The best lump hammers, compared.
Top pick: JAPCHET pair of 1 kg club hammers Best value: Faithfull FAIFG4 4 lb club hammer – Lowest shelf price among kept listings with at least 500 reviews, at £8.99, with 4.7 from 1,493 reviews. Updated 22.10.2026.
A lump hammer, also called a club hammer in the UK, is a short-handled hammer with two striking faces and a heavy head. You swing it with one hand while the other holds a bolster or a cold chisel. It is the tool for bricks, blocks, stakes, wedges and light demolition, not for everyday nails and not for a long two-handed sledge. Head weight is the decision that changes the job. Trade guides put about 2.5 lb (about 1.1 kg) as the general hammer and about 4 lb (about 1.8 kg) only when you can still place the blow. The handle is the second decision. Fibreglass is the usual retail choice because it is not meant to shrink and loosen. Hickory absorbs shock and must be checked for a moving head. What you can judge on a listing is a title that matches the head, a joint that does not move, and a review count large enough to read. Those checks, in order, are set out in the [lump hammer buying guide](/hub/hand-tools/lump-hammer/sub/lump-hammer-buying-guide).
A lump hammer, also called a club hammer in the UK, is a short-handled hammer with two striking faces and a heavy head. You swing it with one hand while the other holds a bolster or a cold chisel.
32 products checked · 61 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
Swipe for more
1-2 of 9
Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you striking?
JAPCHET's listing is two 1 kg wood-handle club hammers for £13.99, 28.7 cm long, at rank 85 in Club Hammers. The item weight is 2 kg for the pair, so the per-hammer figure and the parcel weight agree. The listing says wood and does not name hickory or any other species, and it does not claim BS 876. The only review is 5.0 from one reviewer in Ireland on 23 September 2026, and the file has no UK review text. That single score is not comparable with 4.7 from thousands of reviews on the larger listings. The bullets name chisels, masonry, and tent pegs, and they say the wood handle absorbs shock, which is a claim rather than a measurement.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want two light 1 kg wood-handle club hammers in one parcel and you do not need a UK review sample.
Less suitable: You want one 2.5 lb or 4 lb hammer with a large UK review count.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this one hammer or two?
The title and the included-components line say 2 club hammers. Each is described as 1 kg, and the item weight is 2 kg. Overall length is 28.7 cm.
What wood is the handle?
The listing says wood. It does not name hickory or any other species, and it does not claim BS 876.
How many UK reviews are in the file?
None. The star line is 5.0 from 1 review, and that review is from Ireland on 23 September 2026. It says good quality, a good price, and fast delivery, and it names no fault.
Milwaukee 4932478255 is a 1.36 kg club hammer at £13.75, with 4.8 from 476 reviews. The item type says club hammer, but the best-seller line is rank 1 in Sledgehammers, so it is not the Club Hammers list leader. Title and item weight both say 1.36 kg, which is one of the cleaner weight pairs in this set, and the bullets claim a lanyard hole for work at height plus a fibreglass core. A unit-count row says 212 g, which does not match, and no handle length is published. Reviews in the file ask for a longer handle than the picture suggests, and for a flatter, heavier face. A 2-year manufacturer warranty is stated. The title on the listing is spelt Milwauke.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 1.36 kg club hammer with a stated lanyard hole and a large review count.
Less suitable: You need a published handle length, a 4 lb head, or a Club Hammers best-seller rank.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this filed as a club hammer?
The item-type name says club hammer, 1.36 kg. The best-seller line is 1 in Sledgehammers. The title is spelt Milwauke.
Does it have a lanyard hole?
The bullets say a lanyard hole so the tool can be used at height. No handle length is given. A unit-count row says 212 g, which does not match the 1.36 kg item weight.
What do the reviews say about the face and the handle?
UK reviews in the file say the picture looks like a longer handle, the faces are not totally flat, and the head feels light and rounded for heavy work. The star line is 4.8 from 476.
The ASelected club hammer sits near 1.7 kg, priced at £9.99, with 4.8 from 155 reviews and rank 2 in Club Hammers. The title says 1,700 g (3.7 lb) and the item-weight row says 1.69 kg, so those two figures agree, and the length on the dimension row is 28 cm. Pasted UK reviews mention the grip, ordinary house jobs, spikes, and concrete. One reviewer said a heavier head is harder to keep on a chisel, which fits a 3.7 lb one-handed tool. The material row says stainless steel while the bullets describe a rubber grip, so the shaft is not clear from the page alone. There is no BS 876 line, and the included-components field says no.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a short hammer near 1.7 kg at £9.99 and you can live with a handle row that says stainless steel while the bullets say rubber.
