The best nibblers, compared.
Top pick: Gautesy 18 V nibbler, Makita fit Best value: Fujiwara double-head drill nibbler kit – About £31.99 with spares in the box and 158 amazon.co.uk reviews, if you already own a drill. Updated October 2026.
A nibbler punches a narrow strip out of sheet metal, so the panel stays flatter than it would under tin snips, at the cost of a kerf and sharp chips. UK buyers use one for ducting, van panels, flashings and coated roofing, or they fit a cutter in a drill chuck. The useful checks are a millimetre rating for that metal, whether the sheet is flat or ribbed, and punches you can replace. A sales rank does not prove the tool will cross a rib. How to match thickness, shape and drive is in the [nibbler buying guide](/hub/cutting-tools/nibbler/sub/nibbler-buying-guide). This extract is those attachments, one air nibbler rated to 1.5 mm steel, third-party 18 V bare bodies, and the bare tool. Hand nibblers are not among these 12 listings.
A nibbler punches a narrow strip out of sheet metal, so the panel stays flatter than it would under tin snips, at the cost of a kerf and sharp chips.
42 products checked · 56 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What do you already own?
The Gautesy FTA0401-MKG is a bare 18 V nibbler at £79.99 that claims Makita packs such as BL1830 to BL1860, with the battery sold separately. One amazon.co.uk review at 5.0 describes a firm battery click, a three-speed button, and a cut on a 1.7 mm galvanised bracket, which that reviewer noted was slightly over the 1.6 mm iron figure in the paperwork. The listing states aluminium to 1.6 mm and stainless to 1.0 mm, a 360-degree head, and 2.1 kg. The same review found a spare blade, change tools, a side handle, and a debris bag in a foam-lined box, though the included-components line only says 450W Brushless. The title claims 30,000 strokes per minute, which this comparison does not treat as a measured speed. With a sample of one, punch life is unknown.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own Makita 18 V packs and you want the cheaper bare body that at least one UK buyer has used on galvanised sheet around 1.6 mm.
Less suitable: You want a review count you can judge, or you are cutting stainless above the stated 1.0 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a Makita battery in the box?
No. The listing says the nibbler suits existing Makita 18 V packs such as BL1830 to BL1860, and that the battery is not included.
What thickness is stated?
Aluminium sheet up to 1.6 mm and stainless steel up to 1.0 mm. A copper figure is not stated.
How many reviews are there?
The listing shows 5.0 out of 5 from 1 review. That review describes a firm battery fit, three speeds, and a cut on a 1.7 mm galvanised bracket.
The Axelrivet Y-MC01 is a double-head drill kit at £27.99, listed for 1.6 mm carbon steel, 1.2 mm stainless, and 2.0 mm aluminium, at 1,500–3,000 rpm, and the listing says it is not suitable for corrugated steel. Across 5 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.6 stars, a thin sample. The box includes a punch, die, spare blade, circle guide, step drill, and a metal tool box. A detailed UK review describes a learning curve, hot sharp chips, and a grub screw that must be tight before you cut. That reviewer cut 1.5 mm aluminium and Formica with a 12 V drill. The claimed 12 mm radius is a listing figure, not a checked turn. Five reviews are not a durability record.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A flat sheet inside the printed millimetres, if you will practise on scrap and keep the grub screw tight.
Less suitable: Corrugated or box-profile roofing, or a buyer who wants a review count closer to the Fujiwara kit.
Specifications
Common questions
Will it cut corrugated steel?
The listing says it is not suitable for corrugated steel. Carbon steel is listed at 1.6 mm and stainless at 1.2 mm.
What comes in the box?
Double-head cutter, wrench, circle guide, replacement punch and die, a spare blade, a plastic handle, a step drill, and a metal tool box.
What do the reviews warn about?
4.6 out of 5 from 5 reviews. A detailed UK review says there is a learning curve, chips are hot and sharp, and the grub screw must be tight before you cut.
The Makita DJN161Z is the genuine 18 V LXT bare nibbler at £267.99, listed for 1.6 mm mild steel, 1.2 mm stainless, and 2.5 mm aluminium, with a slide switch, lock-on, and anti-restart. Across 353 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.4 stars, the largest sample in this set. UK users describe cladding and corrugated steel on sites with little mains power, one called 1–2 mm aluminium burr-free, and another put about 20 m of cutting on a 5 Ah battery. The battery and charger are not included, and the listing says non-genuine packs invalidate the Makita guarantee. One UK tool stopped after what the buyer called mild work use. Straight lines were harder than with shears for one reviewer, and a tight turn will not steer. Trade sites in the research window listed a bare or configured DJN161 around £420 including VAT, so the Amazon figure is a channel price. It is the top pick here because the published capacities and the review count are the ones you can actually judge.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own Makita 18 V LXT batteries and you want the genuine bare tool in this set, for cladding, light steel, and aluminium inside the printed millimetres.
