Belt hole punch pliers
Updated: October 2026
The belt is two holes too long after a change of jeans, or the buckle tongue sits on the last hole by lunchtime. Belt hole punch pliers exist for that UK kitchen-table job: one matching round hole, on the centre line, spaced like the holes you already have. You are not making a belt from a blank. You are adding one hole that should look factory. Size, centre line and pitch matter more than which kit you squeezed. Match the tongue and the existing hole first. The [punch pliers comparison](/hub/pliers/punch-pliers) is the catalogue. Copy the existing hole unless you are building a belt from scratch.
The belt is two holes too long after a change of jeans, or the buckle tongue sits on the last hole by lunchtime.
The belt is two holes too long after a change of jeans, or the buckle tongue sits on the last hole by lunchtime. Belt hole punch pliers exist for that UK kitchen-table job: one matching round hole, on the centre line, spaced like the holes you already have. You are not making a belt from a blank. You are adding one hole that should look factory. Size, centre line and pitch matter more than which kit you squeezed. Match the tongue and the existing hole first. The punch pliers comparison is the catalogue. Copy the existing hole unless you are building a belt from scratch.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Named sizes | Hole shape | On a belt | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Diyife Diyife belt hole puncher, 6 sizes, blue | 2–4.5 mm | Round | Pad with carton paper | 8.8 | about £7.99 | View offer |
| Alternative |  WORKPRO WORKPRO 6-in-1 revolving leather punch pliers | Rounds from 3.5 mm | Round, rectangle, ellipse | Oval will not feed along the belt | 8.1 | about £12.99 | View offer |
 Draper Draper Expert revolving punch plier 63637 | 2–4.8 mm | Round | Lining can leave threads | 9.3 | about £14.23 | View offer |
On this page
Match the hole you already have
The first measurement is the hole the buckle already uses. Hold the tongue against the existing hole, or offer the revolving tubes until one sits in that opening without rattling. British Leather Supplies’ punching guide often talks in the 4–5 mm range. Its belt-making notes talk 3–4 mm to match a prong. A rule of thumb for these amazon.co.uk kits is often 3.5–4.5 mm. None of those figures is a British Standard. The tongue in your hand is the specification.
Draper Expert 63637 is the only row here that lists 4.8 mm. Diyife, TOWOT, XOOL and BGS stop at 4.5 mm. WORKPRO’s rounds start at 3.5 mm and skip 2 mm and 2.5 mm. If the existing holes are slots, a round turret will not copy them. Practise on a scrap from the tail. United Kingdom TOWOT reviewers called the first hole fiddly.
Centre line and spacing
Fold the belt along its length, or measure from each edge, so the new hole sits on the same centre line as the factory holes. A hole 2 mm towards one edge will pull the buckle crooked on a 30 mm strap. Wide belts make that error easier to see.
British Leather Supplies uses about 25 mm between holes in belt-making notes. Copy the pitch already in the strap. If the factory holes are closer or wider than 25 mm, match that. About 150 mm from the buckle end is craft practice for a blank, not a reason to ignore holes that are already there. Once the marks are on the grain, make one squeeze. How you close the handles is on how to use punch pliers.
Lined, thick and suede belts
A lined belt is two materials. The leather can shear cleanly while the fabric lining hangs on by threads. That is a United Kingdom review of the Draper Expert 63637. Finish with a small snip, not a second punch from the lining side. Designer lined belts you cannot hide a tear on are a cobbler job, as is expensive saddlery.
United Kingdom Diyife notes include a thick M&S belt. TOWOT is mixed: easy holes after weight loss, and at least one struggle on a thick belt. If the handles only crush the grain, stop. A hole far from the edge of a wide strap is past the throat.
One United Kingdom XOOL review reported a poor result on expensive new suede. Other UK reviews described ordinary leather as fine. The best punch pliers page is the shortlist if you still need to buy.
Round turret versus oval hardware
Most UK belts in this set are a round hole and a round tongue. A revolving 2–4.5 mm head is the matching tool. The only mixed-shape plier in this capture is WORKPRO W031111: rectangles 6.6 and 7.5 mm, ellipse 6.1 mm, rounds 3.5–4.5 mm.
United Kingdom reviews say those cutters sit so a belt-length oval will not feed. They cut across the belt. An oblong drive punch on a board is the leathercraft answer for a slot along the strap. If the belt is a slot already, do not round-punch a row of new holes beside it and hope the tongue will sit.
Common questions
What size hole does my buckle need?
The size of the hole the tongue already uses. Craft figures of 3–5 mm are a rule of thumb, not a British Standard. Offer the tubes to the existing hole and start smaller if you are unsure. You can open a hole. You cannot put the slug back.
How far apart should extra holes be?
About 25 mm is common in UK leathercraft notes, and you should copy the pitch already in the belt. You do not need a five-hole pattern to add one hole. If the factory holes are closer or wider, match that pitch so the new hole looks intentional.
Should I copy the existing hole?
Yes, unless you are building a belt from scratch. Size, shape and spacing already on the strap are the specification. A new millimetre figure from a blog will look like a mistake next to the factory row, even if the hole is round and clean.
What about a lined or suede belt?
Lined leather may cut cleanly while the fabric needs a snip, as in a United Kingdom Draper review. Suede is riskier. One UK XOOL note was a poor result on new suede. Expensive lined or suede belts are a cobbler job.
Can WORKPRO cut an oval along the belt?
United Kingdom reviews say no. The oval and rectangle sit across the tool, so a belt-length slot will not feed. You cannot turn the whole plier around a strap that is already in the jaws. It is not a substitute for an oblong drive punch you can place on the mark and strike.
Where do I mark on a wide belt?
On the same centre line as the existing holes, measuring from both edges rather than guessing by eye. Width makes a 2 mm error more visible, not less, because the buckle will sit crooked on a 30 mm strap and pull to one side.
When is this a cobbler job?
When the belt is expensive saddlery, a designer lined strap you cannot hide a tear on, or suede you cannot dress. Production punching at work is a different duty under PUWER, not a kitchen-table extra hole. A cheap revolving kit is not a reason to experiment on a finish you cannot repair.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 19 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file.
- amazon.co.uk listings in this category, 19 October 2026 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Knipex 90 70 220 revolving punch pliers (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Draper 63637 revolving punch plier (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: General Product Safety Regulations 2005, Great Britain (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Placing UKCA or CE marked products on the market in Great Britain (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- legislation.gov.uk: Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE: INDG291, providing and using work equipment safely (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- British Leather Supplies: a beginner’s guide to punching holes in leather (retrieved 19 October 2026)