The best concrete pokers, compared.
Top pick: DCSYOG 1500 W 35 mm poker Best value: KATSU 21 V cordless poker – Largest set of reviews at £69.99, tool only, if you already own a Makita LXT pack. Battery fit is the repeated complaint. Updated October 2026.
A concrete poker is a head on a flexible shaft that fluidises fresh concrete so trapped air can rise. You meet the short machines on fence posts, pads and strip footings. Site crews more often hire a 110 V or petrol poker with a much longer shaft. These six amazon.co.uk listings have 35 mm or 50 mm heads and shafts of about 1–2 m. They are not 7 m high-frequency site pokers. Judge the head against the steel, the shaft against the depth, and the power source against whether the listing agrees with itself. Two listings contradict themselves: petrol against a 220 V title, and ac against an included battery. The [concrete poker buying guide](/hub/flooring-tools-and-accessories/concrete-poker/sub/concrete-poker-buying-guide) puts head, reach and power in that order.
A concrete poker is a head on a flexible shaft that fluidises fresh concrete so trapped air can rise. You meet the short machines on fence posts, pads and strip footings.
22 products checked · 52 hrs invested · +18,400 readers
Swipe for more
1-2 of 6
Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What head does the steel allow?
The DCSYOG listing is the lowest price in this set, at £59.00 on amazon.co.uk, and the title states a 1500 W electric poker with a 35 mm rod and a 2 m hose. The technical table on the same listing says the power source is petrol, and neither the plug type nor the item weight is given, so the file does not tell you what you would actually plug in or start. amazon.co.uk shows 5.0 from one review. That reviewer used it on a foundation pour and reported no overheating on that job, which is one afternoon, not a pattern. The bullets claim a self-locking switch and 4200 rpm, and those figures are seller claims rather than a measured result. A 2 m hose is the useful part of the title if the power line were settled, and it is longer than the 1.2 m KATSU shaft, but a contradictory listing is a poor place to save about £11.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the cheapest 2 m title in this set and you will confirm whether it is electric or petrol before you pay.
Less suitable: A site that needs a known battery tool or a 110 V supply, or any pour where a listing that disagrees with itself is not acceptable.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the DCSYOG poker electric or petrol?
The title and the wattage line say a 1500 W electric motor at 220 V. The technical table says the power source is petrol. The listing does not resolve that clash, and the plug type is not stated.
What head and hose does it list?
The title states a 35 mm rod and a 2 m hose. The bullets claim a self-locking switch and a speed of 4200 rpm. Item weight is not in the file.
What do the reviews say?
The file has one United Kingdom review, matching the 5.0 score from 1 review. That reviewer used it on a foundation pour and reported no overheating on that job. One review is not a pattern.
The Hanchen SY 74C is the only 50 mm poker in this set, listed at £235.00 with a 2 m hose, a claimed 1500 W motor and a package weight of 12.8 kg. amazon.co.uk shows 4.8 from 26 reviews. Two United Kingdom reviews say it worked on homemade concrete bases without getting hot, and that it was very powerful. A French review called the 2 m length bulky, which matches a package of 75 × 45 × 13 cm that you will not tuck into a car boot without thinking. Voltage and plug type are not stated, and the table says no battery is included or required, so this is a mains-style electric only as far as the title goes. There is no stated speed and no lock-switch line in the file. A 50 mm head needs a wider gap in the steel than the 35 mm tools, and the British Ready-Mixed Concrete Association’s published radius of action for a 50–75 mm head is about 180–350 mm, which is the guide’s figure rather than a test of this listing. If your steel will take 50 mm and you can lift 12.8 kg, this is the top pick in the set for a small base, and it is still a 2 m hobby shaft rather than a 7 m site poker.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Your steel gap takes a 50 mm head, you can lift 12.8 kg, and the concrete you need to reach sits within a 2 m hose.
Less suitable: Tight reinforcement, a trench deeper than the hose can reach, a site that needs a documented 110 V tool, or a day when 12.8 kg is too much to carry.
Specifications
Common questions
How big is the Hanchen 1500 W poker?
The title states a 50 mm rod and a 2 m hose, and 1500 W. The package weight is 12.8 kg and the package measures 75 x 45 x 13 cm. Voltage is not stated.
