A stocking filler
You want a present that looks like a tool for a drawer, a car or a toolbox. The silver Hinshark plate is the top pick here because the UK reviews describe that use, and you count the 5,330 ratings once.
Snowflake tool comparison 2026
The best snowflake tools, compared.
Top pick: KTHZI 18-in-1 snowflake multi-tool Best value: BGS 85880 snowflake multi-tool – Best value when you want model 85880 and a GTIN at about £5.09, with 4.5 from 63 ratings and no large UK review sample. Updated October 2026.
A snowflake tool is a flat stainless-steel plate with openings cut into the edge. Sellers often count those openings as an 18-in-1 or 19-in-1 multi-tool. In the UK you mostly buy one as a stocking filler, a glovebox gadget or a light drawer tool. A useful listing names the openings, prints a weight you can believe, states whether the pack is one piece or two, and shows review text from the United Kingdom. Look for a bottle opener, a Phillips screwdriver, a flat screwdriver, and hex or spanner openings. The 18-in-1 figure is the seller's count of openings. Plates that buyers describe tend to sit around 50–90 g. A printed weight of 10 g or 17 g, or two dimension lines that disagree, should stay as printed until the parcel is in your hand. A two-piece pack has its own price. A box cutter or a rope cutter on a rigid plate changes how you carry it in public. What to read on the listing before you pay is in the [snowflake tool buying guide](/hub/hand-tools/snowflake-tool/sub/snowflake-tool-buying-guide).
A snowflake tool is a flat stainless-steel plate with openings cut into the edge. Sellers often count those openings as an 18-in-1 or 19-in-1 multi-tool.
36 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +17,300 readers
10 of 10: Best snowflake tools compared
Swipe for more
1-2 of 10Best overall
Best value
7.0/10
9.0/10
8.6/10
6.9/10
7.6/10
5.1/10
3.2/10
2.6/10
2.6/10
2.6/10
∼ £6
∼ £8
∼ £11
∼ £4
∼ £5
∼ £7
∼ £4
∼ £5
∼ £6
∼ £4
4.7(4)
4.6(5,330)
4.6(5,330)
4.6(3)
4.5(63)
3.1(7)
1.0(1)
–
–
–
Personal buying guide
Which snowflake tool fits you?
Question 1 of 2
What are you buying it for?
The best snowflake tools in detail
Our view
The silver KTHZI plate is about £5.99 and 80 g, with a bottle opener, Phillips and flat drivers, a hex wrench, and a box opener on the included line. Across four amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.7, and three UK texts are on the listing. Those texts call it a clever stocking filler with openings for screws, Allen keys and sockets, and they also call it more of a novelty than a serious tool. Two of them count the openings differently, so those counts stay reviews rather than a specification. One UK reviewer said the silver piece looked sharper-edged than another colour. Millimetres are not on the specification lines. The listing score is 70, a high star line on a sample of four, which is too small to treat as the top pick.
Pros
- 4.7 from four ratings, with three UK texts on the listing
- 80 g on the weight line and stainless steel on the material line
- A box opener is named as well as a bottle opener
- UK reviewers describe flat, cross-head, Allen and socket openings
Cons
- Only four ratings, so the 4.7 line is a small sample
- The UK texts do not agree on how many openings they counted
- Described as a novelty rather than a workshop tool
- No millimetre sizes on the specification
Best for: You want a silver plate near this price with a few UK comments, and you accept a sample of four.
Less suitable: You need a printed size list, or a review count large enough to judge the edge.
Specifications
- Model
- KTHZI 18-in-1 snowflake multi-tool
- Brand
- KTHZI
- Price
- ∼£6
- Customer rating
- 4.7/5(4)
- Functions
- 18-in-1
- Openers
- Bottle, box opener
- Drivers
- Phillips and flat
- Hex sizes
- Not printed
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Weight
- 80 g
- Pack
- 1
- Keyring
- Keychain
- Finish
- Polished
- Cutter
- No
Common questions
Which tools does the listing name?
The bullets name a keychain, a bottle opener, a Phillips screwdriver, a flat screwdriver, and a hex wrench. Included components add a box opener.
