The Best Rubber Mallets for the Money: Reviews & Recommendations by Experts!
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Rubber mallets are a staple in any toolbox and for good reason. They’re inexpensive, sturdy tools that can help you get the job done without damaging your work surface or costly equipment. Rubber mallets are not the sexiest tools in the shed, but they sure do come in handy!
Rubber mallets are an essential item for your toolbox. Their versatility to assist you with so many jobs around the home means they are a must-buy. A traditional claw hammer will destroy delicate items like plastic and some wood, and smash tiles, so a rubber mallet is needed.
The good news is they aren’t expensive, and their lifespan is extended. There are some subtle differences between models. We tested 5 of the best rubber mallets currently on the market and have written detailed reviews for each one. We have designed an easy-to-read comparison table and written a buyer’s guide to assist your purchase.
Comparison of our favorite rubber mallets:
| Image | Model | Price | Editor Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
  | YIYITOOLS Rubber Mallet | Check Price | 4.6 / 5 |
  | Steel Grip Rubber Mallet | Check Price | 4.1 / 5 |
  | OX Tools Rubber Mallet | Check Price | 4.7 / 5 (Best Value) |
Top  | ABN Rubber Mallet | Check Price | 4.9 / 5 (Best Overall) |
  | TEKTON 30603 | Check Price | 4.0 / 5 |
5 Best rubber mallets – Reviewed
1. ABN Rubber Mallet (Best Overall)
- This 32oz mallet has an 11-inch fiberglass handle that helps reduce shock and vibration, and because of its construction, it is incredibly durable and strong.
- Auto Body Now has designed a great rubber mallet! In our opinion, this is a must-have tool for one that works in the auto industry. You can tap gently or knock the hell out of something the handle won’t break and the head won’t leave a mark.
- Hand fatigue is reduced because of the ergonomic handle design, and a nice feature is it’s oil resistant so cleaning is dead easy. ABN guarantees it for 12-months.
- Weighing 2.38 pounds and measuring 13.5 x 5 x 2.5 inches this is the best hammer we tested for heavy-duty jobs - it can certainly bang a part into place!
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
2. OX Tools Rubber Mallet (Best Value)
- This OX Tools rubber mallet is a combination tool available in 16oz, 24oz, and 32oz. We chose the 24oz to test.
- The head is double-sided. One half is a blackface for standard jobs and the other half is a semi-hard white face. The big advantage of this tool is the versatility it gives you as the white face won’t mark or discolor the surface you are striking.
- The handle is made from fiberglass making it super strong and the rubber grip makes the tool very easy to hold and handle.
- It measures 4 x 14 x 4.5 inches and weighs a little over 2 pounds.
- This is a sturdy tool, that’s fairly lightweight and is great value for money as it’s essentially two tools in one purchase.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
3. YIYITOOLS Rubber Mallet
- We tested the 45mm rubber mallet but there is also a 50mm and 60mm, plus a 3 piece set where you can buy them all at a discount.
- Made from high-quality polyurethane resin, this one-piece hammer has a shock-resistant design, with no elasticity, and crucially it didn’t damage or mark what was being hit.
- Its hammerhead is filled with steel balls so you don’t need to use so much force to get the required blow.
- The hammerhead surface is flat and totally smooth and so it won’t leave an unsightly indent in your floor, furniture, or tiles. It’s also high temperature resistant and this is an important point because rubber can melt and leave marks on your work.
- The one-piece design means it’s spark and shock resistant making the YIYTOOLS suitable for a variety of uses, such as automobiles, woodwork, construction, floor laying, and metalwork.
- The model we tested weighs 1.67 pounds and measures 12.2 x 3.54 x 1.77 inches and it was comfortable to hold and use, even over prolonged periods. The handle is non-slip and gave a good grip which is important as you don’t want the hammer to fly out of your hands!
- Overall an excellent tool for a very reasonable price, made even better value if you buy the 3-set.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
4. Steel Grip Rubber Mallet
- This is a much more traditional rubber mallet with its hardwood handle and soft-faced rubber head.
- Weighing 16oz it was easy to hold and use and didn’t leave marks on the stakes we hammered into the ground.
- Because it’s essentially made from two materials, either could fail over time and some users have experienced failings in the wooden handle. It can also leave marks as the rubber may degrade with use.
- For the price you pay this is a good rubber mallet that is suitable for occasional use around the home.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
5. TEKTON 30603
- This 16oz TEKTON rubber mallet is similar in design to the ABN model, but in our testing, it wasn’t as good.
- It has a lightweight, 2-faced hammerhead and fiberglass handle that does its best to reduce shock and vibrations. The rubber grip is nice to hold and it didn’t slip on impact.
- Weighing 1.55 pounds and measuring 13.6 x 3.8 x 2.6 inches it comes with the TEKTON guarantee against defects.
- An issue we had during our testing was the rubber began to chip and therefore marked our wood! Although ours didn’t suffer this fate, some users have reported the head becoming loose and then flying off after a few uses.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Rubber Mallet Buyers Guide
As we advised in our introduction, a rubber mallet is an essential item for your tool kit. They can be used for tiling floors and walls, laying the laminate flooring, an array of tasks in the automotive industry, as well as helping on your family camping trips!
Here are some pointers to help when buying one:
What type of rubber mallet?
First, there are two styles – solid rubber heads attached to the handle and, secondly, metalheads with rubber pads attached. These often have two types of rubber, such as soft/hard or white/black, which makes the tool more versatile.
In our testing, the fiberglass constructed handle was way more comfortable as its design meant you reduced any shock and vibration. The traditional wooden handle would become uncomfortable during prolonged use.
Where to hold a rubber mallet
Rubber mallets can be used in either hand by wrapping your hand around the handle and placing your thumb on the mallet. By holding the very bottom of the handle, you’re essentially allowing the rubber mallet to work for you, as the head’s weight will fall naturally, and you won’t have to swing so hard. This position is best for heavy-duty work.
For more precise and gentle taps, raise your grip on the handle. The close you are to the head, the more control you will get. However, you will significantly reduce your power.
Is a rubber mallet needed for my job?
Rubber mallets are best used on soft or fragile materials that need to be struck into place but would otherwise break if hit with a traditional hammer. You won’t be able to hammer nails into anything using one as you’ll destroy the soft rubber head, and this can lead to marks being left on whatever you strike.
A general guide: metal strikes metal, wood strikes wood and rubber bangs soft/fragile materials.
Conclusion
The two best rubber mallets were made from fiberglass in our testing as this significantly reduced hand fatigue and vibration. They were also much nicer to handle. If you can afford an extra ten bucks, it would be worth the investment as a traditional wooden handle mallet is often hard to handle and heavy.
The wooden handles can also be prone to snapping, something the fiberglass models avoid. Our Best Overall pick was ABN Rubber Mallet. It’s a must-buy for anyone working in the automotive industry.
The Best Value award went to OX Tools Rubber Mallet as it’s two tools in one purchase. It’s very durable and easy to hold.
We hope you’ve found what you’ve been looking for and the information we have given has been of benefit to you.
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When I’m not testing and reviewing tools, you’ll find me in front of a hot BBQ, cold drink in hand, cooking up something big, and spending quality time with my wife and two boys. I’m also often found in my workshop working on my next project!
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