The best engineer's hammers, compared.
Top pick: WEDO 200 g cross peen hammer Best value: HOUSERAN 2 lb ball peen hammer – Highest value score that is not the top pick, at 12, with a stated ball peen and nine UK reviews that do not describe a loose head. Updated October 2026.
An engineer's hammer is a steel striking tool with a flat face and a ball pein or a cross pein. You buy one in the UK for punches, cold chisels, rivets and other metal, not for pulling nails. A ball pein is for punches, chisels and domed rivets. A cross pein is for a narrow wedge, pins and some sheet seams. If the listing does not name the pein, do not guess it. Head weight is not the weight of the whole tool. A rule of thumb puts about 4–8 oz on fine work, about 12 oz on general work, and about 2 lb on heavier work. A wedged wooden shaft can be re-wedged if the head is sound. Fibreglass is not repaired with a hammer wedge. A one-piece steel hammer has no wedge. A loose head is a reason to stop. Wear eye protection when you strike metal. BS 876:1995 names engineers' ball pein and cross pein hammers. A DIN claim is not that standard. The [buying guide](/hub/hand-tools/engineers-hammer/sub/engineers-hammer-buying-guide) takes pein, head weight and handle in that order.
An engineer's hammer is a steel striking tool with a flat face and a ball pein or a cross pein. You buy one in the UK for punches, cold chisels, rivets and other metal, not for pulling nails.
25 products checked · 54 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
Swipe for more
1-2 of 7
Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you striking?
The WEDO WD662-04-V-DE is titled a 200 g / 7 oz cross peen machinist hammer, 280 mm long, with a fibreglass handle, at about £10.98. The bullets claim a forged carbon-steel head, a face at 50–58 HRC, a 45-degree bevel, a hanging hole, and a head inserted so it does not detach. The title also calls it a riveting hammer and names mechanic and metalwork use, which the captured review does not describe. The item-weight row says 550 g, so the 200 g line is the head in the title, not the whole tool. The listing shows 5.0 from 2 ratings. The file has one UK review, which says very nice and names no fault. Two ratings are too thin to treat that 5.0 as evidence that the head stays on or that the hardness figure holds. The score is 58. This was not a lab test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already want a stated cross peen around a 200 g head, and you will not treat two ratings as a trial.
Less suitable: You need a deep review sample, or a ball pein for a domed rivet.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a cross peen?
Yes. The title and the head-style row both say cross peen. The title also says machinist engineers hammer.
Why do the weights differ?
The title says a 200 g / 7 oz head. The item-weight row says 550 g. The file does not explain the difference.
How many reviews are in the capture?
The listing line says 5.0 from 2 reviews. The file contains one UK review, which says very nice and states no fault.
The Bosch 1600A032UW is titled a 300 g engineers' hammer at about £11.20, and the style row says blacksmith hammer 300 g. The item-weight row says 470 g. The head-style row says Straight, and neither the title nor the bullets say ball pein or cross pein, so the pein stays unknown on this file. The material row says rubber, while the bullets claim a fibreglass core, soft grips, and fewer vibrations, which this capture does not measure. It shows 4.8 from 193 ratings. Two UK reviews are in the file: one says good quality and trusts the Bosch name, and the other says it is a hammer. That sample is too short to describe a defect, and the file states no HRC number and no BS 876 line. The score is 56. This was not a lab test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 300 g Bosch-branded hammer and you will confirm the pein from the hammer in front of you before you rely on a ball or a wedge.
Less suitable: You need a named ball or cross pein, or review text that describes chisel or rivet work.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the pein a ball or a cross?
The file does not say. The head-style row says Straight and the style row says blacksmith hammer 300 g.
What does the handle row say?
The material row says rubber. The bullets say a fibreglass core and soft grips.
Does this file state a hardness number?
No. There is no HRC figure in this capture.
The Amazon Basics DS-HAAMZ013 is a three-piece engineer's hammer set, 300 g, 500 g and 1,000 g, at about £18.91. The listing shows 4.6 from 956 ratings, the largest count in this set. Thirty-two UK reviews praise the three weights for forge, welding and a first toolbox, and some buyers prefer these heads to older loose-head hammers. The same file repeats handles that need replacing, larger heads sitting at an angle, poor varnish, and an eye on the largest hammer that is slightly wrong. The title says hickory and the grip-type row says Hazel, so the wood is not one settled word. The head-style row says Flat, and the bullets do not say ball or cross pein. The bullets do tell you to wear safety goggles, which is the only goggles line in this capture. The score is 70. This was not a lab test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want three weights in one parcel and you will check that each head sits square before a heavy blow.
Less suitable: You need a named ball or cross pein, or a single tight 300 g hammer from new.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the box?
The bullets list a 300 g hammer, a 500 g hammer, and a 1 kg hammer. Number of items is 3.
Does the listing name the pein?
No. The head-style row says Flat. The bullets do not say ball or cross pein.
Does the listing mention eye protection?
