The best automatic centre punches, compared.
Top pick: Vylro 3-pack centre punch Best value: Eclipse 65-171R – Highest value part among the listings that are not the top score: about £9, with 4.3 from 1,381 ratings, for timber, hinges and softer metal. Updated October 2026.
An automatic centre punch is a spring-loaded hand tool that puts a small dimple in a marked centre when you press it, so a drill is less likely to skate. In the UK you use one on metal, wood and plastic when the other hand has to hold the work and a hammer swing is awkward. You do not strike the body with a hammer. A suitable punch matches the strike class to the material. A light setting suits wood, plastic, brass and aluminium. Mild steel needs a medium or heavy strike if the dimple has to catch a drill. Stainless and hard stock need a heavier class, or a solid punch and a hammer, when the mark must be deep. The mechanism should trip on every press, and the tip should be one you can replace or regrind. At work, PUWER 1998 requires hand tools to be suitable and maintained. A window-breaker line is not a rescue claim for laminated glass. The checks before you buy are in the [automatic centre punch buying guide](/hub/hand-tools/automatic-centre-punch/sub/automatic-centre-punch-buying-guide).
An automatic centre punch is a spring-loaded hand tool that puts a small dimple in a marked centre when you press it, so a drill is less likely to skate.
42 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
Swipe for more
1-2 of 12
Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you marking?
The Vylro title says three punches and three tips, in two lengths of 12.9 cm and 13.97 cm, with replacement tips at 4.6 cm, a listed weight of 300 g and a shelf price of £7.49. The item-count field says 6. No review text is stored against the 5.0 from one amazon.co.uk rating. The bullets claim a rotating cap, a hardened tip described as CR-V, an anti-slip grip and a chrome-plated surface, and they also claim emergency car-window use without naming a glass type. Nothing on the listing confirms that a tip swap works, or which way the cap increases force. A single 5.0 with no words is not a durability result, and the included-components field only says 6.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are comparing pack claims on the listing, not a reviewed trip.
Less suitable: Anyone buying because the star line says 5.0. There is no text behind it.
Specifications
Common questions
How many pieces does the Vylro listing claim?
The title says 3 punches and 3 tips. The item-count field says 6.
Can you adjust the impact?
Yes. The cap rotates. The listing does not say which direction increases force, and it gives no newton figure.
Are there review texts with the star line?
No. The listing line is 5.0 from 1 review. No review text is stored with that rating.
The Starrett 18A is the mid-size automatic in this set, with the included line at 125 mm and a dimensions field of 25 × 28 × 140 mm. It has 4.7 from 3,736 amazon.co.uk ratings, the largest count here. Many of the first 50 UK texts single out a click that is more reliable than cheap punches that jam or go blunt, including spot-weld drilling and repeated metalwork, and they call it easier to control than the heavier 18C. The strike is still called a little light even on full setting, and it needs a fair push. A minority miss a click or do not fire first time, one tip was blunt after five punches on mild steel, and more than one buyer reported early surface rust in a dry workshop. The point is removable, a spare is not in the box, the material field says stainless steel while the bullets say all-steel, and the listed 5.38 g weight is not a credible tool weight. At £32.00 it is the dearest punch in this capture. It is the top pick because it has the highest score. That is a shelf comparison, not a lab test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You mark general metalwork and you want the largest UK review sample, accepting a lighter dimple than the 18C.
Less suitable: A heavy dent in thick or hard stock, or the lowest price in this set.
Specifications
Common questions
Can you adjust the Starrett 18A?
Yes. The knurled cap regulates the blow. No newton figure is on this listing.
Is a spare point in the box?
No. The included line is one 125 mm punch. The point is removable for regrinding or replacement.
Where does the listing say it is made?
China.
