The best electric files, compared.
Top pick: POFIBO upgraded cordless pen – Highest score in the set: 4.6 from 1,764 reviews at about £22.99, a cordless pen with a stated 35,000 RPM maximum, five speeds and an LCD. Best value: COSLUS C40 at £9.98 – Best value under £15: about £9.98, 4.3 from 14,526 reviews, a corded pen for home gel, with the lead and the missing carbide bit still on the page. Updated October 2026.
An electric file, as UK shoppers use the phrase, is an electric nail file: a small rotary tool, also called a nail drill or e-file. You use it at home to shape nails, take off gel polish, and sometimes to thin a thick toenail. It is not a metalworking power file, and it is not a treatment for a fungal nail. You tell a suitable one apart by the job and the power line. A corded USB pen stays plugged in at a desk. A cordless pen carries the battery in the handle. A clip-on pack feeds a handpiece on a short lead. A rechargeable bullet does not override a power line that says corded. Maximum speed is headroom, not the speed you hold on the natural nail. Sanding bands can lift gel polish. They are a weak stand-in for a carbide bit on thick acrylic. If two weights disagree, do not quote the lighter one. Those checks are in the [electric file buying guide](/hub/hand-tools/electric-file/sub/electric-file-buying-guide).
An electric file, as UK shoppers use the phrase, is an electric nail file: a small rotary tool, also called a nail drill or e-file.
41 products checked · 57 hrs invested · +22,800 readers
Swipe for more
1-2 of 12
Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Will you stay next to a USB socket?
The POFIBO Nail Drill Upgraded Version is a battery-powered pen listed at about £22.99, with a stated 35,000 RPM maximum, five speed levels and an LCD. Across 1,764 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.6, and in a sample of 50 UK review texts several people say the battery lasts a session and that there is enough power for toenails and larger bits. That 35,000 RPM figure is headroom, not a speed to hold on a natural nail. The bullet lists 11 metal bits, one ceramic bit and 36 sanding bands, while the included-components field only says 02, so the metal bits are not a confirmed carbide set. Forward and reverse are not stated on this listing, and a different POFIBO listing is not this one. Item weight is 200 g against a 70 g bullet, so the lighter figure should not be quoted. Instructions are thin in the Amazon reviews, and one reviewer also uses the abrasives on 3D-printed parts. It is the top pick in this set of twelve for a cordless home pen with a large, high star sample, with the weight conflict and the unconfirmed bit list still on the page.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Home users who want a cordless pen for their own nails and will accept maker battery figures plus an unstated shank.
Less suitable: Paying client work, a confirmed 3/32 inch shank, or a session that needs a lead in all day.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this electric file cordless?
Yes. The power line says battery powered. It is a pen with the battery in the handle, not a clip-on pack.
What speed does the listing state?
The listing states a 35,000 RPM maximum and five speed levels. That maximum is headroom, not a recommended working speed on the natural nail.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
Several UK reviews praise a light cordless pen, a battery that lasts a session, and enough power for toenails. Instructions are thin, and one reviewer also uses the abrasives on 3D-printed parts.
MelodySusie's SC300F is a rechargeable clip-on pack at about £33.99 with a stated 30,000 RPM maximum, stepless speed and an LED for speed, direction and power. It scores 4.4 from 899 amazon.co.uk reviews. UK reviewers praise a long battery, easy speed control for home gel, low vibration and a separate handpiece. The same sample includes units that stopped within hours, weeks or about nine months, including mid-client, and replacement promises were not always kept. Bits are not counted in the box; the bullet recommends diamond cuticle bits and sanding bands, plus a separate dust collector. A 300 gf·cm line is a maker claim only, and a P76 battery type sits beside a 4,000 mAh claim as a catalogue oddity. There is no numbered minute cap on this listing. It suits someone who wants clip-on bulk headroom and will read the early-failure reviews before treating about £33.99 as salon durability.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Home users removing thicker gel who want a clip-on pack and can accept a handpiece lead.
Less suitable: A counted carbide kit, or paid daily use that assumes the pack will not fail early.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this electric file cordless?
It has no mains lead during use. The pack is rechargeable and clips on, and the handpiece still has its own lead. The listing gives a battery average life of 10 hours.
What speed does the listing state?
The listing states a 30,000 RPM maximum, with stepless control and an LED for speed, direction and power. That maximum is headroom, not a recommended working speed.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
Many UK reviews praise a long battery, easy speed control for home gel, low vibration and a separate handpiece. Several also describe units that stopped within hours, weeks or about nine months.
