Socket Size Chart – Socket Sizes in Order from Smallest to Largest

Hi friends welcome to the new post. Here we will learn Socket Size Chart – Socket Sizes in Order from Smallest to Largest. socket size is defined as the dia of the opening of in socket wrench that fitted on the nut or bolt. Socket sizes are measured in inches and inches fractions, the commonly used size value is 1/4 inch to 1 inch. The accurate socket size is important to make sure snug fits on the bolt or nut, avoiding it from slipping.

The use of a socket that is very small will not help the wrench to grip bold or nut accurately with the use of a socket that is very large will not offer such a value of torque that lose or tighten the fastener. With that standard inch-based socket sizes are also metric socket sizes. Metric socket size measured in millimeters with common value is about 6mm to 19mm.

During the selection of socket size, it is good to measure bold or nut accurately to make sure that your selected accurate size. There can be a chart used to find the accurate sizes for certain bolts or nuts. So let’s get started with Socket Size Chart

Most Common Drive Sizes

The most common drive sizes for socket wrenches are mentioned here

• 1/4 inch – it is the smallest drive size and is normally employed for small and sensitive working. It is also a common drive size for handheld ratches
• 3/8 inch – it is medium size drive size that is unique and can be used for different operations. it is good for automotive work.
• 1/2 inch – it is the largest drive size and is employed for heavy-duty work. it is the best option for working on larger machines or vehicles.
• 3/4 inch – It is a larger drive size and not common like other 3 sizes. It is used for demanding operations like working on larger engines or heavy machines
• With these 4 sizes, there are some less common drive sizes that are  5/8 inch and 1 inch. These sizes are normally employed for certain projects.
• During the selection of drive size, it is good to consider the size of the bolt or nut which we are using. The drive size must be larger than the bolt or nut to make sure snug fits. We also consider the type of work that will we are doing. For instance, if we are working on a car there is a need to set sockets that added all common automotive drive sizes.

Types of Sockets

There are different  types of sockets, but they can be defined in 2 types:

• Mechanical sockets are used to grip and turn fasteners, like bolts and nuts. They exist in different shapes and sizes to fit different types of fasteners.
• Network sockets are used to make communication between 2 computers with different networks. They come in different types, each with its own benefits and disadvantages.

Here are some of the common types of mechanical sockets:

• Hex sockets are the most common type of socket. They have 6 points that fit into the corresponding 6 points on a bolt or nut.
• 12-point sockets have 12 points that fit into the corresponding 12 points on a bolt or nut. They are mostly used in tight spaces where a hex socket would not fit.
• Torx sockets come with a star-shaped pattern of points that fit into the corresponding star-shaped recess on a Torx bolt.
• Spline sockets have a splined pattern of points that fitted into the related splined recess on a splined bolt.
• Deep sockets are longer than standard sockets and are used to reach bolts or nuts that are existing in deep holes.

Here are common types of network sockets:

• Stream sockets offer a reliable, bidirectional connection between 2 computers. They are mostly used for applications that need a lot of data to be transferred, like file transfer, and video streaming.
• Datagram sockets offer unreliable, connectionless connections between t2 computers. They are used for applications that do not need a lot of data to be transferred, like chat and gaming.
• Raw sockets offer direct access to the network layer. They are used for network debugging and security applications.

Shallow vs. Deep Sockets

Feature	Shallow Sockets	Deep Sockets
Length	Shorter	Longer
Reach	Better reach in shallow spaces	Better reach in deep spaces
Versatility	More versatile in general	More specialized for deep spaces
Price	Usually cheaper	Usually more costly

Metric Socket Sizes Chart

Drive Size	1/4″	3/8″	1/2″	3/4″	1″
4mm	4mm	4mm	4mm	4mm	4mm
5mm	5.5mm	5.5mm	5.5mm	5.5mm	5.5mm
6mm	6mm	6mm	6mm	6mm	6mm
7mm	7mm	7mm	7mm	7mm	7mm
8mm	8mm	8mm	8mm	8mm	8mm
9mm	9mm	9mm	9mm	9mm	9mm
10mm	10mm	10mm	10mm	10mm	10mm
11mm	11mm	11mm	11mm	11mm	11mm
12mm	12mm	12mm	12mm	12mm	12mm
13mm	13mm	13mm	13mm	13mm	13mm
14mm	14mm	14mm	14mm	14mm	14mm
15mm	15mm	15mm	15mm	15mm	15mm
16mm	17mm	17mm	17mm	17mm	17mm
17mm	19mm	19mm	19mm	19mm	19mm
18mm	21mm	21mm	21mm	21mm	21mm
19mm	22mm	22mm	22mm	22mm	22mm
20mm	24mm	24mm	24mm	24mm	24mm
21mm	27mm	27mm	27mm	27mm	27mm
22mm	28mm	28mm	28mm	28mm	28mm
23mm	30mm	30mm	30mm	30mm	30mm
24mm	32mm	32mm	32mm	32mm	32mm

