How Many Types of Wrenches Are There: A Professional’s Guide

Whether you're tightening a bolt under a sink or assembling a complex engine, one tool consistently earns its place in your kit: the wrench. For professionals across diverse sectors, understanding the different types of wrenches is essential.

It’s about choosing the right tool for safety, efficiency, and accuracy.

How Many Wrench Types Are There in All?

More than 50 wrench types are used across industries, each designed for specific tasks and conditions. These include box-end wrenches, open-end wrenches, combination wrenches, socket wrenches, torque wrenches, and the versatile adjustable wrench.

Every wrench has a purpose, from standard wrenches for everyday applications to speciality tools like the spark plug wrench, oil filter wrench, or tap wrench. Whether you're working with pipe fittings, lug nuts, or a stubborn nut or bolt head, understanding your options is key to achieving precision, safety, and efficiency.

Wrench Types by Industry

Different industries rely on several specialised wrench types tailored to the unique challenges of each environment. From precise aircraft assembly to tough plumbing jobs, there's a wrench type that helps you save time, prevent damage, and ensure safety.

Here are fields where multiple types of wrenches are used:

Aviation

Tools like electronic torque wrenches, indicating wrenches, crowfoot wrenches, and spanner wrenches help technicians tighten fasteners in cramped, high-stakes environments. Torque wrenches are essential when working with hexagonal or square nuts and structural bolts.

Automotive

Speed and access are key. Mechanics often reach for ratcheting wrenches, lug wrenches, torque wrenches, and impact wrenches. Specialised tools like lug wrenches, fan clutch wrenches, flare nut wrenches, spark plug wrenches, and oil filter wrenches tackle everything from brakes to engine bays.

They also use combination wrenches, socket wrenches, Allen wrenches, open-end wrenches, and box-end wrenches to handle various nuts and bolts. A stubby wrench, plier wrench, ratcheting wrench, or crowfoot wrench attached to a ratchet handle comes in handy for tight spaces.

Plumbing

Nothing beats a pipe wrench when it comes to gripping pipes and pipe fittings, but plumbers also rely on many other types of wrenches as well, such as trap wrenches, basin wrenches, chain wrenches, garbage disposal wrenches, and bung wrenches. For delicate jobs, monkey wrenches, adjustable pipe wrenches, and pliers wrenches provide control without damage.

Industrial and Mechanical Work

Heavy-duty work requires muscle. Slugging wrenches, striking wrenches, hammer wrenches, and torque multipliers dominate factory floors. Calibrated torque wrenches are ideal for structural safety. Closed-loop, box-end, or ring spanner designs are preferred for stability and continuous contact on the wrench head.

Tasks often call for a mix of standard wrenches, box wrenches, and spanner wrenches, especially where access is limited or torque control is crucial.

50+ Different Types of Wrenches

With all the different types of wrenches used in diverse industries, ranging from an adjustable wrench to specialised torque tools for precise fastening, you may be curious about how many different types there are. See how many wrench types you recognise below.

1. Adjustable Wrench

An adjustable wrench, sometimes called a crescent wrench, features a movable jaw that adapts to different fastener sizes. It's valued for its versatility, making it ideal for household repairs, plumbing, and automotive work. A well-made adjustable wrench minimises jaw looseness for a secure grip.

2. Allen Wrench

An Allen wrench or a hex key is an L-shaped tool. It fits for bolts and screws with hexagonal sockets. Widely used in furniture assembly, bicycles, and electronics, Allen wrenches come in metric and SAE sizes to ensure the correct fit and prevent fastener damage.

T-handle hex keys offer increased leverage and comfort when driving hex bolts, making them popular in machinery maintenance, automotive repair, and bicycle tuning.

3. Angled Socket Wrench

Angled socket wrenches access nuts and bolts in hard-to-reach places. With an offset head and sturdy design, they are essential for plumbing, compressors, and hydraulic systems requiring high torque and manoeuvrability.

4. Basin Wrench

Basin wrenches simplify plumbing jobs under sinks where space is tight. With a long shaft and a pivoting jaw, these easily reach and grip nuts positioned in confined spaces behind basins.

5. Box-End Wrench

Box-end wrenches fully enclose the fastener, offering maximum grip and reducing the chance of rounding bolt heads. These are indispensable in automotive and mechanical settings where strong torque is needed.

6. Box Torx Wrench

Designed for Torx fasteners, box Torx wrenches deliver a secure grip on star-shaped bolts often found in vehicles and electronics. Its closed loop stops the stripping of delicate fastener heads.

