A few mortices by hand
You are chopping furniture joints with a mallet and you want one width to start, about 6 mm, plus a hone. The Wood Line 6 mm is the best value hand chisel here for that mortice.
Mortise chisel comparison 2026
The best mortise chisels, compared.
Top pick: Narex Wood Line 6 mm Best value: Narex Wood Line 6 mm – Highest score per pound among the other listings, at about £15.96, for a mortice of about 6 mm. Updated 22.10.2026.
A mortise chisel, usually spelt mortice in UK shops, is the thick hand chisel you strike with a mallet to chop the socket of a mortice-and-tenon, then lever the chips out. You buy one when a furniture joint, a sash or a lock needs a square hole that a thin bench chisel would bruise. A suitable hand chisel has a width that matches the tenon or the lock, a hoop or ferrule that can take the mallet, and a steel the listing is willing to name. A tapered side is side relief so the blade does not stick. It is not automatically a fault. The other tool under the same search is a hollow mortising chisel: a square sleeve with an auger inside. That one needs a mortiser or a drill press that clamps the sleeve. It is not a bit for a cordless drill. Width, type and what else you must add are set out in our [mortise chisel buying guide](/hub/hand-tools/mortise-chisel/sub/mortise-chisel-buying-guide).
A mortise chisel, usually spelt mortice in UK shops, is the thick hand chisel you strike with a mallet to chop the socket of a mortice-and-tenon, then lever the chips out.
32 products checked · 67 hrs invested · +24,800 readers
9 of 9: Best mortise chisels compared
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1-2 of 9Best overall
6.9/10
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5.3/10
4.9/10
∼ £16
∼ £20
∼ £24
∼ £63
∼ £27
∼ £55
∼ £8
∼ £31
∼ £50
4.7(376)
4.7(376)
4.7(376)
4.6(471)
4.2(198)
4.0(6)
4.0(1)
3.9(148)
3.5(86)
Personal buying guide
Which mortise chisel fits?
Question 1 of 2
How will you cut the mortice?
The best mortise chisels in detail
Our view
The Narex NAR-811206D is a 6 mm Wood Line mortice chisel at £15.96, and the bullets put it at about 300 mm overall with about 145 mm of blade and a stained beech handle with chromed ferrules. A separate attribute line says 7 cm by 1.5 cm, so measure the chisel when it arrives rather than trusting both rows. The star line is 4.7 from 376, and that text is one parent pool shared with the 12 mm and 16 mm listings, not a separate trial of this width. Reviewers in the pool describe mallet blows on the handle and a thick blade that is easier to steer than a bench chisel, and several say the edge still needs a hone, including a burr or a grind that was not square. The same comments say the sides taper, so this is not a registered chisel with square sides. One review measured a 5 mm chisel under its stated width, and that sentence is not a measurement of this 6 mm. It is the best value hand chisel in this capture when the mortice is about 6 mm and you will hone it.
Pros
- Lowest hand-chisel price in this capture at about £15.96
- Size line is a single 6 mm, the width UK furniture notes often start with
- Bullets name a beech handle and ferrules
Cons
- Dimension attribute says 7 cm by 1.5 cm
- No hardness figure on this file
- Review text is the shared parent pool, including a 5 mm width complaint that is not this size
Best for: A first hand mortice chisel if 6 mm matches the tenon and you will hone it.
Less suitable: A registered square-sided chisel. The shared reviews say this pattern tapers.
Specifications
- Model
- Narex Wood Line 6 mm
- Brand
- Narex
- Price
- ∼£16
- Customer rating
- 4.7/5(376)
- Type
- Hand mortice chisel
- Width
- 6 mm
- Drive
- Mallet
- Steel
- Alloy steel
- Handle
- Beech, ferrules
- Side relief
- Taper in reviews
- Also needed
- Hone
- Sold as
- One chisel
- Weight
- 113 g
Common questions
What width does the listing state?
The size line says 6 mm. The part number is 811206. The title is Narex Wood Line Profi 6 mm.
How long is it, on this listing?
The bullets say about 300 mm overall and about 145 mm of blade. A separate attribute line says 7 cm by 1.5 cm. Those two cannot both be the chisel.
Are the 376 reviews only about this 6 mm?
The listing line is 4.7 from 376. The same score and the same review text open the 12 mm and 16 mm files. Treat them as one parent pool.