Are the sizes printed?
The specification has no millimetre line. UK review texts mention hex drives and spanner openings, and those texts do not count them the same way.
How heavy is the listed plate?
The item-weight line says 80 g. A length and width are not on the specification.
Our view
The silver Hinshark GJ0020-SL-SET is an 80 g stainless plate, 7.5 cm square, at about £7.99, with a bottle opener, a small Phillips, a flat screwdriver and hex keys whose millimetre sizes are not printed. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 from 5,330 ratings, and that same line and the same 50 UK review texts also sit on the black-and-silver listing, so this is one sample. Reviewers mostly bought it as a stocking filler or a drawer tool for light jobs, and one called the hex openings precise. The same texts say it is awkward with arthritic hands, smaller than one buyer expected, and too heavy to live on a keychain, with one person moving it to a carabiner. One gift box arrived covered in sticky labels. The listing score is 90, which makes this silver plate the top pick for a present in this set. It is not a workshop test.
Pros
- 7.5 cm square and 80 g, and those two size lines agree
- 4.6 from 5,330, the only large UK review sample here, counted once
- UK reviewers use it for light jobs in a drawer, a car or a toolbox
- A UK review says a key ring was supplied, and the bullets name one
Cons
- Hex sizes are not printed
- Too heavy for everyday keys in more than one UK review
- Awkward if your hands are arthritic, in one UK review
- One gift box arrived covered in sticky labels
Best for: You want a stocking filler or a light drawer tool, and you will count the 5,330 ratings once.
Less suitable: You need printed millimetre sizes, a plate that stays on a keyring, or reviews that belong only to this colour.
Specifications
- Model
- Hinshark 18-in-1 snowflake multi-tool, silver
- Brand
- Hinshark
- Price
- ∼£8
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(5,330)
- Functions
- 18-in-1
- Openers
- Bottle opener
- Drivers
- Phillips and flat
- Hex sizes
- Not printed
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Weight
- 80 g
- Pack
- 1
- Keyring
- Key ring
- Size
- 7.5 cm square
- Finish
- Polished
- Cutter
- No
Common questions
What does the Hinshark silver listing say it can do?
The bullets name a key ring, a bottle opener, a small Phillips screwdriver, a flat screwdriver, and hex keys. Millimetre sizes are not printed.
How big and heavy is it?
The item line says 7.5 x 7.5 x 1.5 centimetres and 80 g. The folded-size line matches those figures.
Are the 5,330 reviews only for this silver plate?
The same 4.6 from 5,330 line and the same 50 UK review texts are on the black-and-silver listing. Treat that as one sample.
Our view
The black-and-silver Hinshark GJ0021-MC-SET is about £10.79 and still prints 80 g, with the same named openings as the silver plate: a bottle opener, a Phillips, a flat screwdriver and hex keys. The amazon.co.uk line is again 4.6 from 5,330, and the 50 review texts match the silver listing, so they are not a second opinion. The item-dimension line says 15.5 x 8 x 2.2 cm while the folded-size line says about 5 x 10 x 2 cm, and the pieces line says 2 while the items line says 1. The review themes are the same: handy for a light job, heavy for keys, and fiddly with arthritic hands. Paying more does not buy a separate review history or a size line that agrees with itself. The listing score is 86, with the same stars and a lower value part, which is why this colour is not the top pick.
Pros
- Same 18-in-1 openings named as on the silver Hinshark
- Stainless steel and an 80 g weight line
- Black-and-silver finish if that is the colour you want
- The shared UK texts still describe light jobs and a key ring
Cons
- about £10.79 against about £7.99 for the silver row with the same review texts
- The two dimension lines do not match
- Pieces line says 2 and the items line says 1
- Hex sizes are still not printed
Best for: You specifically want the black-and-silver finish and you treat the 5,330 ratings as the shared Hinshark sample.
Less suitable: You want the cheaper silver plate, a size you can take from the listing, or reviews written only about this colour.
