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Best Bench Vises

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Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Yost Reversible Bench Vice
Yost
Reversible Bench Vice
Most Comprehensive

A quality, extremely versatile model that will last a lifetime or two, says our DIY expert.

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Most Comprehensive
Bottom Line

A quality, extremely versatile model that will last a lifetime or two, says our DIY expert.

Pros

Original 7-inch jaw width can easily expand to 11 inches for big jobs. The 360-degree swivel base locks down for precise angles. Reversible jaws for heavy-duty and delicate clamping. Reversible jaws and a lockable swivel base should provide enough flexibility for most clamping needs.

Cons

Some quality control issues with steel casting and painting.

Best Bang for the Buck
Wilton Bench Vise
Wilton
Bench Vise
Best for Beginners

Boasts a solid steel construction, which is ideal in homes.

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Best for Beginners
Bottom Line

Boasts a solid steel construction, which is ideal in homes.

Pros

Solid steel construction is stronger than some higher-end vises. Large anvil space. The 360-degree swivel base locks down with pins. Ideal for home projects, such as woodworking or light welding. Great for hobbies, small repairs, and product assemblies.

Cons

Small 4-inch jaws and opening width limit versatility. Arrives with heavy layer of preservative grease.

TEKTON Swivel Bench Vice
TEKTON
Swivel Bench Vise
Durable & Rugged

Decent mid-range model that is great for light to moderate use, according to our expert.

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Durable & Rugged
Bottom Line

Decent mid-range model that is great for light to moderate use, according to our expert.

Pros

The 30,000-PSI cast-iron construction is durable enough for welding and other heavy-duty jobs. Replaceable serrated steel jaws hold projects tightly in place. Flat steel anvil for bending and shaping metal.

Cons

Swivel angle is limited to 120 degrees. Some users mentioned heavy preservative grease layer and sharp edges. Additional mounting hardware required.

WORKPRO Bench Vise
WORKPRO
Bench Vise
Innovative Jaw

The powerful and multipurpose jaw makes this bench vise stand out, according to our expert.

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Innovative Jaw
Bottom Line

The powerful and multipurpose jaw makes this bench vise stand out, according to our expert.

Pros

Rotating base allows users to customize their workplace to personal preference. Stays sturdy on both flat and curved surfaces without slipping or scratching the material. Features 4 fixed mounting tabs and a simple 'T' bar.

Cons

May be more suited to light-duty projects.

Wilton Multi-Purpose Bench Vise
Wilton
Multi-Purpose Bench Vise
Easiest to Use

This traditional bench vise requires minimal effort from the user's end for setup and operation.

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Easiest to Use
Bottom Line

This traditional bench vise requires minimal effort from the user's end for setup and operation.

Pros

Strong grip and alloy steel constructions make for sturdy placement and simple installation. V-shaped jaw is designed to keep rounder objects secure. Rotates fully for more flexible operation. A welcome addition to any homeowner's toolkit.

Cons

Paint and handle may be more fragile than they originally appear.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

First Reviewed
November 06, 2021
30
Models
considered
24
Hours
researched
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Buying guide for Best bench vises

Written by Bob Beacham, and fact-checked by Beth Allen
Updated June 2022

At first glance, a bench vise seems a straightforward item. Basic, robust engineering, with a simple function, and intuitive use. However, go looking for one, and you'll find you have a harder choice than you expected.

The wide variation between size, materials, jaw options, and more means there's a bench vise for nearly every application. Suddenly, it's not such a simple purchase.

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Check your bench is sturdy enough to support your chosen vise, and the kind of work you intend to do. Reinforce it if necessary.

Types of vises

The tool we're talking about here goes by several names: metalworking vise, engineer’s vise, machinist's vise, mechanic's vise, or workshop vise. They all fall under the umbrella of bench vises, so for the sake of simplicity, we'll use that term.

There are several other kinds of vise:

  • A woodworker's vise is built into the bench. Jaws are steel or iron, but usually have wooden faces, to prevent marking the workpiece. The front (moving) jaw meets the rear jaw at the same level as the bench top. The mechanism is underneath the bench.

  • A post vise – or blacksmith's vise – is a strange beast. Partly fixed to the bench, like a carpenter's, partly over the bench, like a machinist's, it also has a leg that extends to the floor, so it can support greater weights.

Expert Tip
Vises should be secured to a sturdy stable surface, nothing that can tip over when pressure is applied as you saw or weld.
BestReviews Home Improvement and DIY Expert
  • Handheld vises come in many varieties. There are machine vises (not to be confused with machinist vises) for use with pillar drills and milling machines.

  • Small, lightweight vises, frequently called jeweler's or watchmaker's vises, are miniature versions of the bench vise, but may be able to clamp at multiple angles. Some have suction bases. Jaws are often plastic or nylon so they don't mark delicate components.

Bench vise construction

All metalworking vises share a similar construction. The rear jaw of the vise is part of the base. It has two, three, or four bolt holes to fix it to the bench. The rear jaw does not move forward or backward, but the whole assembly may rotate. An anvil area is often incorporated.

The front jaw is fixed to a slide (sometimes called a beam), which is normally of square section, but with the bottom missing – like an upside-down “U.” Concealed within this slide is a long, heavy-duty, threaded bar. A winding handle is attached, in front of the jaw. Rotation of the handle moves this jaw, closing or opening the vise. Occasionally the beam is a round tube, with the threaded bar inside, though this is not common.

