By Steven Reid · Last updated on September 23rd, 2026 · 2 Comments
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The best adjustable spanner for plumbing depends on the type of work you do, the size of fittings you usually work on and how wide you need the jaws to open.
I have been a full-time plumber in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK for over 15 years and have used loads of adjustable spanners, from cheap basic models to wider-jaw and slim-jaw versions. Here I’ll show you the ones I think are best for everyday plumbing work.
Best adjustable spanners for plumbing: quick picks
Here are my standout adjustable spanners for plumbing, including my best overall pick plus compact, slim-jaw and larger options for different fittings, spaces and everyday jobs.
Channellock WideAzz 8″
Wide jaw, comfortable grip and my go-to adjustable spanner for everyday plumbing work.
View Channellock on Amazon
Monument 3140Q 6″
Only 150mm (6 inches) long but opens to 34mm, making it very useful for tight spaces.
View Monument on Amazon
Bahco 9031T 8″
Thinner jaws make it useful on fittings where a standard adjustable spanner is too bulky.
View Slim Bahco on Amazon
Monument 3143Z 10″
A larger 250mm spanner with a 50mm jaw opening for bigger plumbing fittings and nuts.
View Monument on AmazonWhat size adjustable spanner is best for plumbing?
You should always choose wide-jaw adjustable spanners for plumbing, as they open much further than standard models and fit a wider range of nuts and fittings.
For most plumbers, a 200mm (8″) wide-jaw adjustable spanner is the most useful size and the first one I would buy. It covers most fittings on 15mm and 22mm pipework while still being compact enough for everyday use, which is why it is one of the first tools I recommend in my best plumbing tools guide.
If you only wanted to carry one adjustable spanner, a good-quality 200mm wide-jaw model would be my choice.
Best adjustable spanner brands for plumbers
The three best adjustable spanner makes are Bahco, Channellock and Monument.
Bahco
German tool maker Bahco is the most popular amongst UK plumbers for the best quality adjustable spanners, and rightly so. To me, Bahco is one of the best adjustable spanner makers.
I have had my first wide jaw Bahco for over ten years using it every day for probably eight years and it still works perfectly without any problems.
It’s worn down slightly because of so much use but it has been abused, used as a hammer occasionally, and has sat in water quite often. But with a little bit of oil and a scrub every now and then, it still works perfectly.
I have the 200mm (8″) Bahco Wide Jaw; the jaw opens up to 38mm, and I have the 200mm Slim Jaw version. The slim jaw means the jaws are thinner for getting into tighter spaces, but it still opens up to 38mm wide.
I also have a 170mm (6″) wide-jaw Bahco adjustable spanner which opens up to 32mm. The other one at the bottom in the photo is an old-school one I was given, which isn’t a wide jaw, so it doesn’t get used.
Bahco wide jaw adjustable spanners on Amazon:
- Bahco 270mm (46mm jaw opening)
- Bahco 200mm (38mm wide jaw)
- Bahco 200mm slim (38mm wide jaw)
- Bahco 170mm (32mm wide jaw)
Channellock
As of quite recently, my American-made Channellock is my best adjustable spanner.
I have the 200mm (8″) Channellock wide-jaw adjustable wrench “WideAzz”, which has a 38mm jaw opening and is what I use more often than my Bahco equivalent now. The handle is fatter and softer so more comfortable and easier to grip properly when you need to force it.
It’s also very well-made, and the smooth flush jaw finish is preferable to the Bahco one. Same size jaw opening as the Bahco also. 200mm (8″) is the most common size for an adjustable spanner and one of the best plumbing tools around.
Check it out on Amazon here: Channellock WideAzz adjustable spanner (38mm wide jaw opening)
Monument
British toolmakers Monument makes very good, reliable, and some of the best plumbing tools.
Monument adjustable spanners are great and solid, and I use two of them regularly. The 150mm (6″) Monument wide jaw opens up to 34mm (wider than the Bahco equivalent) and is nice and short for use on things like bath tap connector nuts. This one lives in my work pants pocket so I always have an adjustable spanner to hand when I’m working.
I also have the 250mm (10″) Monument wide jaw adjustable spanner, which is nice and big – the jaw opens up to 50mm. This size is perfect for gas meter union nuts and is the widest jaw available for a 250mm adjustable as far as I know.
Monument wide jaw adjustable spanners on Amazon:
Best large adjustable spanner
Having a large adjustable spanner as a plumber can help you out of some tricky situations. I don’t use my large adjustable spanners anywhere near as much as my smaller ones but they do save the day when I do.
Stanley demolition wrench
The Stanley FatMax Demolition Wrench is a bit of a gimmicky adjustable spanner for me, but it’s also pretty cool and can be genuinely useful on certain jobs. It combines an adjustable wrench with a hammer and pry bar in one tool.
The jaws only open to 38mm, but at almost 300mm (12″) long, the handle gives you plenty of leverage for loosening stubborn nuts and fittings. The hammer face and pry bar also come in handy for heavier work and demolition jobs.
Super wide jaw
The widest opening adjustable spanner I own has a maximum jaw opening of 68mm, although mine actually opens to around 72mm. It’s made from aluminium, so despite its large jaw capacity, it’s incredibly light and easy to carry around.
I don’t use it very often, but it comes in really handy for large central heating pump valve nuts and other oversized fittings. Its short handle also makes it useful in tight spaces where a full-size adjustable spanner simply won’t fit.
Monument wide jaw 250mm
The 250mm Monument wide jaw is my favourite large adjustable spanner for plumbing. It’s solid, well-made and has a comfortable handle that gives you plenty of leverage when working on larger or stubborn fittings.
The jaws open to an impressive 50mm, giving it plenty of capacity for large nuts and fittings. It’s particularly useful for gas meter union nuts, while still being a practical size to carry in your tool bag for everyday jobs.
Summary
You can’t go wrong with Bahco, Monument and Channellock for wide-jaw adjustable spanners for plumbing.
If I only had one adjustable spanner, it would be the 200mm Channellock WideAzz. Next, I would buy a smaller one to keep in my pocket (mine gets the most use of any), which is the Monument 150mm. It is the best for its size because it has the widest jaw for the shortest length.
Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below, and I’ll do my best to help. If you found this post helpful, please consider sharing it.
I already had the Bahco 9031 but have gone for the Channellock Wide Azz off the back of this article and you’re right it’s mega comfy, it has slightly shorter jaws and imperial measurement on one side with metric on the other. You have a no nonsense approach to reviewing the most common plumbing tools in the UK and advising on which are the best and the most important characteristics of them. I havn’t found this anywhere else. This is invaluable for someone like me just starting out. Thanks Steven!
Thanks Ryan, appreciate the feedback and kind words. Yeah lots of nonsense around off people who don’t use spanners. I’ve spent a lot of time finding and using plumbing tools every day so I know the important things about them and not just the marketing words. Good luck!