The best agitators, compared.
Top pick: SZXMDKH 120 paint agitator balls – 5.5 mm, pack of 120, 4.7 from 438 reviews, for bottled acrylic. Grade not stated. Two reviews cite a cracked pot. Best value: 120 paint agitator balls, 5.5 mm – About £4.71, listing states 304 stainless, 4.7 from 14 reviews. Thin review texts. Age line says 14 and up. Updated October 2026.
An agitator on amazon.co.uk is not one tool. It is a 5.5 mm stainless ball for a model-paint bottle, a small vortex shaker, a drill paddle, a 10-litre electric overhead stirrer, or a pneumatic mixer for a 200-litre drum or a 1,000-litre. Match the container and the liquid first, then the drive, then the price. Container, liquid, and what you must already own are set out in the [agitator buying guide](/hub/tools/agitator/sub/agitator-buying-guide). If the workplace can form a flammable vapour, zoning under comes before any electric motor. A seller sentence about explosive atmospheres is not a certificate. Home use of water-based model paint does not trigger that workplace regime. Bearing-ball kits and radiator sludge hammers are not this category.
An agitator on amazon.co.uk is not one tool.
36 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you mixing?
These 5.5 mm balls are a practical way to remix settled model paint in small bottles, with reviewers naming Citadel, Vallejo and Army Painter paints. The pack contains 120 balls, so it covers a sizeable collection if you use one or two per bottle. Its 4.7 rating from 438 reviews is the strongest review signal among the ball packs in this comparison. Some reviewers use three balls in a 12 ml pot, although that is an individual method rather than a requirement. The stainless-steel grade is not stated, so the listing does not support a firm claim that the balls can never rust. Two reviewers also received a cracked storage pot, which matters for handling even though it does not describe the balls' mixing performance.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Miniature painters remobilising settled acrylic paint in Citadel, Vallejo or Army Painter bottles.
Less suitable: Buyers who require verified 304 stainless steel, or anyone mixing buckets, drums or IBCs.
Specifications
Common questions
What size are the balls?
The listing says 5.5 mm, 120 in the pack.
Which paints do reviewers put them in?
UK reviews name Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter, and airbrush bottles. Most use one or two balls; one review says three in a 12 ml pot.
Does the listing prove they will not rust?
The seller claims a salt-water test. One reviewer saw no rust overnight. Grade 304 is not stated on this listing.
This pack, about £4.71, supplies 120 balls for remixing separated acrylic pigment in small hobby-paint bottles. At 5.5 mm, the balls match the common size used by the other bottle-focused packs in this comparison. The listing explicitly says 304 stainless steel, which is a useful distinction when the SZXMDKH pack does not state its grade. Its 4.7 rating comes from only 14 reviews, and the listing shows just three short review texts. The page mentions glassware cleaning as well as paint, yet it does not establish suitability for oil paint. It is a low-cost option with a stated grade, and a much thinner evidence base than the SZXMDKH pack.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Hobby painters who want a stated 304 stainless grade at a low shelf price.
Less suitable: Buyers who prioritise a large body of long-term review evidence or need a mixer for anything larger than a bottle.
Specifications
Common questions
What are they made of?
The bullets say 304 stainless steel. The material attribute says stainless steel.
Will they mix oil paint?
The page asks that question. The bullets describe acrylic pigment separating from the resin, not oil paint.
Do they need assembly?
The technical table says assembly is not required. The age line says 14 years and up.
The MOUNW is presented as a folding pneumatic agitator for a one-ton IBC, aimed at paint, coatings, ink and other viscous liquids. Its folding propeller and support hanger could simplify insertion and storage, but the listing supplies almost none of the measurements needed to judge fit. Compressor requirements, air consumption, speed and usable viscosity are not on the listing. The 4.6 rating is based on only three ratings, with no review text to explain performance. The listing also does not provide certification details for hazardous locations. At about £225.90, treat it as an incomplete industrial specification. The high card score follows those three stars, not a measured mix.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An industrial buyer able to obtain a full datasheet and verify fit, air supply and compliance before ordering.
Less suitable: Anyone choosing from the Amazon listing alone or needing documented performance for a regulated workplace.
Specifications
Common questions
What is it made of?
The listing asks that question. The stored page does not say.
Can it mix thick liquids?
The listing asks that question. The bullets do not give a viscosity.
Is it easy to store?
The only feature lines are foldable and portable.
