Pry bars are versatile hand tools used for prying, lifting, aligning, removing, and demolishing objects. When selecting a pry bar, key factors to consider are material, size, tip type, and handle design. Forged carbon steel pry bars offer strength and durability for heavy duty prying tasks. Lighter pry bars made from aluminum or fiberglass work well for delicate projects. Bar length determines leverage and reach – 10 to 18 inches suits most needs. Common tip types include curved, straight, nail pullers, alignment, and demolition. Choose a grip style and handle diameter that feels comfortable in hand. With the properly matched pry bar, you can safely and efficiently perform tasks like opening paint cans, pulling nails, aligning parts, and even light demolition work. Taking care of your pry bar by cleaning after use and storing properly will maintain functionality for years to come.
Our Top Picks For 2025
Craftsman 3 Piece Pry Bar Set
This 3-piece pry bar set from Craftsman includes 12″, 18″, and 24″ pry bars with strike caps for durability. The bi-material handles provide comfort and grip.
The Craftsman 3 Piece Pry Bar Set is a must-have addition for any toolbox. This set includes 12″, 18″, and 24″ pry bars, providing a range of sizes to tackle various jobs. Craftsman pry bars are known for their rugged durability and versatility.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Durable Construction – Forged from high-quality steel and built to last. Integrated strike caps allow the bars to be struck without damaging the handles.
- Ergonomic Handles – Bi-material handles provide a comfortable grip and allow for better control when prying. Reduces hand fatigue.
- Variety of Lengths – With bars of 12″, 18″ and 24″, you’ll have the right pry bar for the job. Reach tight spaces or gain extra leverage as needed.
- Versatile Functionality – Excellent for demolition work, loosening nails, opening crates, removing trim, and countless other prying tasks.
- Compact Storage – Slim design takes up minimal space in your toolbox or truck. Easy to store and transport.
The Craftsman 3 Piece Pry Bar Set provides pro-grade strength and durability to take on the toughest prying jobs. An essential addition for DIYers, mechanics, construction workers, and more.
Titan 4 Piece Pry Bar Set
This 4-piece pry bar set from Titan includes 8″, 12″, 18″, and 24″ screwdriver pry bars with tough polypropylene handles for comfort and durability. The forged carbon steel bars have an angled tip for extra leverage.
The Titan 4 Piece Pry Bar Set provides a versatile range of bar lengths to tackle any prying job. With rugged steel construction and ergonomic handles, these screwdriver-style pry bars are built to withstand heavy prying and demolition tasks.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Durable Steel Bars – Forged from hardened carbon steel with a black oxide finish for strength and corrosion resistance.
- Angled Tip Design – Provides optimal leverage for prying, lifting, removing nails, and demolition work.
- Comfortable Handles – Injection molded polypropylene handles absorb shock and provide a secure grip.
- Variety of Lengths – 8″, 12″, 18″, and 24″ bars allow you to match the right pry bar length with the job.
- Made in Taiwan – Known for high-quality manufacturing and precision engineering.
The Titan 4 Piece Pry Bar Set equips DIYers and professionals with a heavy-duty pry bar assortment for the toughest demolition, remodeling, and automotive jobs.
TEKTON 36 Inch Angled End Handled Pry Bar
This 36 inch angled tip handled pry bar from TEKTON has a high-leverage fulcrum point for heavy prying tasks. The textured handle provides a comfortable grip, and the steel cap allows hammer striking.
The TEKTON 36 Inch Angled End Handled Pry Bar is built for demanding prying and demolition jobs. With an angled tip for optimal leverage and a durable steel construction, this heavy-duty pry bar can handle the toughest tasks.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Angled Tip – Creates a high-leverage fulcrum for efficient prying and lifting. The angled design provides more force.
- Comfortable Grip – Large textured poly handle ensures a secure, non-slip grip for confident handling. Reduces hand fatigue.
- Steel Striking Cap – Solid steel cap allows the tip to be driven into spaces by hammering on the end of the handle.
- Durable Construction – Forged from stout 5/8 inch chrome vanadium steel that resists flexing and twisting.
- Corrosion Resistant – Black oxide finish protects against rust and won’t chip or flake off like paints or chrome.
