DeWalt 20V XR brushless cordless sealed-head ratchet (3/8" & 1/2")

Why this ratchet earned a permanent spot in my cart

I’ve been reaching for the DeWalt 20V ratchet a lot over the past few months—on brakes, under dashboards, on suspension hardware, and for quick teardown work on lawn equipment. It’s the kind of tool that doesn’t try to be an impact wrench or a hand ratchet replacement; it lives in that sweet spot where speed and control matter more than brute force. DeWalt’s take on the category is thoughtful: strong enough to be genuinely useful, compact enough to fit into a lot of places (though not all), and built to survive oily, real-world environments.

Standout features

• The interchangeable 3/8" and 1/2" drive anvils are the headline. One tool, two drive sizes, no adapters. That kept me from swapping tools mid-job more than once.
• A brushless motor with a 0–300 RPM range and up to 75 ft-lbs of torque hits a practical balance for running fasteners and tackling medium-duty removal.
• The sealed head and glass-filled nylon housing aren’t marketing fluff. They shed grime, wipe clean easily, and haven’t softened or swelled after regular exposure to oil and brake cleaner.
• The kit arrives ready to work: compact POWERSTACK 1.7 Ah oil-resistant battery, charger, and a bag that actually fits the tool and accessories without a wrestling match.

Power and control in practice

At 75 ft-lbs, this ratchet sits in the upper tier of cordless ratchets for torque. On the job, that meant I could remove a lot of the hardware I encounter in typical automotive work without reaching for a breaker bar first: caliper slide pins and many caliper bracket bolts, sway bar end links, engine cover fasteners, and a fair number of ball/tie rod end nuts. On stubborn or corroded fasteners, I still needed to crack them loose manually and then let the ratchet do the running, which is exactly how I expect to use a tool like this.

The variable-speed trigger is well tuned. It’s easy to feather down to a crawl when starting threads or working on aluminum housings, and it ramps smoothly up to the 300 RPM top speed to chew through long studs. I prefer this to a hard two-speed switch; it feels more like a natural extension of a hand ratchet. And yes, you should still finish with a torque wrench—this is a runner, not a torque tool.

Ergonomics and reach

At about 15 inches long, the tool gives you helpful leverage for manual final turns or for cracking something shallow loose, but that length can be a mixed bag in tight engine bays. I couldn’t snake it into every corner behind a firewall or around HVAC boxes. The extended reach version of any ratchet is a trade-off: better access in some situations, worse in others. Here, the head height is reasonably low, but the overall length occasionally forced me to rethink my approach or grab a swivel.

Weight and balance are good for a 20V platform, especially with the compact POWERSTACK battery installed. The handle isn’t overly thick, the rubber overmold has enough texture to stay put with oily gloves, and the forward/reverse switch is easy to flick without shifting your grip too much. The trigger lock is a small thing, but it matters when you toss the tool in a bag with sockets and don’t want to hear it whir to life in transit.

The interchangeable anvils: more useful than I expected

Swapping between 3/8" and 1/2" drives sounds gimmicky until you start using it on real workflows. I used the 3/8" drive for interior and engine work, then popped in the 1/2" for suspension and hub hardware without carrying a second tool or a wobbly adapter. It’s a cleaner, safer solution than an adapter, and it’s one less battery-powered body to bring to the job. The only caveat: keep track of the anvil you’re not using. I now store the spare in the kit bag’s side pocket so it’s always with the tool.

Durability and shop friendliness

The sealed head has been excellent. Grease and grit wipe off easily, and I haven’t had the usual creeping grime that builds up around head seals on some ratchets. The glass-filled nylon housing is stiff and confidence-inspiring; it doesn’t get slick in oil the way some plastics do. I’ve splashed it with brake cleaner and parts washer solvent without the surface whitening or softening. The LED work light is bright enough for under-dash and wheel-well work, though like most handle-mounted LEDs it can cast a shadow close to the head; I still supplement with a work light for precision tasks.

Noise and vibration are low. The brushless motor feels refined, with very little gear chatter under load. That makes it a better companion for extended use compared to louder, higher-vibration designs.

Battery and runtime

The compact 1.7 Ah POWERSTACK battery is a smart match for this tool. It keeps the weight and handle size down, and the oil-resistant casing cleans up easily. In real use, ratchets don’t draw continuously, so that 1.7 Ah goes further than the number suggests. I could knock out brake service, a tie rod job, and some under-hood odds and ends on one battery without reaching for the charger. When I did need a top-up, the included charger got me back in action quickly enough for lunch-break turnaround. If you live on the tool all day, a second compact battery is a good add, but the included pack is plenty for most DIY sessions and many pro workflows.

What I’d change

• A slightly shorter overall length would increase versatility in cramped engine bays. Even an inch trimmed off the neck would hit more fasteners without gymnastics.
• A bit more top-end speed would be welcome for running long studs—300 RPM is good, but not class-leading.
• A molded slot in the bag or on the tool for the spare anvil would make it harder to misplace.

None of these are dealbreakers; they’re the kinds of refinements you notice only after living with the tool.

Who it’s for

• Mechanics and techs who want one ratchet to cover both 3/8" and 1/2" sockets without adapters.
• DIYers already on DeWalt’s 20V platform looking to speed up automotive and equipment work.
• Anyone working around oils and solvents who wants a tool that won’t turn gummy or grimy after a few months.

If you primarily need ultra-compact access, a small 12V ratchet may fit more places. If you need to break free heavily corroded hardware regularly, you’ll still want an impact wrench. This ratchet shines in the big middle: fast, controlled running and moderate breakaway capability, with enough torque to be genuinely useful.

Value and ecosystem

You’re paying for a brushless motor, a sealed head, and the two-in-one anvil flexibility. It isn’t the cheapest path into cordless ratchets, but the kit value is solid: battery, charger, and a bag that fits everything. If you’re already invested in DeWalt 20V batteries, the value improves further. If you’re not, this is still a strong entry point because the included compact battery is a great fit for the tool and plays well with other compact DeWalt gear.

The bottom line

I recommend the DeWalt 20V ratchet. It hits a practical torque number, offers excellent control through a well-tuned trigger, and stands up to messy work thanks to the sealed head and chemical-resistant housing. The interchangeable 3/8" and 1/2" anvils are genuinely useful and reduce how many tools I bring to a job. It’s not the shortest or the fastest ratchet on the market, and it won’t replace an impact wrench for stubborn fasteners, but as a daily driver for running and removing common hardware, it’s a dependable, efficient upgrade to the workflow. If you value durability, versatility, and you appreciate the convenience of one tool covering two drive sizes, this is an easy yes.