Abstract: The universal socket adapter is a multitiered drive adapter that can be attached to the head of a drive, such as a ratchet drive. The adapter has an upper socket stop at the female end for stopping upward axial travel of a socket mated to the uppermost drive tier of the tool. The upper socket stop has a drive-receiving bore adapted for accepting the drive of a driver tool, such as a ratchet drive. A plurality of drive tiers are integrally formed and extend away from the upper socket stop to form the male end of the adapter. Each adapter drive tier is successively smaller than the one above it. All of the drives are disposed concentrically below the upper socket stop so that each drive tier can accommodate a corresponding drive-size socket.