He continues, “The most common everyday hammer is a claw hammer. Due to the rounded head and claws on the back, they are perfect for both hammering and removing nails. General-purpose claw hammers usually weigh between 16 and 20 ounces. Framing hammers, also called ‘rip hammers,’ can weigh up to 30 ounces. These are great for large construction jobs and roofing, where you might need to hammer in nails as large as 4 inches. If you are doing delicate work with small nails and tacks, a tack hammer is an essential tool. This dainty hammer won’t damage the surface when working with small nails.” We evaluated hammers based on durability, construction, vibration control, and comfort. Our top pick, the Estwing E3-16C 16-Ounce Claw Hammer, has excellent balance, effective vibration control, and a versatile weight of 16 ounces, making it ideal for most DIY tasks or home repairs. Here are the best hammers available now. At 16 ounces—note that hammer weights are measured only by the weight of the steel head, not by the weight of the entire tool—the hammer is heavy enough for a reasonably powerful swing but not so heavy that it’s likely to tire you out. It has a smooth face, which is less likely to mar surfaces should you miss the nail. The curved claws are just right for pulling nails back out of walls or wood. The hammer even has a rust-resistant coating to keep it in prime condition for years of use around your home, garage, or worksite. This is an ideal all-purpose hammer for just about any handyperson or DIYer, as well as people who like to have a collection of quality tools on hand whenever they’re needed. Price at time of publish: $25 The handle is ergonomically shaped for a comfortable, secure grip, even when you’re wielding the tool for long periods. Plus, it’s designed to absorb shock that otherwise could lead to pain and fatigue. While this hammer isn’t as mighty as pricier options, it is more than adequate for most typical around-the-house tasks, and it is a worthwhile addition to your tool box. Price at time of publish: $10 But that’s not the only benefit of this hammer; it also has a face that’s significantly larger than most other similar hammers, meaning you are far less likely to have a swing-and-miss, and thus less likely to strike your thumb instead of the nail, or damage the wall with a misplaced blow. And since it’s made from a single length of forged steel, it’s a tool that should last you for many decades of dependable use. Price at time of publish: $27 The tubular steel handle of the hammer is designed to shift the balance of the weight toward the head, increasing the power of each blow. The soft, rubber grip will also keep the hammer comfortably planted in your hands while you swing and strike. A chrome finish helps prevent rust and corrosion. Price at time of publish: $11 The joint where the fiberglass handle and steel head meet is reinforced to provide even more durability and strength to this well-balanced hammer. It’s very reasonably priced, too. Whether you use it for carpentry, construction, or hanging a mirror, this is a tool that will serve you well for many years. Price at time of publish: $18 When it comes to weight, the Stubby is just right; at 12 ounces, it isn’t too heavy, nor is it too light. The steel head is strong enough to survive repeated abuse for long projects, while the weight is convenient for the times you need a little extra force in your swing. At an overall 8 inches in length—the typical hammer has a 10-to-12-inch handle, plus the length of the head—it is also a perfect size for carrying around on your tool belt when not in use. Price at time of publish: $12 The hammer has a solid wood handle that absorbs some of the strike impact, is very durable, and just plain looks good. The business end of the tool is drop-forged alloyed steel with a curved claw opposite the face for use in pulling nails back out of walls or other surfaces. At under a pound in total weight and measuring just 11.5 inches in length, the hammer won’t take up much room in your toolbox, nor will it weigh you down. Price at time of publish: $10 Despite the size and weight, this hammer comes with shock-reduction grip to minimize the amount of shock and vibration your wrists absorb after a strike. This type of design tries to keep the shock in the hammer, so your bones and ligaments don’t take the brunt of the force. The hammer is properly weighted between the head and claw for superior balance. Price at time of publish: $37 The double-faced hammer has a hardened, tempered steel head and an 11-inch heavy-duty fiberglass handle with a ribbed, easy-grip jacket that keeps the tool securely in your grasp, even during the most powerful swing. Its weight is 3 pounds, which is heavy but not overly so for most people. It’s a great choice for anyone who needs a hammer for tough jobs around the house or yard. Price at time of publish: $18 Not every DIYer needs to have a tack hammer on hand, but it’s certainly a useful tool for many delicate projects where a larger hammer would be too big or too powerful. If you like to keep a complete set of tools at the ready, this is a worthwhile addition to your collection. Price at time of publish: $20 Wood is the classic hammer handle and is still preferred by many. It’s fairly lightweight, doesn’t transmit a lot of vibration to your hand and wrist, and with enough use, wooden handles tend to “form” a little bit to your hand over time. Still, wooden handles are the likeliest to break, and they can be slippery. They’ll also rot or warp if left out in rough conditions or exposed to moisture. However, you can generally replace a wooden hammer handle if it breaks. Fiberglass handles are not as light as wood but weigh less than steel. Fiberglass is also good at reducing vibration from hammer blows; this can be a major issue if you are using your hammer for a lengthy work session. Because fiberglass doesn’t conduct electricity, these hammers are a good choice if you’ll be working in an area with live wires. Fiberglass also won’t rot or warp over time. On the downside, you won’t be able to replace the handle should it break. Typically, fiberglass handles have a rubber or composite grip to prevent the tool from slipping out of your hand. Steel hammer handles are the heaviest and the strongest, making them a favorite for demolition work. Steel transmits a great deal of vibration, however, which means you could end up with sore wrists and arms by the end of your work session. Steel hammers are generally one piece of forged metal from handle to head, unlike fiberglass and wooden hammers, giving them excellent durability. Typically, these hammers have a rubber or composite grip to help reduce some of the vibrations and make it easier to keep a hold of the tool when your hands get sweaty.
