You will read the size list
You want one spanner for each printed size, and a reversing lever. The KS Tools 503.4620 prints ten sizes and skips 9 mm and 15 mm in the title. Add those two if the job needs them.
KS Tools ratchet spanner set comparison 2026
The best KS Tools ratchet spanner sets, compared.
Top pick: KS Tools 503.4540 4-in-1 Best value: Brilliant Tools BT013212 – Highest value part: about £49.89 for a 12-piece 8–19 mm claim, with 9 mm and 15 mm on the trade list. Updated October 2026.
A ratchet spanner set is a metric set of spanners with a toothed head, so the next stroke does not mean lifting the tool off the nut. In the UK you buy one for car and home fasteners when the bay only allows a short swing. A suitable set is the one whose sizes are printed, not only a piece count across a span. Ten pieces sold from 8 mm to 19 mm can skip sizes in the middle. Check how the head reverses: a lever on the tool, or a spanner you turn over. A combination tool has a ring and an open jaw. A multi-size ring is deeper. An open jaw that also ratchets is a different tool. Where a tooth count is stated, divide 360 by that number for the recovery angle. Crack a seized nut with a fixed spanner, spin with the ratchet, and finish a specified torque with a torque wrench. Do not slip a pipe over the handle. Those checks are set out in the [ratchet spanner set buying guide](/hub/hand-tools/ks-tools-ratchet-spanner-set/sub/ks-tools-ratchet-spanner-set-buying-guide).
A ratchet spanner set is a metric set of spanners with a toothed head, so the next stroke does not mean lifting the tool off the nut.
18 products checked · 54 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
5 of 5: Best KS Tools ratchet spanner sets compared
Swipe for more
1-2 of 5Best overall
Best value
6.3/10
7.1/10
4.5/10
4.6/10
5.5/10
∼ £36
∼ £97
∼ £86
∼ £128
∼ £50
4.8(250)
4.7(238)
4.7(136)
4.6(41)
4.4(28)
Personal buying guide
Which ratchet spanner set fits?
Question 1 of 2
What has to be in the box?
The best KS Tools ratchet spanner sets in detail
Our view
The KS Tools 503.4540 is three 4-in-1 ratchet spanners at about £35.53, and it carries the highest star line in this capture: 4.8 from 250 amazon.co.uk ratings. Each spanner is sold with four sizes, the title span is 8–18 mm, and the three pairings are not printed. The bullets state 72 teeth, a 12-point flank-traction profile, a straight form and DIN 3110 / ISO 3318. The sample has no United Kingdom-tagged review. Reviewers say the heads are deep because each end carries more than one size, and several switch to a fixed spanner when the nut is stubborn. A case is asked in the bullets and not confirmed. It is the short kit to keep beside a socket set when a deep head still fits, and the wrong only set if you need a slim head or one spanner per size, including 19 mm.
Pros
- About £35.53, the lowest price in the five
- 4.8 from 250 amazon.co.uk ratings
- 72 teeth and DIN 3110 / ISO 3318 on the bullets
- Three tools rather than a full roll when you already own sockets
Cons
- The three size pairings are not listed
- Heads are deep; reviewers move to a fixed spanner on a stubborn nut
- Title span is 8–18 mm, so 19 mm is outside it
- No UK-tagged review text, and a case is not confirmed
Best for: A small kit next to a socket set, where a deep head still reaches the nut.
Less suitable: Slim access, or a job that needs a separate spanner for every size including 19 mm.
Specifications
- Model
- KS Tools 503.4540 4-in-1
- Brand
- KS Tools
- Price
- ∼£36
- Customer rating
- 4.8/5(250)
- Sizes
- 8–18 mm
- Pieces
- 3
- Ratchet
- 72 teeth
- Head
- 4-in-1
- Standard
- DIN 3110 / ISO 3318
- Material
- Chrome vanadium
- Finish
- Chrome
- Weight
- 0.5 kg
- Origin
- Taiwan
Common questions
How many spanners are in the set?