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For your safety
Even a relatively cheap bench vise is a heavy object — thirty pounds is common. A big, heavy-duty model could be twice that. Be careful when you lift it, and when you fix it to your bench. It's a good idea to have someone to lend a hand.
STAFF
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Bench vise materials

A bench vise has to exert considerable grip, and because it performs numerous tasks, it usually takes quite a pounding. Though you shouldn't strike the vise itself with a hammer, it often happens. So, it needs to be tough.

Steel

Low-cost bench vises often use steel, which is light and cheap. It's fine for light duties and for hobbyists, but it doesn't have the high resilience a professional would need.

Cast Iron

The best bench vises are made of cast iron, and two variants can be found: gray iron and ductile iron.

Gray Iron

This material's name isn't about color, rather it's used to indicate the presence of graphite flakes. It's the most common form of cast iron, used in everything from vises to stove tops. It's highly resistant to wear, doesn't rust easily, and isn't affected much by heat. Its only drawback is a lower structural strength than ductile iron. It doesn't take impact well, and in extreme cases can fracture.

For this reason, anvil sections on this kind of vise are often made of a steel plate, welded on. Steel will absorb impact – hammer blows, for example – without cracking, though it is possible to dent it.

Ductile Iron

This also contains graphite, but the particles are round. This gives it considerable extra strength and high ductility – hence the name. As a result, ductile iron is resistant to cracking, and anvil sections can therefore be made from the same material as the main body.

Expert Tip
Use eye protection when using a vise. Steel-toed shoes are a bonus safety measure.
BestReviews Home Improvement and DIY Expert

Bench vise jaws

Except in the very cheapest bench vises, jaws are removable. They come in many different shapes, sizes, and materials.

  • Serrated jaws give good grip, but can mark surfaces.

  • Nylon jaws are less likely to mark delicate or polished surfaces.

  • Pipe jaws have a V-shaped indent, to grip round tubes or bars.

  • Engineers may make their own jaws, to suit specific tasks.

Jaw covers are also available. These can be wooden, plastic, or nylon. They simply slip over the existing jaws for different gripping applications. As with replaceable jaws, engineers often make their own.

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Expert tip
Support the length of long boards or pipes with a prop. Keeping your item level helps you get a better cut, and it helps you avoid injury to yourself and damage to your project.
BestReviews Home Improvement and DIY Expert

Bench vise capacities

Bench vises can hold all objects of all shapes and sizes, but there are some restrictions:

The width of the jaws

Jaws start from just two inches wide, but four inches is common for an entry-level bench vise. It's a good size for a hobbyist's tool. Sizes increase by half-inch or one-inch increments depending on the manufacturer. Six-inch jaws are probably all most home engineers will need, though eight-inch jaws are widely available.

How far the jaws can open

Jaw openings vary enormously. Mostly, they depend on the length of the slide. This can be a major restriction on the size of the item you can hold, so it's important to get it right. Some DIY bench vises only allow an opening of four inches. Professional-grade tools with reversible heads can open as wide as eleven inches.

The distance between the top of the jaws and the slide

This is referred to as the throat depth. Because of the way a bench vise is constructed, throat depth varies little. Even a cheap bench vise will have a throat depth of between two and a half or three inches, yet only a few top-quality models exceed four inches.

Bench vise features

Though a bench vise is an uncomplicated device, there are a few features that make life easier.

Quick release

Many bench vises have a quick-release feature. A finger-operated lever, attached under the front jaw, releases the screw thread. This allows the jaw to slide back and forward freely, and therefore more quickly. Releasing the lever re-engages the thread. The vise can't be fully tightened until this is done.

Swivel base

This is a common and useful addition. It makes it easier to position different parts of the workpiece in front of you, rather than having to move the piece itself. Beware, however, while some rotate through 360°, others may offer considerably less movement.

Rotating head

A few vises have rotating heads that can carry two sets of jaws. This gives fast access to the second set, saving you the time it would take to change jaws completely.

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Expert TIp
Keep all moving parts of the vise clear of debris. Use an old toothbrush to clear any debris out of the vise.
BestReviews Home Improvement and DIY Expert

Safety tips

  • Never wind the front jaw/slide all the way out. They can be very heavy. If they become detached they can fall and cause injury. They can also be extremely difficult to re-align.

  • Never leave a vise closed when not in use. Doing so causes stress that can lead to fractures.

  • Never use extension bars on the handle. The supplied handle will apply the maximum pressure intended. Trying to exert more can potentially damage the vise, or cause injury to the user.

  • When you've finished work for the day, open the vise jaws slightly and leave the handle in the vertical position. If you leave it horizontal, it can catch you at hip height when you pass, leaving a surprisingly painful bruise.

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Whenever possible, position your item such that the working area is close to the jaws of the vise. This reduces flexing or vibration, and gives you greater control.

What does a good bench vise cost?

There are some very cheap bench vises around, but bear in mind that these tools exert a tremendous amount of pressure. Metal fatigue and stress fractures are common with poorly cast models.

You can get get a perfectly good four- to six-inch vise for between $50 and $100, which is not a lot of money for a tool you'll probably never wear out.

If you need greater capacity, or you want to invest in something that will take a lot of punishment, top brand bench vises run from around $150 to $250.

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