Best Hacksaw UK 2026 For DIY & Trades

In a Hurry

We have provided a lot of information in this article about hacksaws. We also understand that you may not have time to read through all of this information. If you simply want to know what the best hacksaw UK is, we would highly recommend the Stanley Pistol Grip Hacksaw, which is available at Amazon UK.

Thanks for taking your time to read our information on the best hacksaw UK. Hacksaws can cost anywhere from £7-£45 in the UK, depending on which brand you buy and the quality of the hacksaw that you buy.

You can buy them at DIY stores in the UK such as B&Q and Screwfix, any hardware shops, some supermarkets, like Aldi and LIDL and there are lots of choices online.

These are small saws usually about 12″ long (300mm) and they are designed mainly for cutting metal and plastic. They can also be used for doing finer cuts on wood.

Don’t confuse the standard hacksaw with the junior hacksaw, which is as the name would suggest is a smaller version of the standard hacksaw.

The hacksaw usually has a metal frame, a pistol grip hard plastic handle and a blade. The blades are very easy to change and also relatively cheap to buy. The price for blades mainly depends on the brand of blade you buy and the quality of the metal used for the blade.

Most hacksaws are sold as a hacksaw with one blade. Some brands sell the hacksaw and some spare blades. Other brands will sell a hacksaw set, which will include a hacksaw with an adjustable frame, a number of blades and a junior hacksaw so you will have plenty of choices.

If you don’t know how to use a hacksaw, then check out my ultimate guide here.

Below I have listed my top 5 hacksaws that are currently on sale in the UK. Underneath those I have also included a full buying guide which will help especially if you are a first time buyer.

Enda holding a standard hacksaw that he bought from LIDL (Parkside brand)

Enda Advice: “Over the years I have used a lot of different brands of hacksaw. As an expert I can give you the best advice on picking the right hacksaw for your needs. A hacksaw is an important tool to own if you have a need to cut metal. It is the most affordable solution.”

1. Stanley Pistol Grip Hacksaw – Best for General DIY in the UK

This is the best selling hacksaw on the UK market from the popular Stanley tool brand that comes with a 24 TPI blade.

Why Buy This One?

It is a standard 12″ (300mm) hacksaw at an affordable price. It is around the average price for a hacksaw when compared to other brands.

Ease of Use

• It is comfortable to use, the blades are easy to change, and a spare pack of 2 blades costs around £5
• The saw is 39.4 cms long and weighs around 0.5 Kg so a comfortable weight to hold and still heavy enough to use for faster cutting.
• Overall good value for money and ideal for household use.

I LIKE

• This is well made and feels nice and sturdy
• Blades are easy to find as any 12″ blade can be used
• I like the yellow handle as it makes the saw easy to find among the clutter

I DON’TLIKE

• I didn’t find it strong enough for the heavier duty cutting of metals

My Opinion: This is not a heavy duty hacksaw but it works really well for cutting conduit, screws and smaller bolts. It isn’t capable of cutting through tough or heavy metals but will work for most home owners.

Check Amazon UK for the price of the Stanley Hacksaw

2. AIRAJ Hacksaw with 10 blades

This hacksaw is a popular buy on Amazon as it represents the best value for money option and that will suit many home owners who only have to use a hacksaw on the odd occasion

This is a 12″ (300mm) hacksaw that comes with 10 blades and the blades are easy to change. Any 12″ blade will fit these but we couldn’t find branded blades for this hacksaw.

The blade can also be adjusted to cut at 45 degree angles and the blade can also be tensioned

It has a steel frame and a hard plastic handle with a rubber grip for comfort

Key Features

I LIKE

• This hacksaw is very good value for money and the extra blades are always handy to have around
• Buyers say it is well made and although not top quality it is strong enough for home use
• Quite a number of buyers mentioned how comfortable the grip was

I DON’TLIKE

• The blades don’t last long

3. Bahco 319 Hacksaw

A lot of UK buyers like this Bahco brand who make a high quality range of hand tools and this hacksaw is part of that range

It has a bright distinct orange plastic coating that covers the steel frame and it is a 12″ (300mm) hacksaw

It comes with a 24 tpi bi-metal Sandflex blade that is shatterproof and can be adjusted for tension

The saw is 15.4 cm long and weighs 0.51 Kg and has a very comfortable rubber grip

You can buy spare bladed for these and a couple of spare blades costs around £5

Key Features

I LIKE

• Buyers say this is a good professional hacksaw that is very comfortable to use
• Most buyers though given how well this is made that it is good value for money
• Buyers also liked the bright orange frame as it makes it easy to spot when you are looking for it

I DON’TLIKE

• A couple of buyers said the tensioner could be better and changing the blades is more difficult than it needs to be

My Opinion: We like Bahco tools as they are very well made and work really well. You can see that UK buyers think the same way about this good quality saw. When I used this one it had a really nice balance to it and probably one of the best grips that we used.

4. Bahco 317 Hacksaw Set

This is a hacksaw set with a standard sized hacksaw and a matching style junior hacksaw

The main hacksaw is a standard 12″ (300mm) model and the junior hacksaw is a 6″ (150mm) size and it is always useful to own both types of hacksaw

The standard hacksaw has a slim design making it better for working in a confined space and the grip is extremely comfortable to hold and use. It comes with a Sandflex bi-metal blade with 24 tpi

The junior is the standard wire frame type and comes with a 32 tpi blade ideal for fine cutting of metals.

