The best Bosch rotary hammers, compared.
Top pick: Bosch GBH 2-21 110 V Best value: Bosch GBH 2-21 230 V – Highest value part among the rest, at 13: 230 V kit at about £120.15 with 2.0 J, bits and a case, and 4.6 from 122 reviews. Updated October 2026.
A rotary hammer is an electro-pneumatic tool with an SDS shank. In the UK you buy one for plugs in brick and block, for light chasing, and for the odd tile. It is not a combi drill with a cam hammer, and it is not a drill-driver sold with a hammer head. You tell a suitable one by the hole, not by the watt cell. Plugs in brick are not a wide concrete hole, and they are not a slab. The listing has to name a chisel mode if you will lift tiles. SDS-plus bits are not ordinary masonry bits. A house socket takes a 230 V or 240 V title. On a site, the Health and Safety Executive expects a cordless tool, or 110 V centre-tapped to earth. Check which battery family the tool uses, and whether a pack, a charger, a case and bits are actually included. Use a joule figure and a concrete diameter only when the listing prints them. An SDS-max breaker is a different category, for heavier breaking than plug holes.
A rotary hammer is an electro-pneumatic tool with an SDS shank. In the UK you buy one for plugs in brick and block, for light chasing, and for the odd tile.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Where will you power it?
The GBH 2-21 titled 110 V is £134.99, model 06112A6061, with 6, 8 and 10 mm SDS-plus bits, an auxiliary handle, a depth stop and a carrying case, plus 2.0 J and concrete up to 22 mm. The star line is 5.0 from only three reviews, and the two written comments name no fault, which is too small a sample to treat as a verdict. The title says 110 V while the voltage cell says 220 V and the amperage cell says 14 A, so the page does not tell you which plug is in the carton. Wood is listed at 8 mm and metal at 21 mm, the reverse of the pattern on the 230 V listing, and the chuck cell says 0.87 inches. The image file name matches the 230 V ASIN. The bullets do name three modes. Buy it only after you have checked the plug and the rating plate against the job.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have checked the plug and the rating plate and confirmed this carton is the 110 V tool your site supply expects.
Less suitable: You only have a 13 A house socket, or you would treat three five-star ratings as proof of the voltage.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this GBH 2-21 a 110 V tool or a 220 V tool?
The title says 110 V. The voltage cell says 220 V. The amperage cell says 14 A. The listing does not resolve the two voltage lines.
What is in the 110 V titled GBH 2-21 box?
The scope lists the GBH 2-21, three SDS plus bits at 6, 8 and 10 mm, an auxiliary handle, a machine cloth, a depth stop and a carrying case.
Are chiselling and impact energy on this listing?
Yes. The bullets name three modes: hammer drilling, drilling and chiselling. Impact energy is 2.0 J and concrete is up to 22 mm. KickBack Control is not in the bullets.
The UniversalHammer 18V body is £97.92, model 06039D6000, with 2.0 J, SDS-plus and concrete listed up to 16 mm. Across 332 reviews the star line is 4.7, and reviewers call brick, lintels and block a step up from a combi, including plaster scraping with the rotation stop and fence posts in concrete. The scope line is a depth stop, an auxiliary handle and a carton: no battery and no sturdy case, which reviewers say outright. One review cites about 14 to 15 holes of 8 mm by 100 mm in concrete block on a 2.5 Ah pack before heat if the holes follow straight on, and another cites about 25 to 30 minutes of continuous chiselling before a recharge. One tool smoked and smelt hot while removing lime plaster, so a hot smell is a stop, not a normal duty cycle. The torque cell prints 2 Nm while the kit listing for the same hammer prints 10 Nm, and a 2.5 Ah cell appears on a body that includes no pack. Buy it when green 18 V packs are already on the shelf.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own Power for All 18 V packs and want 2.0 J for plugs, plaster and light tile work.
Less suitable: You have no green pack yet, or you want a heavyweight mains SDS for long chiselling.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a battery in the UniversalHammer body box?
No. The title and the scope line say without battery, and the box is a depth stop, an auxiliary handle and a carton. A specification cell still prints 2.5 Ah.
Does this UniversalHammer listing include chiselling?
Yes. The bullets list drilling, hammer drilling and chiselling, an SDS plus holder, 2.0 J and concrete up to 16 mm. The case is not in the scope line.
What does the torque cell say on this body?
The cell says 2 Nm. The kit listing for the same hammer prints 10 Nm. The body listing also prints wood 30 mm and material Plastic.
