If you’re adjusting any of the bolts on your bike, one of the best bike torque wrenches is a wise investment to ensure you don’t under-tighten or over-tighten them. There’s a reason you see this tool recommended in many manuals and maintenance articles.
As frame materials have evolved, tolerances have grown ever finer, and this is particularly true of carbon fibre frames and components. If a bolt is over-tightened, the carbon can fracture and, ultimately, fail.
Equally, a bolt that is under-tightened may result in a component slipping or becoming loose while riding.
Either way, it is important to make sure the bolts on your bike are securely tightened, and a torque wrench will help you do just that.
Here, we will take you through the best torque wrenches we have tested to date, and in our buyer's guide, we'll explain what to look for in a torque wrench and the different types on the market.
Best bike torque wrenches, as rated by our expert testers
We've split our recommendations into two categories:
Best preset torque wrenches
Park Tool Preset Torque Driver 5Nm PTD-5
- Price: $45 / £40 / AU$75 as tested
- Preset options available: 4, 5 or 6Nm
- Bits included: 3, 4 & 5mm hex, Torx 25
- Weight: 216g
- Length: 103mm
- Average torque reading at 5Nm: 5.18nm
This model from Park Tool offers metal mechanical components to give a highly positive and durable wrench. Accuracy is superb and the cam-over mechanism means there’s zero chance of over-tightening.
Using standard 1/4in bits that magnetically snap in place, the tool also houses three spare bits in the handle. This is a top pick for a preset torque wrench, although to buy a set of three (4, 5 and 6Nm versions) is certainly expensive.
- Pros: Perfectly accurate; ultra-comfortable; quality construction; cam-over design
- Cons: Weight; size; price (especially to buy all three)
Park Tool Adjustable Torque Driver ATD-1.2
- Price: $73 / £60 / AU$120 as tested
- Torque range: 4-6Nm
- Bits included: 3, 4 & 5mm hex, Torx 25
- Weight: 266g
- Length: 103mm
- Clearance: 110mm
- Ratchet function: No (but does cam-over)
- Average torque reading at 3/5/8Nm: N/A / 5.13Nm / N/A
Now updated to the ATD-1.2, this is the adjustable version of Park’s PTD wrenches, and can be switched between 4 and 6Nm in 0.5Nm increments. To change the torque (silver dial), you use a 6mm hex key, although the key update with the ATD-1.2 is that it can be adjusted by hand. The opposite end hides three spare bits.
This tool offers everything we loved about the Park Tool PTD, but with further adjustment options. Accuracy is not quite as consistent as the preset options, but certainly close enough. Its American-made build quality is superb, but that does mean it’s heavy and priced relatively high.
- Pros: Accurate; ultra-comfortable; quality construction; cam-over design
- Bad: Needs a 6mm hex to adjust torque setting; heavy; price
IceToolz Ocarina Torque Wrench
- Price: £25 as tested
- Torque range: 1-10Nm
- Bits included: 3, 4, 5 & 6mm hex, Torx 25
- Weight: 88g
- Length: 133mm
- Clearance: 146mm
- Ratchet function: No
- Average torque reading at 3/5/8Nm: 2.92/4.83/7.7Nm
Although we were initially sceptical of the design, the torque tester found the Ocarina to be the real deal. At just 88g, it’s perfect for travel purposes.
It works like a beam-type torque wrench and so you stop tightening once the needle hits the desired number.
The struggle here is it can be hard to read the raised numbers, especially if you’re wrenching in a poorly lit hotel room, or adjusting a saddle bolt upside down. It’s comfortable to use, but the hollow plastic construction certainly feels cheap and can lead to clearance issues in rare cases.
- Pros: Price; accurate; bits included; very light; ideal for travel
- Cons Plastic construction; clearance; hard to read torque in certain light or positions
Also consider…
CDI Torque Preset T-Handle – 5Nm
- Price: $36 as tested
- Preset options available: 4, 5 or 6Nm
- Bits included: 4mm hex
- Weight: 108g
- Length: 95mm
- Average torque reading at 5Nm: 4.62Nm
CDI, part of the Snap-On corporation, is a torque specialist, and this is the cheapest tool it offers. Accuracy is acceptable, and it too is impossible to over-tighten with a cam-over design.
The grip is perfectly comfortable, although only a 4mm hex bit is included, so you’ll need to supply any others needed.
