Last Updated on January 10, 2023
Our Favourites
Editor’s Choice: Dewalt 18V
Cordless Choice: Bosch 1800
Best Anti-Vibration: Makita DHR242Z
Looking for the best hammer drill on the market? We have got you covered. A hammer drill is one of the most valuable power tools that you can have in your home. Essentially, it’s a drill with a hammering function, which allows you to drive it further through hard surfaces like concrete, brick, or stone. Building and renovation professionals rely on this piece of kit for mounting wall brackets, attaching fixtures to walls, and even remodelling entire rooms.
Hammer drills are designed for heavy-duty tasks. If you’re doing some work at home that requires you to break through tough walls and floors, then a hammer drill is exactly what you need. The question is, which model should you buy?
With so many options on the market, we’ve rounded up our most informative hammer drill reviews to help you make the ideal choice.
How We Compared Hammer Drills
To find the right hammer drills, we considered multiple factors including:
- Power
- Power source
- Variable speeds
- Dual drill modes
- Safety
Our team planned comparison points and specifically looked for products that would cater to all kinds of needs. We spent countless hours researching, consulting customer reviews and comparing features to come up with this list.
To find out more about our process please see here.
Best Hammer Drill Reviews – Top 6 Picks
1. Dewalt 18V (Editor’s Choice)
The Dewalt 18V drill is designed to give all the functionality you should have for a range of projects, with a combination of performance options.
The half-inch chuck means that you can change between impact driver or power drill depending on your needs, and both options come with speed selections. There’s also a fantastic design that’s ergonomic to help stop your wrist from cramping as you work.
Perhaps the best hammer drill for lightweight work, the Dewalt also comes with built-in LED lights, so your project doesn’t have to stop when the sun goes down. There’s also a smart motor included within this model that helps to determine exactly how much power is needed for each job. Still, for a brushed motor, the Dewalt has a very low-torque strength, and it might not be the right choice for heavy-duty tasks.
Pros:
- Has a 340-watt brushed motor
- Two-in-one performance
- Great ergonomic and lightweight design
Cons:
- Low torque strength
- Not ideal for heavy-duty tasks
2. Bosch 1800 (Best Cordless)
The Bosch 1800 is one of the best cordless hammer drills on the market, ideal for jobs that require a lot of power.
Its lightweight design, combined with the dual 18V lithium-ion batteries, make it an excellent alternative to many higher-priced power drills.
Although this hammer drill performs well in various situations, it’s suited for domestic work when you have to hang brackets on brick walls or adjust something in your home. It’s a tool that gets the job done, no questions asked, which makes it a great option for the DIY enthusiast. However, it’s not the right tool to have around if you’re looking for something to support constant heavy drilling. Although it is powerful, the Bosch 1800 is designed for residential but not commercial use.
Pros:
- Highly compact and lightweight design
- Soft grip feature and keyless chuck for easy working
- A two-speed setting for drilling and hammer-drilling
- Two lithium batteries
- Easy drill bit change
Cons:
- Not suitable for heavy or continuous work
- Doesn’t work well with masonry
- Clunky when used as an electric screwdriver
3. Makita DHR242Z (Best Anti-Vibration)
The Makita rotary hammer drill is powerful enough to accomplish a range of tasks, whether you’re drilling through steel or remodelling masonry.
With a lithium-ion battery and an ergonomic design that feels comfortable in your hand, you’ll have no trouble using this all day long. What’s more, its compact and lightweight structure makes it easy to take with you wherever you go.
The main issue that people experience with the DHR242Z is that it sometimes needs to be “broken in.” The switch is a little stiff and does require more force than other traditional hammer drill options. However, if you can get used to the operation, the performance will more than make up for it.
Pros:
- 3 mode switches to customize for your project
- Ergonomic shape and design
- Lightweight and compact
- Versatile performance
Cons:
- No case included
- Stiff switch when you first start using it
- Sometimes the chuck can become misaligned
4. Makita DHR202Z (Professional Choice)
This is the best drill for concrete, brick, and virtually any kind of masonry.
The Makita DHR202Z is particularly appealing because you are not going to be held back by any annoying wires with this hammer drill. Additionally, the lithium battery is plenty powerful for any project. Unlike other drills, the Makita is designed for heavy-duty work more than just light home-based projects.
If you’re looking for something simple to support your home and garden projects, then this might not be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you want something to add to your professional kit, then the Makita DHR202Z is often the choice, as this advanced hammer action drill makes difficult jobs easy.
