Do you think only seeing the list of the best cordless ratchets and believing the sales pitches from the manufacturers are the be-all and end-all of deciding the best product?
Think again.
You got to know every detail of any tool before you spend your hard-earned money to buy one.
Say “Hi” to my best cordless ratchet reviews guide to know the upsides and downsides of different electric/battery ratchets of the different price range.
In this article, I considered the following major points to review a ratchet.
- The torque and RPM it offers and overall performance.
- The battery life and charging time.
- Is it capable of reaching tight places?
- Is it easy to carry where you want to take it?
- How strong and powerful it seems.
- Does it seem to be a durable tool?
- Is it worth the price?
- What are the items that you get with the package?
- And many other factors.
Here’s my top pick if you’re in a hurry!
[amazon table=”1600″]Please do care to read the full reviews below:
1. Milwaukee 2457-20 M12 Cordless Ratchet Reviews
Pros
- Offers a lot of power for its size.
- Onboard battery level indicator that helps you to know how much power is left.
- Built-in LED light helps you to see under dim conditions.
- The convenient narrow head that reaches the tightest place.
- Good head balance.
- Compact and not too heavy. Hence easy to move, use, and store.
- Highly satisfactory battery run time compared to its competitors.
- The battery gets fully charged in quick time.
- Variable speed controller helps you to adjust its speed as per your requirement.
- Lock button to lock the ratchet. That eventually prevents unwanted start while you are carrying it in your bag.
- Won’t break your bank to purchase this ratchet.
Cons
- Battery and charger don’t come with the package. You have to buy them separately.
- A tad noisy. Of course, quieter than any air ratchet.
- The direction switch on the back is a bit difficult to use wearing gloves.
Milwaukee as a brand is quite popular among the hardware buyers because of the quality it delivers.
I vote this Milwaukee 2457 cordless ratchet as the best cordless ratchet for the money for smaller to mid-level jobs. I’ve mentioned several points above to back my claim.
This particular ratchet runs by a lithium-ion battery, 12-V motor, and has got 35-ft of torque and 250 RPM that easily withstands for field engineering service or any other small to mid-level jobs.
One of the cool benefits that I believe will make your life easier, you can use any brand’s battery with this tool. However, I recommend you to use the M12 batteries.
The good thing is you can use a bigger capacity than the M12 battery with this tool. On top of that, you can use this M12 battery with other tools too.
This battery gets fully charged within around 30 minutes.
You can expect a full charged battery run for 3 to 4 (+/-) hours for constant use. Remember, I said constant use.
Although the battery run time is longer than you would’ve expected, I recommend you to keep two batteries if you are a professional and use the ratchet frequently.
You can use this tool like a manual hand ratchet to loosen up a nut first then motor it for removing the nut. So, yes it is versatile.
The hinge is at the bottom. So, you have to push the trigger from the halfway of the tool. This is not any major issue. But if the trigger was at the bottom, it could have been more convenient for sure.
Milwaukee 2457 is perfect for both professionals and non-professionals. This makes it popular among all kinds of users. I also believe this cordless ratchet is something that won’t make you disappointed.
So, if you are not willing to fight with the air hose, and want the best alternative to air ratchet, you can choose this one.
2. Ingersoll Rand R1120-K1 Cordless Ratchet Review
Pros
- Onboard LED light to see things easily under dim conditions.
- The size and the position of the battery offer a good grip (you have all the right to disagree though).
- Doesn’t weigh too much, easy to store and carry.
- Easy to operate and performs well with a good amount of torque.
- Handy and user-friendly hinge position and design.
- The battery positioned firmly with little risk of disengagement.
- Battery run time is highly satisfactory.
- Can be used as manual hand ratchet to loosen up the nuts or whatever purpose you want it to serve manually.
- Offers variable speed controller.
- Good low profile head balance.
- Battery level indicator.
Cons
- A little pricey.
- A bit noisy. But again, not like the air ratchets of course.
- Although the position and the size of the battery offer a good grip, I doubt if it makes the tool a bit harder to move around a tight place.
Another handy cordless ratchet offering 30 ft-lb torque and run around at 250 RPM.
You have two options here to choose from.
One is only the ratchet, without the battery and charger. You have to buy them separately.
Another one that comes with a battery and a charger. Better buy this option if you haven’t bought the battery and charger yet.
In this case, it comes with BL1203 12V Lithium-Ion Battery and IQV12 BC1110 Charger.
Unlike the Milwaukee, you must have to use the fixed capacity and fixed style battery in this case. Meaning no other battery will be compatible with this Ingersoll ratchet.
The position of the hinge (at the top) allows you to operate the ratchet trigger from the bottom. Which I believe is more convenient than the previous Milwaukee that I listed here.
Overall, this one is a quality build made from the all-metal gear train.
I recommend you to use this tool for small to medium-duty jobs like the previous one to get the best performance.
3. PROSTORMER 2V Power Electric Cordless Ratchet Kit Review
Pros
- Powerful tool but inexpensive.