- Pros: Proven design; reputable company; cam-over design; comfortable handle
- Cons: Plastic internals; no additional bits included
Ritchey Multi-Bit Torqkey – 5Nm
- Price: $20 / AU$34 as tested
- Preset options available: 4 or 5Nm
- Bits included: 3, 4 & 5mm hex, Torx 20 & 25, Phillips #2
- Weight: 50g
- Length: 78mm
- Average torque reading at 5Nm: 5.01Nm
Ritchey was undoubtedly the first to the cycling market with preset torque wrenches. Since then, this tool has been seen with other brand names plastered on it.
The Torqkey continues to be a reliable option, and is still the lightest/smallest available, but it’s no longer the benchmark.
- Pros: Widely available; price; travel size; perfectly accurate
- Cons: Tiny handle makes it uncomfortable; plastic internals; not cam-over
Best adjustable torque wrenches
Effetto Mariposa Giustaforza II 2-16 Pro Deluxe
- Price: $260 / £190 / AU$395 as tested
- Torque range: 2-16Nm
- Bits included: 2, 2.5, 3, 4 (long), 5 (long) & 6mm hex, Torx 10, 15, 20, 25 (long) & 30, Phillips #2, 100mm extension
- Weight: 192g
- Length: 170mm
- Clearance: 52mm
- Ratchet function: Yes
- Average torque reading at 3/5/8Nm: 3.05/4.9/8.06Nm
Made in Italy, the Pro version from Effetto Mariposa is positioned as the premium cycling-specific torque wrench. Testing showed reliable accuracy and ease of use.
The ‘Deluxe’ tool wrap and bits are great quality and it even includes a free calibration service (in Italy…). All wrapped up, it’s compact and doesn’t waste space in the toolbox.
The ratcheting head makes tightening quicker, but does remove some of the clearance the original non-ratcheting version the brand became famous for.
Even with such praise, it’s priced at a premium and doesn’t offer a great deal over more generic Taiwanese options. It's certainly one for those who appreciate both form and function.
- Pros: Compact; high-quality; accurate; classy looks
- Cons: Expensive; ratchet head spoils clearance compared to original
LifeLine Professional Torque Wrench
- Price: $70 / £50 / AU$90 as tested
- Torque range: 3-15Nm
- Bits included: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 & 6mm hex, Torx 25
- Weight: 214g
- Length: 195mm
- Clearance: 45mm
- Ratchet function: Yes
- Average torque reading at 3/5/8Nm: 3.31/5.34/7.93Nm
This is from Wiggle’s in-house tool brand and it’s hard to fault for the money. It’s effectively the same wrench sourced from Taiwan that many others have put their brand name on – and that’s because it just works.
The torque range offered is ideal for bicycles, adjustments are simple and the ratcheting head is compact enough for most situations.
- Pros: Price; proven design; bits included; accurate; ease of use
- Cons: Generic design
Effetto Mariposa Giustaforza 1-8 Deluxe
- Price: £130 / $170.99 / €167 as tested
- Torque range: 1-8Nm
- Bits included: 4, 5, T25 (long), 2, 2.5, 3, 6, T10, T15, T20, T30, Flat, Phillips #2
- Ratchet function: Yes
Made in Italy, the Giustaforza 1-8 Deluxe oozes quality and has a very well-defined click when you hit your desired torque.
Its compact and minimal head makes this an easy option to use in tight spaces.
The numerous bits, drivers and extensions all come in a neat Velcro-secured bundle. It has a 1-8Nm range, comes with a comprehensive – 5,000-cycle – guarantee and you can send it back to be serviced and recalibrated.
- Pros: Quality; defined click; easy to use in tight spaces
- Cons: Expensive
Park Tool TW-5.2
- Price: £126.99 / $113.95 as tested
- Torque range: 2-14Nm
- Bits included: None (Park Tool’s SBS-1.2 includes extensions, hex and Torx bits)
- Ratchet function: Yes
Park Tool’s TW-5.2 uses a 3/8in drive rather than the smaller ¼in head, which means it isn’t as easy to wield in smaller spaces.
Yet it feels much better quality, with less play and movement at the head than other options, especially under higher torque loads.
Its 23cm length helps when making small adjustments at higher torque settings because you don’t have to heave on the tool. But its stellar price tag doesn’t include sockets, and Park’s SBS-1.2 socket and bit set, while comprehensive, costs £59.99.
