The best fume extractors, compared.
Top pick: KOTTO FTP-EU002 Best value: WEP 948DQ-I – About £38.99 with the only stated Type G plug, carbon pads and 4.6 from 38 reviews. Not a HEPA class. Updated October 2026.
A fume extractor pulls solder flux fume, laser smoke or similar contamination away from your face, then filters it or ducts it outside. On amazon.co.uk the listings mix carbon-pad fans, hose units with a stage, and one unfiltered blower. What matters is capture at the joint, a filter that matches the contaminant, and a BS 1363 plug on a 230 V mains unit. HSE treats rosin solder fume as a cause of occupational asthma and says bench boxes that return air to the room are of limited use unless they have a filter. The order of contaminant, filter and plug is in the [fume extractor buying guide](/hub/workshop/fume-extractor/sub/fume-extractor-buying-guide).
A fume extractor pulls solder flux fume, laser smoke or similar contamination away from your face, then filters it or ducts it outside.
42 products checked · 64 hrs invested · +21,800 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you trying to capture?
The KOTTO FTP-EU002 is the most reviewed carbon-pad fan in this set: 4.6 from 2,442 amazon.co.uk reviews at £35.99. The bullets claim a 3,000 rpm fan and fume removal from 5–6 inches, through a 0.4 inch activated-carbon filter, with a second filter in the box. Two UK reviews say it arrived with a Euro plug and that the listing did not make that clear. Voltage is not in the technical table. There is no HEPA class and no speed control stated. Rank 1 in Soldering Extraction Tools reflects how often people buy this shape, not a filter class. A Euro plug on a UK bench is a buying problem before the carbon pad meets the plume.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Close-range soldering if you already have a safe way to connect a Euro lead, or you have confirmed a BS 1363 plug on the unit you receive.
Less suitable: A buyer who needs a stated Type G plug, or a hose unit for regular flux work.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it come with a UK plug?
The specification does not say. Two UK reviews say it arrived with a Euro plug and that the listing did not make that clear.
How far away can it sit?
The bullets claim it removes fumes from 5–6 inches away. They do not claim room-wide filtration.
Does the listing name a HEPA filter?
No. It describes a 0.4 inch activated-carbon filter.
The WEP 948DQ-I is a carbon-pad bench fan listed at £38.99, with filters on the front and the rear and a suction claim of 10 cm. It is the only unit in this set whose bullets state 220–240 V, 50 Hz, and a Type G plug, and they say not to connect it to 110 V. Across 38 amazon.co.uk reviews it sits at 4.6. The listing describes an on/off switch, and the reviews say there is no speed control. Helping hands and spare adsorbers are in the box, which suits a joint you can park a few centimetres from the grille. There is no HEPA class. HSE treats bench boxes that return air to the room as limited unless they have a HEPA filter, so this is a close-range carbon pad for occasional soldering, not a workplace control. At 1.18 kg and about 90 × 145 × 164 mm it stays on the bench.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Occasional close-range soldering or pyrography on a UK socket, when you can keep the joint about 10 cm from the grille.
Less suitable: Regular soldering in a small room, a laser enclosure, or any job that needs a named HEPA stage.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing state a UK plug?
Yes. The bullets say 220–240 V, 50 Hz, and a Type G plug, and they say not to connect it to 110 V.
Does it have a HEPA filter?
No HEPA class is stated. The listing describes filtration adsorbers on the front and the rear.
Can you change the fan speed?
The listing describes an on/off switch. Reviews say there is no speed control.
The KINGSOM KS-K7-N is a filtered hose unit at £119.99 that names a 2-in-1 H13 HEPA and activated-carbon filter, with 99.97 percent claimed, and a 66 cm hose. It scores 4.6 from 25 reviews, a thin sample next to the FumeClear hose units. Noise is claimed below 60 dB. The power line is DC and 110–220 V, and the plug shape is not stated. Airflow in cubic metres is not given, so the H13 wording is the spec you can check, not a measured capture rate. At 1.9 kg it is a short desktop hose, not a trade arm. Twenty-five reviews cannot show how the filter behaves after a year of weekly soldering.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Desktop soldering when you want a named H13 stage and can confirm the plug before you rely on it.