Does it include a battery?
No. The technical table says batteries are not included and not required. The title calls it an electric concrete vibrator. Plug type is not in the file.
What did UK reviewers say?
Two United Kingdom reviews in the file say it worked on homemade concrete bases without getting hot, and that it was very powerful. A French review called the 2 m length bulky. The listing score is 4.8 from 26 reviews.
Across 73 amazon.co.uk reviews, the KATSU 102713 is the most discussed poker in this set, at £69.99, with a stated 35 mm head, a 1.2 m shaft and up to 3200 rpm. It is a tool-only body: the listing says batteries and a charger are not included, and the bullets name Makita LXT packs such as the BL1850 and BL1830 while also saying 18 V or 21 V. Reviewers use it on small pours, and the repeated complaint is the battery shoe: packs sit tight, drop out, or need filing, including on packs reviewers describe as genuine Makita. The head can work loose, and vibration often does not start until the end is tapped or the tool is held level. The package weight is 5.12 kg, which is manageable beside the 12.8 kg Hanchen 50 mm, though a 1.2 m shaft still stops at a shallow hole. The cast-aluminium gear housing in the bullets does not match reviewers who describe a plastic body. If you already own a Makita LXT pack and you can live with a fussy shoe, this is the best value here; if you need a battery in the box, the £69.99 price is only the start.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own a Makita LXT pack and you are compacting a shallow job that a 35 mm head and a 1.2 m shaft can reach.
Less suitable: You need a battery in the box, a hose longer than 1.2 m, or a shoe that accepts every Makita pack without filing or tape.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the KATSU poker include a battery?
No. The listing says batteries are required and not included, and that no charger is supplied. The bullets name Makita LXT packs such as BL1850 and BL1830, and also say 18 V or 21 V.
How long is the shaft?
The bullets state a 1.2 m rod with a 35 mm diameter. Stated speed is up to 3200 rpm. The package weight is 5.12 kg.
What do reviewers complain about?
Across the reviews in the file, the repeated complaint is battery fit: packs are tight, drop out, or need filing. Reviewers also say the head can work loose and that vibration may not start until the end is tapped.
The Hocomay FHF0023-02 is listed at £82.99 with a claimed 1500 W motor, a 35 mm working end, a 10 mm core, a 2 m length and 4500 rpm, and the package weight is 7.5 kg. The technical table says the power source is ac and, on a separate line, that a lithium-ion battery is included, while the bullets describe a copper motor and a lock grip rather than a cordless body. Voltage and plug type are not stated, so you should not treat the battery line as a pack you can charge. amazon.co.uk shows 4.0 from one review. The bullets and that review both say the head can spin without vibrating until you tap the metal end on something solid, including after a pause. A power-lock grip is claimed, which matters once the tap has worked, because you will not want to hold a trigger in wet concrete. One review and two power stories is a thin reason to spend more than the KATSU.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 2 m, 35 mm listing and you accept a tap on the metal head at the first start and after every pause.
Less suitable: You need a settled mains plug, or a battery you can see in the box and charge before the concrete arrives.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Hocomay poker need a tap to start?
Yes. The bullets say the first start, and a restart after a pause, can spin without vibration until the metal head is tapped on formwork. The only review says you have to wait while the end starts shaking.
Is it mains or battery?
The technical table says the power source is ac and, separately, that a lithium-ion battery is included. The bullets describe a copper motor and a lock grip, not a cordless body. Voltage and plug type are not stated.
What size is the head?
The bullets state a 35 mm working end, a 10 mm core and a 2 m total length, at a claimed 1500 W and 4500 rpm. The package weight is 7.5 kg.
The Kistrba T99-MWK is a Milwaukee M18 tool-only poker at £109.95, with a stated 35 mm head, a maximum of 3500 rpm and an item weight of 4.45 kg. The battery is not in the box, the bullets name M18 packs such as 48-11-1850, and they advise 4.0 Ah or higher so the tool does not shut down on overload. amazon.co.uk shows 3.9 from four reviews. Two UK reviews describe a one-metre hose, which is the shortest reach in this set and is not printed as a length in the technical table, and one of them says the hose is a reverse thread. Two UK reviews also say the manual mentions a shoulder strap that was not in the box, with nowhere on the body to clip one. A hold button and a tap to start the head appear in those notes as well. You are paying a mid-set price for an M18 shoe and a hose that reviewers put at about 1 m.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You own a Milwaukee M18 pack of 4.0 Ah or more and the pour is shallow enough for about a metre of hose.
