The best linear motors, compared.
Top pick: Gugxiom 100 mm actuator Best value: DTGN 125 mm mini actuator – A complete 125 mm, 128 N spec at about £21.99, the lowest price here. Score 60. The star line is 4.0 from one review, and the box had no instructions. Updated 22.10.2026.
A linear motor on amazon.co.uk is an electric linear actuator, not a magnet-track drive. A small DC motor turns a screw that extends a rod, or a crank shuttles. In the UK, people buy one to lift a hatch, open a vent, move a camper bed, or tilt a ground-mounted panel. A usable listing states stroke, retracted length, force in newtons, speed, voltage and an ingress mark together. Those checks are set out in the [linear motor buying guide](/hub/electrical-equipment/linear-motor/sub/linear-motor-buying-guide). A screw ram extends, stops, and is often claimed to hold. A reciprocating unit will not hold a hatch. Match 12 V or 24 V to the supply you already have. Under IEC 60529, IP65 is dust-tight and protected against water jets, not immersion. IP54 is dust-protected and splash-proof. If the closed length does not fit the gap, the stroke does not matter. A title that disagrees with a bullet on force is a weaker buy than a listing whose figures agree. A high-force ram is not a powered-gate kit and not a device that lifts a person.
A linear motor on amazon.co.uk is an electric linear actuator, not a magnet-track drive. A small DC motor turns a screw that extends a rod, or a crank shuttles.
38 products checked · 61 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What should the rod do?
The Gugxiom ram is £33.29 at 24 V, with a 100 mm stroke and 750 N in the title, and the star line is 5.0 from three reviews. Speed, ingress rating, closed length, and a duty percentage are not in the file, so you cannot tell how long the body is when the rod is in. The only saved review is labelled Germany, calls it inexpensive, and says it fitted that project, with no fault named. Holders and retaining pins are included. The page asks whether it works in the cold and does not answer. Electric beds are named as a use, and there is no medical-device mark. A 5.0 from three reviews, one of them outside the UK, does not fill in the missing speed. You would only shortlist it if your supply is already 24 V and 100 mm is the travel you measured.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Your supply is already 24 V and you have measured a 100 mm travel with room for an unknown body length.
Less suitable: You need a speed, an IP mark, or a closed length before you order.
Specifications
Common questions
What stroke and force does the title give?
Maximum stroke 100 mm and 750 N, at 24 V. Retracted length, speed, and IP rating are not in the saved listing.
Does the listing say it works in the cold?
The page asks that question and does not answer it. No temperature range is printed.
What does the saved review say?
One review, labelled Germany, says it was inexpensive and fitted the project. It names no fault. The star line is 5.0 from 3.
The JQDML 450 mm ram is £67.99 for 1500 N at 10 mm/s on 12 V, closed at 590 mm and open at 1040 mm. The star line is 5.0 from two reviews, and the file has no review text, so the stars do not say what was moved. IP65, end stops, a hold claim, and two brackets are stated. Duty percentage is not in this file, unlike the 300 mm sibling that prints 10%. Maximum current is 5 A and working power is also given as 40–50 W, which do not agree at 12 V. A controller is not included. The stroke is long for a mid force, and you are buying the printed pair rather than a crowd of UK reports. You would skip it if you need either the 3000 N push or a review that describes months of use.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have measured a 590 mm shut length and 1500 N at 10 mm/s is the pair you want.
Less suitable: You want 3000 N, a stated duty cycle, or review text before you pay £67.99.
Specifications
Common questions
What are the closed and open lengths?
Retracted length 590 mm, extended length 1040 mm, stroke 450 mm. No-load speed is 10 mm/s and maximum load is 1500 N.
Is a duty cycle printed?
Not in this saved listing. Maximum current is 5 A and working power is given as 40–50 W. IP65, a limit switch, and self-locking are stated.
Are there saved reviews?
The star line is 5.0 from 2. The saved listing has no review text.
This JQDML mini is £28.99 for a 200 mm stroke, 188 N, and 5 mm/s on 12 V, closed at 263 mm and open at 463 mm. The star line is 5.0 from one review, and the saved listing has no review text, so the five stars do not describe a job. Load current is printed at 0.3 A and no-load current at 0.1 A, which is more electrical detail than the cheaper mini. IP54 is the code, while the title says waterproof. The bullet weight is 0.225 lb including a bracket and the technical details say 127 g, so the mass is not a single figure. Two brackets are in the box and a controller is not. You get a longer stroke than the £21.99 mini, though you still have a one-review line and a weight conflict to live with.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want about 200 mm of light 12 V travel and you can accept a single unpublished review.