Less suitable: A laser enclosure, or a buyer who wants a large UK review sample before spending about £120.
Specifications
Common questions
What filter does the listing specify?
A 2-in-1 H13 HEPA and activated-carbon filter, with 99.97 percent claimed.
Is a UK plug stated?
No. The power source is listed as DC and the voltage claim is 110–220 V.
How long is the hose?
The bullets say 66 cm.
The FumeClear FC-100A is the heaviest filtered hose unit here: 9.52 kg, a metal case, £319.99, with 200–260 m³/h claimed, an H13 filter, carbon, ten pre-filters and a remote. It scores 4.5 from 135 reviews. The listing names soldering and light laser use. Voltage is not in the technical table and the plug is not specified. That airflow claim is the highest among the filtered units, above the FC-2001S band of 128–168 m³/h. The price is also more than double. A remote does not fix an unstated plug, and 135 reviews are not a workplace LEV sign-off.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Longer soldering sessions or light laser work when you want the higher stated airflow and can check the mains lead.
Less suitable: Occasional joints, or a small bench that cannot spare a 9.5 kg unit.
Specifications
Common questions
What filtration does the listing name?
A pre-filter, an H13 HEPA filter and activated carbon, with 99.97 percent at 0.3 microns claimed.
Is the plug specified?
No. The power source is mains and the voltage is not in the technical table.
How heavy is it?
The listing says 9.52 kg.
The Preciva 948DQ I is a carbon-pad fan at £39.99 with eight activated-carbon filters, helping hands and a claimed 2,600 rpm copper motor. It scores 4.4 from 184 amazon.co.uk reviews, a larger sample than the WEP. UK reviews say it works for small boards when the work is about 4–6 inches from the fan, and that the crocodile arms are flimsy. The technical table does not state a UK plug, and a customer question on the listing asks about the plug. No HEPA class is named. Airflow in cubic metres is not stated, so you are buying a short working distance, not a room cleaner. The 1.18 kg unit is the same class of bench box as the WEP, without the Type G line.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Small close-range boards, if you already know the plug fits a UK socket.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a stated Type G plug, or regular work where returned air should pass a HEPA stage.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say it has a UK plug?
No. A customer question on the listing asks, and the technical table does not state the plug.
Is there a HEPA filter?
The bullets describe eight activated-carbon filters. They do not name a HEPA class.
What do the reviews say about reach?
UK reviews say it works for small boards when the work is about 4–6 inches from the fan, and that the crocodile arms are flimsy.
The FumeClear FC-2001S is a three-speed hose unit listed at £149, with a claimed 128–168 m³/h, a pre-filter, an H12 HEPA stage and carbon. It scores 4.4 from 125 reviews. The part number on the listing is FC-2001S UK and the voltage line is 220 V, but the plug shape is not in the technical table. UK reviews say a plastic tube cracked within months and that glue on a tube holder let go after a day. Those same texts appear on the FC2001A listing, so this is one shared pool, not two independent tests. Five pre-filters and a 2-in-1 main filter are in the box. At 4.14 kg it is the regular-soldering hose unit in this set, and the hose has already failed for some buyers.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Regular hand soldering when you want a named HEPA hose unit around £149 and you will check the plug and the tube.
Less suitable: A laser cabinet, or a buyer who needs a review sample that is separate from the FC2001A.
Specifications
Common questions
Which HEPA class is named?
The bullets say H12, plus a pre-filter and activated carbon.
Is the plug stated?
The part number says FC-2001S UK and the voltage is 220 V. The plug shape is not in the technical table.
What failed in UK reviews?
A plastic tube cracked within months, and glue on a tube holder let go after a day. The same texts appear on the FC2001A listing.