Yes. The bullets say to wear safety goggles.
The HOUSERAN SS07 is titled a 2 lb ball peen hammer with a rubber non-slip grip, at about £15.99. The head-style row says Round, which agrees with the ball peen in the title, and the head material row says alloy steel. The item-weight row says 1.09 kg and does not split head from handle, so 2 lb is the title figure and 1.09 kg is the whole item. It shows 4.6 from 99 ratings. Nine UK reviews in the file call it strong, heavy and robust, including use on cars, and they do not describe a loose head or a chipped face. Those reviews are short, so they do not show how the face looks after months of chisel work. There is no hardness number, no BS 876 line, and the file does not say the hammer is one-piece. It is the best value because its value score is 12, the highest that is not the top pick. This was not a lab test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a heavy ball peen for mechanic work and cars, and you will keep it off jewellery and small chisels.
Less suitable: Fine punches, model work, or anyone who needs a stated wedge or a one-piece claim.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a ball peen?
The title says ball peen and the head-style row says Round.
What weight is printed?
The title says 2 lb. The item-weight row says 1.09 kg. The file does not split head and handle.
Do the UK reviews name a fault?
The nine UK reviews in the file call it strong and heavy. They do not describe a loose head or a chipped face.
The Amtech AM-A0700 is sold as a 4 oz (115 g) ball pein for metalwork, riveting and light workshop jobs, at about £4.95 on amazon.co.uk. The listing shows 4.5 from 301 ratings, and 50 UK review texts were in the file. Buyers use the small head for model making, silver, jewellery and panel pins, and several like the balance when the head stays on. Several UK reviews say the head was loose, glued, or came off in use, and the bullets do not describe a wedge. The title says ball pein while the head-style row says Flat, and reviewers describe the ball as more like a cone. The item-weight row says 160 g, which is not the 115 g in the title. One reviewer also says the face went out of shape after a short time at work. The score is 56. This was not a lab test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a very light hammer for pins, silver or model work, and you will check that the head is tight before every blow.
Less suitable: Chisel work where the head must stay on, or anyone who wants a stated wedge and a head-style row that matches the title.
Specifications
Common questions
What head weight does the listing state?
The title says 4 oz (115 g). The item-weight row says 160 g. Those are both in the file and they are not the same figure.
Is the pein described as a ball?
The title says ball pein. The head-style row says Flat. UK reviews also argue about how round the ball is.
Does the listing say the head is wedged on?
The bullets do not describe a wedge. Several UK reviews say the head is loose, glued, or came off.
The WIESEMANN 1893 80430 is a 300 g locksmith's hammer with a 2K fibreglass handle, at about £9.95. The title, the bullets and the item-weight row all say 300 g, and the bullets claim a forged carbon-steel head, induction hardening, a 5.3 cm² face and DIN 1041. It shows 4.4 from 265 ratings. Six UK reviews are in the file, with no repeated loose-head or chip theme, and one buyer says the face stayed unmarked after chisel work. Another places it between a pin hammer and a 20 oz claw and estimates about 16 oz, which is that reviewer's figure. One reviewer calls the shaft nylon and the head square, while the listing says fibreglass and the bullets say ball pein. DIN 1041 is a German pattern line in the bullets, not BS 876, and there is no HRC number. It is the top pick because it is the only score at 86. This was not a lab test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want about 300 g for chisels and general metalwork, with a stated ball pein and a fibreglass handle.
Less suitable: You need BS 876 printed on the listing, or a cross pein for a narrow wedge.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this listing claim a standard?
The bullets say the head complies with DIN 1041. The file does not mention BS 876 and does not include a certificate.
What is the handle made of?
The material row says fibreglass. The bullets describe a 2K fibreglass handle with a thermoplastic grip.
What head weight is printed?
The title, the bullets, and the item-weight row all say 300 g. One UK review estimates about 16 oz, which is the reviewer's figure.
The Meiwaltee DEVMHM0003B is a one-piece forged engineer hammer with a TPE grip, at about £19.98. The bullets describe a drop-forged all-steel head and handle, a square face, and a wedge or cross peen, and they name sheet metal, HVAC, riveting and seams. The title prints both 20 oz and a unit weight of 850 g, which are not the same mass, and the item-weight row says 880 g. It shows 4.4 from 79 ratings. Three UK reviews praise the grip when hands are dusty or sweaty and the one-piece feel, and they do not describe a chip or a loose head. One detailed UK review says about 850 g feels heavy for smaller DIY and is less suited to delicate finishing. The bullets claim heat treatment and shock absorption, with no HRC number and no measured vibration figure. The score is 68. This was not a lab test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a one-piece cross-pein hammer for sheet, seams and heavier workshop blows.
Less suitable: Delicate finishing, or anyone who later wants to re-wedge a wooden shaft.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the head a separate piece on a handle?
The bullets say a drop-forged one-piece all-steel head and handle, with a TPE grip.
Which weight should I read?
