Lisa J Thompson
Professional and home DIY enthusiasts almost always have a hammer drill. Hammer drills come with a masonry bit that can drill into brick, mortar, stone, or concrete. The hammer drill rotates like a normal drill, while sustaining a back-and-forth hammering action. What is a best Cordless Hammer Drill?
Hammer drills come in corded and cordless variants. The rotary hammer is a highly specialized hammer drill that many consider to be a specialty tool. It is a critical tool when you need to do plenty of masonry work. But, it can cost too much and have way more features than a DIYer may ever need.
The cordless hammer drill is an essential addition to your toolbox because it will most certainly come in handy sooner than later. A corded drill with a hammer option is often enough once there’s an electrical outlet present. Yet, too often, work happens at locations where there’s none. This is the beauty of a cordless hammer drill.
The cordless hammer drill action is present on many drills. When the hammer action was first added to cordless drills, the movement of the hammer did not carry sufficient power making the feature less reliable than manufacturers had hoped.
However, significant improvements in power cell technology and the growing popularity of cordless batteries have improved the performance and esteem of cordless hammer drills.
It became almost natural for people to opt for corded drills, but the demand for cordless drills has only grown in leaps. This quick guide is a roundup of the best cordless drill models money can buy.
Reviews of The Best Cordless Hammer Drills
DeWalt DC950KX Cordless Hammer Drill
Key Product Features
- Speed ranges: 0 – 500 / 0 – 1,250 / 0 – 2,000 RPM
- Weight: 6.25 lbs (with battery)
- Dimensions: 9’ x 6” x 15”
- LED work lightingXRP extended run-time batteries
- 3-year warranty
The DeWalt drill is one of the best compact tools available, at only 9 x 6 x 15 inches. Construction workers and masons are the manufacturer’s primary market. For this reason, the tool is great if you need to create holes for nails and screws regularly.
The features this cordless drill has to offer are top-notch. However, one cannot overlook the spotlight for when masons and construction workers are working late and it’s dark, or in areas with low light.
The better control and balance prove very helpful for finishing tasks on time and makes this an excellent tool in our opinion.
Things We Liked
- Self-tightening ½ -inch chuck
- 22 separate clutch settings are no mean feat – you can take on any project
- The drill delivers 450 units of max power
- You can work at night or in limited spaces
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Any DeWalt 18V battery will power it
- The kit comes with a protective box, two batteries, drill, one one-hour charger and a 360-degree handle
- LED light
- High-powered motor
- 3-speed settings
Things We Didn’t Like
- On the heavier side
- No magnetic bit tray
Makita XPH07TB Cordless Hammer Drill
Key Product Features
- Speed range: 0 – 550 / 0 – 2,100 RPM
- Weight: 5.9 lbs
- Dimensions: 19” x 5.5” x 8”
- 3-year warranty
The Makita XPH07TB accepts SDS-PLUS bits. It boasts unique Makita BL Brushless Motor Technology. This technology allows the cordless hammer drill to achieve a higher run time and overall tool life while delivering superior speeds and power than other drills.
The two 18V 5.0Ah batteries can recharge fully in only 40 minutes with the supplied battery charging pack. So you can get more done in a shorter time.
The drill can deliver 1,090 pounds of torque, implying it can do real work. It is a bit heavy at 6 pounds, but with what it brings to the table, it’s worth every penny.
Things We Liked
- High speed
- Brushless motor offers longer run time and overall life
- 2 batteries and charging pack included
- Rapid recharge time
Things We Didn’t Like
- The weight can become an issue quickly
- Larger dimensions make it harder to hold
- Quite pricey, even for a cordless hammer drill
- Has no working light
Milwaukee 2607-20 Cordless Hammer Drill
Key Product Features
- Speed range: 0 – 400 / 0 – 1,800 RPM
- Weight: 3.1 lbs
- Dimensions: 7.7” x 2.2” x 7.2”
- Textured grip
- All-metal gear case
- LED lighting
- 5-year warranty
The 2607-20 ½ Inch 1,800 RPM 18V Lithium-ion Cordless Compact Hammer Drill/Driver is a product of Milwaukee. It is the tool of choice for carrying out tough applications on construction projects even in the most rugged job sites.
