The best slate hammers, compared.
Top pick: AB Tools 600 g slate hammer Best value: Roughneck ROU61800 slater's hammer – Highest score in the set, 87, from 4.5 stars and 228 reviews, at about £16.99. Claw and point complaints stay visible. Updated 22 October 2026.
A slate hammer, also called a slater's hammer, punches nail holes in slate, drives the nails, and often draws old nails. In the UK you buy one for a few replacement slates worked on the ground, or for roofing that still needs a planned way to work at height. You tell a suitable hammer by the pattern, the edge you will use, and the weight the page prints. A site hammer has a pick, a central claw, and a rectangular face. Dressing an edge belongs to the traditional cutting pattern, which is sold right- or left-handed. A roofer's pick is a one-piece spike sold for the roofing trade. Holing needs a sharp point. Drawing nails needs a claw that fits them. If the title and the item-weight line disagree, keep both figures and do not average them. BS 5534 and BS 8000-6 cover the roof, not a certificate for the hammer. How the patterns differ is set out in the [slate hammer buying guide](/hub/hand-tools/slate-hammer/sub/slate-hammer-buying-guide).
A slate hammer, also called a slater's hammer, punches nail holes in slate, drives the nails, and often draws old nails.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you doing to the slate?
The AB Tools AT051.1 is a site slater's hammer at about £12.98, with a pointed pick and a central claw on the listing and a fibreglass handle. Across six amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 5.0, and the file holds only two UK reviews, each a single line of praise with no fault described, so that star line is not a slate test. The title and the first bullet say 600 g, while the item weight says 874 g, and the file does not reconcile the two. The bullets do not describe a cutting blade, so this is a holing and nailing head rather than a dressing axe. The style field prints German, which does not change the English bullets. At this price it is the cheapest row here, and six ratings are too thin for best value when the Roughneck beside it has 228.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the lowest shelf price for a site pattern and will treat six ratings as a thin sample.
Less suitable: You need a dressing blade, a weight the listing agrees on, or reviews that describe holing slate.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this hammer punch holes in slate?
The bullets say a pointed pick at one end is for making holes in the slate, and a claw in the centre of the head is for pulling old nails.
Is it 600 g?
The title and the first bullet say 600 gram. The item weight line says 874 g. The saved listing does not reconcile the two figures.
What do the reviews say?
The listing line is 5.0 from 6 ratings. The saved listing contains two UK reviews, and both are a single praise line with no fault described.
The Estwing E239MS is a one-piece roofer's pick at about £62.02, and across 116 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.6, so the score is 85 and this page marks it as the top pick for a forged roofing hammer rather than for the highest score. The bullets describe a magnetised smooth face, a leather grip, and a German-pattern head for the roofing trade, made in Rockford in the USA, and they do not say slate. One UK review says it is the hammer if you roof with slate. The item weight is 1.02 kg and the length line is 33 cm, while UK shop pages print about 620 g, so those figures stay side by side and are not averaged. One UK review says the claw is too fat for some clouts and that another hammer pulled those nails. An Italian review's 600 g remark is not the listing figure. The price is several times the Roughneck, and the badge is not a lab test of holing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want one-piece steel and a leather grip, and you can live with the weight conflict and a thick claw.
Less suitable: You need a dressing blade, a site hammer under £25, or a claw reviewers say fits clout nails.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a slate hammer?
The title says roofer's pick, and the bullets say it is for the roofing trade. They do not say slate. One UK review says it is the hammer if you roof with slate. One US review in the same file says the same.
Will the claw pull clout nails?
The item highlight mentions a claw and nail groove. One UK review says the claw is too fat for some clouts, and that they used another hammer to pull those nails.
How heavy is the Estwing?
The amazon.co.uk item weight is 1.02 kg, and the dimension line is 33 cm on the length. The bullets do not print a gram weight. One Italian review says 600 g. That review is not the listing figure.
The Roughneck ROU61800 is a site slater's hammer at about £16.99, and across 228 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.5, the largest sample in this set, which is why the score is 87 and this page treats it as the best value for holing. UK reviews describe holing slates on a shed, on reclaimed slates, and on a roof. More than one reviewer sharpened the point before it would hole cleanly. The same reviews call the central claw short, thick, or poor at pulling nails, so another hammer may still be needed for some old fixings. The included-components line says 454 g (16 oz) while the item weight says 750 g, and the file does not say which figure is the head. The head is drop-forged alloy steel on a tubular shaft with a soft grip, and the country-of-origin field says China. It has no cutting edge in the comparison fields, so it will not dress a slate the way a handed axe does.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are holing a small number of slates and want the review sample that actually mentions that job.
