The best screwdriver ratchets, compared.
Top pick: Bosch 1600A027PP ratchet screwdriver with 12 bits – Largest distinct 4.7 pool, 3,880 reviews, with PZ1 to PZ3 in the magazine and no Phillips. Best value: Bahco 808050 ratcheting bit-holder screwdriver – Same 4.7 and score 94, at a captured £9.99 from 2,460 reviews. The six bit sizes are not in the amazon bullets. Updated 22.10.2026.
A screwdriver ratchet turns a bit one way and lets the handle swing back without lifting the tip. In the UK you buy one for flat-pack, hinges, appliances and a drawer, almost always with a 1/4 inch hex bit. You tell a suitable one by the recess in the box, a collar with a locked position, a magnet that keeps the bit seated, and a length that fits the gap. Most woodscrews in chipboard and furniture are Pozidriv, with four ticks between the cross. Phillips is a different recess and is made to cam out. A locked middle setting finishes the last tighten. An inline shaft suits open work. A telescoping shaft adds reach if the short position stays put. An offset body is for almost no room above the screw. A palm-sized ratchet is for modest torque, not a stubborn fixing. ISO 1173:2001 lets a 1/4 inch bit interchange with a drill. It is not an electrical approval. How the recesses differ on UK screws is in the [Pozidriv or Phillips guide](/hub/hand-tools/screwdriver-ratchets/sub/screwdriver-ratchets-pozidriv-or-phillips).
A screwdriver ratchet turns a bit one way and lets the handle swing back without lifting the tip. In the UK you buy one for flat-pack, hinges, appliances and a drawer, almost always with a 1/4 inch hex bit.
42 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +24,600 readers
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Which screws are you turning?
Across 3,880 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.7, the Bosch 1600A027PP keeps 12 bits in a pop-up magazine and runs a 36-tooth ratchet through left, right and a manual middle setting. Reviewers use it as a drawer driver for small jobs and flat-pack, and they mention a smooth direction change, a snug magnetic tip and a comfortable grip. The supply line names PZ1 to PZ3, slotted, Torx and hex, and it does not include a Phillips bit, so a PH2 screw needs a bit you already own. The bullet claims up to 50 Nm and an 80 mm rod, and the sampled reviews do not measure either figure. One rider found it a bit heavy for a motorbike toolkit, and another swapped the supplied mix because it was not their everyday set. The first UK reviews in the saved listing do not repeat a breakage. At the captured price of £20.62 the carton is the packaging, not a case.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want one drawer driver with Pozidriv, slotted, Torx and hex stored in the handle.
Less suitable: You need Phillips in the box, a hard case, or the lightest tool for a bike kit.
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 both ways?
The bullet says a 36-tooth gear and a metal ring for left, right, and a manual middle setting. It also says 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 Bahco 808050 is a 1/4 inch ratcheting bit-holder at the captured price of £9.99, with 4.7 from 2,460 amazon.co.uk reviews. Reviewers praise the three-component rubber handle, a strong magnet, a slim shaft and a knurled section for starting a screw with the fingers. The title says six bits, the amazon bullets do not name the sizes, and a UK review lists SL4, SL5.5, PH1, PH2, PZ1 and PZ2, which is a shopper report rather than the supply line. Bahco’s own page states 48 teeth and a 125 mm blade, while the amazon bullets omit a tooth count and one reviewer guesses about 42. Bit storage can be stiff, a little shaft wobble shows up, and some reviewers accept a little back-drag, then finish on the knurled shaft when the ratchet runs out of torque. The head-style field says Square, which conflicts with a hex bit holder. It is the low captured price beside a large 4.7 sample, with the bit list still unverified on the listing itself.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a low-priced Bahco handle and will check the six bits when they arrive.
Less suitable: You need the bit sizes printed on the amazon listing before you order, or a hard case.
Specifications
Common questions
Which six bits are included?
The raw bullets do not name them. A UK review lists slotted 4 and 5.5, PH1, PH2, PZ1 and PZ2. Treat that as a shopper report.
Is the drive 1/4 inch?
The title says a 1/4 inch bit holder. The head-style field says Square, which does not match a hex bit holder.
Does it have a case?
No case is named. Reviews describe bits stored in the handle.