Specifications
- Model
- Hinshark 18-in-1 snowflake multi-tool, black and silver
- Brand
- Hinshark
- Price
- ∼£11
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(5,330)
- Functions
- 18-in-1
- Openers
- Bottle opener
- Drivers
- Phillips and flat
- Hex sizes
- Not printed
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Weight
- 80 g
- Pack
- 1; pieces says 2
- Keyring
- Key ring
- Size
- Lines disagree
- Finish
- Polished
- Cutter
- No
Common questions
How is this different from the silver Hinshark?
This listing says black and silver, model GJ0021-MC-SET, and about £10.79. The silver listing says about £7.99 and model GJ0020-SL-SET. The review texts match.
Which size should you trust?
The item-dimensions line says 15.5 x 8 x 2.2 centimetres. The folded-size line says about 5 x 10 x 2 centimetres. Both are printed. They were not reconciled.
Is it one tool or two?
Number of items says 1. Number of pieces says 2. Included components name one multi-tool.
Our view
The TRHDFW plate is the gift listing at about £4.09, with bullets that name a bottle opener, a small Phillips, a flat screwdriver and hex keys, and a weight line of 50 g. Stainless steel appears in a bullet, not on the specification material line. Across three amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.6, and the only review text is a UK note that a father seemed to like it as a Christmas gift. That text does not describe a fault, and one short review cannot stand in for the other two ratings. The number-of-items line says 18, which is not explained and is not 18 plates. Hex sizes are not printed. The listing score is 69, mostly the star line on three ratings, so the low price sits on a very small sample.
Pros
- about £4.09 on the listing
- One UK review bought it as a Christmas gift and said the recipient liked it
- Bullets name a bottle opener, Phillips, a flat driver and hex keys
- 50 g on the weight line
Cons
- Only three ratings, and only one review text
- The number-of-items line says 18 for one described tool
- No steel grade and no hex sizes
- Stainless steel is in a bullet, not on the specification line
Best for: You are buying a low-priced stocking filler and you can live with a single short UK review.
Less suitable: You need a size list, a clear pack count, or more than one written review.
Specifications
- Model
- TRHDFW 18-in-1 snowflake multi-tool
- Brand
- TRHDFW
- Price
- ∼£4
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(3)
- Functions
- 18-in-1
- Openers
- Bottle opener
- Drivers
- Phillips and flat
- Hex sizes
- Not printed
- Material
- Stainless, bullet
- Weight
- 50 g
- Pack
- Items line says 18
- Keyring
- Key ring
- Finish
- Polished
- Cutter
- No
Common questions
What openings does the bullet name?
Key rings, bottle openers, a small Phillips screwdriver, a flat screwdriver, and hex keys. Sizes are not printed.
Why does the items line say 18?
Number of items says 18. The bullets describe one multi-tool, and included components say bottle opener. The 18 is not explained.
Is there a UK review?
The star line is 4.6 from 3. The only text on the listing is a UK note that it was a Christmas gift for a father.
Our view
The BGS 85880 is a sand-blasted stainless plate at about £5.09, with a stated 90 g, a bottle opener, Phillips and slotted drivers, an inner hex, a can opener, and a key ring with a short chain. The Amazon bullet names grade 2Cr13, which no other listing in this set prints, and a ToolTeam sheet for the model does not confirm that grade. Across 63 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.5, but none of the 30 review texts on the listing is marked United Kingdom, so those themes are not UK opinion. The texts call it a solid emergency piece with short openings, too heavy for everyday keys, and not for very tight fasteners, and one person counted 17 functions rather than 18. The warranty sentence on the UK page is in German and is not a confirmed UK policy. The listing score is 76. That value part is why this is the best value row when you want a model number and a GTIN, not a large UK review sample.
Pros
- Model 85880 and a GTIN on the listing
- 2Cr13 and a sand-blasted finish named on the Amazon text
- Bottle opener, can opener, and a key ring with a short chain
- about £5.09, with 4.5 from 63 ratings
Cons
- The written reviews on the listing are not marked United Kingdom
- Inner hex sizes are not printed
- Several of those reviews say it is too heavy for keys
- The warranty line on the UK page is in German
Best for: You want a named BGS model near this price and you will not treat the written reviews as UK opinion.
