The best impact sockets, compared.
Top pick: BILITOOLS thin-wall flip set Best value: WORKPRO 4-piece flip set – About £12.99, 4.7 from 132 reviews, and a chrome-molybdenum flip set for 17, 19 and 21 mm, after split reports on cheaper deep sets. Updated October 2026.
An impact socket is a square-drive tool socket meant for the shock of an impact wrench, not a BS 1363 wall socket and not a mains trailing lead. In the UK you buy one mainly for car wheel nuts, brakes and suspension. The square on the gun and the metric size of the nut matter more than piece count. A car impact wrench is almost always a 1/2 inch square. A 3/8 inch kit or a 3/4 inch hex set is a different job. Wheel nuts are commonly 17, 19 or 21 mm. Deep sockets cover studs. A thin wall or a flip socket with a sleeve reaches a recessed alloy nut. A thick wall that will not enter the recess is the wrong socket. Chrome molybdenum is the alloy usually named for impact duty. A chrome-vanadium or carbon-steel claim is a lower certainty, and black paint is not a rating. Finish wheel nuts with a torque wrench at the vehicle maker's figure. Drive, depth and material claims are in the [impact socket buying guide](/hub/sockets-and-extension-leads/impact-sockets/sub/impact-sockets-buying-guide).
An impact socket is a square-drive tool socket meant for the shock of an impact wrench, not a BS 1363 wall socket and not a mains trailing lead. In the UK you buy one mainly for car wheel nuts, brakes and suspension.
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Personal buying guide
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BILITOOLS B1R95483 is listed at about £33.99 with 4.9 from 32 reviews, and no review texts were in the sample, so the star line has no written theme behind it. The bullets describe four thin-wall flip sockets covering 17, 19, 21 and 22 mm plus 3/4, 13/16, 7/8 and 15/16 inch, with protective sleeves, a knockout rod, a 3 inch extension and a case. They name chrome molybdenum and a 1/2 inch drive for impact wrenches and breaker bars, at 1.37 kg. The drive field prints 3/4 inch, which does not match that 1/2 inch claim. The piece-count field prints 1, which does not match that four-socket kit, so use the bullet list for contents. With no review prose in the sample, this card is a specification, not evidence that the sleeves or the thin walls survive a stubborn nut.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 1/2 inch gun and recessed alloy nuts in 17, 19, 21 or 22 mm, if you are buying on the bullet list alone.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants written buyer accounts before spending about £34, or jobs outside those wheel sizes.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the bullet list?
Four thin-wall flip sockets for 17, 19, 21 and 22 mm, plus 3/4, 13/16, 7/8 and 15/16 inch, with sleeves, a knockout rod, a 3 inch extension and a case. The piece-count field prints 1.
Are there UK review texts?
The line is 4.9 from 32 reviews, and no review texts were in the sample. The stars are not a written account of the sleeves or the thin walls.
What drive do the bullets claim?
The bullets name a 1/2 inch drive. The drive field prints 3/4 inch. Use the bullet claim only after you match it to your anvil.
On amazon.co.uk this Ginour 17-piece set is about £32.99 with 4.8 from 2,536 reviews, and buyers describe suspension work and wheel changes on an impact gun. The bullets list 16 metric sockets from 10 mm to 32 mm, including 17, 19, 21, 27, 30 and 32 mm, plus a 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch adapter in a moulded case at 4.13 kg. The material field prints chrome vanadium while the same bullets say Cr-Mo and then heat-treated chrome vanadium, so the steel grade is not settled from the page. The drive field prints 3/8 inch while the title says 1/2 inch. Reviewers treat it as a home-mechanic set rather than a full-time workshop kit, and one says the fit could be tighter. Another mentions a pungent chemical coating on arrival. No repeated defect theme shows in the UK reviews sampled, which is why this is the top pick here on review depth.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A home mechanic who wants a wide 1/2 inch metric range, including 27–32 mm, for occasional suspension and wheel work.