I LIKE

• These are very well made and strong and sturdy
• Buyers thought that both saws were very good value for money

I DON’TLIKE

• These are good so nothing I didn’t like

My Opinion: It is always a good idea to own a normal hacksaw and its junior buddy. They both do slightly different jobs so could to have the versatility. At around £12-13 these do represent very good value for money and the bright orange colour makes them easy to spot when looking for them.

5. Eclipse Professional Hacksaw

I LIKE

• When I used this one it was really because I like Eclipse tools as they are high quality at sensible prices
• It cuts very straight and it is easy to adjust the tension

I DON’TLIKE

• For heavier cutting it feels a little flimsy

My Opinion: I have used other Eclipse tools and they are very good. When we tried out this hacksaw we also liked the way it seemed to be so well balanced. It is basic in its shape and look but we think it is a good choice for anyone and yes we think the price is very competitive.

What to look for when buying a Hacksaw?

The hacksaw was invented around the late 19th Century and the credit for this is attributed to a man called Max Flower-Nash Clemson. They have been around for a very long time and most people will have a hacksaw in their toolbag as it is particularly useful for cutting metal and plastic. In terms of the trades, these are used daily by electricians and plumbers and by many engineers who work with metal.

The standard hacksaw and the junior hacksaw are both popular choices. However, let’s concentrate this guide on the standard 12″ hacksaw.

Parts of a Hacksaw

Hacksaws are not complicated tools. There is a metal frame which is attached to the handle. The blade sits along the bottom. It is held in place by two small studs (also known as pins) on the frame. The adjusting screw then tightens the blade into position.

To change the blade the adjusting screw is loosened until the blade becomes loose. It will then be easy to remove. A new blade is put on (making sure it faces in the right direction) and is then tightened again using the adjusting screw.

Which Brand is best for a Hacksaw?

The Lenox, Milwaukee and Stanley brands make the best professional hacksaws but as you can see from our list be prepared to spend a good deal more. People working in the various trades are willing to use these as they are just very well made and will last for years.

A few of the Stanley models and Bahco also make excellent hacksaws at more affordable prices. Most home owners will not be using a hacksaw everyday. Typical home uses are making screws shorter, cutting metal carpet grippers, some plastic conduit, curtain poles etc. There is no need to buy an expensive hacksaw to be able to achieve that.

Hacksaw Frames?

The majority of hacksaws have a standard C shaped frame which is usually made of a tubular mild steel. Often these can be painted, chromed or covered with a plastic to change the appearance. That does restrict the depth that you can cut.

In reality that is not an issue as you really don’t want to be using a hacksaw to cut metal any thicker that the depth of the frame.

The grip is important and ideally a rubberised grip just makes the saw more comfortable to use. If it has finger positions moulded in that makes it even more comfortable. There are a few hacksaws with an angle frame that do allow you to be able to work in more confined spaces.

Adjustable Blade

Hacksaws are mostly used to make a straight 90 degree cut also known as a straight cut or a perpendicular cut. However, there may be times when you want to make an angled cut. The better quality hacksaws allow you to do this by adjusting the angle of the blade. This flexibility is really useful for doing flush cuts.

It is always worthwhile having this feature on your hacksaw as it just gives you more options.

How to use a Hacksaw?

Best Hacksaw Blades

The vast majority of hacksaws use 12″ (300mm) blades. Just be aware there are a few hacksaws that use 13″ blades (330mm) so be careful when buying.

You have so many choices when it comes to buying blades that it can get really confusing. These Draper redline are about as good a value as you will be able to find on the UK market.

This is a set of 5 blades for around £3 and includes 2 x 18TPI and 3 x 24TPI blades, ideal for cutting any soft non-ferrous metal (aluminium, copper etc) or mild steel

These are good for most casual DIY people. For specialist blades check out either Starrett or Eclipse blades, good but expensive.

Check out my detailed information on hacksaw blades

My Hacksaw Summary

Hopefully I have provided you with enough information to be able to find the best hacksaw for your needs. Almost every hacksaw is 300mm (12″) in length and will come with a blade. You can pick up spare blades in any hardware store and also buy them online.

Hacksaw FAQ

Q Does a hacksaw cut on the push or pull stroke?

A hacksaw cuts on the push stroke or sometimes called the forward stroke. When fitting a hacksaw blade to a hacksaw frame the teeth should always face forwards. On the better quality blades there is an arrow that indicates the direction in which they should be fitted.

Q What are hacksaw blades made from?

The vast majority of hacksaw blades are made from High Speed Steel (HSS) Sawing can generate a lot of heat and in tasks like drilling, sawing or cutting the heat generates a lot in the blade. HSS is extremely good at dealing with this and doesn’t break or bend. Hacksaw blades are also quite thin (0.62mm on average) so this makes dealing with heat and breakages even more important.

Q How many tpi are there on hacksaw blades?

TPI stands for teeth per inch. On standard hand saws there are around 8 TPI, whereas on hacksaws the average number of TPI is between 21-24. That is because they are designed to make finer and neater cuts and they also have to cut through metal. If you need very find accurate cutting hacksaw blades can be bought with a 32 TPI.