The Best Combination Square
The Stubbornest – Irwin
The Irwin was the clear winner of our testing. It achieved the rare trifecta: it’s built like a tank, square and true, and nearly unbeatable on price. It’s not often a cheaper tool wins in our testing!
DURABILITY
More rugged and durable than the rest
COST
Great cost for how beefy it is
ACCURACY
So square and straight
Pros
Cons
Also Great – Swanson TC132
The Swanson TC132 (not the yellow plastic version) was also great in our reviews. It weighed a substantial amount (meaning it is durable) and was very accurate.
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VIDEO REVIEW
Our video review of the best combination square, showing how we tested.
CANDIDATES
Because there are so many combination squares out there, we started by scouring reviews, looking at materials, and looking for suggestions in the BuyItForLife Subreddit (BIFL). We decided to keep the price under $30, as we believe anything over that is more square than most people need. This eliminated the great squares from Starrett, Woodpecker, and Fowler among others. We think those are great squares, especially if you can find one used or for a deal.
We then narrowed it down to 10 different models under $30 to buy and test. Our engineers looked at durability, materials, accuracy, weight, ruler thickness, thumbscrew diameter, as well as cost and user reviews to help you make an informed decision when buying your next combination square.
We compared squares from several prominent brands: Irwin, Klein, Swanson, Savage (made by Swanson), Johnson, Empire, Mr Pen, Mecurate, and Crescent.
3 – Empire
Summary: The Empire came in third in our testing, and is a descent combination square. It just wasn’t as good as the Irwin or Swanson TC132.
4 – Swanson TC131
Summary: We didn’t like that this had a plastic body. It was too easy to flex and we think it wont last.
5 – Mr. Pen
Summary: The Mr. Pen was light and had a thin ruler. It was ok, but not the best quality. It did come with a mustache sticker, which we liked.
6 – Johnson
Summary: The Johnson would have done much better, except it wasn’t accurate in our squareness test. We liked everything else about this square.
7 – Mecurate
Summary: We were sent the 6 inch version of the Mecurate instead of the 12 inch we ordered. We tried not to let that bias our evaluation. It still is not a great square.
8 – Savage (by Swanson)
Summary: The Savage (also made by Swanson) felt good in the hand and was sturdy. The issue was that it was not accurate. Avoid this square.
9 – Klein
Summary: The Klein was the most expensive square on our list, and uses magnets instead of a set screw. It was not accurate and the magnets didn’t hold as well as the traditional screw method.
10 – Crescent
Summary: The Crescent surprised us as being the worst of the bunch. Crescent usually makes really good tools, but this was not one of them.
ANALYSIS
Stubborn Gear is a small team of mechanical engineers with over 20 years of experience designing hardware for the US Military, so we really know what it takes to build something tough. We put that expertise to work by spotting weak designs and materials that just won’t hold up in the long run.
We put 10 popular combination squares to the test to find the best one under $30. We wanted a reliable, budget-friendly square that stays true and stands the test of time, so we measured each one for accuracy, thickness, weight, readability, and cost.
This matrix shows the weighted scoring for each of the 10 combination squares in our test, with lower scores indicating better performance. The clear winner? The Irwin, followed closely by the Swanson TC132. The Irwin achieved the trifecta: it’s built like a tank, square and true, and nearly unbeatable on price. It’s not often a cheaper tool wins in our testing!
Our findings in the table above include the Stubborn Gear Anvil Score and the price at the time of testing.
We tested each square for the following characteristics:
SQUARENESS
The most important job of a combination square is in it’s name: to make sure things are square. If it can’t do that, it’s not worth having.
There is a simple test to determine squareness, and we recommend using it with any square you own. From a perfectly flat edge, mark a line the length of the steel edge. Then, flip the square over and mark again from the same spot. If there is any distance between the lines, the square is not, well, square.
We tested all 10 squares using this method, and most performed flawlessly. Six out of the 10 passed, with only the Crescent, Klein, Johnson, and Savage squares showing any deviation from true squareness. The matrix below shows how much out of square those 4 were.
WEIGHT
We believe the weight of each square is a reliable indicator of its durability. Generally, heavier materials, like cast iron and stainless steel, lend themselves to sturdier, longer-lasting tools. Lighter weights often signal flimsy materials and lower build quality. Thicker parts resist bending and breaking far better than their thinner counterparts.
At the top of the scale was the Irwin, weighing in at a solid 393.6 grams. Meanwhile the yellow plastic Swanson came in at just 159.8 grams, and didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
READABILITY
We also considered the readability of the text on each ruler. Much like with tape measures, a larger font enhances ease of use, making the square more practical and enjoyable to work with.
Readability might be a bit subjective, but we ranked each one from “clear enough to read without squinting” to “where are my reading glasses.”
THICKNESS
Another key factor we evaluated was the thickness of the ruler. Thicker rulers are more resistant to warping or bending under heavy use, providing better durability. They’re also easier to handle and secure in place without any unwanted flex.
The matrix above displays the thickness measurements of each ruler, with most falling in the .080″ range. We noticed a surprising drop in stiffness when thickness decreased from .080″ down to even .072″.
We recommend going with the thickest ruler for longevity.
KNOB DIAMETER
In discussing about knob diameter, we will not resort to cheap jokes. A larger tightening knob makes tightening (and especially loosening) the ruler far easier and more efficient. All the squares in our testing used knurled knobs except the Klein, which relies on magnets. While convenient in theory, we found the magnetic holding feature of the Klein prone to unwanted movement, making it less reliable. In our opinion, the traditional knob system, trusted for decades, remains the best choice for dependable stability and control.
We ranked each combination square on the diameter of the knob from smallest to largest. The Savage and Empire were at the top of the heap.
REVIEWS
After narrowing down our choices, we scoured the internet for good quality reviews. These can be very hard to find now that fake and paid-for reviews are everywhere.
Sites like ReviewMeta and FakeSpot analyze reviews with their algorithm to eliminate suspicious ones and give an updated score.
The Irwin that is our winner had 12,059 ratings on Amazon as of the time of this review. Fakespot review analysis gave it a score of A, showing that the reviews are accurate and high quality.
AMAZON RATING
4.7
ADJUSTED RATING
4.7
*Disclaimer: We don’t accept payment from any company, so you know our reviews are honest and unbiased. We are completely supported our fans. This page contains affiliate links. That means that we are awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost for you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.