Less suitable: You need the handle material to be unambiguous, or you want a 2.5 lb head for a long chisel session.
Specifications
Common questions
What is the handle made of?
The material row says stainless steel. The bullets describe a two-colour rubber grip and an overmoulded plastic handle. Both lines are on the listing.
How heavy is it?
The title says 1,700 g (3.7 lb). The item-weight row says 1.69 kg. The dimension row is 28 cm long.
What is included?
The included-components line says no. Number of items is 1.
Bargain Hound's lump hammer is £8.99, with 4.8 from 56 reviews and rank 5 in Club Hammers. The title says 3 lb / 1,385 g and the item-weight row says 1.28 kg, about 100 g light of that title, and there is no dimension row. The handle is listed as rubber and fibreglass. The 19 pasted UK reviews praise the grip and ordinary garden jobs such as fence posts and trampoline legs, and they do not describe a break or a loose head. That sample is too small and too short to show a fault pattern. No hardness figure and no BS 876 line appear on the listing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a low shelf price in the 3 lb title band and you will check the parcel weight against 1,385 g.
Less suitable: You need a dimension, a stated standard, or a large review sample.
Specifications
Common questions
Which weight figure is on the listing?
The title says 3 lb / 1,385 g. The item-weight row says 1.28 kg. There is no dimension row.
What is the handle?
The material row says rubber and fibreglass. The bullets describe an anti-slip rubber grip. No hardness figure and no BS 876 line are stated.
Do the reviews name a fault?
The 19 UK reviews in the file are short praise: value, grip, fence posts, trampoline legs. They do not describe a break or a loose head. The sample is small.
The OX Trade OX-T081302 is the 2.5 lb fibreglass club hammer at the top of Amazon's Club Hammers list in this 22 October 2026 snapshot, with 4.7 from 3,349 reviews and a shelf price of £12.00. The title puts the head at 2.5 lb / 1.1 kg and the dimension row puts the tool at 25.7 cm, the short one-handed length UK guides expect when one hand holds a bolster or a cold chisel. Reviewers on the UK listing use it on bricks, chisels, and slabs. The item-weight row says 133 g, which cannot be the head, so that cell is a bad catalogue line and the title is the figure to judge. One review describes dents on arrival and a parcel that looked used. The bullets claim the fibreglass absorbs shock and that the handle is securely attached, and neither line is a measurement. There is no BS 876 claim on this listing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the 2.5 lb fibreglass club hammer that is rank 1 in Club Hammers in this snapshot, and you will ignore the 133 g item-weight row.
Less suitable: You need a stated 4 lb head, a hickory handle, or a lanyard hole.
Specifications
Common questions
What head weight does the OX listing claim?
The title says 2.5 lb / 1.1 kg. The item-weight row says 133 g, which does not match the title. The length on the dimension row is 25.7 cm.
Does the listing mention a chisel or bolster?
The item highlight names demolition, masonry, chisel and bolster work. The bullets also say the fibreglass handle absorbs shock. That shock line is a claim, not a measurement.
Is a British Standard named?
No BS 876 line appears on this listing. The manufacturer line is OX Tools UK, and the country of origin is not filled in.
Faithfull's FAIFG4 is the 4 lb fibreglass club hammer at £8.99, with 4.7 from 1,493 reviews and rank 3 in Club Hammers on 22 October 2026. The title is 4 lb / 1.8 kg, and the bullets name close blows on a cold chisel or bolster, plus building and demolition. The item-weight row is 1.97 kg, a little above the title, so the head sits in the heavy band either way. Pasted UK reviews use it on wedges, stone, and fence posts and treat that mass as the reason to buy it. Those same reviews say a 4 lb head tires the arm on a long session. No pasted review in the file describes the head coming off, and the listing states a 5-year manufacturer guarantee. This model does not claim BS 876, and the dimension row is empty.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 4 lb fibreglass club hammer at £8.99 and you already know a 4 lb head is tiring on a long session.
Less suitable: You want a 2.5 lb head for a long spell of accurate bolster work, or a listing that claims BS 876.
Specifications
Common questions
How heavy is the Faithfull fibreglass club hammer?
The title says 1.8 kg (4 lb). The included-components line says 1.81 kg. The item-weight row says 1.97 kg.
What does the listing say it is for?
The bullets say building and demolition, and close heavy blows to a cold chisel or a bolster. They also say the head is securely fitted to a shock-absorbing fibreglass handle.
Does this model claim BS 876?
This fibreglass listing does not. The Faithfull hickory club hammer in the same set does. A 5-year manufacturer guarantee is stated here.
