The 9 Best Hammer Drills
Updated by · How we research
Nine cordless and corded hammer drills for brick, block and light concrete, compared on power, kits and warranty. The DeWalt DCD1007WW1 kit leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A hammer drill taps the bit forward thousands of times a minute while it spins, which chews through brick, block and mortar but struggles with thick poured concrete. That makes it the right tool for anchors, concrete screws and shelf brackets on masonry walls. It's for homeowners and tradespeople who want one drill for wood, metal and masonry.
Editor's Notes
October 22, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The DeWalt DCD1007WW1 kit now leads because it's the one box a first-time buyer can open and start drilling masonry with: drill, a big battery, a fast charger and a side handle. The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2904-20 is the pick for anyone already on Milwaukee batteries.
Only two tools from the old list are still sold, and both stay: the Bosch HD18 (now the HD18-2) and the Makita XPH07Z. The corded Milwaukee 5380-21 and DeWalt DWD525K are gone. The Ingersoll-Rand 114GQC is an air drill, and the Ridgid R86116, Skil HD182002, Porter-Cable PCC621LB, Neiko 10503A and an older DeWalt 20V MAX kit have dropped out of current listings or been replaced.
We left SDS-plus rotary hammers off on purpose. They hit much harder and suit poured concrete, but they're a different tool with their own list, and the guide below explains where one ends and the other begins.
The deciding evidence was timed concrete drilling from Pro Tool Reviews and Bob Vila, set against each maker's torque, speed and warranty figures. The CPSC recall list turned up a 2010 Bosch hammer drill recall, but it covers the HD19-2 and HD21-2, not the HD18-2.
December 01, 2020:
Whether you choose a battery-powered option or one powered from the main electricity supply, a good quality hammer drill is a versatile tool for homeowners and tradespeople alike. They are often at the cheaper end of the scale when it comes to power tools, and are suitable for small jobs around the home such as hanging picture frames, and boring holes in metal using their rotary only setting. The battery-operated versions are more popular for inserting fixings than boring holes as the hammer setting is particularly effective for driving screws into timber.
In this update, we made sure that the latest version from each company is featured in the ranking and removed any which have become obsolete. We replaced the DeWalt DCD996B with the DeWalt 20V MAX, a full kit that uses the same tried and tested tool, but now includes two lithium-ion batteries and a holster with storage for screw bits. The Bosch 1191VSRK was removed completely since it is very similar to the Bosch HD18, however, the latter has a more powerful, brushless motor and is only marginally more expensive. In its place, we added the Dewalt DWD525K, a corded drill with a 10 amp motor and a 360-degree locking side handle. Its mid handle design gives it a good balance and ensures a comfortable grip, even for extended periods of time. Of the battery-powered options, the Makita XPHO7TB is the most powerful, and is hardwearing enough for daily use on a worksite, but it is also the most expensive. The Porter-Cable PCC621LB is a much more affordable option that is durable enough for most household uses and comes with two batteries and a high-speed charger.
December 05, 2019:
This round of updates saw half of our rankings falling under scrutiny and getting swapped out due to availability issues and imminent obsolescence. The Black & Decker DR670 was replaced by a similarly budget-friendly alternative, the Skil HD182002, while the Neiko 10506A was replaced by the Neiko 10503A, a six-amp model offered for virtually the same price as its 4.2-amp predecessor. The Porter-Cable PC70THD was replaced by the Porter-Cable PCC621LB, and the discontinued Makita XPH012 18V LXT got switched out for the Makita XPHO7TB. We also cut loose two unavailable options from DeWalt, the DCD950B and DW511, although we included the DeWalt DCD996B.
A note on the difference between hammer drills and rotary hammers:
While these names are all-too-frequently used interchangeably, there is a technical difference that extends beyond which is big and which is small.
Rotary hammers depend on a crankshaft-driven piston to propel its hammering mechanism. They tend to be more powerful, typically have an SDS chuck (or SDS-Max, in the case of some larger models) and are equipped with hammer-only functionality that essentially transforms them to a miniature jack hammer. If you’re looking to drill anything larger than a half-inch hole, you want a rotary hammer.
Hammer Drills, contrastingly, have two ridged discs that rub against each other as their driveshaft turns, resulting in hammering oscillations that help drive your bit into tough materials like concrete and brick. Though they’re typically less powerful than rotary hammers, hammer drills are usually smaller, lighter and thereby easier to handle. They can often have their hammer function disengaged, which allows them to double as a standard power drill.
Though corded and battery-powered versions of both styles of tool are available, users going up against tough workloads will likely appreciate the consistent power of a corded option. Since we recommend hammer drills to users going up against lighter workloads, we also focused these rankings on decidedly convenient, battery-powered models. If you’re determined to stick with a hammer drill, but want a corded option, consider the Milwaukee 5380-21 or the Bosch HD18.
Special Honors
Flex FX1271T 24V Hammer Drill Flex sells its 24-volt cordless tools mainly through Lowe's and independent tool dealers. Its brushless FX1271T hammer drill, with a turbo mode for hard materials, posted the quickest time in Pro Tool Reviews' timed concrete test. It runs only on Flex's own 24V batteries, so it suits someone starting fresh more than a DeWalt or Milwaukee owner. Flex has offered longer warranties on registered tools, so check the current terms before you buy. flexpowertools.com
Hammer Drill Or Rotary Hammer?