The FumeClear FC2001A is listed at £159 with up to 120 m³/h claimed, three speeds, five pre-filters and a 2-in-1 main filter. The part number is FC-2001A DE. The technical table does not name a HEPA class, while the bullets stress high-iodine carbon and 99.97 percent. It shows the same 4.4 from 125 and the same UK review texts as the FC-2001S, including the cracked tube. Treating that as a second test would double-count one pool. Voltage is 220 V and the plug is not stated. You pay £10 more than the FC-2001S for weaker class wording and a DE suffix.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Desktop soldering only if this filter wording is the one you want and the plug checks out.
Less suitable: A buyer choosing between the two FumeClear 2001 listings, because the FC-2001S names H12 at a lower price.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the technical table name a HEPA class?
No. The title says six filters and the bullets stress high-iodine carbon and 99.97 percent. The included line says a pre-filter and a 2-in-1 main filter.
Why does the part number say DE?
The listing prints the part number as FC-2001A DE. It does not state the plug.
Are the reviews separate from the FC-2001S?
The rating line and the UK review texts match the FC-2001S listing. Treat them as one shared pool.
The Treedix TRX5-0656-B clips to the desk on a gooseneck and claims capture within 25 cm, with a dimmable LED and a fan knob, at £39.99. It scores 4.1 from 39 reviews. One UK review says an adapter plug had to be bought, and another says the power cable was missing. Reviews call the pads carbon, and the bullets do not name a HEPA class. The listing says a pipe can be fitted to release fume outdoors, without a certified outdoor kit. Airflow that falls once the pad is fitted is the usual loaded-filter complaint, not evidence of a larger fan. At 1.15 kg it is still a close-range carbon fan, on a clip instead of rubber feet.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Close soldering or pyrography when you want the inlet on a clip and you can sort the lead.
Less suitable: A first extractor if you need a Type G plug in the box, or regular work that should return air through HEPA.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing include a UK plug?
No. One UK review says an adapter plug had to be bought, and another says the power cable was missing.
Is the filter a HEPA filter?
The bullets describe front and rear filters and do not name a HEPA class. Reviews call them carbon pads.
Can the fume be ducted outside?
The bullets say a pipe can be fitted to release fume outdoors. They do not give a certified outdoor kit.
The Nordswal 12 inch blower is a 370 W ventilation fan at £179 with a claimed 3,600 m³/h and a 10 m duct, and no filter stage. It scores 4.1 from 15 reviews and sits in dust collectors, not soldering extraction tools. One verified UK review says the cable grommet failed and that the live and earth were poorly crimped on a switched-neutral, metal-cased unit. That is a stop-using report, not a comfort complaint. At 16 kg it can move a large volume of air if the duct discharges somewhere safe. It does not filter solder flux or laser smoke, which is why it sits at the bottom of this set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Ducted ventilation where the air leaves to a safe place outside and a competent person has checked the wiring.
Less suitable: Any recirculating solder or laser bench, or a buyer who wants a filtered unit.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it filter solder fume?
No filter is listed. It is a 370 W blower with a 10 m duct, ranked in dust collectors.
What did a UK review say about the electrics?
One verified UK review says the cable grommet failed and that the live and earth were poorly crimped on a switched-neutral, metal-cased unit.
Is a UK plug stated?
No.
The AOYUE 8486BK is a hose unit at £119.99 with a pre-filter, a HEPA element and carbon beads, plus a knob from 0 to 100 percent. It scores 4.0 from 16 reviews. The title says 28 W and the technical table says 50 W, and the listing does not resolve that. The particle line is 97 percent of particles greater than 0.3 μm, not an H13 or 99.97 percent claim. Voltage is listed as 220 V with no plug shape. UK review notes describe a hose that collapses, so the articulating arm only helps if it stays open over the joint. At 2.22 kg it is a bench station, not a ducted blower.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Soldering with a positionable hood, if you can accept a small review sample and the wattage clash.
Less suitable: Anyone who wants a named H12 or H13 line, or a stated Type G plug.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the wattage 28 W or 50 W?
The title says 28 W and the technical table says 50 W. The listing does not resolve that.