Less suitable: A one-off flat sheet that a drill kit can finish, or a buyer who needs a printed profile height rather than cladding comments.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the battery and charger included?
No. The title says batteries and charger are not included. The guarantee text says non-genuine batteries and chargers invalidate the Makita guarantee.
What capacities are on the listing?
Mild steel 1.6 mm, stainless steel 1.2 mm, and aluminium 2.5 mm. The listing writes the gauge word as glass.
How is it rated on amazon.co.uk?
4.4 out of 5 from 353 reviews. UK comments include cladding work and aluminium at 1–2 mm, plus one report that the tool stopped after mild work use.
The DEYITONG J0H-KY-1.6 is a bare Makita-fit 18 V nibbler at £106.99, with 4.3 stars from 62 amazon.co.uk reviews, the largest cordless sample after the genuine Makita. One UK reviewer cut 2.5 mm mild steel and called it a workshop bargain if you already have the packs; a roofer preferred the slimmer body on cladding and drip flashings. The same UK comments put the kerf at about 6 mm and found precision cuts difficult, with battery use rising on that 2.5 mm steel. Another UK reviewer said it lasted about 30 minutes at work and was returned. The size field says 2.0 mm maximum, while the bullets give aluminium at 0.098 inches and stainless at 0.048 inches. The battery is not included, and 1,900 strokes per minute sits next to a 2,200 rpm line.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own Makita 18 V batteries and you want the clone body in this set with the most amazon.co.uk reviews, for light sheet and flashings.
Less suitable: You need a published tensile-strength table, or a tool with no early-failure report.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it include a Makita battery?
No. The bullets name BL1830, BL1840, BL1850, BL1860, and similar packs, sold separately.
What thickness is on the listing?
Aluminium up to 0.098 inches and stainless up to 0.048 inches. A size line says maximum thickness 2.0 mm.
What do UK reviews report?
4.3 out of 5 from 62 reviews. UK comments include a 2.5 mm mild-steel cut, about 6 mm of width removed, and one return after 30 minutes.
The Fujiwara VARUN eight-piece kit is a drill-chuck nibbler at £31.99 with a wrench, extra parts, and an iron tool box. Across 158 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.2 stars, the largest sample among the attachments in this set. UK buyers have cut duct doors, van windows, 0.7 mm roofing, profiled sheet, and a 150 mm hole in 1.5 mm galvanised steel. The listing claims up to 2 mm or 14 gauge and names corrugated material, without a stainless millimetre figure. Reviewers say the spindle is short and must be centred, and that a keyless chuck can bind from vibration. Some units would not cut, including one report of failing on card, and one parcel arrived without the guidance arm. At this price, with spares in the box, it is the best value if you already have a drill and the sheet is within that claimed band.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already have a keyed drill, you want the attachment with the longest UK review record, and the sheet is light-gauge steel or aluminium rather than a deep rib.
Less suitable: A first-time chuck setup you will not centre, stainless you cannot match to a millimetre line, or a roofing crown this listing has not measured.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the kit include spares?
The title includes a wrench, extra nibbler parts, and an iron tool box. Reviewers mention spare heads. One said the guidance arm was missing.
What have UK reviewers cut?
Reports include duct doors, van windows, 0.7 mm roofing, profiled sheet, and a 150 mm hole in 1.5 mm galvanised steel. Some units would not cut.
What setup problem comes up?
Reviewers say the spindle is short and must be centred in the chuck, and that a keyless chuck can bind from vibration.
The Draper 70835 is an air nibbler at £35.56, rated to 1.5 mm steel, with an adjustable die for curves, corners, and straight lines. Across 57 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.2 stars. UK comments say it cuts metal easily and is useful for shaped brackets, and that the chips are small and sharp. The listing states neither air pressure nor air consumption, so you cannot size a compressor from this page. Reviews on the listing say the connector is not a standard 1/4 inch BSP fitting. One Irish review said it stopped after five minutes on 1 mm steel, and a non-UK comment stalled on the stated 1.5 mm maximum. It needs a compressor you already run.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A workshop that already has a compressor and a matching inlet, cutting steel around 1.5 mm or thinner.
