When it comes to drilling through tough materials like concrete, brick, or stone, a corded hammer drill is one of the best power tools for the job. Corded drills usually have more power and faster drilling speeds than their cordless equivalents, so they’re ideal for tough projects.
With a powerful motor and the ability to deliver rapid blows, hammer drills make quick work of even the hardest surfaces.
But with the range of different specifications and features on the market, which drill is best for you?
We’re going to take a look at some of the best corded hammer drills available in the UK, considering the best options for budget, overall performance and the ideal upgrade drill.
Best Options At A Glance
Product Summaries
BLACK+DECKER 710W Corded Hammer Drill
- Brand - BLACK+DECKER
- Dimensions - 28.6 x 9.2 x 27.8 cm
- Weight - 2.4 kg
- Speed - 2800 RPM
- Special Feature - Lock-on Comfort Button
Firstly we have the BLACK+DECKER 710W Corded Hammer Drill. It’s currently selling for £63/$84 on Amazon.
Despite its mid-range price point, this BLACK+DECKER corded hammer drill is a capable and well-rounded tool for everyday DIY work. It uses a 710W motor with variable speed control up to 2800 RPM, providing enough power for common household tasks without feeling unwieldy or difficult to manage.
The selectable hammer and drilling modes make it suitable for a wide range of materials, including masonry, brick, concrete, wood and metal. This flexibility is useful if you’re tackling mixed jobs such as mounting shelves on brick walls, drilling pilot holes in timber, or general home maintenance. The 13mm keyless chuck also makes switching between drill bits quick and straightforward.
A few practical features improve comfort and control during use. The included side handle helps stabilise the drill when working on tougher materials, while the lock-on button reduces fatigue during longer drilling sessions. The kit also comes with a small selection of drill bits and a carry case, so it’s ready to use straight out of the box.
If you want a reliable hammer drill that balances power, ease of use and versatility for home projects, the BLACK+DECKER 710W is a solid option to consider.
Buy the BLACK+DECKER 710W Corded Hammer Drill from Amazon for only £63/$84:
Dewalt DWD024KS Hammer/Percussion Drill
- Brand - Dewalt
- Dimensions - 31.9 x 13 x 12.8 cm
- Weight - 3.2 kg
- Speed - aprx. 3200 RPM
- Special Feature - Adjustable Speed
Next we have the Dewalt DWD024KS Hammer/Percussion Drill. It’s currently selling for £88/$118 on Amazon.
Despite it’s fairly small form factor, this Dewalt Hammer Drill uses a powerful 700W motor, resulting in an impressive size-to-power ratio. This makes it perfect for tradesman who want tools that are easy to transport between jobs, without scarifying power.
Similarly to the TOUGH MASTER 800W drill, this drill has a “Lock on” button. This gives the user the option to keep the machine continually running during repetitive operation.
The trigger sensitive variable speed switch gives you oven more control over your drill. This allows the user to drill slowly for precision accuracy or quickly for increased rotational force.
If you’re looking for a hammer drill with an excellent size-to-power ratio, the DWD024KS might be the one for you.
Buy the Dewalt DWD024KS Hammer/Percussion Drill from Amazon for only £88/$118:
Einhell TE-RH 32 4F Rotary Hammer Drill
- Brand - Einhell
- Dimensions - 16.2 x 4.8 x 10.1 cm
- Weight - 5 kg
- Speed - 850 RPM
- Special Feature - Storage Case
Another great drill is the Einhell TE-RH 32 4F Rotary Hammer Drill. It’s currently selling for £90/$120 on Amazon.
The Einhell TE-RH 32 4F impact drill is a powerful 1,250 watt tool with four versatile functions for restoration and renovation jobs. These functions include drilling, impact drilling and chiselling with and without lock.
Einhell’s electronic speed control allows the user to adjust the tool to suit each particular material and application. The infinitely adjustable drilling depth stop gives you even greater control over the material that you’re drilling or chiselling.
This drill is supplied complete with three drill bits (Ø 8, 10, 12 mm), a pointed chisel, a flat chisel and a practical storage case. This means that you have everything you need to get to work right away.
If you’re in the market for a highly capable hammer drill that comes with the necessary accessories, take a look at the Einhell TE-RH 32 4F.
Buy the Einhell TE-RH 32 4F Rotary Hammer Drill from Amazon for only £90/$120:
Bosch PBH 2100 RE Rotary Hammer Drill
- Brand - Bosch
- Dimensions - 38.3 x 36.9 x 11.1 cm
- Weight - 2.2 kg
- Speed - 2300 RPM
- Special Feature - Quick Change
Next we have the Bosch PBH 2100 RE Rotary Hammer Drill . It’s currently selling for £105/$140 on Amazon.
Despite its compact size, the Bosch PBH 2100 RE is a highly capable rotary hammer designed for demanding home projects. It uses a 550W motor to deliver consistent performance when drilling, hammer drilling or chiselling, particularly in tougher materials like concrete and masonry.