Less suitable: A daily workshop that needs one stated steel grade, or a gun with a 3/4 inch anvil.
Specifications
Common questions
What sizes does the Ginour 17-piece set list?
The bullets list 16 metric sockets from 10 mm to 32 mm, including 17, 19, 21, 27, 30 and 32 mm, plus a 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch adapter. The title calls it a 17-piece set.
Which steel does the listing state?
The material field prints chrome vanadium. The same bullets also say Cr-Mo and then heat-treated chrome vanadium. The steel grade is not settled from the page.
What drive does the title state?
The title says 1/2 inch. The drive field prints 3/8 inch. The bullets include a 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch adapter, so match the square on your gun before you buy.
The Milwaukee 4932480456 is about £32.95 on amazon.co.uk with 4.8 from 205 reviews, and UK texts praise the case, the etched sizes and use on an M18 impact wrench for family-car wheels. The listing describes a shallow 1/2 inch set of 13 pieces at 2.27 kg, and the individual millimetre sizes are not printed in the bullets. The material field names both alloy steel and chrome molybdenum. Reviewers say it is not every size a professional would want, and a shallow socket will not cover a long stud. The page also carries replacement-part wording and a vehicle selector, which is listing noise rather than a crack report. No repeated failure theme appears in the UK reviews sampled.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 1/2 inch Milwaukee impact wrench and family-car wheel nuts where a shallow socket actually reaches the fastener.
Less suitable: Long studs, deep recesses, or a buyer who needs every millimetre size printed before ordering.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the Milwaukee sockets deep or shallow?
The listing reads as a shallow 13-piece set. A shallow socket will not cover a long stud. Reviewers describe family-car wheel changes on an M18 impact wrench.
Which millimetre sizes are printed?
The individual millimetre sizes are not printed in the bullets. You cannot check 17, 19 or 21 mm from the bullet list alone.
What material does the listing name?
The material field names both alloy steel and chrome molybdenum. The page does not state one steel grade.
This Ginour set is about £33.99 with 4.7 from 1,518 reviews, and the bullets list 17 metric sockets from 8 mm to 24 mm, three extension bars at 3, 5 and 10 inches, and a 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch adapter. Reviewers mention a heavy case, oil on the sockets and a solid weight in the hand. Several call it enough for DIY and doubt it for a mechanic’s daily set. One buyer says the case will not shut even with the pieces in the right slots. The material line is heat-treated chrome vanadium with a black finish, which is a Cr-V claim rather than Cr-Mo. The title says 1/2 inch drive, so that is the square to match to the gun. The drive field prints 3/8 inch. The piece-count lines (19, 20, and 17 sockets plus bars) do not all agree.
Pros
Cons
Best for: DIY jobs that stay inside 8–24 mm and need extension bars more than a 27–32 mm socket.
Less suitable: Daily workshop use, or fasteners above 24 mm such as some 27–32 mm suspension nuts.
Specifications
Common questions
What size range do the bullets list?
The bullets list 17 metric sockets from 8 mm to 24 mm, including 15 mm and 18 mm, plus three extension bars at 3, 5 and 10 inches and a 3/8 to 1/2 inch adapter.
Is the steel chrome molybdenum?
The material line is heat-treated chrome vanadium with a black finish. That is a Cr-V claim, not a chrome molybdenum claim. A black finish is not an impact rating.
Why do the piece counts disagree?
The listing lines say 19, 20, and 17 sockets plus bars. They do not all agree. One buyer says the case will not shut with the sockets seated.
The WORKPRO W003129 is about £12.99 with 4.7 from 132 reviews, and only four review texts were read. The bullets list double-ended flip sockets for 17, 19 and 21 mm plus 3/4, 13/16 and 7/8 inch, a 3 inch extension, a detent ball and a blue case, in heat-treated chrome molybdenum at 773 g. The title says 1/2 inch drive. The drive field prints 3/4 inch, which does not match that title. The listing itself asks about tyre changes, which matches a wheel kit rather than an 8–32 mm garage set. Those four texts call the sockets well made and the extension useful. No repeated defect theme appears in that small read. At this price, beside the £9.99 sets that show cracks in much larger samples, it is the best value pick for wheel nuts only.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Changing wheels on a family car that uses 17, 19 or 21 mm nuts, when you want a light boot kit.