Less suitable: You need reach past about 1 m, a shoulder strap in the box, or a battery included in the £109.95.
Specifications
Common questions
Which battery does the Kistrba poker take?
The bullets say a Milwaukee M18 18 V pack and list part numbers such as 48-11-1850. They advise 4.0 Ah or higher to avoid overload shutdown. The battery is not in the box.
How long is the hose?
The technical table lists a flexible shaft rod and a 35 mm diameter in the bullets, but not the length. Two UK reviews describe a one-metre hose with a vibrating head. One review says the hose is a reverse thread.
Is a shoulder strap included?
Two UK reviews say the manual mentions a shoulder strap that was not in the box. One adds that the body has nowhere to attach a strap. The included-components line lists only the flexible shaft rod.
The Hanchen YC 30 is listed at £235.00, the same shelf price as the 50 mm Hanchen in this set, with a claimed 1080 W motor, a 35 mm head, 4000 rpm and a package weight of 6.76 kg. The title and the size line state a 1.5 m hose, while the bullets say 1.0 m and 1.5 m hoses can be supplied, so you need to check which hose is actually on the order. Voltage and plug type are not in the file. amazon.co.uk shows 3.7 from 22 reviews, the weakest star line here. Of nine reviews in the file, one says the inner spring broke and the needle stopped vibrating, and another says it sometimes vibrates and sometimes does not. Two UK reviews say it settled concrete on small to medium jobs, which is a real use rather than a broken-on-arrival story for every buyer. A lock switch is claimed, so you would not have to hold the trigger if the head is actually vibrating. At this price the 50 mm sibling has the stronger review file.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You specifically want this 1.5 m, 35 mm electric and you have read the 3.7 score before you pay £235.00.
Less suitable: You want the stronger review file at the same price, a known UK plug, or a head you can trust to keep vibrating.
Specifications
Common questions
What hose length is this Hanchen?
The size line and the title state a 1.5 m hose. The bullets say 1.0 m and 1.5 m hoses can be supplied. Head diameter in the bullets is 35 mm, at a claimed 1080 W and 4000 rpm.
Does it have a lock switch?
The bullets say a power/lock switch so the trigger does not have to be held, plus an ergonomic handle. Voltage and plug type are not in the file.
What failed in the reviews?
Of nine reviews in the file, one says the inner spring broke and the needle stopped vibrating, and one says it sometimes vibrates and sometimes does not. Two UK reviews say it settled concrete on small to medium jobs. The score is 3.7 from 22 reviews.
Six amazon.co.uk listings were scored from stored prices, stars and review counts. There was no compaction test. A 5.0 from one rating is not a proved pour. The published caps are 30 for stars, 16 for review volume, 25 for listing agreement, 15 for UK fit and 10 for price. Those caps total 96 before deductions, so the weights on this page are the same parts scaled to 100. Deductions for a contradictory power line sit inside the product scores. They are not a sixth weight.
Amazon stars
31%Round half up from the amazon.co.uk star line: (stars ÷ 5) × 30 on the published sheet, shown here as 31 so the five parts sum to 100. The star line is not the editorial score.
Review volume
17%Published cap 16, shown here as 17. 50 or more reviews score the top of this part, 20–49 sit just under it, 4–19 are low, and a single review is near the bottom so one 5.0 cannot outrank a larger set of reviews.
Listing agreement
26%Published cap 25, shown here as 26. Head, shaft, weight and drive need to agree. A cordless system with a stated shaft scores lower when voltage wording or the housing material disagrees. A table that says both ac and an included battery, or petrol against an electric title, scores low.
UK review fit
16%Published cap 15, shown here as 16. A finished small base with a complaint about bulk scores higher than a long set of reviews whose repeated fault is battery fit. A single pour, or a note that only says tap to start, stays low.
