The best magazine screwdrivers, compared.
Top pick: Wera Kraftform Kompakt 20 – Strongest large-sample star line in the set: 4.8 from 3,234 reviews, with a retractable blade, and not a ratchet. Best value: Bosch 12-bit pop-up ratchet – Broadest bit list under £21 in the snapshot: 4.7 from 3,880 reviews, with Pozidriv, slotted, Torx and hex. Updated October 2026.
A magazine screwdriver is a hand driver that stores the bits in the handle and drives them from a 1/4 inch hex socket. In the UK you buy one for Pozidriv wood screws and chipboard screws, plus Torx or hex on flat-pack furniture, without a separate bit case. A Phillips bit belongs only where the screw is Phillips. You tell one apart by the recesses in the handle, the reach of the blade, and whether the shaft is fixed or a ratchet. A short stubby fits a gap behind a cupboard and gives up leverage on a seized screw. A long rigid blade, around 300 mm, reaches a deep recess and will not enter that gap. A rubber grip is not a voltage rating. Only a tool marked for 1,000 V AC, to BS EN IEC 60900:2018, is an insulated hand tool, and regulation 14 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 limits live work. Bit changes, the direction ring and the magnet are covered in [how to use a magazine screwdriver](/hub/hand-tools/magazine-screwdriver/sub/magazine-screwdriver-how-to-use).
A magazine screwdriver is a hand driver that stores the bits in the handle and drives them from a 1/4 inch hex socket.
42 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Which recesses do you meet most?
The Wera Kraftform Kompakt 20 (05051021001) is listed at about £41.95 with 4.8 from 3,234 amazon.co.uk reviews, the strongest large-sample star line in this set. The bullets describe an integrated magazine, a retractable bayonet blade and a Rapidaptor chuck in a multi-component anti-roll handle, supplied with a pouch. This listing does not claim a ratchet, and the Wera sheet for 05051021001 does not describe one either. Reviewers say the blade lengthens for reach and shortens for a gap, and that it can leave the handle; the listing’s own word is retractable. The set name says seven pieces, but the bullets do not name seven tip sizes, so the recess mix is not fixed by the snapshot. Listed weight is 255 g, with a two-year manufacturer warranty. It takes the top score because that 4.8 holds across thousands of reviews, and it is still the wrong tool if you wanted the handle to click.
Pros
Cons
Best for: One handle that shortens for a gap and lengthens when the screw sits further in
Less suitable: A clicking ratchet, a printed Pozidriv list, or a 1,000 V tool
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Kompakt 20 ratchet?
This listing does not say so. It says retractable bayonet blade and Rapidaptor chuck.
What is the 7th piece?
The set name says 7 piece. The bullets name the holder, the blade, and the magazine, not seven tip sizes. Tip sizes are n/a.
Can the blade come out?
The bullet says the bayonet blade retracts. Reviewers say it also comes out and extends. The listing’s own word is retractable.
The Wera Kraftform Kompakt Stubby RA 2 (05008892001) is the only ratcheting Wera stubby in this set, listed at about £34.99 with 4.8 from 60 ratings. The magazine holds PH1, PH2, PZ1, PZ2, TX25 and a slotted 0.8 x 5.5 mm bit, each 25 mm, described as BiTorsion. The bullets describe fine toothing and a ring you turn the way you want the screw to go. Wera states 9 degrees for this mechanism, which is the maker’s figure rather than a swing measured for this comparison. The saved listing contains two United Kingdom reviews, so the 4.8 rests on a thin written sample beside the Bosch 12-bit’s 4.7 from 3,880. There is no voltage claim. Sixty ratings do not make it the top pick here. The price is hard to justify if magazine 2’s Pozidriv stubby, without a ratchet, would have fitted the same gap.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A short gap where you also want a ratchet and both Pozidriv and Phillips
Less suitable: Reading 4.8 as a larger sample than the Bosch 12-bit, or any job that needs a long reach
Specifications
Common questions
Is this the ratcheting stubby?