Less suitable: A garage with no air, or a buyer who needs the consumption figure before ordering the hose.
Specifications
Common questions
Is it cordless?
No. It is air powered and needs a compressor. The listing does not state pressure or air consumption.
What thickness does Draper state?
Up to 1.5 mm steel, with an adjustable die for curves, corners, and straight lines.
What do reviews mention about the fitting?
The listing is 4.2 out of 5 from 57 reviews. UK notes are mostly that it cuts. Reviews on the listing say the connector is not a standard 1/4 inch BSP fitting.
The Funnytek ZY-FN-231013B3 is a double-head drill cutter at £15.99 for flat sheet under 1 mm, including iron, steel, copper, and aluminium, at 1,500–3,000. Across 24 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 3.9 stars. UK comments say thin sheet was easier than snips once the angle was learnt, and that the adapter handle helps, provided the drill has enough torque. One UK reviewer said the tool did not do the job. The listing describes a knob for the gap between the blades and does not confirm a storage case. It is not rated for profiled sheet. A weak drill is reported as a failed cut, which is a limit of the attachment, not a second motor.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Thin flat sheet under 1 mm and a drill with enough torque, if you will practise the feed angle on scrap.
Less suitable: Anything over 1 mm, a weak drill, or a ribbed roof sheet.
Specifications
Common questions
How thick a sheet does the listing allow?
Flat sheet metal less than 1 mm, including iron, steel, copper, and aluminium plate. The speed band is 1,500–3,000.
Is there a storage case?
The listing does not confirm a case. It does describe an adapter handle and a knob for the gap between the blades.
What do UK reviews say?
3.9 out of 5 from 24 reviews. Comments say thin sheet was easier than snips after practice, that you need a good drill, and that one tool did not do the job.
The DYXDYC drill adapter is £17.63, listed for iron and steel at 20 gauge and copper and aluminium at 16 gauge, with no millimetre figure, at a 1,500–3,000 speed band. Across 375 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 3.3 stars, the largest attachment sample and also the noisiest. A minority of UK reviews call it acceptable on flat tin. Other UK comments say it fell to pieces on light-gauge box-profile roofing, that a cutting wheel came off after a few cuts on 0.9 mm sheet, and that parts were missing. Reviewers also report a failure on 0.7 mm aluminium and 1.2 mm metal sheet, and a chuck that would not fit some DeWalt and Makita drills. Plastics are excluded. The low price is why people try it, not evidence it will finish a roof sheet.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A cheap trial on flat scrap, if you treat the 3.3-star record as a warning rather than a bargain.
Less suitable: Box-profile or corrugated roofing, or any sheet you cannot replace after a wheel comes off.
Specifications
Common questions
What thickness is printed?
Iron and steel at 20 gauge, and copper and aluminium at 16 gauge. No millimetre figure is given. Plastics are excluded.
What drill does it need?
A handheld drill working between 1,500 and 3,000. The listing says cutting force depends on drill torque, and an adapter handle is included in the description.
What do UK reviews report?
3.3 out of 5 from 375 reviews. UK comments include the cutter falling apart on box-profile roofing, a wheel coming off 0.9 mm sheet, and missing parts.
The DoublleHui UKEDPC is a drill-chuck plate cutter at £15.99, listed for 0.8–1 mm steel plate and 1.5 mm aluminium, and the listing excludes bent, ribbed, profiled, and welded plate. Across 9 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 3.2 stars, and it is ranked 1 in Nibblers, which is a sales position, not a quality verdict. One buyer trimmed a hob extractor chimney and described easy control. Others say the body fell apart on the first cut, or that a circlip vibrated out and the cutter then shook badly. The listing tells you to reverse the drill if it jams. It has no motor of its own. A review that praises a 360-degree head and 14-gauge cutting is describing features this listing does not state.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A one-off trim on flat household sheet under 1 mm, if you already have a drill and you can return the tool.
Less suitable: Box-profile or corrugated roofing, welded plate, or any job where you need a review record you can judge.
Specifications
Common questions
What steel thickness does the listing allow?
Steel plate is listed at 0.8–1 mm, with a further limit of flat sheet at 1 mm and below. Bent, ribbed, profiled, and welded plate are excluded.
