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
TOUGH MASTER 800W Corded Hammer Drill
- Brand - TOUGH MASTER
- Dimensions - 31 x 26 x 5.8 cm
- Weight - 2.7 kg
- Speed - 3000 RPM
- Special Feature - Adjustable Speed
Firstly we have the TOUGH MASTER 800W Corded Hammer Drill. It’s currently selling for £27/$35 on Amazon.
Despite it’s reasonable price, this corded hammer drill is really capable. It utilises a powerful 800W copper motor, which makes it ideal for a wide variety of applications and materials.
The hammer drill mode and drilling mode allow you to use this corded impact drill with materials like masonry, stone, concrete, wood and sheet metal. The versatility is really helpful whether you’re working on a DIY project or commercial site.
One interesting feature is the lock-on button. The lock-on button allows you to set the power trigger to on or off, reducing fatigue during extended periods of use – that means safer performance in the long run.
If you’re looking for a reasonably priced hammer drill that can get the job done, take a look at the TOUGH MASTER 800W.
Buy the TOUGH MASTER 800W Corded Hammer Drill from Amazon for only £27/$35:
VonHaus 1200W Impact Hammer Drill
- Brand - VonHaus
- Dimensions - 42 x 30 x 11 cm
- Weight - 3 kg
- Speed - 3200 RPM
- Special Feature - Adjustable Speed
Next we have the VonHaus 1200W Impact Hammer Drill. It’s currently selling for £65/$84 on Amazon.
Similarly to the TOUGH MASTER 800W drill, this drill from VonHaus has different drilling modes. You can use the button on the top to select hammer or drilling functions, greatly increases the number of potential applications.
Interestingly, this drill also allows you to adjust the drilling speed. You can choose to operate at 2 high variable speeds to suit the task either 1200r/min or 3200r/min.
VonHaus also supply these with a 2 year manufacturer warranty, so you don’t have to worry about anything going wrong after purchase.
If you’re looking for a highly adjustable drill with plenty of power to back it up, take a look at this offering from VonHaus.
Buy the VonHaus 1200W Impact Hammer Drill from Amazon for only £65/$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
Another great scale inhibitor is the Dewalt DWD024KS Hammer/Percussion Drill. It’s currently selling for £88/$114 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/$114:
Bosch GBH 2-24 Rotary Hammer Drill
- Brand - Bosch
- Dimensions - 34.8 x 11 x 43.6 cm
- Weight - 4.8 kg
- Speed - 950 RPM
- Special Feature - Ball Grommet
Next we have the Bosch GBH 2-24 Rotary Hammer Drill. It’s currently selling for £108/$140 on Amazon.
The GBH 2-24’s 790 watt motor produces an impressively fast drilling rate as well as high performance chiselling. The 2.7 joules of impact energy mean that it has all the power required for even the toughest of masonry.
Bosch have designed this drill to be both reliable and durable, using high-quality components and manufacturing processes to ensure a long product lifetime.
Bosch’s rotating brush plate allows for equal power delivery in both forward and reverse rotation. This means more consistent drilling with less stoppages.
If you’re looking for a high-quality hammer drill that won’t break the bank, the GBH 2-24 is a great choice.
Buy the Bosch GBH 2-24 Rotary Hammer Drill from Amazon for only £108/$140:
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 £119/$154 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 £119/$154:
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
Another great drill is the Bosch GBH 2-26 Rotary Hammer Drill. It’s currently selling for £178/$231 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 £178/$231:
Dewalt DEWD25134K Hammer Drill
- Brand - Dewalt
- Dimensions - 17 x 13.6 x 4.7 cm
- Weight - 5.2 kg
- Speed - 1500 RPM
- Special Feature - Quick Change
Another great drill is the Dewalt DEWD25134K Hammer Drill. It’s currently selling for £218/$283 on Amazon.
This Dewalt corded hammer drill is really impressive.
Dewalt’s electronic variable speed system gives the user total control in any application. Whether you want a slow speed to start off a new drill hole or a fast speed to finish one off, this drill has you covered.
It’s mechanical clutch system is also really interesting. The mechanical clutch prevents abrupt high-torque reactions, especially in situations where the bit jams. This makes the drilling processes far easier and safer for the user.
The DEWD25134K also has a rotation-stop mode which is ideal for light chiselling applications in brick, soft masonry and occasionally concrete. It’s impact-stop mode is perfect for drilling in wood, steel, ceramic and screwdriving applications.
If you’re in the market for a high-end hammer drill from a reputable brand, take a look at this offering from Dewalt.
Buy the Dewalt DEWD25134K Hammer Drill from Amazon for only £218/$283:
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.
