DeWalt 1/2 in. Drive Metric Impact Socket Set (7-Piece)

Why this compact metric impact set keeps riding in my truck

I put a lot of miles on 1/2-inch impact sockets. Between wheel service, suspension work, and equipment maintenance, the sockets that actually earn a permanent spot in my kit are the ones that bite cleanly, shrug off abuse, and don’t turn every job into a rummaging exercise. After several weeks using DeWalt’s 7-piece metric deep impact socket set, it’s become the small, reliable set I reach for first when the job is squarely in the 17–24 mm range.

What you get

This is a straightforward, focused collection: seven deep, 6-point metric sockets in 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 24 mm, all in 1/2-inch drive. They arrive in a hard-shell, lockable stacking case that clicks together with other DeWalt cases. The sockets have a black oxide finish, high-visibility laser-etched size markings, and are compatible with pin-detent and O-ring retention on impact tools.

No extensions, no adapters, no filler sizes—just the workhorse metric sockets many of us use daily.

Fit, finish, and design details that matter

• The six-point broach is clean, with crisp flats that key to fasteners without feeling sloppy. DeWalt’s DirectTorque geometry puts more contact on the flats rather than the corners; in practice, this helps avoid rounding and gives a slightly “grabbier” feel on stubborn hardware.
• The chamfered lead-in is conservative. It centers well on studs and hub-centric lug nuts without being so beveled that you lose engagement on shallow fasteners.
• The laser-etched sizes are large and genuinely easy to read, even after getting coated in dust and anti-seize. Because they’re etched into the surface rather than just printed, they don’t wipe away under shop solvents.
• The black oxide is even and matte. It resists glare and is less slippery in oily hands than chrome. It also doesn’t chip like plated finishes, though you do trade some corrosion resistance for that—you’ll want to oil them lightly if they live in a damp environment.

The steel is a heat-treated CR-440 formulation. On the bench, that translates to a nicely balanced hardness: no mushrooming at the drive end after repeated hammering with a high-torque cordless impact, and no visible cracking or flaring under abuse that would make me nervous.

In use with an impact wrench

Most of my testing centered around automotive tasks: lug nuts in the 100–140 ft-lb range, suspension bolts that hadn’t moved in years, and some grubby equipment hardware with weather on it. Paired with a 1/2-inch cordless impact rated at ~700 ft-lb fastening and 1,000+ ft-lb breakaway, the sockets behaved exactly as you’d want:

• No rounding on slightly softened lug nuts where lesser 12-point or sloppy 6-point sockets can cam off.
• No “bell-mouth” wear at the nose after repetitive hammering.
• Secure retention on both friction ring and pin-detent anvils—the cross-holes line up and the O-ring groove is correctly placed.

The deep length is genuinely useful. On vehicles with protruding studs and cap-style lug nuts, the extra depth keeps the hammer mechanism from binding near the nose and reduces the chance you’ll scar a wheel. For long bolts through bushings or brackets, I never felt like I needed to reach for a shallow socket first.

One small quirk: the 19 mm and 21 mm sockets are a snug fit on thickly plated lug nuts. That’s normally a positive—less slop equals less rounding—but if you’re dealing with delicate decorative caps, take care during alignment to avoid cosmetic scuffs.

The case: smart layout with one caveat

DeWalt’s lockable stacking case is compact, easy to latch, and genuinely helpful if you’re building a modular kit. The sockets sit in a molded tray that keeps sizes in order, and the size callouts on the tray are easy to read at a glance. I appreciate that the case interior doesn’t waste space; it’s shorter than many blow-molded cases yet still lets you grab sockets with gloved hands.

The caveat: the inner cradle is a rigid plastic insert. It saves weight and keeps costs down, but it isn’t indestructible. If you tend to toss your cases around in cold weather or pile heavy tools on top, the insert can crack. Mine has held up, but I wouldn’t be shocked if a hard drop onto a corner did it in. If you’re rough on storage, consider moving the sockets to a steel rail or foam organizer in your main box and keep the case for mobile jobs.

Durability and corrosion

Impact sockets live hard lives. After a couple weeks of dusty, occasionally muddy use and a few solvent baths, the black oxide now shows honest, light wear at the points of contact and along the edges, but there’s nothing resembling finish flake or corrosion creep. The laser etching is still sharp. The drive ends remain crisp with no burrs.

Black oxide is not a corrosion-proof finish, so basic care applies: blow them dry after washing, wipe with a light oil if you’re working in the rain, and don’t store them wet in the closed case. Do that and they’ll look and perform right for the long haul.

Coverage: the right seven for many jobs

For field service and general automotive work, the size selection is well chosen:

• 17, 19, and 21 mm cover most passenger-vehicle lug nuts.
• 22 and 24 mm handle many light truck and trailer hardware tasks.
• 18 and 20 mm are increasingly common on modern suspension and chassis components.

There are, of course, gaps. You won’t find 15, 16, or 23 mm in this box, and there’s no shallow option. If you regularly work on European cars that love 16 mm, or you need a broader spread for mixed fleets, you’ll want to supplement with a larger set or individual sockets. I paired this kit with a couple of go-to shallow impact sockets and a 3-inch and 5-inch 1/2-inch impact extension, which covered 95% of what I encountered.

Who this set suits best

• Mobile techs and DIYers who want a compact, throw-in-the-truck metric impact set that nails the common sizes.
• Home and farm users who need deep sockets for lug work and weathered equipment fasteners without hauling a 20-piece kit.
• Pros who already own larger sets but want a reliable “grab case” with the basics and a stacking case that nests in a modular system.

If you’re assembling your very first impact socket collection and want one purchase to cover nearly everything, you might prefer a 10–13 piece set with more sizes. But for focused, everyday tasks, the lean approach here makes sense.

Pros

• Strong, consistent performance under high-torque impact use
• Deep, 6-point design with solid flats-to-flats engagement
• Large, durable laser-etched markings on a low-glare finish
• Pin-detent and O-ring compatible; positive retention
• Compact, stackable case that plays well with modular setups
• Lifetime warranty coverage

Cons

• Limited to seven sizes; gaps for some platforms
• No extensions or adapters included
• Inner tray feels brittle if the case is abused
• Black oxide needs basic care to prevent surface rust

The bottom line

This DeWalt 7-piece metric deep impact set strikes the right balance between performance, portability, and practicality. The sockets themselves are the star: accurate sizing, strong steel, and a geometry that grips fasteners the way you want an impact socket to grip. The case adds useful organization without bulk, even if the inner tray isn’t bombproof.

Recommendation: I recommend this set for anyone who needs a compact, high-quality metric impact solution focused on the most-used sizes—especially for automotive tire and suspension work and light equipment maintenance. It’s not the most expansive kit, but the sockets are genuinely dependable, the markings are easy to live with, and the deep length solves real problems in the field. Add a couple of extensions and a few supplemental sizes if your work demands them, and you’ll have a small, capable setup that earns its keep.