The PBH 2100 RE is the corded green hammer at £59.94, model 06033A9370, listed at 550 W and 2.2 kg with a case in the title. Across 1,683 amazon.co.uk reviews the star line is 4.6, and reviewers describe brick, breeze block and concrete as easier than with a combi, including wall plugs, cement chasing and fence-post fixings. The bullets name four modes, with an impact stop and a rotation stop, though no joule figure is printed. The same listing calls the chuck keyless, while reviews say SDS-plus bits are required and that a round-shank adapter is a separate, bulky buy. One buyer found it was not the tool for lifting a whole floor of tiles. Weight splits the comments: several call it light next to dearer drills, and several call it heavy. It is the top pick in this set when you want a mains hammer for plugs and light chasing and you will buy SDS-plus bits.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a corded green hammer for plugs, chasing and the odd tile, and you will buy SDS-plus bits.
Less suitable: You need a joule figure on the amazon page, ordinary round-shank bits in the box, or a tool for breaking out a whole tiled floor.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the PBH 2100 RE come with a case and bits?
The title says the hammer is in a case. The included-components cell only says 1, and the bullets do not itemise bits. Reviews mention the storage box.
Which bits does the listing say fit the PBH 2100 RE?
The bullets say a keyless chuck. Reviews say SDS bits are required, and that a round-shank adapter is a separate buy described as bulky. The listing prints both accounts.
Is a chisel mode written down for the PBH 2100 RE?
Yes. The bullets name a selection switch for hammering, chiselling, drilling or screwdriving, plus an impact stop and a rotation stop. No joule figure is printed.
The GBH 18V-22 is £180.99, model 0611924001, in an L-BOXX 136 with an inlay, a cleaning cloth and a depth gauge, and no battery in the scope line. Across 523 reviews the star line is 4.6. The title names drilling 6 mm to 10 mm holes, and reviewers describe light to medium fitting, including kitchen and bathroom work, and easier ladder work than a corded tool. KickBack Control and Vibration Control are in the title. Chiselling is not in the bullets: reviews describe light chasing, and one says it is not for serious chiselling or hard site work. More than one reviewer expected a battery and charger that the scope line does not include. The chuck, wood and metal cells all say 10 mm, the power cell says 850 W, and no joule figure is printed. An auxiliary handle is not in the scope line, so this is the blue body to consider when you already own Professional 18 V or AMPShare packs and your holes sit around 6 mm to 10 mm.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own Professional 18 V or AMPShare packs and your holes are about 6 mm to 10 mm.
Less suitable: You need a battery in the box, a listed chisel mode, or a stand-in for a 110 V site hammer.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the GBH 18V-22 include a battery?
No. The scope is an L-BOXX 136, an inlay, a cleaning cloth and a depth gauge. Reviews say a battery and charger are not included. The compatible-devices cell names the Bosch Professional 18 V system and AMPShare.
What hole size does the GBH 18V-22 title print?
The title says it is ideal for drilling 6 mm to 10 mm holes. The chuck, wood and metal cells all say 10 mm. No joule figure is in the cells. An auxiliary handle is not in the scope line.
Is a chisel mode in the GBH 18V-22 bullets?
Not in the bullets. Product questions in the saved listing ask if it can chisel. Reviews describe light chasing, and one says it is not for serious chiselling. KickBack Control is in the title.
Part 0611927000 is a blue cordless body at £122.95, listed at 1.59 kg, in a cardboard box with a depth gauge and an auxiliary handle, and no battery in the scope line. The star line is 4.6 from 141 reviews. A UK review describes solid concrete, and another cites 6 to 10 mm holes, with one reviewer running it on a 2 Ah pack. The bullets name a brushless motor and KickBack Control, and they do not name a chisel mode or a joule figure. The cells print a 50 mm chuck, 80 Nm, and wood and metal as 50 hundredths-inches, which clash with the SDS-plus title, so those cells are not the hole size. One buyer received a tool with the mode selector stuck; the replacement leaked oil from the chuck and held bits so they would not come out. Reviewers also say a case should have been included. Treat the title as a compact SDS-plus body only if you already own Professional packs and you set the clashing cells aside.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own Professional 18 V packs and can ignore the clashing chuck and torque cells.
Less suitable: You need a named model, a printed chisel mode, a case, or cells you can trust for hole size.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the box for part 0611927000?
The scope line is a cardboard box, a depth gauge and an auxiliary handle. No battery and no case. A cell still prints 2 Ah. The title does not name a model, only SDS plus.
Does the listing say part 0611927000 can chisel?
The title says SDS plus hammers. The bullets do not name a chisel mode, so the listing does not confirm one. Brushless and KickBack Control are in the bullets. No joule figure is printed.
