A ratchet wrench includes ratchet wheel rotatably received in a compartment of a body. A pawl is movably received in the compartment and includes a first side having a toothed section engaged with teeth of the ratchet wheel and a second side having a pressing face. A switch is pivotably mounted to the body and operatively connected to a first end of a spring. A second end of the spring presses against the pressing face of the pawl. The spring is a helical compression spring including an intermediate section between the first and second ends. Each of the first and second ends and the intermediate section includes a plurality of adjoining turns. The adjoining turns of the intermediate section are spaced from each other and form a compressible portion. The adjoining turns of the second end of the spring abut against each other and have no gaps therebetween.