While there are many different types of hammer, most DIYers and professionals alike, can get by with only a couple of types in their toolkit. To help you decide which hammers you might need, here are some of the most common types along with a brief description:

Claw hammer

When thinking about hammers, this is one of the most commonly used types in the trade, and likely the one that comes to most people’s minds. Versatile and very handy, the claw of the hammer is used as a lever to pull nails from timber, for example, while the head can obviously be used to hammer items into different materials.

Cross and straight pein, joiners hammers

With a similar shaped head, these hammers have multiple different uses; largely determined by the strength and weight of the head. On the opposing side of the head, these hammers have either a cross or a straight pein, and are typically used for woodworking tasks.

The cross pein allows for you to safely tap a nail into place while holding it, preventing you from striking your fingers. Either at a right angle to the handle (known as a straight pein), or parallel to it (known as a cross pein), the heavier the hammer of this variety, the more likely it is to be used for metal shaping.

Ball pein

Sometimes referred to as mechanics or engineers hammers, they feature a rounded pein that is commonly used for metal shaping, rounding off metal pin and fastener edges, and closing rivets. With handles that are traditionally made from wood like Hickory or Ash, modern versions use materials that are better able to supress the vibrations.

Club or lump hammer

Used within the masonry industry, these hammers are typically double faced with a resin or wood handle, and are used for striking cold chisels to break up masonry, or as a smaller substitute for a sledge hammer. Construction workers find these hammers to be a vital part of their toolkit.

Sledge hammer

While similar to a club hammer, sledge hammers have handles that are longer and they are usually a bit heavier. Useful for breaking up stones and concrete, they can also be used to drive stakes in; the longer handle means that a lot of force and momentum can be gained by swinging the hammer in the manner of an axe.

Mallet

Literally a block of wood attached to a handle, mallets are used by all manner of woodworkers, industrial and domestic, and are ideal for knocking in dowels or tapping together wooden joints. If you’re a carpenter or joiner, you’ll almost certainly have this in your toolkit.

Carpenters mallet

Should a metal hammer be deemed too destructive for use on a certain material or project - or it may damage other tools being used, such as a chisel – then a carpenters mallet made of hardwood will be used instead. For the sake of accuracy and precision, the head of the mallet is usually tapered a little.