Three. The bullets say four sizes on each spanner. The title span is 8–18 mm. The capture does not list the three pairings.
What ratchet does the listing state?
72 teeth, a 12-point flank-traction profile, straight form, and DIN 3110 / ISO 3318.
Are the heads slim?
Reviewers say the heads are deep because each end carries more than one size. Several switch to a fixed spanner for a stubborn nut.
Our view
The KS Tools 503.4620 is a 10-piece reversible combination set at about £96.97, and the amazon.co.uk title prints 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19 mm, so 9 mm and 15 mm are not in the box. Across 238 ratings the star line is 4.7. The catalogue text names a reversing lever, a 15° head and 72 teeth, which is a 5° recovery if you divide 360 by 72, not a swing measured on a seized nut. This capture has no United Kingdom-tagged review text. Reviewers describe two cases that clip together, and several call the join floppy. Amazon’s own fields disagree with the title: the components line says 10 Allen keys, the length field says 19 mm, and the weight says 661 g against a catalogue weight of 1,340 g. It is the top pick here when you want one spanner per printed size and a lever, and a poor fit if the fastener is 9 mm or 15 mm or you treat those conflicting fields as the specification.
Pros
- Title lists ten sizes and skips 9 mm and 15 mm in plain sight
- Catalogue names a reversing lever, 72 teeth and a 15° head
- 4.7 from 238 amazon.co.uk ratings
- Reviews describe two clip-together cases
- Chrome vanadium at about £96.97
Cons
- No 9 mm or 15 mm in the printed list
- Amazon fields say 10 Allen keys, a 19 mm length and 661 g
- No UK-tagged review text in the capture
- Case join described as floppy
Best for: A home mechanic who wants a lever and one spanner for each printed size, and who will add 9 mm and 15 mm if the job needs them.
Less suitable: A fastener that is 9 mm or 15 mm, or a buyer who will treat the 19 mm length and 661 g fields as the real specification.
Specifications
- Model
- KS Tools 503.4620 10-piece
- Brand
- KS Tools
- Price
- ∼£97
- Customer rating
- 4.7/5(238)
- Sizes
- 8–19 mm, skips 9, 15
- Pieces
- 10
- Reversing
- Lever
- Ratchet
- 72 teeth, 5°
- Head
- Combination
- Standard
- DIN / ISO
- Storage
- Two clip cases
- Material
- Chrome vanadium
- Finish
- Powder coated
- Origin
- Taiwan
Common questions
Which sizes are in this set?
The title lists 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19 mm. It does not list 9 mm or 15 mm.
Does it come with a case?
The title says the set is on a stand. Reviews describe two cases that clip together, and several say the join is floppy.
What does the listing say is in the box?
The title is a 10-piece ratchet spanner set. A separate included-components line says 10 Allen keys. Those two lines conflict.
Our view
The KS Tools 503.4250 GearPlus set is about £85.51, with 4.7 from 136 amazon.co.uk ratings. The bullets state 72 teeth, a straight shape, a 15° jaw and DIN 3113 / ISO 3318. The title says a set of 10 across an 8–19 mm span, and the individual sizes are not printed in this capture. Reviewers say there is no 15 mm, and some orders arrived with a missing 7 mm, a missing 13 mm, or used tools. One UK review, from 7 February 2020, praises the feel and the weight and does not mention a lever. Several reviewers say the photographs show a lever, and the tools they received have to be turned over. The warranty line says 0 months, which does not remove the seller’s duties under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Choose it only after you have accepted a flip, and skip it if you ordered it because the gallery looked like the lever set.