Less suitable: Suspension, engine or general fastener work outside those six sizes.
Specifications
Common questions
Which wheel sizes does the WORKPRO set list?
The bullets list double-ended flip sockets for 17, 19 and 21 mm, plus 3/4, 13/16 and 7/8 inch, a 3 inch extension and a detent ball.
How much review text is behind the stars?
The line is 4.7 from 132 reviews. Only four texts were read. They call the sockets well made. No repeated defect theme appears in that small read.
What drive does the title state?
The title says 1/2 inch drive. The drive field prints 3/4 inch. Match the square on your gun to the title before you treat the field as the anvil size.
The KIRXST UKRT20251 is an 11-piece deep 1/2 inch set at about £22.99, with 4.6 from 364 reviews, stated as heat-treated chrome vanadium and a black finish. Reviewers describe a heavy feel, readable marks, colour coding in a dim garage and a snug 6-point fit, and many report impact-gun and wheel work that goes through. The criticism list says there is no 15 mm and no 18 mm, the moulded box feels flimsy, and sockets can fall off the anvil. Coating and etching are said to wear with hard use. Defect notes include a 24 mm that split within two weeks, a 19 mm that opened on a wheel, three sockets broken in two days for one buyer, and a parcel with two 16 mm sockets and no 17 mm.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Occasional deep-socket work in the sizes this 11-piece set actually contains, if you can accept a split risk seen in reviews.
Less suitable: Jobs that need 15 mm or 18 mm, or a buyer who wants a sample with no split reports.
Specifications
Common questions
Which sizes are missing?
The criticism of the range says there is no 15 mm and no 18 mm. One parcel arrived with two 16 mm sockets and no 17 mm.
Do reviews report splits?
Yes. Notes include a 24 mm that split within two weeks, a 19 mm that opened on a wheel, and three sockets broken in two days for one buyer.
What drive and depth does the listing state?
It is an 11-piece deep 1/2 inch set, stated as heat-treated chrome vanadium, at about £22.99 with 4.6 from 364 reviews.
The Greensen listing is a 10-piece hex bit socket set from 22 mm to 50 mm at about £55.96, with 4.5 from 20 reviews and only three texts read. Those texts say the sockets look strong and the tin is decent, and one buyer had not used them yet. The page states chrome molybdenum, a black coating, a plastic case, and a parcel of 7.15 kg with an item length of 80 mm. There is no repeated defect theme because almost no use is described. A 3/4 inch hex drive is a different square from a 1/2 inch car impact wrench. Twenty ratings is too small to treat 4.5 as a settled workshop result.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Large hex fasteners in the 22–50 mm band on a 3/4 inch drive, if you accept a 20-review sample.
Less suitable: Car wheel nuts, 1/2 inch impact guns, or anyone who wants written accounts of hard use.
Specifications
Common questions
What drive and sizes does the Greensen set use?
It is a 10-piece hex bit set from 22 mm to 50 mm on a 3/4 inch drive. That square will not fit a normal 1/2 inch car impact wrench.
How many reviews describe use?
The line is 4.5 from 20 reviews, and only three texts were read. One of those says the sockets had not been used yet. There is no repeated defect theme because almost no use is described.
Is this a wheel-nut set?
No. It is a bench kit for large hex fasteners, listed at 7.15 kg. It is the wrong square for car wheel nuts on a 1/2 inch gun.
