Top tools
Pocket-hole jigs
Two Kreg pocket-hole jigs for joining boards with screws: a small clamp-on jig and a benchtop jig that sets itself to the board's thickness.
Our picks
Small clamp-on jig
Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig 320
Our pick for a small, low-cost jig: two drill guides you clamp onto the board, so it works on long boards and big panels that won't fit in a benchtop jig.
Benchtop jig
Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig 720
Our pick if you drill a lot of pocket holes: push the handle down and it clamps the board and sets itself to the thickness, so there's nothing to adjust between 1/2 in. and 1 1/2 in. stock.
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Photo credits
- Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig 320: Image: Kreg product image
- Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig 720: Image: Kreg product image
Each price is the one we saw at that store on the date beside it. Prices change, so check the store before you buy.
What to look for in a pocket-hole jig
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Clamp-on or benchtop. A small jig clamps onto the board, so it handles long boards and big panels. A benchtop jig holds the board for you and is faster when you have many holes to drill (Woodshop Diaries; Woodsmith).
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Thickness settings. Most jigs have stops for 1/2, 3/4 and 1 1/2 in. stock. Odd thicknesses take more setup on a manual jig; a self-adjusting jig sets itself (Bob Vila; Kreg).
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A clamp. Small jigs need a separate clamp; benchtop jigs have one built in (Kreg; Woodshop Diaries).
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The bit and collar. The stepped bit and stop collar set the hole depth. Set the collar for the board’s thickness before you drill (Kreg).
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Room in your shop. A benchtop jig is tall and takes two hands to carry, so think about where it will live (Saws on Skates, reviewing a Kreg-supplied jig). Our joinery tip compares pocket screws with dowels and biscuits.
How we picked
We didn't hands-on test these. We picked them by reading independent tests and reviews (Bob Vila, Woodsmith, Woodshop Diaries and The Home Woodworker) and a Saws on Skates review of a Kreg-supplied jig, checking Kreg's spec pages, and checking prices at Rockler and The Home Depot. Every pick has at least three independent sources from at least two different outlets, including at least one independent test or review. They're all linked with each pick, along with what each one found. Bob Vila's hands-on test of the 320 is from January 2024, and the Saws on Skates review of the 720 was last updated in March 2024. Kreg supplied the 720 that Saws on Skates reviewed. For the 720, our three independent sources are Woodsmith, Woodshop Diaries and The Home Woodworker, whose top pick is the 720 PRO kit (the same jig plus a docking station). We also searched the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database on Oct 22, 2026 and found no recall for either jig. Prices, review counts and links were last checked on ; prices and stock change, so check the store before you buy.
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Some outlets we cite get review samples from tool makers; we don't use pieces a maker paid for or sponsored.
We pick tools from independent tests and reviews, not our own testing.