Whether you’re a professional or a handy amateur, a good power drill is a DIY essential. Capable of generating enough torque to drill through wood, masonry and even metal, a high-quality power drill allows you to do jobs that would simply be impossible without one, all while saving you serious amounts of time and effort.
Whether you’re replacing an older model or looking to build out your first toolbox, you’re sure to be confronted with a host of options when shopping for a power drill.
This article focuses on cordless hammer drills, which are a sound choice for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike. They are cheaper and more widely available than they’ve ever been, making this a great time to be on the lookout for a new model.
Below are the best cordless hammer drills available on the market.
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Name | Max RPM | Our Rating |
---|---|---|
Bosch HDH181XB | 1850 | 9.6 / 10 |
Bosch PS130-2A | 1300 | 9.4 / 10 |
Makita XPH12Z | 2000 | 9.2 / 10 |
Craftsman C3 | 1600 | 9.2 / 10 |
DeWalt DCD985B | 2000 | 9 / 10 |
Porter Cable PCC620B | 1600 | 8.8 / 10 |
Milwaukee 2607-20 M18 | 1800 | 8.8 / 10 |
Bosch are a big name in power tools and DIY more broadly, and the HDH181XB is a serious and professional product. The durability and long-term quality of this cordless drill will likely make it one of the best hammer drill investments in the long run.
Capable of reaching 1,850 RPM, this particular Brute Tough drill can also generate a serious amount of torque; considerably more than most of its competition.
With all-metal gear housing, a cell protection system to preserve battery life, and KickBack Control to protect the drill user, this is a versatile and extremely effective power tool which will get the job done – whatever it is – and continue doing so over many years.
It’s also worth mentioning that this Bosch drill looks fantastic, with a clean metal head set against solid colors which only adds to the impression of quality you get from this product.
Check price on Amazon.comBosch are a name synonymous with quality in the power tools marketplace, and the PS130-2A 12V MAX Hammer Drill Driver doesn’t throw up any surprises on that front.
Where it does differ from some Bosch products is its size: weighing in at a mere 2.3 lbs and with the shortest head length among drills on the market today, this is an impressively small and compact piece of machinery. For portability and working in tight spaces, the PS130-2A’s small size and low weight can make a huge difference; and with Bosch, you shouldn’t expect a reduction in quality to go with the size.
This cordless combi drill (it can drive as well as drill and hammer) has a 20-stage clutch and two different speeds to choose between, as well as integrated LED and fuel gauge to further improve ease of use.
Thanks to the 12V MAX power system – which allows batteries to be switched with other 12V MAX power tools – the battery life doesn’t even suffer in comparison with larger, bulkier models.
With the PS130-2A, Bosch have taken the flexibility and mobility that makes cordless drills attractive and ran with it, producing a small and super-lightweight cordless drill which is still capable of going through wood, masonry and metal. For the professional or the enthusiastic amateur, this is a convenient and versatile option which is well worth checking out.
Check price on Amazon.comMakita are an American power tool specialist, and their LXT range were the first widely-available 18V power system power tools. It’s a legacy they’re proud of, which is why their 18V range is one of the largest available on the market today.
What that means is that if you purchase the Makita XPH12Z, you’re getting something that can work on its own or be combined with other 18V power tools for increased battery life and flexibility.
This cordless drill is no slouch on its own, either: capable of reaching 2,000 RPM, this is a very competent combi drill, which is all the more impressive given that it’s available at a midrange price point.
With Makita’s own XPT (extreme protection technology) increasing the Cordless Hammer Driver-Drill’s resistance to dust and water, this is a drill which is both ready for the worksite and well within the price range of the home DIY enthusiast.
Check price on Amazon.comAvailable at a midrange price point, this drill can reach a maximum of 1,600 RPM. Besides the integrated LED and an ergonomically-designed handle, there’s little in the way of features to talk about.
However, whilst this may not be a feature packed drill, it is a solid and efficient option which does what it sets out to do very well. This is a dedicated hammer drill, and the hammer action doesn’t disappoint, going through masonry and comparable materials with ease.
With a 24-setting clutch you don’t need to worry about going too far or causing collateral damage, making this an efficient and effective cordless hammer drill for anyone who’ll make use of the hammer action.
Craftsman have even taken the additional step of including a carry bag with the C3, helping you keep your drill safe and dry.
Check price on Amazon.comDeWalt are one of the big names in power tools, and the DCD985B 20V MAX Lithium Ion Premium 3-Speed Hammerdrill is a heavy-duty offering from a brand which commands respect.