Less suitable: You want a large UK review sample, printed hex sizes, or a plate reviewers say stays on a keyring.
Specifications
- Model
- BGS 85880 snowflake multi-tool
- Brand
- BGS
- Price
- ∼£5
- Customer rating
- 4.5/5(63)
- Functions
- 18-in-1
- Openers
- Bottle and can
- Drivers
- Phillips and slotted
- Hex sizes
- Not printed
- Material
- Stainless, 2Cr13
- Weight
- 90 g
- Pack
- 1
- Keyring
- Ring and chain
- Size
- 9 x 6.7 x 2 cm
- Finish
- Sand-blasted
- Cutter
- No
Common questions
What does the BGS listing name?
The bullets name a bottle opener, a Phillips screwdriver, a slotted screwdriver, an inner hex key, a can opener, and a key ring with a short chain.
Which steel grade is printed?
The bullet says stainless steel (2Cr13), with a sand-blasted finish. No hardness number is printed. A ToolTeam sheet for 85880 does not confirm 2Cr13.
Are the written reviews from the UK?
The star line is 4.5 from 63 on the UK listing. The 30 texts on the listing are marked France, Germany, Sweden or Spain, not the United Kingdom.
Our view
The Kelamayi listing is two 19-in-1 plates, gold and multi-colour, at about £6.99 for the pair, with a folded size of 6 cm by 6 cm. The item-weight line says 140 g for the listing as recorded, not as a weight per piece. The bullets name a bottle opener, a screwdriver, a spanner and a wrench, and the drive-system line says sliding mechanism without explaining it. Across seven amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 3.1, and the only review text is the word ok, marked Germany, so it is not UK opinion. The listing score is 51, pulled down by that 3.1. Two plates at this price do not fill in the missing millimetre sizes.
Pros
- Two pieces, and the about £6.99 pair price is explicit
- 6 cm by 6 cm on both the bullet and the folded-size line
- Stainless steel on the material line
- A spanner and a wrench are named as well as a bottle opener
Cons
- 3.1 from seven ratings
- The only review text says ok and is marked Germany
- 140 g is not stated per plate
- Sliding mechanism is unexplained, and sizes are not printed
Best for: You want two small coloured plates at this pair price and you can ignore a one-word review that is not from the UK.
Less suitable: You want one reviewed plate, a UK comment, or a printed size list.
Specifications
- Model
- Kelamayi 19-in-1 snowflake multi-tool, 2 pieces
- Brand
- Kelamayi
- Price
- ∼£7
- Customer rating
- 3.1/5(7)
- Functions
- 19-in-1
- Openers
- Bottle opener
- Drivers
- Type not split
- Hex sizes
- Not printed
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Weight
- 140 g
- Pack
- 2
- Keyring
- Key pendant
- Size
- 6 x 6 cm
- Finish
- Polished
- Cutter
- No
Common questions
Is about £6.99 for one plate or two?
The title and the pack lines say 2 pieces. The price line is about £6.99 for that listing.
What size is printed?
The bullet and the folded-size line both say 6 cm by 6 cm. The weight line says 140 g for the listing as recorded.
What do the reviews say?
The star line is 3.1 from 7. The only text on the listing is a German review that says ok.
Our view
The Zodazoqa plate is about £3.79 and the only listing in this set that prints metric and inch openings: Allen sizes at 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 mm, outer hex from 7 to 13 mm, plus inch labels that repeat some of those metric sizes rather than adding a second set. The bullets also name a slotted driver, a Phillips, a bottle opener, a box cutter, a rope cutter and a key ring. The weight line says 20 g while a bullet says 2.3 ounces, and those two figures are not the same. The star line is 1.0 from one rating, with no review text, so the reason for that star is not on the listing. A bullet also names the brand Desuccus inside this Zodazoqa listing. The listing score is 32 because of that single star, which is why the printed sizes are not a reason to call it best value.
