The best clamps, compared.
Top pick: ZFFAFUR cabinet filler clamp Best value: WORKPRO 150 mm ratchet bar clamp, 2-pack – Highest value part among the other listings, at about £12.99, with a 150 mm jaw and a 60 mm throat printed. The 8,917-review line is shared with the 305 mm pair. Updated October 2026.
A clamp is a hand tool that holds work while glue sets, while you drill or screw, or while you keep a corner square. UK buyers mostly meet one-handed bar clamps, spring clips, small screw G clamps and 90 degree kits. A wide panel, a bowed edge or heavy framing needs a sash or parallel clamp. Check the steel bar, the jaw opening, the throat depth and pads that stay on the jaw. The figure in a bar-clamp title is the opening along the bar, not the throat. Measure the stack, including any caul, and leave a margin. Opening, throat and stated force are three different numbers, and a longer bar does not deepen the throat. Stated kilograms are a maker claim. Loose pads, hard plastic that marks wood, and rust on a steel bar in a damp shed are the usual faults. A positioning square may only register 90 degrees. It does not pull a joint closed on its own. Choosing type, opening and throat is set out in the [clamp buying guide](/hub/hand-tools/clamp/sub/clamp-buying-guide).
A clamp is a hand tool that holds work while glue sets, while you drill or screw, or while you keep a corner square. UK buyers mostly meet one-handed bar clamps, spring clips, small screw G clamps and 90 degree kits.
42 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you holding?
The ZFFAFUR ZF-010001 is a one-touch cabinet filler clamp at £10.88, built to hold a filler strip while you scribe and trim. The listing weight is 10 g, in ABS and nylon, with rubber cushions. Across 3 amazon.co.uk reviews the star line is 5.0, and those three texts describe a steady hold without naming a fault. No jaw opening and no force figure are printed. A listing question about whether the rubber pads can be replaced is not answered in the bullets. Score 56 is that 5.0 line pulled down by a three-review sample and the missing measurements. Buy it for scribing cabinet fillers, and leave it out of a panel glue-up.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Scribing and trimming a cabinet filler strip when you wanted a dedicated one-touch hold
Less suitable: A glue-up, a backdrop, or anyone who needed a printed jaw and a review file
Specifications
Common questions
What job is this clamp for?
The listing describes holding filler boards for marking, trimming and cabinet fitting. It does not give a jaw opening or a force figure.
Are the pads replaceable?
A listing question asks. The bullets do not say whether the rubber pads can be replaced.
How many reviews are there?
The listing shows 5.0 from 3 reviews. Those three reviews describe a steady hold and do not name a fault.
The IRWIN Quick-Grip T54122EL7 is a twin pack of light-duty mini trigger clamps at £14.90. The title and the included-components line say 300 mm, with a stated 63 kg (140 lb) and a 62 mm throat, which matches the mini row in IRWIN's workholding brochure rather than the heavier 136 kg or 272 kg bars. Across 5,967 amazon.co.uk reviews the star line is 4.7, the highest stars with a large sample in this set. The listing also prints 50 g, a 4.2 mm diameter and 1,170 psi, which do not describe this twin pack, so those rows are ignored and the weight is left blank. A bullet prints a 150 mm to 300 mm range, and the listing does not describe reversing the jaw into a spreader. Score 89 is the top pick here because the jaw, throat and force are stated and the review file is deep, with a deduction for the junk specification rows. The stated kilograms were not measured in a lab. It is a light-duty pair for small glue-ups, and it is not a sash clamp.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A light-duty 300 mm pair for small glue-ups and holding, when you do not need a spreader
Less suitable: A heavy-duty IRWIN bar, a wide panel, or anyone who needed the jaw reversed into a spreader
Specifications
Common questions
What size is the IRWIN pair?
The title and the included-components line say a 300 mm mini clamp, sold as two. A bullet also prints a 150 mm to 300 mm range.
Is a spreader described?
This listing describes a quick-release trigger and non-marring pads. It does not describe reversing the jaw into a spreader.
Why is the weight not shown?
The listing prints 50 g, a 4.2 mm diameter and 1,170 psi. Those rows do not describe a 300 mm twin pack, so the weight is left blank.