Ajgvq's pencil-shaped pen is about £9.95, corded electric, with a stated 20,000 RPM maximum and stepless control from zero up to that figure, plus forward and reverse. It scores 4.4 from 506 reviews, a smaller sample than the best-seller pens. Several UK reviews say it removes gel varnish at this price, and some home users found the included attachments enough. One UK review says the speed was too low to file their nails and better suited as a gift for softer nails. The bullet lists six bits, 16 sanding bands and a brush. The model-name field is the misspelt catalogue string Professionele Ajgvq. There is no numbered rest cap on the listing. It is a small-sample corded gel pen, not a stand-in for the larger review pools if your nails already feel hard.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Soft-nail gel varnish at a desk, if a 506-review sample is enough for you.
Less suitable: Hard nails that already felt under-powered on a similar pen, or a cordless job.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this electric file cordless?
No. It is corded electric. The bullet says to plug in the USB cable.
What speed does the listing state?
The listing states stepless speed from 0 to a 20,000 RPM maximum, plus forward and reverse. That maximum is headroom, not a recommended working speed.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
Several UK reviews mention gel varnish removal at this price. One says the speed was too low for their nails and better as a gift for softer nails. The sample is 506 reviews.
The COSLUS C40 at about £9.98 is listed as corded electric, with a stated 20,000 RPM maximum, adjustable speed, and forward and reverse. The star line is 4.3 from 14,526 reviews, the same pool as the £9.99 twin, and that pool should be counted once. UK reviews praise power and variable speed for home gel and toenails, and they call it good value against a salon visit. The lead must stay attached, which reviewers find awkward, and one review says the nail burns after about 10 minutes. A bullet also says the kit is rechargeable, which the power-source line and those plugged-in reviews contradict. The box bullet lists six drill bits, 31 sanding bands and a USB cable, and a UK review says acrylic removal failed because no carbide bit was included. It is the best value in this set if you will keep a USB lead in for gel polish at a table.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Home gel users who will work at a table with the USB lead in.
Less suitable: A true cordless session, or bulk acrylic that needs a carbide bit.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this electric file cordless?
Not on the evidence in the listing. The power line says corded electric, and several UK reviews say it only runs while plugged in. A bullet also says rechargeable, which those reviews contradict.
What speed does the listing state?
The listing states a 20,000 RPM maximum with adjustable speed from 0 to 20,000 RPM. That maximum is headroom, not a recommended working speed.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
Many UK reviews praise power and variable speed for home gel and toenails. They also say the lead must stay attached, and one review says the nail burns after about 10 minutes.
This second COSLUS C40 listing is about £9.99, one penny above the best-value row, with the same corded-electric attribute, the same stated 20,000 RPM, and the same 14,526-review pool. UK reviews call it a starter kit for home gel that is quicker than a hand file, and some toenail users praise the cable length. It is not free-standing: the cable must stay attached, and a bullet that says rechargeable does not override that. A reviewer who wanted to remove acrylic found no carbide bit in the kit. Material is listed as plastic here and metal on the other COSLUS listing, and item weight is 175 g against 160 g on the twin, so those fields do not agree across the pair. An input of 5 W is stated only on this listing. Buy this row only if the £9.98 listing is unavailable; it is not a separate test of the C40.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A home gel starter if the £9.98 listing is out of stock and you accept a lead.
Less suitable: A second opinion on the C40, or a cordless session away from a socket.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this electric file cordless?
No. UK reviews in this listing say the cable must stay attached. The power line says corded electric. A bullet also says rechargeable, and that does not override the reviews.
What speed does the listing state?
The listing states a 20,000 RPM maximum with adjustable speed from 0 to 20,000 RPM. That maximum is headroom, not a recommended working speed.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
UK reviews call it a starter kit for home gel, quicker than a hand file, and some toenail users praise the cable length. It is not free-standing, and one reviewer found no carbide bit for acrylic.
KOOFIT's corded pen is about £9.99 with a stated 20,000 RPM maximum, adjustable speed and forward and reverse, and it scores 4.3 from 7,277 reviews. UK reviewers describe easy home gel colour changes and a light feel, and they like the range of heads while the pen works. Several reviewers say it stopped rotating after weeks or a few uses. The model name on the page is the Italian Fresa per Unghie, which shows a messy catalogue title rather than a different job. The bullet says 52 g and the item weight says 180 g, so neither figure should be quoted as the weighed pen. The included-components line lists one drill, a dust brush, a USB cord, ten fine sanding bands and six bits. Reviews are mixed on whether it charges, while the attribute says corded electric. It is a crowded-review corded alternative, with a stop-rotating complaint you should read before you treat the star line as durability.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Home gel colour changes on a plugged-in pen, if you accept the reliability complaints.