Can the chuck and torque cells be read as the hole size?
The cells print a 50 mm chuck, 80 Nm, and wood and metal as 50 hundredths-inches. Those cells clash with the SDS-plus title. No concrete diameter is printed.
The 230 V GBH 2-21 is £120.15, model 06112A6071, with 2.0 J, concrete listed up to 22 mm, and 6, 8 and 10 mm SDS-plus bits in a carrying case. Across 122 reviews the star line is 4.6. Reviewers describe concrete and breeze block as much faster than a combi, and they name chasing a light, lifting coving and chiselling floor tiles. The bullets name three modes: hammer drilling, drilling and chiselling. One buyer returned it unused because they expected ordinary drill bits, not SDS-plus. Another struggled in the red brick of the house, so one hard wall is not a guarantee. Speed cells print both 720 rpm and 1200 rpm, and the chuck cell says 13 mm beside the 22 mm concrete bullet. At this price it is the best value blue corded kit in the set when you want bits and a case on a house socket.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a corded blue kit with bits and a case for plugs, chasing and floor tiles on a house socket.
Less suitable: You need a checked 110 V site lead, or a cordless tool for a ladder with no socket nearby.
Specifications
Common questions
What comes with the 230 V GBH 2-21?
The scope lists a carrying case, SDS plus bits at 6, 8 and 10 mm, an auxiliary handle, a machine cloth and a depth gauge. There is no battery, because the tool is corded.
Does the 230 V GBH 2-21 listing include chiselling?
Yes. The bullets name three modes: hammer drilling, drilling and chiselling. The listing also prints 2.0 J and concrete up to 22 mm. KickBack Control is not in the bullets.
Why are two speeds on the 230 V GBH 2-21?
The cells print 720 rpm and 1200 rpm. The chuck cell says 13 mm beside the concrete bullet of up to 22 mm, and the wood and metal cells say 13 mm and 10 mm.
The GBH 18V-22 X body is £176.95, model 0611924100, at 2.52 kg, with OneChuck, a brushless motor and KickBack Control in the bullets. The scope is a carton, a depth gauge and an auxiliary handle: no battery and no case. Across 73 reviews the star line is 4.6, and many of the 38 review blocks are not in English. Reviewers describe tiles and a chisel for stair-light holes, and they praise OneChuck for SDS-plus and plain shanks. The bullets do not name a chisel mode, and no joule, speed or chuck cell is printed. One review says SDS bits stuck until they could not be removed, despite lubrication, and reports that support called it user error. An Auto Power GDE 18V-12 or GDE 12 extractor is named and is not in the box. It is a OneChuck body for someone who already owns Professional 18 V packs and accepts that chiselling is in reviews rather than in the bullets.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own Professional 18 V packs and want OneChuck on a GBH 18V-22 X body.
Less suitable: You need chiselling printed on the listing, a battery in the box, or a dust extractor included.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the GBH 18V-22 X carton?
The scope is a carton, a depth gauge and an auxiliary handle. Batteries are required and not included. There is no case. The cells do not print joules, speed or a chuck size.
Does the GBH 18V-22 X listing state a chisel mode?
Not in the bullets. Reviews describe chiselling tiles. The bullets do name OneChuck for SDS plus, cylindrical and hex bits, plus KickBack Control, Vibration Control and a brushless motor.
Is the dust extractor in the GBH 18V-22 X box?
No. The bullets name an Auto Power GDE 18V-12 or GDE 12 attachment. It is not in the scope line.
The UniversalHammer 18V kit is £132.60, model 06039D6072, with one PBA 18V 2.5 Ah pack, an AL 18V-20 charger, a depth stop and a carrying case. The title prints 2.0 J, SDS-plus, and drilling, hammer drilling and chiselling, with concrete up to 16 mm. Across 100 reviews the star line is 4.5. Reviewers call it enough for most home jobs in solid brick, and more than one says non-professional use does not flatten the pack. Bits are not in the scope line. Large bits cut out quite regularly in the written reviews, the charger is called slow, and one warranty claim replaced the motor, the switch and a battery. The battery cell also prints 3000 mAh beside the 2.5 Ah title, and the power cell prints 1000 W. It is the only complete green cordless option in this set, at £34.68 more than the bare body, and it is still not a heavyweight breaker.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You own no Bosch packs yet and want one green box that drills, hammer-drills and chisels on the day it arrives.
Less suitable: You already own Professional 18 V packs, or you need bits in the box and a long session without cut-out.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the UniversalHammer kit a complete 18 V set?
The scope lists the hammer, an auxiliary handle, one PBA 18V 2.5 Ah pack, an AL 18V-20 charger, a depth stop and a carrying case. The battery cell also prints 3000 mAh.
