Rotary hammers drills are powerful tools that are commonly used for drilling holes in concrete and masonry, and removing tiles from walls and ceilings.
Unlike combi and hammer drills that are found in homes across the country, rotary hammer drills feature a SDS (Special Direct System) Plus chuck instead of a keyless drill chuck. This is a spring-loaded chuck where bits simply slide in without tightening. As the bits aren’t gripped in place, they can move back and forth like a piston, which makes them better at hammer drilling and chiselling.
The image on left shows a SDS Plus bit with a standard 10 mm shank. If you don’t already own a set of SDS Plus bits, you’ll have to purchase these before you can use your rotary hammer drill for drilling and chiselling.
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How we Chose the Best Rotary Hammer Drills
Apart from costing £120 or less, all the rotary hammer drills on our list had to include the following:
- Feature an SDS Plus chuck.
- Drill, hammer drill and chisel modes.
- Corded so you don’t have to worry about batteries.
Bosch PBH 2100 RE Rotary Hammer Drill
- SDS Plus chuck
- Drilling, hammer drilling, and chiselling
- Vario-Lock with 36 chisel positions
- Lock button for continuous operation
- Depth stop
- Auxiliary handle
- Lightest rotary hammer drill on the list
- Plastic carry case
- 2 year warranty, 3 years when registered
- Not as powerful compared to others
Includes
The first Bosch rotary hammer drill to be featured on our list is the PBH 2100 RE. It weighs just 2.2 kg, which makes it the lightest rotary hammer drill here. The drill has a 550 W motor and a pneumatic hammer mechanism for hammering in masonry and chiselling. The SDS Plus chuck enables quick, keyless changes between different bits and the Bosch Electronic Speed Control lets you adjust the speed of the drill by varying the pressure applied to the trigger.
On the side of the drill is a dial that allows you to switch between drill, hammer drill, Vario-Lock and chisel modes. With the Vario-Lock mode, you can lock chisel bits in 36 different positions to ensure the best working angle at all times. Finally, there’s a lock-on button that locks the drill into continuous operation to save you from holding down the trigger during long periods of operation.
The Bosch comes with an auxiliary handle to give you more control, a depth stop/gauge that will help you drill holes to an exact depth and a plastic carry case. The Bosch PBH 2100 RE isn’t the most powerful drill on the list, but it’s affordable, lightweight and fine for DIY around the home.
Check availability + priceRyobi RSDS680-G SDS Plus Corded Rotary Hammer Drill
- SDS Plus chuck
- 13 mm chuck adaptor
- Drilling, hammer drilling, and chiselling
- Bit angle adjustment
- Lock-on button for continuous operation
- Depth stop
- Auxiliary handle
- 2 year warranty, 3 years when registered
- No plastic carry case
Includes
The next rotary hammer drill on our list is the Ryobi RSDS680-G. It’s the only rotary hammer drill here that comes with a 13 mm chuck adaptor so you can use regular drill bits with it. This is an optional extra for most of the rotary hammer drills on our list and can cost up to £40, so it’s good to see Ryobi including this.
The RSDS680-G is a step up from the Bosch when it comes to power. The larger 680 W motor can generate up to 2.2 J of impact energy. Like the Bosch, it has three modes of operation: rotary drill, hammer drill and hammer only and you can switch between these by using the large dial on the side. Above that, you’ll find a depth stop to help you when drilling holes. Finally, there’s a lock-on button next to the trigger for continuous operation.
If you’re looking for a rotary hammer drill with more power than the Bosch, the Ryobi RSDS680-G is an excellent alternative. It’s great that the drill comes with a 13 mm chuck adaptor, but not so great that it doesn’t come with a case or bag. However, Ryobi does make a good range of tool bags and boxes that will fit the RSDS680-G, but will be an added expense.
Check availability + priceMakita HR2630 Rotary Hammer Drill SDS Plus
- SDS Plus chuck
- Drilling, hammer drilling, and chiselling
- Bit angle adjustment with 40 positions
- Lock-on button for continuous operation
- Torque limiter
- Depth stop
- Auxiliary handle
- Plastic carry case
- 1 year warranty, 3 years when registered
- Action mode knob located under the drill
Includes
The Makita HR2630 has a powerful 800 W motor that delivers up to 2.4 J of impact power. Like the other rotary hammer drills we’ve seen, the HR2630 has three modes of operation: drilling, hammer drilling and chiselling. You can easily switch between them just by turning the action mode knob underneath the drill. There are also 40 different bit angle settings you can choose from which will come in handy when chiselling. A variable speed trigger controls the speed of the drill and the lock button next to it allows for continuous operation. There’s also a reversing switch to change the direction of rotation.
At under £100, the Makita HR2630 is very good value for money. It packs plenty of power for DIY users and should meet the needs of many professionals too. We would have preferred the action mode knob to be on the side like the other drills, as that’s a more convenient place. Also, as it’s a Makita, there’s a good selection of extras you can buy to enhance its functionality.
Check availability + priceHikoki DH26PX2 SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Drill
- SDS Plus chuck
- Drilling, hammer drilling, and chiselling
- Bit angle adjustment
- Lock-on button for continuous operation
- Depth stop
- Auxiliary handle
- Plastic carry case
- 3 year automatic warranty
Includes
For those that don’t know, Hikoki is the new name for Hitachi power tools in Europe and not another knock-off brand from China. The Hikoki DH26PX2 is the most powerful rotary hammer drill on our list. The high-performance 830 W motor delivers an impressive 3.2 J of impact energy per stroke, and despite the amount of power, it weighs the same as the Makita HR2630.
