Bosch combi drill for brick: plug holes, not concrete
Updated: 22 October 2026
The hammer icon is on, and the wall might be brick or something harder. A Bosch combi drill for brick will make an occasional plug hole in softer brick or block. Dense concrete, engineering brick, a large hole or a chase needs an SDS. The [Bosch combi drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/bosch-combi-drill) is the ten listings from 19 October 2026. There was no lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The hammer icon is on, and the wall might be brick or something harder. A Bosch combi drill for brick will make an occasional plug hole in softer brick or block.
The hammer icon is on, and the wall might be brick or something harder. A Bosch combi drill for brick will make an occasional plug hole in softer brick or block. Dense concrete, engineering brick, a large hole or a chase needs an SDS. The Bosch combi drill comparison is the ten listings from 19 October 2026. There was no lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Masonry figure | Hammer | Skip it if | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Bosch Bosch GSB 18V-110 C, L-BOXX, body only | Up to 16 mm stated | Yes, still not an SDS | You have no blue pack | 8.1 | about £186 | View offer |
| Best value |  Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, 1 x 1.5 Ah | 13 mm stated | Yes, same 18V-40 | You need a spare pack | 8.9 | about £64.97 | View offer |
 Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, 2 x 2.0 Ah | 13 mm stated | Yes, discs not a piston | The wall is dense concrete | 9.2 | about £75.23 | View offer |
On this page
Hammer mode is two discs, not a piston
On a combi, two ribbed discs click when you press. On an SDS, a piston makes a coarser blow, and Bosch’s line about drilling concrete easily belongs to that SDS, not to any combi here. Softer brick or block, for a small plug, is what a combi can state. Dense concrete, engineering brick, a wide hole and a chase stay with a rotary hammer. The GSB 18V-110 C’s 16 mm is a maximum diameter, not a lintel promise. The collar is the how to use page.
A plug hole is the job this set can state
For a wall plug, follow the B&Q and Screwfix sequence and keep Bosch’s diameters as the ceiling. Detect cables and pipes, match the bit to the plug packet, and tape the depth. Start without hammer so the bit does not wander, then switch once the tip is seated. Clear the dust, seat the plug flush, then drive the screw. If you are leaning hard and the dust has stopped, stop. The EasyImpact 18V-40 states 13 mm and up to 24,450 blows per minute. The AdvancedImpact 18V-80 states 13 mm on the Bosch page. The GSB 18V-110 C states up to 16 mm in masonry. Do not give the GSB 18V-65 a diameter: 175 mm on Amazon is the head length. Do not give the 10 mm EasyImpact 18V-38 the 13 mm figure. A 6–8 mm hobby line is a rule of thumb, not a Bosch rating.
Where these drills stall
On the two 1.5 Ah EasyImpact 18V-40, some UK reviews use it on brick and others say concrete loads the motor. A hard brick is where hammer mode stops being the right tool. The UniversalImpact 18, about £103.21, model 06039D4170, is 34 Nm. UK reviews say it is not for brick, the chuck loosens, and one gearbox crunched on day one. Do not paste 18V-60 figures onto it. When the bit glazes, hire an SDS. BS EN 62841-2-1 covers impact drills, not rotary hammers. Which model suits the job is which Bosch combi suits the job.
Stop before the fixing becomes structural
Cables and pipes are not visible from the paint. If the detector is unclear, or you are near a consumer unit, a flue or a known pipe, stop. A curtain pole in sound brick is not a bracket on a stair. Chasing is an SDS job. The 16 mm line on the GSB 18V-110 C does not make it one, and 15.5 m/s² with K 1.5 m/s² is a declaration, not a minute budget. All-day use sits with the employer. Do the plug only in softer brick or block, inside the stated diameter. The buying guide is where you choose the drill.
Common questions
Can I drill a wall plug hole with a Bosch combi?
Yes, when the wall is softer brick or block and the hole is an occasional plug within the diameter the model page states. Match the masonry bit to the plug packet, start the hole so the bit does not wander, then use hammer mode, clear the dust and seat the plug flush. Dense concrete, engineering brick, large holes and chasing are not that job.
What is the difference between hammer mode and an SDS drill?
Hammer mode on these Bosch combis is two ribbed discs that click when you press. An SDS rotary hammer uses a piston and a coarser blow, and Bosch says you use less force. The line about drilling concrete easily on Bosch’s types-of-drills page is attached to the SDS, not to the combi. You still need the combi afterwards if the screw needs a clutch.
Will an EasyImpact go into brick, and how large a hole?
The EasyImpact 18V-40 states 13 mm in masonry. That is a maximum on the Bosch page, not a promise about every brick in a UK house. UK reviews on one of the 18V-40 kits are mixed: some use it on brick, others say brick and concrete make the motor work too hard. The EasyImpact 18V-38 in this capture is a 10 mm chuck, so do not borrow the 13 mm figure for it.
Does 110 Nm mean the GSB will drill concrete?
No. The GSB 18V-110 C states 47/85/110 Nm and impact drilling in masonry up to 16 mm. The torque is not a concrete rating. Dense concrete, engineering brick and lintels that behave like concrete still need an SDS. UK reviews on the L-BOXX listing still mention keeping an SDS for heavy hammering.
Why does the drill stall or the bit wander on a hard wall?
The discs only work under pressure, and a hard aggregate can glaze the bit so the dust stops while the motor loads. Starting in hammer mode before the tip is seated is how the bit wanders. If dust has stopped and you are leaning hard, the wall is past a combi. Hiring an SDS is the next step, not a larger bit in the same chuck.
When do I stop and hire an SDS or call a professional?
Hire an SDS for dense concrete, engineering brick, large holes and chasing. Call a professional if a cable or pipe may be in the wall, or if the fixing is structural. A combi’s stated masonry diameter is the ceiling for a plug hole, not permission to cut a chase. The UniversalImpact 18 reviews are a reminder that a hammer bullet on the listing can still be the wrong tool for brick.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 19 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file.
- Bosch Professional AMPShare FAQ (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- POWER FOR ALL battery FAQ (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Bosch DIY AdvancedImpact 18V-80 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Bosch Professional GSB 18V-110 C (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Bosch Professional GSB 18V-65 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Bosch Professional GSB 18V-25 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE vibration regulations (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- BSI scope for BS EN 62841-2-1 (retrieved 19 October 2026)