We Put The Best Screw Extractors to The Test, See Our Results

Oct 21, 2024

By Tony Carrick

Updated on Sep 18, 2024 7:42 AM EDT

Reviewed By Stephanie Cronk

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Few things can bring a building project or repair effort to a grinding halt like a stripped screw or bolt, which is why keeping a screw extractor at the ready is key. These handy devices consist of a drill bit that grinds a hole into the head of a screw and a threaded extractor that bites into this hole, gripping the screw so you can remove it with a drill or ratchet.

There are many types and brands of screw extractors on the market, but few have the mettle to do the job properly. We put five screw extractor kits to the test by using them to remove various sizes of bolts and screws. With its effective design and affordable price, the Alden Grabit Pro Bolt and Screw Extractor Kit proved to be the best of the bunch. Read on to learn more about our test results for the Alden and other screw extractors, and find out what factors to keep in mind when shopping for the best screw extractor for your workshop.

The products below represent some of the top screw extractors on the market. This includes small sets designed for occasional use and large sets for pros and avid DIYers who regularly deal with damaged screws and bolts.

Our Ratings: Performance 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5

Not only is this kit from Alden one of the cheapest of the bunch, it also happens to be the easiest to use and most effective at removing stripped screws. The kit’s design eliminates the guesswork of trying to match drill bits with extractors sizes—each of the four bit sizes is conveniently double-sided with the drill bit on one side and the threaded extractor on the other.

During testing, each extractor gripped nicely to the insides of the stripped-out holds, allowing us to remove screws easily. In fact, the Alden removed screws that two other screw extractor sets we tested failed to remove. Of all the kits we tested, this one most consistently gripped and removed screws.

Since this screw extractor set only comes with four bit sizes, it is somewhat limited. Still, those bit sizes are the most common you’ll find. The kit includes a small carrying case that keeps these bits organized, so they’re easy to find when needed. We also like the fact that this kit is small. This makes it easier to throw in a tool box or tool belt pocket so it’s at your side when you encounter a dreaded stripped screw.

Get the Alden Grabit Pro screw extractor at Amazon or Walmart.

Our Ratings: Performance 4.3/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4/5

This compact screw remover and extractor set includes five extractors and drill bit sizes. Each extractor and bit is conveniently paired in a storage box, so there’s no confusion as to which bit goes with which extractor.

While we liked the paired design of this set, we experienced mixed results during testing. The larger sizes worked well for removing bolts. The bits drilled nicely into the screw and bolts heads, and the spiral shape of the removers bit well into the drilled holes.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have very good results with the smaller drill bits and extractors. We couldn’t get the extractors to bite in the drilled head on stripped-out 3-inch decking screws despite several attempts using various sizes of drill bit and matching extractor. While we were ultimately able to back the screws out, we had to do so using very slow speeds so the extractor wouldn’t slip and strip out the pilot hole.

Although we would certainly recommend this set for removing bolts and larger screws, we’d consider other options for smaller stripped-out screws.

Get the Irwin 10-piece screw extractor at Amazon or Acme Tools.

Our Ratings: Performance 3.7/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4.5/5

We’ve typically found Bosch’s power tools and accessories to be of good quality while remaining somewhat more affordable than other power tool brands. This screw extractor kit from Bosch was, for the most part, no exception. It performed fairly well with bolts and smaller screws with a better-than-average success rate when compared with other sets.

Durability was also good but not great. All of the extractors feel as if they would last a long time. Our only concern was with the two smaller drill bit sizes, which feel as if they could potentially snap. While we didn’t experience any broken bits, this was a common complaint with online reviewers.

We like the handy carrying case, which is compact and holds each bit securely. We only wish it was easier to read the sizes on the case. Overall, though, this is a good screw extractor set that’s affordably priced and compact enough to fit in a tool bag or belt.

Get the Bosch screw extractor at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Our Ratings: Performance 4.3/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4/5

With some 35 pieces, Topec’s screw extractor kit gives you plenty of options for removing all types of fasteners, ranging from small screws to large bolts.

In terms of performance, Topec’s effectiveness tilts to large fasteners. The bits and extractors perform best on larger screw heads and bolts. While we found some success removing bits with its spiral screw extractors, these multispline extractors, when used with a drill and bit driver, garnered the best results. The tighter threading of the splines just seemed to bite better into drilled-out holes than the spiral extractors.

While we liked the broad range of bits this kit offers, we didn’t like the fact that Topec doesn’t group the bits with the extractors. This leaves you to make those matches on your own, which can be a challenge, especially if you use the kit only occasionally.