The S&R punch states a 60–130 N band on a turning collar, with a wrist-rest grip and a spare tip, at 14.5 cm and 120 g. It has 4.7 from 215 amazon.co.uk ratings. Many of the first 50 UK texts praise a mark that runs from a light dimple to a deeper strike in steel, including 2.5 mm box section, and they prefer it to cheaper punches that jam. Maximum force needs a firm push, and one review says unsupported soft metals can dimple instead of taking a pinpoint. A smaller group stopped punching after about ten uses, or after about a month and about six uses. The bullets say made in Germany while the origin field is absent, and the handle field says ergonomic plastic against an all-metal body in the bullets. The shelf price in this capture is £22.98.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a printed newton range and a spare tip, and you will press hard for a steel mark.
Less suitable: The largest review sample, or thin aluminium you cannot support from behind.
Specifications
Common questions
What force does the S&R listing state?
60–130 N, set by a turning collar.
Is a spare tip included?
Yes. The bullets include one spare tip and a user manual.
Does it need a hammer?
No. The bullets describe a one-handed spring punch.
The GCNWW pack is three punches listed at 130 mm by 12 mm and 200 g, in high-carbon steel, at £7.99. It has 4.7 from 21 amazon.co.uk ratings, and nine UK texts, several of them a single line. Those texts say it leaves a clear dent and is easy if you press firmly, including when the drilling angle is awkward. No failed mechanism, blunt tip or jam is described in the nine texts, and that sample is too short to treat 4.7 as a durability result. One reviewer marks with a rubber mallet rather than relying on the spring alone. A spare tip and a case are not stated. The bullet also calls it an emergency car-window breaker and names no glass type.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want three knurled punches in one low-priced pack and you can accept a very short review sample.
Less suitable: Anyone treating 4.7 from 21 ratings as proof the spring will keep tripping.
Specifications
Common questions
How many punches are in the GCNWW pack?
Three. The bullets list them as 130 mm by 12 mm.
Is a case included?
Not stated. A listing question asks, and the listing has no answer.
Does the listing say you need a hammer?
No. The bullets say one-handed and no hammer.
The SabreCut AHPSC01 states 60–140 N on a turning knob, with a rubberised grip and a scribe in the title, at 150 g and £24.99. It has 4.5 from 210 amazon.co.uk ratings and 38 UK texts. Many of those texts praise a consistent action on mild steel, aluminium, hardwood and hinge marking, and some buyers used it daily for weeks without a miss. The adjuster feels grainy, the press is firm, and one buyer found it weak on mild steel even at maximum. In the reviews the tip snapped off, broke after about 30 strikes at maximum, or broke on the second use. Tool length is not on the product data. The 23 × 14 × 5 cm line is package-style, and the tip is not listed as user-replaceable. A 230 V line on the listing is not a mains specification.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a printed newton band, a rubber palm and a scribe, and you will watch the tip at the maximum setting.
Less suitable: A spare tip in the box, or a light press that must still leave a deep steel mark.
Specifications
Common questions
What force does the SabreCut listing state?
60–140 N, set by turning the knob. The listing does not need a hammer.
Is a scribe included?
Yes. The title is an automatic centre punch and scribe.
Is a spare tip in the box?
No. A spare tip is not listed. The tip is not described as user-replaceable in the bullets.
The Starrett 18C is the heavy-duty automatic in this set, titled at 5-1/4 in and 11/16 in, with listing dimensions of 13.7 × 2.8 × 1 cm and a weight of 132 g. It has 4.4 from 2,296 amazon.co.uk ratings. Many of the first 50 UK texts describe a heavy indentation in stainless and in 4 mm steel sheet, and they chose it because it hits harder than smaller automatic punches. The spring is stiff: some reviewers need both hands at maximum, and the narrow cap gives the palm little area to push. A repeated fault is a punch that failed to trigger out of the box, or that fires only occasionally. The point is removable for regrind, though a spare is not in the included line, and one trip spring that snapped after about 18 months is described with UK replacement springs unavailable. At £26.46 it is a hard press, and several texts call it too powerful for light DIY.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a heavier dimple in hard metal and you can put a firm press on the cap.
