The best adjustable spanners, compared.
Top pick: MAXPOWER 405 mm spud wrench Best value: Stanley 200 mm adjustable wrench – Highest value part among the others: about £7.99, 4.6 from 5,584 reviews and a 24/200 mm bullet, after the 8 inch jaw field and texts that name other lengths. Updated October 2026.
An adjustable spanner has one fixed jaw and one jaw on a worm screw, so one tool covers a range of nuts. In the UK you keep one in a drawer, a bike bag or a van, for furniture and for water fittings when a fixed size is not to hand. You tell a suitable one by the jaw opening in millimetres, not the handle length. A short body can still stop at about 19 mm. Rock the movable jaw, because play that lets it walk off the flats is the fault that matters. Chrome vanadium is a steel claim, not proof of a tight worm. Smooth faces suit chrome and brass, and teeth are for round or damaged work. BS ISO 6787:2018 sets dimensions, jaw clearance and a performance test. Do not assume a listing carries that mark. Gas fittings need a competent person, and business gas work needs Gas Safe registration. How to read length against opening is in the [adjustable spanner buying guide](/hub/hand-tools/adjustable-spanner/sub/adjustable-spanner-buying-guide).
An adjustable spanner has one fixed jaw and one jaw on a worm screw, so one tool covers a range of nuts.
42 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What job is this for?
The MAXPOWER MXP378 is a 405 mm spud wrench whose tapered handle is there to line up bolt and rivet holes, and the title and first bullet say a 40 mm jaw. The star line is 5.0 from 7 amazon.co.uk ratings. The texts in the file name an MXP376 10 inch with a 30 mm jaw, and other sets, so those words are not measurements of this MXP378. The jaw-capacity field says 16 inches, and the included-components line says 16 inch wrenches, against the 405 mm and 40 mm bullet. Listed weight is 950 g, the same 0.95 kg the first bullet prints, in chrome vanadium with a black phosphated finish. The bullets call it a 2-in-1 for aligning, prying and turning. The file does not call the taper a chisel, and seven stars with texts about other models are a thin basis for this spud wrench.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a long tapered handle to line up holes, and you take 40 mm from the title and the first bullet.
Less suitable: Anyone reading the seven stars, or the MXP376 comments, as a report on this MXP378.
Specifications
Common questions
What is the spud end for?
The bullets say the tapered handle aligns bolt and rivet holes. They also call it a 2-in-1 for aligning, prying and turning. The file does not say it is a chisel.
Which opening should you trust on this listing?
The title and the first bullet say 40 mm and 405 mm. The jaw-capacity field says 16 inches and the included-components line says 16 inch wrenches.
Do the seven stars describe this model?
The star line is 5.0 from 7. The texts in the file name an MXP376 10 inch with a 30 mm jaw, and other sets. Do not read those as measurements of MXP378.
The Enyisa BSTZ-010 is two double-ended wrenches that tighten as you load them, with ranges of 3–8 mm and 8–17 mm on one and 8–14 mm and 14–24 mm on the other. It is a self-tightening pair, and the bullets do not describe a worm screw. The star line is 5.0 from 2 amazon.co.uk reviews, and both texts are mild. One says they are not top quality but adequate at about £7.99 for household jobs. The other likes them for quick jobs instead of hunting for a fixed spanner. The listing weight is 100 g for the two wrenches, the material line does not name a steel, and included components say no. The listing questions ask about left-handed use, and the bullets do not answer that. The 5.0 does not win this set: the sample is two reviews.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a cheap pair for household nuts from 3 mm to 24 mm and you do not need a worm screw.
Less suitable: A conventional worm-screw spanner, or a choice that needs more than two reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a worm-screw adjustable spanner?
No. The bullets describe two double-ended wrenches that tighten their grip as you load them, with four ranges from 3–8 mm up to 14–24 mm.
What do the two reviews say?
Both are mild. One says they are not top quality but adequate at about £7.99 for household jobs. The other likes them for quick jobs instead of hunting for a fixed spanner. A 5.0 from two reviews is the whole sample.
Are they listed as left-handed?
The listing questions ask about left-handed use. The bullets do not answer that.
