The content on this webpage contains paid/affiliate links. When you click on any of our affiliate link, we/I may get a small compensation at no cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure for more info -----------------------
Last updated on May 1st, 2020 at 03:21 pm
What is the best hammer drill to buy in 2010? What brands should you get? Should it be a cordless or corded hammer drill?
These are few questions that fondly come to your heart.
A hammer drill is not what the average person thinks of every day. But when it comes to home improvements or working professionally, having the right tools is important. It saves you the hassle of improvising and gets the job done.
Don’t worry
This hammer drill reviews, guide, and recommendation has got you covered and would answer all and even more question you would have. However, if you’re still undecided, here are a few recommendations: Some FAQ Questions:
Here is a table comparing the top 5. You’re finally ready to check out our 5 best hammer drills out of the many we compared. The DeWalt brand is known for making one of the best hammer drills on the market. DeWalt DCD995M2 is first on our list and we can’t wait to tell you all about this hammer drill. Rated at 20V, the DeWalt DCD995M2 comes with two Lithium-ion batteries. This hammer drill has a brushless motor and all metal transmission. A 3 setting speed trigger completes the ensemble of this drill. The 14 electronic clutch settings on this hammer drill are one feature we’re loving. The keyless chuck on the DeWalt DCD995M2 is ½ inches and made of metal and carbide. Durability and comfort is the watchword here. The DeWalt DCD995M2 is so light and compact at 4.7 lbs. Perfect for working in tight corners. It comes with an LED work light. This is a great addition for working in dark areas. Another feature we love on the DeWalt DCD995M2 is the battery gauge. It conveniently lets us know the time to charge it or when it’s full. The way all the accessories fit into the carrying case is another plus. The only downside to this hammer drill is the way the electronic clutch shuts off the motor at a pre-set limit. You have to wait for a second or two to hear the click that would allow you start the drill again. A little annoying really! The DeWalt DCD995M2 makes up for this with its amazing power and awesome feel. If you’re a contractor or serious DIYer, this is one hammer drill you must absolutely have. The 5 Top Rated Hammer Drills Compared
Drill Features DeWalt DCD995M2 Bosch RH540M Makita XPH012 Bostitch BTE140K DeWalt DWD520K Power (Volts) 20 120 18 120 120 Drill Speed RPM 2000 340 1500 3100 3500 H. Speed BPM 34000 2900 22500 52700 56000 Type Cordless Corded Cordless Corded Corded Weight (lbs) 4.7 15.2 4 8.8 6.1 Work Light Yes No Yes No No Variable Speed Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Chuck Size (") Half an inch SDS-Max Half an inch Half an inch Half an inch Chuck Type Keyless Keyless Keyless Keyed Keyed Check Price Check Price Check Price Check Price Check Price Quick Review of the 5 Best Hammer Drills
DeWalt DCD995M2 is a cordless hammer drill that delivers a maximum speed of 2,000 RPM. Its hammer function can reach 34,000 BPM. Talk about enough power to tackle drilling holes in concrete, steel, wood, brick etc.
- Bosch RH540M Hammer Drill Review
Second on our list of best hammer drills is the Bosch RH540M. This is another quality product from the Bosch brand. This hammer drill will blow your mind.
The Bosch RH540M is a corded hammer drill. It comes with 6.1 ft.-lbs of torque. In hammer mode, it delivers a maximum of 2,900 BPM. It can reach up to 340 RPM in drill mode.
The Bosch RH540M is rated at 120V. It has a wide concrete range of ½ to 1 to 3/8 inches. A carrying case for all accessories is a wonderful bonus. Tool and other bits can be kept in one place for easy access.
It is designed with a keyless SDS-max chuck. The 12 position chisel rotation on the Bosch RH540M is one feature we love. This big guy can handle drilling holes in any surface ranging from tiles to wood to concrete etc.
Weighing 15.2 lbs, the Bosch RH540M is heavy. Not as light as we’d have loved. This is to be expected as this hammer drill is made of mostly metal and some plastic. Solid feel guarantees it would be durable.
One of the best features of Bosch RH540M is its service minder brushes. These little guys let you know when it’s time to get your hammer drill serviced to prevent damage: Nifty addition and very convenient too. The weight is the only issue we have with it. After prolonged use, you’d definitely be feeling the burn like we were.
The Bosch RH540M is a great hammer drill regardless of its heft. If you’re a contractor or a professional remodeler, this hammer drill will serve you well. Going for another would be foolhardy.
- Makita XPH012 Hammer Drill Review – (Discontinued)
Makita brand is known for their quality power tools. The Makita XPH012 is another great product from them. And it’s third on our best hammer drill review list.
The Makita XPH012is a cordless hammer drill that comes with 480ft.-lbs of torque. It can reach up to speeds of 1,500 RPM. In hammer mode, Makita XPH012 delivers 22,500 BPM. This right here is a powerful hammer drill.
Rated at 18V, the XPH012 comes with a Lithium-ion battery. The charge time on this battery is 25mins, very fast. A variable speed trigger and a twin transmission are also present on this hammer drill.
The Makita XPH012 is designed with a keyless ½ inch chuck. Easy removal and fixing of your drill bit. The casing fits all the accessories including an extra battery.