- Pros: Quality; defined click
- Cons: Limited in tighter spaces; no sockets included
Topeak D-Torq Wrench
- Price: $249 / £185 / AU$300
- Torque range: 1-20Nm
- Bits included: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 & 6mm hex, Torx 25, Phillips #2
- Weight: 166g
- Length: 195mm
- Clearance: 21mm
- Ratchet function: Yes
- Average torque reading at 3/5/8Nm: 3/5.06/8.03Nm
This is the only digital torque wrench on test, and also the most accurate. Without mechanical clicking parts, it proved immune to torque reading inconsistencies. Though without such a click, it’ll require a little patience as you gently build up to your desired torque, watch the screen and listen for the beep.
While battery life is decent, you’ll only realise it needs a fresh AAA cell when you go to use it, which is just a pain when other torque wrenches will happily click away.
- Pros: Super-accurate; zippered case; low clearance
- Cons: Price; needs batteries
Syncros Torque Wrench 2.0
- Price: £69.99 as tested
- Torque range: 2-24Nm
- Bits included: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, T20, T25, T30
- Ratchet function: Yes
Syncros’ wide-range torque wrench looks like a high-quality item with its polished chrome-vanadium head and shaft securely fixed into an anodised handle.
The sprung collar is a cinch to adjust and set, and its compact 1/4in drive head makes it easy to get into tight spaces, the supplied 75mm extension bar helping further.
It comes with six hex and three Torx bits, its 22cm length is a good size for making precise adjustments and it works both clockwise and anti-clockwise.
The Syncros is a great-value tool and if you take care of it, this should serve you well for years.
- Pros: Value; wide-ranging torque values; easy to set
- Cons: Doesn’t come with as comprehensive an after-service as other options
Also consider…
Birzman Torque Wrench 3-15Nm
- Price: £110 / €125 / AU$139
- Torque range: 3-15Nm
- Bits included: 3, 4, 5, 6 & 8mm hex, Torx 25
- Weight: 294g
- Length: 211mm
- Clearance: 48mm
- Ratchet function: Yes
- Average torque reading at 3/5/8Nm: 2.99/5.46/7.7Nm
This shiny 3-15Nm torque wrench does everything it needs to. Pulling down on the central collar and turning the handle adjusts the torque setting. Without doing this, the torque is locked and there’s little risk in accidently changing it.
It’s more fiddly than others, but it’s less generic than many on the market. A full-metal construction provides a quality feel, but just beware that the click at torque is subtle and it’s easy to push past it if you’re not paying attention.
It comes in a foam-lined hard plastic case, something we found tough to actually get the tool out of. However, it does keep it safe and all the bits together.
- Pros: Metal construction; pretty; ratcheting
- Cons: A bit fiddly to adjust; vague click at torque
PRO Torque Wrench
- Price: £89 / $139 / AU$155
- Torque range: 3-15Nm
- Bits included: 3, 4, 5 & 6mm hex, Torx 25 & 30, extension
- Weight: 214g
- Length: 195mm
- Clearance: 45mm
- Ratchet function: Yes
- Average torque reading at 3/5/8Nm: 3.13/4.6/7.85Nm
"Hey, that looks just like the LifeLine Professional or the Pedro’s Demi," I hear you say. Yep, there’s a good reason for that – it’s the same. Sourced from Taiwan, this Shimano/PRO item is a rebadged tool, but there’s a good reason so many brands put their label on it – it does exactly what it should.
The included bits will see you through most repairs, and the case keeps it all together. However, it’s penalised for its price given that some online retailers sell effectively the same thing under a different name for less money.
- Pros: Proven design; bits included; accurate; ease of use
- Cons: High price for a generic tool
M-Part Torque Wrench
- Price: £59.99 as tested
- Torque range: 3-15Nm
- Bits included: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, T25
- Ratchet function: Yes
The M-Part is a sturdy wrench with a solid feel and an oversized head. Its decent quality with easy adjustment and a locking handle to set the torque, and comes with a T25 and hex bits.
The matt-finish chrome-vanadium tool bits have kept corrosion at bay even after being out in all weather for a couple of weeks.
The 22cm arm is a useful length and the head works in both directions, but there was a tiny bit of play between the head and shaft, and handle and shaft, too.
- Pros: Value; sturdy feel
- Cons: Play at the head and handle where they meet the shaft
Lezyne Torque Drive
- Price: £51 / $54.99 as tested
- Torque range: 2-10Nm
- Bits included: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, T10, T25, T35, Flat and Phillips drivers
- Ratchet function: No
Lezyne’s minimalist 2-10Nm wrench comes with six hex and three Torx bits and a couple of screwdriver heads, and its finish quality is up to Lezyne’s usual high standards.
The design uses an internal precision-machined torsion bar, with the torque shown by indices printed on the shaft and a pointer on the head.