The DH26PX2 has the usual three modes of operation (rotation only, hammer + rotation and hammer only) with a large change lever that allows you to switch between them easily. The angle adjustment function allows for easy alignment of chisels and the depth stop is there to help you drill to the correct depth. Finally, the DH26PX2 has soft grip handles for extra comfort during long periods of operation.
Overall, the Hikoki DH26PX2 is a well-built and powerful rotary hammer drill that’s ideal for DIY enthusiasts and professionals. It comes with a 3-year automatic warranty to save you the bother of registering, just make sure you keep your proof of purchase in a safe place! Also, there’s a good selection of extras you can buy for it, including a drill chuck (13 VLRB-D) and dust collector.
Check availability + priceDeWalt D25133K SDS Plus Hammer Drill
- SDS Plus chuck
- Drilling, hammer drilling, and chiselling
- Bit angle adjustment
- Depth stop
- Auxiliary handle
- Plastic carry case
- 1 year warranty, 3 years when registered
- No lock-on button for continuous operation
Includes
DeWalt is a popular brand that many professionals turn to for their power tool needs. The DeWalt D25133K has a large 800 W motor that can deliver 2.6 J of impact energy. That’s a bit more than the Makita despite it weighing 200 g less. The D25133K has a top no-load speed of 1,500 rpm and can drill holes into concrete and masonry from 4 to 26 mm in diameter. The mode selector button on the drill lets you switch between three different operating modes (drilling, hammer drilling and hammer only), while the electronic variable speed will give you full the control of the drilling speed.
Other features on the DeWalt D25133K worth mentioning include the ability to lock chisel bits into different angles, so you have the optimum working position for each task. The reversing switch above the trigger lets you change the direction of rotation, and you can set the required drilling depth with the depth stop. However, one feature the DeWalt D25133K does not have is a lock-on button for continuous operation. It’s a feature DIYers can probably live without, but may put some professionals off it.
To sum up, the DeWalt D25133K is a quality rotary hammer drill that packs plenty of power. It’s fairly compact and weighs just 2.6 kg, making it the second lightest rotary hammer drill on our list. It comes with a heavy-duty carrying case and a 1-year warranty which is extended by two years when registered.
Check availability + priceBosch Professional GBH 2-26 Rotary Hammer Drill with SDS Plus
- SDS Plus chuck
- Drilling, hammer drilling, and chiselling
- Vario-Lock with 36 chisel positions
- Lock-on button for continuous operation
- Depth stop
- Auxiliary handle
- Plastic carry case
- 3 year warranty when registered
Includes
The Bosch Professional GBH 2-26 has 830 W motor that delivers up to 2.7 J of impact power. A large selector switch on the side of the drill allows you to switch between drilling modes with ease. These modes include drill, hammer drill, Vario-Lock and chisel. The Vario-Lock mode lets you lock the chisel in 36 positions, so you so have the optimum angle for chiselling. Next to the variable speed trigger, you’ll find a lock-on button for continuous operation. Other features include a depth stop to help drill holes to the correct depth and an auxiliary handle for more control.
The GBH 2-26 comes with a machine cloth and a plastic carry case. Like other rotary hammer drills aimed at tradesmen, the GBH 2-26 has several optional attachments that you can buy. They include a dust collector and a drill chuck so you can use regular drill bits with it. Alternatively, you can buy the Bosch GBH 2-26 F (£135.66) which includes the drill chuck.
The Bosch Professional GBH 2-26 is a well-designed and powerful rotary hammer drill. It has an excellent selection of features and comes with a 3-year warranty upon registering. Also, optional extras are easy to find online and fairly priced.
Check availability + priceRotary Hammer Drill Comparison Table
Top Pick | Top Pick | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bosch PBH 2100 RE | Ryobi RSDS680-G | Makita HR2630 | Hikoki DH26PX2 | DeWalt D25133K-GB | Bosch Professional GBH 2-26 |
|
Rating | ||||||
Power | 500 W | 680 W | 800 W | 830 W | 800 W | 830 W |
Impact Energy Per Stroke | 1.7 J | 2.2 J | 2.4 J | 3.2 J | 2.6 J | 2.7 J |
Max No Load Speed | 2,300 rpm | 2,150 rpm | 1,200 rpm | 1,100 rpm | 1,500 rpm | 1,300 rpm |
Max Drilling Dia. - Concrete | 20 mm | 22 mm | 26 mm | 26 mm | 26 mm | 26 mm |
Max Drilling Dia. - Steel | 13 mm | 13 mm | 13 mm | 13 mm | 13 mm | 13 mm |
Max Drilling Dia. - Wood | 30 mm | 30 mm | 32 mm | 32 mm | 30 mm | 30 mm |
Bit Angle Adjustment | ||||||
Continuous Operation | ||||||
Drill Chuck Adapter | ||||||
Depth Stop | ||||||
Auxiliary Handle | ||||||
Weight | 2.2 kg | 2.72 kg | 2.8 kg | 2.8 kg | 2.6 kg | 2.7 kg |
Price | £75.00 | £91.59 | £97.00 | £108.80 | £118.95 | £119.00 |
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