Aurlloct AUK61067 is a 16-piece deep 1/2 inch set at about £39.99, with 4.2 from 37 reviews. The bullets list 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 27, 30 and 32 mm in chrome vanadium with a powder-coated finish and colour-coded laser marks. One buyer used them on seized wheel bolts and called them durable, and others describe a chunky first impression. A separate review says they fall off the impact gun or ratchet and were already rusting after one use. The weight field prints 150 g, which does not sit with a 16-piece deep set, so do not plan a pocket kit from that figure. Thirteen texts is a small sample next to the Ginour pages, and a case is not stated.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Someone who needs the odd larger sizes (27, 30, 32 mm) and will check retention on their own anvil before a big job.
Less suitable: A buyer who wants a large review sample or a reliable listed weight and a case.
Specifications
Common questions
Which sizes are printed?
The bullets list 10 through 19, then 21, 22, 24, 27, 30 and 32 mm. 15 mm and 18 mm are in that list. 20 mm is absent.
Can you trust the 150 g weight?
The weight field prints 150 g. That does not sit with a 16-piece deep set. Do not plan a pocket kit from that figure.
What do the reviews say about retention?
One buyer used them on seized wheel bolts. A separate review says they fall off the impact gun or ratchet and were rusting after one use. The line is 4.2 from 37 reviews.
KATSU 420444 is a 10-piece deep 1/2 inch set at about £9.99, with 4.1 from 253 reviews, in carbon steel with a black oxide finish at 1.58 kg. Some buyers are content on an impact gun and a long breaker bar, and they like the depth under a car and a case that feels solid for the money. The same sample calls the walls too thin to be impact sockets, says the metal burred on an impact wrench, and notes a square that would not fit some existing 1/2 inch tools. A reviewer says 16 mm is missing, and some units arrived looking used. Defect notes include a 13 mm that split within 12 months, a 14 mm that sheared on first hand use, a crack on a third wheel nut, and a 17 mm that distorted on wheel nuts.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Occasional hand or very light DIY inside a 10–24 mm deep set, if a cracked socket is an acceptable risk at this price.
Less suitable: Wheel nuts or any job where a split socket on the third nut would stop the car.
Specifications
Common questions
What material does KATSU 420444 state?
The listing states carbon steel with a black oxide finish. Reviewers say the walls are too thin for impact use. A black finish is not an impact rating.
What splits are in the reviews?
Notes include a 13 mm that split within 12 months, a 14 mm that sheared on first hand use, a crack on a third wheel nut, and a 17 mm that distorted on wheel nuts.
Who is the £9.99 set for?
Some buyers are content on an impact gun and a breaker bar for light DIY. It is a poor fit when a split socket on a wheel nut would stop the car. The line is 4.1 from 253 reviews.
KATSU 420446 is the other about £9.99 deep 10-piece 1/2 inch set, with 4.1 from 175 reviews, listed at 1.22 kg and 78 mm long. The material field says S2 steel while a bullet says high-quality carbon steel, both with a black oxide finish and a blow-moulded case. Some buyers call the marking clear enough for amateur use and say the sockets work with a drill. Others say the case will not stay closed, the side wall is thin, the fit is loose or tight depending on the socket, and the metal is soft. Written complaints include a 14 mm that broke on first use, a 19 mm that failed after about two months of light use, and sockets that blew out at the ends on a first weekend. The price matches a painted budget set more than a workshop impact set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Very light DIY where a £9.99 loss is acceptable and the fastener is not a wheel nut.
Less suitable: Impact-gun wheel work, or any job that assumes the S2 line means a rated impact socket.
Specifications
Common questions
Which steel does the listing state?
The material field says S2 steel. A bullet says high-quality carbon steel. Both mention a black oxide finish. The two lines do not agree.
What failures are in the reviews?
A 14 mm broke on first use, a 19 mm failed after about two months of light use, and sockets blew out at the ends on a first weekend. Reviewers also call the walls thin and the case catches weak.
Is the S2 line an impact rating?
No. An S2 line, a carbon-steel line and a black finish are not a test to ISO 1711-2. The set is about £9.99 with 4.1 from 175 reviews.
