Compare The Best Cordless Hammer Drills

A number of construction professionals use rotary hammer drills. Two main varieties of cordless hammer drills are currently available. They are the SDS rotary hammer and the basic rotary hammer drill.

…In a Hurry?

You have the option of buying a basic cordless hammer drill that functions similar to a regular drill or you can invest in an SDS hammer drill that supplies an additional hammering motion that is quite powerful with quick bit changes. Even though basic hammer drills are remarkable for medium-duty tasks and can carry out a few functions, SDS hammer drills are way more versatile.

The best cordless hammer drill is an invaluable tool at construction sites and certain DIY projects. These powerful tools are typically used to drill holes into brick walls and concrete foundations. They basically combine the benefits of a hammer with those of a drill. Below are some hammer drills that have been placed in the top 7 category for the best cordless hammer drill:

Top 7 Best Rotary Hammer Drill Reviews & Ratings

 

1. DEWALT DCH273P2 20V Max Cordless Hammer Drill

This compact yet powerful and impressive piece of equipment features a DEWALT brushless motor designed for prolonged durability and runtime. To eliminate downtime, two 20-volt Max 5.0ah batteries are included with purchase. Read Full Review

 

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Pros	Cons
Advance technology that provides corded power minus the cord Brushless motor design delivers extended durability and runtime Retractable utility hook to enable convenient storage and hanging Active vibration control that reduces vibration significantly	Nothing really worth mentioning. Overall, pretty solid tool.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Is there a chipping mode?
Answer: Yes. There are 3 settings: hammer drill, drill and chipping.

Question: Is it powerful enough to drive in a 5/8-inch grounding rod for a radio or generator equipment?
Answer: Yes. There is more than enough power to perform that function.

Question: Is there adequate room in the case for a long set of drill bits?
Answer: Yes. There is enough space.

What’s My Take

This falls into a category among the best cordless rotary hammer drill. It holds up tremendously well and there is no need to be worried about running extension cords. In addition, this hammer drill is compact and easily drills into concrete without any significant resistance. If these features appeal to you, you will not be disappointed when you choose this tool. This cordless hammer drill is definitely the gold standard among the competition. Without a doubt, I would buy this brand again.

2. Makita XRH01T 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1″ Rotary Hammer Kit

The Makita RH01R1 12V Kit is a solid concrete-drilling solution that is powered by a competent Makita BL Brushless Motor. The motor provides as much as 50 percent longer runtime and longer tool life. It also has more power and speed than its predecessors. Read Full Review

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Pros	Cons
There is a 3-year warranty that covers the tool Safe Delivers 0 – 4,800 BPM and 0-680 RPM Easy to use Lightweight Ergonomically designed	Lacks the power to take on big projects – carry extra batteries..

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What are the modes of operation?
Answer: There are 2 operation modes: hammering with rotation and rotation only.

Question: Can this be used for heavy-duty projects?
Answer: No. It is a remarkable tool for small projects.

My Take

This compact hammer drill has remarkable drilling power and can successfully undertake small projects and fit into tight spaces. This tool seems to have a bit more power when compared to the Milwaukee 12-volt. It is easy to use and ideal for home tasks; however, be careful not to use it for projects for which it is not designed.

3. Bosch RH328VC 36V Rotary Hammer, 1-1/8″

This electric rotary hammer drill can effectively undertake medium-duty tasks such as bathroom renovation and installing sliding doors. Powered by an 8-amp motor, this hammer is lightweight but extremely strong. It’s ideal for chipping away or drilling into stone, concrete or ceramic tiles.

Read Full Review

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Pros	Cons
Multi-functional Easy to use Perfect for medium DIY projects Fast High-quality drilling performance delivering 4,100 BPM	Nothing really worth mentioning. Overall, pretty solid tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How long does it take to charge?
Answer: It has a fast charging tie. In fact, if the battery is not completely dead, it will typically charge within 30 minutes.

Question: What is included in the package?
Answer: The package includes a 36-volt charger, 4.0 AH FatPack Batteries, Depth Gauge, 360° Auxiliary Handle and a Carrying Case.

Question: What are the operating modes?
Answer: There are 3 operating modes: rotation only, hammer only and rotary.

My Take

This tool delivers the perfect combination of comfort, power, drilling speed and impact energy. For superior performance, it features impressive vibration control. It also has outstanding power-to-weight ratio for rapid drilling and chiseling.

In addition, there are three modes of operation in which the Bosch RH328VC-36K can be used. They are hammer and rotation only. There is also an essential clutch that makes this tool more adaptable. It comes with a carrying case and an auxiliary handle.