Yes. The bullets describe fine toothing in the handle and a ring you turn the way you want the screw to go.
Which bits are in RA 2?
PH1, PH2, PZ1, PZ2, TX25, and slotted 0.8 x 5.5, each 25 mm.
How many reviews support the 4.8?
The listing says 60. The saved listing has two United Kingdom reviews.
Across 3,880 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.7, the Bosch 1600A027PP is the 12-bit pop-up ratchet in this set, listed at about £20.62 with a two-year manufacturer warranty. The handle stores PZ1, PZ2, PZ3, slotted 4, 5 and 6, Torx 15, 20 and 25, and hex 3, 4 and 5, which covers typical UK wood screws and a lot of flat-pack fixings, and it does not include a Phillips bit. The bullet describes a 36-tooth gear, a metal ring for left and right, a middle setting for manual use, and an 80 mm rod. It also prints up to 50 Nm, and that figure is the listing, not a measurement. One review in the file reports a tip snapping, so a damaged recess can still end the job. The item-dimensions field is a parcel size, not the length of that rod. For a household drawer that meets Pozidriv and Torx on the same afternoon, this is the broadest bit list under £21 in the snapshot. The star line is strong, and it still will not reach a screw that needs a 300 mm blade.
Pros
Cons
Best for: UK household drawers with Pozidriv wood screws, chipboard screws, and flat-pack Torx or hex
Less suitable: Jobs that need Phillips, a 300 mm reach, or a 1,000 V tool
Specifications
Common questions
Which bits are in the box?
The supply line lists PZ1, PZ2, PZ3, SL4, SL5, SL6, TX15, TX20, TX25, HEX3, HEX4 and HEX5. It does not list a Phillips bit.
Does it ratchet?
Yes. The bullet says a 36-tooth gear, a metal ring for left and right, and a middle setting for manual use. It also claims up to 50 Nm. That figure is the listing, not a test.
How long is the rod?
The bullet says 80 mm. The item-dimensions field is 25.5 x 14.9 x 3.7 cm, which is a parcel size, not that rod.
The Wera 05008874001 is Kraftform Kompakt Stubby magazine 2, listed at about £20.28, and Wera states a 65 mm overall length for this stubby. The captive magazine holds two slotted bits, PH1, PH2, PZ1 and PZ2, each 25 mm, so this is the non-ratchet stubby here that actually carries Pozidriv. A UK review on this file says it is not a ratchet screwdriver, and the bullets do not claim one. The 4.7 from 3,645 reviews is the same line, and the same opening reviews, as magazines 1 and 3, so it is one shared pool. The listing weight of 10 g is not a plausible mass; Wera’s data sheet for the sister magazine quotes 108 g. The head-style field says Tri-Wing, which this bit list does not support. You get a short driver for a hinge behind a cupboard wall, and you give up leverage when the screw is stuck.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Short gaps where you need Pozidriv and Phillips in one stubby
Less suitable: Seized screws, Torx-only furniture, or a direction ring
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a ratchet?
No. The bullets describe a stubby with a magazine and a magnet. A UK review on this file says it is not a ratchet screwdriver.
Which bits are included?
Two slotted (0.8 x 5.5 and 1.2 x 6.5), PH1, PH2, PZ1 and PZ2, all 25 mm.
Why is the weight 10 g?
That is the item-weight field. It is not a plausible mass for this tool. Do not treat it as the weighed product.