This design makes the kit a tougher pick for those who don’t have a lot of experience using this type of tool. Given that and this kit’s size, the Topec extractor set is best suited for home mechanics who find themselves facing off against stripped-out screw heads and sheared-off bolt heads of varying sizes on a fairly regular basis.

Get the Topec screw extractor at Amazon.

Our Ratings: Performance 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4/5

This is no ordinary set of combination pliers. A closer look at its jaws reveals that it’s designed with one purpose in mind: to remove stripped screws. The aptly named Vampliers have fanglike serrated teeth and a concave opening in the jaws that fit around the contours of a screw head, making it an excellent tool for stripped screws.

The serrated teeth bit nicely into screw heads during testing, allowing us to turn the screws without having to put a death grip on the handle. The rubberized grip makes the handles fairly comfortable to hold. We also liked the fact that we could grip screw heads either by holding the teeth perpendicular to the screw for maximum grip or vertically over the top of the screw for heads just barely poking above the wood surface. Of course, the Vampliers are only useful if there’s something to bite into; they won’t work for embedded screw heads.

The Vampliers is an expensive stripped screw removal tool, especially for anyone who already has a pair of vice-grip pliers in their tool arsenal. Still, they’re worth the investment if you find yourself dealing with stripped-out or sheared-off screw heads on a regular basis.

Get the Vampliers screw extractor at Amazon.

While we didn’t test the products below, they still make the grade based on their impressive specs and extensive positive customer reviews.

This five-piece bolt extraction set from Irwin is a simple yet effective bolt removal tool. Each size extractor has a reverse spiral design that bites into the bolt head, making it easier to remove bolts that have been painted over, rounded-off bolts heads, and frozen bolts. The extraction kit for bolts comes with five sizes to suit bolts ranging in size from ⅜ inch and 10 millimeter (mm) to ⅝ inch and 16mm. And if that’s not enough, Irwin also makes a five-piece expansion set with additional sizes. The bolt extractor bits work with 1/2-inch ratchets, impact wrenches, flat wrenches, and locking pliers, and all five pieces fit into a hard plastic case that’s small enough to fit into a tool box or bucket.

Get the Irwin bolt extractor at Lowe’s.

Extracting large stripped-out bolts and screws can be a tough job. With its large extractors, this set is up to the challenge. It boasts 25 extractors that run in 1/32-inch increments from ⅛ inch all the way up to a hefty ⅞-inch extractor. Each extractor features microplaned reverse threads designed to thread into drilled-out holes to remove stripped screws or bolts with rounded-off or sheared-off heads.

Its hexagonal head fits into standard sockets for optimal torque. Socket sizes are etched into the metal, making identifying each extractor easy. The extractors consist of chrome molybdenum steel that is hard enough to extract these larger bolts, and all 25 pieces fit into a molded carrying case.

Get the Neiko screw and bolt extractor at Amazon or Walmart.

Removing tiny damaged screws from electronics such as laptop computers isn’t doable with a standard screw extraction kit. The bits are simply too large. With its ability to remove machine screws as small as a 1 rating, which is just 0.0781 inches in diameter, this small screw extractor kit is an excellent solution for extracting smaller stripped machine screws.

In addition to the 0.0781-inch size, it also includes 2, 3, and 4 machine screw sizes. Each bit is double-sided with a drill bit on one end and a threaded adapter on the other. They consist of durable high-speed steel that is heat tempered twice for maximum hardness. A plastic carrying case conveniently keeps all four bits organized so they’re easy to find when needed.

Get the Alden Grabit Micro bolt extractor at Amazon.

We assembled our list of the top screw extractors through a mix of research and hands-on testing. After comparing the specs and scouring reviews for some two dozen different screw extractors, we narrowed down the list to eight models, and then proceeded to test the top five sets.

We tested each on a variety of fasteners, including small and large screws and bolts, keeping in mind that screw extracting is challenging. No screw extracting kit will have a 100 percent success rate. Keeping that in mind, we assigned points to each kit based on how effective it was at removing fasteners and how easy it was to use. We also considered the range of extractor sizes, awarding points for those capable of handling a broader range of screw and bolt sizes. We considered the durability of each kit. Finally, we factored in performance and durability along with price to determine the value of each kit.

Screw extractors come in different types to suit the different sizes of damaged fasteners you can’t remove with a screwdriver. Read on to learn more about each type and crucial factors, including gripping power and the material one will want to consider when choosing the best screw extractor.