SAE Socket Sizes Chart

Drive Size	1/4″	3/8″	1/2″	3/4″	1″
5/32″	5/32″	5/32″	5/32″	5/32″	5/32″
3/16″	3/16″	3/16″	3/16″	3/16″	3/16″
7/32″	7/32″	7/32″	7/32″	7/32″	7/32″
1/4″	6.5mm	6.5mm	6.5mm	6.5mm	6.5mm
9/32″	9/32″	9/32″	9/32″	9/32″	9/32″
5/16″	8mm	8mm	8mm	8mm	8mm
11/32″	11/32″	11/32″	11/32″	11/32″	11/32″
3/8″	10mm	10mm	10mm	10mm	10mm
13/32″	13/32″	13/32″	13/32″	13/32″	13/32″
7/16″	11mm	11mm	11mm	11mm	11mm
15/32″	15/32″	15/32″	15/32″	15/32″	15/32″
1/2″	12.7mm	12.7mm	12.7mm	12.7mm	12.7mm
9/16″	14mm	14mm	14mm	14mm	14mm
5/8″	16mm	16mm	16mm	16mm	16mm
11/16″	17mm	17mm	17mm	17mm	17mm
3/4″	19mm	19mm	19mm	19mm	19mm
1-1/16″	21mm	21mm	21mm	21mm	21mm
1-1/8″	22mm	22mm	22mm	22mm	22mm
1-3/16″	24mm	24mm	24mm	24mm	24mm
1-1/4″	27mm	27mm	27mm	27mm	27mm

SAE to Metric Conversion Chart

SAE	Metric
1/16″	1.6mm
5/32″	3.17mm
3/16″	4.76mm
7/32″	5.95mm
1/4″	6.35mm
9/32″	7.93mm
5/16″	8.99mm
11/32″	10.21mm
3/8″	10.95mm
13/32″	11.91mm
7/16″	11.11mm
15/32″	12.7mm
1/2″	12.7mm
9/16″	14.3mm
5/8″	15.87mm
11/16″	17.46mm
3/4″	19.05mm
1-1/16″	20.63mm
1-1/8″	22.22mm
1-3/16″	24.13mm
1-1/4″	25.4mm

Standard socket sizes chart

Drive Size	SAE	Metric
1/4″	5/32″, 3/16″, 7/32″, 1/4″	4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm
3/8″	3/8″, 7/16″, 1/2″, 9/16″	6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm
1/2″	1/2″, 9/16″, 5/8″, 11/16″, 1″, 1-3/8″	10mm, 12mm, 15mm, 17mm, 20mm, 22mm
3/4″	5/8″, 11/16″, 3/4″, 7/8″	15mm, 17mm, 20mm, 22mm
1″	3/4″, 7/8″, 1″, 1-1/2″, 1-3/4″, 2″	20mm, 22mm, 25mm, 30mm, 32mm, 38mm

Why do sockets have 3 holes?

Sockets have 3 holes since they are made to handle a three-pronged plug. The 3 prongs on a plug denote the hot, neutral, and ground wires in an electrical circuit. The hot wire carries current to the appliance, the neutral wire carries current back to the power source, and the ground wire offers a safe path for electricity to flow in case of a short circuit.

The 3 holes in a socket are configured in a specific order: the hot wire goes into the top hole, the neutral wire goes into the middle hole, and the ground wire goes into the bottom hole. This structure makes sure that the electricity passes through the appliance in the accurate method and that the user is protected from electrical shock.

In some cases, sockets can have only 2 holes. This is due the appliance that is plugged into the socket does not need a ground wire. For instance, lamps and other small appliances often do not have a ground wire. Though, it is good to note that appliances with two-pronged plugs must only be plugged into sockets that are just designed for two-pronged plugs. Plugging a two-pronged plug into a socket that is created for a three-pronged plug can be dangerous, as it can make a shock hazard.

Faqs

• What are the socket sizes in order?

The most common socket sizes in sequence from smallest to largest, are:

• 1/4 inch
• 3/8 inch
• 1/2 inch
• 3/4 inch
• 1 inch

There are also metric socket sizes, which are normally used in Europe and other parts of the world. The most common metric socket sizes in sequence, from smallest to largest, are:

• 4 mm

• 5.5 mm

• 8 mm

• 10 mm

• 13 mm

• How do I know my socket size?

The easiest method to know socket size is to measure the bolt or nut that we needed to loosen or tighten. The socket size will be stamped on the head of the bolt or nut, or it can exist in a socket size chart.

• What are the socket sizes in mm?

The socket sizes in mm are the same as the socket sizes in inches, just converted to metric units. So, a 1/4 inch socket is like as a 6.35 mm socket, a 3/8 inch socket is like a 9.52 mm socket, and so on.

• What size is a 3 4 socket?

A 3/4 inch socket is the 4th largest socket size in the imperial system. It is normally used for large bolts and nuts, like those found on car wheels and engine mounts.

• What are the 3 types of sockets?

There are 3 main types of sockets:

• Six-point sockets: These are the most common type of sockets. They have 6 points that fit into the related six points on the bolt or nut.

• Eight-point sockets: These sockets come with eight points that fit into the bolt or nut. They are less common than six-point sockets, but they can be employed on bolts and nuts that have been damaged by over-tightening.

• Twelve-point sockets: These sockets have 12 points that fit into the bolt or nut. They are the less common type of socket, but they can be employed on bolts and nuts that have been severely damaged.

• What is socket size?

The socket size is the diameter of the opening in the socket. The socket size should match the size of the bolt or nut that you are trying to loosen or tighten.

• What is sockets maximum size?

The maximum socket size is based on the type of socket. Six-point sockets are normally available in sizes up to 1 inch, while eight-point and twelve-point sockets come with sizes about  3/4 inch.

• Which socket size is best?

The best socket size is based on the size of the bolts and nuts that we need to work on. For most general-purpose tasks, a 1/2-inch socket set will be effective. If you have to work on larger bolts and nuts, we can use a 3/4-inch or 1-inch socket set.

• What is a 5 amp socket?

A 5 amp socket is a type of electrical socket that can easily handle up to 5 amps of current. This is normally used for appliances and devices that draw a small amount of power, for example, radios lamps, and fans.

• What size is a Type C socket?

A Type C socket is an electrical socket that is employed for charging devices that use the USB-C connector. The Type C socket is the same size as a standard USB-A socket, but it has a different shape.It is used for faster charging and data transfer speeds.