Less suitable: You need UK review text, a settled weight, or more than 188 N.
Specifications
Common questions
Are mounting brackets in the box?
Yes. The package line is one 12 V mini actuator and two mounting brackets.
What stroke and force are printed?
Stroke 200 mm, retracted 263 mm, extended 463 mm, maximum load 188 N, no-load speed 5 mm/s, IP54.
Is there any saved review text?
No. The star line is 5.0 from 1 review, and the saved listing has no review text.
The JQDML 550 mm ram is £74.99 for 400 N at 34 mm/s on 12 V, closed at 700 mm and open at 1250 mm. That speed is several times the 5 mm/s of the 3000 N ram, and the force is a small fraction of it. The star line is 5.0 from one review, with no review text in the file. IP65, end stops, a hold claim, and two brackets are stated. Duty percentage is not in this file. Maximum current is printed as 5 A and working power as 40–50 W, the same mismatch as on the slower siblings. A light panel or a vent that must cross half a metre quickly is the job the numbers describe. A heavy hatch that needs the 3000 N figure will stall this rod, whatever the single five-star line suggests.
Pros
Cons
Best for: The load is within 400 N and you need a long, fairly quick 12 V stroke with IP65 printed.
Less suitable: You are lifting against a heavy hatch or you wanted the 3000 N figure at a higher speed.
Specifications
Common questions
Why is the force so much lower than the 3000 N ram?
This listing pairs 400 N with 34 mm/s no-load speed and a 550 mm stroke. The 3000 N listing in the same brand is 5 mm/s. Both figures are the seller's numbers.
What has to fit when it is closed?
Retracted length is 700 mm and extended length is 1250 mm. Weight is 1.86 kg. Two brackets are included.
Is the 5.0 based on review text in the file?
The star line is 5.0 from 1. The saved listing has no review text.
The JQDML 700 mm ram is £89.99, the dearest screw ram in the set, for 300 N at 45 mm/s on 12 V. Closed length is 820 mm and open length is 1520 mm, so the body is long before the rod moves. The title says waterproof and the spec says IP54, which is splash protection, and the duty line is 10% with no time window. It is the only listing here that names wire colours: blue to positive and brown to negative to extend. Load current is 4.5 A, working power is 40 W, and the page suggests a 12 V 10 A supply. The star line is 5.0 from one review and there is no review text. A controller is not included. You are paying more than the 3000 N ram for speed and stroke, at about a tenth of that push, and the waterproof word does not upgrade IP54.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a long, fast, light 12 V stroke and you will follow the blue and brown note on this listing only.
Less suitable: You need 3000 N, jet protection, or a price below the slower heavy ram.
Specifications
Common questions
Which way round are the wires?
The listing says blue to positive and brown to negative to extend, and the reverse to retract. That colour note is on this ASIN only.
Is it the same protection as the IP65 rams?
No. This one is IP54. The title still says waterproof. Retracted length is 820 mm, stroke 700 mm, force 300 N, no-load speed 45 mm/s, duty 10%.
Is there review text behind the 5.0?
The star line is 5.0 from 1. The saved listing has no review text.
The Justech 12 V ram is £28.99, and the amazon.co.uk line is 4.4 from 146 reviews, the largest count in this set. The title says 1000 N and 12 in, while a bullet says 3000 N or 660 lb and does not restate the stroke, so you cannot pick one force from the page. No-load speed is 5 mm/s and the loaded speed is printed at 3.5 mm/s, which is the only loaded speed in this comparison. IP65, limit switches, and a manual are stated, and closed length is not. In the saved text the two reviews labelled United Kingdom are both short and negative: one says it would lift a couple of feathers, and one says it worked for a day. The rest of that file is labelled Germany, France, the United States, and elsewhere, so 146 is not a UK-only sample. At this price the conflict on force is the reason to leave it, unless you already know which figure is on the unit you will receive.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have already confirmed which force is on the unit in your hand and you only need the 12 in title stroke.
