Are DeWalt Mechanics Tool Sets Worth The Price?

When it comes to tools every homeowner should have, a mechanics tool set doesn't always make the list. Maybe it should. Mechanics tool sets give you multiple sizes of interchangeable fasteners for loosening bolts and nuts with sockets, ratchets, wrenches, pliers, and more. They help you reach awkward areas and gain leverage to loosen or tighten a bolt. When you need a lot of differently sized fasteners or tools for a specific job, or you find yourself completing a range of different DIYs in your day-to-day, you can buy a kit with multiple pieces inside rather than having to hunt them down individually.

These sets range from having a couple of dozen pieces inside to a few hundred pieces. Smaller kits fit inside a more compact case, making them easy to carry with you. Larger kits offer more versatility and almost always ensure that you have the exact socket or size of tool that you need inside the set.

If you have interest in one of these mechanics tool kits, you may wonder whether it's worth the money versus buying individual pieces. Specifically, you may wonder whether you need a name brand kit, such as DeWalt, to receive the biggest benefit. DeWalt tools have a hefty price tag compared to other brands. DeWalt tools are frequently made in the United States with globally sourced materials, meaning some people are willing to splurge on high-end DeWalt tools to receive the best quality. Learn more about whether mechanics tool sets from DeWalt can represent a good value for you.

DeWalt offers its ToughSeries 100-Piece 2 Drive Mechanics Tool Set. It costs $199 at Tool Nut. You certainly can find less expensive mechanics tool sets on the market. For comparison, the Craftsman 102-Piece Tool Kit is available on Amazon for $109. Compared to the Craftsman kit, the DeWalt kit focuses more on sockets and hex wrenches. The Craftsman kit includes pliers, a hammer, a tape measure, and screwdrivers. Someone looking for a kit with a little bit of everything may favor the value they receive from the Craftsman kit. Those who already own basic tools and are looking for some advanced sockets and fasteners may receive a better value from the DeWalt mechanics tool set.

If you were to try to purchase the individual pieces of the DeWalt 100-piece ToughSeries 2 Drive kit separately, it would cost quite a bit more than purchasing them in the kit. The 1/4- and 3/8-inch 144T model ratchets in the DeWalt kit cost about $80 in total. The kit contains 29 1/4-inch and 29 3/8-inch sockets. You could pay anywhere from $80 to $240 for a similar number of DeWalt sockets. The DeWalt kit contains six combination wrenches, which can cost $40 to $50 to purchase. Just those parts of the DeWalt mechanics tool kit cost anywhere from $200 to $370 separately, but you also receive four extension bars, two universal joints, and 28 hex keys in the ToughSeries 2 kit, making it a much better deal to opt for the kit rather than building your own.

One of DeWalt's largest kits is the ToughSeries 3 Drive Mechanics Tool Set with 185 pieces. It's available at Tool Nut for $319. For comparison, Lowe's offers a Craftsman 256-Piece mechanics tool set for $169. The Craftsman set offers individual 1/4-, 3/8-, and 1/2-inch ratchets along with 86 different sockets. It also includes combination wrenches, hex keys, a bit driver, and 99 specialty bits. The DeWalt 185-piece mechanics tool set also has three different ratchets, along with hex keys and combination wrenches. It doesn't offer a bit driver and specialty bits, but it has 109 sockets included. Both of these kits contain advanced tools, so they're not really suitable for those seeking a beginner-level tool kit. The variety of ratchet and socket sizes give you the ability to tackle almost any nut and bolt that you'd encounter.

Purchasing the DeWalt 1/4-, 3/8-, and 1/2-inch 144T ratchets separately would cost about $140. If you wanted to purchase the 109 sockets in the DeWalt kit separately, they'd cost you in a range of $120 to $350. The 10 combination wrenches in the DeWalt mechanics tool set would cost $50 to $70 to buy. Just those components alone would cost roughly $310 to $560 to purchase separately, which makes the ToughSeries 3 a good value if you need these tools. You also receive three universal joints, three spark plug sockets, adapters for each ratchet, nine extension bars, nine hex bit sockets, eight Torx bit sockets, and 28 hex keys.