Best Rated Hammer Drills

Last Update: October, 2023

A hammer drill is a necessary tool when it comes to cutting through all types of materials. There's nothing like that smooth feeling when it goes through metal or stone, but you may be having some trouble with your hammer drill.

Your current one might not be powerful enough, or may be on its last leg. If you want to have a smooth cut every time, one of these hammer drills is sure to be perfect for you.

More About DeWalt DCD996B

Use this DeWalt for its high-performance transmission, which gives it fast application speeds and improved run-time. It includes a high efficiency brushless motor that allows it to run for up to 57 percent longer than its competitors. Clocking in at 250 BPM, it’ll work quickly to drill through all materials.

You do need to buy the battery and charger separately, but once you have that battery in, you’ll have about 18 volts of power. Position your drill and turn on the 3-mode LED light, which even includes a spotlight mode to make your work more exact.

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More About DeWalt DW511

This 7.8-amp DeWalt has an average amount of power for high performance, but it also has overload protection to keep you safe at all times. Use the variable speed to give you precise hole placement on any surface, while the dual mode lets you switch between materials quickly.

No matter how strong you are, this DeWalt is a great option considering that it only weighs 4.3 pounds. The lightweight design lets you use it for a long time without tiring you out. Along with the 360-degree side handle, you’ll have greater control, versatility, and accuracy too.

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More about Bosch Power Tools RotaryHammer Drill

You have a lot of adjustability with this Bosch Rotary Hammer Drill since you're able to shift between rotation-only, rotary hammer-only, and hammer-only. You also have the ability to change the speed using the variable-speed reversing trigger, allowing you to work with more accuracy.

Designed with a 7.5-amp motor, this drill has enough power for you to use it on almost anything. With the D-handle design, you can use it for overhead drilling without straining yourself or putting your safety at risk.

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More About Dewalt D25263K

Use this Dewalt for 8.5-amps of power, which is more powerful compared to most of your other hammer drills out there. Even with the increased power though, you shouldn't feel too much vibration thanks to the active vibration control. The vibration will be reduced and not felt in the handles when you hold onto it.

The integral clutch provides you with more control since it will reduce sudden, high torque reactions. Just use the torque at full speed, and reverse it whenever you need to without compromising your process.

More About Dewalt DCH273B Rotary Hammer

This brushless motor Dewalt includes a long runtime, not to mention high durability. Also including active vibration control, you can hold onto this rotary hammer drill for as long as you need, especially since it’s meant to provide you with corded power, but without the cord.

Use the retractable utility hook for easy hanging and storage when you’re all done. Even though you will need to buy the battery and charger separately, you’ll get over a thousand RPM and 4,600 BPM, giving you all the power that you need for any job.

Key Features of a Hammer Drill

You have some great options when it comes to your hammer drill. All of these are at the top of their game, but you don’t just want to choose your drill based on what your friends have, or what the brand is.

You need to be sure that your hammer drill will work for your specific needs, with the power, speed, size, and comfort that you’re looking for.

Power Levels

The power of your hammer drill will impact how quickly you’re able to get your work done. If you get a standard hammer drill, you’ll usually have a 7-amp motor. Larger options have motors around 10-amps. Needless to say, the larger the motor, the more power you have.

Don’t just pick your power tools based on the power levels though. A heavier and larger motor means that you have a larger hammer drill. It will be bigger in your hands, and may actually be more uncomfortable to use.

Power Source

Power is important, but so is the actual power source. When you’re using your drill at home for light tasks, cordless hammer drills work fine. They’re versatile and able to be moved around without you needing to adjust the cord with every angle. This makes it simple to get into hard-to-reach places.

There are positives to having a cord though. Corded options have more rotations per minute and generally more power. Jobs go by faster this way, and you can work with tougher materials like stone or concrete.

Torque and Speed

The power and speed of the drill are determined by the torque, which is simply the force behind the drill when it rotates the drill bit into position. With more torque, you get more power and force.

The drill speed is about the number of revolutions or rotations that the drill performs per minute. Basically, the more rotations, the faster the drill.

The faster the drill, the more power you have, so you can work with materials like metal of concrete. You'll generally have faster speeds for corded options since they have more power and stronger motors.

There are also drills have a variable speed option, which is valuable because they offer you greater control. You can be more precise in your work and get better results, in the end, not to mention that you can drill many more types of material with the same drill.

Handles

There’s nothing more important than safety. When you’re using a hammer drill, you want to be sure that your drill is safe to use, which is why you might like it if your drill has a side handle. This handle will provide you with more stability when you’re using it. If your handles are ergonomic too, with shock absorption technology, that will make it even more comfortable for you to use.

Depth and Chuck

Check on the depth gauge when you make your purchase if you’re planning on making a lot of holes of a specific depth. Having a gauge to guide you will make your work more consistent. The chuck will help you add to that consistency when you change bits to fit. A keyed chuck lets you tighten your bits so they stay in place properly, and don’t move at all during operation.

Ease of Use

Using your rotary hammer drill should be easy, meaning that you may want to look for a forward/reverse switch. This lets you control the direction of the drill just by flicking the switch. If your drill gets stuck then, just flick the switch and reverse the motion.

What To Choose: Corded or Cordless Hammer Drill

When it comes to choosing power tools, cordless seems to be the obvious choice. However, more consideration should go into the decision. Yes, cordless drills lack annoying wires and cables that get tangled and/or limit the user's range of movement, but, thanks to their internal power source, they can also lack adequate power. This is because their power comes from within, making maintaining a constant supply of power kind of tricky.

To make the final decision between corded and cordless, the most important things to consider are the type of job that you will be doing, how frequently you will be using the tool, and whether you have the patience to drag around bulky cords to benefit from all that the traditional corded devices have to offer.

Tips for Safety

In general, the terms "hammer" and "drill" don't usually invoke feelings of peace and safety. Combined, they can certainly strike fear into the hearts of newbie DIYers and handymen.

Thankfully, there are ways to work with hammer drills that can reduce both the risks and fears that come with using them. In the following portion of this article, we go over a few of the best safety tips.

Wear appropriate protective equipment

When working with the cousin of the rotary hammer, it's important to wear appropriate clothing. This means that to operate the hammer drill you should equip yourself with earplugs, a pair of work gloves, and of course, durable safety glasses.

Avoid loose clothing​​

Anytime you’re working with a motorized tool, you should be certain to avoid wearing any kind of loose clothing. Yes, your favorite flowy shirt might allow for a nice breeze to pass through, but it can also prove to be a safety hazard.

Loose clothing can become tangled in the cordless hammer, which, as a result, can leave you with unexpected injuries that could have easily been avoided had you worn more tight fitting clothing.

Conclusion

Hammer drills are very useful tools. They are hardy, handy, and generally quite easy to use. There are a plethora of awesome models and brands to choose from, factors to consider before making a purchase, and safety tips that can make owning a hammer drill a much more pleasant experience.

With any luck, this article has given you a new insight into the world of hammer drills and given you the information you need to feel confident purchasing, using, and mastering the trade.