The WORKPRO W001412A pair is two light-duty one-handed bar clamps at £12.99, with a 150 mm jaw, a 60 mm throat and a 285 mm spreader on the highlight. The bullets state up to 68 kg (150 lb), while the same listing's highlight prints 68 kg (50 lb), and 68 kg is about 150 lb, so the 50 lb line is the one to distrust. The star line is 4.6 from 8,917 reviews, and that count is also printed on the 305 mm WORKPRO listing, so it is not a separate sample. UK reviews call them easy to use and say the jaw pads come loose. The pair weighs 730 g. Score 81 is the best-value mark in this set: a stated jaw and throat at the lowest one-handed price here, with deductions for the shared count, the force clash and the pads. A 150 mm opening will not span a wide stack even if you squeeze harder.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A first light-duty pair when the stack, including a caul, fits inside 150 mm
Less suitable: A wide panel, a job that needs a deeper throat than 60 mm, or anyone treating the shared review count as two tests
Specifications
Common questions
What jaw and throat does this pair list?
The bullets state a 150 mm opening and a 60 mm throat. The highlight lists a 285 mm spreader.
Why do two force figures appear?
The bullets say up to 68 kg (150 lb). The same listing's highlight prints 68 kg (50 lb). Those conversions do not match.
Do reviewers mention the pads?
UK reviews say the clamps are easy to use and that the jaw pads can come loose and get lost.
The WORKPRO W001413AR pair opens 305 mm, with a 60 mm throat, a stated 68 kg and a 440 mm spreader, listed at £16.99. The pack weighs 920 g. The star line is 4.6 from 8,917 reviews, the same count as the 150 mm WORKPRO listing, though a review in this block does name the 305 mm set. Reviews say the clamps are easy to use and that the jaw pads can come loose. The model row is W001413AR and the part number is W001413AU. A longer bar does not deepen the 60 mm throat, so a wide board still gets pressure only near the edge. Score 81 sits level with the shorter WORKPRO pair and under the IRWIN twin, because the review count is shared and the part number disagrees with the model. Open this listing when 150 mm will not span the stack and you still accept a light-duty throat.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A light-duty pair when the stack needs about 305 mm and you want a stated spreader length
Less suitable: A deep reach past 60 mm, or anyone reading the shared star line as a second independent test
Specifications
Common questions
How far do these clamps open and spread?
The listing states 305 mm for clamping and 440 mm as a spreader, with a 60 mm throat.
Do the model and part numbers match?
The model row is W001413AR and the part number is W001413AU.
What do reviews say about the pads?
Reviews say the clamps are easy to use and that the jaw pads can come loose. The review count matches the 150 mm listing.
The EMART eight-pack is nylon spring clamps for fabric, paper and photo backdrops, listed at £13.19. Each clamp is described as 4.5 inches long, with a 2 inch (5 cm) jaw opening and a stated holding force of 10 lb. The star line is 4.6 from 722 reviews, and the sales rank sits in photo background supports. Most sampled comments are short praise. One UK review says a clip broke on first use. The maker line says a 1 year warranty. Score 71 keeps the stars and the stated opening, and deducts for that breakage and for a spring that is not a woodworking bar. Use them on a backdrop, and do not ask them to close a glued edge.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Fabric, paper and photo backdrops when a 2 inch spring and a 10 lb claim are enough
Less suitable: Edge glue-ups, frames that must be pulled closed, or a job that needs a steel bar
Specifications
Common questions
How far do the jaws open?
The bullets say 2 inch (5 cm). Each clamp is described as 4.5 inches long.
What force is stated?
10 pounds. The listing highlight is photo-booth and backdrop clips, and the sales rank is in photo background supports.
Do reviews mention breakage?
Most sampled comments are short praise. One UK review says a clip broke on first use. The maker line says a 1 year warranty.
The DEKO DKHCLA0003 set is four 6 inch and two 12 inch one-handed clamps at £25.99, with a stated force of up to 130 lb. The brand row says DEKOPRO and the title says DEKO. The jaws reverse to spread, and throat depth is not printed. The pack weighs 3.29 kg. Across 25 amazon.co.uk reviews the star line is 4.6, and those reviews describe the clamps as fine for home DIY and not as heavy professional clamps. Score 63 is that star line held down by a 25-review sample and the brand-name clash. It is a mixed-size DIY set with a thin UK file, and it is not a workshop standard you can judge from stars alone.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A home DIY box of two lengths when you accept a 25-review file
Less suitable: A buyer who wanted a deep review sample, a printed throat, or a heavy workshop clamp
Specifications
Common questions
How many clamps are in the set?