Makita XPH012 is very light. It weighs just 4 lbs with its battery attached. The work light is a very nice touch. It’s no bother working in dark small spaces with this tool.
The XPH012 has a lot of amazing features and tested really well. We would have just loved a battery gauge with this hammer drill. Full charge time is a science experiment we had to perform and time. The LED work light is great. But its location is not so great. It is located above the trigger and the drill spot in the shadow of the chuck.
The XPH012 is a great hammer drill regardless. We loved and enjoyed using it. Any serious DIYer, professional remodeler, and a contractor would find this little but powerful hammer drill equal to any task.
- Bostitch BTE140K Hammer Drill Review
Coming in at number on our best hammer drill review list is the Bostitch BTE140K. Another quality hammer drill you must absolutely read about.
The Bostitch BTE140K is a corded hammer drill. It comes with a maximum speed of 3,100 RPM. In hammer mode, it can reach up to 52,700 BPM.
This hammer drill is rated at 120V. It has a 7 amp motor for maximum torque. It comes with an all metal gear housing to protect internal components.
Bostitch BTE140K is designed with ½ inch chuck with a key. A variable speed trigger is also present in this hammer drill. It also comes with a decent cord length of 6 feet.
The BTE140K weighs 8.8lbs. It is hefty and not as light as we would have liked. It is well balanced. Its great balance is a nice trade-off for its heft.
In steel, the Bostitch BTE140K has a capacity of ½ inch. Inwood and concrete, its capacity is 1 to ¼ and ½ inches respectively. This hammer drill is perfect for drilling holes in newly cured concrete, cinder blocks, wood, steel etc. One of the issues we had with the Bostitch BTE140K during use is the depth gauge. We found that it was not easy to set. You have to loosen the handgrip to move the depth gauge and retighten.
Overall, the BTE140K is a great hammer drill. We enjoyed testing this tool out. If you’re a DIYer or home repair hobbyist, the Bostitch BTE140K is the hammer drill you cannot afford to pass up.
- DeWalt DWD520K Hammer Drill Review
Last on our best hammer drill review list is the DeWalt DWD520K. This is another quality drill from the DeWalt range of products. Here’s why it makes our list.
The DeWalt DWD520K is a corded hammer drill with a maximum speed of 3,500 RPM. In hammer mode, it boasts of 56,000 BPM. More than enough power to drill holes in cinder blocks, wood, steel, newly cured concrete etc.
The DWD520K is rated at 120V. The all-metal gear housing protects the inner components. This makes the hammer drill more durable. A carrying case which contains both tools and accessories is a nice bonus.
This hammer drill has a capacity of ½ in steel. In concrete, its capacity ranges from 5/32 to 7/16 inches. The DeWalt DWD520K has a range of 1 to ½ inch in wood.
DeWalt DWD520K is designed with a ½ inch keyed chuck. The key comes with a little holder so it won’t be easy to misplace. A variable speed trigger is also included in this drill.
Weighing 6lbs, this hammer drill is just perfect. Not too heavy. Not too light. The bulk is just perfect at its 14-inch length.
The best thing about the DWD520K drill is the 360-degree locking side handle. This allows you to turn the handle in any way that is comfortable for you. It provides perfect balance as you work. The one thing we didn’t like was the noise level on the DeWalt DWD520K. We wish it were quieter. In this age, everyone wants more ease and convenience when using their tools. A keyless chuck would have been nice.
All in all, the DeWalt DWD520K is an amazing hammer drill. If you’re a home repair hobbyist or a DIYer, this hammer drill will serve you well.
Choosing the Best Hammer Drills: What You Should Know
Whichever one you’re going for you must consider the following factors when choosing the best hammer drill. Torque/Power The bigger and more powerful the motor on your hammer drill is the more torque it can produce. The average motor rating is 5 amps. Most hammer drills can handle just about any task you throw at them but if you want that extra oomph, go for a drill with higher rated motor say 6 amps and above. Drill speed control This is important because when you drill holes in different materials you have to drill at different speeds. The speed you’d require to drill a hole in concrete is different from that required to drill holes in metals. Hammer drills with speed control option are best. The Chuck This is what holds your drill bit. The chuck needs to be very strong so as to prevent your drill bit from slipping when you work. Go for brands that have keyless chucks. Keyless chucks can be tightened with just your hand. Stay away from brands with chucks that require a tightening key as these keys are easy to lose. Lighting If you’ve ever had to work in a dark space while holding a flashlight and your tool, then you’d consider this feature as essential as I do. Your hammer drill should come with a light that comes on when you pull the trigger. Comfort Your hammer drill should be lightweight so that you don’t get tired after prolonged use. Your hammer drill should be well balanced with easy grip. This makes the drill easier and comfortable for you to use. Durability Always check what material your hammer drill is made of. Hammer drills with all-metal transmission are more durable. Also, hammer drills with brushless tend to last longer. This is because brush-less motors lack the wear and tear associated with their brushed counterparts. Warranty Like we always say, a warranty is a manufacturer’s seal of trust on his product. Go for products with longer warranty as they will save you money on replacement parts should you ever need it.
Congratulations for making it this far. You’ve got to the end of our reviews. We hope you’ve learned enough to make buying a hammer drill a walk in the park.
Have further questions?
Drop us a message in the comment section and we’d get back to you.