Less suitable: You are choosing between 1000 N and 3000 N from the listing text, or you want a UK review that describes a successful fit.
Specifications
Common questions
Which force figure is on the listing?
The title says 1000 N. A bullet says 3000 N / 660 lb. Both are printed. The page does not choose between them.
Are the 146 reviews a UK-only set?
The star line is 4.4 from 146 on the amazon.co.uk page. In the saved text, two reviews are labelled United Kingdom and both are negative. The others are labelled Germany, France, the United States, and elsewhere.
What protection does the bullet claim?
IP65, limit switches, self-locking, and over-current, overload, and over-voltage protection. One non-UK review says it did not cut out on overload.
The JQDML 300 mm ram is £57.99 for a stated 3000 N push at 5 mm/s on 12 V, closed at 430 mm and open at 730 mm, and the amazon.co.uk line is 4.2 from 40 reviews. UK texts in the file describe a solar tilt and a camper bed, and more than one of them calls the rod slow. One buyer timed about a minute for full extension, which matches 300 mm at 5 mm/s as arithmetic from the listing. The same file includes a UK buyer who reports three units that died while the power was off. IP65 is printed, and the listing still says to add protection for long-term outdoor use. Duty is 10% with no time window, a remote and a 12 V 5 A adapter are not included, and the page also prints brass against an aluminium-alloy bullet plus 5 A beside 40–50 W. It is the least incomplete heavy ram here, if you can accept the pace and that failure report.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a slow, high-force 12 V push over 300 mm and you have read the powered-off failure review.
Less suitable: You need a fast rod, a controller in the box, or a ram with no reported sudden failures.
Specifications
Common questions
How long is it when closed?
Retracted length is 430 mm and extended length is 730 mm, for a 300 mm stroke. No-load speed is 5 mm/s.
Does IP65 mean leave it out in all weathers?
The listing says IP65 and also says to add protection for long-term outdoor use. It mentions dust, splashing, and light humidity.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
The star line is 4.2 from 40. Saved UK reviews praise limit switches and strength on solar tilt and a camper bed, and they repeatedly call it slow. One buyer reports three units that died while powered off.
This JQDML unit is £59.99 and it shuttles rather than extending and staying there. Stroke adjusts from 30 mm to 150 mm, the title speed is up to 120 rpm on 24 V, and a speed regulator is in the box. The star line is 4.2 from 15 reviews, and the saved texts are labelled United Kingdom. Buyers describe a chapel bell, an arts lab, and a push that stayed useful through the cam. One of them says the potentiometer on the supply was unwired, so the actuator started at full speed, and they treated that as an injury risk and replaced the supply. There is no single newton rating, no IP mark, and no claim that it holds a load when you switch it off. Another buyer wanted more stroke and more torque than this range gives. It belongs in a workshop motion job, and it is the wrong part if a hatch has to stay open.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 24 V crank that keeps moving, with a stroke you can set between 30 mm and 150 mm.
Less suitable: You need the rod to stop and hold, or you need a printed force in newtons.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a ram that stays extended?
No. The listing is a reciprocating actuator with an adjustable stroke from 3 cm to 15 cm and a maximum of 120 rpm. A speed regulator is included.
What force is printed?
No single newton rating. The bullet says torque changes with stroke and speed: shorter stroke, higher torque; higher speed, higher torque.
What did UK reviews say about the supply?
The star line is 4.2 from 15. One UK review says the actuator was fine for an arts lab but the potentiometer was unwired, so it started at full speed. Another wanted more stroke and torque.
This JQDML crank is £68.99, with an adjustable stroke from about 30 mm to 150 mm, thrust printed as 3–40 lb, and a maximum of 120 rpm at 24 V. A speed regulator is included, and the star line is 4.0 from 10 reviews. One UK review says the motor was too weak for that job. Another describes a mains lead that looked too thin, with both cores grey, a fuse without quartz sand, and a Kitemark with a backwards S. The spec block does not state an AC input for this ASIN, so that plug is a review report rather than a printed supply. There is no IP mark and no hold claim, which is what you would expect from a shuttle. A sibling listing states the opposite relationship between speed and torque, so the thrust rule is not consistent across the brand page. Treat the plug description as a reason to inspect any mains lead before you use it, not as a lab finding.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 24 V shuttle in the 30–150 mm band and you will check any mains lead before you plug it in.