Faithfull FAIHC212C is the only hickory club hammer in this set, at £8.15, with 4.7 from 85 reviews and rank 4 in Club Hammers. The bullets give a 220 mm hickory handle and say the hammer is manufactured in accordance with BS 876. That sentence is the seller's claim, not a certificate in the file. The title says 2.5 lb / 1.14 kg while the item-weight row says 572 g, and the head-material row says hickory wood, which describes the handle rather than the head. One UK reviewer reported returning the hammer three times because the head was loose. Other pasted reviews call it sturdy. A 5-year manufacturer guarantee is stated, and you still check the head before you swing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 2.5 lb hickory club hammer with a BS 876 claim and you will check the head before you swing.
Less suitable: You will not inspect a wooden head, or you need the item weight to match the title.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this listing claim BS 876?
Yes. The bullets say it is manufactured in accordance with BS 876. That is the seller's sentence. No certificate is in the saved listing.
How long is the handle, and what does it weigh?
The bullets say a 220 mm hickory handle and the title says 1.14 kg (2.5 lb). The item-weight row says 572 g. The head-material row says hickory wood.
Do reviews mention a loose head?
One UK reviewer says they returned the hammer three times because the head was loose. Other pasted reviews call it sturdy. The star line is 4.7 from 85.
The WORKPRO W041121A is the dearest row in this set at £19.99, with 4.6 from 123 reviews and rank 13 in Club Hammers. The bullets claim striking faces at HRC 50-58, a fibreglass core in TPR, and a handle of about 310 mm, and the dimension row is 35.5 cm. The title says 1.4 kg (3.0 lb) while the item weight and the bullet weight sit near 1.68 kg, so the page does not agree on the head. UK reviews in the file praise balance, demolition, block laying, and the grip. One review says the hammer broke within three hours, which is a single report rather than a rate. There is no BS 876 claim.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the listing that states a hardness number and a handle near 310 mm, and you accept it is the £19.99 row.
Less suitable: You want the lowest price, or a 2.5 lb head with thousands of reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
What hardness does the listing claim?
The bullets say the striking surfaces are heat treated to HRC 50-58. There is no BS 876 line.
How long is the handle?
The bullets say about 310 mm and about 1,680 g. The dimension row is 35.5 cm long and the item weight is 1.68 kg. The title says 1.4 kg (3.0 lb).
Do reviews report a failure?
One UK review says it broke within 3 hours. Other UK reviews in the file praise balance, demolition, block laying, and the grip. The star line is 4.6 from 123.
The MUKCHAP club hammer is £12.99, with 4.5 from 40 reviews. The title and the item weight both say 1.6 kg, and the title also says 3.5 lb, so this is one of the few rows where those two weight figures match. The bullets add a 25 cm handle and a head of 10 x 4 cm, with steel next to the head and fibreglass on the lower grip. It is filed under Sledgehammers at rank 42, though the item type says club hammer. Pasted reviews mention rock pegs and log splitting, and one says the arm tires. Another review title says the material could be better without describing the fault. There is no BS 876 claim.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 1.6 kg club hammer whose title weight and item weight match, for pegs or a short splitting job.
Less suitable: You want a Club Hammers rank, a large review count, or a 2.5 lb head.
Specifications
Common questions
Do the weight figures agree?
Yes. The title and the item-weight row both say 1.6 kg. The title also says 3.5 lb. The bullets add a head of 10 x 4 cm and a handle of 25 cm.
What is the handle made of?
The material row says fibreglass. The bullets say steel next to the head and fibreglass on the lower part, with a patterned grip.
Which Amazon list is it on?
The best-seller line is 42 in Sledgehammers. The item type says club hammer. The star line is 4.5 from 40 reviews.
Nine lump hammer listings on amazon.co.uk were scored from the 22 October 2026 snapshot. The reading uses stars, review counts, whether the listing agrees with itself, faults repeated in the pasted reviews, and Club Hammers list position. There was no lab test and no striking test. The method note caps review evidence at 40, a usable listing at 30 and fit and faults at a start of 30, then adds up to 8 for Club Hammers rank. Those caps total 108, so the four weights below are the same blocks scaled to 100. The top pick is the highest score. Best value is the lowest shelf price among the remaining kept listings with at least 500 reviews.
Review evidence
37%Stars above 4.0 contribute up to 20 of the published 40 points. Review volume adds up to 20: 2,000 or more reviews score 20, and under 20 reviews score 0. A 5.0 from one review cannot outrank 4.7 from thousands. The published cap of 40, out of 108, is shown here as 37.
Listing you can use
28%Weight agreement between the title and the item-weight row is worth up to 12. A nonsense row, such as 133 g against a 1.1 kg title, scores 0 and is not the head. A named handle without a contradiction is up to 8, a published length up to 5, and a usable extra up to 5. A BS 876 line is the seller's claim, not a certificate. The published cap of 30 is shown here as 28.