Less suitable: Household woodwork, or one-handed use if the maximum setting will not trip under your hand.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Starrett 18C the heavy model?
The listing calls it heavy-duty and says the blow is heavier than a standard automatic centre punch. It does not print a newton figure.
Do you need a hammer?
No. Downward pressure fires an internal mechanism.
Can the point be replaced?
The point is removable for regrinding or replacement. A spare point is not in the included-components line.
The Starrett 18AA is the small adjustable punch in the 18 series, titled at 4 in and 7/16 in, with the diameter fields also saying 11 mm. It has 4.4 from 759 amazon.co.uk ratings. The 42 UK texts praise a compact mark on aluminium, including car bodies, on wood, and for an electrician working on trunking and Unistrut. Many of those texts say it does not leave a useful dot on mild steel and harder stock. It locks with the spring compressed, jams after a few uses, and one tip flattened on first use. Large hands called it fiddly. The listed weight of 4.54 g is not a credible tool weight, so weight is left unknown. A replacement point is in the included components, at £10.59.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a small Starrett for aluminium, wood and light trunking, with a spare point in the box.
Less suitable: Mild steel and harder stock, if the dimple has to catch a drill.
Specifications
Common questions
Can you adjust the Starrett 18AA stroke?
Yes. The knurled cap adjusts the stroke. The listing does not give a newton figure.
Do you need a hammer?
No. The bullets describe a starter dimple without a hammer.
Is a spare point included?
Yes. Included components list a replacement point, and the point can be removed for replacement or sharpening.
The QWORK listing is two knurled punches at £4.99, with a title length of 5 in and a dimensions field that is a 12.7 cm cube, at 130 g for the pack. It has 4.4 from 329 amazon.co.uk ratings. Several of the first 50 UK texts report a clear mark for drilling and self-tapping screws, including on mild steel, wood and aluminium, and some buyers ordered a second set. The same reviews say the mark is not deep in steel, and that the mechanism does not catch, including only at some angles. One of a pair was dead on arrival in a review, and another failed within about ten punches. A spare tip is not listed. The window-breaker bullet names no glass type, so it is not evidence that this pack will break a laminated windscreen.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the lowest price in this set that still has hundreds of UK ratings, for a light mark.
Less suitable: A deep dimple in steel, or a punch you expect to trip on every press.
Specifications
Common questions
How many punches are in the QWORK pack?
Two. The unit count and the title both say a 2-pack.
Does the listing claim it breaks windows?
A bullet says it can smash car windows in an emergency. No glass type is named.
Is a spare tip included?
No. A spare tip is not listed. The tip is described as chrome.
The SOWBUD pack is two punches listed at 130 mm and 50 g together, in high-carbon steel, at £6.89. It has 4.4 from 87 amazon.co.uk ratings and 16 UK texts. One buyer reports a mark about 1 mm deep in softwood, and some texts use it on mild steel, plastics and for marking a wall before drilling. Other texts call it flimsy and loose, more miss than hit, and little more than a pinprick on wood. The point blunted after three operations on steel in one report, and the automatic action failed after about two weeks on wood, after which that buyer used it as a plain punch. No spare tip is listed. A window-breaker bullet names no glass type.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a second cheap punch for softwood, plastic and light marks.
Less suitable: Repeated steel marking, if the tip has to stay sharp past the first few strikes.
Specifications
Common questions
How many punches are in the SOWBUD pack?
Two. The bullets list them as 130 mm by 12 mm.
Is a spare tip included?
No. No spare tip is listed.
Does the listing claim a window-breaker use?
Yes, as an emergency car-window breaker, without a glass type.