7. Chain Wrench

Chain wrenches wrap around pipes or round surfaces, gripping firmly where conventional jaws would slip. A must-have for both plumbing and automotive tasks involving smooth or oily parts.

8. Combination Wrench

With an open end on one side and a box end on the other, combination wrenches offer flexibility for quick turning and high-torque tasks. These combination wrenches are tools widely used across mechanics and engineering projects.

9. Cone Wrench

Slim and flat cone wrenches are primarily used in bicycle maintenance, particularly for adjusting wheel hubs where space is minimal.

10. Crescent Wrench

The crescent wrench's versatility makes it an everyday essential across trades.

11. Crowfoot Wrench

Crowfoot wrenches have open-end heads without handles. It attaches to ratchets or extension bars. These are useful in reaching recessed fasteners where traditional wrenches can’t fit. Combining a closed-loop grip with a crowfoot layout, crow ring wrenches can access fasteners in confined spaces. At the same time, it offers better engagement than an open-ended wrench.

12. Deep Offset Wrench

This is a wrench that has exaggerated offsets in the handle and head. It allows easier access to recessed bolts and nuts, specifically in automotive engines and machinery.

13. Dog Bone Wrench

A dog bone wrench has multiple socket sizes at each end. It's particularly useful for bicycle repairs and light mechanical work where flexibility is needed.

14. Double-Ended Bihexagonal Ring Wrench

This wrench offers two closed ends, both with a 12-point (bihexagonal) profile. It grants a strong grip on fasteners.

15. Double-Ended Flexi Joint Spanner

With pivoting joints at both ends, flexi joint spanners allow access to fasteners at unconventional angles. It's invaluable in cramped workspaces.

16. Double-Ended Open Jaw Wrench

With open jaws at both ends, usually of different sizes, this wrench allows for rapid adjustments when working with multiple fasteners. Ideal when speed is more important than high torque.

17. Drain Plug Wrench

Purpose-built for vehicle maintenance. A drain plug wrench fits specific shapes like square or hexagonal oil drain plugs, making oil changes cleaner and faster.

18. Fan Clutch Wrench

The fan clutch wrench is used to remove automotive cooling systems. It's also useful to install fan clutches in cramped engine bays where conventional spanners can't fit.

19. Flare Nut Wrench

Flare nut wrenches, with partially closed jaws, grip pipe fittings without crushing them. This type of wrench is perfect for brake lines, fuel systems, and hydraulic connections.

20. Half Moon Wrench

Curved into a semi-circular "half moon" shape. These wrenches slip around obstructions to reach hidden fasteners under dashboards or engines.

21. Heavy-Duty Open-End Wrench

A kind of wrench that is designed for strength. Its heavy-duty open-end wrenches handle large fasteners in industrial and mechanical environments where durability matters.

22. Heavy Duty Ring Spanner

With closed ends for a tight grip, heavy-duty ring spanners apply high torque to larger nuts and bolts without risk of slippage.

23. Hinged Socket Wrench

These wrenches pivot at the socket connection, offering flexibility when dealing with awkward bolt angles in machinery and tight compartments.

24. Hook and Pin Spanner Wrench

This wrench is meant for mechanical equipment maintenance. The hook and pin spanners engage with round nuts or collars fitted with holes.

25. Impact Wrench

An impact wrench delivers a sudden and strong rotational force. It's commonly used for loosening stubborn bolts in vehicle repair and heavy equipment service.

26. Insulated Wrench

It's a wrench that is meant for electrical work. Insulated wrenches feature non-conductive coatings to protect users working near live circuits.

27. Lug Wrench

Typically cross or L-shaped. Lug wrenches apply leverage for removing or tightening the lug nuts on vehicle wheels.

28. Midget Open-End Wrench

Small and slim, midget open-end wrenches are designed for precision work on electronics, appliances, and delicate machinery where space is at a premium.

29. Monkey Wrench

A monkey wrench is an adjustable tool with smooth jaws traditionally used in plumbing and mechanical trades. Unlike crescent wrenches, it adjusts with a different mechanism and jaw alignment.

30. Non-Sparking Wrench

Non-sparking wrenches are crafted from brass or bronze to prevent sparks in explosive environments such as oil refineries, chemical plants, and mines.

31. Nut Driver Wrench (T Handle)

T-handle nut drivers provide added leverage and comfort for driving nuts and bolts, especially in electronics, appliance repair, and assembly-line work.

32. Oil Filter Wrench

An oil filter wrench securely grips oil filters for easy removal during vehicle maintenance. Depending on the application, designs vary from strap and cap styles to chain types.

