2021 test12 productsBlades, Bits & Abrasives
Which Torx Bit Brand Wins?
A head-to-head test of 12 torx bit options with the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.
Budget pick
DeWalt
Price shown in test: $11.98 for 30 pieces, or 40 cents each
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Made_in | Claim | Fitment | Mohs_hardness | Wear_after_100_screws | New_bit_torque_avg_inlbs | Used_bit_torque_inlbs | New_bit_torque_inlbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1DeWalt$11.98 for 30 pieces, or 40 cents each | China | impact ready bits with flex torque, increased durability, CNC machined for optimal fit into screw recess | slightly better than the Kobalt; noticeably better than the first three brands tested (Kobalt, Ryobi, Masterforce); no issues with the bit becoming stuck | 7 | very little wear, about the same as the Masterforce; part of the top wear-resistance group | 156 (samples: 155, 158, 156) | 158 | not tested |
| 2Milwaukee$5.97 for five bits, or $1.19 each | China (professionally made in China for Milwaukee tool) | wear guard tip, up to 50 times the life, custom alloy 76 steel | very good bit fitment; well designed, lined up and released from the screw well | 7 | virtually no wear, part of the top wear-resistance group along with Makita and Wera | 161 (samples: 161, 164, 158) | 166 (slightly higher than the new average) | not tested |
| 3Makita$10.05 for 15 bits, or 67 cents each | Taiwan | Impact XPS, claims to last up to 90 times longer | pretty good fit, not as good as some other brands, but easy to start and release from the screw, 'actually pretty enjoyable to use' | 7 | virtually no wear, supporting its 90x life claim though not independently verified against a control; part of the top wear-resistance group | 161 (samples: 166, 158, 160) | 161 (same as new average) | not tested |
| 4Wera$34.59 for 10 bits, or $3.46 per bit (most expensive brand tested) | Czech Republic | impact proof, uses diamond coating for grip | pretty tight fit, didn't always release from the screw as easily as some other brands | 7 | held up exceptionally well, virtually no wear, part of the top wear-resistance group | 173 (samples: 173, 173, 173) per the first reported test; a later segment reports a second set of new-bit results at 196, 192, 190 (avg 193) for what is also called Wera, an unresolved discrepancy (see notes) | 168 per the first reported test; a later recap also states 196 for a used Wera bit, an unresolved discrepancy (see notes) | not tested |
| 5Hercules$19.99 for 45 pieces, or 44 cents each | Taiwan (professionally made in Taiwan for Hercules tools) | 10 times the life, legendary performance | about the same as the Kobalt; performed noticeably better than Kobalt, Ryobi, and Masterforce; no issues with the bit becoming stuck | between 6 and 7 | nearly as well as the DeWalt, slightly more wear to the tip but flutes about the same; performed very well | not tested | 158, same as the first new sample | only two new samples tested: 158 and 169 (no average stated in transcript) |
| 6Bauer$18.99 for 35 pieces, or 54 cents each | Taiwan | 10 times the life, shock absorbing zone, premium alloy construction, precision design reduces stripping | better than some brands but not quite as good as the DeWalt; performance about the same as the Hercules; lines up and releases easily | between 6 and 7 | similar to the Hercules, small amount of wear to tip and flutes | 158 (samples: 158, 160, 157) | 164 (slightly higher than the new average) | not tested |
| 7Bosch$6 for 10 bits, or 60 cents each | Vietnam | impact tough | pretty loose fit, not as good as some other brands, but still performed very well with no issues getting stuck | not tested | more wear to tip and flutes compared to most other brands | 164 (samples: 161, 163, 169) | 158 | not tested |
| 8Masterforce$6.98 for 25 pieces, or 28 cents each | China | torsion zone impact rugged, claims 10 times the life | way too tight; bit frequently got stuck in the screw, board lifted off the stands when the driver was raised; confirmed consistent across multiple screws | not tested | didn't experience nearly as much wear as the Kobalt and Ryobi despite the tight fit, very small amount of wear; part of the second-best wear group with DeWalt | 171 (samples: 171, 172, 170) | 183 (notably stronger than the new average) | not tested |
| 9Wiha$14.99, or 50 cents per bit | no information on Wiha packaging regarding country of manufacture | made of hardened tool steel | pretty snug fit, not overly tight like the Masterforce; released better than Kobalt and Ryobi but not as consistently as DeWalt or Hercules | not tested | more wear than DeWalt and Bauer, but not nearly as much as Kobalt or Ryobi | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 10Kobalt$9.98 for 65 pieces, or 15 cents each | China | not claimed for use with impact tools; heat treated S2 steel material | pretty good fit but didn't release from the screw easily | not tested | quite a bit of wear to tip and flutes, still some life left; among the weaker performers | 164 (samples: 167, 166, 159) | 155 | not tested |
| 11Irwin$16.25 for 20 bits, or 81 cents each | China | impact performance series, precision tip, better fit, less stripping | pretty good, not as good as some other brands; easy to line up but didn't always release from the screw as easily | not tested | quite a bit more wear to tip and flutes compared to some other brands | 156 (samples: 152, 158, 157) | 151 | not tested |
| 12Ryobi$12.97 for 70 pieces, or 19 cents each | Indonesia | impact rated torsion zone for longer life | didn't fit quite as well as the Kobalt but performed about the same; didn't always release from the screw | not tested | did a little better than the Kobalt but still quite a bit of wear | 134 (samples: 133, 136, 134), the weakest new-bit average in the test | 144, notably outperformed all three new samples | not tested |
How it was tested
- fitment and release behavior driving/removing 100 screws per brand into pressure-treated 4x4s (impact driver, level 3)
- wear assessment (tip and flutes) comparing new versus used bits after 100 screws (~6,800 impacts)
- Mohs hardness test on bit tips
- breaking torque test on new bits (3 samples each) using a drill press with ~25 lb downward force and a calibrated torque adapter
- breaking torque test on the used bit from the wear test