The Bosch bit ratchet at a captured price of £12.97 is the driver only: a 36-tooth mechanism, left, right and a middle setting, and an 80 mm shaft, with a bullet claim of up to 36 Nm. Across 678 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.7, and reviewers describe a smooth ratchet and a substantial feel against an older Stanley one of them was replacing. A reviewer who already owned 1/4 inch bits says it works with those bits. The scope line is the screwdriver alone, so there is no magazine and no clip of Pozidriv or Phillips. Sampled UK reviews are almost all praise, which means specific faults are scarce rather than proven absent. The 36 Nm figure is not checked in those reviews, and the shank size is not stated in the bullets. Buy it when the bits are already in the drawer.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own 1/4 inch bits and want the Bosch ratchet handle on its own.
Less suitable: You need a supplied Pozidriv or Phillips set in the same box.
Specifications
Common questions
Are bits included?
No. The scope line is one bit ratchet screwdriver.
What does the listing claim for torque?
A 36-tooth gear for up to 36 Nm. That is the bullet, not a test.
How long is the shaft?
The bullet says 80 mm. Item dimensions are 35 x 205 x 33 mm.
The Bosch 1600A02Z9A pairs an 80 mm, 36-tooth shaft with 18 bits on a clip, covering PH1 to PH3, PZ1 to PZ3, slotted, Torx and hex, at a captured price of £14.87. Across 430 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.7, and reviewers call the grip comfortable and the clip useful for domestic work. The bullet says up to 36 Nm, left, right and a middle setting, plus a rotating cap, and the reviews do not measure that torque. One reviewer says it broke within a month and that the tip was not magnetic, which cuts against the expectation some buyers bring from other Bosch listings. Many sampled reviews are only a short praise line, so that fault is a single report rather than a pattern. There is no case, only the clip. It is the inline Bosch in this set that names both Phillips and Pozidriv, with a much smaller review pool than the magazine driver.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want Phillips and Pozidriv on one Bosch driver and can live with a clip instead of a case.
Less suitable: You need a large review sample, a hard case, or proof of the 36 Nm claim.
Specifications
Common questions
Are both Phillips and Pozidriv included?
Yes. The supply line lists PH1, PH2, PH3 and PZ1, PZ2, PZ3, plus slotted, Torx and hex.
Is the bit holder magnetic?
The bullet says a strong magnetic bit holder. One UK review says it is not magnetic. The listing and that review disagree.
What torque does the listing claim?
The bullet says a 36-tooth gear for up to 36 Nm. That is the listing, not a measurement on this page.
The Bosch 2607017331 is a storage box with 19 colour-coded 25 mm bits, four nutsetters at 6, 8, 10 and 13 mm, a universal holder and a palm-sized clockwise and anticlockwise ratchet, at a captured price of £16.79. It is rated 4.6 from 12,877 amazon.co.uk reviews, and the bullet also points the holder at common power tools. The bit list names both Phillips and Pozidriv, plus slotted, Torx and hex. Reviewers like the drawer-sized kit and the reach into awkward spaces for modest torque. They also say the ratchet is about a palm wide, so it is not a full-length handle and not for high torque. Quality opinions in the sample split, and the part-number field 2607017322 does not match the model number. The length field says 4.77 inches. It is a bit box with a small ratchet, not a substitute for a long screwdriver.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a compact Bosch bit box with a small ratchet and nutsetters for basic tasks.
Less suitable: You need a full-length handle or a driver for high torque.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a full-size screwdriver?
No. The bullet calls it a compact ratchet for basic tasks. UK reviews describe a palm-sized ratchet that is not for high torque.
Can the bits go in a drill?
The bullet says the set suits common power tools and manual screwdrivers, via the magnetic quick-change holder.
Are nutsetters included?
Yes. The contents line lists four nutsetters, 6, 8, 10 and 13 mm, plus the ratchet and 19 bits.
The Amazon Basics 73-piece set puts a ratchet driver in a plastic case at a captured price of £13.99, rated 4.6 from 12,669 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullet gives clockwise, anticlockwise and a locked position, plus a free-spinning base, and it splits magnetic bits for appliances from non-magnetic precision bits for watches, phones and glasses. Individual sizes are not listed, and the head-size field says 4 mm rather than a stated 1/4 inch drive. Reviewers call the price strong and the case organised, and they say it is fine when high torque is not required. They also say the driver materials feel cheaper than a daily professional driver. The listing itself warns you not to use the precision bits on oversized screws. Tooth count is not stated. It is a broad household kit, not a high-torque screwdriver.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want one case for appliances and small electronics and will leave the precision bits off large screws.
Less suitable: You need named Pozidriv sizes or a driver for stubborn furniture screws.
Specifications
Common questions
Can the small bits tighten a hinge screw?
The listing says no. Precision bits are only for small electronic devices and not for screws that need large torque.