Pros:
- Great for high-performance work
- Suitable for demolition jobs
- Convenient wireless design
- With rotary only and rotary hammer operation options
- Easy bit change
Cons:
- Not ideal for smaller tasks
- The smaller parts, specifically the triggers. can break easily
5. Terratek 1050W (All-Around Option)
Finally, if you’re looking for a heavy-duty tool on a budget, then this variable speed hammer drill is by far one of the most high-octane options on the market.
The Terratek 240V comes with a 1050-watt motor, so it’s ideal for any drilling task you might find at home, including dealing with plastic, steel, wood, and brick. Additionally, the design is excellent for balance and control. You will feel like you have a good handle on your work.
The hammer mechanism works quickly and efficiently, so you can get through complicated projects in as little time as possible. Unfortunately, the drill lock doesn’t stop it from spinning, so it will push against your hand. Also, speed changes are risky as they often come with random bursts of power.
Pros:
- Great anti-vibration design
- Lots of power for an affordable price
- Great design for balance and control
Cons:
- Changing the speed can be difficult
- The lock doesn’t stop the drill from spinning
- There are bursts of unpredictable power
- More of a powerful rotary drill
6. Bosch PBH 2100 (Best Corded)
Widely regarded as the best corded hammer drill on the market, the PBH 2100 is powerful for any project, including drilling steel, concrete, and wood.
The durable construction of the PBH 2100 Hammer Drill gives you excellent peace of mind when dealing with even the toughest materials. Its 1.7 joules impact energy, and smooth 550w motor get jobs done fast.
This might not be the most powerful rotary hammer drill on the market, but it still delivers plenty of excellent performance. It’s capable of hammering, chiselling and drilling with ease, but it can fall short slightly on the most aggressive construction projects.
Pros:
- Durable, heavy-duty construction
- 1.7 joules impact energy
- Great for wood, steel, and cement
- Rotary hammer drill capable of chiselling, hammering, screwing and more
- Easy bit change
Cons:
- Corded design lacks portability
- Not the most powerful hammer drill on the market
How to Choose a Hammer Drill for Your Project
Hopefully, our hammer drill reviews have helped to give you an insight into the kind of tool you should buy for your next project. Remember, if all you want to do is drive screws into furniture or put up a shelf, then you’re better off with an electric screwdriver or a cordless drill. However, if you’re going to regularly tackle hard surfaces like concrete and brickwork or usually deal with varied materials altogether, then a hammer drill is what you should buy. If you are still feeling uncertain, it might help to ask yourself the following questions:
1. How much power do I need?
Speaking of getting work done, the amount of power that you can get out of your hammer drill will be crucial to your decision. Here, it’s not always a good idea to take the “bigger is better” approach. You do not have to look for hammer drill models with large motors for small in-house jobs. Think about what kind of performance you are looking for and gauge the impact energy, cutting speed, and RPM required for the sort of DIY that you do.
2. What kind of power source do I need?
If you’re looking for lightweight hammer drill options that you can carry with you wherever you go, then cordless drills or battery-power tools are the obvious choices. On the other hand, a corded drill might not give you as much freedom with movement, but it can typically come with a lot more power and provide more rotations per minute on average.
3. Do I need variable speeds?
Variable speed isn’t a must-have for your hammer drill, but it is something that can come in handy when you are looking for greater control. If you want to be precise with your work, then hammer drill choices with variable speed will give you an additional level of accuracy.
4. Do I need dual drill modes?
Unless you don’t think you’ll ever use your drill for anything other than hammering jobs, it makes sense to get something that can do both regular drilling and hammering tasks. Consider looking at dual-mode drills to get you the most functionality for your money.
5. How can I ensure safety?
Finally, while looking for safety features might not be the first thing on your mind when you’re buying a hammer drill, it’s an important thing to remember as you’ll do better work if you have peace of mind. Look for something that you won’t be nervous about using. It is also better to be aware of the general safety instructions for hammer drills.
Finishing Thoughts
As a powerful piece of your DIY toolkit, the hammer drill is something you have to thoroughly think about before you buy. Ultimately, it’s important to know that you’re getting the right level of power, versatility, and performance for your budget.
Our number one choice for the best hammer drill has to be the Dewalt 18V. It offers you lithium-powered cordless performance, with drill driver and hammer functionality. Lightweight and ergonomically designed, this combi-drill is also equipped with an LED light to improve visibility. And comes with a rapid one-hour battery charger to help you finish your tasks faster.
What did you think of our list? Is there a hammer drill we missed? Let us know in the comment section below and tell us about your favourite piece of kit.
Paul is the type of person who never met a problem he couldn’t fix. He can always be found tinkering with something in his house, even if it isn’t broken! His tips and tricks are often shared on our site. He’s the one you call when something breaks because he has been known to improvise fixes for everything from leaky faucets to malfunctioning dryers.