4. Milwaukee 2605-22 M18 18-Volt Cordless Lithium-Ion 7/8-inch SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Kit

Hammering through brick and concrete has been made much easier with the Milwaukee 2605-20 kit. Its impressively strong hammering mechanism pummels through target materials with impact energy of 1.8 ft-lbs. The anti-vibration system of this lightweight tool allows you to entirely devote yourself to your work. Read Full Review

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Pros	Cons
Powerful Easy to use Provides 0-4,800 BPM and 0-1.400 RPM Lightweight Ergonomically design	Heavy Case lacks adequate storage for bits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Is the outer shell entirely made of plastic?
Answer: Some of it is but aluminum is used to make the main housing. This is a remarkable product that can endure daily use.

Question: What are the operation modes?
Answer: There are 3 modes of operation: rotation and hammer only.

Question: Does it come with 2 batteries and the charger?
Answer: Yes. The charger and 2 batteries are included.

My Take

The Milwaukee 2605-22 is a lot more versatile than standard models as it enables users the option of 3 operation modes. However, bit binding has resulted in endless frustration with users. Thankfully, the mechanical clutch can be used to minimize this problem. Over all, you will immediately notice enhanced results when using this remarkable tool.

5. HILTI TE6 -A36 AVR CORDLESS ROTARY HAMMER DRILL 36V

The Hilti TE6-A36 cordless hammer drill is a heavy-duty AVR style drill that is available with two quick-release chucks. One is for normal drill bits and the other for SDS type drill bits. In addition, it comes with a single battery, 3 SDS drill bits and a handle. Read Full Review

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Pros	Cons
Superbly engineered and robustly built 18-volt motor delivers as much as 1250 RPM Its D-grip is ergonomically designed for comfort over extended periods Exceptional battery capacity and performance for this tool category Its DRS-6-A dust removal system delivers virtually dustless drilling	Not recommended for consistent use on wood and plastic.

My Take

The Hilti TE6-A36 Cordless Hammer Drill provides exceptional performance and the best battery capability for a tool in its weight category. It is designed to bore more holes for each charge than other cordless hammer drill in its class. Additionally, it provides repetitive drilling in all directions in masonry and concrete in the 5-16 millimeter range. It can also be used for occasional drilling in steel, wood and plastics.

6. Hitachi DH18DBLP4 18-Volt Lithium Ion Cordless Brushless SDS Plus 1″ Rotary Hammer

The Hitachi DH18DBLP4 18V Brushless kit is available only as a tool body. Its high energy output of 1.9 ft-lbs is quite impressive, particularly for a cordless model that is so compact. It has the capacity to drill 1-inch holes into concrete and ½-inch holes into steel. It is manufactured with a brushless motor and as such, higher efficiency can be expected on the job and there is a longer runtime and overall lifespan of the tool.

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Pros	Cons
Lightweight Ideal for residential and commercial projects Quick charging & long lasting batteries Features SDS 1″ drill bits	An extra battery should be purchased for continuous use throughout the day (Pretty much a given for all cordless drills).

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What are the modes of operation?
Answer: There are 3 operation modes within a range of applications: hammering only, drilling only and hammer/drill for flexibility.

Question: How heavy is this drill?
Answer: Without the battery, it is 6.8 pounds; designed for more maneuverability.

Question: Is it easy to change bits?
Answer: Yes. It has one-push bit mounting technology that makes it quick and easy to change out bits.

My Take

This cordless rotary hammer is awesome and has impressive power and battery life for a tool in its class. With one 6ah battery, I was able to drill roughly 50 ½-inch holes through 6-inch concrete. It is equipped with brushless motor technology and designed to deliver three operation modes for optimal performance when boring holes for concrete anchor installation. It delivers impressive energy output of 1.9 ft-lbs, which has the capacity to drill ½-inch holes into steel and 1-inch holes into concrete. Its built-in RFC or Reactive Force Control system designed to reduce the risk of injury from tool overload. In addition, it safeguards the motor and the battery.

7. Ryobi P221 18-Volt ONE+ SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer Drill

The Ryobi P221 is a remarkable cordless selection that is ideal for undertaking medium-duty drilling projects. It is lightweight and compact; however, this tool still maintains its position as a dominant contender in the range of a DIY drill.

The 18-volt motor can deliver as much as 1250 RPM and it can use both lithium-ion and ni-cad powered 4.0 AH batteries. In addition, there is a variable speed alternative and the 2-mode selector is an indication that the drill can be used as a rotary hammer with up to 5000 BPM for penetrating light concrete or for rotational purposes. Read Full Review

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Pros	Cons
Delivers variable speeds over 5000 BPM and up to 1250 RPM Lightweight Remarkable drilling action Ideal for brick, plywood and light concrete 3-year limited warranty	Bare Tool.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Can the function of this tool be changed? For example, can it be set to just drill, just hammer or is it both or nothing??
Answer: It has a 2-mode operation system that can be set to rotary or just drill.

