So you’re on the look out for which cordless hammer drill is the best to buy? In terms of quality to price ratio, perhaps which is worth the money for those on a budget? Today we take a look at the highest rated cordless hammer drills in the market and choose a few that will depend on a few of your needs. As usual, we see a few of the popular brands such as Makita and DeWalt making some appearances here, but there are a few others you may want to keep in mind while you shop.
To brush up on the topic and review a little here, cordless hammer drills are some of the most popular and versatile tools to be used in varying fields of work. To sum it up, hammer drills are also known as rotary hammers and they’re used for, you guessed it, some power hammering actions (short and rapid thrusts to break apart material or drill super quickly). Think of them as mini demolition hammers that fit in your hand. They’re often found in power tool combo kits for a reason.
Like us, you’re most likely aware of the benefits of going cordless on most power tools. If you don’t mind charging up batteries before using and want some extra versatility for hand-held tools, you’ve come to the right place. If you’ve ventured over here from our 10 best hammer drills article, you’ve been able to narrow down your hammer drill search to those without cords. If not, you already know what you want, so now that we’ve won half the battle, here are the rest of the factors to take into consideration on your search.
How to pick the best cordless hammer drill
- Price tag – There’s a decent range when it comes to cordless hammer drills. How much cash you have saved up to invest in your tool is up to you. We found a few in the higher priced range but also recommend a few budget-friendly choices to help.
- Voltage – We recommend always going 18 volts and up in order to remain covered when it comes to the current power tool average. Most of the popular models stay at 18 or go up to 20 volts.
- Additional features – Like many power tools out there, higher priced models typically come with some extra pizzazz — whether that’s worth your budget is up to you. We’re talking LED light guides, extra rubber grips, ability to drill as well, and some with speed variation control.
- Accessories in the box? Some come with batteries and chargers (obviously needed for cordless tools, so make sure you factor this into your budget if you are looking at a bare-tool version and still need these on the side), cases, and more. Which pieces do you need in the package?
The best cordless hammer drills
Makita XPH012
The Makita XPH012 is a cordless hammer drill with 18 volts of power and LXT Lithium-Ion battery. It provides excellent performance and versatility to the job site because it can be driven as both a driver/drill and a hammer driver/drill to allow the user to carry merely one tool on the job site instead of two. It’s highly recommended because of the options it offers, and is an even better option for you if you plan on doing a lot of drilling alongside of it. This is if you don’t have a cordless drill yet of course or merely want an all-in-one. This particular kit includes a 1/2 inch hammer drill, 18 V LXT lithium-ion battery and 18V lithium-ion charger. The XPH012 is only 8 1/8 inches long and is therefore considered to have a compact and ergonomic design. It is a lightweight tool at just 4 pounds. To make the task easier and when in need, it comes with a built-in LED light and additionally has a rubberized soft grip for a more comfortable workflow.
Milwaukee M18 2602-22
The Milwaukee M18 2602-22 is a great tool to be used around the home, for fence construction, building a deck and more. Its one of the best cordless hammer drills available in a compact size and is built with a 4 pole frameless motor. Its variable speed trigger offers speed control between 0 to 550 RPM on low-speed and from 0 to 1700 on high-speed with BPM 0- 29000 BPM. The all metal gear case for solid durability makes the tool unique in its class when it comes longevity and reliable construction. This cordless hammer drill kit includes 2 M18 XC REDLITHIUM batteries, 1 M18 and M12 multi-voltage charger along with a nice additional carrying case. As stated in our best cordless impact drivers article, the M18 series by Milwaukee is one of the highest quality kits in the market. It’s a great option if you want a hammer drill that also comes with a battery and charger, albeit at a higher price.
DeWalt DCD796D2
The DeWalt DCD796D2 is a wonderful cordless hammer drill with a brushless motor. These types of tools are stated to be able to deliver up to 57% more run time than the non-brushed models. The XR Li-Ion batteries are high quality and have a fuel gauge facility. It is a compact and lightweight design with a 7.5″ front to back length and 3.6 lbs of weight so it can easily be fit to any tight spaces you encounter. It offers two-speed settings, i.e., 0- 550 and 0- 2000 RPM, and delivers up to 30% more rapid application speed. The well-built (it’s DeWalt, what do you expect in terms of construction?) ergonomic grip handle gives us some ideal balance and tool control. This cordless hammer drill also features a 3 mode LED light that illuminates even confined dark places. We linked you to the kit with a battery, case and charger and recommend it for those who don’t have a battery and charger yet. It’s a bit cheaper than the previously listed M18 if you want to save some money as well.
Porter-Cable PCC620B
This is an excellent cordless hammer drill that features 20 volts and a Lithium-Ion battery type (it’s the bare-tool version so you’ll need to purchase a battery separately if you don’t have it yet). The Porter-Cable PCC620B is a highly rated cordless hammer drill that can deliver the power required to accomplish large and small operations like concrete and masonry drilling, metal drilling and wood drilling. We’d say this is the best budget-friendly cordless hammer drill since it’s nearly half the price of the other more popular models. It offers a two-speed gear box, i.e., 0-1600 RPM for high-speed and 0-400 RPM for low torque applications. As one of the best of its price point, the PCC620 also provides a battery gauge that is used to display the remaining charge and offers an incorporated LED light that helps brighten the narrow and dark spaces during work. Grab it if you want a popular model but want to save some money on top of it.
DeWalt DCD995B
Last but not least, we have the DeWalt DCD995B that offers 20 volts of power and a MAX XR Lithium Ion battery. Not to mention it also has a brushless motor that is very high in power and provides great efficiency. It has an all metal transmission that optimizes the tool for tasks that require rapid application speeds with improved run time. It provides 0-34000 BPM for the fastest drilling in concrete material. The compact design of 8.4″ front to back length is awesome to fit into most areas you’ll need to fit in. Moreover, the 1/2″ metal ratcheting chuck provides superior bit gripping strength. The kit includes 1 DCD995 1/2 inch hammer drill, an on-board bit holder, a belt hook and a 360 degree side handle.