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Home & Kitchen
Swanson Speed Square Value Pack — the original layout square, in two sizes
Swanson Speed Square Value Pack (7 in and Big 12 in)
Reviewed by the WhyToBuyThis team · Updated September 2026 · How we choose
Perfect for
- Carpenters & DIYers
- Framing & rafters
- Circular saw guide
- Under $25
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Price: $16.50
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- Great gift ideaChosen for real-world gifting
- Hand-pickedCurated, not scraped
- Honest reviewThe catch, not just the hype
Why this gift works
Albert Swanson invented the Speed Square in 1925, and Swanson still makes it. This value pack (SW1201K) pairs the classic 7-inch Speed Square - die-cast aluminum with deep black-filled degree, rafter and hip-valley scales, made in Frankfort, Illinois - with the Big 12 12-inch Speed Square, which has plain markings and no layout bar, plus Swanson's Blue Book of rafter tables.
Swanson calls the speed square five tools in one - try square, miter square, saw guide, line scriber and protractor - and it lives on nearly every carpenter's belt. The 7-inch aluminum speed square goes everywhere; the 12-inch speed square reaches across wider boards and stair stringers, and both carry the degree, common rafter and hip/valley scales.
Who is this gift for?
Great for
- A DIYer who marks cuts with a tape and a guess
- Someone starting to frame sheds and decks
Think twice if
- They already carry a Swanson square
The catch
The 12-inch square's markings are plain rather than black-filled, so they are harder to read than the 7-inch, and there is no layout bar in this pack.
Skip for a woodworker who already has a Swanson square on their belt and does mostly fine furniture work, where a combination square matters more.
Key specs
| Brand | Swanson Tool Co. |
|---|---|
| Pack | SW1201K value pack |
| Includes | 7 in Speed Square (S0101), Big 12 Speed Square (T0108), Blue Book |
| 7 in material | Heavy-gauge die-cast aluminum, black-filled markings |
| 7 in scales | Degree, common rafter, hip/valley |
| 7 in heel | 7/8 in, holds the square against the board edge (maker) |
| 7 in weight | 0.68 lb (maker) |
| 7 in made in | Frankfort, Illinois (maker) |
| 12 in | Aluminum, plain markings, no layout bar; degree, common and hip/val scales |
Worth knowing before you buy
- The 12-inch square has plain markings and no layout bar.
- Swanson gives the 7-inch a 1-year limited warranty.
Why we like it
- The original speed square, from its inventor
- Two sizes for small and wide boards
- Die-cast aluminum that survives a tool belt
How to use a speed square
- Square and 45-degree lines: hold the heel (the raised lip) tight against the edge of the board. Mark along the edge that runs straight across the board for 90 degrees, or along the long diagonal edge for 45 degrees.
- Any angle: hold the pivot point - the right-angle corner - against the board edge and swing the square until the angle you want on the degree scale lines up with that same edge. Mark along the edge that starts at the pivot point.
- Rafter plumb cut: with the heel over the rafter's top edge and the pivot point held tight against it, swing the square until the roof's rise on the COMMON scale - 5 for a 5-in-12 roof - lines up with the same edge. The line you mark from the pivot point is the plumb cut. Hip and valley rafters use the HIP-VAL scale the same way.
- Saw guide: hook the heel over the board edge, hold the square firmly and run the circular saw's base plate along its edge for a straight 90-degree cross cut.
What to look for in a speed square
- Readable markings. Filled or etched markings stay readable after years of use.
- Size. 7-inch for everyday cuts; 12-inch for wider boards and stair work.
- Metal body. Aluminum survives drops and doubles as a saw guide.
- Scales. Degree, common rafter and hip/valley scales cover angles and roof framing, not just square cuts.
Questions people ask
The 7-inch Speed Square, the Big 12 12-inch Speed Square and the Blue Book reference booklet.
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