The Bahco 8070, 8071 and 8072 are a three-wrench set at 155, 205 and 255 mm, 810 g together, and the read texts keep returning to how little the jaws move once the thumbscrew is set. Across 2,151 amazon.co.uk ratings the set sits at 4.7, and many of the 50 texts single out very little free play and a smooth thumbscrew. The jaws are tapered, and the listing says the shank does not protrude when the jaw is fully open. Country of origin is Spain, and reviews say the current production is Spanish. One reviewer calls this the budget Bahco range and measures about 0.5 mm of play, and another expected a more refined feel than an unbranded wrench. The listing prints no millimetre opening: the jaw-capacity field says 155 mm, which is the shortest wrench length, and the head angle is 16 degrees in the title and 15 degrees in the bullet. A case is not in the included-components line. It is the top pick here because that total is the highest in the set, not because the opening is printed.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want three lengths and the texts that most often say the jaw stays put.
Less suitable: A single cheap wrench for one nut, or a purchase that needs a printed millimetre opening.
Specifications
Common questions
Which three wrenches are in the box?
The bullet lists 8070 at 6 inch / 155 mm, 8071 at 8 inch / 205 mm and 8072 at 10 inch / 255 mm. Included components are that set. A case is asked about in the listing questions and is not in the included-components line.
What do reviewers say about play?
Many of the 50 texts single out very little free play and a smooth thumbscrew. One calls this the budget Bahco range and measures about 0.5 mm of play. Another expected a more refined feel than an unbranded wrench.
Where does the listing say they are made?
Country of origin is Spain. Reviews say current ones are Spanish, not the older Swedish production.
The Stanley MaxSteel 0-90-948 is a 200 mm adjustable wrench at 300 g, and many of the 50 texts use that length on bikes, radiators and general jobs. The star line is 4.6 from 5,584 amazon.co.uk ratings and belongs to this ASIN, while some of those texts describe other lengths. The bullet prints dimension 24/200 mm, and the jaw-capacity field says 8 inches. The material field says alloy steel and the finish field says polished, against chrome vanadium and phosphate in the bullets. A smaller group reports slop, jaws that do not align, or a head too bulky for a shower hose. The handle is bi-material, black and yellow, and one review mentions a millimetre gauge. At about £7.99 it is the lowest price in this set among the listings with more than a thousand ratings. The value part ties the Shall set, and the lower price takes best value.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 200 mm Stanley for bikes, radiators and odd jobs, and you take 24/200 mm from the bullet.
Less suitable: A shower-hose nut where the head is already called too bulky, or a listing you need to read as one agreed opening.
Specifications
Common questions
Which opening figure is on this listing?
The bullet says dimension 24/200 mm. The jaw-capacity field says 8 inches. Those are not the same measurement. This file does not add a third figure.
What do the high-volume reviews repeat?
Many of the 50 texts praise a solid Stanley grip for bikes, radiators and general jobs. A smaller group reports slop, jaws that do not align, or a head too bulky for a shower hose.
Are the 50 texts all about this 200 mm wrench?
No. Some describe other lengths. The star line is 4.6 from 5,584 and belongs to this ASIN.
The Stanley MaxSteel 0-90-947 is the 150 mm wrench at 130 g, and several texts call it pocket-sized for a bike or a tight nut. It has 4.5 from 6,302 amazon.co.uk ratings, the largest count in this set, while other texts in the file are about a 300 mm or a 12 inch Stanley. The bullet and the jaw-capacity field both say 24 mm, the item type name says opening up to 26 mm, and one review cites a 40 mm opening. The item-length field says 24 inches, which fights the 150 mm title. Repeated comments say the wheel is fiddly, the setting alters after a few uses, or there is about half a millimetre of play, while others say it holds and adjusts smoothly. The finish is phosphated, with a knurled adjuster, and one review mentions inch marks on one side and millimetres on the other. Texts that needed a wider jaw call this one too small.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a short Stanley for a pocket or a tight gap and you can work with a fiddly adjuster.
Less suitable: A nut wider than the printed 24 mm, or the 12 inch Stanley mixed into the same file.
Specifications
Common questions
What opening is printed?
The bullet says 24/150 mm and the jaw-capacity field says 24 mm. The item type name says opening up to 26 mm. The item-length field says 24 inches, which clashes with 150 mm.
Is the 6 inch the one reviewers find small?
Several texts call it pocket-sized for a bike or a tight nut, and say it is too small or not wide enough for the job they had. Other texts in the file are about a 300 mm or a 12 inch Stanley.
Do the jaws stay set?
Repeated comments say the wheel is fiddly, the setting alters after a few uses, or there is about half a millimetre of play. Others say it holds and adjusts smoothly.