Our view
The Narex NAR-811212D is the £19.97 12 mm Wood Line chisel, and the title plus the included-components line describe one tool. The attribute block still says a set of eight sizes and a number of items of 8, which is not eight chisels in the box. Stars are 4.7 from 376, the same parent pool as the 6 mm and 16 mm pages, so those reviews are not three separate verdicts. One comment in that pool says the pattern cuts a good 12 mm mortice by hand and that the handle can be hit hard. The same pool keeps returning to a factory edge that needs honing, tapered sides rather than a registered square, and the odd example that arrived looking used or with the blade off the handle centre. This file's edge attribute says Pointed, while the 6 mm and 16 mm files in the family say Bevel, so check the grind on the steel. It suits a mortice you already know is about 12 mm, which is the nearer metric size to 1/2 in among these Wood Line singles, if you ignore the set-of-eight line.
Pros
- 12 mm is the nearer metric size to 1/2 in among the Wood Line singles here
- One review in the shared pool describes a 12 mm mortice
- Beech handle and ferrules are on the bullets
Cons
- Set-of-eight attribute against a single title
- Edge attribute says Pointed
- Same shared review pool as the other widths
Best for: A wider hand mortice if you already know you need about 12 mm.
Less suitable: Anyone reading the set-name line as eight chisels in the box.
Specifications
- Model
- Narex Wood Line 12 mm
- Brand
- Narex
- Price
- ∼£20
- Customer rating
- 4.7/5(376)
- Type
- Hand mortice chisel
- Width
- 12 mm
- Drive
- Mallet
- Steel
- Alloy steel
- Handle
- Beech, ferrules
- Side relief
- Taper in reviews
- Also needed
- Hone
- Sold as
- One chisel
- Weight
- 113 g
Common questions
Is this a set of eight chisels?
The title and the included-components line describe one 12 mm chisel. The set name says Set of 8 sizes and the number-of-items line says 8.
What width and length are stated?
The size line says 12 mm. The bullets say about 300 mm overall and about 145 mm of blade.
What does the edge attribute say?
Blade edge is Pointed on this file. The 6 mm and 16 mm files in the same family say Bevel.
Our view
The Narex 811216D is the £24.00 16 mm Wood Line chisel, and the included line is one tool. The bullets say stained beech, chromed ferrules, about 300 mm overall and about 145 mm of blade, while the dimension attribute says 7 cm by 1.5 cm. This file's material line says spring steel and the weight line says 280 g, against alloy steel and 113 g on the 6 mm and 12 mm sisters, so those rows are not one consistent specification. The 4.7 from 376 is the shared parent pool, and no review in the sampled opening measures this 16 mm. Reviewers still talk about mallet balance, a hone before the edge is square, and sides that taper. UK furniture notes treat about 6 mm and about 10 mm as the usual start, so 16 mm is the heavy end of this shelf. Buy it when the mortice is already 16 mm and you can live with the conflicting steel and weight lines.
Pros
- Widest Wood Line single in this capture
- Included line is clearly one 16 mm chisel
- Beech handle is named on both the bullet and the material line
Cons
- Spring steel on this file only
- 280 g against 113 g on the narrower singles
- 7 cm dimension line, and no country of origin
Best for: A wide mortice you already know is 16 mm.
Less suitable: A first chisel. UK notes treat 16 mm as the heavy end, not the starter width.
Specifications
- Model
- Narex Wood Line 16 mm
- Brand
- Narex
- Price
- ∼£24
- Customer rating
- 4.7/5(376)
- Type
- Hand mortice chisel
- Width
- 16 mm
- Drive
- Mallet
- Steel
- Spring steel
- Handle
- Beech, ferrules
- Side relief
- Taper in reviews
- Also needed
- Hone
- Sold as
- One chisel
- Weight
- 280 g
Common questions
What width is this chisel?
The size line and the included-components line say 16 mm. Number of items is 1.
What steel does this listing name?
The blade material line says spring steel. The 6 mm and 12 mm files say alloy steel. This file does not repeat the Cr-Mn bullet from the set.
Which length should you read?
The bullets say about 300 mm overall and about 145 mm of blade. The dimension attribute says 7 cm by 1.5 cm.