Less suitable: You need a holding ram, or you will not inspect a plug that a review has already queried.
Specifications
Common questions
What thrust and stroke are printed?
Stroke adjusts from 1.18 in to 6 in. Thrust is 3–40 lb, with a stated maximum of 40 lb. Maximum no-load speed is 120 rpm at 24 V.
Does the spec say the supply is mains?
No AC input is printed for this ASIN. The package is the actuator and a speed regulator. A UK review describes a mains lead and rejects the plug.
What did that UK review say about the plug?
One of three saved UK reviews says the lead looked too thin, both cores were grey, the fuse had no quartz sand, and the Kitemark had a backwards S. Another review says the motor is too weak. The star line is 4.0 from 10.
The DTGN mini ram is listed at £21.99 for a 125 mm stroke, 128 N, and 4 mm/s on 12 V, with the body at 188 mm closed and 313 mm open. The only amazon.co.uk review, which makes the 4.0 line, calls it powerful for the size and says 12 V was easy to power. That same review says the box had no instructions, so the wiring came from videos. IP54 is the printed mark, splash protection rather than a soak, and the bullet still names indoor and outdoor use. Brackets, screws, and nuts are included, and a controller is not. At 128 N this is a light job, and one review is too thin to treat as a durability record. You would move on if the hatch needs more than 125 mm of travel.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a short 12 V ram for a light hatch or panel and 125 mm of travel fits the shut gap.
Less suitable: You need hundreds of newtons, a documented duty cycle, or a review sample larger than one.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say it can be used outdoors?
The bullet gives IP54 and says the mini ram suits indoor and outdoor use. IP54 is the printed mark. The listing does not claim immersion.
What load and voltage are printed?
12 V DC, 128 N (28.8 lb), and 4 mm/s. Stroke is 125 mm, retracted length 188 mm, extended length 313 mm.
What does the saved UK review say is missing?
The only saved review says there are no instructions in the box, and that videos were needed for wiring. The star line is 4.0 from 1.
This JQDML kit is £133.99, the top price in the set, and the saved listing has no Customer Reviews line, so there is no star rating to lean on. You get a reciprocating actuator, a stand that adjusts from 0 to 180 degrees, a speed controller, and a 100 mm suction cup. Input is stated as AC 100–240 V with output DC 1–24 V, and the title also says 24 V. Thrust is 3–40 lb and speed is up to 120 rpm, which is the same band as the cheaper cranks, plus the stand. A bullet says non-stop running and does not give a duty percentage. Item weight is 3.7 kg and a motor net weight of 3.32 lb is also printed, so the mass is two figures. There is no IP mark and no hold claim. You are paying for the bench hardware, and you have no review text to say whether the plug or the cup behaved.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a bench shuttle with a stand and a stated mains input, and you accept a listing with no reviews.
Less suitable: You need review evidence, a holding ram, or a lower price for the same 3–40 lb band.
Specifications
Common questions
What comes in the box?
One reciprocating actuator, an upgraded stand with a 0–180 degree adjustment, a speed controller, and a 10 cm suction cup.
What supply does the listing state?
Input AC 100–240 V and output DC 1–24 V. The title also says 24 V. Thrust is 3–40 lb and maximum no-load speed is 120 rpm.
Is there an Amazon star rating in the saved listing?
No Customer Reviews line is present, so there is no star rating and no saved review text.
Eleven amazon.co.uk listings were scored from the shelf on 19 October 2026, with notes applied on 21 October 2026. This is not a lab test. A newton figure, an IP mark, a duty percentage, or a waterproof word in a title is a listing claim. These rows are screw rams or crank shuttles, not direct-drive linear motors. A one-review 5.0 does not outrank a larger count, and a title that disagrees with a bullet does not get full marks for fit.
Amazon evidence
25%The amazon.co.uk star rating is divided by 5, then multiplied by 25 and by a count factor. The factor is 1.0 at 40 reviews or more, 0.75 from 15 to 39, 0.50 from 8 to 14, 0.25 from 3 to 7, and 0.12 for one or two reviews. No star line scores 0. Half values round up.