The Oavie listing is a two-punch set at £5.39 and 160 g. The bullets say two punches and one spare HSS tip, the included-components field says no, and the item fields say 3. It has 4.4 from 13 amazon.co.uk ratings, with seven UK texts. Those texts call the strike strong and clean, and one buyer used the lightest setting to remove carburettor float-bowl pins. The fault that comes up in the seven texts is a punch that sticks in the compressed position after a press. Length is not on the listing. The window-breaker bullet names no glass type. Thirteen ratings do not show whether that stick is rare or typical, and HSS on the tip line is not a hardness test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a cheap pair and you will check that a spare tip is actually in the parcel.
Less suitable: A punch that must reset after every press, or a purchase that treats the bullet and the included line as the same fact.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a spare tip in the Oavie pack?
The bullets say one spare HSS tip. The included-components field says no.
Can you set the force?
Yes. A knurled cap adjusts tension. No newton figure is given, and length is not stated.
Does the listing claim a window-breaker use?
Yes. It is described as an emergency car-window breaker, without a glass type.
The Eclipse 65-171R is a one-handed carbon-steel punch listed at 13 cm and 81.6 g, and the listing says a hammer should not be used. Across 1,381 amazon.co.uk ratings it sits at 4.3. Many of the first 50 UK texts use it for hinges, cabinet fittings, timber pilot holes and softer metals, and the knurled head changes the strike. The same texts often call the mark on mild steel too shallow, even at maximum, so a drill can still skate, and one report needed several repeats on 1.4 mm sheet. It does not always fire: some arrived without a click, and others stopped punching at the medium and high settings after little use. Buyers also disagree which way the adjuster increases force. A replacement point is not in this listing’s included components. Origin is China, at £9.00. It is the best value because it has the highest value part among the listings that are not the top score.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a widely reviewed punch under £10 for timber, hinges and softer metal, and you can accept a shallow steel mark.
Less suitable: Mild steel that must hold a drill, or a job that needs a spare tip in the box.
Specifications
Common questions
Do you need a hammer with the Eclipse 65-171R?
No. The listing says a hammer should not be used. The punch fires when you press the knurled head.
Can you change how deep it marks?
Yes. Turning the knurled head adjusts the depth of impression. The listing does not give a newton range.
Is a case or spare point in the box?
No. Included components are the punch only. A case and a replacement point are not listed.
The LeeQunQ pack is two punches at £3.79 and 90 g, and the listing does not print a length. It has 4.1 from 7 amazon.co.uk ratings and two UK texts. One says it is okay for the price and not for heavy-duty use. The other says it is not good, and the problem note is a jam that stopped the punch after three marks. A spare tip is not listed, and the warranty field says no. The material field says high-speed steel and the bullets say a hardened tip, which are listing words rather than a measured hardness. Seven ratings and two texts are the whole UK sample. Origin is China.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the cheapest pair in this capture for a trial on light material.
Less suitable: Steel layout, or any job where a jam on the third mark would stop the work.
Specifications
Common questions
How many punches are in the LeeQunQ pack?
Two. Included components say 2 automatic centre punches.
Is the length stated?
No. Length and diameter are not on the listing.
Does the listing claim it breaks windows?
No. The bullets claim glass marking. Window breaking is not claimed.
Twelve amazon.co.uk listings were scored out of 100. Stars count for up to 35, the review-count band for up to 20, what the UK review texts say about the trip and the mark for up to 30, and value in this set for up to 15. The highest score is the top pick. The highest value part among the other listings is the best value. No laboratory test was done. A steel name on a bullet is not treated as a hardness test.
Stars
35%The amazon.co.uk star rating is divided by 5 and multiplied by 35, then rounded to the nearest whole number. Halves round up. A 4.7 becomes 33. A 4.4 becomes 31. A 4.1 becomes 29.
Review sample
20%3,000 or more ratings score 20. 1,000 to 2,999 score 16. 500 to 999 score 12. 200 to 499 score 9. 50 to 199 score 5. Under 50 scores 2. The count is the amazon.co.uk figure on that listing.
Trip and mark
30%UK review texts are scored on whether the punch trips and whether the dimple suits the material buyers name. Repeated missed trips, jams, a stuck spring, or a tip that fails early reduce the score. A rating with no review text stays low.