Less suitable: A cordless pen, or a purchase that depends on the 52 g weight.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this electric file cordless?
The attribute says corded electric. Reviews are mixed: some describe charging. Do not treat those charging stories as a cordless specification.
What speed does the listing state?
The listing states a 20,000 RPM maximum with adjustable speed from 0 to 20,000 RPM. That maximum is headroom, not a recommended working speed.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
UK reviews mention easy gel colour changes and a light feel while the pen works. Several say it stopped rotating after weeks or a few uses.
MelodySusie's PC90G is a battery-powered pen at about £14.99 with a stated 20,000 RPM maximum and nine speeds. It scores 4.3 from 164 reviews. UK reviewers like that it is a real cordless pen, unlike the USB pens, and that the attachments suit basic filing. Battery life is the dominant complaint in the first 50 UK reviews on the listing, and at least one unit died after two uses. The listing claims about six hours from a 400 mAh cell; those reviews do not support treating six hours as a measured runtime. The bullet says 62 g and the item weight says 140 g, and reverse is not clearly stated as its own field. The kit bullet lists 31 sanding bands and five bits, and it also claims callus removal and craft detailing, so the abrasives are not nail-only. Buy it only if a short cordless session is enough and you will not rely on the six-hour line.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A short cordless filing session when you can recharge between uses.
Less suitable: A full set of nails that needs the stated six hours, or bulk acrylic.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this electric file cordless?
Yes. The power source is battery powered. UK reviews contrast it with the USB pens that must stay plugged in.
What speed does the listing state?
The listing states a 20,000 RPM maximum and nine speeds. That maximum is headroom, not a recommended working speed. Reverse is not clearly stated as its own field.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
UK reviewers like the cordless pen for basic filing. Battery life is the dominant complaint, and at least one unit died after two uses. Do not treat the six-hour claim as a measured runtime.
Avvchuy's YZY903 is listed at about £9.99 as battery powered, with four speeds and no RPM field at all. The star line is 4.3 from only nine reviews, and about five UK review texts were kept with the listing. Those comments are short and call the grinder good quality, which is too thin a sample to judge heat, runtime or bits. One reviewer used it on a toenail they described as infected; that is not evidence of a treatment, and a fungal nail is a pharmacist job over months, not a drill session. The bullet says 18 grinding heads. An item weight of 16 g conflicts with a multi-head kit. Gel or acrylic is not stated, and forward and reverse are absent. It is a thin-sample cordless grinder, not a pick in this comparison.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only a buyer who already accepts a nine-review sample and an unknown maximum speed.
Less suitable: Gel or acrylic removal, a fungal nail, or any choice that needs a review pattern.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this electric file cordless?
Yes, on the power-source field. It is listed as battery powered. Runtime is not stated.
What speed does the listing state?
No RPM figure is printed. The bullet says four speeds. There is no maximum to treat as headroom.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
The written UK comments are short and call the grinder good quality. One reviewer used it on a toenail they described as infected. That is not a treatment result. The sample is nine reviews.
MelodySusie's PC120I is a corded pen at about £8.29 with a stated 20,000 RPM maximum, an inline control, and forward and reverse. amazon.co.uk shows 4.2 from 30,948 reviews, the largest count in this comparison. UK reviewers call it easy for beginners and for thick or ingrown toenails, and they describe the bits as easy to swap. The bullet is the only one in this set that states a 3/32 inch shank, though the count of bits and bands is not in the attribute block, and at least one UK review says the supplied bits did not fit. You must stay on the lead; it is not a cordless pen. The listing asks you to rest after 20 minutes of continuous use. No listing conflict is recorded here. It is the large-sample corded beginner pen. It is not the best value, which is the COSLUS C40 at about £9.98.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk gel pen where you want a named 3/32 inch shank and a very large review sample.
Less suitable: Cordless work, or a kit whose bit count you need printed before you buy.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this electric file cordless?
No. The power line says corded electric. You stay on the lead for the whole session.
What speed does the listing state?
The listing states a 20,000 RPM maximum with adjustable speed from 0 to 20,000 RPM. It also asks you to rest after 20 minutes of continuous use. The maximum is headroom, not a working speed.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
UK reviewers call it easy for beginners and for thick or ingrown toenails, and they say the bits are easy to swap. At least one review says the supplied bits did not fit.