This 40 cm spiral paddle turns a compatible drill into a mixer for buckets of plaster, mortar, filler, grout, epoxy or cement. The listing claims a working range of 5–20 litres and uses a 3/8-inch hex shank, but the drill itself is not included. It must be run in drill or drive mode rather than hammer mode. The 6 cm guard cage may help keep the spiral away from the bucket wall, although the listing contains no independent performance test. Its 4.4 rating comes from 15 reviews, so the evidence is limited. One reviewer questioned the weld quality before using it and doubted its suitability for heavier mixes, making a pre-use inspection sensible.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Occasional mixing of paint, filler or moderate bucket batches with a compatible drill.
Less suitable: Heavy continuous mortar work, or users without a drill that accepts the 3/8-inch hex shank.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it mix plaster?
The bullets say plaster, mortar, filler, epoxy, grout, and cement. One review used it for clay. Another doubts the welds for anything heavier than paint or easy-fill.
Does it fit a standard drill?
The listing says a 3/8 inch hex shank, about 9.5 mm, and drill or drive mode only, not hammer action.
Is a drill included?
No. The power-source line is hand powered, and the box line is the paddle only.
The Magicrose shakes small bottles of gel polish, model paint or tattoo ink, with the listing claiming 3,200 rpm. Reviews indicate that it can mix small bottles, and one reviewer puts the practical upper size at about 100 ml rather than treating that as a rated capacity. It is not reliably hands-free: repeated comments say the suction feet let go and the power plug can shake loose. Reviewers also mention noise and early failures, so its 4.2 rating from 98 reviews comes with a clear fault pattern. A tight lid is essential, and reviewers commonly still use an agitator ball inside the bottle. The supply information conflicts, so confirm the supplied plug and voltage before you rely on it.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Hobbyists who mix many small, tightly closed bottles and can hold or supervise the shaker.
Less suitable: Anyone expecting quiet, hands-free operation or a confirmed UK power arrangement.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it work with nail polish?
The bullets say gel polish. Reviews also mention shellac bottles. Several say it is noisy.
Will the suction feet hold it?
The bullets say four anti-slip feet. Several UK reviews say the feet do not hold and the plug shakes loose.
What is it made of?
The technical table says plastic, about 300 g.
The YUEWO is an electric overhead stirrer for vessels up to 10 litres, with a seller-claimed viscosity limit of 10,000 mPa·s. Its 72 W motor is listed at 220 V, but the listing does not confirm a BS 1363 plug. The stated speed range is 200–2,000 rpm, while another attribute says 3,000 speeds, so the specification needs clarification before purchase. At about £225, it is aimed at repeatable small-vessel or sample work rather than hobby bottles or 1,000-litre totes. The 4.2 rating is based on 11 reviews. One user found operation straightforward, while another reported a lock-up followed by discontinued seller communication. It is a more controlled format than a hand drill, and the plug, speed, and support uncertainties remain.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A lab or workshop mixing non-hazardous small batches after confirming the plug and exact specification.
Less suitable: IBC-scale work, solvent zones, or buyers who need unambiguous speed and after-sales information.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it mix high-viscosity liquids?
The listing claims a maximum of 10,000 mPa·s and a 10 litre capacity. That is the seller's figure, not a measured test on this page.
What voltage does the page state?
220 V and 72 W. The listing does not say whether a BS 1363 plug is fitted.
Is it easy to operate?
The bullets say easy operation. One UK review agrees. Another says the unit locked and the seller then stopped replying.
This is the lowest-priced ball pack in the comparison at about £4.66, and its 5.5 mm balls are intended for acrylic paint bottles. The only available review says they fit paint bottles and remix separated acrylic after about a minute of shaking. That reviewer also reports no visible rust over several months, but one person's experience cannot establish long-term corrosion resistance. The product title says 120 balls while a technical attribute says a unit count of one, leaving the supplied quantity unresolved on the listing. Its 4.0 rating is based on that single review. The low price is attractive, and the count conflict and minimal evidence make the slightly dearer packs easier to assess.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A buyer willing to accept sparse evidence for a low-cost bottle-mixing pack.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a confirmed pack quantity, verified material grade or broad review history.
Specifications
Common questions
Do they fit paint bottles?
The only review says they are small enough to fit paint bottles and remix separated acrylic after about a minute of shaking.
How many are in the pack?
The title says 120. A technical line says unit count 1. The listing does not resolve that.
Did the reviewer see rust?
That review reports no visible rust over several months in acrylic bottles. It is one review.