With unmatched strength and leverage, the TEKTON 36 Inch Handled Pry Bar tackles the most demanding prying jobs. An essential tool for automotive work, construction, demolition, and remodeling.
Irwin 42" Steel Wrecking Bar
The Irwin 42″ Steel Wrecking Bar is a heavy duty pry bar made from durable steel with a rounded 90 degree prying end for extra leverage. It has multiple nail pullers and pointed beveled ends for prying, demolition work, and removing nails.
With its sturdy steel construction and ergonomic tri-lobe handle, the Irwin 42″ Steel Wrecking Bar is designed to withstand tough prying and demolition jobs. This high-performing pry bar provides strength and comfort for general contractors, DIYers, and professionals.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Rounded Prying End – Provides optimal leverage for efficient prying and bending.
- Nail Pullers – Multiple claw-style nail pullers offer flexibility for removing nails.
- Pointed Beveled Ends – Allow for easy penetration into materials and surfaces.
- Tri-Lobe Handle – Contoured handle design enhances grip and absorbs shock.
- Durable Steel – Forged from strong steel to resist bending and wear from heavy use.
With its 42″ length for extra reach and leverage, the Irwin Steel Wrecking Bar takes on nail pulling, demolition, and heavy prying jobs with ease. A must-have tool for any toolbox.
Olsa Tools 4 Piece Impact Pry Bar Set
This heavy duty 4-piece pry bar set from Olsa Tools includes 8″, 12″, 18″, and 24″ bars with pass-through handles and strike caps for impact use. The SVCM steel bars provide strength and shock resistance.
Tackle even the toughest prying and demolition jobs with the Olsa Tools 4 Piece Impact Pry Bar Set. Built with pro-grade SVCM steel, these bars can withstand repeated hammer strikes and heavy loads.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Impact-Grade SVCM Steel – Shock and impact resistant steel exceeds ASME standards for durability.
- Pass-Through Handle Design – Allows forceful hammer strikes without damage. Ergonomic grip.
- Integrated Strike Caps – Ensure hammer force is transferred directly to the bar.
- 4 Useful Sizes – 8″, 12″, 18″, and 24″ lengths provide optimal leverage options.
- Multifunctional Use – Pry, wedge, break apart objects, position machinery.
With pro-grade strength and multifunctional utility, the Olsa Tools 4 Piece Impact Pry Bar Set takes on the most demanding prying and demolition work.
Estwing 18" Forged Steel Pry Bar
The Estwing 18″ pry bar is a heavy-duty, American-made nail puller and prying tool forged from solid steel for maximum durability. Its extreme leverage design produces maximum torque for pulling nails and prying boards.
The Estwing 18″ pry bar is the optimal nail puller for professional contractors and serious DIYers. Estwing has been crafting the most durable, longest-lasting prying tools in the USA since 1923 using high-quality steel.
Key Features and Benefits:
- High leverage I-beam design generates extreme torque for nail pulling and prying
- Forged in one piece from solid steel for unmatched strength and durability
- Angled chisel end for ease of prying and lifting
- Made in the USA from American steel
- Trusted Estwing quality – built to last a lifetime of heavy-duty use
With its smart leverage design, solid steel construction, and angled chisel tip, the Estwing 18″ pry bar is the go-to choice of professionals for demanding demolition, remodeling, and construction jobs. This classic American-made tool will provide a lifetime of rugged performance.
STEELHEAD 15" Heavy Duty Flat Pry Bar
The STEELHEAD 15” heavy duty flat pry bar is a rugged, American-made nail puller and demolition tool forged from durable carbon steel. Its integrated nail puller slots and thin, strong chisel tip generate extreme prying power.
The STEELHEAD 15” flat pry bar is the ideal nail puller for professional contractors and avid DIYers. STEELHEAD uses top-quality carbon steel to forge the most durable, longest-lasting prying tools right here in the USA.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Integrated nail remover with 3 slots at different angles to extract the most stubborn nails
- Thin, strong chisel tip gets into tight spaces and maximizes prying leverage
- High-visibility bright orange enamel finish prevents losing your tool
- Forged from heat-treated carbon steel for superior strength and durability
- Made in the USA from American steel
- Lifetime US-based support and warranty
With its integrated nail puller, optimized chisel tip, and rugged American-made steel construction, the STEELHEAD 15” flat pry bar is the ideal choice for demanding demolition, remodeling, and construction jobs. This heavy-duty tool will provide a lifetime of hard-working performance.