Question: Will I be able to drill granite 3/8 bit and go 3.5 inches deep?
Answer: There are special diamond bits for this type of material. Use a board with the same size hole and drill it wet. Clamp the board onto the piece of granite to hold the drill bit in place and prevent the surface from scratching.

My Take

This versatile hammer drill is remarkable for drilling various masonry surfaces. It accepts both NiCd and lithium-ion 18-volt and I am greatly impressed by its adjustable depth rod which enables consistent depth between each hole. I also like the fact that greater comfort is provided the auxiliary handle that rotates 360 degrees.

Rotary Hammer Drill Buyer’s Guide

 

What is a Rotary Hammer Drill?

A rotary hammer drill is a heavy duty drill machine used for purposes of boring deeper and larger holes through concrete and other masonry materials. In place of spinning discs in a standard hammer drill where the hammering strike results from the up and down movement of the two discs, the striking action in a hammer drill comes from a piston system which compresses the air and uses air pressure to generate greater force.

Anybody who has worked with both a hammer drill and rotary hammers will know the difference. Rotary hammers can bore larger and deeper holes through different sorts of masonry material (stone, brick, poured concrete, etc.). So, this is the ideal tool when you are taking up bigger projects since it will require you to do less work and will, on the whole, make the job easier and less strenuous for you.

At the same time, rotary drills can easily be switched to hammer-only mode and this is useful when you are doing light demolition jobs. However, unlike a hammer drill, they can never be used in the manner you use a conventional drill, i.e. to use it for woodwork, plastic or metal. Even at the hammer-only mode, the power of the machine is too great to let it work on timber.

What to look for in a cordless hammer drill?

Cordless hammer drills are just what they say—a rotary drill without a cord. This tool comes handy at situations where it isn’t safe to operate a corded drill or at places where it is not easy to access the power source.

Now, with cordless drills (both standard hammer and rotary), the common notion is that they don’t pack as much power as corded machines do. This may have been true if we were talking of older models. But, the latest cordless models include heavy duty hammer drills and SDS hammer drills and these machines pack just as much punch and power as their corded counterparts.

If you are opting for a cordless model, make sure to check if it comes with detachable energy packs. The advantage here is that you have at least two energy packs and this means that while one is at work, you can put the other on recharge and the batteries will commonly get fully recharged within an hour. This means no loss in terms of work time and therefore, no loss in revenues.

Cordless hammer drill vs cordless rotary hammer drill

The motor: (brushless vs non-brushless)

Many cordless hammer drills use brushless motors in place of the conventional brushed or non-brushless motors. Many manufacturers also refer to the brushless motor technology as the ‘smart’ motor. Now, there is a tendency to wave off the claim that brushless motors last longer than brushed motors as a simple marketing gimmick.

However, we can assure you that this is not so. What happens in case of brushless motors is that in place of the brushes (little carbon filament blocks), here an electric circuit board is attached o the motor shaft and this board supplies the current to the copper coils of the armature.

Contrary to the above, in brushed motors, two brushes are attached directly to the commutator of the shaft and when you switch the machine on (no matter whether corded or cordless one), the commutator passes the electric current generated by the brushes to the armature of the motor. Now, since the brushes are in constant physical contact with the commutator, there is a friction involved and this contributes to the gradual wearing down of the motor.

So, yes—the brushless motors do come with a longer life. However, as you may imagine, this type of motor is also more expensive since they involve the superior and more complex technology of the electric circuit and the sensors.

RPM, Torque, BPM

Torque is an important factor that you must pay close attention to when looking to buy the best hammer drill. The torque rating refers to the twisting power of the drill. The higher the torque of your drill, the higher the twisting action it can produce.

Now, what torque rating you should go for depends largely on the kind of job you will perform most frequently with the machine. For example, if you are required to drill deep holes on a regular basis, you will need a rotary drill with higher torque which commonly comes with larger spline drive drills.

Similarly, BPM and RPM relate to the drilling speed of a particular model. RPM or rotation per minute is more important when it comes to simple hammer drills where the higher revolutions per minute itself translates to stronger hammering action. On the other hand, the BPM or the blow per minute is more important for rotary drills. As a rule of thumb, an RPM of 1200-1500 is ideal for medium to heavy duty jobs. However, if you need a more powerful machine, you should look for models with over 2000 RPM.