The listing includes four 6 inch clamps and two 12 inch clamps. The brand row says DEKOPRO and the title says DEKO.
Can they push pieces apart?
Yes. The bullets say you reverse the movable jaw. Spread is up to 11 and 9/64 inch on the 6 inch clamps and 17 and 21/64 inch on the 12 inch clamps.
What force is stated?
Up to 130 lb. Reviews describe them as fine for home DIY and not as heavy professional clamps.
The Amazon Basics ABL012 is a six-piece set at £19.79, weighing 1.59 kg. The title says a steel spring clamp set. The bullets describe six trigger clamps on hardened-steel bars: two at 10.16 cm stated at 9.98 kg and four at 15.24 cm stated at 45.36 kg. Across 9,814 amazon.co.uk reviews the star line is 4.5, the largest count in this file. No throat depth is printed. The bullets say non-marring pads, and a UK review says the pads are hard polished plastic that can slip and mark hardwood. Score 76 keeps the sample size and cuts for the spring-versus-trigger title and those pads. Buy it if you wanted two lengths in one box and you will read the bullets before you glue.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Two trigger lengths in one box when you will follow the bullets and accept hard pads
Less suitable: Anyone who wanted the spring clamps named in the title, or a soft pad on show wood
Specifications
Common questions
Are these spring clamps or trigger clamps?
The title says a steel spring clamp set. The bullets describe a six-piece trigger clamp set with hardened-steel bars.
What force is stated for each size?
The 10.16 cm clamps are listed at 9.98 kg and the 15.24 cm clamps at 45.36 kg.
Do the pads stay kind to wood?
The bullets say non-marring pads. A UK review says the pads are hard polished plastic, slip, and can mark hardwood.
The WORKPRO W001420 box holds two 120 mm clamps stated at 23 kg and two 150 mm clamps stated at 68 kg, listed at £24.99. Spread lengths are 200 mm and 270 mm. The star line is 4.5 from 3,256 reviews, and the pack weighs 880 g. Throat depth is not printed, so you cannot tell from the card how far the jaw reaches past the edge. UK reviews say they suit light DIY, and one reviewer says the smaller clamps moved when holding a router fence. The bullets do not include a case. Score 78 rewards two stated sizes and a solid review count, and deducts for the missing throat and that light-duty slip. It is a household set, and it is not a heavy fence clamp.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light household repairs when you wanted 120 mm and 150 mm in one box
Less suitable: A heavy fence, a known throat depth, or a wide panel
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the four-piece box?
Two 120 mm bar clamps and two 150 mm bar clamps. Spread lengths are 200 mm and 270 mm.
Are both sizes the same strength?
The listing pairs 23 kg with the 120 mm clamps and 68 kg with the 150 mm clamps.
Are the small clamps for heavy work?
UK reviews say they suit light DIY. One reviewer says the smaller clamps moved when holding a router fence.
The Anylot 8-pack is four 14 cm by 14 cm squares and four 8 cm by 5 cm squares in anodised aluminium, with screws, nuts and a storage case, listed at £55.99. The highlight names a 13 cm bolt, and the pack weighs 2.17 kg. Across 10 amazon.co.uk reviews the star line is 4.4. A review in the listing says the squares hold 90 degrees and do not put pressure on a joint, so you still need a clamp that pulls if the glue line must close. No kilogram figure is in the bullets. Score 40 reflects the £55.99 sticker, the ten-review sample and the missing closing force. Use them to register a corner, then close the joint with a bar clamp.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Registering a cabinet, drawer or frame at 90 degrees when a separate clamp will close the joint
Less suitable: Anyone who wanted the dearest kit to pull a glue line shut on its own
Specifications
Common questions
What sizes are in the 8-pack?
Four squares at 14 cm by 14 cm and four at 8 cm by 5 cm, with screws, nuts and a storage case. The highlight names a 13 cm bolt.
