Carpentry

How to use a hammer (without bending nails)

Nails that keep bending usually come down to grip. Holding the hammer close to the head feels easier to control, but it costs you power and accuracy. Grip it near the end of the handle, start the nail gently and let the head's weight do the work. Look at the nail, not the hammer. Your arm tends to follow your eyes, and watching the head is how people miss.

A hand holding a nail upright on a 2x4 while the other swings a claw hammer onto its head at a workbench
Hold near the end of the handle and let the hammer's weight do the work.
Quick answerHold it near the end of the handle, tap the nail until it stands on its own, then swing from the elbow with your eye on the nail.
Worth checking firstCheck the weight stamped on the head. A 16-ounce claw hammer suits most home jobs. If yours is much lighter, nails bend more easily because you end up swinging harder to drive them.

Good to knowGood first repair

Mike TurnerWritten and reviewed byMike TurnerUpdated Sources and safety notes
Easy10 min to learn$15–30
Claw hammer showing where to grip the handle, the swing arc from the elbow, and the claw for pulling nails
How to hold a hammer: grip near the end (1), not by the head (2). Swing from the elbow with your eye on the nail (3), and use the claw (4) to pull nails.

Let the hammer do the work

A hammer works like a lever. The farther from the head you hold it, the farther the head travels and the harder it lands, with less effort from you. Choking up gives you a short, weak swing that's easy to knock off-center.

A standard 16 ounce curved-claw hammer handles nearly every job around the house, from hanging pictures to pulling old nails out of trim.

Why nails bend

Choking up on the handle

This is what bends most nails. You lose power and hit off-center.

Watching the hammer, not the nail

Your hand follows your eyes.

Swinging from the shoulder

Big swings are harder to aim. Most household nailing is elbow and wrist.

Hardwood or knots

Dense wood bends thin nails. Drill a small pilot hole first.

Which nail for which job?
JobNail to use
Hanging a light pictureA picture-hanging nail or small hook nail
Baseboard and trim2 to 2.5 inch finish nails, set below the surface
Small crafts or thin woodBrads, 1 inch or shorter
Rough framing or outdoor workCommon nails, galvanized outside
Anything holding real weightScrews, not nails
Eyes firstWear safety glasses. Nails and chips can fly, especially when a nail bends or you're pulling old ones.

Grip, start, drive, pull

0 of 5 done
  1. Grip near the endHold the handle about two-thirds of the way down, firm but not white-knuckled. Keep your wrist straight.
    Hand position on a claw hammer handle about two-thirds of the way down, not up by the head
  2. Start the nailHold the nail near its head between thumb and finger and tap it lightly two or three times until it stands on its own. Then move your fingers away.
    Fingers holding a nail near its head while the hammer taps it lightly to start
  3. Swing from the elbowLet the hammer fall in a smooth arc from your elbow, keeping your eye on the nail head, not the hammer. Let the weight do the work.
    Something went wrong?
    • The nail bends Pull it and start a new one a little to the side. In hardwood, drill a small pilot hole first.
    Hammer swinging in a smooth arc from the elbow, eyes on the nail head
  4. Finish flushAs the head nears the surface, ease off so the last blow doesn't dent the wood. On trim, stop just above and finish with a nail set.
    Nail driven flush with the board and a nail set used on trim to sink the head without denting the wood
  5. Pull nails with leverageSlide the claw under the nail head and rock the handle back. Put a scrap of wood under the head for extra leverage and to protect the surface.
    Something went wrong?
    • The claw dents the wood Put a scrap block under the hammer head for leverage.
    Hammer claw hooked under a nail head with the hammer head rocked back over a scrap block of wood for leverage

Watch it done

How To Swing A Hammer Without Breaking Your BodyBy Essential Craftsman on YouTube. Their method may vary a little from ours.
Watch on YouTube
How you'll know it's fixed
  • Nails go in straight without bending
  • The last blow leaves no dent around the nail head
  • The hammer lands square on the nail instead of glancing off
  • Pulled nails come out without marring the surface

Nails still bending in hardwood? Drill a pilot hole first.

If nails keep bending

If nails keep bending in hardwood trim, drill a pilot hole slightly smaller than the nail, or switch to a finish nailer.

If the hammer glances off, clean the face. A grimy or glossy face slips. A quick rub with sandpaper fixes it.

If a nail bendsBent a nail? Don't keep hitting it. Pull it and start a new one a little to the side.
Leave it to a carpenter ifFraming, structural repairs, or anything that holds weight overhead. Nails there need to meet code for size and pattern.

What a pro typically charges (a rough estimate; prices vary by area): A handyman typically charges $60–$120 per hour for small carpentry jobs.

Find a carpenter near you

Something else going on?

Hammer questions

What size hammer do I need for home repairs?

A 16 ounce curved-claw hammer handles nearly everything around the house.

Why do my nails keep bending?

Usually a grip too close to the head or hitting off-center. In hardwood, drill a small pilot hole first.

What's the difference between a curved claw and a straight claw hammer?

A curved claw is better for pulling nails and general household use. A straight claw, sometimes called a rip claw, is better for prying boards apart.

How do I avoid hitting my thumb?

Start the nail with light taps while you hold it, then let go before you swing harder. For tiny nails, hold them with needle-nose pliers or push them through a strip of cardboard.

Should I use a nail or a screw?

Nails are faster and flex a little, which is fine for trim. Screws hold much better and can be removed cleanly, so use screws for anything carrying weight.

How should I hold a hammer?

Hold it near the end of the handle, not choked up near the head.

Reader reports

Did this fix work for you?

Tell the next person how it went. Your numbers are added to the totals anonymously; tips are read by our team before they appear.

How did it go?
Reader Q&A

Questions from readers

No questions on this guide yet. If you're stuck, ask below. Useful questions and answers get added here for the next person.

Ask a question

We read every question before anything is published, and we never show names or emails. Please leave out personal details. PrivacyAccessibility

About the authors

GrabTheHammer Team

  • No sponsored picks
  • Safety first
  • Tells you when to call a pro

We're a small team of writers and editors who check every guide against manufacturer instructions and common code requirements. Our goal is to help you understand the problem, tackle what you safely can and know when to call a pro.

Checked against: Manufacturer instructions for the parts and products involved.

How we write and review →
A helpful next stepReattach loose baseboard trimNail it back into the studs, set the heads and fill the holes.