Wera magazine 1 (05008873001) is the same 65 mm Kraftform stubby body as magazine 2, listed at about £22.82, with PH1, PH2, TX15, TX20, TX25 and one slotted 0.8 x 5.5 mm bit. There is no Pozidriv bit in this magazine, so a UK chipboard screw is the wrong first job for it. It does not ratchet, and the shared UK review says it is not one. The special-feature field says Insulated, but the bullets state no voltage, no test, and no BS EN IEC 60900 approval, so that word is not a 1,000 V claim. The 4.7 from 3,645 is the shared pool with magazines 2 and 3, and the image URL matches magazine 2. Amazon’s 10 g weight is the same implausible field. Use it when the cupboard is Torx and Phillips, and keep a Pozidriv bit in another driver.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Flat-pack Torx and Phillips screws in a short gap
Less suitable: Pozidriv wood screws, live electrical work, or a seized fixing
Specifications
Common questions
Is it an insulated electrician’s driver?
The special-feature field says Insulated. The bullets do not state a voltage, a test, or BS EN IEC 60900. Do not treat the attribute as a 1,000 V claim.
Which recesses are in magazine 1?
PH1, PH2, TX15, TX20, TX25, and one slotted 0.8 x 5.5 mm bit. No Pozidriv bit is listed.
Does it ratchet?
No. The bullets do not claim a ratchet, and the shared UK review says it is not one.
Wera magazine 3 (05008875001) is the Torx and hex stubby, listed at about £21.95, with TX15, TX20, TX25 and hex 3, 4 and 5 mm, all 25 mm. There is no Pozidriv, Phillips or slotted bit, so it will not start a typical UK wood screw. It does not ratchet, and the shared review on this file says so. The 4.7 from 3,645 is the same pool as magazines 1 and 2, not a separate verdict. The special-feature field mentions a knurled steel grip, which the stubby bullets do not describe. Amazon again prints 10 g, which is not a weighed mass for this tool. It belongs with cabinet connectors and hex furniture bolts. It does not belong next to a box of Pozidriv chipboard screws.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Flat-pack and furniture fixings that are Torx or hex, in a short gap
Less suitable: Wood screws, slotted terminals, or anyone who wants a ratchet
Specifications
Common questions
Which bits are in magazine 3?
TX15, TX20, TX25, and hex 3, 4 and 5 mm, all 25 mm. No Pozidriv or slotted bit is listed.
Does it ratchet?
No. The bullets do not claim one, and the shared review says it is not a ratchet.
Is the 4.7 from 3,645 unique to this ASIN?
The same figures and the same opening reviews are in the saved listings for magazines 1 and 2. Count that pool once.
The Bosch 1600A027PK is the other stubby ratchet, listed at about £16.83 with 4.7 from 1,635 reviews and a two-year manufacturer warranty. The six bits are PZ1, PZ2, PH2, SL4, TX25 and HEX5, so unlike the £9.28 Bosch it does include Pozidriv. The bullet describes a 36-tooth gear and a manual middle setting, and a UK review says that middle position works like a normal screwdriver. A UK reviewer who replaced a Wera stubby says this Bosch is not as short, and the listing dimensions of 14.2 x 8 x 4.4 cm are a parcel-style figure rather than Wera’s 65 mm overall. One review calls the ratchet clunky because of the tooth count, while another calls it smooth, so the feel is not settled. The head-style field says Torq-Set, which these bits are not. It is a short household ratchet with the two Pozidriv sizes most drawers need, and it is not the 65 mm Wera.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A short ratchet for UK Pozidriv screws when the budget is around £17
Less suitable: A true 65 mm gap, a wide Torx range, or a seized screw that needs a long handle
Specifications
Common questions
Which six bits are included?
PZ1, PZ2, PH2, SL4, TX25 and HEX5.
Does the middle setting lock the ratchet?
The bullet says a manual middle setting. A UK review says the middle position works like a normal screwdriver.
Is it as short as a Wera stubby?
One UK reviewer who replaced a Wera stubby says this Bosch is not as short. The listing dimensions are 14.2 x 8 x 4.4 cm.