Does the ratchet lock?
Yes. The bullet says clockwise, anticlockwise and a fixed locked position, plus a free-spinning base.
What size is the drive?
The head-size field says 4 mm. The bullets do not say 1/4 inch, and they do not list each bit size.
The grey KELIN 68-in-1 is a hard-case set at a captured price of £29.99, with a T-handle, a magnetic pickup and a magnetic mat. The bullet claims 58 teeth, 50 Nm and 80 percent less effort, and it lists 62 bits as six long at 45 mm, 32 short at 25 mm and 24 precision at 28 mm, in Phillips, slotted, hex and Torx, without itemised sizes. The listing prints 4.6 from 476 ratings, the same count and the same rank as the orange ASIN, so those reviews are one pool and must not be added together. Reviewers like the ratchet where a full turn will not fit, and they like the adjustable handle for home fixes. They also say it is not for heavy repeated professional use, and that smaller bits may wear on tougher screws. The title says 68 while the set-name field says 66-in-1, and no Pozidriv size is named. At this price you are paying for the case and the bit count, not for a larger review sample than the cheaper drivers.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a grey hard-case kit for home fixes and will treat the 476 ratings as one shared pool.
Less suitable: You need a professional daily driver, a named Pozidriv set, or a review count that belongs only to grey.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a different review sample from the orange KELIN?
The orange listing B0H7WWRGLT shows the same 4.6 from 476 ratings and the same best-seller rank. Do not add the two counts together.
What torque does the listing claim?
The bullet says 50 Nm and that the ratchet saves 80 percent effort. Neither figure is a test on this page.
Are precision bits included?
Yes. The bullet says 24 precision bits at 28 mm, plus 6 long bits at 45 mm and 32 short bits at 25 mm.
The orange KELIN listing is the colour variant at a captured price of £28.49, with 590 g on the weight field against 580 g on grey, and the same 58-tooth, 50 Nm and 80 percent bullets. It prints the same 4.6 from 476 ratings and the same best-seller rank as the grey ASIN, and the written reviews in the saved listing match that listing. The box is still a hard case, a T-handle, 62 bits in three lengths, a magnetic pickup and a magnetic mat. Praise for awkward spaces, and criticism of small-bit wear and a lighter ratchet feel, therefore belong to that shared sample. No Pozidriv size is named, and the sizes themselves are not itemised. Choose orange for the colour and the £1.50 lower captured price, not because a separate crowd scored the mechanism. The 50 Nm line remains a bullet on both colours.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want this case in orange and accept the shared 476-rating pool with grey.
Less suitable: You need orange-only ratings, a named Pozidriv set, or a heavier professional ratchet.
Specifications
Common questions
How is this different from the grey KELIN?
The colour field says Orange 68, the model number differs, the price is £28.49 and the weight field is 590 g. The rating count and the torque bullet match the grey listing.
Does the case include a magnet?
The bullet says a magnetic handle and a magnetic recharging slot in the case. That is a listing claim.
Is it for heavy professional use?
The bullet says daily professional use. A UK review in the saved listing says it is not for heavy, repeated professional work.
The VMAN 40-in-1 is a storage-box set at a captured price of £15.74, with six long and 32 short bits in Phillips, flat, hex and Torx, and a bullet that claims 40 Nm, a flexible length and 80 percent less effort. It is rated 4.6 from 405 amazon.co.uk reviews. Reviewers who have not had a failure like the labelled box, the magnet and the heft for furniture corners. One review says the housing split under light use, another says the magnet feels loose, and another says the ratchet is not gearless. No Pozidriv size is named, and the head-style field says Torq-Set, which the bit bullet does not confirm. The unit-count field says 1.0 while the title says 40 in 1. The case is the appeal, and the housing is the risk the sample actually names.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a mid-price case for Phillips, flat, hex and Torx and will watch the housing.
Less suitable: You need Pozidriv, or a ratchet body with no split-housing report in the sample.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the shaft flex?
The title says a flexible shaft, and the bullet says magnetic parts adjust in length for tight spots. A tooth count is not stated.
What failed in reviews?
One UK review says the housing split under light use. Another says the magnet feels loose. Other reviews praise the labelled box and the screw-holding magnet.
Is Pozidriv named?
No. The bullet names Phillips, flat, hex and Torx. It does not name a PZ size.