Mayhew 14" Line-Up Pry Bar
The Mayhew 14” line-up pry bar is a professional-grade, American-made alignment and prying tool forged from durable alloy steel. Its tapered end aligns metals and woods, while the angled chisel end provides extra leverage.
The Mayhew 14” line-up pry bar is the go-to choice of professional mechanics and tradespeople. Since 1856, Mayhew has used top-quality American steel to forge the strongest, longest-lasting automotive and industrial hand tools.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Long, tapered end to precisely align and adjust metals and wood
- Angled chisel tip generates extreme prying leverage
- Durable shot-blast finish for corrosion resistance
- Forged from rugged alloy steel for superior toughness
- Made in the USA from American steel
- Trusted Mayhew quality – built to last a lifetime
With its smart dual-end design optimized for aligning and prying, the Mayhew 14” line-up bar is the ideal choice for professional mechanics, contractors, and avid DIYers. This American-made tool provides a lifetime of precise, rugged performance.
ROTATION 4-Piece Heavy Duty Pry Bar Set
The ROTATION 4-piece pry bar set includes 8”, 12”, 18”, and 24” bars forged from durable alloy steel with integrated strike caps and angled tips for maximum prying power.
The ROTATION 4-piece heavy duty pry bar set is the ideal demolition and automotive tool kit for professional mechanics and DIYers. ROTATION uses top-quality alloy steel to forge pry bars with optimized leverage right here in the USA.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Includes 8”, 12”, 18”, and 24” pry bar lengths for versatility
- Integrated strike caps prevent handle damage during hammer strikes
- Angled tips generate extreme torque for lifting, prying, and pulling
- Forged from hardened alloy steel for superior strength
- Rubberized handles provide a comfortable, non-slip grip
- Made in the USA from American steel
With its complete range of sizes, strike caps, and optimized leverage design, the ROTATION 4-piece heavy duty pry bar set is the perfect addition to any pro or DIY toolkit. This rugged American-made pry bar set is built to provide a lifetime of demanding use.
Sunex 4-Piece Pry Bar Set
The Sunex 4-piece pry bar set provides a versatile range of pry bars forged from durable alloy steel with comfortable vinyl grips. This quality 4-piece set equips pros and DIYers for demanding demolition, construction, and automotive jobs.
The Sunex 4-piece pry bar set delivers professional quality pry bars in a convenient set. Sunex uses heat-treated alloy steel to forge pry bars renowned for strength and durability.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Set includes 8″, 12″, 18″, and 24″ pry bars for versatility
- Forged from heat-treated alloy steel for maximum toughness
- Comfortable vinyl grips provide a secure hold and absorb shock
- Ground and polished pry bar blade edges easily penetrate materials
- Durable construction stands up to heavy prying and demolition tasks
- Convenient 4-piece set equips pro and DIY users for most jobs
With a range of bar lengths and durable steel construction, the Sunex 4-piece pry bar set provides professionals and hobbyists with a high-quality, versatile pry bar assortment for the toughest jobs.
Beyond Lifting and Prying: Unconventional Uses of Pry Bars
Unveiling the Versatility of Pry Bars
Pry bars have traditionally been used for basic tasks like lifting, prying, scraping, and pulling. Most people are familiar with flat pry bars and crowbars being utilized in construction, demolition, and shipping industries to open crates, pry apart boards, remove nails, and conduct heavy-duty demolition work.
However, these versatile tools have far more uses beyond their conventional applications. With some creative thinking, pry bars can be repurposed for tasks one may not initially consider them suitable for.
In this blog post, we will first do a quick overview of the common uses of basic pry bar types like flat bars and crowbars. Then, we will explore some innovative and unconventional ways that these tools can be utilized for more creative endeavors and in unexpected situations.
Traditional Uses of Pry Bars
Prying, Scraping, and Pulling with Flat Pry Bars
Flat pry bars are commonly used in construction, demolition, and shipping industries. Their beveled edges and curved rocker heads provide leverage for prying up floorboards, removing molding, scraping off surfaces, pulling out nails, and separating wooden boards.