It proved very accurate in use throughout its narrowish 2-10Nm range, but the design does make it a clockwise-only tool.
Its quality, accuracy, compact 160mm-long case and 145mm length make this a great travel torque wrench, but there are better options for heavy-duty workshop use.
- Pros: Quality; range of bits
- Cons: Non-ratcheting
What is a torque wrench? And why should you use one on your bike?
A torque wrench is an incredibly useful tool that measures how much force you are tightening a bolt up to, known as torque.
If you look at your bike, you’ll generally see there’ll be a small number next to a bolt, which is generally written in ‘Nm’ (newton metres) or sometimes ‘in-lb’ (inch-pounds). This is the unit of torque the bolts require.
Check to see if it says ‘max’ torque. If it is ‘max’, that really is the max and you should torque it 10 per cent lower. Sometimes, such as on Shimano crank pinch bolts, you’ll be given a range and you should aim for the middle of that range.
While there are plenty of hardened-skin naysayers for such a tool, happy to work on ‘feel’, the truth of the matter is that if you’re working with delicate components, the use of a torque wrench makes it far less likely for things to go wrong, especially when your warranty (and teeth) are involved.
Torque wrench types
Most bolts on a bicycle require quite a low torque (generally under 10Nm).
This is why torque wrenches for bikes exist, though you could use a more general torque wrench for bolts that require a higher torque, such as the cassette, disc rotor lockrings and crank bolts. The most you’d ever need to torque something on a bicycle is 60Nm.
Ultimately, the best torque wrench for your needs depends on how frequently you intend to use it and what parts of the bike you intend to use it for. It is always worth investing in a quality option for the greater accuracy and user-friendly benefits.
Generally, there are four types of torque wrench: preset, adjustable, modular bit-based systems and beam-style torque wrenches.
Preset torque wrench
If you only intend on using a torque wrench for items such as the stem and seatpost bolts, you could save some money and buy a preset design, based on the torques required on your specific bike.
Preset torque wrenches are also ideal if you’re regularly working on a range of bikes, to save time setting up an adjustable one.
You can often buy preset 4, 5 or 6Nm torque wrenches, with some designs also offering preset adjustability within that range.
As preset options can often be quite stubby in design, if you are running an integrated seat clamp or wedge system, which often require a low-profile head, you’ll want to check there's enough clearance for the tool to fit.
This option is also typically lighter, so would be a good option to carry if you're going on holiday.
Adjustable torque wrench
The best and most common type of torque wrench is the adjustable, click-type torque wrench.
That does, regrettably, mean they are the most expensive type and will cost you anywhere from £30 up to £200.
That’s quite a range in price, so what do you get for your money when you spend more?
Greater accuracy is the biggest difference and, ultimately, a torque wrench is only useful if it is accurate.
Other differences as you spend more include better-quality bits and a dial indicator that's easier to read and set, ensuring less margin for error.
Modular bit-based torque wrenches
A less prominent type of torque wrench is a portable bit-style ratchet with a torque feature.
These typically consist of a handle and bits with a torque bar. The torque bar usually features a set of numbers, denoting the torque and an arrow underneath. Once you've assembled the tool, you tighten the bolt while carefully monitoring the arrow until you reach your desired torque.
Some manufacturers, such as Silca, offer modular T- and L-handle bit-based systems for fitting into tricky spaces.
This can be a great option for cycling holidays or as an option to carry on the bike because it doubles-up as a multi-tool, only a better-quality option.
Beam-style torque wrench
A final option is a beam-style torque wrench. These were commonplace before affordable adjustable, click-type options existed. Some brands, such as Canyon, include a beam-style wrench when shipping bikes.
A beam-style wrench can be affordable, less prone to damage and easy to calibrate — simply check the needle is at zero before use and if it's not, bend the needle.
On the other hand, you have to carefully read the beam in relation to a scale to know that you have achieved the correct torque. This can be difficult if the unit you are torquing to isn't printed on the scale or if you are aiming for a decimal. You’ll also need a steady hand. Most beam-style torque wrenches for bicycles tend to be aimed at the entry point of the market and are often made of plastic or more flexible materials.
Given the number of affordable designs available elsewhere, there isn’t much to argue in favour of the beam-style torque wrench. That said, it’s certainly better to use a beam-style torque wrench than not to use anything.
How to use a torque wrench
Knowing how to use a torque wrench is essential, because it is still possible to under- or over-tighten bolts with one if you are not careful.
We have a full guide on how to use a torque wrench, with step-by-step instructions on how to use the tool.
