The best hammers

• Hammers have a pretty simple design, but that doesn’t mean all hammers are created equal.
• The advanced anti-vibration handle on the Stanley 20-Ounce FatMax Xtreme Hammer makes it the perfect hammer to handle all kinds of jobs around the house without putting stress on your wrists and forearms.

A hammer looks like a simple tool, and, at its core, it is. Hammers have been around for centuries, after all.

However, not all hammers are created equal. Different designs work well for different jobs. Think of it this way: You wouldn’t use a tiny artist’s paintbrush to paint your ceiling, even though you could. You’d use a more efficient tool, such as a paint roller.

Similarly, although you could, you wouldn’t use a ball pein hammer to take out a wall for a remodeling. You’d use a strong claw hammer. It’s just more efficient.

If you only plan to have one hammer on hand at home, a curved claw hammer is the most common choice. It provides the most versatility. As your home repair skills and requirements expand, you’ll need some of the other types of hammers so you can perform specific jobs more effectively.

These are the best hammers you can buy, followed by top tips on hammer types, plus key factors to consider when choosing a hammer.

Here are the best hammers:

• Best overall: Stanley 20-Ounce FatMax Xtreme Claw Hammer
• Best soft-face: Vaughan & Bushnell 12-Ounce Soft-Face Hammer
• Best titanium: Stiletto TiBone 15-Ounce Titanium Milled-Face Hammer
• Best framing: Estwing 25-Ounce Big Blue Framing Hammer
• Best ball pein: Tekton Jacketed Fiberglass Ball Pein Hammer

Updated on 8/11/2020 to edit titles, prices, formatting, links, and remove third-party ratings and reviews because we've found them to be unreliable in the past.

The best overall

The Stanley 20-Ounce FatMax Xtreme Claw Hammer is a sturdy all-around hammer with a comfortable handle and a reasonable price.

The Stanley 20-Ounce FatMax Xtreme Claw Hammer may be a heavy tool, but you'll be able to handle it comfortably throughout an entire DIY project. Stanley gave the FatMax an anti-vibration design, which prevents fatigue in the forearm and wrist when nailing.

Additionally, the design features a type of grip and handle that works to reduce torque on the wrists and elbows. If you've ever wished for a hammer that's easy to use without any pain, this is it.

The hammer has a solid feel and is made from one piece of steel, so it won't just fall off one day and break your toe.

However, there are some disadvantages to this big hammer. The striking face is large, which may obscure the view of the person using the hammer, occasionally causing mishits.

Pros: Comfortable hammer to use for long sessions because of design of handle, includes anti-vibration feature, solid one-piece steel design, reasonable price point, very nice all-around hammer for many jobs

Cons: Large strike face that can obscure your view, 20-ounce hammer may be too heavy for some

The best soft-face

The Vaughan & Bushnell 12-Ounce Soft-Face Hammer has two ends that work perfectly when you need a gentle hammer.

If you want one of the most versatile soft-face hammers on the market, the Vaughan & Bushnell 12-Ounce Soft-Face Hammer is the one for you. This hammer gives you the option to use either end of the hammerhead to achieve the desired results.

Each end of the hammerhead has a different soft material on it. One side features a hard consistency and the other end is soft. With two different ends, the 12-ounce hammer works well in a multitude of situations.

Each of the two faces on the hammerhead is replaceable should it become worn down after repeated use.

The handle is made of hickory wood, which serves to reduce vibrations. However, we found a few buyer reviews that said the grain orientation of the wooden handle was off in the models they received, which will eventually cause a crack.

Pros: Well-made soft-face hammer, specialty hammer that won't damage the surface of delicate materials, very good price point, two-headed hammer with different consistency in the two faces

Cons: Specialty hammer won't work for all jobs, occasional problems with wooden handle construction

The best titanium

The Stiletto TiBone 15-Ounce Titanium Milled-Face Hammer drives nails in without putting stress on your wrists and forearms.

In the case of the Stiletto TiBone 15-Ounce Titanium Milled-Face Hammer, the improvements over steel hammers are significant. By using titanium in the construction of this hammer, you'll receive more power and durability than a steel hammer with the same weight.

And, swinging the TiBone all day won't cause fatigue, thanks to its ability to drive nails with less force than a steel hammer.

Additionally, the titanium material in this hammer is able to absorb shock better than steel hammers, meaning, you won't have concerns over wrist and forearm fatigue from vibration when using this hammer during long work sessions.

It's also quite durable and features a one-piece construction.

The biggest downside is the price. You will pay almost 10 times as much as you'd pay for a steel hammer, so it really will only appeal to those who plan to use the hammer frequently.