It is a cordless hammer drill that is extremely lightweight. Still, it is extremely robust, offering unmatched performance in its category. It can drill holes in hardwood, softwood and any kind of masonry, with no issues whatsoever. All the operator has to do is to flip the mode selection switch located at the top of the drill.
The drill only weighs 3 pounds, therefore the operator can use it with great ease throughout the day and experience very little fatigue.
The tool has a great grip and is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. If it ever falls from a ladder for any reason, the strong all-metal casing ensures the components of the tool remain safe and there will be no shock due to impact.
Speed and run time
The 2607-20 ½ -inch 1,800 RPM 18V Lithium-ion Cordless Compact Hammer Drill/Driver has a speed range sufficient enough for it to tackle all applications possible on a construction site.
Package Contents
The Milwaukee 2607-20 is provided as a bare tool, compatible with M18 Lithium-ion batteries.
- The bare tool
- No batteries
Things We Liked
- Keyless chuck
- LED lighting
- 18 clutch positions
- The motor keeps running at full speed even if it drops
Things We Didn’t Like
- No batteries included
- No battery charging pack included
Bosch HDS 183-02 18V Cordless Hammer Drill/Driver
Key Product Features
- Speed range: 0 – 600 / 0 – 1,900 RPM (high speed / high torque)
- Weight: 2.7 lbs
- Torque: 531 lbs
- Dimensions: 7.25” x 2.3” x
- Keyless Chuck design
- Chuck size: ½-inch
- 18V 2.0Ah SlimPackbatteries
The HDS183-02 18V EC Brushless Compact Tough ½ -inch Hammer Drill/Driver Kit by Bosch features a Bosch integrated acceleration sensor and kickback control, instrumental in automatically shutting down the tool in the event of a rotational torque reaction.
A rotational torque reaction can lead to potentially dangerous outcomes if a bind-up occurs. The integrated acceleration sensor and kickback control greatly minimize the risk of a sudden reaction of the tool if binding occurs.
The tool’s design features heavy-duty all-metal chuck that gives the tool the vital robustness that underscores its quality and performance. The metal chuck itself has had significant upgrades lately. It also ensures greater torque transfer.
The impact rate of the tool is 28,500 BPM for all masonry applications. It also boasts a 20+1 Clutch setting to minimize damage to fasteners. The drill can handle very tough materials too. This contributes, along with its ergonomic design, to a really strong grip.
Bosch’s electronic motor protection and electronic cell protection are two other impressive features of the Bosch HDS183-02. They help protect this cordless drill from overheating and overload.
Speed and run time
The highly efficient BC Brushless motor is present in this Bosch cordless drill. It enables this tool to have a really long life and a longer run time.
The design of the Bosch is tough and extremely lightweight; it also has a short head-length. But, it is still highly robust and powerful, delivering a powerful performance every single time.
It applies 531 inch-pounds of torque and has two different drilling speeds:
- 0-600 RPM for high torque
- 0-1900 RPM for high speed
The dual-speed feature along with a longer run time allows the tool to be a high-performance tool.