Bosch’s 1600A032UZ is the stubby ratchet listed at about £9.28, with 4.7 from 166 reviews. The scope line names six bits: PH2, SL5, TX25, HEX3, HEX4 and HEX5. There is no Pozidriv bit, so the only cross-head in the handle is Phillips. The bullet describes a 36-tooth gear, a metal ring, a middle manual setting, and up to 50 Nm, which remains a listing claim. The UK written sample is short and mostly praise. One review that is not from the UK doubts the lid under harder use, which is a thin warning rather than a UK pattern. At this price you are buying a short ratchet with a narrow bit list. It is the cheapest handle in the snapshot, and it still fails the first UK check if your screws are Pozidriv.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A low-cost stubby ratchet for Phillips, one Torx size, and hex furniture fixings
Less suitable: UK wood screws that are Pozidriv, or a job that needs several Torx sizes
Specifications
Common questions
Which six bits are listed?
PH2, SL5, TX25, HEX3, HEX4 and HEX5.
Does it ratchet?
Yes. The bullet says a 36-tooth gear, a metal ring, a middle manual setting, and up to 50 Nm.
Is there a Pozidriv bit?
Not in the scope line. The cross-head listed is PH2.
The Wera Kraftform Kompakt 28 (05073240001) pairs a bit magazine with a bayonet blade in a multi-component handle, listed at about £28.38 with 4.6 from 1,350 amazon.co.uk reviews. The listing does not claim a ratchet, and UK reviews complain that it does not have one. The included-components line does not list the tip sizes, so Pozidriv or Torx cannot be confirmed from that field. One UK reviewer says two bits broke and that Wera sent replacements, which is a review rather than a warranty term printed on this listing. The head-size field says 28, which matches the set name rather than a millimetre tip. The listed weight is 81.6 g. It is a workshop holder with the bits in the handle, and it is the wrong buy if you expected the handle to click.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A Kraftform holder with a bayonet blade when you already own 1/4 inch bits
Less suitable: Buyers who want a ratchet, a printed bit list, or a stubby for a tight gap
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Kompakt 28 ratchet?
The listing does not say so. UK reviews complain that it does not.
Which bit sizes are in the magazine?
The raw included-components line does not list sizes. That field is n/a.
Can the bits be replaced?
One UK reviewer says two bits broke and Wera sent new ones. That is a review, not a warranty term printed on this listing.
The Wiha 283109021 is the only driver in this set whose bullets claim a 10,000 V AC test and approval for 1,000 V AC, listed at about £51.11 with 4.4 from 1,474 reviews. It is a LiftUp electric handle for slimBits, not a set of ordinary 25 mm workshop bits, and the listing does not claim a ratchet. Several UK reviews say the top opens on its own or that clips fell off, and one says the pop-up then failed. The part-number field says 38611 while the model field says 283109021, so check the mark on the tool you unpack before you treat it as a live-working screwdriver. The dimension field of 10 x 10 x 10 mm and the 9.07 g weight are not credible tool sizes. Regulation 14 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 still expects you to avoid live work where that is reasonably practicable. This is an electrician’s magazine, and a poor choice for assembling a bookcase.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Electrical work after you have confirmed the 1,000 V mark on the tool you received
Less suitable: Flat-pack furniture, Pozidriv joinery, or carrying it loose in a pocket
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a 1,000 V tool on the listing?
The bullets say each tool is tested at 10,000 V AC and approved for 1,000 V AC. The dimension field does not support any other spec. Check the mark on the tool you receive.
Does the cap stay shut?
Several UK reviews say the top opens on its own or that clips fell off. One says the pop-up then failed.
What is the part number on Amazon?
Model 283109021. The part-number field says 38611.
Wera magazine 4 (05008877001) is the Phillips and slotted stubby, listed at about £18.99 with 4.4 from 70 reviews. The bits are PH1, PH2, PH3 and three slotted sizes, 0.6 x 4.5, 1.0 x 5.5 and 1.2 x 6.5, all 25 mm. There is no Pozidriv and no Torx, and the bullets do not claim a ratchet. A review from outside the UK mentions one, and that line is not a reason to buy it as a ratchet. The saved listing has no United Kingdom review: the nine written reviews are from Canada, Australia, the United States and Japan. The model-name field is in Spanish. At 110 g the weight field is at least plausible, unlike the 10 g printed on magazines 1 to 3. Buy it only if your screws are Phillips and slotted, and treat the star line as a small sample from outside the UK.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Phillips and slotted screws in a short gap, if a non-UK review sample is acceptable
Less suitable: UK Pozidriv wood screws, Torx flat-pack, or a ratchet
Specifications
Common questions
Which bits are included?