The SDS Plus system allows for fast, tool-free bit changes, which is especially useful when switching between drilling and chiselling tasks. You can also deactivate the hammer action entirely, making the tool suitable for standard drilling in wood or steel when needed. This added flexibility helps it cover a wide range of jobs around the home.
Bosch has clearly focused on ease of use. The auxiliary handle improves control during heavier work, while the depth stop helps maintain accuracy when drilling repeated holes. It also comes supplied in a carry case, keeping everything organised and easy to store between jobs.
If you’re looking for a reliable rotary hammer that offers strong performance, versatility and simple operation for DIY renovation tasks, the Bosch PBH 2100 RE is a solid choice.
Buy the Bosch PBH 2100 RE Rotary Hammer Drill from Amazon for only £105/$140:
Bosch GBH 2-26 Rotary Hammer Drill
- Brand - Bosch
- Dimensions - 8.3 x 3.2 x 15 cm
- Weight - 2.7 kg
- Speed - 1300 RPM
- Special Feature - Ball Grommet
Finally we have the impressive Bosch GBH 2-26 Rotary Hammer Drill. It’s currently selling for £135/$181 on Amazon.
The Bosch GBH 2-26 is a slightly more premium version of the GBH 2-24. It is an all-round performance rotary hammer that is more than capable of daily professional use. It features Bosch’s SDS plus system, guaranteeing effective power transmission no matter the job.
Another interesting feature is the Rotation Clutch Control. This provides protection against overloading or blocking for both the user and machine. The prevention of abrupt blocking makes the drilling process both quicker and easier for the user.
This hammer drill also includes Bosch’s Autolock system. This makes accessory changes as easy as can be – the keyless chuck is easy to open and close without the need for additional tools.
If you’re looking for a high-quality hammer drill that is well-rounded and highly adjustable, take look at the Bosch GBH 2-26.
Buy the Bosch GBH 2-26 Rotary Hammer Drill from Amazon for only £135/$181:
🔨 The Best Hammer Drills Compared at a Glance
A quick comparison of the most popular corded hammer and rotary drills, covering power level, use case and overall value.
BLACK+DECKER 710W Corded Hammer Drill – £, versatile 710W hammer drill with lock-on comfort control
Best for everyday DIY tasks involving wood, metal and light masonry.
DeWalt DWD024KS Hammer Drill – ££, compact high-speed hammer drill with variable speed control
Best for users wanting a strong size-to-power balance and portability between jobs.
Einhell TE-RH 32 4F Rotary Hammer Drill – ££, high-power rotary hammer with drilling and chiselling modes
Best for renovation projects that involve concrete, masonry and demolition work.
Bosch PBH 2100 RE Rotary Hammer Drill – £££, lightweight rotary hammer with SDS Plus quick-change system
Best for demanding DIY users needing reliable masonry drilling and occasional chiselling.
Bosch GBH 2-26 Rotary Hammer Drill – £££, professional-grade rotary hammer with safety clutch and Autolock
Best for frequent or trade-level use where precision, durability and control matter.
FAQs
The majority of hammer drills utilise a traditional jaw lock and chuck key system, whereas SDS drills use a quick-lock shank chuck.
Conventional hammer drills use a hammer action that moves the whole chuck and drill bit forwards and backwards, and this is highly reliant on the user’s weight or pressure on the drill. SDS drills on the other hand use a piston system to drive the hammer action – this removes the reliance on the user and making them better suited for heavy-duty jobs.
The appropriate wattage for a hammer drill will depend on your intended application. Higher wattage drills will be able produce larger holes than lower wattage drills on average, so your use case will dictate the wattage that you require.
Hammer drills with a wattage of around 400-650W should be capable of drilling holes with a diameter of 5-15mm, but if you intend to use a hole cutter bit, you may want a drill with a high wattage in the 750-800W range. If you’re trying to create holes that are larger than 15mm, you may want to look at something more powerful.
Corded hammer drills usually offer more power and rotations per minute than their cordless counterparts. They’re also powered by mains electricity, so there’s no chance of them running out of charge half way through a job. The only downside is that you’re limited by the length of your power cable, often meaning that you have to switch between power outlets if you’re working on larger sites.
Cordless drills give you the convenience of no power cables resulting in improved manoeuvrability, but this comes at the cost of decreased power, speed and reliability.
There’s many factors to consider when calculating ideal drilling speeds, including the drill bit, the material, the power of the hammer drill, and the pressure applied by the user.
That being said, the general consensus is that a speed of approximately 350-750 revolutions per minute is usually best when drilling concrete. As with most drilling tasks, it’s recommended that you start slowly and gradually increase the speed over time – this makes hammer drills with a variable speed ideal for drilling concrete.
Look for key safety features like a lock-on switch, overload protection, and an ergonomic grip. Anti-vibration handles can also reduce fatigue – this is particularly important for use over longer periods.
Thanks for reading our article – if you’re interested in upgrading your tools, you might want to take a look at our article covering the Best Electric Screwdrivers UK.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any thoughts or queries that you’d like us to take a look at – we’d be happy to help.