Our view
The Narex 863600 is a four-piece Wood Line set at £63.00, titled as 4, 6, 10 and 12 mm, with 4.6 from 471 on amazon.co.uk. The file holds 31 reviews marked United Kingdom, and those are about this set rather than the shared single-chisel pool. Reviewers describe hardwood handles and steel collars, and jobs that include mortice-and-tenon, locks in hardwood doors and oak, often after comparing the edge with cheaper chisels from Screwfix or B&Q. The bullet says Cr-Mn heat treated up to 59 HRc and sides that taper in height and length, and that hardness figure was not measured for this comparison. Several of the 31 say the backs still needed a proper hone, including one report of about two and a half hours, and the included line does not name a case or edge covers. The item-type line is spelt Woodd Chisel, and the 34 cm by 16 cm dimension reads as the box. It is the top pick here when you want 6 mm and 10 mm together and you will hone all four, not when you will only ever chop one width.
Pros
- Four widths in one box, including 6 mm and 10 mm
- Only Wood Line listing here that prints 59 HRc
- 31 UK reviews talk about this set, not a shared single-chisel pool
Cons
- No case or guards on the included line
- Factory edge still needs work, on several reviews
- 880 g is the set, and blade length is not stated
Best for: Someone who wants 6 mm and 10 mm together and will hone all four.
Less suitable: Someone who will only ever chop one width. The singles are on this shelf from about £15.96.
Specifications
- Model
- Narex set 4, 6, 10, 12 mm
- Brand
- Narex
- Price
- ∼£63
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(471)
- Type
- Hand chisel set
- Width
- 4, 6, 10, 12 mm
- Drive
- Mallet on hoop
- Steel
- Cr-Mn, up to 59 HRc
- Handle
- Beech, ferrule, hoop
- Side relief
- Tapered sides
- Also needed
- Hone, no case
- Sold as
- Set of four
- Weight
- 880 g
Common questions
Which widths are in the set?
The title says 4, 6, 10 and 12 mm. Number of items is 4. Included components say a set of 4 chisels.
Does it come with a case?
The bullets and the included-components line do not name a case. One of the 31 UK reviews wanted edge covers or a sleeve.
What hardness does the listing claim?
The bullet says Cr-Mn steel heat treated up to 59 HRc. That figure was not measured for this comparison.
Our view
The ArtisanShow six-piece hollow set is £26.99, listing 6.35, 8, 9.5, 12.7, 14 and 16 mm, with a star line of 4.2 from 198. The bullet says HSS at HRC 48–50 and a 19 mm round clamping shank for a mortiser or a drill-press attachment, and no adapter is in the included lines. Five reviews in the file are marked United Kingdom. One of them had not used the bits because the cheapest adapter they found was about £50. Another called a set faulty, unusable, and no longer returnable. A shorter UK note says they are fair value if you do not force them, and one buyer had only looked at them because they were a gift. The cutting-diameter attribute prints only 6.35 mm, and a surface line says alloy steel beside the HSS bullet. It is a drill-press set if the 19 mm shank and a separate clamp already fit your machine, not a hand-tool mortice and not a cordless-drill bit.
Pros
- Six widths from 6.35 mm to 16 mm
- Shank diameter is stated at 19 mm
- Star line is the highest of the hollow sets here
Cons
- No adapter in the included lines
- One UK buyer called them faulty and unsellable back
- Surface line says alloy steel
Best for: A drill press you already own, if the 19 mm shank and a separate clamp will fit it.
Less suitable: A hand-tool mortice, or a cordless drill. The UK review that priced the adapter had not been able to use the set.
Specifications
- Model
- ArtisanShow 6-piece hollow set
- Brand
- ArtisanShow
- Price
- ∼£27
- Customer rating
- 4.2/5(198)
- Type
- Hollow chisel set
- Width
- 6.35–16 mm
- Drive
- Drill press
- Steel
- HSS, HRC 48–50
- Handle
- 19 mm round shank
- Also needed
- Separate clamp
- Sold as
- Six bits
- Weight
- 1160 g
Common questions
What sizes are in the set?
The bullet lists 6.35 mm, 8 mm, 9.5 mm, 12.7 mm, 14 mm and 16 mm. The cutting-diameter attribute prints only 6.35 mm.
Can you use them without a drill press?
A UK review says safe use needs a drill press or an adapter, and put the cheapest adapter they found at about £50. They had not used the bits.
What do the UK reviews add beyond the star line?
Five reviews are marked United Kingdom. One calls a set faulty and says it could not be returned. One says not to force them. One had not opened them because they were a gift.