Screw heads come in a wide variety of sizes, so it’s important to pay attention to what sizes the screw extractor can accommodate. Most sets include sizes ranging from 0.125 inch up to 0.625 inch. Larger sets have extractors as large as 0.875 inch and are capable of removing large bolts on vehicles and industrial machines. Other sets can remove tiny machine screws found in electronics, such as laptop computers, with extractors as small as 0.0781 inch. While a small kit with four or five extractor sizes is adequate for most, it makes sense for pros or DIYers to invest in a set that can cover a broad range of sizes.

Different types of screw extractors use different strategies for gripping a stripped or rusted screw or bolt head. Some drill into the head and use reverse threads to bite into and grip the head, while others grab the head by fitting over it. Although the latter generally creates more gripping power, this style of extractor is limited to instances where the bolt or screw head is jutting out of the material enough to allow the tool to grip it.

The material type also affects gripping power. Drill bits and extractors made of high-quality steel alloys do a better job of boring into and gripping fasteners and last longer than those that use cheaper materials.

Since screw extractors must burrow into metal screws in order to work, they need to consist of hard metal. Most screw extractors are made of high-speed steel, the same steel alloy used in many drill bits and saw blades. This type of steel is harder than other alloys and is capable of enduring high temperatures without softening, a key characteristic for drilling into the heads of metal fasteners.

If it’s in the budget, extractors made of cobalt steel are even better, but they’re also pricier. Cobalt steel is harder than high-speed steel and holds up better to the high temperatures created by metal cutting into metal. Cobalt steel also has a higher tensile strength, which makes it a better choice for extractors with a narrower flute of 0.125 inch or less. Stay away from extractors that consist of softer alloys, as they will not be hard enough to do the job.

Screw extractors have features that make them easier to use and ensure that the right drill bit is used with the right extractor. Those that work in conjunction with a drill bit must match the bit size to be effective. This type of extractor should have the compatible drill bit size etched onto its side to avoid confusion.

Double-sided extractors are some of the most convenient models as they feature the drill bit and extractor on a single reversible shank, eliminating the need to hunt for a compatible drill bit. Simply drill the hole with one side, then flip the shank to apply the extractor.

Some kits use magnetic extension bit holders that can hold either the drill or extractor bit. This allows the user to quickly swap between them, speeding the screw-removal process along.

Since screw and bolt extractor kits can include 30 pieces or more, most come with handy carrying cases that keep all the pieces organized so they can be found when needed.

Most screw extractor tools are easy to use, even for beginners. Here are a few valuable tips for using a screw extractor.

If you have additional questions about how to use a screw extractor, read on for answers to some common queries about these handy tools.

The drill bit is a crucial part of the extractor that is used to bore a hole in the head of the damaged bolt or screw, creating a place for the extractor to penetrate and grip the screw head so you can remove it.

There really is no standard length for a screw extractor. In fact, short and long extractors work equally well at removing damaged screws and bolts. It’s more important to choose the correct- diameter drill bit and extractor to suit the damaged fastener.

To determine the proper extractor size, begin by choosing the proper drill bit size. The drill bit should be about half the diameter of the screw head. For example, to remove a 0.375-inch screw, begin by drilling a hole in the head with a 3/16-inch drill bit. Once the hole is drilled, use an extractor that’s slightly smaller than the drill bit—most kits conveniently match the bits on the kit to the extractor. The slightly smaller extractor should fit inside the hole but still be tight enough that its threads can lock into the hole’s contours.

Screw extractors are reverse threaded. This means that you’ll need to set your drill/driver or impact driver in reverse to remove the fastener. Keep in mind that the drill bits in screw extractor sets are also usually (though not always) reverse threaded, meaning you’ll need to set your drill in reverse when drilling the pilot hole.

A straight flute extractor is a smooth tapered bar. After drilling a pilot hole in the screw head, you have to hammer the straight extractor into the screw head, then use a pair of pliers to twist the extractor counterclockwise to remove the screw. A spiral screw extractor doesn’t require any hammering. It has threads that bite into the pilot hole, allowing you to remove the damaged screw with a wrench or drill.

Tony Carrick is a freelance writer specializing in home improvement, landscaping, technology, home security, and design for such sites and publications as Popular Mechanics, Pro Tools Review, CNN Underscored, and This Old House magazine.

Contributing Writer

Tony Carrick is a freelance writer who has contributed to BobVila.com since 2020. He writes how-to articles and product reviews in the areas of lawn and garden, home maintenance, home improvement, auto maintenance, housewares, and technology.

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