DeWalt ELITE SERIES Nut Drivers (5 pc.)

Why I reached for this set

On jobs where hex-head fasteners dominate—sheet-metal screws in HVAC, roofing screws, lag bolts into framing, the random 3/8-inch nut on a bracket—I want nut drivers that just work in an impact driver without rounding hardware or flinging fasteners. That’s what drew me to this 5-piece DeWalt nut driver set. After weeks of use across light framing, some shop assembly, and a fair bit of overhead fastening on metal studs, it’s become a regular in my impact driver pouch.

Design and build

This is a straightforward, impact-rated, 1/4-inch hex-shank set in the common SAE sizes: 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 7/16, and 1/2 inch. Each piece is 1-15/16 inches long—basically a “2-inch” class nutsetter—and made from shock-resistant tool steel. The business end uses rounded interior corners so the driver bears on the flats of a fastener rather than its corners. That geometry is now common on better nutsetters, and for good reason: it reduces cam-out and the likelihood of chewing up an old or painted hex head.

DeWalt uses an industrial-strength rare-earth magnet in each driver to hold hardware. The magnet sits deep enough to capture the fastener reliably without reducing engagement on the flats, and the hex shank works cleanly in quick-change chucks on both impact drivers and drill drivers. There’s no wobble feature here—just a straight, snug fit.

Weight-wise, the whole set is light enough (about a third of a pound packaged) that it doesn’t feel like you’re lugging extras to the site.

Fit and tolerance

The first thing I noticed was the fit on common hex heads. The 5/16-inch driver sees the most action in my world, and it fit snugly on TEK screws and hex-head self-tappers with minimal play. The 1/2-inch driver saw duty on nuts for a shop-built outfeed table, and again the fit was tight without sticking.

That rounded-corner profile does what it’s supposed to do: it shifts the load to the flats, which feels more controlled, especially when you’re starting a screw at an odd angle or dealing with a slightly burred head. I drove a handful of weathered 3/8-inch nuts off a fence bracket that had seen better days, and the driver didn’t round them further. That’s the quiet benefit you feel more than see—it protects both the fastener and the driver over time.

If you work around metric hardware, these are SAE only. Some metric sizes will “kinda-sorta” fit, but I don’t recommend pushing your luck; that’s how rounding starts.

Magnet performance

The magnets are properly strong for their size class. A 1/4-inch hex-head screw snaps in and stays put even when I’m reaching overhead, and a 5/16-inch roofing screw holds well enough to climb a ladder without worrying it’ll shake loose. The 1/2-inch driver will hold a nut, but a heavy flange nut will still drop if you swing the tool around aggressively. That’s not a knock—just physics with a short nutsetter.

As with any magnetized driver, expect metal shavings to collect, especially after drilling through thin steel. A quick tap or a swipe with a rag keeps the recess clear. The magnet is recessed enough that the shavings don’t choke up engagement unless you really let it build.

In use with impact and drill drivers

I used these primarily with a compact 18V impact driver and secondarily with a drill driver when I wanted quieter fastening—hanging HVAC trunk lines in a finished space, for example. The 1/4-inch shank seats well in a quick-change chuck, and I didn’t see any twisting or mushrooming at the shank flats after repeated high-torque drives.

Length is a Goldilocks situation. At just under two inches, these are short enough to get into tighter spaces than the longer 2-9/16-inch nutsetters but long enough to clear most washered screws and give you a bit of visibility to start a fastener one-handed. The trade-off is depth: don’t expect to reach a nut buried on a long stud or past a thick socket recess without an extension.

Torque-wise, the set took everything a compact impact can dish out driving lag screws into SPF. I predrill for anything larger than 1/4-inch lags out of habit, but I did a handful of direct drives as a test; the drivers showed no visible deformation or chipping.

Durability and wear

After a few hundred fasteners across wood framing and light-gauge steel, the signs of wear are modest: some finish scuffing and the expected brightening at the edges where the driver meets the flats. No cracking, no flaking, and no magnet loosening. The geometry on the corners still feels crisp, and the magnet strength hasn’t noticeably faded.

If you routinely drive thousands of self-drilling screws into steel studs, you’ll eventually wear any nutsetter. That said, this set holds up as well as the better options I’ve used in this price tier.

What I wish were different

Two small misses stand out:

• No case or rail. The set comes carded, and once you pop them out, you’ve got five loose nutsetters to corral. I tossed mine on a magnetic tray and eventually moved them to a bit rail. A simple clip or sleeve would have been welcome.
• Length options. The 2-inch class suits most of my work, but a companion long version would be nice for recessed nuts or to clear deep washers. That’s not a flaw, just something to consider if your tasks demand reach.

A note on markings: the size labels are visible out of the package, but they can be tough to spot at a glance in low light. Color-coded rings would speed size selection on the fly.

Also, there’s no formal warranty listed. I haven’t needed service, but if you like lifetime guarantees on hand-driver accessories, that’s not on offer here.

Comparisons and context

Against other mainstream impact-rated nutsetters I’ve used from the usual pro brands, these DeWalts compete on fit and magnet strength and edge them out slightly in how the rounded corner profile treats chewed-up fasteners. Some competitors include rubber retention sleeves or color-coded collars and sometimes ship in a small case. If organization is the priority, you may prefer those. If you care most about bite on the flats and reliable magnetic hold, this set delivers.

The size selection hits the sweet spot for construction and general shop work. If your work skews heavily metric or automotive, this SAE-only set won’t cover your needs. For residential carpentry, mechanical installation, HVAC, deck hardware, and shop fixtures, these five sizes cover almost everything I touch day to day.

Practical tips from use

• Keep a dedicated bit rail in your impact bag; losing a single 5/16-inch nutsetter mid-job is a frustration you can avoid.
• Wipe the magnet recess periodically, especially after cutting or drilling steel. It keeps seating consistent and the magnet effective.
• Don’t mix metric fasteners with SAE nutsetters unless the fit is perfect; it undermines the whole benefit of the flats-first geometry.
• Pair the set with a 3- to 6-inch impact-rated extension for occasional reach without switching tools.

The bottom line

These DeWalt nut drivers do the fundamentals right: the fit is snug, the geometry protects fasteners, the magnets are strong and practical, and the shanks stand up to impact use. They’ve held up well under regular jobsite abuse, and they cover the core SAE sizes most trades rely on. The lack of a case and the short length will bother some users, and there’s no warranty safety net, but those are manageable compromises for a set that performs consistently.

Recommendation: I recommend this set to anyone who needs a compact, impact-rated, magnetized nut driver lineup for everyday construction and shop tasks. You’ll appreciate the flats-first engagement when working with older or painted hardware, and the magnet retention saves time when you’re working overhead or one-handed. If you need long-reach nutsetters, metric coverage, or a bundled storage solution, you’ll want to supplement or look at other options—but as a core SAE set, this one earns a spot in the kit.