The Shall SH162004EU is three wrenches, 6, 8 and 10 inch, with printed openings of 23.8 mm, 28.6 mm and 35 mm. It has 4.5 from 485 amazon.co.uk ratings, and the set is listed at 360 g. More than one review says the 6 inch has more slack in the rack than the 8 inch and 10 inch. Others say the set holds its setting. The bullets give a black oxide finish, cushion grips and a laser-etched SAE scale. The item-length field says 25 cm, which is the 10 inch figure, and the jaw-capacity field of 35 mm matches that longest wrench. Included components are the three wrenches, with no storage case listed, at about £16.99. The value part ties the Stanley 200 mm, and the higher price loses that tie.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want three wrenches with millimetre openings printed, up to 35 mm on the 10 inch.
Less suitable: A job that depends on the 6 inch staying tight, or a case for the set.
Specifications
Common questions
What do the three wrenches open to?
The bullet prints 15/16 inch (23.8 mm) on the 6 inch, 1-1/8 inch (28.6 mm) on the 8 inch, and 1-3/8 inch (35 mm) on the 10 inch.
Does the small wrench draw the same comments as the larger two?
Yes. More than one review says the 6 inch has more slack in the rack than the 8 inch and 10 inch. Others say the set holds its setting.
Is a case included?
Included components list the three wrenches. A storage case is not listed.
The HAUTMEC HT0372-WR is a 150 mm chrome-vanadium spanner at 142 g, sold as extra wide, and the listing does not print a millimetre opening. It has 4.5 from 237 amazon.co.uk ratings. The jaw-capacity field says 6 inches, the same figure as the length, so that field does not give the jaw opening. Some reviews say the mechanism is tight with no slack. Others report play, a jaw that loosens while tightening, and metal that feels soft. The finish field says polished while a highlight says black oxide. The bullets claim metric and SAE marks plus a hole for hanging, at about £9.99, and a case is not listed.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 150 mm spanner around this price and you can check the worm on arrival.
Less suitable: A known nut size, because the opening is not printed, or a jaw reviewers already call soft.
Specifications
Common questions
How wide is the extra-wide jaw?
The listing does not print a millimetre opening. The jaw-capacity field says 6 inches, which is the same figure as the length.
Do reviewers find play?
Some say the mechanism is tight with no slack. Others report play, a jaw that loosens while tightening, and metal that feels soft.
Does it include a tether hole?
The bullets say the handle has a hole for tethering or hanging. A case is not listed.
The Amazon Basics DS-ADAMZ004-4 is four wrenches at 150, 200, 250 and 300 mm, listed at 1.93 kg, and the listing prints no millimetre jaw opening. The star line is 4.4 from 5,153 amazon.co.uk ratings. One Gas Safe-style reviewer calls the set DIY, with a lot of jaw play that opens during a run of nuts. Others used a wide jaw under a sink or on a radiator connector and were satisfied for the money. More than one review says they rust and need a spray, against a finish field that says corrosion resistant. The number-of-items field says 1 while the title is a four-piece set. The handle is a bi-colour plastic soft grip, with an inch and metric scale claimed, at about £19.99 for the four lengths.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want four lengths for sink and radiator jobs and you will oil the jaws.
Less suitable: A run of nuts where the jaw has to stay at one setting, or a wrench with a printed opening.
Specifications
Common questions
How far do they open?
The listing prints lengths only: 6 inch (150 mm), 8 inch (200 mm), 10 inch (250 mm) and 12 inch (300 mm). It does not print a jaw opening.
What do plumbers in the reviews say?
One Gas Safe-style reviewer calls it DIY with a lot of jaw play that opens during a run of nuts. Others used a wide jaw under a sink or on a radiator connector and were satisfied for the money.
Do they rust?
More than one review says they rust and need a spray. The finish field says corrosion resistant.
The Navegando NAV-AW-150 is a 150 mm high-carbon spanner at 159 g, and the title says it fits 6–19 mm. It has 4.4 from 1,566 amazon.co.uk ratings. Several of the 50 UK texts say the worm is loose, the jaws will not hold the size, or the spanner slides. Others call it compact and sturdy, and some texts in the same file describe a set or a different length. One reviewer said it was too small for a standard radiator collar and the jaw chipped when they forced it. The jaw-capacity field says 0.75 inches, which is about the same top end as 19 mm. The item torque field of 164 Nm is a listing field, and the handle is non-slip TPR with no etched scale described.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a short 6–19 mm spanner for light jobs and you check the worm before you load it.
Less suitable: A standard radiator collar, or a nut where a loose worm will walk off the flats.
Specifications
Common questions
What opening does the listing print?