Nail pullers are a type of flat pry bar specifically designed for removing nails. The beveled notch at the end helps grip nails for easy pulling.
Leveraging Crowbars for Heavy-Duty Tasks
Crowbars feature a curved, claw-like edge on one end and a flat edge on the other. The curved end provides first-class lever action for heavy prying tasks while the flat end serves as a second-class lever for additional functions.
Wrecking bars are extra-long crowbars designed for demolition work. Their length generates substantial force for tearing down walls or breaking through tough materials.
Thinking Outside the Toolbox: Creative Applications
Artistic Metalwork and Sculpture
The strong, steel construction of pry bars makes them suitable for metal bending, cutting, and shaping. With some skill, one can utilize pry bars in creative ways to craft artistic metal sculptures, decorative items for the home, or custom furniture pieces.
The curved, claw end of a crowbar provides an interesting aesthetic for modern-style sculptures or decorative racks. Meanwhile, the flat end of a wrecking bar can hammer and bend metal sheets into customized wall art or room dividers.
Emergency Situations: Pry Bars as Multi-Functional Tools
During emergencies like natural disasters or accidents, quick access to a versatile tool can be invaluable. Pry bars have the strength and leverage to pry open stuck doors, break through debris, or cut seatbelts.
Keeping a pry bar in vehicles provides drivers with a potential escape option if trapped after a crash. Pry bars can also remove manhole covers if access to underground pipes or tunnels is needed.
Automotive Repairs: Using Pry Bars as Makeshift Handles
During automotive repair work, pry bars can provide additional leverage if a stubborn part refuses to budge. Placing a pry bar through holes or gaps in the vehicle frame and using it as an improvised handle adds torque for tough jobs.
If makeshift jack stands are needed, a stacked pair of pry bars under vehicle jacking points can support the car at a reasonable height for minor repair work.
Landscaping Innovations: Removing Roots and Obstacles
The digging and prying functionality of wrecking bars makes them suitable for invasive root removal when landscaping. Stubborn tree roots can crack foundations, pavements, or pipes over time. Carefully using a pry bar provides a controlled method for removing the offending roots without damaging the rest of the tree.
Pry bars are also handy for dislodging or breaking up packed soil, small boulders, or other landscaping obstacles before removal.
Pushing Boundaries: Stories of Unconventional Pry Bar Use
Case Studies in Creative DIY Projects
Amateur metalworker Simon Reynolds utilized pry bars while crafting a customized treehouse for his children. He bent and bolted together wrecking bars to form a unique curved exterior frame complementing the surrounding forest. Scrap steel sheets leftover from previous home projects were then welded onto this frame to create a quirky and functional playhouse.
Stay-at-home mom Amanda Parkes put her pry bar to work in a tricky living room DIY project. Removing old coving to update her home’s interior molding seemed impossible until Amanda used a flat pry bar to carefully wedge and dislodge the firmly adhered shapes. This affordable tool saved substantial time and money by minimizing drywall repairs.
Inspiring Innovation with Unexpected Pry Bar Solutions
When a broken elevator trapped residents in an apartment building during a storm, superintendent Milos Kovac improvised a daring solution. Using a flat pry bar and rope, he pried open the stuck elevator doors enough to create a controlled exit. One by one, Milos helped lift residents through the narrow gap to safety.
Research scientist Lakshmi Rajendran unexpectedly discovered her building’s steam tunnels while investigating a basement leak. Retrieving an accidentally dropped tool soon turned into an afternoon of exploration using her crowbar to pry open tunnel hatches. Lakshmi’s photos of forgotten underground passages went viral and created calls to reopen this lost space.
Encouraging Creativity: Embracing the Unexpected with Pry Bars
As we have seen, pry bars have untapped potential beyond construction and demolition applications. Their durability, strength, and leverage lend themselves well to unconventional and creative uses.
We should remain open to reimagining the possible applications of the simple tools around us. You may be surprised what you can accomplish with some innovative thinking.
The next time you are tackling an unexpected challenge, take a moment to consider if a humble pry bar could provide an ingenious solution. Do not limit yourself to the intended purpose of any tool. Instead, get creative with materials at hand – you never know what you might achieve!
