1. 52 things we love

I Was a Professional Carpenter for 10 Years. Here’s the Screwdriver I Use at Home.

By Doug Mahoney
Updated
Our favorite screwdriver, the MegaPro 13-in-1, in red and black on a blue background.
Illustration: Dana Davis; Photo: Megapro

The Megapro 13-in-1 is the ultimate kitchen-drawer tool.

My 250-year-old house demands a lot of attention, so I end up using the Megapro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Driver at least once a week, if not more. I have a lot of other screwdrivers, but even when they’re right in front of me, I take the time to rummage around and find the Megapro 13-in-1.

Our pick

This manual screwdriver combines smooth ratcheting action with excellent bit storage and a uniquely comfortable handle to be the most well-rounded, capable tool of its kind.

Buying Options

A close look at the MegaPro's bit storage solution.
The bit storage of the Megapro 13-in-1 is conveniently located and easy to use. Plus, the round cap spins separately from the handle, so pressing down and rotating the tool is easy. Photo: Sarah Kobos

Having spent decades using a wide variety of screwdrivers, including during a 10-year stint as a full-time carpenter, I appreciate every thought-out detail of the Megapro 13-in-1: the comfortable teardrop handle, the smooth ratcheting action, and the clever, organized, and discreet bit storage. If another screwdriver had even one of those features, it would be a keeper, but the Megapro 13-in-1 combines all three.

The bit storage really stands out. The butt end of the handle slides straight back to reveal a stem surrounded by six bit holders, each of which houses a double-sided bit, sort of like a six-shooter. The carousel spins, and it offers plenty of room around the bits for me to easily find the right one and remove it. The end cap freely spins too, so I can bear down on the screwdriver without rubbing a red welt into my palm. It’s just an excellent design.

Some other screwdrivers have the bits jangling around loose in the handle compartment, so to get the right one you have to dump them all out and sort through them. Even the screwdrivers with bit carousels similar to that of the Megapro 13-in-1 fall short with wobbly stems, too-tight bit holders, and difficult-to-open caps. (I should note, though, that a number of other great screwdrivers, such as models from Channellock and Klein, also use Megapro’s carousel system, through an agreement with the company.)

I also like how the Megapro 13-in-1 is durable. I used one as my primary screwdriver for four years while working as a carpenter, and it not only handled the brutal life of a construction site with no problem but also gained the respect of many of my curmudgeonly co-workers. “This is ... a really nice screwdriver,” said one door installer after borrowing the Megapro 13-in-1 for just a few minutes.

The Megapro 13-in-1 is loaded with all of the most common bits, so you’re almost guaranteed to have what you need for assembling knock-down furniture, adjusting a squeaky door hinge, or swapping out a toy’s batteries. If you have a collection of mismatched screwdrivers lying around, the Megapro 13-in-1 can probably replace them all.

The Megapro 13-in-1 was our top pick when I first wrote Wirecutter’s screwdriver guide back in 2013. It has retained that position through multiple rounds of additional testing, including against models that cost almost three times as much. In fact, I’ve been testing and reviewing gear since 2007, and nothing I’ve written about has elicited more positive feedback than the Megapro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Driver.

So, sure, any screwdriver can tighten a towel bar or adjust a crooked outlet cover, but I personally would much rather do the work with a tool I appreciate and enjoy using.

The original version of this article was part of our 2020 “52 Things We Love” series, an ode to Wirecutter picks that have withstood the test of time. Read the entire series. This version was edited by Rachelle Bergstein.

Meet your guide

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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