The MelodySusie listed as Scamander, part SC320H, is a battery clip-on at about £69.99 with a stated 30,000 RPM maximum, stepless speed, forward and reverse, and a 6,000 mAh pack. It scores 4.2 from 4,550 reviews. UK reviewers say it removes BIAB, gel and acrylic when the bit is right, and some praise battery life for home or daily use. The repeated failure is the handpiece lead: a broken wire, an intermittent cut-out, and part-time technicians replacing the machine in under 12 months. The bullet says no more than 20 minutes continuous, and hard pressure can trip a protection stop. Bits are not a counted kit; the bullet recommends ceramic bits and sanding bands, not a named carbide. Item weight of 900 g is the pack, not the handpiece, and the model-name field says Scamander while the part number says SC320H. It is the dearest row here for bulk headroom, with the lead as the part you should expect to watch.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Home users who want clip-on bulk headroom and will inspect the handpiece lead.
Less suitable: A first cheap gel pen, or paid work that assumes the lead will last a year.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this electric file cordless?
Yes, in the sense of no mains lead during use. The handpiece still has a lead to the clip-on pack. The power line says battery powered.
What speed does the listing state?
The listing states a 30,000 RPM maximum, stepless control, and an LED for speed, direction and power. The bullet also caps continuous use at 20 minutes. The maximum is headroom.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
UK reviewers say it removes BIAB, gel and acrylic when the bit is right, and some praise battery life. The repeated failure is the handpiece lead: a broken wire or an intermittent cut-out.
PALATALA's corded pen is about £9.99 with a stated 20,000 RPM maximum, forward and reverse, six bits and 16 sanding bands, and a bullet that says it is not rechargeable. It scores 4.2 from 1,110 reviews. UK reviewers call it lightweight and good value for home manicures, and they say it can handle a thick big toenail if you pause to cool it. The bullet caps each continuous use at 10 minutes to avoid overheating. At least one reviewer received a dead unit with a weak cable, and some reviews talk about battery life even though the listing denies a battery. The best-seller line is Electric Nail Drill Bits, not Electric Nail Drills. It states 5 V, and no listing in this comparison records UKCA or a BS 1363 plug. It is a plainly corded pen, with a short duty cycle you should take literally.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desk manicure where you will pause every 10 minutes and you want a plainly corded pen.
Less suitable: Cordless use, or a long session without a rest.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this electric file cordless?
No. The bullet states that it is not rechargeable, and the power line says corded electric. Some reviews still mention a battery, which the bullet denies.
What speed does the listing state?
The listing states a 20,000 RPM maximum with adjustable speed from 0 to 20,000 RPM. Each continuous use is capped at 10 minutes. The maximum is headroom, not a working speed.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
UK reviewers call it lightweight and enough for a thick big toenail if you pause to cool it. At least one unit arrived dead with a weak cable.
DURNYDT is the cheapest row at about £6.99, with a stated 15,000 RPM maximum and adjustable speed, but the power format is missing from the attribute block. The star line is 3.3 from 22 reviews, the weakest in this comparison, drawn from about eight UK review texts. One verified review says the item is a carving and grinding tool, not a nail file. Others say the lead is short and the tool must stay plugged in. One reviewer called it the best of the cheap ones they tried, which is a single view against that 3.3 average. The title mentions six drill bits and sanding bands, with no included-components line. Forward and reverse are not stated. It is a warning row for a thin, low-star sample, not an example of a good corded nail file.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only a buyer who has already checked that the parcel is a nail file and accepts a 22-review sample.
Less suitable: Gel removal, cordless use, or any purchase that needs a solid UK review sample.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this electric file cordless?
Reviews say no. The lead is short and the tool must stay plugged in. The power format is missing from the attribute block, so the reviews are the evidence.
What speed does the listing state?
The listing states a 15,000 RPM maximum and adjustable speed. The number of steps is not stated. That maximum is headroom, not a recommended working speed.
What do the UK reviews repeat?
One verified review says the item is a carving and grinding tool, not a nail file. Others mention a short lead. The star line is 3.3 from 22 reviews.
Twelve electric files were taken from amazon.co.uk listings captured on 19 October 2026. The number on each card is the UK star rating scaled with the review count. It is not a lab test of speed, heat or torque. The top pick is the highest of those scores with at least 50 reviews. The best value is the highest score under £15 with at least 50 reviews, excluding the top pick. The two COSLUS review counts are one pool. The weights below are the buying checks for this category, in the order you should read a listing. They are not a second numerical score.
Job
25%Gel-polish tidy, bulk acrylic or hard gel, travel, or your own thick toenails. A corded pen around a stated 20,000 RPM is the usual home gel-polish tool. Bulk product is where reviewers talk about the 30,000 RPM clip-on packs.
Power format
25%Read the power-source line, then the reviews. Corded electric plus reviews that say the lead must stay in means the pen is not cordless, even if a bullet says rechargeable.