Less suitable: You need to dress edges, or you need a claw that reviewers say pulls clouts cleanly.
Specifications
Common questions
Will it hole slates?
The bullets say the pointed tip is for making holes in slates. UK reviews describe holing slates on a shed, on reclaimed slates, and on a roof. More than one reviewer sharpened the point first.
Does the claw pull nails?
The listing calls it a nail remover in the centre of the head. UK reviews say the claw is short, thick, or not the best at pulling nails.
How heavy is it?
The included-components line says 454 g (16 oz). The item weight line says 750 g. The saved listing does not say which figure is the head.
The Stubai 275501 is sold as a right-hand slater's hammer at about £76.97, with C45 steel and a leather handle, made in Austria, and across 196 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.5, so the score is 86. The title says 350 mm while the dimension line says 27 cm, and the item weight is 743 g, so the maker's 700 g and 350 mm figures are not merged into this Amazon row. UK reviews include a nut off the handle, a blade bent after three cuts, a point bent while holing, and a point that snapped after about 30 natural slates. Other UK reviews call it a good working hammer. One UK review says a right-hand order arrived left-hand, with no Stubai stamp, so the cutting side needs a check on the day it arrives. The bullets do not describe the blade, even though the hand only exists because of that edge. A live look on 22 October 2026 showed about £73.93, a few pounds under the £76.97 saved in this file.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You dress slate, you have confirmed you need the right-hand cutting edge, and you will inspect the hand and the point on arrival.
Less suitable: You only need to punch holes, or you cannot check and return a left-hand delivery.
Specifications
Common questions
Is it right-handed?
The title and the design bullet say right. One UK review says a right-hand order arrived left-hand, with no Stubai stamp. Check the cutting side when it arrives.
How long is the Stubai?
The title says 350 mm. The dimension line says 27 cm long. The saved listing does not reconcile the two figures. Item weight is 743 g.
What failed in the reviews?
UK reviews include a nut off the handle, a blade bent after three cuts, a point bent while holing, and a point that snapped after about 30 natural slates. Other UK reviews call it a good working hammer. The listing does not describe the blade.
The Roughneck Gorilla ROU11040 is a one-piece site slater's hammer at about £23.99, and the title and the item weight both say 600 g (21 oz), which is the only weight pair in this set that agrees. Across 103 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.5, so the score is 83. The bullets say the pick punches holes in slates and that a lanyard hole is for tethering the hammer when you work at height, which describes the tool and not a harness. Several UK reviews instead describe scaffolding, lath and felting, woodwork, or stripping out, so the star line is not a holing test. Two UK reviews say a magnet holds a nail, and the manufacturer page lists a magnetic nail holder, while the amazon.co.uk bullets do not, so a magnet is not an Amazon specification. The bullets also name a V-shock shaft and an air-cushioned grip. It costs £7 more than the ROU61800 and does not add a cutting edge.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 600 g one-piece site hammer with a lanyard hole and you will set aside reviews that are not about slate.
Less suitable: You are choosing only on holing reviews, or you need the cutting blade of a handed slater's hammer.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this for slate?
The bullets say it is ideal for slate roofing and that the pick punches holes in slates. Several UK reviews instead describe scaffolding, lath and felting, woodwork, or stripping out.
Does the lanyard hole protect you from a fall?
The bullet says the lanyard hole is for tethering the hammer when working at height. It describes the tool, not a harness.
Does it have a magnet?
The bullets do not list a magnet. Two UK reviews say a magnet holds a nail. That claim is not in the specification block.
The published score is round(stars/5 times 70) plus min(30, round(log10 of the review count times 10)). It is not a lab strike test. The saved listings were scored on 22 October 2026. The top pick is the one-piece roofer's pick with a UK review that names slate roofing, not the highest arithmetic score. The best value is the highest score in the set. A cheaper listing with six ratings does not take that badge. None of these listings claims BS 5534, BS 8000-6, or BS 876.