It lands far fewer blows, but each one hits much harder, and the bit slides in an SDS-plus chuck that lets it move back and forth.
A hammer drill is a regular drill with a second job. Flip it to hammer mode and two ridged plates inside ratchet against each other, so the chuck taps forward tens of thousands of times a minute while it spins. Each tap is light, but together they crack brick, block, mortar and cured concrete ahead of a carbide-tipped bit. The chuck is the same one you use for wood bits and screwdriver bits, so one tool covers the whole house.
A rotary hammer uses a piston to throw a heavy striker at the back of the bit. It lands far fewer blows, but each one hits much harder, and the bit slides in an SDS-plus chuck that lets it move back and forth. That makes it the tool for poured foundations, slabs with rebar, holes bigger than about three-eighths of an inch, and chiseling tile or mortar. Bob Vila's roundup draws the same line and notes that a plain drill-driver is enough if you only hit masonry now and then.
How fast is a good hammer drill in concrete? In a Pro Tool Reviews speed test, top 18- and 20-volt tools drilled a three-eighths-inch hole in 4,000 psi concrete in roughly six to eight seconds. That's fine for a dozen anchors. For a hundred, or for anything wider, look at our rotary hammer list.
Battery Platform, Kit Or Corded
With a cordless tool you're really buying into a battery family, so start with the batteries you already own. DeWalt 20V MAX, Milwaukee M18 and M12, Makita 18V LXT and Craftsman V20 are all covered above. Ryobi ONE+ and Metabo HPT MultiVolt make capable hammer drills too, but they sell mostly through Home Depot and tool dealers. A "bare tool" or "tool only" price means no battery and no charger. If you're starting fresh, a kit like the DeWalt DCD1007WW1 or the Craftsman CMCD711C2 is the cheaper way in. For drilling and driving without masonry work, our cordless drill list has lighter options.
Don't compare power numbers across brands. Milwaukee and Makita quote torque in inch-pounds, while DeWalt rates its drills in its own "unit watts out," so a bigger number on one box doesn't prove a stronger drill. Speed and gear count are easier to compare: two or three gears give a slow, strong range for big bits and a fast range for masonry. Milwaukee's 2904-20 and 3404-20 pages show how far apart a full-size and a compact tool are.
A corded hammer drill never runs down, costs less for the same power and suits a long day of anchors in one spot. The Bosch HD18-2 and DeWalt DW511 both come with a side handle and a depth rod. Outdoors, plug into a GFCI outlet and use a cord heavy enough for the run.
Clutch, Bits And Safe Drilling
Use hammer mode only in masonry. In wood, metal or tile it just chews up the hole and dulls the bit. For screws, switch to drill mode and set the clutch so it slips before the screw head strips. Start masonry holes slowly without hammer, then switch it on once the tip has bitten in, and pull the bit back now and then to clear dust.
Masonry needs carbide-tipped bits. Ordinary twist bits dull or snap in brick. SDS-plus bits fit only rotary hammers, not the round or hex chuck on a hammer drill. Always fit the side handle for masonry: when a bit catches rebar or a stone, the drill twists hard, and that's how wrists get hurt. Several drills here cut power when that happens, but the handle still matters.
Drilling concrete, brick and stone throws off fine silica dust. OSHA's silica fact sheet calls for a dust shroud with a vacuum on handheld drills in construction. At home, have a helper hold a shop-vac nozzle at the hole, wear a P100 or N95 mask, and keep a window open indoors. Wear eye and ear protection, and check walls and slabs for wires and pipes with a detector before you drill.
How we researched this
We compared 21 hammer drills and rotary hammers, read maker spec pages for the nine picks, weighed timed concrete tests from Pro Tool Reviews and Bob Vila, looked for patterns in owner feedback, and checked every brand against CPSC recall records. The 3D models are built from published dimensions and photos.
Sources (10)
Frequently asked questions
Can a hammer drill go through concrete?
Yes, for small holes. A good cordless hammer drill handles anchor and concrete-screw holes in cured concrete, brick and block. It slows down in dense or rebar-filled concrete and on holes wider than about three-eighths of an inch, where a rotary hammer is the better tool.
Should I use hammer mode in wood or metal?
No. Hammer mode only helps in masonry. In wood or metal it tears the hole and wears the bit. Switch to drill mode, and use the clutch when driving screws.
Is DeWalt or Milwaukee better for a hammer drill?
Both make top hammer drills, and in timed concrete tests their best 18- and 20-volt tools finish within a second of each other. Pick the brand whose batteries you already own, because the battery platform costs more over time than any one drill.
Corded or cordless?
Cordless is handier and good enough for most home jobs. Corded costs less for the power, never runs down and suits long sessions in one spot, such as a row of anchors along a basement wall.
What does BPM mean on a hammer drill?
Blows per minute: how many times the chuck taps forward in hammer mode. More blows help, but a rotary hammer with far fewer, heavier blows still drills concrete faster.
Do I need a rotary hammer instead?
Get a rotary hammer if you'll drill lots of holes in poured concrete, need holes wider than about three-eighths of an inch, or want to chisel tile and mortar. For occasional anchors, a hammer drill is enough.