Do they squeeze a glue joint?
A review in the listing says they hold 90 degrees and do not put pressure on a joint. You still need a clamp that pulls if the joint must close.
Is a force figure given?
No kilogram figure is in the bullets. The listing claims machined 90 degree faces and scales on six sides.
The G4GADGET six-pack is six nylon spring clamps listed at £4.49, with 4.2 from 1,179 amazon.co.uk reviews. The title says 3 inch, and a UK review says that figure is the length of the clamp and that the jaw opens just over 1 inch. No kilogram force is printed in the bullets. Reviewers use them for light craft holds, and the orange pivot pads come off often enough that the listing questions record it. The part number on the card is ClearTape-Pk-of12-7, which does not match a six-pack title. Score 66 reflects the review volume and the low price, with deductions for the size wording and the pads. It is a cheap clip for paper, fabric and tiny holds, and it is a poor stand-in for a glued joint.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Paper, fabric and other light holds when a spring is enough and the opening is about an inch
Less suitable: Gluing wood, or any job that needs a known jaw opening and a stated force
Specifications
Common questions
Does 3 inch mean the jaw opening?
The bullets only say size 3 inch. A UK review says that figure is the length of the clamp and that the jaw opens just over 1 inch.
Will they hold a glued joint?
Reviews conflict. Some use them for small jobs. Others say the orange pads fall off and the clamps are not robust enough for gluing wood.
Is a force listed?
No kilogram or pound figure is in the bullets. The part number printed is ClearTape-Pk-of12-7.
The NS juvyig pack is four small screw clamps at £13.99. The bullets state an opening of 10–57 mm and a depth of 28 mm, in aluminium and carbon steel, at 380 g for the pack. The star line is 4.0 from 157 reviews, the lowest stars among the reviewed rows. The listing claims silicone pads. UK reviews say the pads or metal discs come off, sometimes on first use, and that tape will not hold them. No force figure and no case are in the bullets. Score 61 reflects the honest small opening and those pad failures. They can hold a thin stack on a table, and they are not a 150 mm workshop G clamp.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A thin stack under 57 mm when you will turn a screw and can live with pads that may fall off
Less suitable: A 150 mm workshop G clamp, metalwork, or a joint wider than the 28 mm depth
Specifications
Common questions
How big is the opening?
The bullets state 10 to 57 mm, with a depth of 28 mm. That is a small screw clamp, not a 150 mm workshop G clamp.
Do the pads stay on?
The listing claims silicone padding. UK reviews say the pads or metal discs come off, sometimes on first use, and that tape will not hold them.
Is there a storage case?
A listing question asks. The bullets do not include a case.
The AOQCFS 16-piece set is eight plastic positioning squares, four at 3 inch and four at 4 inch, plus eight clamps, listed at £12.99. The material row says plastic and the pack weighs 660 g. The bullets say the clamps hold a joint at 90 degrees and do not give a kilogram figure. The listing has no customer-reviews line and no review text, so there is no UK sample to show whether the clamps pull a joint closed or only register the corner. Model UKJSH000040 and part number UKJSH000039 do not match. Score 7 is that empty review line, and the set stays an unreviewed plastic square kit rather than a tested corner clamp.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Trying plastic 90 degree squares on a light frame when you accept an unreviewed listing
Less suitable: Anyone who needed UK reviews, a stated force, or a clamp that is known to close a glue line
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the 16-piece set?
Eight positioning squares, four at 3 inch and four at 4 inch, plus eight clamps. The material row says plastic.
Is a clamping force stated?
No. The bullets say the clamps hold a joint at 90 degrees and do not give kilograms.
Are there reviews?
The listing has no customer-reviews line and no review text.
Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures filed on 21 October 2026. No lab test and no measured clamping force. A millimetre or a kilogram is the figure the listing prints. Where a listing states pounds only, the table shows that claim in kilograms. If two fields disagree, the score does not pick a winner between them. The score is 0–100 from four parts: stars, sample, fit for the stated job and value in this set.
Stars
40%Amazon rating divided by 5, times 40, rounded to the nearest whole number. Halves round up. No rating line scores 0.
