Best Hammer Drill UK 2026: SDS and Combi Picks
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The drill that drills concrete and brick
A standard combi drill will pilot small holes in masonry but it will burn out trying to drill 8 mm into engineering brick. For real masonry work — fixing kitchen units to brick walls, drilling 10 mm anchors into concrete lintels, or installing satellite dishes — you need a proper hammer drill or SDS drill. The hammer mechanism delivers thousands of impacts per minute, breaking the masonry ahead of the drill bit so it can advance with steady pressure.
This guide covers the best hammer drills and SDS drills for UK trade in 2026, with picks for occasional masonry work, daily site use, and heavy concrete drilling.
What to look for
- Combi drill vs SDS: A combi drill has a 13 mm chuck and a percussion mode — fine for occasional small holes in soft brick. An SDS-plus drill uses a quick-release chuck, a piston-driven hammer mechanism, and is 5–10× faster in real masonry. SDS-max is for 30 mm+ holes and demolition only.
- Impact energy (joules): The number that matters most. 2–3 J handles most fixings up to 10 mm. 3–5 J for steel-frame anchors and resin fixings. Above 5 J is for concrete coring and demolition.
- Brushless motor: Cordless SDS drills with brushless motors deliver 30–50% more holes per charge and last much longer. Worth the premium for daily trade use.
- Modes: Most SDS-plus drills have rotation only (for screwdriving / wood drilling), rotation + hammer (for masonry), and hammer only (for chiselling). Make sure all three are present if you need to use chisels for surface preparation.
- Vibration control: Look for AVS (Bosch), Anti-Vibration Technology (Makita), or similar. Reduces hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) risk on prolonged use — a real workplace health issue, not marketing.
Top picks: best hammer drills UK 2026
Makita DHR243Z 18V LXT Brushless SDS-Plus Drill
~£225 (bare) / £380 (kit)Best for: Site electrical and kitchen fitting
Makita's 18V LXT brushless SDS-plus drill is the standard for site electricians and kitchen fitters. 2.0 J impact energy, 24 mm max hole in concrete, three modes (rotation, rotation+hammer, hammer-only). Anti-vibration technology in the rear handle. About 60–80 holes (10 mm into concrete) per 5Ah battery.
View on Amazon →DeWalt DCH273N 18V XR Brushless SDS-Plus Drill
~£230 (bare) / £390 (kit)Best for: DeWalt XR users / heavy site work
DeWalt's 18V XR brushless SDS-plus rotary hammer matches the Makita on capability with 2.1 J impact, 26 mm max hole in concrete, and three modes. Slightly heavier at 3.1 kg but very well balanced. Active vibration control in the front handle. The right choice if your existing tools are DeWalt XR.
View on Amazon →Bosch GBH 2-26 F Professional 830W Corded SDS-Plus Drill
~£180–£230Best for: Workshop / sustained masonry
For workshop or sustained masonry work, the Bosch GBH 2-26 F is the corded standard. 830 W motor, 2.7 J impact, 26 mm max hole. Vario-Lock chisel position adjustment and a quick-change chuck (rotates between SDS and standard 13 mm chuck). Built like a tank.
View on Amazon →Makita HR2630 800W Corded SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer
~£145–£180Best for: Reliable corded budget choice
If budget is tight and you need a corded SDS that just works, the Makita HR2630 is the long-running standard. 800 W, 2.4 J impact, 26 mm capacity, three modes. Reliable, simple, repairable. The kind of tool you can hand to an apprentice and expect to find still working in five years.
View on Amazon →Buying advice and SDS bits
Buy SDS bits in singles, not multipacks. Cheap multipacks blunt within a few holes. A quality Bosch X-Lock or Makita Nemesis 6 mm bit costs £6–£10 and lasts 100+ holes in concrete. The cheap version costs £1.50 and lasts 5 holes — including the time you spend swapping bits, the expensive ones are far cheaper per hole.
Always blow dust out of the hole before fitting plug or anchor — a small puffer brush kit is essential. Wet drilling (with water as a coolant) extends bit life dramatically when drilling reinforced concrete.
For finding a builder or general-purpose tradesperson in Kent who handles masonry fixing work, see our how to choose a builder guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a combi drill and an SDS drill?
A combi drill has a 13 mm chuck and a percussion mode — suitable for small holes in soft masonry. An SDS-plus drill uses a quick-release chuck and a piston-driven hammer mechanism, making it 5–10× faster in real concrete and engineering brick.
How much impact energy do I need?
2–3 J handles most fixings up to 10 mm in concrete and brick. 3–5 J is for steel-frame anchors and resin fixings. Above 5 J is for concrete coring and demolition only — overkill for normal site work.
Cordless or corded SDS?
Cordless 18V brushless SDS drills (Makita DHR243, DeWalt DCH273) handle 60–80 holes per 5Ah charge and are the practical choice for site work. Corded SDS still wins for sustained workshop use or large coring jobs where battery life is the bottleneck.