The title prints both 20 oz and unit weight 850 g. The item-weight row says 880 g. The file does not reconcile them.
What do the UK reviews say about weight?
One detailed UK review says about 850 g feels heavy for small DIY and is less suited to delicate finishing.
We scored seven engineer's hammer listings on amazon.co.uk, captured on 19 October 2026. Shelf prices, stars, pein wording and review notes are those listings. A hardness number, a DIN line, or a claim that the head will not detach is the seller's claim. There was no lab test. The score is 0–100 from four parts: stars out of 40, the size of the review sample out of 20, fit for the stated job out of 25, and value in this set out of 15. The highest score is the top pick, once. The highest value part among the others is the best value, once.
Stars
40%The amazon.co.uk rating divided by 5, multiplied by 40, and rounded to the nearest whole number. A 5.0 line is 40 points. Stars are not a durability test.
Sample
20%How many ratings the listing shows. 1,000 or more is 20, 500–999 is 16, 200–499 is 12, 50–199 is 8, 10–49 is 4, 1–9 is 2, and no rating line is 0.
Fit for the stated job
25%Whether the listing names the pein, a head weight that matches the item row, and one handle material, and whether UK review text repeats a loose head, a glued head, or a head that came off. Capped at 25.
Value in this set
15%Shelf price in this set, plus whether the pein is named and the review text describes metalwork without a loose head as the main note. Capped at 15. The top pick does not also take best value.
You choose an engineer's hammer by the job, then the pein, then the head weight, then how the head is held. A star line does not name the pein. A DIN bullet is not BS 876. Prices on this page are the amazon.co.uk shelf prices captured on 19 October 2026. Stars and review counts come from those same listings. There was no lab test. A hardness figure, or a line that the head will not detach, is the seller's claim.
An engineer's hammer is a steel striking tool with a flat face and a ball pein or a cross pein. You use it on punches, cold chisels, rivets and metal. You do not use it to pull nails. A sound one has a tight head, a face that stays flat, the right pein, and a head weight you can control. The [ball pein or cross pein guide](/hub/hand-tools/engineers-hammer/sub/engineers-hammer-ball-pein-vs-cross-pein) is the shape decision on its own. Start with the job.
The title often prints a head mass, and the item-weight row prints the whole tool. Those figures often disagree. Do not average them, and do not treat the item weight as the head.
A claw drives and pulls nails. An engineer's hammer has a flat face and a ball or cross pein for punches, chisels, rivets and metal. The claw does not become a pein because it is already in the toolbox.
Two ratings are not several hundred. Soaking a loose wooden head does not fix it. A DIN 1041 bullet is a German pattern claim, not BS 876, and none of these listings prints the British Standard.
The pein has to match the job before the price does. A ball pein is the rounded end for punches, cold chisels and domed rivets. A cross pein is the narrow wedge for pins and some sheet seams. If the head-style row does not name the pein, do not invent it. Flat is not a ball. Straight is not a cross. Accuracy or Square beside a pein named in the bullets can still be a named pein. Round beside ball peen agrees with the title.
Head weight and the way the head is held decide whether you can control the blow and whether the hammer is still safe next month. Keep the printed head weight separate from the item-weight row. DT Online, as a rule of thumb, treats about 12 oz as general work, 4–8 oz as fine work, and about 2 lb as heavier work. Tooled-Up, as retailer guidance, puts 200–300 g on precision jobs and 500–800 g on heavier metal. Title grams and the item-weight row often disagree. Do not average them.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want about 300 g and a head that stays on for chisels and punches. The WIESEMANN listing prints 300 g in the title, the bullets and the item weight, and it names a ball pein on a fibreglass handle. Six UK reviews do not repeat a loose head. DIN 1041 in the bullets is not BS 876.
You want a light ball pein for pins, silver or model work. The Amtech title says 4 oz (115 g). The item weight is 160 g, and the head-style row says Flat. Several UK reviews say the head was loose, glued, or came off, which matters more than the shelf price. Check the head before every blow.
You want three weights in one parcel, then you check each handle before a heavy blow. The Amazon Basics set lists 300 g, 500 g and 1,000 g. The pein is not stated. UK reviews praise the three weights and also report angled larger heads and handles that need replacing.
The top pick is the WIESEMANN 1893 300 g locksmith's hammer. It is the only score at 86: 300 g in the title and the item weight, a ball pein in the bullets, a fibreglass handle, and six UK reviews with no loose-head theme, at about £9.95. The best value is the HOUSERAN 2 lb ball peen, which has the highest value score that is not the top pick, at 12. It is about £15.99, with a stated ball peen and nine UK reviews that do not describe a loose head. The title says 2 lb and the item weight is 1.09 kg. This was not a lab test.
HOUSERAN 2 lb ball peen hammer
Highest value score that is not the top pick, at 12, with a stated ball peen and nine UK reviews that do not describe a loose head.
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 for this comparison, last checked on 19 October 2026.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Listings, review counts and public sources still decide the comparison. We did not run a lab test.