PH1, PH2, PH3, and three slotted bits: 0.6 x 4.5, 1.0 x 5.5, and 1.2 x 6.5, all 25 mm long.
Are the written reviews from the UK?
No. The saved listing has no United Kingdom review. The 4.4 from 70 is the listing line.
Does the listing claim a ratchet?
No. Only a non-UK review mentions one.
The Wera Kraftform Kompakt 27 XL (05051028001) is the long driver in this set: the bullet states a 300 mm rigid blade, a lock and a magnet, listed at about £31.99 with 4.4 from 54 reviews. The bits named are PH1, PH2, PZ2, TX15, TX20 and TX25, each 25 mm, plus the 1/4 inch holder. The drive bullet cites DIN 3126 and ISO 1173 Form C 6.3 and Form E 6.3. The listing does not claim a ratchet or any voltage rating. Five UK reviews in the file are short praise, and other lines in the file are not from the UK. At 300 g on the listing it is a reach tool for a deep recess. It is a clumsy choice inside the gap a 65 mm stubby is bought to enter, and 54 reviews is a small sample next to the Kompakt 20.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Deep recesses where a 300 mm rigid blade is the point of the tool
Less suitable: Tight cupboards, a clicking ratchet, or a full PZ1 to PZ3 set
Specifications
Common questions
How long is the blade?
The bullet says a 300 mm rigid blade. The locking mechanism and magnet are also in that bullet.
Which bits come with it?
PH1, PH2, PZ2, TX15, TX20, TX25, each 25 mm, and the 1/4 inch by 300 mm holder.
Does it ratchet?
The listing does not say so.
Twelve magazine screwdrivers were read from amazon.co.uk listing fields and the review notes in those files. There was no lab test and no measured torque. The top pick is the listing with the strongest large-sample result in this set. The best value is the 12-bit pop-up ratchet. The weights follow the buying checks in order: recesses, reach, ratchet or fixed shaft, retention, an insulation claim, then the size of the review sample.
Recesses in the magazine
25%UK wood screws are commonly Pozidriv. A Phillips bit can turn a Pozidriv screw and is liable to cam out. A Pozidriv bit does not seat in a Phillips screw. The supply line matters more than the head-style field.
Reach
20%A stubby of about 65 mm fits a short gap and gives up leverage on a stuck screw. An 80 mm rod is a step longer. A 300 mm rigid blade is the opposite tool. Parcel dimensions are not the blade length.
Ratchet or fixed
18%A direction ring with a middle lock is a ratchet. A retractable bayonet blade is not. A 36-tooth claim is arithmetic of 10 degrees, not a measured swing. A maker figure of 9 degrees stays the maker’s figure.
Retention
15%A captive magazine, a permanent magnet, a lock on a long blade, or a lift-up clip is how the bit stays put. A cap that reviewers say opens in a pocket is a carry fault.
Insulation claim
12%Only a job that is electrical needs this check. BS EN IEC 60900:2018 is the 1,000 V AC hand-tool standard. A rubber handle, or an insulated attribute with no voltage in the bullets, is not that mark.
Review sample
10%Stars are read last. A shared 4.7-from-3,645 line on three stubby listings is one pool. A 4.8 from 60 ratings is a thinner sample than a 4.7 from several thousand.