What hole size and modes does the kit listing print?
The title prints 2.0 J, SDS plus, and drilling, hammer drilling and chiselling. Concrete is listed up to 16 mm. Bits are not in the scope line.
Does the kit listing name KickBack Control?
No. The bullets say vibration and rotation control. They do not use the words KickBack Control, and brushless is not stated. Spare-part availability is listed as 10 years.
The GBH 2-28 is the corded blue hammer at £253.21, model 0611267571, with 3.2 J in the listing, an auxiliary handle, a 210 mm depth stop and an L-BOXX 136. The title says 240 V and 880 W; the cells say 230 V and 850 W. Across 20 reviews the star line is 4.4, from a thin sample, and reviewers praise tough walls, balance, and in one case granite with neat holes, while accepting the 3.24 kg weight. KickBack Control and Vibration Control are in the bullets, and the compatible-devices line says SDS-plus drill and chisel. One review describes the tool smoking and becoming a molten mess after about six months and four uses, during about five minutes of chiselling soft brick, and says Bosch service did not cover it. That is one report, not a failure rate. No concrete diameter is in the table. It is the highest impact energy printed in this set when you want a mains SDS-plus for harder drilling than a 2.0 J GBH 2-21.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the only 3.2 J corded SDS-plus in this set and you accept a 20-review sample.
Less suitable: Your work is plug holes a 2.0 J hammer already covers, or you would ignore a hot smell.
Specifications
Common questions
What voltage and wattage does the GBH 2-28 listing print?
The title says 240 V and 880 W. The cells say 230 V and 850 W. Impact energy is 3.2 J. No concrete diameter is in the table. The chuck cell says 13 mm.
What is in the GBH 2-28 box?
The scope lists an auxiliary handle, a 210 mm depth stop, an L-BOXX inlay, an L-BOXX 136 and a machine cloth. The included-components cell also names the hammer and an instruction manual.
Does the GBH 2-28 listing name chiselling and KickBack Control?
KickBack Control and Vibration Control are in the bullets. Chisel use is on the compatible-devices line, which says SDS plus drill and chisel. The bullets do not print the words three-mode.
The GBH 18V-18 X is a blue body at £116.95, model 0611927100, at 1.8 kg, with OneChuck for SDS-plus, cylindrical and hex bits and KickBack Control in the bullets. The star line is 4.3 from 55 reviews, the lowest stars in this set, and several of the 32 review blocks are not in English. Reviewers praise the weight and a bit change they time in seconds, and one review describes concrete as easy up to 8 mm. The included line is the tool only: no battery, charger or case, though a cell still prints 2 Ah. The bullets do not name chiselling, and one review describes it as drilling only. Torque cells print both 35 Nm and 5 Nm. One buyer could not get the bit out after a single use, and one refund called the power poor. It suits someone who already owns Professional 18 V packs and wants a light drilling body.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own Professional 18 V packs and want a light body for drilling, not for lifting tiles.
Less suitable: You need a listed chisel mode, or a kit that runs on the day it arrives.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the GBH 18V-18 X box?
The included line is the GBH 18V-18 X. There is no battery, charger or case. A cell still prints a 2 Ah capacity, and the compatible-devices line says 18 V 2 Ah or higher.
Does the GBH 18V-18 X listing name a chisel mode?
No. The bullets do not name chiselling. They do name OneChuck for SDS plus, cylindrical and hex bits, and KickBack Control. One review describes it as drilling only.
Which torque figure is on the GBH 18V-18 X listing?
The cells print both 35 Nm and 5 Nm. The chuck cell says 10 mm. No impact energy is printed.
Ten Bosch rotary hammers on amazon.co.uk were scored from listing facts and review notes, not from a lab test. The scoring note gives stars, review sample, fit and value maxima of 40, 25, 25 and 15. Those maxima add to 105, so the weights on this page are the same four parts as shares of 100: 38, 24, 24 and 14. A clashing chuck, torque or watt cell is not the hole size. Each star line is the amazon.co.uk figure.
Amazon stars
38%Star points are the amazon.co.uk rating divided by 5, multiplied by 40, and rounded. In this set that is 40 for 5.0, 38 for 4.7, 37 for 4.6, 36 for 4.5, 35 for 4.4 and 34 for 4.3.
Review sample
24%1,000 or more reviews score 25, 200 to 999 score 20, 100 to 199 score 14, 50 to 99 score 10, 10 to 49 score 6, and fewer than 10 score 2. A large file is not a durability test.