Our view
The Narex 815113 Richter is the £54.50 single, titled as 1/2 in and 13 mm together, and it is the dearest hand chisel in this capture. The bullets say drop-forged chromium-vanadium, a cryogenic cool to −190 °C, sides tapered in thickness, a 25° front bevel and a 30–35° secondary for hardwood, plus two stainless ferrules and a leather washer with the top ferrule pinned. None of that was measured here, and the amazon.co.uk file has no review text behind the 4.0 from 6, so there is nothing to quote about edge life or handle comfort. The dimension line says 2.29 m by 2.29 m, which is a listing error rather than a chisel length, and blade length and handle species are absent. Shop pages outside this capture claim a longer edge that takes longer to sharpen, and that is shop copy, not a result from these six ratings. Choose it only if you want that printed Richter specification and you can accept an empty review file at this price.
Pros
- Only listing here that states a cryogenic treatment and a secondary bevel for hardwood
- Sides taper is on the bullet, not only in a review
- 268 g, heavier than the 113 g Wood Line 6 mm and 12 mm
Cons
- No review text despite a count of 6
- Dimension line is 2.29 m
- No blade length and no handle species on this file
Best for: A buyer who wants the Richter 13 mm specification as printed and can hone a 30–35° secondary bevel.
Less suitable: A buyer who wants UK review comments before paying about £54.50. This file does not have them.
Specifications
- Model
- Narex Richter 13 mm
- Brand
- Narex
- Price
- ∼£55
- Customer rating
- 4.0/5(6)
- Type
- Hand mortice chisel
- Width
- 13 mm (1/2 in)
- Drive
- Mallet on ferrule
- Steel
- Cr-V, cryogenic
- Handle
- Wood, two ferrules
- Side relief
- Tapered sides
- Also needed
- Hone
- Sold as
- One chisel
- Weight
- 268 g
Common questions
What size is the Richter?
The title says 1/2 in and 13 mm. The size line says 1/2 inch. The model is 815113.
What bevel does the listing recommend?
The bullets say a 25 degree front bevel and a secondary bevel of 30 to 35 degrees for hard wood.
What do the six reviews say?
The listing line is 4.0 from 6. This saved listing has no review text, so there is nothing to quote.
Our view
The Holy Feather YCfeather00046 is a single 6.35 mm (1/4 in) hollow chisel at £7.99, the lowest price in this capture, with 4.0 from one amazon.co.uk review dated 23 November 2025. The bullet says hardened carbon steel, about 150 mm overall, a 30 mm blade, and that it works in any standard drill or drill press. That UK review calls the description misleading: the sleeve has to be clamped while the auger spins, an adapter cost them about £15, there were no instructions, and an ordinary handheld drill without the clamp could be dangerous. They still called the bit well made and sharp for the money, and expected a bench drill to be the setup that makes sense. The dimension attribute is a 25 mm cube against the 150 mm bullet, and the unit-count line says 1.0 gram. This is a square-hole bit for a drill press you can fit a sleeve clamp to, if you only need 6.35 mm, and it is not a mallet chisel.
Pros
- Lowest price in the capture
- One width, so you are not buying a set of unused sizes
- The review calls it well made and sharp for the money
Cons
- Adapter not included
- Any-drill claim contradicted by the only review
- 25 mm cube dimensions against a 150 mm bullet
Best for: A bench drill you can fit a sleeve clamp to, if you only need 6.35 mm.
Less suitable: A cordless drill, or a mallet-and-chisel mortice. This is not a hand chisel.
Specifications
- Model
- Holy Feather 6.35 mm hollow chisel
- Brand
- Holy Feather
- Price
- ∼£8
- Customer rating
- 4.0/5(1)
- Type
- Hollow chisel
- Width
- 6.35 mm
- Drive
- Clamp the sleeve
- Steel
- Carbon steel
- Handle
- 6.35 mm shank
- Also needed
- Adapter
- Sold as
- One bit
- Weight
- 110 g
Common questions
Will this work in a handheld drill?
The bullet says any standard power drill or drill press. The only UK review says the sleeve has to be clamped, an adapter cost them about £15, and an ordinary drill without it could be dangerous.
What size is the bit?
The cutting diameter is 6.35 mm, also written as 1/4 in. The bullet says a 30 mm blade and 150 mm overall. The dimension attribute says 25 mm by 25 mm by 25 mm.
How many reviews are there?
The listing line is 4.0 from 1. That review is marked United Kingdom and dated 23 November 2025.
