Rank #9 in Best Socket Set 2026: 10 Ranked by Socket Count, Not Box Total
Amazon Basics 46-Piece 3/8in Drive Socket Set
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Amazon Basics 46-Piece 3/8-Inch Drive Socket Set is the number 9 entry in this guide. It is a 3/8in drive set in a carrying case with a 72-teeth reversible ratchet, priced at £37.52 and rated 4.5 out of 5 from 689 ratings. The steel is chrome molybdenum with a black phosphate finish and laser-etched markings, and the listing notes the set was previously sold under the Denali brand rather than Amazon Basics.
The number worth reading carefully here is not the one on the box. The headline says 46 pieces, but the set's own contents bullet names 34 sockets — 14 shallow six-point metric, nine shallow 12-point SAE and 11 six-point deep metric — which leaves 12 pieces of the 46 that the bullet never names. The spec fields are less consistent still: they give "Number of Items: 1" and "Number of Pieces: 1" for a set whose own name says 46-Piece. Everything on this page is taken from the Amazon listing, not from a set we bought and tested ourselves.
How those 689 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.5 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £37.52 (as listed) |
|---|---|
| Customer rating | 4.5 out of 5 from 689 ratings |
| Drive size | 3/8 inch, 72-teeth reversible ratchet |
| Sockets named in the contents bullet | 34 (14 shallow metric, 9 shallow SAE, 11 deep metric) |
| Headline piece count | 46 |
| Number of Pieces (spec field) | 1 (as listed) |
| Material and finish | Chrome molybdenum steel, black phosphate (as listed) |
| Best Sellers Rank | 124 in Socket Sets (as listed) |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“Really pleased with these, after recently changing the brake pads and discs on an Astra K, I realised I was somewhat short on a decent sized socket set, I do have a couple of others but none that seemed to have the bigger sizes needed.I have found with Amazon basic items that as with these the quality is perfect and they are well presented in a decent case.These came securely boxed and on opening the case was also cellophane wrapped. Once opened the sockets look and feel quality and are coated in a thin film of oil with a good selection of sizes upto 22mmRatchet feels firm in the hand and sockets click nicely into place without any wobble. To release press the button and off they come.With these you get the feeling they will last and surpass the test of time.If you are in doubt don't be, just buy them.”
Verified purchase“Seems really well made and good quality. Great selection of sockets, everything I need in a compact box. Make sure you open with it facing the right way up, the bottom set of sockets aren't clicked in place.”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best Socket Set 2026: 10 Ranked by Socket Count, Not Box Total.
Questions people ask
How many sockets are actually in the Amazon Basics 46-Piece 3/8-Inch Drive Socket Set?
The set's own bullet names 34: 14 shallow six-point metric sockets from 6 to 22mm, nine shallow 12-point SAE sockets from 1/4 to 3/4 inch, and 11 six-point deep metric sockets. That leaves 12 of the 46 pieces that the bullet does not name as sockets.
Why do the spec fields say one piece?
The Amazon Basics listing's own spec table gives "Number of Items: 1" and "Number of Pieces: 1" (as listed), while the set name and bullets say 46-Piece. The two figures do not agree with each other.
What drive size does it use?
3/8 inch, according to the listing, with a 72-teeth reversible ratchet and six-point sockets in the shallow sizes.
Does the Amazon Basics 46-Piece set cover both metric and SAE?
Yes. The bullet lists metric shallow sockets in 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21 and 22mm, deep metric sockets from 8mm upwards, and SAE shallow sockets from 1/4 to 3/4 inch.
What is it made from?
Chrome molybdenum alloy steel with a corrosion-resistant black phosphate finish and laser-etched size markings, as stated in the listing.
How is the Amazon Basics 46-Piece set rated?
4.5 out of 5 from 689 ratings. The listing's histogram puts 71 entries at five stars and 10 at three stars or below.
Comments
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