Pros
- About £85.51, below the lever set
- 72 teeth, a 15° jaw and DIN 3113 / ISO 3318 on the bullets
- 4.7 from 136 ratings, with one UK note on feel and weight
- Straight chrome-vanadium GearPlus spanners
Cons
- Reviewers say you flip the spanner; the photos are read as a lever set
- Individual sizes are not listed, and 15 mm is reported missing
- Some parcels described as used or short a size
- Warranty line says 0 months
Best for: A buyer who has checked the tools have no lever and can work without a printed size list.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a thumb lever in a tight bay, or a 15 mm spanner in the same set.
Specifications
- Model
- KS Tools 503.4250 GearPlus
- Brand
- KS Tools
- Price
- ∼£86
- Customer rating
- 4.7/5(136)
- Sizes
- Not listed
- Pieces
- 10
- Reversing
- Flip
- Ratchet
- 72 teeth
- Head
- Combination
- Standard
- DIN 3113 / ISO 3318
- Storage
- Case
- Material
- Chrome vanadium
- Finish
- Satin
- Weight
- 1 kg
- Origin
- Taiwan
Common questions
Does this set have a reversing lever?
Reviewers say the spanners they received have no lever and that you turn the spanner over. They name the 503.4620 as the lever model. The bullets do not mention a lever.
How many teeth does the listing state?
The bullets say 72 teeth, a 15° jaw and a straight shape, and they cite DIN 3113 / ISO 3318.
Are individual sizes printed?
Not in this capture. Reviewers mention a missing 15 mm, and single orders with a missing 7 mm, a missing 13 mm, or used tools. The warranty line says 0 months.
Our view
The KS Tools 503.5950 Duo Gear set is the dearest row here at about £128.12, with 4.6 from 41 amazon.co.uk ratings. The catalogue describes a ratchet in the open jaw as well as the ring, a lever and 72 teeth, and the same 9 mm and 15 mm gaps as the 503.4620. The Amazon bullets in this capture do not state the tooth count or the size list. Nine review texts are in the file and none is tagged United Kingdom. One reviewer says the open jaw re-engages about every 60°, which is a much coarser step than a 5° ring. Another review says 9 mm was missing, and another received two 10 mm spanners and no 8 mm. The finish line says chrome while an attribute says satin. It earns the extra money only when the open jaw has to click on a nut the ring cannot reach, and it is a weak default if you wanted a plain combination set.
Pros
- Catalogue describes a ratchet in the open jaw and the ring
- Catalogue also names a reversing lever and 72 teeth
- 4.6 from 41 amazon.co.uk ratings
- Catalogue weight 1,215 g
Cons
- About £128.12, the highest shelf price in the five
- One reviewer puts the open-jaw step at about 60°
- Size list absent; reports of a missing 9 mm or a doubled 10 mm
- No UK-tagged review text, and tooth count is not in the Amazon bullets
Best for: A nut the ring cannot sit on, where the open jaw has to ratchet.
Less suitable: A buyer who wants the cheaper 8–19 mm run, or a 5° step on the open jaw.
Specifications
- Model
- KS Tools 503.5950 Duo Gear
- Brand
- KS Tools
- Price
- ∼£128
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(41)
- Sizes
- Not listed
- Pieces
- 10
- Reversing
- Lever
- Ratchet
- 72 teeth, ~60° jaw
- Head
- Open-jaw ratchet
- Finish
- Chrome
- Weight
- 1 kg
- Origin
- Taiwan
Common questions
What do the reviews say Duo Gear does?
They describe a ratchet in the open jaw as well as the ring. The Amazon bullets in this capture do not describe that mechanism.
How fine is the open-jaw click?
The bullets do not state a tooth count. One reviewer says the open jaw re-engages about every 60°.
Which sizes are listed?
The title says a set of 10 and does not print each size. One reviewer says 9 mm was missing. Another received two 10 mm spanners and no 8 mm.