Our view
The GOTOTOP six-piece set is £30.88, titled from 6.35 mm to 16 mm and described as titanium-coated, while the material line says alloy steel and the bullet says heat-treated steel at HRC 48–50. The listing line is 3.9 from 148, and six reviews in the file are marked United Kingdom. One of those buyers used the bits to make a table and said they did the job. Two others say the set is not usable on its own: extra parts were not mentioned, and a cage is needed to hold the bit in line. One of those reviews describes a hand caught in the bit and a week off work. A further UK buyer had not used them because the attachment arrived late, and another is unsure how long the edge will last. The cutting-angle field prints as 6E+1, which is not a readable angle. Only a mortiser or a drill press that already has a proper sleeve clamp belongs with this set.
Pros
- Six widths stated in the title
- One UK review reports a finished table
- Weight line 1.17 kg for the set
Cons
- Cage not included
- Injury described in a UK review
- Title coating and material line disagree
Best for: Only a mortiser or a drill press that already has a proper sleeve clamp.
Less suitable: A handheld drill. The UK review that describes the injury is the reason to skip that setup.
Specifications
- Model
- GOTOTOP 6-piece hollow set
- Brand
- GOTOTOP
- Price
- ∼£31
- Customer rating
- 3.9/5(148)
- Type
- Hollow chisel set
- Width
- 6.35–16 mm
- Drive
- Mortiser or cage
- Steel
- HRC 48–50
- Handle
- Straight shank
- Also needed
- Cage
- Sold as
- Six bits
- Weight
- 1170 g
Common questions
Do the bits work on their own?
Two UK reviews say no. One says extra parts were not mentioned. Another says a cage is needed to hold the bit in line, and that their hand was caught in the bit.
What coating does the listing claim?
The title says titanium-coated steel. The material line says alloy steel. The bullet says special steel, heat treated, HRC 48–50.
Has anyone in the UK reviews finished a job with them?
One UK review says they were used to make a table and did the job. Another had not used them because the attachment arrived late. One is unsure how long the edge will last.
Our view
The luolety wy24-3.29-4 is £49.99, with 3.5 from 86, the lowest star line in this capture. The title says seven pieces and an adapter, then lists eight diameters from 6.4 mm to 16 mm, and the manufacturer line says divinge. The bullet claims HSS at HRC 48–50 and says the set is not for lithium cordless drills or for bench drills without round-hole bearings. Eight UK reviews are in the file. One reports a sharp sleeve and a clean cut up to 5 cm, with polythene sleeves on the bits. A joiner says it did not do the job, another describes soft bolts that stripped so the frame would not stay safely on the drill press, and another says the frame needs a pillar drill with a column rise they put at probably over 45 cm and will not mortice a door. One UK review counted four sizes rather than the title list. It is only a candidate for a household bench drill that matches the bullet, after you have checked the frame.
Pros
- Only hollow listing whose title includes an adapter
- One UK review reports a sharp sleeve and cuts up to 5 cm
- HSS and HRC 48–50 are on the bullet
Cons
- Lowest stars here, 3.5 from 86
- Piece count and diameter list disagree
- UK reviews describe stripped bolts and a frame that will not do a door
Best for: A household bench drill that matches the bullet, if you can check the frame before you rely on it.
Less suitable: A door lock, a cordless drill, or a first mortice by hand.
Specifications
- Model
- luolety hollow set with adapter
- Brand
- luolety
- Price
- ∼£50
- Customer rating
- 3.5/5(86)
- Type
- Hollow set, frame
- Width
- 6.4–16 mm
- Drive
- Bench drill
- Steel
- HSS, HRC 48–50
- Handle
- Square shank
- Also needed
- Tall pillar drill
- Sold as
- With adapter
- Weight
- 1800 g
Common questions
Will the adapter fit a cordless drill?
The bullet says it is not suitable for lithium battery electric drills, or for bench drills without round-hole bearings. It says old-fashioned and household bench drills.
How many pieces are there?
The title says 7PCS and then lists 6.4, 8, 9.5, 10, 11, 12.7, 14 and 16 mm. That is eight diameters. One UK review describes four sizes and a clamp.
What went wrong in the UK reviews?
A joiner said it did not do the job. Another said soft bolts stripped and the frame would not stay safely on the drill press. Another said the frame needs a tall pillar drill and will not mortice a door.
