Spoke Wrench Selection
This article will review selecting the correct wrench for bicycle spoke nipples.
Preliminary Knowledge
- DC-2 Digital Caliper
Bicycle wheels rely on opposing tension from the spokes to suspend the rim around the hub. Each spoke acts as a skinny fastener, with the spoke being the “bolt” and the nipple being the “nut.”
As a nipple is turned and tightened, the spoke threads are drawn into the nipple, which increase the pulling or tension of the spoke. The process of adjusting spoke nipples and spoke tension is called “truing.” By adding the right amount of tension to the spokes, the wheel becomes strong and spins straight.
Nipples are commonly made of relatively soft materials such as brass or aluminum, both of which can be easily damaged by the wrong sized spoke wrench. There are many different sizes and even shapes of spoke nipples, and having the correct wrench is important.

Square-Shaped Nipples
The common bicycle wheel uses a square-shaped nipple. The best method to determine the correct spoke wrench size is to use a caliper and measure the nipple across the wrench flats.

It is important to know that the diameter, or so called “gauge”, of the spoke does not determine the spoke wrench size. For example, spokes that are 2mm in diameter (so-called “14 gauge”) will fit several different sized nipples and require different wrenches.
The table below lists a variety of square shaped nipple sizes, examples where they can be found, and the appropriate Park Tool wrench.
The Park Tool SW-7.2 spoke wrench is made with the three common spoke wrench sizes equal to the SW-0, SW-1 and SW-2.
3.17mm to 3.24mm square | |
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Typical examples include DT Swiss, Sapim, Wheelsmith, and others | SW-0, SW-9, or SW-7.2 |
3.26mm to 3.30mm square | |
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Typical examples include older bicycles using 2mm spokes such as Union and Torrington spokes | SW-1 or SW-7.2 |
3.36 to 3.46mm square | |
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Typical examples includes many value-priced bikes | SW-2, SW-9, or SW-7.2 |
3.95 to 4mm square | |
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Typical examples include some Shimano® wheels, hub-driven e-bikes, Campagnolo® Scirocco, and heavy duty bikes with “10g spokes.” | SW-3 |
3.70 to 3.75mm square | |
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Shimano® standard 3.75mm square | |
4.2mm to 4.3mm square | |
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Shimano® standard 4.3mm square |
Star-Shaped Nipples
Nipple wrench fittings can also made to be a series of splines or a “star” pattern. Some patterns are proprietary, and wrenches are available only from the spoke manufacturer. The table below shows the Park Tool spoke wrenches for this style of nipple and lists some examples.
3.3mm diameter with 6 splines. | |
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DT Swiss® Tricon nipples | SW-5 |
5.5mm diameter with 6 splines | |
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Mavic® nipples with six splines | SW-13 |
6.4mm diameter with 7 splines | |
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Mavic® R-sys spokes | SW-12 |
9.6mm diameter rim fitting with 6 splines | |
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Threaded rim fittings that hold a square nipple. The fitting is installed with the wrench, but truing is done at the nipple. Examples include some Mavic® rims |
Hex-Shaped Nipples
Hex-shaped nipples appear similar in shape to the common six-sided nut. The Park Tool SW-11 is doubled sided, with ends to fit 5.5mm and 6mm hex-shaped nipples.
Examples of wheels using hex shaped nipples include some wheels from Fulcrum® and Campagnolo®. The 5.5mm side is for brass nipples. The 6mm side is for aluminum nipples.

Internal Nipples
There are wheel designs that place the nipple down inside the rim where they are not accessible from the outside. It is necessary to remove the tire and rim strip to access the nipple.
Manufacturers vary in the size of fitting used for these Internal nipple rims. It is often impossible to reach down inside the rim to measure the wrench flats. Contact the wheel manufacturer for the size of the nipple.

Closeup of internal nipple inside rim

SW-15 spoke wrench used on an internal nipple wheel
Internal nipple shape | Park Tool spoke wrench |
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3.2mm Square | SW-16 or SW-15 |
4.7mm (3/16″) Hex | SW-16.3 |
5mm Hex | |
5.5mm Hex | |
6mm Hex |