Our view
The Brilliant Tools BT013212 is a 12-piece switchable set at about £49.89, and the amazon.co.uk title says 8–19 mm. The trade contents list is the continuous run, including 9 mm and 15 mm, which the Amazon bullets do not spell out one by one. The brand field says Brilliant Tools, the manufacturer field says KS Tools, and the item type says powered by KS Tools. Country of origin on Amazon is China, while a Germany badge on that trade page conflicts with the China field. The star line is 4.4 from 28 ratings, and none of the eleven review texts in the file is tagged United Kingdom. One reviewer says the matt chrome is harder to wipe than a polished KS Tools spanner, and one says the 16 mm arrived faulty. The Amazon bullets do not state a tooth count; the trade page says 72 teeth, a 5° step and a lever. It is the best value here when you need 9 mm and 15 mm under £50, and a weak choice if you want a large review file before you trust the 16 mm.
Pros
- About £49.89 for 12 pieces, with 8–19 mm on the title
- Trade list includes 9 mm and 15 mm
- Title says switchable; the trade page says a lever and 72 teeth
- Sold as powered by KS Tools
Cons
- 4.4 from only 28 ratings, with no UK-tagged text in the sample
- One report of a faulty 16 mm
- Matt chrome, described as harder to wipe than polished KS Tools
- Amazon says China; a Germany badge on the trade page disagrees
Best for: A car kit that must include 9 mm and 15 mm without the dearer combination-set prices.
Less suitable: A buyer who wants a large rating count, or a polished KS Tools case set.
Specifications
- Model
- Brilliant Tools BT013212
- Brand
- Brilliant Tools
- Price
- ∼£50
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(28)
- Sizes
- 8–19 mm
- Pieces
- 12
- Reversing
- Switchable
- Ratchet
- 72 teeth
- Head
- Ring set
- Storage
- Bag or pouch
- Material
- Chrome plated
- Finish
- Matt chrome
- Weight
- 1.38 kg
- Origin
- China
Common questions
Is this sold as KS Tools?
The brand field says Brilliant Tools, model BT013212. The manufacturer field says KS Tools, and the item type says powered by KS Tools. Country of origin is China.
What sizes does the title claim?
12 pieces, switchable, 8–19 mm. The trade list includes 9 mm and 15 mm. The Amazon bullets do not spell those sizes out one by one.
What do reviewers say about the finish?
Matt chrome. One reviewer says that is harder to wipe than a polished KS Tools spanner. One says the 16 mm arrived faulty.
How we compared
We scored five amazon.co.uk listings. The sheet uses five parts, with published maxima of 35 for stars, 15 for the review sample, 30 for equipment, 10 for sentiment and 15 for value. Those maxima add up to 105, so the weights below are the same five parts in the same order, scaled to 100. There is no lab test. A degree figure is 360 divided by the printed tooth count, or one reviewer’s estimate. The highest score is the top pick, once. The highest value part is best value, once. If that value part belongs to the top pick, the next-highest value part takes best value.
1
Stars
33%The amazon.co.uk rating divided by 5. Halves round up. A 4.8 sits above a 4.7, and a 4.4 sits lower. Published maximum 35.
2
Sample
14%How many ratings the listing has. 200 or more take the full part. Under 20 take the floor. Published maximum 15.
3
Equipment
29%A printed size list, a stated 72-tooth ratchet, a reversing lever, and an open-jaw ratchet add points. A conflict with the title, or 9 mm and 15 mm missing from a 10-piece span, deducts. Published maximum 30.
4
Sentiment
10%UK review text scores higher than a file with none. A faulty piece, used tools, wrong contents, a floppy case, or photos that show a lever the tools do not have, deduct. Published maximum 10.
5
Value
14%Shelf price against one spanner per size, plus how much of the size run you actually get. Three multi-size tools, a faulty piece, or a title conflict deduct. Published maximum 15.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Ratchet spanner set buying guide
Count the printed sizes, then the reversing method, then the head shape. A tooth count, where it is stated, is a recovery angle, not a strength claim. Shelf prices in the 19 October 2026 amazon.co.uk captures run from £35.53 to £128.12. Under £50 is the three-tool multi-size set or the 12-piece switchable set. A single-size combination set in this file is about £85 to £100. The open-jaw ratchet set is the dearest. There is no lab test. Star lines are amazon.co.uk averages.