How we compared
Nine amazon.co.uk mortise-chisel listings are scored from the 22 October 2026 snapshot. Points come from the star rating, the size of that review file, and a duty score for type, steel and how the tool is driven. One deduction covers a listing that contradicts itself, or a UK review that describes a dangerous handheld setup. There is no lab hardness test and no chop carried out here. The 4.7 from 376 on three single widths is one shared parent pool, counted once per listing at a reduced sample band.
1
Star points
50%The amazon.co.uk star rating times ten, up to 50. A 4.7 is 47. If the listing has fewer than 10 ratings, star points are capped at 18.
2
Sample
20%Up to 20 from the amazon.co.uk review count. 200 or more on a listing's own file is 20. The same count on the shared Wood Line parent pool is 12. Under 10 ratings scores 0.
3
Duty
20%Up to 20 for what the tool is. A hand set with its own UK review file, a named steel claim and a stated taper scores highest. A hollow bit whose UK reviews describe an injury or a loose frame scores lowest.
4
One deduction
10%Taken off the total, not added. A listing that contradicts itself on length, piece count, edge or steel loses 8. A UK review of a dangerous handheld setup, a hand caught in the bit, or a frame that would not stay attached loses 10. If both apply, only 10 is taken. That ceiling is the weight of this block.
Independent review
Last updated: 22.10.2026
8 sources checked
Mortise chisel buying guide
Choose the type before the brand. A mallet chisel and a hollow sleeve are different tools, and a width that does not match the tenon wastes the rest of the specification. The notes below follow the buying order in the digest: type, width, what else you must add, the steel the listing names, side relief, and lines that contradict the bullets. They are not a hardness test.
What is a mortise chisel?
A mortise chisel is the thick hand chisel you strike with a mallet to chop the socket of a mortice-and-tenon, then lever the chips. UK shops usually spell it mortice. A sash mortice chisel is the long pattern, with a handle and a hoop, about 300 mm overall and about 145 mm of blade on the single-width bullets in this category. A pigsticker is the short thick English oval-bolster chisel people buy second-hand. A bevel-edge or firmer can chop a mortice if you do not bend it.
Best for
- Chopping a few furniture mortices by hand with a mallet
- A pillar drill that can clamp a hollow sleeve
Not ideal for
- A fire door, a stair or a joist
- A cordless drill, or a hollow sleeve you cannot clamp
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Buying every width
UK notes come back to about 6 mm and about 10 mm for furniture. One-third of the stock thickness is a rule of thumb. A chisel you will not use does not make the joint squarer.
- 2
Treating taper as damage
A tapered side is side relief so the blade does not stick. It is not a registered square-sided chisel, and it is not a reason to reject the tool on its own.
- 3
Trusting any drill
A hollow sleeve has to be clamped while the auger turns. A line that says any drill, and omits the clamp, is a description problem. Do not spin the sleeve in a cordless drill.
What to weigh up
Type and width
HighA mallet chisel and a hollow chisel are different tools, and the first check is which one the job needs. The hand chisel is struck on the hoop or ferrule and then levers the chips. The hollow chisel is a square sleeve with an auger, and it only belongs on a mortiser or a drill press that clamps the sleeve. Width comes next. Match the tenon or the lock. UK Workshop threads come back to about 6 mm, which is about 1/4 in, and about 10 mm, which is about 3/8 in, for furniture.
Steel, side relief and extras
HighSteel is whatever the listing is willing to name. Bullets may name chromium-manganese up to 59 HRc, chromium-vanadium with a cryogenic cool, or HRC 48–50 on a hollow sleeve. None of those figures was measured here, so treat them as claims. If the material line says alloy steel, spring steel or a coating the title does not repeat, that conflict is part of the score, not a lab result. Side relief is the taper that keeps the blade from sticking.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
Several widths together
You want about 6 mm and about 10 mm in one box and you will hone all four. The four-piece set is the top pick for that. A fire door, a stair or a joist is a joiner's job.
A pillar drill you can clamp
You already have a drill press and you can hold the sleeve still. The ArtisanShow six-piece set states a 19 mm shank. It is not a mallet chisel and not a cordless-drill bit.
Common questions about mortise chisels
What is a mortise chisel?
A mortise chisel, usually spelt mortice in UK shops, is the thick hand chisel you strike with a mallet to chop a mortice-and-tenon socket and lever the chips. It has a hoop or ferrule that can take the blow, and a width that matches the tenon or the lock. A hollow mortising chisel is a different tool: a square sleeve with an auger, used in a mortiser or a clamped drill press. A thin bevel-edge chisel can bruise the walls.