Fit as a Bosch rotary hammer
24%Start at 10. Add 4 for a named chisel mode, 3 for a case or an L-BOXX, 3 if brushless is stated, 2 if joules are printed, 2 if SDS-plus bits are in the box, and 2 if KickBack Control is listed. Subtract 4 for a serious chuck, torque or voltage clash, 2 for a mild clash, and 3 if reviews record smoke, an oil leak, a stuck selector, a bit that would not come out, or a warranty refusal. Cap at 25 and floor at 0.
Value in this set
14%Shelf price in GBP against what the scope line includes. The £59.94 corded hammer with a case and 1,683 reviews scores 15. The £120.15 corded kit with bits, a case and 122 reviews scores 13, the highest value part among the other nine, so it is best value. A bare body is not scored as a complete cordless kit.
Start with the job and the diameter, then the shank and whether a chisel mode is written down. Supply comes next: a house socket, a checked 110 V site lead, or a battery family you already own. The box is last: pack, charger, case and bits. Joules count only when the listing prints them. The notes below follow that order for these ten amazon.co.uk listings. None of the scores is a lab test.
A Bosch rotary hammer, for a UK buyer, is an electro-pneumatic SDS tool. It is not a combi drill with a cam hammer, and it is not a drill-driver sold with a hammer head. In this amazon.co.uk set the green Home and Garden tools are the corded PBH 2100 RE and the cordless UniversalHammer 18V. The blue Professional tools are GBH SDS-plus bodies, corded and on 18 V.
A watt, chuck or torque cell that clashes with the title is not the hole size. The 50 mm and 80 Nm cells on part 0611927000 are in that group, and so are the 35 Nm and 5 Nm cells on the GBH 18V-18 X. Read joules and concrete diameter only when the listing prints them.
Only the UniversalHammer kit includes a pack, a charger and a case. The two GBH 2-21 kits list 6, 8 and 10 mm bits. Several blue bodies name no battery. The PBH title names a case and does not itemise bits. A bare-body price is not a kit that runs on the day it arrives.
Green Power for All 18 V packs do not fit blue tools, and blue packs do not fit green tools. On site, use a cordless tool or 110 V centre-tapped to earth. A 230 V title is for a house socket. A cut-out or a hot smell is a stop, not a normal duty cycle.
Buy for the hole, not for a watt figure. Plugs in brick are not a 22 mm concrete hole, and they are not a slab. Bosch’s GB note puts SDS-max at about 8.5 J and up. Nothing in this set is SDS-max, so floor-breaking is the wrong category. SDS-plus bits are not combi masonry bits. The listing must state a chisel mode if you will lift tiles. The PBH 2100 RE bullets name four modes, including chiselling, with an impact stop and a rotation stop, and they print no joules.
A house socket takes a 230 V or 240 V title. On site, the Health and Safety Executive wants a cordless tool, or 110 V centre-tapped to earth. The GBH 2-21 title that says 110 V conflicts with a 220 V cell. Do not treat it as the 230 V listing, and do not rely on the title until the plug and the rating plate are checked. The 230 V GBH 2-21 is the corded kit at about £120.15.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a mains hammer for plugs, chasing and the odd tile, and you will buy SDS-plus bits. The PBH 2100 RE is about £59.94, with a case in the title, four modes named, and 4.6 from 1,683 reviews. No joule figure is printed.
You already own Professional 18 V or AMPShare packs and your holes are about 6 mm to 10 mm. The GBH 18V-22 is about £180.99 in an L-BOXX, with 4.6 from 523 reviews, and no battery in the scope line. Chiselling is not in the bullets.
You have a 110 V site supply and you will check the plug and the rating plate before you rely on the title. This listing is about £134.99, model 06112A6061, with 2.0 J and bits in a case, and 5.0 from only three reviews. The voltage cell says 220 V.
In this set of ten amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Bosch PBH 2100 RE, model 06033A9370. It scores 90. It is about £59.94, with 4.6 from 1,683 reviews, a case named in the title and four modes in the bullets. No joule figure is printed, and the chuck line clashes with reviews that require SDS-plus bits. The best value is the 230 V Bosch GBH 2-21, model 06112A6071, at about £120.15, with 2.0 J, 6, 8 and 10 mm bits, a carrying case and 4.6 from 122 reviews. Its value part is 13, the highest among the other nine. The other eight have no award. None of these scores is a lab test.
Bosch GBH 2-21 230 V
Highest value part among the rest, at 13: 230 V kit at about £120.15 with 2.0 J, bits and a case, and 4.6 from 122 reviews.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources from the research digest. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in this comparison.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures in this comparison. We did not lab-test these rotary hammers.