33. Open-Ended Wrench

With U-shaped jaws, open-ended wrenches allow quick placement over fasteners for swift turning. They're ideal for work in tight spots where only limited movement is possible.

34. Pedal Wrench

Pedal wrenches are long, flat tools designed for removing or installing bicycle pedals, providing the necessary reach and torque without damaging the crank arms.

35. Pipe Wrench

Pipe wrenches are heavyweight tools with serrated jaws for gripping rounded surfaces. Essential in plumbing, they are used for assembling and disassembling pipes.

36. Pliers Wrench

Pliers wrenches combine the gripping power of pliers with the parallel jaws of a wrench, making them versatile for handling delicate or polished surfaces without marring.

37. Plumber's Wrench

Plumber’s wrenches are large, adjustable tools that accommodate various pipe sizes, offering a strong grip and leverage in plumbing applications.

38. Ratcheting Wrench

Ratcheting wrenches incorporate a ratcheting mechanism, allowing continuous rotation without lifting the tool. They're excellent for working in confined spaces with limited swing clearance.

39. Ring Wrench

Ring wrenches have fully enclosed ends that grip nuts and bolts securely, reducing the chance of slipping and providing even force distribution around fasteners.

40. Saltus Wrench

The Saltus wrench, a specialised socket tool, is typically used for industrial maintenance where precise torque settings and space constraints apply.

41. Self-Adjusting Wrench

Self-adjusting wrenches automatically adapt to the fastener's size without manual adjustment. They effectively provide convenience and speed for various tasks.

42. Shank Angle Wrench

With an angled shaft, shank angle wrenches allow you to reach deeply recessed bolts, letting you attain fasteners positioned at awkward angles.

43. Single-Ended Open Jaw Spanner

This spanner enables quick, repeated engagement on fasteners with its single open jaw, making it an ideal option when efficiency matters more than maximum torque.

44. Slugging Wrench

Slugging wrenches are built for heavy-duty work, designed to be struck with a hammer for loosening large, stubborn bolts in shipyards, construction, and industrial settings.

45. Socket Wrench

Socket wrenches use interchangeable sockets attached to a ratchet handle, providing efficient fastening and loosening across a variety of bolt and nut sizes.

46. Spanner Wrench

These wrenches come in a range of designs, including open-end, box-end, and adjustable types, all essential across mechanical work.  The box spanner wrench, for instance, is a tubular tool that fits over long bolts or studs, providing access to recessed fasteners. Common in plumbing and automotive maintenance, box spanner wrenches offer deep reach where others cannot.

47. Strap Wrench

Strap wrenches use a flexible strap to wrap around irregular or smooth objects, tightening without causing surface damage. They're common for plumbing, filters, and polished metal fittings.

48. Striking Wrench

Striking wrenches are akin to hammers. These provide the extra force needed for loosening stubborn fasteners, particularly in industrial environments. Striking face wrenches have reinforced impact surfaces, enabling them to withstand the blows during heavy-duty applications.

49. Swivel Head Socket Wrench

Swivel head socket wrenches have a flexible head, allowing the socket to pivot and access fasteners positioned at awkward or tight angles.

50. Tap Wrench

A critical operation in metalworking and precision mechanical assembly is cutting internal threads. These tap wrenches can hold and turn taps, effectively severing these threads.

51. Torque Wrench

Torque wrenches control the specific amount of torque applied to a fastener, ensuring bolts and nuts are tightened according to exact specifications. They are essential in the automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing industries.

Professional-grade torque wrenches cover most functions with industry-compliant exactness and durable engineering. You can expect these specialised wrench types to loosen fasteners, tighten lug nuts, or work with a nut or bolt head.

52. Tubular Wrenches

Tubular wrenches, often used alongside sockets, are designed to reach nuts fitted onto long bolts or those located deep within machinery, providing access where standard wrenches can't reach.

Selecting the Right Wrench Among So Many

Not every job calls for the same approach. Not every wrench fits every challenge. From adjustable wrenches that flex across a range of fastener sizes to box-end designs built for high torque, each tool serves a distinct purpose.

Knowing how many types of wrenches are there, and the unique strengths of each, empowers you to work smarter. The right wrench reduces the risk of slipping, damaging fasteners, or straining your tools.

With so many different types of wrenches, it’s not just about grabbing whatever’s closest. From a basic adjustable wrench to a specialised tension wrench or socket wrench, choosing well matters. It’s about knowing what needs to be done and having the right tools for the job. Find all the right tools at Titans, today.