The DeWalt DWHT68001-0 telescoping driver costs a captured £20.92 and carries 10 bits: 25 mm and 50 mm of PH1, PH2, SL4, SL6 and SQ2, with no Pozidriv. It is rated 4.6 from 43 amazon.co.uk reviews, a thin sample next to the Bosch and Bahco pools in this set. Reviewers like the quad-lobe grip and the ratchet for repetitive furniture screws, and they say it feels well made. The telescoping shaft cannot be removed, the fully retracted position has no positive lock, and pulling a bit out pulls the shaft to the first stop. Tooth count and a torque figure are not stated, and there is no case in the bullets. At this price and review count it is a reach tool for Phillips, slotted and square recess screws, not a flat-pack Pozidriv driver. The item dimensions on the listing are 16 x 3 x 3 cm.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a telescoping DeWalt for Phillips, slotted or square screws and will check the short-position lock yourself.
Less suitable: UK Pozidriv furniture screws, or a short driver that stays locked when the shaft is retracted.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it include Pozidriv?
No. The supply line is PH1, PH2, SL4, SL6 and SQ2, in 25 mm and 50 mm. There is no PZ bit.
Does the short position lock?
A UK review says the fully retracted position has no positive lock, and that removing a bit pulls the shaft out to the first stop.
Can the shaft be removed?
A UK review says it cannot. The reviewer wanted to split it into a bit holder and a shorter driver.
The OSDUE is a 110 mm right-angle driver at a captured price of £3.79, rated 4.5 from 2,831 amazon.co.uk reviews, and the box does not include bits. Reviewers use their own 1/4 inch bits on sink handles and a radiator bracket, jobs a straight handle cannot swing. The bullet says 36 teeth and that accessories are not included, yet a title that mentions Phillips has sent buyers a driver with no bit in the box. One reviewer wanted a stronger magnet so bits do not fall out, and one found the body still too thick for their gap. The 150 Nm field conflicts with a 60 g tool and is not a capacity to plan around. A PVC material field also conflicts with a steel bullet. It is a cheap offset for the rare awkward screw, once you already own the bit.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own 1/4 inch bits and need a cheap offset for a sink handle or a radiator bracket.
Less suitable: You expect bits in the box, a quoted torque, or a body slim enough for every gap.
Specifications
Common questions
Are bits included?
No. The bullet says the package is the mini ratchet wrench and that accessories are not included. UK reviews say you need your own 1/4 inch bits.
Is it really 150 Nm?
The item-torque field says 150 Nm. The same listing says 60 g and 11 cm. Do not treat 150 Nm as a capacity.
When is the shape useful?
UK reviews use it where a straight or stubby screwdriver will not fit, such as a sink handle or a radiator-bracket screw. One reviewer still found it too thick.
Across 8,987 amazon.co.uk reviews at 4.4, the Amazon Basics 12-in-1 stores SL4 to SL6, PH1 to PH3, T15, T20, T25 and H3 to H5 in the handle, with fixed, forward and reverse plus a free-spinning base. Reviewers call it acceptable for everyday household jobs at the captured price of £9.89, and they like the magnetic tip and the ratchet click. The supply line does not name a Pozidriv bit, so a typical UK chipboard screw is the wrong match for this mix. Several reviewers say it has fewer teeth and a larger swing than Stanley or Snap-on drivers they already own, and they do not treat it as a heavy-duty only tool. Bit storage can jam, one reviewer needed another tool to free a stuck bit, and one unit would not keep the bit in the barrel. Tooth count is not stated, and the head-size field says 5 mm. It reads as a spare drawer driver beside a finer ratchet, not as a replacement for one.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a cheap spare for Phillips, slotted, Torx and hex around the house.
Less suitable: UK furniture screws that need Pozidriv, or a job that needs a fine ratchet swing.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it include Pozidriv?
No. The bullet lists SL4, SL5, SL6, PH1, PH2, PH3, T15, T20, T25, H3, H4 and H5. UK furniture screws are often Pozidriv, which is not in that list.
Where do the bits go?
The bullet says the 12 bits are stored in the handle. There is no separate case in the listing.
What are the three settings?
The bullet says fixed, forward and reverse, plus a free-spinning base. It does not state a tooth count.
Twelve screwdriver ratchet listings on amazon.co.uk were scored from the star ratings on those listings, snapshot 22 October 2026. The published score is the star rating times 20. Nothing here was lab-tested for torque, tooth count or insulation. A newton-metre line stays a seller claim. Four listings score 94 because each is 4.7 stars. The top pick is the Bosch 1600A027PP, the largest distinct 4.7 pool whose supply line names Pozidriv and omits Phillips. Best value is the Bahco 808050, the same 4.7 at a captured £9.99. The bare Bosch driver scores 94 and does not take a badge, because the box contains no bits. The two KELIN colours share one pool of 476 ratings. Those counts are not added.