This generic clamp-on pneumatic agitator combines three motor powers, three vessel sizes and three speed ranges in one listing. The page cannot be assessed as a single product because it does not identify which configuration this ASIN supplies. The bullets mention 1/2, 3/4 and 1 hp motors, with model-dependent speeds from 1,300 to 2,500 rpm. A folding propeller and quick-screw clamp are described, while compressed-air flow is not stated. There is no star rating or review text, so there is no user evidence for mixing performance or durability. The claim that it suits flammable environments is not backed by a certificate number and does not replace a workplace zone assessment.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A trade buyer who can get the exact model number, motor output, air requirement and compliance documents in writing.
Less suitable: Direct purchase where the listing must clearly identify what will arrive, especially for hazardous-area use.
Specifications
Common questions
Which motor is in the box?
The bullets list 1/2 hp, 3/4 hp, and 1 hp, and three gallon sizes. The listing does not say which one this ASIN ships.
Is it certified for explosive atmospheres?
A bullet says it is particularly suitable for flammable environments. No certificate number is on the listing. Do not treat that sentence as ATEX, UKEX, or Ex approval.
How does the blade fit an IBC?
The bullets describe a two-piece folding propeller and a quick-screw clamp.
The IB1000L is a large pneumatic mixer built around a 960 mm rod and two folding impellers that open to 250 mm. Its rack adjusts from 720 to 1,200 mm, and the listing targets 1,000-litre or 265-gallon containers. A viscosity guide runs from water-like liquids to 10,000 cP, but the horsepower supplied with this ASIN is not stated. You must provide the compressor, and the listing gives neither air consumption nor a numerical speed. There are no ratings or review texts, so the about £347 listing has no customer evidence for fit, output or durability. The physical dimensions are more useful than on several other IBC pages, and the missing motor and air requirements still block a confident decision.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An IBC user who can confirm the supplied motor and match a compressor to the manufacturer's full specification.
Less suitable: Buyers who need a complete, review-backed package or who do not already have suitable compressed air.
Specifications
Common questions
What capacity does the listing state?
265 gallon, 1,000 litres, or 1,000 kg, with a 960 mm rod and blades that open to 250 mm.
Can it mix paint?
The bullets say paint, coat, or other chemical liquid. A horsepower guide runs from water-like viscosity to 10,000 cP, but the horsepower in the box is not stated.
Does it need an air compressor?
Yes. The listing says the buyer prepares the air source. Air consumption is not given.
The COSMOSTAR is an air-powered agitator intended to mount over a 200-litre drum for paint, ink and other liquids. Its listing specifies a 1/8 hp three-piston motor, a 10 cm propeller, up to 2,500 rpm and maximum torque of 1.3 N·m. The adjustable U-shaped mounting, air inlet, silencer and manual are included, but a compressor is not. Air consumption is missing, so the listing does not let you size that compressor or estimate running demand. There is no star line and no review text, leaving the about £550 product without customer evidence in this comparison. The listing also provides no explosive-atmosphere certification, so air drive alone is not proof of suitability for solvent work.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A workshop with a 200-litre drum, an appropriately sized compressor and access to the required compliance information.
Less suitable: Small-batch users, buyers without compressed air, or hazardous-area installations relying only on marketplace claims.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it need electricity?
The bullets say it is air operated and non-electrical. You still need a compressor. Air use is not stated.
What industries does the listing name?
Paint, printing, chemical, food, baking, and ink. No UK review text is on the listing.
What comes in the box?
A manual, an air inlet, a silencer, and an adjustable U-shape mounting.
Shelf prices, stars, and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures stored for these ten listings on 15 October 2026. They are not a live reload on 17 October 2026. The stored 0–100 score is the star line times 20. A missing star line is stored as 0 and mapped here to 4.0 so the card stays on a 1–10 scale, below every starred listing. Three ratings at 4.6 can therefore sit above a fuller page with fewer stars. Read the card. This is not a laboratory test, not a measured viscosity, and not an explosive-atmosphere certificate.
Container and batch
25%The vessel comes first: a small paint bottle, a bucket of about 5–20 litres, a 10-litre lab vessel, a 200-litre drum, or a 1,000-litre IBC. Balls do not mix a tote, and a tote mixer does not fit a dropper bottle.
Liquid and job
20%Water-based hobby acrylic, gel polish or tattoo ink, plaster and mortar, or solvent and two-pack coatings. Reviews are compared only among products that do the same job.
Drive you can verify
20%A drill and chuck, a BS 1363 plug, or a compressor and hose. A 220 V line is not proof of a UK plug. Air consumption is missing on the pneumatic listings, so the compressor cannot be sized from these pages.
One specification
20%One horsepower, one speed range, and one vessel for the unit in the box. A page that lists three speeds and three horsepowers without saying which one you receive is held back. A seller line about explosive atmospheres is not a certificate.