The Clutch

The clutch is again an important component for all hammer drills. Today’s hammer drill models come with clutch-protected motors. This means that if you are drilling a deeper hole with not enough torque, it will create extra pressure on the motor. In earlier models, the motor itself would have worn down fast, but now since the motors are clutch-protected, the clutch itself will wear down and this may mean more downtime for your machine. For heavy-duty jobs, we would recommend you use a model with 24-position clutch which allows for higher torque regulation. Also, look for models that come with a unibody powetrain which is helpful for maintaining proper alignment between motor, gearbox and the clutch.

The Chuck: (SDS Bits vs regular drill bits)

Both corded and a cordless hammer drill come with standard adjustable chucks. This means that you can use different varieties of bits for different jobs when you are working with your hammer drill. Rotary hammer drills, on the other hand, are outfitted with spring-loaded chucks that correspond directly to specific-sized bits. This means that with a specific chuck, you can only use bits that fit with that particular chuck. SDS bits are most commonly used in hammer drills. Normally, there are two varieties in the SDS bits—the SDS Plus and the SDS Max. The former are ideal for drilling holes in a range of 5/32 in. to ¾ in. diameters while the Max bits are designed for drilling even larger holes—in a range of 3/8 in. up to 2 in. Compared to the above, the regular bits used in hammer drills (for masonry work) can typically drill holes with diameters from ¼-in. to 3/8-in.

The Battery

When it comes to cordless drills, a stronger battery means that you will get more power from the drill. However, keep this in mind that stronger batteries will also make the drill heavier and less convenient to use. Commonly, an 18v or 20v battery will be fine for medium to heavy-duty applications. You may need higher voltage batteries for industrial applications such as 36v.

Also, make sure to check whether or not your drill accessory pack comes with a two-pack battery. This is important when working with cordless hammer drills since you can put one battery in charge while the other is in use. This is especially relevant for cordless hammer drills as they are normally used for heavy duty jobs which may often take longer to finish than the capacity of a single battery.

If you are buying batteries separately, always purchase two-battery packs. This will save you a good bit of money than if you had bought them singly.

What type of material you’re drilling

Again, whether you will use a hammer or a rotary drill depends partly on the material you’ll be drilling in. Both types are meant for poured concrete, stone block and masonry materials. However, if you will not be drilling a number of deeper and larger holes lying in close proximity to each other, you may not need a rotary drill after all. So, consider the jobs you will be performing before investing your money. The regular hammer drills, apart from being cheaper, can also work on materials such as plastic, metal and wood or timber. Rotary drills, on the other hand, are meant exclusively for work on concrete and masonry.

FAQ’s

1.What’s the difference between NiCad & Lithium Batteries?

Nickel-cadmium or NiCd batteries are what you will find with most older and some current cordless drill models. However, they are getting quickly replaced with Li-ion or Lithium-ion batteries. To start with, Li-ion batteries are more environment friendly. These batteries also recharge quickly and they provide the user with a more stable power source. The reason why some current models still include NiCd batteries is that the latter perform better when the drill is used fairly regularly for heavy duty applications. The NiCds are also slightly better when it comes to delivering high range power over the lifespan of the battery. However, the NiCd batteries are much more toxic and the fast improvement in the Li-ion battery technology may soon make the NiCd batteries completely obsolete.

2. Which drill voltage should I choose? 18v, 20v, 36V

You must choose voltage according to your job. A 18v battery should suffice for most medium size regular hammer drill jobs. However, if you want to be on the safe side, you may go for 20v. For heavy works and for working with rotary drills, the norm is the 18v. How about 20v then, you may ask? Well, to put it simply, 20v is a marketing gimmick and you would scarcely notice any difference between an 18v and a 20v battery. Also, when a model flaunts 20v, understand that it is actually referring to the no-load max voltage and not the nominal voltage of 18v. As for 36v batteries, they are meant only for professional grade jobs and are used in industry settings only.

3. What does the “ah” mean in cordless batteries??

“Ah” in a battery pack is an abbreviation of the amp- or ampere-hour and it is a measure of the capacity of a battery pack. Generally, higher values mean additional power and longer runtime, though this may vary depending on some other factors (For instance, Li-ion battery technology has advanced to the degree that it is possible to build same size cells with better performance and greater charge density.). Power tools such as cordless hammer drills are compatible with high capacity, compact battery packs.

4. What does variable trigger speed mean?

Variable trigger speed in power tools such as hammer drills means you can set the tool to a certain torque speed or a speed range depending on the nature of your job. In all current models, you can control the speed with the help of a trigger. Further you pull back the trigger, the faster will be the speed of the hammer drill. According to different cordless hammer drill reviews, the best models will also include a pre-set stop feature as well as two or more variable speed ranges.
Last Updated: 2/12/22
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