Best Screw Extractor Kits Tested and Reviewed: Alden, Irwin, Bosch, and More

Quick picks

One of the cheapest screw extractor kits Bob Vila's testers tried was also the easiest to use and the most effective at removing stripped screws. If you have a stripped screw or a stuck bolt in a project, the Alden Grabit Pro Bolt and Screw Extractor 4-Piece Kit is the best overall pick ^[1]. It removed screws that two other screw extractor sets tested failed to remove ^[1].

The testers put five screw extractor kits to the test by using them to remove various sizes of bolts and screws ^[1]. Here is how the picks line up: the Alden Grabit Pro is best overall ^[1], the Irwin 10-Piece set is the runner-up ^[1], and the Bosch 12-Piece set is the best bang for the buck ^[1]. The Topec 35-piece set is the most versatile ^[1].

How a screw extractor works

A screw extractor has two parts: a drill bit that grinds a hole into the screw head, and a threaded extractor that bites into that hole ^[1]. Once the extractor has a grip, you can remove the screw with a drill or ratchet ^[1].

A stripped screw may need extra work first, such as punching it out so there is room for the extractor drill bit ^[2]. After that, the extractor uses a tapered drill bit with a reverse thread to help pull the screw out ^[2].

Best overall: Alden Grabit Pro 4-Piece Kit

The Alden kit earned its top spot by being easy to use and effective on stripped screws, and it is one of the cheapest kits tested ^[1]. Each of its four bit sizes is double-sided, with a drill bit on one side and a threaded extractor on the other ^[1]. A small carrying case keeps the bits organized ^[1].

The tradeoff is size. The kit comes with only four bit sizes, which the review says makes it somewhat limited ^[1].

Runner-up: Irwin 10-Piece Spiral set

The Irwin 10-Piece Spiral Extractor and Drill Bit Set is the runner-up pick ^[1]. It includes five extractor and drill bit sizes stored in a paired arrangement ^[1]. In testing, its larger sizes worked well for removing bolts ^[1].

The set comes in a small metal container that keeps bits safe and easy to find ^[2].

Best bang for the buck: Bosch 12-Piece set

The Bosch set performed fairly well with bolts and smaller screws, with a better-than-average success rate compared with other sets tested ^[1]. It has six extractor sizes and can remove both large and small fasteners ^[1].

The review's main durability concern is that the two smaller drill bit sizes could snap ^[1].

Other picks by job

The Topec 35-piece set offers a wide range of sizes for various fasteners, which is why it was named the most versatile pick ^[1]. For bolts, the Irwin Bolt-Grip 5-Piece Bolt Extractor Set is the best pick ^[1]. The Neiko Multispline Screw and Bolt Extractor Set is best for large fasteners ^[1], and the Alden Grabit Micro Broken Bolt Extractor 4-Piece Kit is best for small ones ^[1].

If the screw head is still exposed, vampliers, a pliers-type tool, excel at gripping it ^[1].

Popular sets from consumer ratings

A SlashGear-sourced article picked its featured sets because each has more than 2,700 consumer reviews and at least a 4/5 rating ^[2]. The Irwin 35-piece set has a 4.4/5 rating from over 2,700 buyers ^[2]. It is made of cobalt alloy steel, which lets it run at faster speeds and withstand higher heat ^[2]. Its case includes a recommendation guide that identifies which left-hand drill bit and screw extractor size to use for a given stripped screw ^[2].

The THOSAF six-piece set works with any drill and any screw size between 3-12 mm ^[2]. It has a 4.3/5 rating from over 10 thousand consumers ^[2]. According to one review cited in the article, it does not work very well on hardened bolts ^[2].

The REXBETI 26-piece set is described as a four-in-one screw and nut remover ^[2]. Some reviewers were disappointed that its bolt extractor pieces were shallow and only reached about 16mm in size ^[2].

Which to choose

If you want one kit that handles stripped screws with the least fuss, the Alden Grabit Pro is the tested best overall, though it has only four bit sizes ^[1]. If you work with bolts, the Irwin 10-piece set's larger sizes worked well ^[1], and the Irwin Bolt-Grip set is the best pick for bolts ^[1].

If you want a mix of large and small fasteners on a budget, the Bosch set has six extractor sizes ^[1]. Check the two smaller drill bits, since they could snap ^[1]. For a broad range of sizes, the Topec 35-piece set is the most versatile pick ^[1]. Before you start on any stripped screw, you may need to punch it out so the extractor drill bit has room ^[2].