The Best Precision Screwdriver of 2023

Jun 30, 2023

After our latest testing, the Megapro 24-in-1 is our new top pick. We’ve moved two previous picks, the Maxcraft 7-in-1 Precision Screwdriver and the Husky 8-in-1 Precision Screwdriver Set, to the Competition section.

If you need to change a toy's batteries, swap out a thermostat, or tighten your sunglasses, you need a precision screwdriver. Of all the precision screwdrivers we’ve tested, the only one that combines a wide bit selection, a comfortable handle, and excellent bit storage is the Megapro 24-in-1 Multi-Bit Precision Screwdriver.

Unlike nearly all other multi-bit precision screwdrivers, the Megapro 24-in-1 has an ergonomic handle, a spinning cap, and excellent bit storage.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $36.

As a kitchen-drawer tool, the Megapro 24-in-1 Multi-Bit Precision Screwdriver offers a large and useful set of bits, a teardrop handle that is both comfortable and functional, excellent bit storage, and a spinning cap that helps with one-handed screwdriving. All other multi-bit precision screwdrivers we found maybe had one or two of these features, but the Megapro 24-in-1 is the only model to have them all. In fact, it's the most well-thought-out precision screwdriver we’ve come across.

As its name suggests, the Megapro 24-in-1 comes with 24 bits, going beyond the most basic selection of Phillips and flat bits. Having all of these bits may seem excessive, but it broadens the tool's usefulness for tasks like minor computer repair or other electronics work. The 12 double-sided bits are housed on a spinning carousel that slides in and out of the back of the handle. It's a design that ensures both the organization and security of the bits. In many ways, the Megapro 24-in-1 is the little sibling to the Megapro 13-in-1, our long-standing screwdriver recommendation. The Megapro 24-in-1 typically costs over $30, which is a lot to pay considering that many precision screwdrivers can be had for around $5, but it's a high quality all-in-one tool.

I spent 10 years as a carpenter, foreman, and job-site supervisor building high-end houses in the Boston area, some of which were pretty extreme. I’ve also been writing about and reviewing tools since 2007. My experience specific to precision screwdrivers mostly centers on the fact that I refuse to pay more than $5 for a pair of sunglasses. That means I spend a lot of time tightening little hinge screws. I also have four kids, so I fix toys on a daily basis. I also tend to fix things rather than throw them away, so I’ve also delved into minor computer repair.

As with a regular screwdriver, certain precision-screwdriver bits see use all the time while others tend to sit around and collect dust. As someone who uses tools on a daily basis and stays extremely hands-on with building and repairing, it's rare that I’ll need any precision bit other than a Phillips #000, #00, and #0, as well as a few slotted sizes ranging from 1/16 to ⅛. But beyond the basic bits you’ll encounter are less-common ones that are useful for appliance and computer repair or a variety of specific hobbies, such as radio-controlled cars. You’ll also find a class of proprietary security bits such as the Apple pentalobe bit that can crack open an iPhone or iPad. Over the years, I’ve found having these less common bits on hand to be very useful, especially as I try to repair and extend the life of my electronic devices in order to put off replacement costs.

Unlike nearly all other multi-bit precision screwdrivers, the Megapro 24-in-1 has an ergonomic handle, a spinning cap, and excellent bit storage.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $36.

Most multi-bit precision screwdrivers are very basic, and although they get the job done, they are limited and often awkward to use. The Megapro 24-in-1 Multi-Bit Precision Screwdriver is a new item. Like the larger Megapro 13-in-1, which has been our multi-bit screwdriver pick for years, the Megapro 24-in-1 hits all of the high points for a screwdriver, offering excellent storage, a wide bit selection, easy use, and a comfortable handle. Unless you’re a serious hobbyist, this model should be the only precision screwdriver you’ll ever need.

The distinguishing feature of the Megapro 24-in-1 is the bit storage. The 12 double-sided bits stay stowed away in a spinning carousel that lives in the handle of the screwdriver. Once you slide it out of the handle, you can easily find the bit you’re looking for. The system is fast to use, and because each bit has its own place, we’ve found that misplacing or losing a bit is harder. In contrast, most multi-bit screwdrivers have the bits floating loose in a handle compartment, so to find one, you have to dump them out and sift through them.