Does this cutter have its own motor?
No. The technical block says no power. It is fitted in a drill chuck.
What do the UK reviews say?
The listing shows 3.2 out of 5 from 9 reviews. One buyer trimmed a hob chimney. Others report the body falling apart or a circlip vibrating out.
The Xiciki LXX24091004 is the cheapest drill attachment in this set at £12.53, listed for 0.8–1 mm steel plate at 1,500–3,000 rpm, and it excludes bent plates, plastics, and high-hardness alloys. Across 24 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 2.9 stars. One buyer said it cuts if you do not rush, and another liked the blade-gap knob on sheet inside the printed limits. Other UK comments say it would not cut a tin can, and that the head would not grip and wandered. The components line says NO, while the bullets mention an adapter handle. Other reviews on the listing report the tool dying within minutes. Reverse the drill if it jams, according to the listing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A cautious trial on flat scrap under 1 mm, if you already have a drill and you treat the price as disposable.
Less suitable: Any sheet that must be finished in one session, or a job thicker than the printed 0.8–1 mm steel band.
Specifications
Common questions
What drill speed does the listing ask for?
1,500–3,000 rpm. Cutting force is described as depending on drill torque. If it jams, the listing says to reverse the drill.
Which materials are excluded?
High-hardness alloys, bent plates, and plastics. Steel plate is listed at 0.8–1 mm.
How is it rated?
2.9 out of 5 from 24 reviews. UK comments include a failure to cut a tin can and a head that would not grip, plus one note that it cuts if you do not rush.
The divinge bare nibbler is listed at £73.99 for Milwaukee 18 V packs, with mild steel 1.6 mm, stainless 1.2 mm, and aluminium 2.5 mm, plus an inside radius of 45 mm and an outside radius of 51 mm. The same bullets also mention Makita owners, which this comparison does not tidy away. There is no customer-review line in the listing, so no UK buyer on the listing has confirmed a cut. The battery is not included. The technical block lists 800 W, 1,900 strokes per minute, and 2,200 rpm, which are not the same figure. Rank 3 in Nibblers is a sales position, not evidence the tool works. Without a star line it cannot be the top pick or the best value here.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own Milwaukee 18 V packs, you can read a millimetre table, and you are willing to buy a tool with no UK review on the listing.
Less suitable: You need a UK buyer who has already cut sheet, or your batteries are Makita only.
Specifications
Common questions
Which battery does the listing claim?
Milwaukee 18 V packs, including 48-11-1820, 48-11-1850, 48-11-1860, and 48-11-1862. The same bullets also mention Makita owners. The battery is not included.
What cutting radius is stated?
Inside 45 mm and outside 51 mm, with mild steel 1.6 mm, stainless 1.2 mm, and aluminium 2.5 mm.
Is there a star rating?
The listing has no customer-review line, so the rating is not available.
The Builrand ORI-U-ZXR0245-MWQ-FBA is a bare cordless body at £84.99 that claims Milwaukee 18 V packs, including 48-11-1850 and 48-11-1860, with one code printed as 8-11-1820. Aluminium is listed at 1.6 mm and stainless at 1 mm; a mild-steel millimetre figure is not stated. The bullets describe a brushless three-speed nibbler with a 360-degree head, a chip bag, and a battery indicator. The technical lines say hand powered. There is no review text in the listing, so no UK cut is on record. The battery is not included. It is not a pick in this set until someone has used it.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own Milwaukee 18 V packs and you are buying a printed aluminium and stainless pair, knowing no UK reviewer has confirmed a cut here.
Less suitable: You need a mild-steel capacity in millimetres, or you want the cheaper divinge listing that at least prints 1.6 mm steel.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a battery included?
No. The bullets exclude Milwaukee 18 V packs and list numbers including 48-11-1850 and 48-11-1860.
What thickness is printed?
Aluminium up to 1.6 mm and stainless steel up to 1 mm. A mild-steel millimetre figure is not stated.
Why is the power source confusing?
The technical lines say hand powered, while the bullets describe a cordless brushless nibbler. Both wordings are on the listing.
This comparison uses the 12 amazon.co.uk listings kept for nibblers, plus the review notes on those listings. It is not a lab test. A sales rank is not a quality score. The weights are Amazon evidence 35, listing completeness 40 and value 25.
Amazon evidence
35%Stars and review count from the amazon.co.uk listing, where a star line exists. A missing star line scores nothing. Points come off for a body that fell apart, a return after minutes, a missing part, or a sample too thin to judge wear.
