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Bosch combi drill or SDS for brick

Updated: 22 October 2026

The plug will not go in, and the Bosch combi you bought for masonry is buzzing against the same spot. Whether you need that Bosch combi drill or an SDS for brick depends on the brick and the diameter, not on how long you lean. A combi’s hammer symbol is percussion for small plug holes inside the diameter the model states. An SDS rotary hammer uses a different bit shank for harder material and larger jobs. Listings in the [Bosch cordless combi drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/bosch-cordless-combi-drill) and the Bosch pages were checked on 20 October 2026. This page does not score an SDS model. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The plug will not go in, and the Bosch combi you bought for masonry is buzzing against the same spot.

Our top picks

Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, 1 x 1.5 Ah

Best overall

Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, 1 x 1.5 Ah
8.9/10about £64.97
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Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, 2 x 2.0 Ah

Rank 2

Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, 2 x 2.0 Ah
9.2/10about £75.23
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Bosch Bosch GSB 18V-110 C, body in a carton

Alternative

Bosch Bosch GSB 18V-110 C, body in a carton
7.5/10about £149.99
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On this page
  1. 1.Three tools people mix up
  2. 2.What these Bosch combis are rated to drill
  3. 3.Ordinary brick and block
  4. 4.When to put the combi down

Three tools people mix up

A cordless combi has a keyless chuck for round-shank bits, a clutch, a drill mode and a hammer mode. The EasyImpact, UniversalImpact, AdvancedImpact and GSB models here are that tool, even when Amazon says Impact Driver. An impact driver takes hex-shank bits and will not drill a plug hole. An SDS rotary hammer uses a slotted shank. Percussion suits small and medium holes in brick and block. SDS is for bigger holes, hard concrete and all-day work. You cannot put an SDS bit in the 13 mm chuck on an EasyImpact and expect the blows. Stay on a carbide round-shank masonry bit. The collar sequence is on how to use a Bosch combi drill.

What these Bosch combis are rated to drill

Bosch’s DIY guide treats Rawlplug holes up to about 13 mm as the band for an 18 V combi, and sends larger diameters and harder concrete, brick or stone to an SDS drill. That is a rule of thumb, not a measured test. The EasyImpact 18V-38 and the UniversalImpact 18 are the 10 mm class. The EasyImpact 18V-40 and the AdvancedImpact 18V-80 are the 13 mm chuck listings. The GSB 18V-110 C page states masonry up to 16 mm. Sixteen millimetres is still a combi rating. It does not turn 110 Nm into an SDS. A 13 mm rating does not mean a 13 mm hole for a 6 mm plug. The GSB 18V-25 table gives no masonry diameter, so this page does not treat it as a concrete drill.
Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, 1 x 1.5 Ah

Testsieger

Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40, 1 x 1.5 Ah
8.9/10about £64.97
View offer

Ordinary brick and block

For a handful of plug holes in common facing brick or lightweight block, Homebuilding describes a combi with a sharp carbide bit as enough for most brick. Start without hammer so the tip does not walk, then switch to the hammer symbol. UK reviewers mention that sort of hole with an EasyImpact 18V-40. Expect dust and a minute or two, not a second. The UniversalImpact 18 is the caution: UK reviews say it is not a drill for heavy masonry and that impact and hammer overstate brick. If the bit polishes a dent, stop. Pressure should be firm, not your full weight. Which combi to own is the best Bosch cordless combi drill page.

When to put the combi down

Put the combi down for dense engineering brick, concrete or a lintel, a hole larger than the stated masonry diameter, or more holes than a morning of plug fixing. Homebuilding points SDS-Plus at that harder brick, at holes around 10 mm and above in it, or at many holes. A 20 mm hole is outside a 13 mm rating. The GSB 18V-110 C, masonry to 16 mm, is still a three-jaw combi, and UK reviews say that chuck loosens. This set has no SDS listing. Hire an SDS-Plus when the diameter, the material or the hole count is past the combi. Stop for a qualified person near a consumer unit, a chased cable or pipework you cannot trace.

Common questions

Will an EasyImpact drill a brick wall for a Rawlplug?
For a normal plug in ordinary brick, the EasyImpact 18V-40 listings that state impact drilling and a 13 mm chuck are the kits reviewers describe, including a TV mount. Use a carbide bit of the plug’s diameter, and hammer only after the hole has started. The 18V-38 has a 10 mm chuck and no masonry sentence in this capture. Dense engineering brick is where this answer stops.
What diameter is the combi actually rated for?
Use the figure tied to the model: about 10 mm for the EasyImpact 18V-38 and the UniversalImpact 18, 13 mm class for the EasyImpact 18V-40 and the AdvancedImpact 18V-80, and up to 16 mm masonry on the Bosch page for the GSB 18V-110 C. A higher number on a different model does not transfer.
Is concrete the same as brick?
No. Common brick and lightweight block are what a combi’s hammer mode is described for, in small diameters. Concrete, lintels and dense engineering brick are where UK guides and Bosch’s DIY page move you to an SDS drill. That is the material, not a clutch number.
Do I need SDS bits in a combi chuck?
No. These combis use round-shank bits in a keyless chuck. SDS-Plus bits lock into an SDS chuck and do not belong in a 10 mm or 13 mm three-jaw chuck. Buy a carbide masonry bit of the diameter on the plug packet. If you only own SDS bits, you need an SDS drill.
Is the GSB 18V-110 C an SDS drill because it is 110 Nm?
No. 110 Nm is the listed torque of a combi. The Professional page rates masonry up to 16 mm and still describes a chuck, not an SDS shank. UK reviews also describe a chuck that drops the bit. Past 16 mm, or in concrete, 110 Nm does not close the gap.
When should I hire an SDS or a fitter?
Hire an SDS-Plus when the diameter is above the stated masonry figure, the wall is concrete or engineering brick, or you have a long run of holes. Stop for advice when you cannot say what is behind the plaster, especially near sockets, a consumer unit or plumbing.

Related pages

Bosch cordless combi drill buying guide

Cordless rotary hammer

Bosch cordless combi drill

Best Bosch cordless combi drill for the kit you need

Bosch green vs blue combi drill: pack compatibility

How to use a Bosch combi drill: clutch, gear and hammer

Sources

Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file.

  1. Bosch DIY: cordless drills and combi drills (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  2. Bosch DIY: 18 V POWER FOR ALL (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  3. POWER FOR ALL alliance FAQ (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  4. Bosch Professional: AMPShare (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  5. Bosch Professional: GSB 18V-110 C (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  6. B&Q: EasyImpact 18V-40 kit (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  7. HSE RR1182 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  8. Homebuilding: drilling into brick (retrieved 22 October 2026)