Fit and faults
28%This block starts at 30 in the method note. A repeated or severe fault in the pasted reviews deducts 12. A single cosmetic complaint deducts 3. A club hammer filed under Sledgehammers deducts 4. A review sample that is only one non-UK review deducts 8. The published start of 30 is shown here as 28.
Club Hammers list position
7%Rank 1 in Club Hammers adds 8 in the method note. Ranks 2 to 5 add 3. A Sledgehammers rank does not add. The published add of up to 8 is shown here as 7.
Head weight first, then the handle, then whether the listing agrees with itself. The notes below are those checks. The table is nine lump hammer listings on amazon.co.uk, read on 22 October 2026. In the files, shelf prices run from £8.15 to £19.99. About 2.5 lb is the general hammer. About 4 lb is for breaking or wedging, and it tires the arm on a long session. Star lines are amazon.co.uk averages, not a lab score.
A lump hammer and a club hammer are the same UK tool: a short handle, two striking faces, and a heavy head you swing with one hand while the other holds a bolster or a cold chisel. Screwfix, InterDIY and BuildWiz use both names for bricks, blocks, stakes, wedges and light demolition, not for everyday nails and not for a long two-handed sledge. This category is the short double-faced club hammer, about 1 kg to 2 kg. A claw, a pein, a ball-pein and a geology kit are other tools.
About 2.5 lb is the general hammer. About 4 lb is for when you can still place the blow, and reviews say that head tires the arm on a long session. A first-year note sits nearer 1.25 kg for ordinary bolster work.
A row that says 133 g against a 1.1 kg title, or 572 g against a 1.14 kg title, is not the head. Read the title, then the item-weight row, then the bullets. If the handle lines disagree, keep both.
A claw hammer is the wrong tool on a bolster. Score the brick and support it, then split, rather than one full-power blow with no score. A fibreglass shock bullet is a claim, not a measurement. A head that already moves is a return or scrap.
InterDIY's range for this hammer is about 800 g to 1,800 g. BuildWiz's rule of thumb, not a standard, is about 2 lb for light chasing, 2.5 lb if you buy one, 3 lb for denser block, and 4 lb for sustained heavy work. About 2.5 lb (about 1.1 kg) is the general hammer for bricks, pegs and a bolster. About 4 lb (about 1.8 kg) is the heavy band, and only when you can still place the blow. A householder cutting a few bricks wants about 2.5 lb to 3 lb.
Fibreglass is the usual retail choice because it is not meant to shrink and loosen. Hickory absorbs shock and must be checked for a moving head. If the material row and the bullets disagree, keep both, as when one row says stainless steel and the bullets say a rubber grip. Two faces, not a claw or a pein, and a secured head, are the shape. BS 876:1995 covers club hammers. Only one listing here says it is manufactured in accordance with BS 876, and that is a claim, not a certificate.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are cutting a few bricks or driving pegs, and you want about 2.5 lb to 3 lb, usually fibreglass. The OX Trade title is 2.5 lb / 1.1 kg, with 4.7 from 3,349 reviews. The 133 g item-weight row is not the head. A 4 lb head is more than this job needs.
You are breaking or wedging and you can accept a tired arm. The Faithfull FAIFG4 title is 4 lb / 1.8 kg at £8.99, with 4.7 from 1,493 reviews. Reviews on that listing treat the mass as the reason to buy it, and they also say a long session tires the arm.
You want hickory and you will check the head every time you pick it up. The Faithfull FAIHC212C is the only hickory listing here, at £8.15, with a BS 876 claim and a 220 mm handle. The item-weight row says 572 g against a 1.14 kg title, and one buyer reported three loose-head returns.
The highest score is the OX Trade 2.5 lb club hammer, the top pick: rank 1 in Club Hammers, 4.7 from 3,349 amazon.co.uk reviews, and a 2.5 lb / 1.1 kg title at £12.00 in this file. The item-weight row says 133 g, which is not treated as the head. Best value is the Faithfull FAIFG4 4 lb fibreglass club hammer at £8.99, with 4.7 from 1,493 reviews. It is the lowest shelf price among the kept listings with at least 500 reviews. A 4 lb head is tiring on a long bolster session. The £8.15 hickory Faithfull has fewer than 500 reviews, so it does not take best value.
Faithfull FAIFG4 4 lb club hammer
Lowest shelf price among kept listings with at least 500 reviews, at £8.99, with 4.7 from 1,493 reviews.
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 from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The notes come from amazon.co.uk listings, review text and public UK sources, not from a lab test.