Pros
- Metric hex and spanner sizes are printed, unlike the other rows
- A box cutter and a rope cutter are named, so you can see them before you buy
- A key ring is in the bullets
- about £3.79 on the listing
Cons
- 1.0 from one rating, and no review text
- 20 g on the item line against 2.3 ounces in a bullet
- The inch labels repeat metric sizes, so they are not a second full set
- A second brand name, Desuccus, appears in the Zodazoqa bullets
Best for: You want a size list you can read before you buy, and you accept a one-star line with no written review.
Less suitable: You want a reviewed plate, one weight that agrees with itself, or a tool whose listing does not name a cutter.
Specifications
- Model
- Zodazoqa 18-in-1 snowflake multi-tool
- Brand
- Zodazoqa
- Price
- ∼£4
- Customer rating
- 1.0/5(1)
- Functions
- 18-in-1
- Openers
- Bottle and cutters
- Drivers
- Slotted, Phillips
- Hex sizes
- 3–9 mm; 7–13 mm
- Material
- Stainless, title
- Weight
- 20 g
- Pack
- 1
- Keyring
- Key ring
- Size
- Over 2 in
- Cutter
- Box and rope
Common questions
Which sizes are printed?
One bullet lists Phillips at 3 mm and 1/8 inch, Allen sizes from 3 mm to 9 mm, and outer hex sizes from 7 mm to 13 mm, each with inch labels beside them.
Does the listing mention a cutter?
Yes. The same bullet names a box cutter and a rope cutter, plus a key hole and a key ring.
Why do the weights disagree?
The item-weight line says 20 g. A bullet says 2.3 ounces. Both are printed, and there is no review text to compare them with.
Our view
The FYHJNC UID-199 is a 19-in-1 stainless plate at about £4.99 and 50 g, with flat and Phillips drivers, Allen wrenches, a bottle opener, a wrench and a cable bender named in the bullets. A hanging hole is described for a keyring, a backpack or a zipper. A bullet claims a smooth edge so it does not scratch hands, which is seller copy rather than a review. There is no customer-review line, so there is no star rating and no complaint to quote. Millimetre sizes are not printed, and the dimensions line is empty. The listing score is 26, from the named openings plus a small value part and no stars, which is why a 19-in-1 title does not place it with the reviewed plates.
Pros
- The 19-in-1 title also names a cable bender
- 50 g, and a hanging hole in the bullets
- Stainless steel on the material line
- about £4.99 for one plate
Cons
- No rating line and no review text
- Allen and wrench sizes are not printed
- No centimetre size on the specification
- The smooth-edge line is seller copy only
Best for: You want the cable-bender wording on a plate at about £4.99 and you accept a listing with no reviews.
Less suitable: You want stars, a printed size, or a plate other buyers have described.
Specifications
- Model
- FYHJNC 19-in-1 snowflake multi-tool
- Brand
- FYHJNC
- Price
- ∼£5
- Functions
- 19-in-1
- Openers
- Bottle opener
- Drivers
- Flat and Phillips
- Hex sizes
- Not printed
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Weight
- 50 g
- Pack
- 1
- Keyring
- Hanging hole
- Finish
- Polished
- Cutter
- No
Common questions
What does the 19-in-1 bullet include?
Flat and Phillips screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, a bottle opener, a cable bender, and a wrench. Sizes are not printed.
Can the listing hang it on keys?
The bullet says a hanging hole for a keychain, backpack or zipper. The weight line says 50 g.
Is there a star rating?
This listing has no customer-review line and no review text.
Our view
The black Vnuipofa plate is about £5.96, with stainless steel on the material line and bullets that name a bottle opener, screwdrivers, wrenches and hex keys for a keychain. The weight line says 17 g, which is far below the 50–90 g plates in this set and is kept as printed. The screwdriver heads are not split into Phillips and flat, and no millimetre sizes appear. There is no customer-review line and no review text, so the rust-resistant phrase in the bullet is seller copy. The listing score is 26, the same band as the other unrated rows. A light printed weight is not evidence of how the parcel will feel until you have it in your hand.
Pros
- Stainless steel on the specification material line
- A keychain is claimed in the bullets
- Black is the colour on the listing
- The 17 g line is there if a very light plate is what you are checking
Cons
- No rating line and no review text
- 17 g is hard to set beside the heavier reviewed plates
- Screwdriver type and hex sizes are not printed
- No dimensions on the specification
Best for: You want a black keychain plate at about £5.96 and you will check the weight when it arrives.