Marnovest 22454623 is about £15.59 with 4.0 from only two reviews. The bullets list ten deep 6-point sockets at 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 24 mm, plus two extension bars, in a case at 1.45 kg. They name chrome vanadium with heat treatment and a black phosphate finish, even though the material field itself is empty. One review likes a deep socket after rounding a bolt with a shallow 3/8 inch socket. The other likes the set but says the case closing is average and not always reliable. Two reviews cannot show a crack rate, a long-term finish, or whether the sockets stay on a 1/2 inch anvil. There is no 11, 16 or 18 mm in that size list.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A spare deep 1/2 inch kit in those ten sizes, if two reviews are enough for you.
Less suitable: A first impact set you will trust on wheel nuts without a larger review sample.
Specifications
Common questions
Which ten sizes are printed?
The bullets list 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 24 mm, plus two extension bars. There is no 11, 16 or 18 mm.
How many reviews are there?
4.0 from two reviews. One likes a deep socket after rounding a bolt. The other says the case closing is not always reliable. Two reviews are not a crack rate.
Where is the material stated?
The bullets say chrome vanadium with heat treatment and a black phosphate finish. The material field itself is empty. Black phosphate is a finish, not an impact rating.
TecoTek TC048EU is a 109-piece kit at about £55.77 and 7.43 kg, and this amazon.co.uk capture has no star rating and no review texts. The bullets claim drop-forged chrome vanadium, a black phosphate finish, metric deep and shallow sockets from 6 mm to 24 mm, SAE sockets from 5/16 inch to 1 inch, two spark-plug sockets, a 3/8 inch ratchet, two extensions, a universal joint and 40 bits. They also say the tools meet or exceed ANSI performance standards and include a one-year guarantee, which is the maker’s line rather than a UK test in this file. The title describes a 3/8 inch kit. The drive field prints 3/4 inch, and the socket-type field says a flip wheel-nut set, which does not match that title. A 3/8 inch square is the wrong drive for a typical 1/2 inch car impact gun. Nothing in the sample shows whether these sockets survive shock.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 3/8 inch ratchet and light fastener kit from 6 mm to 24 mm, if you are buying the contents list without reviews.
Less suitable: 1/2 inch impact-gun work, wheel nuts in a deep recess, or anyone who wants a UK review count.
Specifications
Common questions
What drive does the title state?
The title describes a 3/8 inch deep and shallow kit from 6 mm to 24 mm, plus SAE. The drive field prints 3/4 inch. A 3/8 inch square does not fit a typical 1/2 inch car impact gun.
Is there a star rating?
This amazon.co.uk capture has no star rating and no review texts. The impact wording in the title is unverified here.
What does the ANSI line mean on this page?
The bullets say the tools meet or exceed ANSI performance standards. That is the maker’s line. This page does not verify it, and it is not an ISO 1711-2 result.
Twelve amazon.co.uk listings were scored for this page. Weights sum to 100. Shelf prices, star ratings and review counts are the figures in the stored listings. No lab test was run. The top pick is the highest score. The best value is the best price against a usable star line and a clear wheel-nut job, after defect reports on cheaper deep sets.
Star line
40%The star block is amazon stars divided by 5, then multiplied by 40. A listing with no star line scores 16 on this block. Stars are not a lab result.
Review sample
20%2,000 or more reviews scores 20, 500 or more scores 18, 200 or more scores 16, 100 or more scores 14, 30 to 99 scores 10, 10 to 29 scores 6, and under 10 scores 3. If fewer than five texts were read, this block is capped at 10. If no texts were read, it is capped at 4.
Defect sentiment
25%A sample with no repeated crack theme scores 25. About 12 when there are no texts to read. The block falls when splits, thin walls or soft metal repeat in the reviews.
Listing clarity
15%Starts at 15. Points come off when the material line contradicts itself, the piece count disagrees with the bullets, the weight figure is implausible, or the drive in the title is not the drive a car gun uses.
The checks run in this order: drive size, the fastener, depth and wall, the material the listing states, then retention and the review texts. The table is the twelve stored amazon.co.uk listings. No socket here was tested to ISO 1711-2 for this page, and a black photo is not that test.