Listing completeness
40%A readable drive, a thickness in millimetres, an honest line on sheet shape, a head or die claim, a speed figure that does not fight itself, spares in the box, and a power line that matches the title. Gauge-only capacity and a stroke claim that conflicts with other figures cost points.
Value
25%Shelf price in GBP against a thickness you can read and a review record you can judge. Every cordless row excludes the battery. A cheap attachment that fails on the first cuts does not take the best-value place.
Twelve amazon.co.uk nibblers sit on this page, from drill-chuck attachments to one air tool and several bare 18 V bodies. The top pick is the Makita DJN161Z. The best value, if you already own a drill, is the Fujiwara kit. Price on its own is a poor guide: the cheapest plate cutters have the weakest review records, and every cordless body still needs a battery. Use the millimetre line, the sheet shape and the drive you already own. A sales rank in Nibblers is not a reason to buy.
A nibbler punches a narrow strip out of sheet metal. The panel stays flatter than it would under tin snips, and you pay for that with a kerf and with sharp chips. UK buyers use one for ducting, van panels, flashings and coated roofing, or they try a drill-chuck attachment. This extract is those attachments, one Draper air nibbler rated to 1.5 mm steel, third-party 18 V bare bodies, and the Makita DJN161Z bare LXT tool. Hand nibblers are not among these 12 listings.
A title that says 800 W or 30,000 strokes per minute is not a thickness. A stroke claim that fights the other speed figures is not treated as a measured cutting speed. Read the millimetre line for mild steel, stainless and aluminium separately.
Several attachments exclude corrugated, bent, ribbed or welded plate. A flat die jams on a rib. DYXDYC reviews include a cutter that fell apart on box-profile roofing. If the listing does not allow that shape, do not force it.
A nibbler removes a strip. One UK review of the DEYITONG body put that at about 6 mm. Overspeeding a drill attachment, or forcing a blunt punch, is a common way to stall or wander. Where a listing prints 1,500–3,000 rpm, stay inside that band.
A nibbler is only as useful as the millimetre line for the metal you will cut. Makita’s DJN161 instructions allow 1.6 mm steel up to 400 N/mm², 1.2 mm steel up to 600 N/mm², and 2.5 mm aluminium up to 200 N/mm². If the sheet does not fit the thickness groove, do not cut it. Stainless in this set is usually rated at 1.0–1.2 mm, thinner than the mild-steel line on the same tool.
Flat sheet and box-profile or corrugated roofing are different tools. Several cheap attachments say flat sheet only, or not for corrugated, bent, ribbed or welded plate. A flat die jams on a rib. The Axelrivet listing says it is not suitable for corrugated steel. The Fujiwara listing names corrugated material, and UK reviews mention light roofing, which is still not a measured crown. Drive comes next. A drill attachment has no motor and depends on chuck grip, often in a 1,500–3,000 rpm band.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You have a drill and one thin flat sheet. That is who the attachments around £13–£32 are sold to, and also who is most often disappointed by them. The Fujiwara kit is the attachment with the longest amazon.co.uk review record and spares in the box. Centre the short spindle, and do not take it onto a rib the listing has not measured.
You already own 18 V batteries and a lead is a nuisance on site. The Makita DJN161Z is the genuine bare tool in this set, with UK comments on cladding and corrugated steel. The battery is extra, and a Makita-fit body is not that tool.
You already run air. The Draper 70835 is the only air nibbler here, rated to 1.5 mm steel at about £35.56. The listing states neither pressure nor air use, and reviews say the connector is not a standard 1/4 inch BSP fitting. Match the hose before you order.
The top pick is the Makita DJN161Z. Its listing prints 1.6 mm mild steel, 1.2 mm stainless and 2.5 mm aluminium, and amazon.co.uk shows 4.4 from 353 reviews, the largest sample here. The battery is extra, at about £267.99 for the bare tool. The best value is the Fujiwara drill kit at about £31.99 if you already own a drill: 4.2 from 158 reviews, with spares in the box, and a capacity claim rather than a stainless millimetre table.
Fujiwara double-head drill nibbler kit
About £31.99 with spares in the box and 158 amazon.co.uk reviews, if you already own a drill.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources used for this comparison, last checked in October 2026.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through one of these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Scores use the listings and review notes in this comparison. They are not a lab test.