What particle figure does the listing give?
97 percent of particles greater than 0.3 μm. It does not state an H13 or 99.97 percent figure.
Does it state a UK plug?
No. The voltage line is 220 V.
The SainSmart CSE01 is a 320 g cordless carbon-pad fan at £30.99, charged by USB-C in about 2.5 hours, with three speeds and a claimed 10,000 rpm. It scores 3.9 from 77 reviews, the lowest star line in the set. The bullets describe replaceable activated-carbon filters and an LED ring. Runtime is not stated, so a longer repair session can stop when the cell does. There is no HEPA class and no enclosure port. It avoids the mains-plug question because it runs on DC 5 V. That convenience is the product: a mini inlet for occasional joints, not a hose extractor.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Occasional close soldering where a mains lead would get in the way.
Less suitable: Regular flux work, a laser enclosure, or anyone who needs a stated runtime before they start.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it need a mains plug?
No. The listing says it is battery powered and charges by USB-C in about 2.5 hours.
How long does a charge last?
The listing gives the charge time and does not state a runtime.
Does it have a HEPA filter?
No. The bullets describe replaceable activated-carbon filters.
The FumeClear FC-2001X is a 24 V DC laser hose unit at £229, with a pre-filter, H13 and carbon, a 60 mm hose and a claimed 2.2 kPa. The title limits it to diode lasers up to 15 W and fibre lasers up to 5 W. The listing has no customer-review line and no review text, so there is no amazon.co.uk star rating to weigh. A mains plug is not stated. Three speed levels are claimed. At 2.1 kg it is a compact enclosure extractor, not a solder pad fan. An unreviewed listing is not evidence that the hose seals your particular cabinet.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A desktop diode or small fibre marker inside the stated wattage, if you can confirm the 24 V supply and the hose fit.
Less suitable: Hand soldering, a larger CO₂ cabinet, or anyone who wants UK reviews before spending £229.
Specifications
Common questions
Which lasers does the title cover?
Diode lasers up to 15 W and fibre lasers up to 5 W. The bullets also say 5 W–15 W engravers.
What is the amazon.co.uk star rating?
The listing has no customer-review line and no review text.
What power supply does it use?
The technical table says 24 V DC. A mains plug is not stated.
Shelf prices are the figures already stored for these twelve amazon.co.uk listings, not a live re-check and not a laboratory test. A star row is the amazon.co.uk figure. Filter class, voltage, plug, hose length and airflow are the seller's claim unless a UK review contradicts them. A carbon pad is not a HEPA class. A 220 V line is not a BS 1363 plug. The FC-2001S and FC2001A share one review pool, so that pool is not counted twice at full weight. The highest score is the top pick. Best value is the strongest price for a stated UK job that is not the same model.
Amazon evidence
25%Star rating on amazon.co.uk, then the size of the sample. 4.6 from 2,442 is stronger star evidence than 4.6 from 25. Under 30 reviews the sample block is capped. Zero reviews score zero on this block.
Spec fit
35%A named H12 or H13 stage plus carbon, a hose or a stated capture distance, a clear UK supply (Type G, or USB-C where no mains plug is needed), a speed control, and a stated airflow. Carbon-only pads, a missing plug, a Euro plug in UK reviews, a wattage clash, and no filter lose points. This is not an exposure measurement.
Review outcome
25%UK comments that describe a real job score higher when the sample is large enough to read. A Euro plug, flimsy arms, a missing cable, a collapsed or split hose, and a wiring fault are deductions. The shared FumeClear pool cannot fill this block twice. No reviews cannot fill it at all.
Value
15%Shelf price in GBP against a stated job, only when the listing is readable. The highest total is not also the value award. A cheap carbon fan with a stated Type G plug can take value. A cheap carbon fan with a Euro-plug complaint does not. The £319.99 unit does not take value because the price step is large and the plug is unstated.