Package Contents
The bare tool
2 Lithium-ion SlimPack batteries
1 magnetic bit holder
1 charger
4-bit holders
1 belt clips
1 carrying bag
Things We Liked
- 20+1 clutch setting
- Extreme lightweight regardless of short head-length
- Very powerful performance
- 2 Lithium-ion SlimPack batteries
- Magnetic bit-holder
Things We Didn’t Like
- Really high price-point
- Can be heavy, depending on who’s carrying it
- Comes with few attachments
Ryobi P1813 One+ Cordless Kit
Key Product Features
- Speed range: 0 -410 / 0 – 1,800 RPM
- Weight: 3 lbs
- Dimensions: 8” x 3.4” x 8.2”
- Built-in magnetic bit holder
- Battery charger
- Contractor’s bag
- 5-year warranty
The P1813 One+ 18V Ryobi Kit is trusted by everyone and not just DIY enthusiasts. It offers everything – a drill, a battery, a battery charger, and a flexible case for storage. This remarkable hammer drilling kit shows Ryobi’s intent to deliver a power tool with the equal capacity to be useful in performing jobs around the home and for a more professional setting. Professional settings are often tougher applications involving drilling in masonry, wood, stone, and so forth on a construction site.
The P214 hammer drill is the primary tool in the kit. It can apply up to 600-inch pounds of torque. This capability allows the professional operator to tackle all domestic jobs and the majority of applications at the professional job site.
The presence of a side handle is critical in giving the operator the capacity to control the tool for highly accurate driving.
The magnetic tray of the Ryobi P1813 helps to hold bits and fasteners while in use. This leaves the operator’s hands-free to grip and control the machine.
Speed and run time
The tool is highly flexible to adjustments in speed for various applications. The same applies to the torque it produces.
There is a 3-mode switch that lets the operator switches among these three:
- Hammer drilling
- Drilling
- Driving screws
It is possible to do these without needing to adjust the torque collar every time the operator makes a switch in the mode for a different application.
The tool boasts a rubber molding on top of the pistol grip, allowing the operator to handle the machine with ease.
The onboard battery reader can show both the charge level and tell if the battery is defective.
Package Contents
1 P214 Hammer Drill
2 P107 18V/1.5Ah batteries
1 P117 charger
1 tool bag
Things We Liked
- The hammer drill has a 24-position clutch
- The drill offers up to 750 pounds of torque, allowing you to work with tough materials
- 3 different speed settings
- Great power and performance packed into a 3-pound tool
- Rubber coatings ensure a firm and steady grip
- An 18V battery is enough for any stone, wood, or steel job
Things We Didn’t Like
- Not as powerful as other cordless drills
- No LED work light
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Cordless Hammer Drill
The Hammer Action
The hammer action is what helps the worker or DIYer drill holes into stone or kinds of masonry material with ease. As the drill rotates, the drill bit and the chuck are pushed forward by a spring.
The spring sits atop an eccentric flange in the cordless drill’s gearbox. This leads to a back-and-forth movement equivalent to a hammer action. When a hammer action occurs in a drill, the drill bit spins around rapidly punching up and down into the material.
The bit barely moves, only deviating a fraction of an inch, but the short but rapid blows only increase the force, thus it is possible to drill even in extremely hard materials.
The Cordless Feature
The cordless feature is now a possibility because of the great advancement in power cell technology over the years. Moreover, the batteries for such equipment are now popular and people prefer cordless devices you can charge to corded tools that must be close to an electrical outlet, despite the high level of power capacity they have.
As a result, the cordless hammer drill can go anywhere that work needs to be done instead of forcing the work to come close to the tool, as the nature of corded drills demands.
Versatility
Cordless drills can be used in many different ways. These drills can easily drill holes up to ½ -inch in a variety of masonry materials. Bear in mind that these are small holes.
Perhaps the biggest advantage that workers have is that they do not need to get a separate corded hammer drill to bore only a few holes on-site. The cordless hammer drill comes in handy and is well-suited for this type of task.
Users must be cautious of certain critical factors in using cordless hammer drills.
Concerning the design of the cordless hammer drill, the chuck is pushed in forward and backward directions to make the hammer action possible. This movement is additional to the chuck of a cordless hammer drill and results in a larger wobble or run-out.
This can, in a few cases, lead to drop-in precision for the cordless hammer drill as a power tool. The addition of a hammer action to the cordless drill also leads to an increase in the overall length and weight of the power drill.