As the name suggests, this cordless hammer drill offers 3 speed variations, up to a maximum of 2,000 RPM (rotations per minute).
Combined with the flexibility and ease of use of a cordless drill, and with the side handle offering help on more heavy-duty tasks, the DCD985B is a hammer drill which can do the job on any material around the home.
What’s more, the battery in the increasingly popular 20V MAX power system this drill uses can be interchanged with batteries from any other 20V MAX system, making this a sound long-term investment you can build your tool kit around.
It will be an investment: the DeWalt DCD985B is one of the more expensive cordless hammer drills available, but you’re not just paying for the DeWalt name – this is a high-quality drill which will serve you well and remain useful going forwards.
Check price on Amazon.comThe PCC620LB 20V MAX Lithium Ion Hammerdrill is better described as a combi drill. Capable of producing a speed of 1,600 RPM, the PCC620LB has a switch function to move from rotary to driver to hammer action. This has the advantage of opening up an even wider range of tasks you can use your drill for.
Porter Cable’s drill does have the advantage of featuring the popular 20V MAX power system, allowing you to switch batteries and power packs with other 20V MAX models, and it can’t be faulted on price. This is a truly budget option, so if you’re looking for versatility at a low price Porter Cable’s offering is one you should consider.
Check price on Amazon.comMilwaukee are a manufacturer of power tools aimed primarily at the home user. The 2607-20 M18 Hammer Drill is no exception: it’s a simple cordless hammer drill available at an entry-level price point, capable of reaching speeds of 1,800 RPM – more than enough for most tasks around the home, especially when making use of the hammer action.
Despite the low price, this doesn’t feel like a cheap drill: it’s sturdier and heavier than the average cordless hammer drill, and even comes fitted with Milwaukee’s proprietary REDLINK Intelligence system. This is a safety feature designed to overload and shut off the drill when it gets too hot, avoiding the damaging and potentially dangerous consequences of overheating your drill during use.
With an 18V power pack which can be switched with the battery from any other 18V model, Milwaukee’s M18 Hammer Drill is a no-nonsense offering that gives a surprising amount of bang for your buck.
Check price on Amazon.comThe humble power drill is one of the most important items in any toolbox, giving users the ability to drill through most materials with a speed and efficiency that can’t be matched by human effort alone.
The range of drills available on the market can seem bewildering, especially for DIY novices, but a few simple decisions can narrow down your options and set you on the way to finding the perfect drill for you.
These are the decision between corded or cordless, and the choice of action – what functions you want your drill to perform besides drilling.
Corded drills offer power and torque (twisting force) which can’t be matched by cordless models. Drawing on mains electricity will almost always offer greater power than batteries, and power drills are certainly no exception. Corded drills can be used for lengthy periods of time without having to worry about changing batteries.
An added bonus is that many corded drills are able to sport additional features or functions, as designers don’t have the battery life constraint limiting their options when making the drill.
Despite the many good reasons to consider a corded drill over the cordless alternative, cordless drills are undeniably the most popular models today.
The main reason for this is simply convenience: cordless drills can be used almost anywhere and can often get into awkward positions that a corded drill can’t, making them a flexible and easy-to-use choice. They’re also notably lighter than their corded cousins, making them easier to use over longer periods.
One further hidden benefit is that a decrease in power and torque leads to an increase in safety: despite still being able to get through most of the same materials as a corded drill, cordless drills are less potentially dangerous if mishandled or dropped during use.
Besides the choice between corded and cordless, the main decision to be made when starting to look at power drills is what kind of action you’ll find most useful.
Basic rotary drills can drill, but aren’t able to do much else. This makes them a relatively inexpensive option for DIY novices, but of limited use to the more experienced handy-person.
Driver drills can – as the name suggests – use the torque generated by the drill to drive in screws and perform similar tasks.
Hammer drills, meanwhile, combine the rotary action of a standard drill with a hammer-like striking action, improving the drill’s speed and enabling it to strike through harder materials than a basic rotary drill.
Cordless hammer drills offer the flexibility and convenience of a cordless drill with the striking power of a hammer drill. This is the type of drill that we will be discussing going forward.
Power drills, whatever their type, are a DIY essential for a number of reasons:
Among the many different power drills available on the market, there are some good reasons to consider a cordless hammer drill in particular:
If you’ve decided a cordless hammer drill is the drill for you, there are a number of points to consider before getting stuck in and comparing individual products.
Just like any other power tool, a cordless hammer drill is a powerful and potentially dangerous piece of equipment, and there are a few risks to be aware of before operating one.