The title says 6–19 mm. The jaw-capacity field says 0.75 inches, which is about the same top end. No separate millimetre table is printed.
Do reviewers say the jaw stays set?
Several of the 50 UK texts say the worm is loose, the jaws will not hold the size, or the spanner slides. Others call it compact and sturdy. Some texts in the same file describe a set or a different length.
Is 150 mm long enough for a radiator collar?
One reviewer said it was too small for a standard radiator collar and the jaw chipped when they forced it. The file does not give a collar size.
The WORKPRO W072053AU is a wrench with a jaw that reverses from a smooth face to a serrated edge, and both the bullet and the jaw-capacity field say 42 mm. The title says 200 mm, the item-length field says 23.5 cm, and the listed weight is 340 g. It has 4.2 from 721 amazon.co.uk ratings. Reviews split on whether that reversal is useful or a gimmick. One reviewer could not get a useful grip near 40 mm because of flap in the jaws, and another said it goes a bit past 32 mm. Some reviews say the mechanism is smooth and holds. Others say the worm is slack, the jaw opens in use, or it fell apart, and one review mentions a distance guide on the lower jaw.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want one wrench with a smooth face and a serrated face, and you stay well under the 42 mm claim.
Less suitable: A nut near 40 mm, or a jaw that has to stay together under load.
Specifications
Common questions
Can the jaw grip a pipe?
The listing says the jaw reverses to a serrated edge for round screws and pipe, and to a smooth face for nuts. Reviews split on whether that reversal is useful or a gimmick.
Does 42 mm show up in use?
The jaw-capacity field and the bullet both say 42 mm. One reviewer could not get a useful grip near 40 mm because of flap in the jaws. Another said it goes a bit past 32 mm.
Does the setting stay put?
Some reviews say the mechanism is smooth and holds. Others say the worm is slack, the jaw opens in use, or it fell apart.
The LSLANSOON JGG1109renchi is a flex-head wrench the listing says will rotate up to 180 degrees, with a shank said to extend from 10 to 12 inches and a jaw-capacity field of 1.8 inches. It has 3.9 from 215 amazon.co.uk ratings and a listed weight of 635 g. Reviews often say the lock does not hold, so the head flops. A few say the angle is why they kept it. More than one review says the shank would not extend, or was difficult to close once extended. The listing does not add a millimetre opening beside 1.8 inches, and the manufacturer field says LIYOU. The jaw reverses between a smooth face and angled teeth, which depends on the head staying where you set it.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a head at an angle and you can check that the lock holds before you load it.
Less suitable: A straight pull on a nut, or a shank you need to extend and then close.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the head lock?
The listing says the head rotates up to 180 degrees. Reviews often say the lock does not hold, so the head flops. A few say the angle is exactly why they kept it.
Does the shank extend?
The title says a 10–12 inch retractable shank. More than one review says it would not extend, or was difficult to close once extended.
What is the stated opening?
The jaw-capacity field says 1.8 inches. The listing questions ask for a maximum opening and the bullets do not add a millimetre figure.
The Solvio 301-95182 is a 6 inch spanner at 182 g, and the listing does not print a millimetre opening. It has 2.3 from 3 amazon.co.uk reviews. One buyer threw it away. One describes a loose, sloppy moving jaw and a poor finish. The third is a general note that a 6 inch spanner is a compact toolbox tool, and it does not describe this jaw. The bullets say high-carbon steel with a chrome-plated finish and a cushioned grip. At about £5.79 the whole sample is those three reviews, and two of them describe a spanner that did not stay in use.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You only need a 6 inch body in a toolbox and you can send it back if the jaw is slack.
Less suitable: A nut you actually have to turn, on the strength of two of the three reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
How far does it open?
The listing does not print a millimetre opening. It only says wide jaws on a 6 inch spanner.
What do the three reviews say?
One buyer threw it away. One describes a loose, sloppy moving jaw and a poor finish. The third is a general note that a 6 inch spanner is a compact toolbox tool.
Twelve adjustable spanners on amazon.co.uk were scored from shelf prices, star lines, review counts and the review notes already in the product file. There was no lab test and no torque bench. A jaw opening is the figure the listing prints. Stars, sample size, use in the file and value in this set are weighted 35, 20, 30 and 15. The highest total is the top pick, once. The highest value part among the others is best value, once. A 5.0 from a handful of reviews does not win on stars alone.
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. The star line is the UK listing figure, not a lab score.