What is a ratchet spanner set?
A ratchet spanner set is a metric set of spanners with a toothed head. The next stroke does not mean lifting the tool off the nut. On a UK driveway or in a home workshop you use one when the fastener is metric and the bay only allows a short swing. A fixed combination spanner still does the first crack on a seized nut. That job is covered in the [combination spanner comparison](/hub/hand-tools/combination-spanner). Count the sizes first.
Best for
- Home mechanics who will read the size list before they trust a photograph
- A lever and a case, with 9 mm and 15 mm added if the job needs them
Not ideal for
- A seized nut, or a pipe slipped over the handle
- Airbag, fuel or hydraulic brake work where a wrong torque is unacceptable
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Buying a flip set from a lever photograph
Photographs can show a lever while the tools you receive have to be turned over. Read the model and the catalogue line. A title that does not say switchable or reversible is not the lever set.
- 2
Treating ten pieces as every size from 8 mm to 19 mm
Two combination sets in this file leave out 9 mm and 15 mm. A 12-piece 8–19 mm title is the row whose trade list includes both. A size the title never listed is not a fault.
- 3
A pipe on the handle, or a 4-in-1 in a slim gap
Crack a seized nut with a fixed spanner, spin with the ratchet, and finish a specified torque with a torque wrench. A 4-in-1 head is deeper because each end carries more than one size. Do not add a pipe.
What to weigh up
Printed sizes and reversing
HighStart with the printed sizes. A piece count across 8–19 mm is not every millimetre. In this comparison two combination sets leave out 9 mm and 15 mm. The 12-piece title that says 8–19 mm is the row whose trade list includes both. The three-tool set states 8–18 mm, four sizes on each spanner, and does not print the three pairings. A size the title never listed is not a fault. A size the title did list, and that did not arrive, is a different problem.
Head shape, teeth and load
HighHead shape decides whether the tool fits. A combination tool has a ring and an open jaw. An open-jaw ratchet clicks in the open jaw as well as the ring, and one reviewer puts that jaw at about every 60°. A 4-in-1 carries four sizes on one spanner. Reviewers say the head is deeper, and several move to a fixed spanner when the nut is stubborn. Where a tooth count is stated it is 72, which is a 5° recovery if you divide 360 by 72. None of these listings claims 90 or 100 teeth.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You need 9 mm and 15 mm
A car kit that must include 9 mm and 15 mm is the 12-piece switchable set. The trade list is the continuous 8–19 mm run. The rating file is small, and one reviewer reported a faulty 16 mm.
You already own sockets
You want a short kit beside a socket set, and a deep head still reaches the nut. The KS Tools 503.4540 is three 4-in-1 spanners, not one spanner per size, and the title span stops at 18 mm.
Common questions about KS Tools ratchet spanner sets
What is a ratchet spanner set?
A ratchet spanner set is a metric set of spanners with a toothed head, so the next stroke does not lift the tool off the nut. Tell them apart by the printed sizes, a lever or a flip, and the head shape: a combination, an open jaw that also ratchets, or a deeper multi-size ring. Where the listing states 72 teeth, divide 360 by 72 for a 5° recovery. That angle is not a strength test.
Does a 10-piece set include every size from 8 mm to 19 mm?
No. A piece count across 8–19 mm is not a list of every millimetre. Two combination sets in this comparison leave out 9 mm and 15 mm. A 12-piece title that says 8–19 mm is the row whose trade list includes both of those sizes. If the title never listed a size, that size missing from the box is not a fault under the description you were given. Count the spanners against the nuts you actually meet.
How do I tell a lever from a flip?