Pros: Drives nails with less force required versus steel hammers, long-lasting hammer with titanium one-piece construction, workers can use the hammer all day without the fatigue found with steel hammers

Cons: Extremely high price versus steel hammers

The best framing

If you want some extra power and drive in your hammer, the huge Estwing 25-Ounce Big Blue Framing Hammer delivers.

Hammers are all about power, as in the power to drive nails into tough wood, or even the power to easily break apart a wall during a home improvement project. The destruction part of home improvement is always more fun than the improvement part, after all.

The powerful Estwing 25-Ounce Big Blue Framing Hammer takes power to a new level. This hammer is huge, weighing more than 1.5 pounds and measuring 18 inches in length. If you can control this heavy hammer, you'll love its ability to drive through walls or hit nails quickly.

It offers good balance despite being much heavier and longer than typical hammers. However, using this hammer for certain jobs may be awkward because of its size.

The Estwing hammer includes a molded grip to reduce the amount of vibration. It's made of a one-piece construction and is available with a smooth or milled face on the hammerhead.

Pros: Made in the USA, much larger than typical hammers, molded grip reduces vibration and fatigue in forearms and wrists, sturdy and durable construction, made for heavy construction work

Cons: Can be awkward to use for some because of size, may feel fatigue using this heavy hammer all day

The best ball pein

One of the Tekton Jacketed Fiberglass Ball Pein Hammer models is sure to meet whatever metalworking needs you have around the house.

Ball pein hammers are primarily used in metalworking, setting rivets by hand, or removing dents in metal. This isn't the type of hammer you'll use regularly at home as it's not made to drive nails. But it doesn't hurt to have this special use hammer on hand because your kids are sure to put a dent in something at some point.

Regardless of why you want or need a ball pein hammer, the Tekton Jacketed Fiberglass Ball Pein Hammer comes in a variety of weights and sizes, ensuring you can find the exact model to meet your needs.

The build quality of the Tekton hammer ensures it will work well for many years, even though the hammerhead is epoxied to the handle in a two-piece design. The fiberglass handle is tough, yet lightweight, which leaves most of the hammer's weight in the hammerhead.

The finish, however, may yield problems with rust down the road.

Pros: Excellent price point for a ball pein hammer, multiple weights available in this family of hammers, tough build quality, fiberglass handle delivers a lightweight feel, works well for jobs around the house

Cons: Finish on the hammerhead may wear off, two-piece hammer design

Types of hammers

It's important to pick the right type of hammer for the job. Here are some common hammers you may need for various jobs around the house.

• Ball pein: The ball pein hammer design has a round end on one side of the hammerhead, which works for shaping metal and removing dents … and putting perfectly round holes in drywall.
• Curve claw: A curve claw hammer is great for general carpentry work around the house. It drives nails efficiently, and the curvature of the claw gives you leverage when pulling nails.
• Framing: The framing hammer design is heavier and longer than a typical claw hammer. It works well for heavy carpentry work and provides extra power for driving nails with fewer swings.
• Rip claw: The rip claw hammer has a mostly straight claw versus the curve claw. It's more efficient at tearing out boards than pulling nails, although it works for nail-pulling. It does a great job with general household tasks.
• Soft-face: A soft-face hammer consists of rubber or other soft materials to strike wood without damaging it. They're not tough enough to drive nails, but you can use them to gently tap a finished piece of wood into place.
• Specialty: Other hammers are made for special jobs, such as a sledgehammer for tearing down walls or a bricklayer's hammer for cutting and setting tile or brick.

Key considerations for hammers

Once you've settled on a design for a hammer, you will have multiple choices within that design. Some of these choices will make the hammer more comfortable to use or will give you more nail-driving power.

• Anti-vibration: Hammer manufacturers will use curved handles, handles of varying thicknesses, and a soft grip material to avoid vibration for the person operating the hammer. Excessive vibration can cause fatigue in the wrists and forearms.
• Face surface: A smooth face on the hammerhead will protect the wood should you have a mishit on the nail head. Having a bit of friction on the face, called a milled face, will allow the hammer to remain in contact with the nail head without slipping.
• Handle material: Wood handles have represented the standard for hammers for centuries. Wood can break or splinter though. Fiberglass handles will have less weight than steel handles, but they aren't as durable as steel. Additionally, many handles have a rubber material that provides a sturdy grip. Some use leather in the handle grip area.
• Hammerhead material: Steel hammerheads are clearly the most common in the market, and they perform very well. However, if you want a lighter weight material that delivers more power than steel, look for a titanium hammerhead.
• Weight: Most hammers weigh between 16 ounces and 20 ounces. Lighter hammers are available that are easier to control but that require more strikes to drive a nail. A heavier hammer will drive the nail faster but could cause arm fatigue if used for long periods of time.
• Wide face: An oversized face on the hammerhead should make it easier to strike the nail than a small face. However, some large faces on hammers obscure your view of the target, which can cause mishits.

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