Choose a magazine screwdriver by the recesses in the handle, then by reach, then by whether the shaft ratchets. A Pozidriv bit and a Phillips bit are not interchangeable on UK wood screws. A stubby and a 300 mm blade are different tools. A rubber handle is not a 1,000 V rating. The notes below are those checks. They are not a lab ranking, and a printed torque figure is not a measurement.
A magazine screwdriver is a hand driver with the bits stored in the handle and a 1/4 inch hex socket, so one tool covers several screw heads without a separate case. In the UK that usually means Pozidriv wood screws and chipboard screws, plus Torx or hex on flat-pack furniture. Phillips belongs in the handle only where the screw is actually Phillips. A Phillips bit can turn a Pozidriv screw and is liable to cam out. A Pozidriv bit does not seat in a Phillips screw.
A special-feature field that says insulated, with no voltage and no test in the bullets, is not BS EN IEC 60900:2018. Only a listing that states the 10,000 V AC test and 1,000 V AC approval is that claim, and you still check the mark on the tool you unpack.
Three stubby listings share a 4.7-from-3,645 line and the same opening reviews. That is one sample. A higher average on 60 ratings is not a larger UK verdict than a 4.7 from several thousand.
A short handle fits the gap and gives up forearm leverage. If the screw does not move, the next tool is a longer driver, not another click on the same stubby. A retractable blade is also not a ratchet just because the bits live in the handle.
The first check is the recesses in the magazine. UK wood screws are commonly Pozidriv, marked by extra ticks between the cross. A Phillips bit can turn a Pozidriv screw and is liable to cam out. A Pozidriv bit does not seat in a Phillips screw. A handle that lists PZ sizes plus slotted, Torx and hex covers a household drawer. A handle that lists Phillips and slotted only will not start a chipboard screw. A Torx-and-hex stubby will not start one either.
Ratchet or fixed is the next split. A direction ring with a middle setting is a ratchet. A middle setting that a review says behaves like a normal screwdriver is a lock, not extra torque. A 36-tooth gear is a listing claim. Dividing 360 by 36 gives 10 degrees of arithmetic, not a swing measured for this page. A maker figure of 9 degrees stays the maker’s figure. A retractable bayonet blade and a quick-release chuck are not a ratchet, even when the bits live in the handle.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want Pozidriv, Torx and hex in one handle for wood screws and flat-pack. The Bosch 12-bit pop-up ratchet is about £20.62, with 4.7 from 3,880 reviews, PZ1 to PZ3, slotted, Torx and hex, and no Phillips bit. It will not reach a screw that needs a 300 mm blade.
You need a stubby, then a longer driver if the screw is seized. Wera Stubby magazine 2 is about £20.28, with a stated 65 mm overall length and slotted, Phillips and Pozidriv bits. It is not a ratchet, so leverage on a stuck screw stays limited.
You are the audience for a 1,000 V claim only where regulation 14 allows the job, and only after the mark is on the tool you unpack. The Wiha LiftUp electric is about £51.11, and the bullets state a 10,000 V AC test and 1,000 V AC approval. UK reviews say the cap can open in a pocket.
In this set of twelve amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Wera Kraftform Kompakt 20 at about £41.95, with 4.8 from 3,234 reviews. The bullets describe a retractable bayonet blade and a Rapidaptor chuck, and they do not claim a ratchet. The best value is the Bosch 12-bit pop-up ratchet at about £20.62, with 4.7 from 3,880 reviews and Pozidriv, slotted, Torx and hex in the handle. None of these scores is a measured torque or a lab test.
Wera Kraftform Kompakt 20
Strongest large-sample star line in the set: 4.8 from 3,234 reviews, with a retractable blade, and not a ratchet.
Bosch 12-bit pop-up ratchet
Broadest bit list under £21 in the snapshot: 4.7 from 3,880 reviews, with Pozidriv, slotted, Torx and hex.
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 and maker sources are listed below. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures in this comparison. This page did not lab-test the drivers. Last checked 22 October 2026.
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 the UK listing figures in this comparison. We did not lab-test these magazine screwdrivers.