A lever is named in the catalogue, or the title says switchable or reversible. A flip means you turn the spanner over. Reviewers of one set say the tools they received have no thumb lever, and that the photographs show a lever model. Read the model, not the gallery. If you need a thumb lever in a tight bay, do not buy the set whose reviewers say they have to turn it over.
What does 72 teeth mean on these spanners?
Where these listings state a tooth count, it is 72. Divide 360 by 72 and the recovery is 5°. None of the five claims 90 or 100 teeth. More teeth are a shorter arc on the listing, not a stronger spanner. One open-jaw note puts that jaw at about 60°, which is a much coarser step than a 5° ring. Tooth count is not a load rating, and these tools do not measure torque.
Can I crack a seized nut with a ratchet spanner?
No. Crack a seized nut with a fixed spanner, spin with the ratchet once it turns, and finish a specified torque with a torque wrench. Do not slip a pipe over the handle. These tools do not measure torque. Seat the ring before you pull. The steps for setting the direction and stopping before the final torque are in how to use a ratchet spanner set.
What if the listing disagrees with itself?
Treat a conflicting field as a conflict, not as the specification. A components line that says Allen keys on a spanner title, a length field that repeats the largest jaw, a weight that does not match the catalogue, and a warranty line of 0 months are examples in these files. A 0-month line does not remove the seller’s duties under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. You normally have 30 days to reject goods that are not as described.
When should I get a professional?
Call a professional for airbag, fuel, or hydraulic brake work if a wrong torque is unacceptable. Do the same before you issue tools to staff without a risk assessment. At work, PUWER 1998 applies: the spanner has to be suitable, maintained, and used by trained people. A star rating is not that assessment. These tools do not measure torque. Seat the ring before you pull.
What do these ratchet spanner sets cost?
Shelf prices in the 19 October 2026 amazon.co.uk captures run from £35.53 to £128.12. The three-tool multi-size set is the low figure. A 12-piece switchable set sits under £50. A single-size combination set in this file is about £85 to £100. The open-jaw ratchet set is the dearest row. Maker-site prices are in euros and exclude VAT, so they are not the UK shelf price. Check the live listing before you buy.
Our verdict
The top pick is the KS Tools 503.4620 10-piece set, on a score of 71. It has 4.7 from 238 amazon.co.uk ratings, a printed size list, and a reversing lever in the catalogue text. The title lists 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19 mm, so 9 mm and 15 mm are not included. Amazon’s fields conflict with the title, and reviews describe a floppy case join. The best value is the Brilliant Tools BT013212 at about £49.89. Its value part is the highest of the five, on a 12-piece 8–19 mm claim, after a faulty 16 mm report and a China field that disagrees with a Germany badge on the trade page. The three-tool 4-in-1 at about £35.53 is cheaper, and it is not one spanner per size. None of these scores is a lab test.
Best value
View offer
Brilliant Tools BT013212
Highest value part: about £49.89 for a 12-piece 8–19 mm claim, with 9 mm and 15 mm on the trade list.
Editorial
DIY & tools editor
Hand toolsRatchet spannersWorkshop tools
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.
Updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to KS Tools ratchet spanner sets
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Buying guideSizes, lever or flip, head shape, 72 teeth, and the seized-nut limit.Best setsTop pick and best value in these five, and who should skip each.How to useSeat the ring, set the direction, spin, and stop before the final torque.Lever or flipThe lever combination set against the flip set, and what the photographs show.Car maintenanceA car kit, and why a piston spreader is a different tool.
Related comparisons
Sources
Sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026.
- ISO 3318:2016 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- ISO 1711-1:2019 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- HSE, PUWER overview (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- HSE, work equipment inspection (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 22 (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Commons Library, faulty goods (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- KS Tools 503.4620 catalogue page (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- KS Tools 503.5950 catalogue page (retrieved 22.10.2026)
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The notes come from amazon.co.uk listings, review text and public UK sources, not from a lab test.