- Well functioning battery level display that helps you to know the amount of battery power remaining.
- Compact design and narrow head help reaching the tight places smoothly.
- Lightweight, hence easy to operate and carry.
- Super convenient (rubbery) and easy grip.
- Quick charging system. The battery gets fully charged in less than an hour.
- Comes with battery, charger, and four sockets of different sizes (12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 17mm).
- Convenient and easy to operate the on-off button.
- Some built-in safety features like over-voltage protection, over-current, over-heating, over-discharging protection.
- Low head profile and good head balance.
Cons
- Changing the direction (forward/reverse) is a bit difficult while wearing gloves.
- No LED light like other models that I reviewed. (The upgraded version of this model has got it though)
Another budget-friendly high-quality ratchet that offers 30 ft-lb torque and 230 RPM.
Let me explain a bit in detail about the safety features that this model provides. I already pointed them out in the pros section.
Over-voltage protection; If the battery goes to the lower voltage, the ratchet will stop automatically. You need to change the battery.
If the battery overheats the tool will stop as well. This way it is giving us the overheating protection.
The charging process will stop automatically if the battery is fully charged, so this way you are getting the over-discharging protection.
You have the option to choose an upgraded version of this ratchet at a slightly higher price than this. Of course, it offers you more than this version.
The upgraded version has got a built-in LED light to see while working in dim areas.
It offers better torque(33 ft-lb) than the older version but the same RPM (i.e 230). Unlike the old model, you can control the speed with this new version.
The upgraded version also offers a control lock switch. It prevents the ratchet from starting accidentally while carrying inside a bag. This comes with more sockets (total 9) as well and also a toolbox.
The hinge position and trigger of this new version of PROSTORMER ratchet is similar to the Milwaukee 2457-20 cordless ratchet.
Both these versions come with a 2000 mAh Lithium-ion battery.
I always recommend any professional should keep at least two batteries. Even if you are non-professional but use the ratchet often, better keep a spare one. Here is the link to buy your spare battery.
Altogether, both these versions of PROSTORMER cordless ratchets are good options for the money.
4. AOBEN Cordless Electric Ratchet Review
Pros
- Powerful enough for small to mid-level everyday use.
- Low profile balanced head.
- Built-in LED light at the front of the tool to help you see in the dark area.
- Battery power level indicator to track the power level easily.
- Variable speed control trigger to control the speed as per your requirement.
- Comes with 8 bolt attachments, two lithium-ion batteries (2000 mAh), a portable charger and a handy toolbox.
- Lock switch that prevents accidental activation of the tool while you carry it here and there.
- Not too heavy, easy to use and carry in the bag.
- Long-lasting batteries.
- Quick charging. Meaning the battery gets fully charged in quick time. Within 30 minutes to be specific.
- Works as a manual ratchet too.
Cons
- This one seems a bit bulky to me.
- The battery is a little difficult to remove.
- The overall finishing of the build could have been better.
- A bit noisy. Being noisy is a common scenario for every cordless ratchet though. This one is not louder than the other ratchets.
This ratchet looks pretty similar to the Milwaukee ratchet that I reviewed first.
As per as the performance is concerned it is pretty similar to the Milwaukee as well. But you can buy this one at way less price.
You can use this tool for any house use or your car. Obviously in your repair house or wherever you want to use. Just keep in mind, this is not a good tool for a super heavy-duty job which is also true for other tools that I listed here.
This AOBEN cordless ratchet offers 35 ft-lb torque and 280 RPM, which is quite substantial I believe for the tasks it promises to do. I am sure you will feel that too.
You have to remove the battery from the ratchet body to charge it. But the battery is a bit difficult to remove because of the plastic pinch. The plastic pinch is a bit tough. However, this is not a major issue by any means.
I like the heat sinking capability of this tool that stabilizes the working temperature of the batteries.
Altogether, if you want to spend less but want to get almost the same performance as the top brands like Milwaukee offers, go for this AOBEN cordless ratchet.
5. REXBETI Cordless 3/8″ Electric Ratchet Review
Pros
- Compact design and narrow head make it helpful to reach tight places.
- Not too heavy. Easy to use and carry.
- Battery power indicator works flawlessly and helps to see the battery charge clearly from outside.
- An LED light that helps to work in a dark area.
- Nice rubbery grip. Easy to hold the ratchet in any condition.
- Worth the money without any doubt.
- Variable speed controller trigger helps you to control the speed as per your need.
- Comes with two batteries, one charger, total 8 sockets, and a handy toolbox.
- Can be used as a manual ratchet.
- Offers good head balance.
Cons
- It takes 90 minutes / 1.5 hours to charge the battery fully. Though 90 minutes is not too long. But the ratchets that I reviewed take less time than this.
- A bit noisy. But I haven’t found any silent ratchet during my research. In fact, every cordless electric ratchet creates some noise.
Rexbeti is not a famous brand like others on my list. But is it an issue to consider? To me as long as the product is good and serve my purpose, I don’t care about the brand.
