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Combi drill for brick

Updated: 22 October 2026

You need a few holes for wall plugs, the wall might be soft brick under the plaster, and you are not sure when the drill should stop. A combi drill for brick is enough for that small job if hammer mode is stated and you use a masonry bit the same size as the plug. It is the wrong tool when the bit stops advancing in engineering brick, a concrete lintel, or a wide hole. The ten kits on the [cordless combi drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/cordless-combi-drill) are jaw-chuck combis, not SDS hammers. This is not a lab test. A purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You need a few holes for wall plugs, the wall might be soft brick under the plaster, and you are not sure when the drill should stop.

Our top picks

Ryobi Ryobi R18PD3 starter kit

Best overall

Ryobi Ryobi R18PD3 starter kit
9.5/10about £97.80
View offer
Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40

Best value

Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-40
9.4/10about £64.97
View offer
Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-38

Alternative

Bosch Bosch EasyImpact 18V-38
9.4/10about £76.50
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.A few plugs in soft brick
  2. 2.Bit, depth and what is behind the plaster
  3. 3.When the bit only polishes
  4. 4.What these kits actually state

A few plugs in soft brick

Hammer mode on a combi is for brick and lightweight block, a handful of times, not for a wall of concrete. Bosch DIY says a combi can impact-drill masonry and is not the tool for concrete or reinforced concrete. The blow is behind a normal round-shank bit, not an SDS piston. The BCD700 prints 21,000 bpm in its own bullets, and that rate is not the Ryobi's or the Bosch's. Soft red brick will usually take a plug hole. Old hard brick and anything that rings like concrete will not. Gear and collar are on the how to use a combi drill page.

Bit, depth and what is behind the plaster

Use a carbide-tipped masonry bit the same diameter as the plug. Detector first, then tape on the bit for depth, hammer once you are in brick, and a screw a millimetre or two smaller than the plug. Follow the packet you bought. Plug colours vary by maker, so a chart is not a British Standard. Drill a little deeper than the plug so it sits flush. If the bit walks, begin without hammer until you have a dimple. Stop if the dust is the fine grey cloud of concrete rather than brick dust.
Ryobi Ryobi R18PD3 starter kit

Testsieger

Ryobi Ryobi R18PD3 starter kit
9.5/10about £97.80
View offer

When the bit only polishes

Stop when the bit stops advancing. Pushing harder overheats the tip and does not turn a combi into a rotary hammer. About 30 seconds with no progress is a rule of thumb from UK how-to sites, not from these listings. Engineering brick and a concrete lintel sit on that side of the line. Holes above about 10 mm are a rule of thumb toward an SDS, not a capacity printed on these ASINs. More Nm does not mean a faster hole in brick. Call a professional for a concrete lintel or work beside a consumer unit.

What these kits actually state

The EasyImpact 18V-38 title says hammer drill. The bullets do not say masonry. They cover a 10 mm chuck, two speeds, 20 torque levels and POWER FOR ALL. Do not claim a brick capacity from the name. The EasyImpact 18V-40 does name impact drilling in masonry. Bosch's UK manual limits that to brick at 13 mm. On 22 October 2026 that kit was about £64.97 with 4.7 from 631 ratings. Do not copy that 13 mm line onto the other kits. The Ryobi bullets name masonry and a chuck up to 13 mm, with no masonry diameter.

Common questions

Can a cordless combi drill brick?
Yes, for a few plug holes in soft brick or lightweight block, with hammer mode and a masonry bit. Bosch DIY is explicit that this class of tool is not for concrete or reinforced concrete. If the bit polishes and the hole stops moving, the wall is past what the combi should do.
What size masonry bit do I need for a wall plug?
The same diameter as the plug, with a carbide-tipped masonry bit. B&Q is the rule to follow, and the plug packet wins if it states a size. A screw a millimetre or two smaller than the plug is the matching fastener advice. Do not pick a bit from a colour chart. Colours vary by maker.
Do I start in hammer mode or make a dimple first?
If the bit walks on plaster, start without hammer until you have a dimple, then switch to hammer for the brick. B&Q gives that sequence for someone who is not yet used to the tool. Once the hole is started, hammer mode and gear 2 are the brick settings. The clutch numbers stay on the how-to page.
How deep should the hole be?
A little deeper than the plug, so the plug ends flush and the screw does not bottom out. Mark it with tape. B&Q says slightly deeper. Drill and Bit's about 5 mm, and a 5 to 10 mm range from another guide, are rules of thumb. The packet is the figure to use on the day.
Will it do engineering brick or a concrete lintel?
Do not plan on it. Engineering brick and a concrete lintel are where a combi stalls, and a lintel is a professional job if the fixing matters to the opening. Holes above about 10 mm are a rule of thumb toward an SDS, not a capacity printed on these kits.
Does a higher newton-metre figure drill brick faster?
No. Newton metres on these listings are a screwdriving claim. They are not impact energy, and they do not rank how fast a masonry bit moves through brick. The 120 Nm DCA row is not a faster brick drill because the cell is larger. A 21 V label is not a harder hammer either.
The EasyImpact 18V-38 name says impact, but the bullets do not mention masonry. What can I claim?
You can claim what the bullets say: a 10 mm chuck, two speeds, 20 torque settings, a 2.5 Ah battery and POWER FOR ALL. You cannot claim a masonry diameter. The 18V-40 is the Bosch row that does name masonry, and its manual limit is brick at 13 mm, for that model only.

Related pages

Combi drill vs SDS

Cordless combi drill buying guide

Cordless combi drill

Best cordless combi drill for shelves and brick plugs

How to use a combi drill without stripping the screw

Sources

Public UK sources, last checked on 22 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk listing figures.

  1. HSE, Control of Vibration at Work Regulations (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  2. HSE INDG175, hand-arm vibration (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  3. GOV.UK, Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  4. HSE noise advice for manufacturers (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  5. Screwfix, best drills guide (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  6. Bosch DIY EasyImpact 18V-40 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  7. Bosch DIY drills and screwdrivers (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  8. amazon.co.uk, Ryobi R18PD3 listing (retrieved 22 October 2026)