Price
10%Published cap 10, kept at 10. Useful, coherent kit per pound on the shelf prices. The largest set of reviews at £69.99, if you already own the battery, scores higher here than a cheaper listing whose power line contradicts itself.
Choose a concrete poker by the steel gap, the depth you can reach, and a power source the listing does not contradict. Watts are the last line to read. The six cards on this page are short amazon.co.uk tools. A hire poker with a long hose is a different product. The notes below follow the British Ready-Mixed Concrete Association guide, HSE construction electricity advice, and the Enar selection note. They do not certify any listing to BS EN 206, BS 8500 or BS EN 13670.
A concrete poker, also called a poker vibrator, is a vibrating head on a flexible shaft. You insert it into fresh concrete so trapped air can rise. UK householders meet the short amazon.co.uk versions on fence posts, pads and strip footings. Site crews more often hire a 110 V or petrol poker with a shaft of several metres. The six tools on this page have 35 mm or 50 mm heads and shafts of about 1–2 m. They are not 7–10 m high-frequency site pokers, petrol shaft drives or air pokers.
A 1500 W line does not tell you the head size, the hose length, or whether the listing is electric, petrol or cordless. DCSYOG and Hocomay both claim 1500 W and both contradict themselves on the power source. Read the head and the power line before the wattage.
KATSU at £69.99 and Kistrba at £109.95 do not include a battery or, on the KATSU, a charger. A spare Makita LXT or Milwaukee M18 pack is part of the price. The Hanchen SY 74C price is for the tool, and the table says no battery is required.
Fresh concrete left to harden on the head or the hose is a common way to ruin a short poker. Do not drag the mix sideways with the head. The BRMCA guide says that segregates the concrete. Stop when the large bubbles stop, except on slabs and very wet mixes.
Head diameter is the first check because the head has to pass the steel and then act on the concrete around it. The British Ready-Mixed Concrete Association’s published radius of action is about 130–250 mm for a 35–40 mm head and about 180–350 mm for a 50–75 mm head. That table is the guide’s figure. It is not a measurement taken on these six listings. Five tools here are 35 mm: KATSU, Kistrba, the Hanchen YC 30, Hocomay and DCSYOG. Only the Hanchen SY 74C states a 50 mm rod.
The power line has to agree with itself before the wattage is worth reading. On a building site, HSE prefers a battery tool or a 110 V centre-tapped supply, and a 230 V poker needs a 30 mA RCD. None of these listings documents a 110 V plug. KATSU is a tool-only body that names Makita LXT packs and also says 18 V or 21 V, at £69.99, with no battery or charger. Kistrba names Milwaukee M18, advises 4.0 Ah or higher, and is also tool only at £109.95.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You have fence posts or a shed base for one afternoon, and a Makita LXT pack already. The KATSU 102713 is the best value in this set at £69.99, tool only, with a 35 mm head and a 1.2 m shaft. Reviewers report packs that sit tight, drop out, or need filing.
The steel gap takes a 50 mm head and you can lift 12.8 kg. The Hanchen SY 74C is the top pick: a stated 2 m hose at £235.00, and 4.8 from 26 reviews. Two UK reviews report homemade bases. Voltage is not stated, and 2 m is not a site hose.
You own an M18 pack of 4.0 Ah or more and the pour is shallow. The Kistrba is £109.95, tool only, with a 35 mm head. UK reviews put the hose at about 1 m. Two reviews say a shoulder strap mentioned in the manual was not in the box.
The top pick is the Hanchen SY 74C, at £235.00, with a stated 50 mm head, a 2 m hose and 4.8 from 26 reviews. Two UK reviews report homemade bases without the motor getting hot. Voltage and plug type are not stated, and you have to lift 12.8 kg. The best value is the KATSU 102713 at £69.99 if you already own a Makita LXT pack. It is tool only, the shaft is 1.2 m, and the repeated complaint is battery fit. The DCSYOG is cheaper at £59.00 and is not the value case, because the title says 220 V electric and the table says petrol.
KATSU 21 V cordless poker
Largest set of reviews at £69.99, tool only, if you already own a Makita LXT pack. Battery fit is the repeated complaint.
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.
Sources taken from the research digest. Listings were checked in October 2026.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Scores follow the published method and the amazon.co.uk listings. They are not a lab test.