Value in this set
15%Shelf price, review count, a spare tip that the included line actually names, and repeated trip or tip failures set this part. The highest value part that is not the top score is the best value.
Before you compare shelf prices, decide the material and whether the other hand must hold the work. Match strike class to wood, soft metal or steel, then check that the punch actually trips. Read the included line for a spare tip, not only the bullets. A knurled pocket punch and a wide palm are different tools once the setting is high. Star ratings help when the review count is large and the texts talk about the mark. A five-star line from one rating, with no text, does not.
An automatic centre punch is a spring-loaded hand tool. You place the point on a marked centre and press the body. A spring trips and drives the point, leaving a small dimple so a twist drill is less likely to skate. UK buyers use one on metal, wood and plastic when the other hand needs to hold the work and a hammer swing is awkward. You do not strike an automatic punch with a hammer. If it does nothing when pressed, that is a failed or unset trip, not a technique you fix by hitting the body.
On the Starrett 18 series, counter-clockwise reduces the strike. On other punches, reviewers disagree which way increases force. Try the cap on a scrap piece before you mark the job.
A low-priced pack or a small adjustable punch can mark wood and aluminium and still leave too little on mild steel. That is a strike-class limit, not a fault you fix by hitting the body.
A press that does nothing is a failed or unset trip. Do not hit an automatic punch with a hammer. Do not keep one that stays compressed or has a chipped tip. At work, a tool that is not suitable is a maintenance problem, not a cue to force it.
The first check is strike class for the material, not the steel adjective on the bullet list. A light tool and a low cap setting suit wood, plastic, brass and aluminium. Mild steel needs a medium or heavy punch if the dimple must catch a drill. Stainless and hard stock are where buyers move to a heavy automatic punch or back to a hammer and a solid punch. The second check is a mechanism that trips, not a point you lean on.
A tip you can replace or regrind matters more than a hardness slogan. Some makers sell separate points. Some boxes include a spare. Many low-priced packs do not name a part you can reorder, and a spare named only in the bullets can be denied by the included-components line. Read both. Grip and size are the next check. A slim knurled body is pocketable. A wide wrist-rest or rubber palm is easier to press hard.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a widely reviewed punch for timber, hinges and softer metal, and you can accept a shallow mark on mild steel. The Eclipse 65-171R is listed at 13 cm and 81.6 g, at about £9, with 4.3 from 1,381 ratings. The listing says a hammer should not be used. The same reviews often call the steel mark too shallow, and some punches do not fire.
You mark general metalwork and you want the largest UK review sample, accepting a lighter dimple than a heavy-duty punch. The Starrett 18A has 4.7 from 3,736 ratings, at about £32. UK texts cite a more reliable click than cheap punches that jam, including spot-weld drilling. The strike is still called a little light on full setting, and a spare point is not in the box.
You need a heavier dimple in hard metal and you can put a firm press on the cap. The Starrett 18C is the heavy-duty automatic in this set, at about £26.46, with 4.4 from 2,296 ratings. Reviews describe a heavy indentation in stainless and in 4 mm sheet. The spring is stiff, and some reviewers need both hands at maximum.
In this set of twelve amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Starrett 18A at about £32. It has the highest score, 4.7 from 3,736 ratings, and UK texts cite a click that is more reliable than cheap punches that jam. The strike is still called a little light on full setting, and a spare point is not in the box. The best value is the Eclipse 65-171R at about £9, with 4.3 from 1,381 ratings, for timber, hinges and softer metal. Reviews often call the mild-steel mark too shallow, and some punches do not fire. None of these scores is a lab test.
Eclipse 65-171R
Highest value part among the listings that are not the top score: about £9, with 4.3 from 1,381 ratings, for timber, hinges and softer metal.
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 and maker sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures captured on 19 October 2026.
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 the amazon.co.uk figures captured on 19 October 2026. We did not lab-test these punches.