This might not be a feature many folks desire, however, those who really want hammer action as part of their cordless drill know this is a great feature. They do not mind the size and weight increase as they would usually require this action for their routine jobs.
Cordless Hammer Drill and the Cordless Pneumatic Hammer Drill
Some people have a preference for the cordless pneumatic hammer drill. The cordless pneumatic hammer drill uses mechanical action to push the drill bit forward by using a mechanical piston.
However, you only need such drills if you need such a force as to bore very deep or large holes in materials like concrete or stone. This is possible because the equipment use pneumatic movement to do so.
The professional cordless pneumatic hammer drills range from 18V to 24V, all up to 36V. On the other hand, the rotary hammers allow both drill bits and chisel to be used in them.
Factors for Rating Cordless Hammer Drills
There are many ways to rate cordless hammer drills. The torque produced by these drills is one excellent parameter. Other significant criteria include battery power vs performance exhibited by the drills especially when they handle tough jobs such as drilling holes in concrete.
Besides, one may also rate the drills in terms of the design ergonomics which enable the user to grip these with ease while the drill is working.
Cordless drills can handle really tough jobs. Most operators require drilling in concrete aside from drilling in much softer materials like wood or drywall. They can achieve this with a drill/driver or similar equipment.
Concrete drilling can test how many holes the hammer drill can do and the time for drilling these. The normal observation is that brushless hammer drills have a long battery life, though this decreases if concrete drilling is done.
Not to be used for screws
The hammer setting on the cordless hammer drills should not be used for drilling screws. An impact screwdriver is a tool for that. The impact driver uses an impact action type to boost the rotational drive.
Rotational impact drivers are for driving in nuts, screws, and bolts, but they never do drilling work. For drilling impact, do not ever use drivers. The proper tool to use is a corded or cordless hammer drill.
Where there are no electrical outlets at the location where the drill work is to be performed, the cordless hammer drill is the appropriate tool for the job. The cordless hammer drill is the best for a large number of people performing drilling tasks at different locations.
Weight
The very point of cordless hammer drills is that they afford mobility to the user. A heavy hammer drill would defeat this purpose. Manufacturers who know their onions make necessary trade-offs that keep the tool’s weight low and manageable without hampering performance.
Speed Ranges: RPM and BPM
Speed ranges matter when buying a cordless drill. Some cheaper options are single speed. It’s better though, to go with multiple speed settings to get the most versatile tool available.
There are two ranges: revolutions per minute (RPM) and blows per minute (BPM), as the drill moves in two directions. The higher the number, the faster and harder the drill will drive into the surface.
The impact will be stronger with a higher BPM. But these higher numbers means your batteries will drain faster too.
Battery life
Since cordless hammer drills are do not need an electrical outlet, they get their power from rechargeable batteries. These are mostly Lithium-ion power cells. Not every manufacturer provides this, but they are often affordable.
Price
The price of a cordless hammer drill is important when DIYers want to purchase one. Most cordless hammer drills have the majority of tools the most advanced enthusiast would need.
However, they still want so much for so much less. The quality and features of a good hammer drill product can often justify the price. However, there is almost always a cordless hammer drill to match your budget.
Our Verdict
When it comes to buying a drill, personal needs become paramount. While the Makita, DEWALT and Ryobi products are great recommendations, the Bosch is the epitome of sound engineering.
The Bosch cordless drills provide optimal performance and include everything you’ll need to get to work in an instant. It is also reliable, like the Makita, with the ability to power through almost any job you ask it to handle.
While the Bosch is our clear winner with its solid German engineering, your preferences might differ. That’s why we suggest you thoroughly assess your needs and know what is best for your situation.
We hope this review of the best cordless hammer drills helps you make the most informed decision. We also hope that what thrills us about these drills are also beneficial to you.
Top 5 best cordless hammer drills
Source: Safetyhub
