Unlike a traditional hammer, a drywall hammer features a milled face to grip nails and a hatchet-like end to trim excess drywall material. This tool is essential for efficiently securing drywall sheets to wall studs, making it a valuable asset for both professionals and weekend warriors.
To help you choose the right drywall hammer for your next project, we put together a list of our favorites. We tend to prefer models with a durable grip to help reduce vibrations. In this guide, we’ll present our top five recommendations. You can also read our buying guide for other tools to find more information on finding the best products for your home.
Top 4 Drywall Hammers
- Estwing 14-Ounce Drywall Hammer: Least Vibrations
- OX Tools 14-Ounce Drywall Hammer: Best Grip
- Goldblatt 14-Ounce Drywall Hammer: Best Value
- Stiletto Nine-Ounce Titanium Drywall Axe: Most Durable
Least Vibrations
Estwing 14-Ounce Drywall Hammer
This Estwing drywall hammer is forged with a single piece of long-lasting steel and wrapped in a shock-reducing grip to increase comfort. While designed for securing drywall, this tool has a round-milled face that’s effective at drilling a variety of nails. Additionally, its attached blade has a beveled notch that pulls embedded nails with ease.
Key Features
- 1.5 pounds
- 13.8 inches long
- Lifetime warranty
What People Are Saying About The Estwing 14-Ounce Drywall Hammer
Positive reviews praised the drywall hammer’s durability, with many customers stating that it’s what they expected from an Estwing product. Other positive reviews focused on the tool’s proper balance and weight. This product received just a single one-star review, with the dissatisfied customer explaining concerns over alleged carcinogenic materials used in the tool’s manufacturing process.
Best Grip
OX Tools 14-Ounce Drywall Hammer
With its distinguishing blue grip, this OX Tools drywall hammer has a 14-ounce head with an attached milled face that grips and drives drywall nails. The tool is also equipped with a notched cutting blade that can score drywall and pull driven nails with ease. Additionally, the tool is wrapped in a non-slip and shock-reducing grip for long-lasting use.
Key Features
- 1.61 pounds
- 13.78 inches long
What People Are Saying About The OX Tools 14-Ounce Drywall Hammer
Satisfied customers commented on the hammer’s value and high quality, with one customer complimenting the hammer’s balanced weight. Negative reviews contradicted the high-quality claims, with one dissatisfied customer complaining that the drywall hammer’s grip slipped off of the handle.
Best Value
Goldblatt 14-Ounce Drywall Hammer
This drywall hammer from Goldblatt is a long-lasting and affordable tool that’s designed for installing drywall. The tool is well-balanced for a steady swing and comes wrapped in an ergonomic handle that minimizes impact vibrations. Additionally, this hammer has a hatchet-like end that’s great for making adjustments to the drywall.
Key Features
- 1.63 pounds
- 13.8 inches long
What People Are Saying About The Goldblatt 14-Ounce Drywall Hammer
Positive customer reviews centered around the product’s comfortable and balanced feel. Additional positive reviews praised the hammer’s high quality and affordable price. Although there were no 1-, 2-, or 3-star reviews at the time of this review, many customers complained that they had to sharpen the hammer’s blade after continued use.
Most Durable
Stiletto Nine-Ounce Titanium Drywall Axe
Built with a strong polyester fiber handle and a long-lasting titanium head, this drywall hammer is a high-quality and durable drywall tool. While increasing power, the nine-ounce titanium head reduces weight and recoil compared to traditional steel heads. Additionally, the hammer’s hatchet end has a thumb divot for increased grip and control.
Key Features
- 12 ounces
- 14.8 inches
What People Are Saying About The Stiletto Nine-Ounce Titanium Drywall Axe
Positive reviews centered around the product’s feel, with many customers praising the tool’s lightweight design and powerful swing. Negative reviews pointed out the hammer’s out-of-square and small head, which one customer explained caused them to hit their knuckles during use.
Buying Guide
Drywall hammers are useful for homeowners looking for help on serious DIY projects. Here are a few factors to consider before buying a drywall hammer.
Handle
Drywall hammers have handles that are constructed using wood, fiberglass, or steel. The choice of handle material is a personal preference, with each material having its benefits and drawbacks.
Wood handles are effective at controlling vibrations during strikes, but they aren’t as durable as their fiberglass or steel counterparts. Fiberglass is a cheaper, more durable alternative to steel, but it’s difficult to replace if it breaks. Steel is the most durable handle material and adds weight to the hammer to help drive nails. Although hammers with steel handles are long-lasting, they typically produce heavy vibrations during use.
Weight
A drywall hammer’s weight affects its power and maneuverability. Light hammers allow for a controlled swing, but they often cannot effectively drive drywall nails. Heavy drywall hammers are difficult to control, but they can provide an adequate amount of strength to cut through drywall.
Cost
Most quality drywall hammers can be purchased for around $30. While this is the average cost of a drywall hammer, many factors can increase the price of this tool. For example, a drywall hammer with a titanium head will be more expensive than one with a steel head.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a drywall hammer used for?
Drywall hammers are used by serious DIYers to install drywall. The hammer includes a hatchet and a milled front face that help users drive nails into drywall without damaging its surface.
Why do drywall hammers have a hatchet?
A drywall hammer has a hatchet with a sharpened blade for making quick drywall cuts.
What other tools do I need to hang drywall?
If you’re looking to hang drywall in your home, here are some of the tools you may need in addition to a drywall hammer:
- Putty knives
- T-square
- Sanding sheets
- Jab saw or drywall saw
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