How much does a mortise chisel cost?
On this amazon.co.uk capture, one hand width sits from about £15.96 to about £24.00, a four-piece hand set is about £63.00, and a single cryogenic hand chisel is about £54.50. Hollow bits run from about £7.99 for one sleeve to about £49.99 for a set that includes a frame. UK specialist shops list other prices outside Amazon. These figures are the 22 October 2026 shelf, not a live offer.
What width of mortise chisel should you buy?
Match the tenon or the lock. UK Workshop threads come back to about 6 mm (1/4 in) and about 10 mm (3/8 in) for furniture. One-third of the stock thickness is a rule of thumb, not a British Standard. A hollow set often lists 6.35 mm to 16 mm. Buying every width before you have a joint to cut is the usual mistake. A fire-door lock is a joiner's job, not a first chisel.
Is a tapered side on a mortise chisel a fault?
No. A taper along the blade is side relief so the chisel does not stick in the mortice. It is not the same as a registered chisel with square sides. Listings and reviews on hand mortice chisels often state that taper on purpose. Do not send a chisel back only because the sides are not parallel. A thin bevel-edge chisel is a different shape and can bruise the walls of a deep mortice.
Can you use a hollow mortise chisel in a cordless drill?
No. A hollow chisel has to be clamped so the sleeve stays still while the auger turns. A bullet that says any standard drill is a description problem if it omits the clamp. One UK review describes a hand caught in the bit and a week off work. PUWER 1998 applies when the chisel is work equipment, not to a one-off job in your own home. Wear impact eye protection to BS EN 166. Ordinary spectacles do not count.
When should you call a joiner instead?
Call a joiner for a fire door, a stair or a joist, and for a hollow chisel you cannot clamp. Stop and get help if a cut has already injured you. A single mortice lock needs a chisel the width of the lock, or a joiner if the door is a fire door. The Consumer Rights Act 2015, sections 9 to 11, covers satisfactory quality, fitness for purpose and the description.
Do you need to hone a new mortise chisel?
Yes. Hand chisels in this category need a mallet and a hone before the edge is square. Factory edges in the review notes still needed work. A secondary bevel around 30–35° is what some hardwood bullets recommend, and that figure was not measured here. Skipping the hone is a common reason a new chisel feels blunt. Strike the hoop with the mallet, not the end of a hollow sleeve.
Our verdict
The top pick is the Narex set of 4, 6, 10 and 12 mm. It has the highest score in this snapshot, from 4.6 out of 5 across 471 amazon.co.uk ratings and 31 UK reviews about this set. The bullet says chromium-manganese heat treated up to 59 HRc, and that figure was not measured. The included line does not name a case. The best value is the Narex Wood Line 6 mm, the highest score per pound among the other listings, at about £15.96, when the mortice is about 6 mm and you will hone it. The 4.7 from 376 on that page is a parent pool shared with the 12 mm and 16 mm listings. A cheaper hollow bit does not take that place: its score is far lower, and the only UK review says a handheld drill without a clamp could be dangerous.
Best valueView offer
Narex Wood Line 6 mm
Highest score per pound among the other listings, at about £15.96, for a mortice of about 6 mm.
Editorial
Editor, DIY & tools
Hand toolsWoodworkingDIY
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.
Updated: 22.10.2026
8 sources checked
Guides to mortise chisels
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Mortise chisel buying guideType, width and what else you have to add, before any ranking.Best mortise chiselsWho each listing is for, and who should skip it.How to use a mortise chiselChop one mortice with a mallet. No drill-press setup.Mortise chisel vs bevel-edgeWhen the chisels you already own are enough.Hollow or hand mortise chiselA square-hole bit against a mallet chisel, including the clamp.
Related comparisons
Sources
Public UK sources and amazon.co.uk listing files. Checked on 22 October 2026.
- HSE: PUWER overview (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods contract rights (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- HSE: using the right type of PPE (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Eyecare Trust: eye protection for DIY (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- UK Workshop: recommendations for mortise chisels (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- UK Workshop: mortise chisels (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Toolnut: Narex mortice chisel (retrieved 22.10.2026)
- Workshop Heaven: Narex Richter mortice chisels (retrieved 22.10.2026)
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