This Rexbeti cordless ratchet amazed me with its price against the performance and the other tools it is offering with the package.
Incredible!
How about the torque and RPM? This particular Rexbeti ratchet offers 38 ft-lb torque and 300 RPM.
However, I don’t think this is a good option for any professionals. Good for the home users obviously.
I have listed better options for professionals already. Like the Milwaukee 2457-20 or Ingersoll Rand R1120-K1.
I recommend you to remove the battery first then charge it using the charger.
Like any other cordless electric ratchets, I prefer keeping two batteries with me. Fortunately this time, you don’t have to buy two batteries (2000 mAh each) as they come with the package.
The battery life of this tool could have been longer than it is now. People have complained about this issue. But as per my finding, it is quite ok for home use.
All in all, this electric cordless ratchet can be a good choice if you are on a budget and want to get rid of moving with the annoying hose around.
Buying Guide
Here I am going to deliver you a practical buying guide.
I used the word ‘practical’ here for a reason. This is not going to be a theoretical bomb like you find at many other websites.
My ultimate goal here is to educate you about the factors that you should consider before buying and how you should deal with them.
Battery
Considering the battery you got to keep these factors in mind.
- How long it runs after a full charge for constant use.
- How long it takes to get fully charged.
- Does the ratchet comes with battery or you have to buy it separately?
- Is the ratchet equipped with battery power indicator or not.
I mentioned all these against each of the ratchets.
Of course, you should consider buying ratchets that use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. All the ratchets that I reviewed here offer rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
A brand like Milwaukee offers a great bit of flexibility regarding the battery. You can use any brand’s battery to operate the tool. On the other hand, the battery that this brand offers is usable with other tools.
Air Impact vs Electric
This part has nothing to do with the buying factor of an electric ratchet (battery-powered).
However, I am writing on this point so that you can limit your expectation and face reality.
Don’t expect any super heavy-duty performance from a cordless battery ratchet or electric ratchet like an air impact ratchet.
Most of the ratchets that I listed are good for both professionals and non-professionals, but for small to medium-duty jobs. Yes, also for heavy-duty jobs to some extent. But mostly for up to mid-level jobs.
On the flip side, cordless ratchets are portable, compact, lightweight, can reach tight places easily. Most importantly you don’t have to worry about managing compressor, hose, etc.
So, both have their own benefits. Just know what offers what before buying.
Size and Weight
Each of the cordless ratchets has almost the same size (not exactly the same). They are meant to provide portability and flexibility of use.
The weight varies but they fall under the lightweight category. Lightweight is important for working long hours to avoid possible fatigue.
All the ratchets that I reviewed here are lightweight and easy to use and carry.
In terms of size, most of the cordless ratchets are between 12 to 14 inches.
Anything more than 3 lbs should not be the ideal weight of an electric ratchet. Better if it is within 2 lbs. All the ratchets listed here are within 2 lbs weight limit.
Torque and RPM
The combination of torque and RPM defines how quick it will tighten or loosen a nut and what size of a nut it will handle efficiently. The bigger nuts require more power and you have to look for more powerful ratchets.
Most of the cordless ratchets have around 230 RPM to 300 RPM, and torque between 30-50 ft-lb. Any ratchet that falls under this range is good to go for you.
Flexibility
As I am talking about cordless electric ratchet so flexibility is something you must consider.
You have to take the tool anywhere you want. You have to work in tight places and wide places. So, the ratchet should respond accordingly.
The head balance of the tool is also equally important to get the best flexibility.
The tools that I picked here are flexible and versatile.
Price
It is always what you get is what you pay for. On the other hand, you have to make sure you are making the most use of the money.
I picked the list keeping that in mind. All of them are reasonably priced and worth the money.
Noise Level
Who wants to buy a super noisy tool? I bet you don’t. Me too.
Even though none of the ratchets on my list is super noisy, but unfortunately they are not silent either.
Interestingly this is the case of every cordless electric ratchet. Any cordless ratchet makes noise to some extent.
Are Cordless Ratchets Worth It?
In one word, Yes.
In my opinion, they are of course worthy.
Particularly if you are looking for a lightweight, flexible, versatile, portable solution then these are the best hassle-free option for you.
I believe, to complete any small to medium jobs for professionals and non-professionals, housework, Jobsite works cordless ratchets are the most worthy option.
Here are some more key points that justify using an electric ratchet.
- It saves your energy to do the tasks.
- It saves your time by performing the tasks quickly.
- You can easily avoid the hassle of air impact wrenches.
- You swing them easily in tight spaces.
- None of the cordless ratchets break your bank either.
Final Words
If you are here without reading the whole guide, go back and read it.
Because I have listed 5 best cordless ratchets and kits here with detailed reviews on them.
Not only the reviews, but I have also included a meaningful buying guide that may help you to know different buying factors of the battery/electric ratchets.
I want to stop here before I start sounding tedious.
Now it’s your turn. Ask me anything you want to learn more about cordless ratchet.