Speed as headroom
20%Trade education uses about 1,000–5,000 RPM for a fine band on the natural nail and about 15,000–35,000 RPM only for bulk gel or acrylic. The stated maximum is headroom, not the working speed.
Bits in the box
15%Sanding bands and basic bits can remove gel polish. Acrylic removal needs a carbide bit the listing actually names. A stated shank, where one is printed, tells you which bits will fit.
Conflicts and sample size
15%Do not quote the lower weight when two figures disagree. Count a shared review pool once. A handful of reviews, or a low star line, is a thin sample.
Start with the job, then the power line, then speed as headroom, then the bits in the box. A low shelf price comes after those checks. The notes below follow the twelve amazon.co.uk listings captured on 19 October 2026. None of the scores is a lab test of heat, torque or runtime.
An electric file, in the sense this comparison uses, is an electric nail file. UK shoppers also call it a nail drill or an e-file. You use it at home to shape nails, take off gel polish, and sometimes to thin a thick toenail. It is not a metalworking power file, and the NHS does not describe these drills as a cure for a fungal nail. Filing can reduce bulk. Pharmacist antifungal treatment is measured in months.
The stated maximum is headroom. Trade education uses about 1,000–5,000 RPM for a fine band on the natural nail, and the higher band only for bulk gel or acrylic. PBL Magazine cautions against e-filing the natural plate without specific training.
Read the power-source line, then the reviews. If reviewers say the lead must stay in, the pen is not cordless. That conflict is on both COSLUS C40 listings in this set.
Several listings print a light bullet and a heavier item weight. Do not quote the lower figure. The same habit applies to a shared review pool: count the two COSLUS 14,526-review lines once.
Power format is the first split that changes how you work. A corded USB pen stays on the lead at a desk. A cordless pen carries the cell in the handle, so a short battery is the failure you should look for in the reviews. A clip-on pack is mains-free in use and still has a handpiece lead, which is the part UK reviews on the dearer MelodySusie packs describe breaking or cutting out. The attribute line wins over a marketing bullet.
Speed on these listings is a maximum, not a working setting. Professional Beauty's rule of thumb runs from about 1,000–5,000 RPM for a fine band on the natural nail up to about 15,000–35,000 RPM for bulk gel or acrylic. Use the lower end of the band that matches the job. A stated 20,000 RPM corded pen is the usual home gel-polish tool in this set. The 30,000 RPM clip-on packs are where reviewers talk about thicker product. A 35,000 RPM figure on a cordless pen is still headroom.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You will keep a USB lead in and you are taking off gel polish, not thick acrylic. The COSLUS C40 at about £9.98 states 20,000 RPM, forward and reverse, six bits and 31 sanding bands. UK reviews say the lead must stay attached, and one review says acrylic removal failed because no carbide bit was included. The 4.3 from 14,526 reviews is the same pool as the £9.99 twin.
You want a cordless pen and UK reviews that mention toenails and a battery that lasts a session. The POFIBO upgraded pen is about £22.99, with 4.6 from 1,764 reviews and a stated 35,000 RPM maximum. That figure is headroom. The 70 g bullet disagrees with the 200 g item weight. Filing is not a cure if the nail is infected, or if you have diabetes or poor feeling in your feet.
You are looking at a clip-on pack with a stated 30,000 RPM maximum, and you will read the early-failure reviews before you treat the price as salon durability. The MelodySusie SC300F is about £33.99, with 4.4 from 899 reviews, stepless speed and forward and reverse. Bits are not counted in the box. Several UK reviews describe units that stopped within hours, weeks or about nine months.
In this set of twelve amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the POFIBO upgraded pen at about £22.99, with 4.6 from 1,764 reviews, five speeds, an LCD and a stated 35,000 RPM maximum. It is a cordless pen. The 70 g bullet disagrees with the 200 g item weight, and the metal bits are not confirmed as carbide. The best value is the COSLUS C40 at about £9.98, with 4.3 from 14,526 reviews shared with the £9.99 twin. UK reviews say the lead must stay in, and no carbide bit is named. None of these scores is a lab test.
POFIBO upgraded cordless pen
Highest score in the set: 4.6 from 1,764 reviews at about £22.99, a cordless pen with a stated 35,000 RPM maximum, five speeds and an LCD.
COSLUS C40 at £9.98
Best value under £15: about £9.98, 4.3 from 14,526 reviews, a corded pen for home gel, with the lead and the missing carbide bit still on the page.
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, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures captured on 19 October 2026. This page did not lab-test the electric files.
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 UK listing figures in this comparison. We did not lab-test these electric files.