Less suitable: You want a reviewed weight, printed sizes, or a star line.
Specifications
- Model
- Vnuipofa 18-in-1 snowflake multi-tool
- Brand
- Vnuipofa
- Price
- ∼£6
- Functions
- 18-in-1
- Openers
- Bottle opener
- Drivers
- Type not split
- Hex sizes
- Not printed
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Weight
- 17 g
- Pack
- 1
- Keyring
- Keychain
- Cutter
- No
Common questions
What does the bullet list?
A bottle opener, screwdrivers, wrenches and hex keys. It does not split Phillips from flat, and it does not print sizes.
What weight is printed?
The item-weight line says 17 g. No length or width is printed.
Is there a star rating?
This listing has no customer-review line and no review text.
Our view
The silver CVNRCLP plate is the gift title at about £3.89, with bullets for a bottle opener, Phillips and flat drivers and hex keys, and a weight line of 10 g. Stainless steel is in a bullet, not on the specification material line. There is no rating line and no review text. The Best Sellers Rank on this listing sits under Multitool Accessories rather than Camping Multitools, even though the product text is still the snowflake plate. Hex sizes are not printed. The listing score is 26, the unrated total, so this low price is not the best value mark. That mark stays with the BGS row, which has a model number and 63 ratings.
Pros
- about £3.89 on the listing
- Bullets name a bottle opener, Phillips, a flat driver and hex keys
- A key ring is mentioned in the bullets
- The items line describes one plate
Cons
- The 10 g line has no review behind it
- No star rating on the listing
- Steel is only in a bullet
- Ranked under Multitool Accessories, so the category path is messy
Best for: You want a cheap silver gift title and you will not rely on the 10 g line.
Less suitable: You want reviews, a Camping Multitools rank, or a weight near the 80 g plates people describe.
Specifications
- Model
- CVNRCLP 18-in-1 snowflake multi-tool
- Brand
- CVNRCLP
- Price
- ∼£4
- Functions
- 18-in-1
- Openers
- Bottle opener
- Drivers
- Phillips and flat
- Hex sizes
- Not printed
- Material
- Stainless, bullet
- Weight
- 10 g
- Pack
- 1
- Keyring
- Key ring
- Finish
- Polished
- Cutter
- No
Common questions
What openings are named?
The bullets name a key ring, a bottle opener, a small Phillips screwdriver, a flat screwdriver, and hex keys. Sizes are not printed.
Where is the material stated?
A bullet says stainless steel. The specification block has a colour line and no material line.
What does the weight line say?
The item-weight line says 10 g. There is no review text on the listing.
How we compared
For this comparison we read ten snowflake-tool listings on amazon.co.uk and the public UK sources below. Prices, stars and review counts are the figures on those listings. There was no workshop test. Each card score is the total already calculated for that listing. The five buying checks below are named functions, whose reviews they are, a weight you can believe, pack size, and a cutter if one is named. They are weighted 30, 25, 20, 15 and 10.
1
Named functions
30%A bottle opener, Phillips and flat screwdrivers, and hex or spanner openings should be named. The 18-in-1 or 19-in-1 line is the seller's count. Printed millimetre sizes score as a listing fact. Metric and inch labels that share a slot stay one opening.
2
Whose reviews
25%United Kingdom review text carries more than a star line alone. A sample shared by two colours is counted once. Review texts that are not marked United Kingdom are not treated as UK opinion. A listing with no review text cannot lean on stars.
3
Believable weight
20%Plates that buyers describe sit around 50–90 g. A printed line of 10 g or 17 g, or two dimension lines that disagree, stays as printed and is not corrected into a typical weight.
4
Pack size
15%One piece and two pieces are different offers. A pair price stays a pair price. An items line that says 18 for one described plate is a contradiction, not a pack of 18.