Reviews for that job
15%Stars and review counts from the amazon.co.uk line, only beside products that do the same job. Hundreds of reviews on balls do not score a drum mixer. A repeated fault, such as loose feet or a cracked pot, stays in the text.
Start with the container, then the liquid, then the drive you already have. A star rating does not tell you those three. The ten listings below are amazon.co.uk pages, with the prices and review counts stored for 15 October 2026, not a live reload on 17 October 2026. Balls, a shaker, a paddle, and an air motor are not substitutes. If vapour can ignite, zoning comes before the motor.
A shopper searching for an agitator on amazon.co.uk is not looking at one tool. In this set of ten listings the word covers a 5.5 mm stainless ball that stays in a model-paint bottle, a small vortex shaker, a drill paddle with no motor of its own, a 72 W electric overhead stirrer claiming 10 litres, or a pneumatic mixer for a 200-litre drum or a 1,000-litre IBC. Bearing-ball kits and radiator sludge hammers are not this category.
A 5.5 mm ball stays in a hobby bottle and works when you shake. It does not stir a 1,000-litre IBC. A folding IBC impeller does not fit a 12 ml dropper. Match the container before you compare the price.
Reject a page that lists three speeds and three horsepowers without saying which unit you receive. The generic IBC listing names 1/2, 3/4, and 1 hp together. The IB1000L page gives a viscosity guide and does not state the horsepower in the box.
Suction feet that reviews say do not hold, a paddle run in hammer mode, and an explosion-proof sentence are separate faults. None of these listings is treated as ATEX, UKEX, or Ex certified. A 220 V line is not a BS 1363 plug.
Decide the vessel first, then the liquid, then whether you already own the drive. Bottle balls need the pot. The vortex shaker is for gel polish, model paint, or tattoo ink, and reviewers still put a ball in the bottle. The TILER paddle claims buckets of about 5–20 litres and needs a drill that takes a 3/8 inch hex, in drill or drive mode. If you do not own that drill, the [cordless tools set comparison](/hub/tools/cordless-tools-set) is the separate page for the driver, not for the paddle.
Buy the unit whose horsepower, speed, and vessel are named once. The COSMOSTAR drum agitator states 1/8 hp, up to 2,500 rpm, and a 200-litre shaft, at about £550, with no star line and no review text. The generic IBC page, about £245.99, names three gallon sizes and three horsepowers and does not say which one ships. The IB1000L page, about £347, gives a 960 mm rod and blades that open to 250 mm, and it still does not fix the horsepower.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You remix Citadel, Vallejo, or Army Painter bottles and you want the widest review base in this set. The SZXMDKH pack is 120 balls at 5.5 mm, about £5.11, with 4.7 from 438 reviews. The steel grade is not stated, and two reviewers received a cracked storage pot.
You want the listing to name 304 stainless steel and you will accept a thin review base. The best value pack is 120 balls at 5.5 mm, about £4.71, with 4.7 from 14 reviews. The age line says 14 years and up. It does not establish oil paint.
You mix plaster, filler, grout, or a similar bucket of about 5–20 litres, and the drill accepts a 3/8 inch hex. The TILER paddle is 40 cm, about £10.95, with 4.4 from 15 reviews. Use drill or drive mode, not hammer mode. One reviewer doubted the welds before use.
The top pick is the SZXMDKH pack of 120 balls, about £5.11, for bottled acrylic and model paint. The listing is 5.5 mm, and 4.7 from 438 reviews is the strongest review signal among the ball packs. The steel grade is not stated, and two reviewers received a cracked storage pot. The best value is the 120-ball pack at about £4.71 that states 304 stainless steel, with 4.7 from 14 reviews and only three short review texts. A vortex shaker, a drill paddle, a 10-litre overhead stirrer, and the air mixers are different jobs. A star line on balls does not rank a drum motor. No listing here is treated as ATEX, UKEX, or Ex certified. Prices are the 15 October 2026 shelf figures, not a UK market average.
SZXMDKH 120 paint agitator balls
5.5 mm, pack of 120, 4.7 from 438 reviews, for bottled acrylic. Grade not stated. Two reviews cite a cracked pot.
120 paint agitator balls, 5.5 mm
About £4.71, listing states 304 stainless, 4.7 from 14 reviews. Thin review texts. Age line says 14 and up.
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.
Public UK sources for DSEAR, explosive atmospheres, plugs, and work equipment. Listings are the amazon.co.uk pages stored for these ten ASINs on 15 October 2026, not a live reload on 17 October 2026. Prices on amazon.co.uk move.
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. Prices, stars, and review counts come from those listings. We did not run a laboratory test. The scores rank a listing inside this set only.