Amazon stars
100%The only published score is the amazon.co.uk star rating times 20. A 4.7 is 94, a 4.6 is 92, a 4.5 is 90 and a 4.4 is 88. Review-count limits, missing Pozidriv, shared ratings and listing conflicts sit in the notes. They are not a second weight inside the number.
Check the recess first, then the reach, then a tooth count and a lock only if they are printed, then where the bits live, then the price beside the review count. The table is 12 screwdriver ratchet listings on amazon.co.uk. Captured prices run from £3.79 to £29.99, snapshot 22 October 2026. A rule of thumb from the same pass: about £4 to £10 is entry, about £13 to £21 is the middle of this sample, and about £28 to £30 is the top of this sample.
A screwdriver ratchet turns a bit one way and lets the handle swing back without lifting the tip. You use one for flat-pack, hinges, appliances and a drawer. Almost every useful one takes a 1/4 inch hex bit. ISO 1173:2001 is the reason those bits interchange with a drill. The standard is not an electrical approval. No listing here claims an insulation voltage. Live circuits are a different job. Read the listing in this order. First, the recess.
UK furniture screws usually show four ticks between the cross. Phillips is a different recess and is designed to cam out. A Phillips-only mix, including square recess and no Pozidriv, is the wrong set for most flat-pack screws.
A newton-metre figure, and any line about 80 percent less effort, is a listing sentence. A 150 Nm field beside a 60 g tool is not a capacity. An Australian torque line does not replace the UK bullet.
Two colours of one case set can print the same star line and the same rank. Do not add those counts. Precision bits in a large case stay on watches and glasses when the listing says they are not for large screws.
Recess comes first because UK chipboard and furniture screws are usually Pozidriv. Phillips is designed to cam out of that recess. The Bosch 1600A027PP supply line names PZ and omits Phillips. The Amazon Basics 12-in-1 and the DeWalt telescoping driver name Phillips and omit Pozidriv. Bahco and the Bosch clip set name both. Reach is the next check. An inline shaft covers open work. The DeWalt telescopes, and UK reviews say the retracted position does not lock.
As a rule of thumb, return angle is about 360 degrees divided by the teeth, and only when a count is printed. Bosch states 36 on three drivers. Bahco states 48 on the 808050. KELIN states 58. Amazon Basics, DeWalt, VMAN and the Bosch bit-box do not state a count. The middle or fixed position locks the shaft for the last tighten. A handle magazine keeps everyday bits with the driver.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You need PZ2 in an inline handle for chipboard and furniture screws. The Bosch 1600A027PP keeps PZ1 to PZ3 in a pop-up magazine, with slotted, Torx and hex, and no Phillips. It is 4.7 from 3,880 amazon.co.uk reviews at a captured £20.62. The 50 Nm line is the UK bullet, not a test.
You already own 1/4 inch bits. The Bosch 1600A02Z99 is the driver only, with 36 teeth and an 80 mm shaft, at a captured £12.97, and 4.7 from 678 reviews. The box has no Pozidriv and no Phillips. For a side-on screw, an offset driver is the other shape, and that box has no bits either.
The Amazon Basics 73-piece case splits magnetic bits for appliances from non-magnetic precision bits for watches, phones and glasses. The listing says those precision bits are not for large screws. It is 4.6 from 12,669 reviews at a captured £13.99. Piece sizes are not listed.
The top pick is the Bosch 1600A027PP at a captured £20.62, with 4.7 from 3,880 amazon.co.uk reviews and score 94. Four listings score 94 because each is 4.7 stars. This one takes the badge because it has the largest distinct review pool among those four, and the supply line names Pozidriv with no Phillips. Best value is the Bahco 808050 at a captured £9.99, also 4.7 from 2,460 reviews. The six bit sizes are not in the amazon bullets. The bare Bosch driver scores 94 and does not take a badge, because the box contains no bits. Neither badge means one driver for every job in this set.
Bosch 1600A027PP ratchet screwdriver with 12 bits
Largest distinct 4.7 pool, 3,880 reviews, with PZ1 to PZ3 in the magazine and no Phillips.
Bahco 808050 ratcheting bit-holder screwdriver
Same 4.7 and score 94, at a captured £9.99 from 2,460 reviews. The six bit sizes are not in the amazon bullets.
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.
Sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk listing figures for these 12 ASINs.
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.
