenum, at about £21.57, with no ratchet and no amazon.co.uk star line. Check the steel stamp on arrival.
In this set of eight amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Draper Expert 18-piece 3/8 inch socket set, about £26.47, with a 72-tooth ratchet, 6-point chrome vanadium sockets and 4.7 from 2,898 ratings. The millimetre list is not printed in the bullets, and the cited standards are DIN 3122 and ISO 3315 for a hand ratchet. The best value is the WORKPRO 39-piece set at about £19.99, with 4.5 from 5,253 ratings, and the limit that only six sockets are 3/8 inch. The other six have no award. None of these scores is a lab test.
WORKPRO 39-piece 1/4 and 3/8 inch socket set
Highest value part among the other listings: about £19.99 with a 3/8 inch 72-tooth ratchet and 4.5 from 5,253 ratings, with only six sockets on the 3/8 inch drive.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 20 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the product display for this comparison.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the UK listings used in this comparison, checked on 19 October 2026. We did not lab-test these 3/8 inch socket sets.