Amazon.co.uk star rating
70%The published score takes round(stars divided by 5, times 70). A 4.5 contributes 63 and a 4.6 contributes 64. Stars are not a slate test, and the score is not a measured strike.
Amazon.co.uk review count
30%The second term is min(30, round(log10 of the review count, times 10)). The published cap is 30. Listings under 50 reviews stay visible and are not badge-eligible.
Start with the pattern, then the edge you will use, then every weight the page prints. A site hammer holes and nails. A traditional cutter dresses edges and is sold for one hand. A roofer's pick is one-piece steel for the roofing trade. Star lines here are the amazon.co.uk figures dated 22 October 2026. A star line is not a holing test, and it is not BS 5534.
A slate hammer, or slater's hammer, punches nail holes in slate, drives the nails, and often draws old nails. Three patterns cover the job. A site hammer has a pick, a central claw, and a rectangular face. It holes and nails. Dressing an edge belongs to the traditional pattern, which adds a cutting edge and is sold right- or left-handed. A roofer's pick is a one-piece spike for the roofing trade. The job comes before the brand.
A club, framing, tack, or geology hammer is a different tool. A site hammer holes and nails. A traditional cutter dresses edges. A roofer's pick is a one-piece spike for the roofing trade.
Titles, included lines, item weights, and shop pages can disagree. Show every figure. Do not average them, and do not hide a 454 g line beside a 750 g item weight.
Six ratings at 5.0 is a thin sample. Scaffolding and woodwork reviews are not holing reviews. Listings under 50 reviews stay visible and are not badge-eligible.
The pattern comes before the brand. A site hammer has a pick, a central claw, and a rectangular face. It holes slate and it drives and draws nails. Dressing an edge belongs to the traditional slater's hammer, which adds a cutting edge and is sold right- or left-handed. A roofer's pick is a one-piece spike for the roofing trade. Holing needs a sharp spike. Dressing needs a blade. Drawing nails needs a claw that fits them.
Read every weight the page prints, including conflicts, and do not average them. The AB Tools title says 600 g and the item weight says 874 g. The Roughneck ROU61800 included line says 454 g (16 oz) and the item weight says 750 g. The Gorilla is the row where the title and the item weight both say 600 g. The Estwing item weight is 1.02 kg, and UK shop pages print about 620 g, so those figures stay side by side.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a sharp site hammer in the entry band, then a roofer if the slate goes back on the roof. The Roughneck ROU61800 is the site hammer whose UK reviews describe holing. The included line says 454 g and the item weight says 750 g. The cheaper listing has six ratings, which is too thin for this job.
You want a checked right- or left-hand cutting hammer, not a rectangular face. The Stubai 275501 is sold as right, with a leather handle and C45 steel. Check the cutting side on arrival. UK reviews include a bent blade, a snapped point, and one left-hand delivery on a right-hand order.
You want a forged roofer's pick and you can live with the claw and the weight conflict. The Estwing E239MS is one-piece steel with a leather grip. A UK review names slate roofing. The item weight is 1.02 kg, and a UK review says the claw is too fat for some clouts.
The top pick is the Estwing E239MS. The criterion is a one-piece roofer's pick with a UK review that names slate roofing, not the highest arithmetic score. It scores 85, from 4.6 stars and 116 reviews, at about £62.02. The Roughneck ROU61800 scores 87 and stays the best value. The Estwing item-weight line is 1.02 kg, and a UK review says the claw is too fat for some clouts. The Roughneck is about £16.99, from 4.5 stars and 228 reviews. UK reviews describe holing slates, and they also say the claw is short or thick and that the point needed sharpening. The included line says 454 g and the item weight says 750 g. AB Tools is cheaper at about £12.98 and has six ratings, so it is not the best value.
Roughneck ROU61800 slater's hammer
Highest score in the set, 87, from 4.5 stars and 228 reviews, at about £16.99. Claw and point complaints stay visible.
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.
Prices, stars, and review counts are the amazon.co.uk saved listings for B0CBVW35XX, B004VRPXUU, B097BJ7444, B0002JT0BE, and B0001JZYL0, scored on 22 October 2026. Public sources cover work at height, PUWER, BS 5534, BS 8000-6, and holing practice. None of these listings is certified to those standards. This is not a lab strike test.
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. Scores use the published star and review-count formula, with shelf prices dated 22 October 2026. They are not a lab test, and they are not a promise of the cheapest price.
