DeWalt 12 Piece Ratcheting Metric Wrench Set

First impressions and setup

I put the DeWalt metric ratcheting set straight to work on a front brake job and a dishwasher swap, two tasks that usually expose the strengths and weaknesses of any wrench kit. Out of the box, the wrenches feel solid and nicely finished. The full polish chrome is smooth without being slippery, and the “hashmark” texture along the handles adds a touch of grip when my gloves are greasy. Sizes are stamped large on both sides, twice per wrench, which sounds trivial until you’re fishing in a drawer and want the 13 mm without rotating every tool to see a tiny laser etch. These stamps are deep enough that I expect them to stay readable for the long haul.

This set runs from 8–19 mm in single-millimeter steps, 12 pieces in total, and weighs about four pounds as a bundle. That range covers most automotive, appliance, and general mechanical needs. The wrenches are a straight pattern with a 15° offset on the open end and a reversible ratcheting box end.

Ratcheting mechanism and real-world access

The ratcheting end uses a 72‑tooth gear, which translates to a 5° arc swing. Practically speaking, that fine engagement matters when you’re wedged between a strut and a splash shield and can only nudge the handle a smidge. On the brake job, the 12 and 13 mm fasteners behind the caliper bracket were up against a dust shield; the 5° swing let me chip away without having to reseat the wrench after every micro-movement.

Backdrag—the resistance you feel when reversing direction without the pawl clicking—feels moderate. It’s not the lowest I’ve used, but it’s consistent from 8 to 19 mm and never caused the wrench to pull off a fastener unintentionally. The directional lever is positive and easy to flick with a gloved thumb, though it’s on the small side; in very tight clearances, I had to reposition the wrench to reach it.

The open end has that familiar 15° offset. In practice, it’s useful in two ways: it lets you flip the wrench to re-index in confined spaces, and it gives knuckle clearance off flat surfaces. On the dishwasher install, the offset helped me clear the floor pan while snugging the water supply fitting. The open end itself has a slightly modified geometry DeWalt calls DirectTorque. It biases contact toward the flats of the fastener to reduce rounding. I intentionally tested this on a slightly chewed 10 mm bolt head, and the open end held on better than a classic parallel-jaw open end, though I still reached for the box end whenever possible.

Length, leverage, and comfort

These wrenches are a standard length pattern, not especially long. Compared to a long-pattern ratcheting set, they give up a bit of leverage. That’s a tradeoff: in tight engine bays or under appliances, the shorter handles get you in and out where a long handle can be its own obstruction. On stubborn fasteners, I missed the extra leverage a longer wrench would provide, and I avoided adding a cheater bar—ratcheting box ends aren’t designed for that. For me, the length choice makes sense for most maintenance work, but if you routinely break free high-torque fasteners, you’ll want a separate long non-ratcheting wrench or a breaker bar to start the job, then finish with the ratcheting end.

Ergonomically, the handles are comfortable. The edges are softened, not too square, and the polish finish doesn’t hotspot the palm. The hashmark texture does exactly what it promises: adds a bit of traction without feeling like knurling that can dig into your hand. If you frequently work bare-handed with coolant or oil on everything, you’ll appreciate it.

Fit and finish

Chrome quality is good. After a few weeks, including a fair amount of underhood work and the usual contact with brake cleaner and mild solvents, there’s no discoloration or pitting. The box ends are neatly broached; they sit snugly on fasteners with minimal slop. The open ends are even and parallel, with a touch of extra meat around the jaws that likely contributes to durability.

One detail I appreciate is the stamped size markings, again on both sides and twice per side. They’re deep, they’re big, and they’re oriented so you can read them no matter how you grab the wrench. DeWalt says these are designed to resist wear; that tracks with what I’m seeing—the stamps will outlast any laser etch.

Performance under load

I used the 17 and 19 mm sizes on suspension hardware for “final snug” after breaking things loose with a breaker bar. The ratchets held up without skipping or binding. The 72‑tooth mechanism isn’t whisper-quiet, but it’s consistent and repeatable. The box-end geometry that loads the flats did its job—no rounding, and it felt secure even on fasteners that had seen a few winters.

One caveat: the ratcheting head is a fixed, straight design. If you need to snake around a tube or dodge a bracket, a flex‑head ratcheting wrench would do it better. The upside of the fixed head is durability—fewer joints to wear out—and better torque transmission, since you’re not fighting a pivot.

Maintenance and warranty

There’s no user-serviceable port on the ratcheting head, so if you manage to contaminate the mechanism with grit or it eventually fails, your recourse is cleaning from the outside and lubrication or using the lifetime warranty. I prefer serviceable ratcheting heads when possible, but in fairness, most reversible ratcheting combination wrenches in this price range aren’t designed to be disassembled by the user. The full lifetime warranty helps bridge that gap.

Where it shines

• Tight spaces where a 5° swing is the difference between progress and profanity.
• General automotive work: calipers, brackets, battery trays, accessory brackets, and hose clamps.
• Household and appliance installs where polished chrome is easy to wipe down and the 15° open-end offset clears surfaces.
• Mixed lighting and rush jobs where the bold, double-sided size stamps speed up tool selection.

Where it falls short

• Breaking stubborn hardware loose; the standard-length pattern limits leverage. Use a breaker bar or a longer non-ratcheting wrench first.
• Situations that benefit from a flex‑head. These are straight-head only.
• Glove-bulky environments where the directional switch could stand to be slightly larger.

Value and positioning

This set lands in a sweet spot for people who want reliable ratcheting performance without chasing ultra-fine teeth counts or exotic finishes. A 72‑tooth mechanism is proven, easy to live with, and fine enough for most confined work. The double-stamped sizes, hashmark handle texture, and polished finish are thoughtful touches that make day-to-day use easier. The coverage from 8 to 19 mm in single increments means you’re not hunting for missing sizes in the range most of us reach for often.

If you need maximum leverage in the handle or the added articulation of a flex‑head, there are other sets tailored to that. If you want a basic, durable, and easy-to-identify ratcheting metric set, this checks the boxes.

Pros

• 72‑tooth ratchet with a true 5° swing is genuinely useful in cramped spaces
• Polished chrome with hashmark grip is comfortable and easy to clean
• Sizes stamped twice on both sides are fast to read and resistant to wear
• 15° open-end offset improves access and flip-indexing
• Box-end geometry engages flats well and resists rounding
• Complete 8–19 mm coverage in single steps
• Full lifetime warranty

Cons

• Standard-length pattern limits leverage on stubborn fasteners
• No flex‑head option for working around obstructions
• Directional lever could be a touch larger for gloved hands
• Ratcheting head isn’t user-serviceable

Bottom line and recommendation

After using the DeWalt metric ratcheting set across automotive and home tasks, I’m comfortable recommending it. The ratcheting action is consistent, the 5° swing makes real-world differences in tight quarters, and the overall fit and finish are solid. The standout details—the grippy handle texture and the bold, double-sided size stamps—aren’t flashy, but they improve everyday usability more than any gimmick.

I’d recommend this set to DIYers and working techs who want a dependable, straight-head ratcheting wrench set for mainstream tasks. Pair it with a breaker bar for initial loosening and, if you often work around obstructions, add a flex‑head set later. Within its intended lane—refinement, access, and speed on already-moving fasteners—it performs well, holds up under load, and is backed by a lifetime warranty that adds peace of mind.