Sample
25%Bands from the printed review count, from 2 points under 20 reviews up to 25 points at 5,000 or more. A count printed on two listings in this file scores one band lower. No rating line scores 0.
Fit for the stated job
20%Starts from whether a jaw opening and a job are both printed, then adds throat depth and a stated force. Deductions cover loose or marking pads, a force figure that does not convert, junk specification rows, or a review that says the tool does not press the joint.
Value in this set
15%Shelf-price band, plus a one-handed bar with a jaw printed in millimetres or inches, plus a printed review count of 1,000 or more. A title that fights the bullets, or a missing rating line, is deducted.
Match the job first, then the jaw opening, then the throat, then the stated force. Pads and a shared review count come after those numbers. The scores on this page are listing scores. They are not a measured clamping test.
A clamp holds work while glue sets, while you drill or screw, or while you keep a corner square. UK shoppers mostly meet one-handed bar clamps, spring clips, small screw G clamps and 90 degree kits. A one-handed bar ratchets on a steel bar and often reverses into a spreader. A G clamp is a screw in a frame. The small screw clamps in this kind of set open about 10–57 mm with about 28 mm depth. Spring clamps use a fixed spring and suit fabric, paper and photo backdrops.
The figure in a bar-clamp title is the opening along the bar. Throat depth is a different number, and a longer bar does not deepen it. Measure the stack, including cauls, and leave a margin. A 60 mm throat still presses only near the edge of a wide board.
Some 90 degree kits only register the corner. A review can say the squares hold 90 degrees and do not put pressure on the joint. If the glue line must close, you still need a clamp that pulls. The bullets have to say that, or you should not assume it.
A title that says spring when the bullets say trigger is a different tool. A small clamp in a mixed set is a poor match for a heavy joint. Two force figures on one card can fail to convert, and a review count printed on two sizes is one pool, not two tests.
Jaw opening and throat depth are different measurements. The size in a bar-clamp title, whether it says 6 inch or 300 mm, is the opening along the bar. Measure the stack you will actually clamp, including cauls, and leave a margin. A 150 mm opening will not span a wider stack just because you squeeze harder. Throat depth is how far the jaw reaches past the edge. Light-duty pairs in this kind of set often state about 60 mm, and a mini bar can state about 62 mm.
Stated force is a maker claim. This comparison did not measure kilograms or pounds. Read the bullets and the highlight as separate lines, because two figures on one card can fail to convert. A line that says 68 kg and another that says 50 lb are not the same claim. A mini bar titled at one kilogram figure is not the heavier bar in a brochure. Pads decide whether the face survives.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a one-handed pair for furniture and frames. The IRWIN Quick-Grip T54122EL7 is a twin pack at about £14.90, titled 300 mm, with a 62 mm throat and a stated 63 kg. The star line is 4.7 from 5,967 reviews. The listing does not describe a spreader, and this pair is not a sash clamp.
A 150 mm bar will not span your stack. The WORKPRO 305 mm pair is about £16.99, with a 60 mm throat, a stated 68 kg and a 440 mm spreader. That throat is still 60 mm, so a wide panel will outgrow it. Plan on a sash or parallel clamp for the middle of a board.
You are holding fabric, paper or a backdrop, and bar-clamp force claims are the wrong number. The EMART eight-pack is about £13.19, with a stated 2 inch jaw and a stated 10 lb hold. The star line is 4.6 from 722 reviews. One UK review reports a clip breaking on first use.
The top pick is the IRWIN Quick-Grip T54122EL7 twin pack at about £14.90. It scores 89, with a 300 mm title size, a 62 mm throat, a stated 63 kg and 4.7 from 5,967 reviews. The best value is the WORKPRO 150 mm pair at about £12.99. It scores 81, with a printed jaw and throat at the lowest one-handed price in this set. Stated kilograms were not measured, and a wide panel still needs a sash or parallel clamp.
WORKPRO 150 mm ratchet bar clamp, 2-pack
Highest value part among the other listings, at about £12.99, with a 150 mm jaw and a 60 mm throat printed. The 8,917-review line is shared with the 305 mm pair.
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 from the research digest. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures filed on 21 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 from the UK listings checked for this page on 21 October 2026. We did not lab-test these clamps.