Type
There are different hammers out there, each with a specific purpose, although there can be overlaps among them. Here are some of the most common types of hammers:
Claw: This is the most common type of hammer. The head has a slightly curved, forked claw that’s useful for pulling nails out of wood and other materials. Most have a smooth face that won’t mar the wall as you drive the nail home. Smooth-faced claw hammers are sometimes called “finishing hammers.“Framing: Also called “rip claw hammers,” framing hammers are very similar to claw hammers, but the claw is straight rather than curved. Often, framing hammers have a slightly textured face that helps hold nails in place as they are struck.Ball Peen: The head of this hammer has a flat face on one side and a round, somewhat ball-shaped face on the other. There is no claw. Ball peen hammers are mostly used for metalwork.Club: Also called “drilling hammers,” these short tools with two flat faces are basically smaller sledgehammers. Club hammers are great for light demolition, as well as driving chisels and wedges.Rubber Mallet: Shaped much like a club hammer, but with a rubber head instead of metal, mallets are not used to drive nails but to add some force when driving stakes or chisels, building furniture, working with upholstery, or similar tasks where you need more power than your hands provide alone, yet you don’t want to damage the surface upon which you are working.Tinner’s: These hammers have a square face and a sharp claw without a fork. They are mostly used for metalwork, including hammering sheet metal and automotive repairs.Tack: Also called pin hammers, these light hammers have very small faces and are used for driving upholstery tacks and other small nails.
Weight and Length
A hammer that weighs too much will tire you out. However, go too light, and you sacrifice strike power. Note that a hammer’s weight refers to just the steel head, not the entire tool. You’ll find claw hammers weighing as little as 8 ounces and monsters weighing as much as 32 ounces, but for the average DIYer, a tool that’s between 16 and 20 ounces is best. Go toward the bottom of that range if you’ll mostly use the hammer for hanging pictures and similar light tasks, and toward the upper end of the range if you’ll be doing framing or similar construction activities. Longer isn’t always better. While a longer hammer lets you build up more momentum for a more powerful blow, such a tool weighs more than its shorter counterparts and is generally not necessary for the average DIYer. As a general rule, choose a claw hammer that’s between 12 and 16 inches in length for typical around-the-house repairs and tasks.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience writing about all things related to the home and carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs. She also received input from Carl Lewis, qualified joiner and owner of DIY website thediyfix.com. Hammers also have a “peen,” or claw, at the back of the head that can be used to pull nails out. Just slide the head of the nail into the crevice between the two sides of the claw, and then apply force toward the face of the hammer to pry the nail out of the wood. Keep in mind that hammers can have many different uses, and this is just the most basic application of using one. Line up the nail with the stud and strike the head of the nail with the hammer. Continue to drive the nail through the baseboard and into the wall stud until the head of the nail is flush with the surface of the baseboard. If the nail is sticking out, it looks bad, makes it difficult to fill and paint, and can also pose a safety hazard to people walking past. Rip hammers, more properly called framing hammers, have a fairly straight claw, which can be used to rip apart nailed boards. Rip hammers are often heavier than claw hammers, but they come in a wide range of weights and sizes. Timothy Dale, a seasoned home improvement expert specializing in several topics, including plumbing, construction, and product recommendations, provided additional research.