Listing fit
40%A clear mechanism, stroke with a closed and open length, a force figure, a speed, a voltage, an IP mark, and a duty line you can read as printed. A title that fights a bullet, a current and a wattage that do not agree, or a missing speed or IP mark, lowers this part.
Review outcome
20%UK themes about whether the rod did the job, how slow it felt, and whether it failed. One or two reviews, or a star line with no saved text, cannot take the full 20. A large count that is mostly labelled outside the United Kingdom is not a UK sample.
Value
15%Shelf price against the job the listing actually supports. The lowest price does not win when the force line contradicts itself. The dearest kit does not win with no star line. A complete mini spec at the bottom of the set can still be the value row.
Start with the mechanism, then stroke and closed length, then force and speed as a pair. Voltage, ingress and duty come after. The notes below follow that order for these 11 amazon.co.uk listings, checked on 19 October 2026. None of the scores is a lab test.
On amazon.co.uk, a linear motor in this category is an electric linear actuator. A DC motor drives a screw that pushes a rod, or a crank shuttles. It is not a direct-drive magnet-track motor. UK buyers use these parts for hatches, vents, camper beds and occasional panel tilt. A usable listing states stroke, retracted length, force in newtons, speed, voltage and an IP mark together.
IP65 is dust-tight and protected against water jets. IP54 is dust-protected and splash-proof. Neither mark is immersion. A title that says waterproof does not raise an IP54 line, and one IP65 listing still says to add protection outdoors.
In this 12 V family, 3000 N is listed at 5 mm/s and 300 N at 45 mm/s. The printed newtons assume a guided, axial load. The fast rod will not do the heavy job.
If the closed length does not fit, the stroke does not matter. A 5.0 from one review, with no saved text, is weaker than 4.2 from 40. A 10% duty line with no time window is not a pump.
Decide whether the rod must hold. The screw rams here run from the DTGN 125 mm at 128 N and 4 mm/s to the JQDML 300 mm at 3000 N and 5 mm/s, the 450 mm at 1500 N and 10 mm/s, the 550 mm at 400 N and 34 mm/s, and the 700 mm at 300 N and 45 mm/s. Closed length is printed on those JQDML rams and on the DTGN. The Justech title says 12 in and does not print a closed length, and it says 1000 N in the title and 3000 N in a bullet.
Match 12 V or 24 V to the supply you already have. The JQDML 300 mm, 450 mm and 550 mm rams print 5 A and 40 to 50 W together, which do not agree at 12 V. The 700 mm listing is the only one with wire colours: blue to positive and brown to negative to extend. IP65 is printed on the 300 mm, 450 mm, 550 mm and Justech rams. IP54 is printed on the minis and on the 700 mm, whose title still says waterproof. A 10% duty line, with no time window, is printed on the 300 mm and the 700 mm.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You can fit brackets and a reversing switch, and you have measured a 430 mm closed length. The JQDML 300 mm ram is about £57.99, with 4.2 from 40 reviews, at 3000 N and 5 mm/s. UK reviews call it slow, and one reports three failures while the power was off.
You want a crank that shuttles, not a ram that holds a hatch. The JQDML reciprocating actuator is about £59.99, with 4.2 from 15 reviews, stroke from 30 mm to 150 mm, and a speed regulator in the box. One UK review says the potentiometer was unwired, so it started at full speed.
You need about 125 mm of travel and the load is within 128 N. The DTGN mini is about £21.99, with IP54, brackets and screws in the box. The only review is 4.0, and that buyer had no instructions.
In this set of 11 amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the JQDML 300 mm ram at about £57.99, with 4.2 from 40 reviews and a score of 81. It states 3000 N at 5 mm/s, a closed length of 430 mm, IP65 and a 10% duty line. The best value is the DTGN 125 mm mini at about £21.99, score 60, with stroke, 128 N, 4 mm/s and IP54 printed at the lowest price. The star line is 4.0 from one review, and that buyer had no instructions. Neither score is a lab test, and these rows are screw rams or crank shuttles, not direct-drive linear motors.
DTGN 125 mm mini actuator
A complete 125 mm, 128 N spec at about £21.99, the lowest price here. Score 60. The star line is 4.0 from one review, and the box had no instructions.
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 are listed below. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures checked on 19 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. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the UK listings checked on 19 October 2026. We did not lab-test these linear motors.