5
Cutter and carrying
10%A box cutter, rope cutter or twine knife changes how you carry a rigid plate. It does not improve the hex openings. A screwdriver notch on its own is a different point from a cutting edge, on CPS guidance.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Snowflake tool buying guide
A snowflake tool is a flat plate with edge openings. Match the named functions, then a weight you can believe, then one piece or two, then whose reviews they are. A cutter on the listing changes how you carry it.
What is a snowflake tool?
A snowflake tool is a flat stainless-steel plate. Openings around the edge are what sellers count as an 18-in-1 or 19-in-1 multi-tool. You get one object: a bottle opener, screwdriver notches and hex or spanner openings in a single plate, sometimes with a key ring or a short chain. UK buyers mostly use it as a stocking filler or a glovebox gadget. A folding pliers multi-tool is a different product. A hex-key set is the tool when you have to undo a fastener properly.
Best for
- Gift buyers who want a present that looks like a tool
- A driver who wants a stopgap in a bag for light jobs
- Someone who wants a named model and a GTIN on the listing
Not ideal for
- A fastener you have to undo properly, which wants a hex-key set
- Brakes, steering, wheel fixings or live electrics
- Everyday keys when the plate is in the 80–90 g band buyers describe
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Adding metric and inch labels into one total
Some bullets print a millimetre size and an inch label on the same opening. Those labels share a slot. Adding them makes the 18-in-1 count look like two sets.
- 2
Comparing a pair with a single plate
A two-piece listing has its own price. Set that beside another pair, or read it as a pair. A one-piece shelf price is a different offer.
- 3
Clipping an 80–90 g plate to everyday keys
Reviewed plates in that band are described as too heavy for a keyring. One buyer moved a plate to a carabiner. The word keychain in the title does not change the weight line.
What to weigh up
Named functions and sizes
HighThe first check is what the listing actually names. Look for a bottle opener, a Phillips and a flat screwdriver, and hex or spanner openings. The 18-in-1 or 19-in-1 line is the seller's count of those openings. It is not a checked list, and it is not a torque rating. Millimetre sizes are a separate line. Most listings in this category leave that line blank, so you cannot match a fastener before the parcel arrives.
Weight, pack and whose reviews
HighThe second check is whether the listing agrees with itself. Plates that buyers describe sit around 50–90 g. A weight of 10 g or 17 g stays as printed, and so does a pair of dimension lines that do not match. Do not average them into a typical snowflake tool. Pack size is the next line. One piece and two pieces are different offers, and an items line that says 18 for one described plate is a contradiction. Then ask whose reviews they are.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
A named model
You want a model number, a GTIN and a can opener on the listing, and you will not treat unmarked review texts as UK opinion. The BGS 85880 is the best value row on that basis.
Printed sizes first
You want millimetre openings you can read before you pay. The Zodazoqa listing is the only row here that prints them. The star line is 1.0 from one rating, with no written review, and the bullets also name a cutter.
Common questions about snowflake tools
What is a snowflake tool?
A snowflake tool is a flat stainless-steel plate with openings around the edge. Sellers count those openings as an 18-in-1 or 19-in-1 multi-tool. In the UK it is usually a stocking filler or a glovebox gadget. A useful listing names a bottle opener, screwdriver notches and hex or spanner openings, prints a weight, and says whether you get one plate or two. Turn it by hand, and keep it off brakes, steering, wheel fixings and live electrics. The sources used here show no torque rating, VDE mark or hardness figure.
Which snowflake tool is the top pick in this set?
The top pick in this set is the silver Hinshark 18-in-1 plate, model GJ0020-SL-SET, at about £7.99. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 5,330 ratings, and the listing score is 90. That star line and the same 50 UK review texts also appear on the black-and-silver Hinshark listing, so count them once. Reviewers use it for light jobs in a drawer, a car or a toolbox. Hex sizes are not printed, and more than one UK review says it is too heavy for everyday keys.
Which snowflake tool is the best value in this set?
The best value in this set is the BGS 85880 at about £5.09. The listing score is 76. It names a bottle opener, Phillips and slotted drivers, an inner hex, a can opener, a key ring with a short chain, a sand-blasted finish, and grade 2Cr13 on the Amazon text. A ToolTeam sheet for the same model does not confirm 2Cr13. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 63 ratings. The written reviews on the listing are not marked United Kingdom, so they are not UK opinion.