Buy the contaminant, the filter or the duct, and the plug before the star rating. A fume extractor only does the job printed on the listing. A carbon pad can move a visible solder plume a few centimetres. It is not a HEPA stage. A 220 V line is not a BS 1363 plug. House mains are about 230 V. None of these twelve listings is a welding extractor, and none is a workplace LEV sign-off.
A fume extractor pulls solder flux fume, laser smoke or similar contamination away from your face and then filters it or ducts it outside. On amazon.co.uk the same search mixes carbon-pad fans, hose-mounted units and unfiltered blowers. For a home bench the useful combination is capture at the joint, a filter stack that matches the contaminant, and a BS 1363 plug on a 230 V mains unit. HSE treats rosin-based solder flux fume as a sensitiser and a cause of occupational asthma.
The KOTTO is 4.6 from 2,442 reviews at about £35.99, and two UK reviews say it arrived with a Euro plug. Rank in Soldering Extraction Tools is how often people buy the shape, not a filter class. The WEP states Type G and has a much smaller sample.
A voltage line is not a 13 A plug. Only the WEP states 220–240 V, 50 Hz and Type G. The FC-2001S says FC-2001S UK and 220 V, and the plug shape is still absent. The FC2001A part number is FC-2001A DE.
A carbon pad can cut odour and still return particles to the room. HSE limits that kind of bench box unless it has a HEPA filter. Do not use a solder unit for welding, and do not skip the pre-filter on a hose unit. Call a doctor if soldering days bring wheeze or chest tightness.
Hand soldering needs the hood or grille close to the joint. HSE SR20 says keep a capture hood close to the soldering point and keep the iron rest inside that zone. An open carbon-pad fan can pull a visible plume off your face for a short job if the room is ventilated. It does not serve an enclosed laser, and none of these listings is a welding extractor. In this set the WEP claims about 10 cm, the KOTTO claims 5–6 inches, and UK reviews put the Preciva at about 4–6 inches on small boards.
What happens to the air decides whether a high star rating is relevant. Recirculating units should have a HEPA stage plus carbon if they return air to the room. HSE says bench boxes are of limited use unless they have a HEPA filter. A thin carbon foam is an odour pad. KOTTO, WEP, Preciva, Treedix and SainSmart describe carbon and do not name HEPA. The FC-2001S names H12. The KINGSOM K7, the FC-100A and the FC-2001X name H13.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You solder often enough that a carbon pad returning air to the room is the wrong stack. The FumeClear FC-2001S is the top pick at about £149: named H12, carbon, a pre-filter, three speeds and 128–168 m³/h claimed, with 4.4 from 125 reviews. The plug is unstated, and the shared UK reviews describe tube and glue faults.
You want the visible plume off your face for short jobs, and you need a stated Type G plug. The WEP 948DQ-I is best value at about £38.99, with carbon pads front and rear, a 10 cm claim and 4.6 from 38 reviews. It is not a HEPA control. Keep the joint close and ventilate the room.
You need a hose into a cabinet, not an open pad fan. The FumeClear FC-2001X names H13, carbon and a 60 mm hose, and the title limits it to a 15 W diode or 5 W fibre. It is about £229, on 24 V DC, with no review line and no mains plug stated. Confirm the hose fit before you rely on it.
The top pick is the FumeClear FC-2001S at about £149. It scores 74, the highest here: named H12, a pre-filter, carbon, three speeds and 128–168 m³/h claimed, with 4.4 from 125 reviews. The plug shape is not stated. Tube and glue faults in the UK reviews are the deductions, and those texts match the FC2001A, so the pool is not two samples. Best value is the WEP 948DQ-I at about £38.99. It is the strongest price for a stated UK job that is not the FC-2001S: the only Type G plug in the set, carbon pads, a 10 cm claim, and 4.6 from 38 reviews. It is not HEPA. The KOTTO has more reviews at a similar price, and UK reviews report a Euro plug, so it does not take the value award.
WEP 948DQ-I
About £38.99 with the only stated Type G plug, carbon pads and 4.6 from 38 reviews. Not a HEPA class.
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 and the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page. Updated October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures already stored for this set. This is not a laboratory test.