An impact socket is a square-drive socket meant to take the shock of an impact wrench. You buy one in the UK mainly to undo car wheel nuts or to work on brakes and suspension. A hand chrome socket is a different tool: usually polished chrome vanadium, for a ratchet or a torque wrench. Impact sockets are usually thicker, often black, and often chrome molybdenum, so they are meant to deform rather than shatter. That split is typical, not absolute.
A 100-piece 3/8 inch kit does not fit a 1/2 inch car anvil. Four flip sockets in 17, 19 and 21 mm can be the whole wheel job. Count the sizes you undo, not the sockets you will never use.
Black oxide, phosphate and paint are finishes. They are not ISO 2725-2 or ISO 1711-2. A carbon-steel set can be black and still split. A chrome-vanadium socket can be rated for impact by its maker, and it can also be an ordinary hand socket.
Run the nut with the gun if you must, then use a torque wrench at the vehicle maker's figure. There is no single newton-metre number for every UK car. A socket that will not enter the wheel recess is the wrong socket.
Start with 1/2 inch if the gun is a car wheel gun. In this table the Ginour sets, the Milwaukee set, the WORKPRO flip set, the KIRXST, Aurlloct, KATSU and Marnovest rows, and the BILITOOLS bullets, are 1/2 inch in the title or the bullets. The TecoTek title is 3/8 inch. The Greensen set is 3/4 inch hex from 22 mm to 50 mm. Several drive fields print 3/8 or 3/4 inch against a 1/2 inch title. The table follows the title, and the assessment names the field. Wheel work wants 17, 19 or 21 mm.
Chrome molybdenum is stated for the WORKPRO flip set, the Greensen hex set and the BILITOOLS bullets. The Ginour 17-piece page names both Cr-Mo and chrome vanadium. The Ginour 20-piece, KIRXST and Aurlloct pages state chrome vanadium. KATSU 420444 states carbon steel, and the reviews describe thin walls and splits. KATSU 420446 says S2 steel in the field and carbon steel in a bullet. Milwaukee names alloy steel and chrome molybdenum.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You change wheels on a family car and the nuts are 17, 19 or 21 mm. The WORKPRO four-piece flip set is the best value at about £12.99, with 4.7 from 132 reviews and a chrome-molybdenum claim. Only four review texts were read, and there is nothing below 17 mm or above 21 mm.
You need a wider 1/2 inch metric run, sometimes through 27–32 mm. The Ginour 17-piece set is the top pick at about £32.99, with 4.8 from 2,536 reviews and no repeated crack theme in the texts read. The material line mixes chrome molybdenum and chrome vanadium.
You already use a 1/2 inch impact wrench and the nut is open, so a shallow socket can reach it. The Milwaukee 4932480456 is about £32.95, with 4.8 from 205 reviews and no repeated crack theme in the UK sample. It will not cover a long stud. At work, retire a cracked socket rather than finish the job.
The top pick is the Ginour 17-piece set at about £32.99, with 4.8 from 2,536 amazon.co.uk reviews and no repeated crack theme in the texts read. It has the highest score in this set. The bullets list 10–32 mm, including 17, 19 and 21 mm. The material line mixes chrome molybdenum and chrome vanadium, and the drive field prints 3/8 inch while the title says 1/2 inch. The best value is the WORKPRO four-piece flip set at about £12.99, with 4.7 from 132 reviews and a chrome-molybdenum claim for 17, 19 and 21 mm. Only four review texts were read. Cheaper deep sets here show split sockets in larger samples. This page did not run a lab test.
WORKPRO 4-piece flip set
About £12.99, 4.7 from 132 reviews, and a chrome-molybdenum flip set for 17, 19 and 21 mm, after split reports on cheaper deep sets.
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 taken from the research digest. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures in the stored listings. This page did not run a lab test, and none of these listings is claimed to have been tested to ISO 1711-2.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts come from stored amazon.co.uk listings. We did not run a lab test.