The other benefit of this storage system is that the Megapro 24-in-1's rear end (the top of the bit carousel) spins freely while the screwdriver is in use. This makes one-handed screwdriving easier because you can position and hold the tool with your forefinger while spinning the body with your thumb and middle finger.

The 24 bits of the Megapro 24-in-1 include all of the most basic bits as well as other, more specialized ones. We used to recommend simpler precision screwdrivers, but over the years we’ve encountered too many instances where we’ve needed a more unusual bit for a project, such as when we replaced the battery on a laptop. Considering our experiences, we think it's better to have all these bits on hand, in case they’re needed. It's easier to grow into a single tool than to keep buying additional tools as you go along.

The teardrop handle of the Megapro 24-in-1 is very comfortable. It's about the size of a large Sharpie, and the rubbery coating has some texture lines down where the fingers are most likely to be turning it. The rounded rear cap fits nicely in the palm or snug against the forefinger. The majority of precision screwdrivers are very thin and take no consideration of ergonomics, so this is a nice change.

Unlike many Megapro screwdrivers, the 24-in-1 is not a ratcheting screwdriver. This makes a difference with a full-size tool, but there's really no loss with a precision screwdriver. The rear cap spins so smoothly that turning screws is easy enough.

Because of the thick stem necessary to accept the bits, the Megapro 24-in-1 has difficulty with deeply recessed screws—it can't reach anything over about ½ inch deep. This drawback is unfortunate, but we don't think it offsets everything else the tool offers, especially since deep-set screws are rare in day-to-day situations. Although inconvenient, individual long-stemmed precision screwdrivers are available for the occasions where that kind of depth is involved.

The price of the Megapro 24-in-1 is high for a precision screwdriver: At around $35, it's more than twice the cost of our previous pick, the Maxcraft 7-in-1. At the same time, it's far more than twice the tool. So although the initial investment is on the steep side, the Megapro 24-in-1 offers quite a lot more over the long haul—not only is it comfortable and designed with secure bit storage, but it also keeps an abundance of bits on hand if you need them.

There is a good variety of inexpensive multi-bit precision screwdrivers available. Of these, our favorite is the Husky 8-in-1 Precision Slotted and Phillips Screwdriver Set, a former pick, but other models offer similar functionality at a similar price. For less than $10 or so, these precision screwdrivers offer a basic bit selection and (usually) a number of drawbacks, mostly centered on the awkwardness of storing the bits loosely in the handle. If you’re willing to take on these minor frustrations and run the risk of relying on a more limited bit selection, the Husky 8-in-1 would be a fine option.

The Maxcraft 7-in-1 Precision Screwdriver was a longtime pick of ours. Like the Husky, it has a limited bit selection and tedious in-handle storage. When we originally recommended it, the price was around $5, but it has since gone north of the $15 mark, which is simply too much to pay for a tool that, though functional, has a number of frustrating characteristics.

We dismissed other screwdrivers due to limited bit selection. The Stanley 66-344 doesn't have a 1/16 slotted bit or a Phillips #00, and the General Tools 751016 doesn't have the Phillips #00.

We previously recommended the iFixit 64 Bit Driver Kit. It has a wide selection of bits, a flexible shaft accessory, and a nice reputation. It's a solid set, but we prefer the Megapro 24-in-1, which offers a wide range of bits in a single, small tool rather than a large set. If you have bit needs that go beyond the Megapro 24-in-1, the iFixit set is worth a look, but for a kitchen-drawer tool, the Megapro 24-in-1 is a better choice.

Lastly, we avoided any multiple-screwdriver sets (in which each bit size is its own screwdriver), because for something that gets used so rarely, there's no reason to have seven separate tools when you can have only one. If you’re interested, or if you’re delving into a hobby that requires a wide selection of precision bits, Stuart Deutsch has spent some time covering those screwdriver sets.

Doug Mahoney

Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering home improvement. He spent 10 years in high-end construction as a carpenter, foreman, and supervisor. He lives in a very demanding 250-year-old farmhouse and spent four years gutting and rebuilding his previous home. He also raises sheep and has a dairy cow that he milks every morning.

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