Sample
20%5,000 or more ratings score 20, 2,000–4,999 score 17, 1,000–1,999 score 14, 500–999 score 12, 200–499 score 9, and under 50 score 2. The count is a sample size. Some texts name other lengths or other models.
Use in the file
30%Scored from the review notes in the file only. A start point reflects how many texts are about this item, then one add for a tight worm or for named jobs, and at most two subtractions for play, a jaw that opens, soft metal, a lock that fails, rust, or texts about other models. Floor 0, cap 30.
Value in this set
15%A lower shelf price scores more, then pieces, review count and whether a millimetre opening is printed and agreed. A rating under 4.0 or a count under 10 is deducted once, and a repeated mechanism failure or other-model texts are deducted once. The top pick does not also take this award. Cap 15.
Read the jaw opening in millimetres before the handle length, then rock the movable jaw in the reviews, then match the length to the space. A short body sold for plumbing can still stop near 19 mm. A wide-jaw claim without a millimetre figure is not an opening. None of the scores below is a lab test, and none of these listings prints BS ISO 6787.
An adjustable spanner is a single open-ended tool with one fixed jaw and one jaw on a worm screw. You turn the screw to match a nut instead of carrying a full set of fixed sizes. In Britain it is also called an adjustable wrench or a shifter. People buy one for a kitchen drawer, a bike bag, a van, or a small kit for furniture and taps. The check that does not go out of date is the opening, printed in millimetres. Handle length is leverage, not capacity.
A 150 mm body can still stop at about 19 mm. A jaw-capacity field that repeats 6 inches or 155 mm is often the handle, not the jaw. Wide or plumber, with no millimetre figure, does not tell you the nut will fit.
Pull so the fixed jaw leads, and seat both jaws on the flats. One spanner on a compression joint can twist the olive. A tube on the handle, or a hammer on it, is how jaws spring. Teeth mark chrome and brass.
A 5.0 from two reviews is not 4.5 from thousands. Some texts in a long file are other lengths or other models. Stars are not a lab result, and they are not BS ISO 6787 compliance.
The first check is the opening in millimetres, not the length printed on the handle. A 150 mm spanner sold for plumbing can still stop at about 19 mm, which will not pass a larger nut. A trade guide, not a test made for this page, puts a 22 mm compression nut near 32 mm across the flats, a usual 200 mm jaw near 24–27 mm, and a wide jaw near 38 mm. Those figures are a rule of thumb. Use them to read a listing, not as a measurement of any tool here. Some listings print a clear millimetre range.
The second check is whether the movable jaw rocks. Seat the jaws on the flats and feel the worm. A jaw that opens while you turn, a worm that will not hold a size, or a lock that flops on a flex head is the fault reviewers repeat on cheaper short tools and on some sets. One budget-range note of a small gap is not the same as a jaw that walks off the nut. BS ISO 6787:2018 sets dimensions, jaw clearance and a performance test. Do not read a listing as compliant unless it says so.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a single 200 mm spanner for a bike, furniture or a radiator, and you will read the opening on the bullet. The Stanley 0-90-948 is about £7.99, with 4.6 from 5,584 reviews. The bullet says 24/200 mm and the jaw field says 8 inches. Some texts are other lengths.
You work on 15 mm or 22 mm water pipe and you need a jaw that can pass a nut near 32 mm across the flats. The Shall set is about £16.99, with printed openings of 23.8 mm, 28.6 mm and 35 mm, and 4.5 from 485 reviews. The 6 inch has more slack than the longer two. This is not a gas tool.
You want 155 mm, 205 mm and 255 mm in one box, and the review texts that most often say the jaw stays put. The Bahco 80 series set is about £39.99, with 4.7 from 2,151 reviews. It does not print a millimetre opening. One budget-range note measures about 0.5 mm of play.
In this set of twelve amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Bahco 80 series three-piece set, about £39.99, with 4.7 from 2,151 reviews. The wrenches are 155 mm, 205 mm and 255 mm, and many texts single out very little free play. The listing does not print a millimetre opening. The best value is the Stanley 200 mm wrench, about £7.99, with 4.6 from 5,584 reviews and a bullet of 24/200 mm against an 8 inch jaw field. The other ten have no award. None of these scores is a lab test, and none of these listings prints BS ISO 6787.
Stanley 200 mm adjustable wrench
Highest value part among the others: about £7.99, 4.6 from 5,584 reviews and a 24/200 mm bullet, after the 8 inch jaw field and texts that name other lengths.
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 listed in the research digest for this comparison. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the product display.
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. We did not lab-test these adjustable spanners.