How much does a snowflake tool cost on amazon.co.uk?
On the listings used here, shelf prices run from about £3.79 to about £10.79. As a rule of thumb, entry is under about £5, the middle of this sample is about £5 to £8, and the top of this sample is about £8 to £14. Those figures are the prices on these listings, not a promise of the next amazon.co.uk price. A pair at about £6.99 is two plates. Keep that pair price separate from a one-piece price.
What should you check before you buy a snowflake tool?
Check five things on the listing. The openings should be named, not only an 18-in-1 count. The weight should be one you can believe, with plates buyers describe around 50–90 g. The pack should say one piece or two. The reviews should be United Kingdom text, and a star line shared by two colours is one sample. If the listing names a box cutter or a rope cutter, that is a cutting edge on a rigid plate. Those checks are the buying order for this category.
Can you keep a snowflake tool on a keyring?
A title that says keychain does not put an 80–90 g plate on everyday keys. UK reviews of the heavier plates call them too heavy, and one buyer moved a plate to a carabiner. A hanging hole or a short chain is what the listing claims. A box cutter or rope cutter is a cutting edge on a rigid plate. Section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 asks for a good reason to carry it in public. CPS guidance treats a screwdriver notch as a different point.
When is an Allen key the better buy?
A snowflake tool covers a light opener or a stopgap in a bag when the listing names hex and screwdriver openings. When you have to undo a fastener properly, buy a hex-key set with printed sizes. The Allen key comparison covers metric and imperial keys, holders and the straight end you use to start a tight bolt. A plate with no millimetre sizes cannot take that job. Call a professional if the head is already round, or if the fastener is on brakes, steering, suspension or wheels.
When should you stop and call a professional?
Stop and call a professional for brakes, steering, suspension or wheels, and for live electrics. Stop if the fastener head has already rounded, and if a cut from the plate edge is deep or dirty. Thin steel cuts, which is the point of HSE EIS16. Turn by hand only. No listing in this set claims VDE insulation, and none prints a torque rating. A gift plate is judged at the price you paid, under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, for satisfactory quality and goods as described.
Our verdict
The top pick is the silver Hinshark 18-in-1 plate at about £7.99. The listing score is 90, with 4.6 from 5,330 amazon.co.uk ratings. That line is shared with the black-and-silver Hinshark listing, so it is one sample. Hex sizes are not printed, and UK reviews say the plate is heavy for everyday keys. The best value is the BGS 85880 at about £5.09, listing score 76, with a model number, a GTIN, a sand-blasted finish and 2Cr13 named on the Amazon text only. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 63 ratings, and the written reviews are not marked United Kingdom. These are the shelf prices on these listings, not a promise of the next price.
Best value
View offer
BGS 85880 snowflake multi-tool
Best value when you want model 85880 and a GTIN at about £5.09, with 4.5 from 63 ratings and no large UK review sample.
Editorial
DIY & tools editor
Hand toolsMulti-toolsDIY tools
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: October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to snowflake tools
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Snowflake tool buying guideWhat to read on the listing before you pay, without a ranked table.Best snowflake toolA short pick for a gift and a short pick for a named model, and who should skip each.How to use a snowflake toolSeat the opening and stop before the fastener head rounds.Snowflake tool vs Allen keysWhen the plate is enough and when a hex-key set is the right buy.Snowflake tool keyringWeight, a pocket, and the UK carrying point if the listing names a cutter.
Related comparisons
Sources
Sources for this comparison, last checked on 22 October 2026.
- GOV.UK, General Product Safety Regulations 2005: Great Britain (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Criminal Justice Act 1988, section 139 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- GOV.UK, Selling, buying and carrying knives and weapons (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- CPS, Knife and other weapons offences (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- HSE EIS16, cuts from thin metal edges (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- ToolTeam, BGS 85880 snowflake multi-tool (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- amazon.co.uk, Hinshark silver snowflake multi-tool B08C9KGF2M (retrieved 22 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.