The best SDS-Plus hammer drills, compared.
Top pick: Bosch PBH 2100 RE – Highest score at 90, from 4.6 across 1,683 reviews, 2.2 kg and a case at about £59.94. The Amazon table leaves joules and concrete capacity blank. Best value: DongCheng DZC05-26B – Highest value-part score at 15: lowest price in the set, about £47.17, with 2.8 J printed and 4.4 from 98 reviews. The sample is far smaller than the Bosch row, and no case is listed. Updated October 2026.
An SDS-Plus hammer drill is the UK tool for brick, block and concrete once a combi drill's ratchet hammer stops cutting, and for light chiselling if it has a rotation stop. The chuck takes a 10 mm grooved shank. The bit slides while a piston strikes it. That is not the ridged-disc hammer inside a combi drill. You recognise a suitable hammer drill by the shank, the stated impact energy, the concrete diameter the maker prints, the weight you can hold, and whether a side handle or a safety clutch is named. Soft-brick plug holes can stay with a combi drill. Engineering brick, lintels, repeated concrete holes and any chiselling move to SDS-Plus. Holes regularly past about 26–30 mm, or breaking a slab, move to SDS-Max or a hire tool. A joule figure is comparable only when the maker names the method. A chuck of 10 mm or 13 mm is not the hole in the wall. Those checks are in the [SDS-Plus hammer drill buying guide](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/hammer-drill-sds-plus/sub/hammer-drill-sds-plus-buying-guide). UK mains are nominally 230 V with a BS 1363 plug.
An SDS-Plus hammer drill is the UK tool for brick, block and concrete once a combi drill's ratchet hammer stops cutting, and for light chiselling if it has a rotation stop. The chuck takes a 10 mm grooved shank.
22 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +17,200 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you drilling?
The Bosch PBH 2100 RE is the lightest tool in this set at 2.2 kg, listed at 550 W and £59.94, and the title includes a case. Across 1,683 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.6, and the repeated job is a lintel or engineering brick after a combi drill has stalled. The Amazon table does not print joules or a concrete diameter. Bosch's UK DIY page for the same model, 06033A9370, states 1.7 J and 20 mm in concrete, which is the maker's figure and not an Amazon cell. Reviews keep returning to the same surprise: straight-shank bits need an adaptor, and that adaptor is not in the box. Chisel power is described as limited, and some owners worry when a clutch stops the bit turning. It is the top pick here because of that review depth and the light corded package, not because 550 W is a high electrical input.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a light corded SDS-Plus drill for plug holes and a lintel, with the deepest review sample in this set.
Less suitable: You need joules printed on the Amazon row, bits in the box, or heavy chiselling.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this an SDS-Plus drill?
The amazon.co.uk title does not say SDS. UK reviews identify the PBH 2100 RE as an SDS-Plus rotary hammer and say ordinary bits need an adaptor.
What power and weight does the listing give?
550 watts, 220 volts on the specification table, and 2.2 kg. Impact energy and concrete capacity are not on that table.
Does it come in a case?
The title says it is supplied in a case. SDS bits and a round-shank adaptor are not listed as included.
The Stanew ST-1027-N-UK is a corded 950 W tool at £54.99, with four functions, and it is the only title in this set that names a safety clutch. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 from 32 reviews, and the written file behind that line is small, about 12 texts. Those reviews praise it on brick, a large core and quarry tiles. Complaints name the case, a loose adaptor and the direction switch. Voltage and impact energy are not stated, and the item weight is 5.36 kg. The bullets do list a conversion mandrel, a pointed chisel and a flat chisel. A named clutch is a mechanical slip when the bit jams, not an electronic kickback cut-out, and 32 reviews are not the same evidence as 1,683.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a named safety clutch and an adaptor in the box, and you can accept a blank joule cell.
Less suitable: You need a published impact energy, or you treat 32 reviews as equal to a four-figure sample.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it have a safety clutch?
The title and the bullets say it has a safety clutch. Voltage and impact energy are not stated.
Is a straight-shank adaptor included?
Yes. The bullets list a conversion mandrel and a mandrel adapter, plus a pointed chisel, a flat chisel and impact bits.
Is it cordless?
No. It is listed as a 950 watt corded tool, 0–1,150 rpm and up to 5,100 blows per minute.
The Dong Cheng DCZC22 is the only cordless kit in this set: 20 V, brushless, one 4.0 Ah battery, a charger and a case, at £79.99. The listing states 2.1 J, 1,400 rpm and 4,500 blows per minute, and the item weight is 5.14 kg, which may include the case. Across 100 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.5. Several buyers are happy with the runtime, and at least two report a very short runtime and a return. One unit had a loose side handle. Concrete capacity is not stated, and the listing names DongCheng 20 V Max packs rather than other brands. A 2.1 J kit with one battery is a lead-free option for a short run of holes, not a published holes-per-charge figure.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You cannot use a lead, and you want a battery in the box for a short SDS-Plus job.
Less suitable: You need a second battery, a stated concrete diameter, or a runtime the listing promises.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a battery included?
Yes. The bullets list one 4.0 Ah 20 V battery, a fast charger, four SDS-Plus bits and a case.
Is the motor brushless?
Yes. The listing describes a brushless motor and states 2.1 joules and 4,500 blows per minute. It does not state a concrete capacity.
Which batteries fit?
The listing says it is compatible with DongCheng 20 V Max cordless tools. It does not name other brands.
The Enventor Z1C-HW01-3288EP is the only listing here that states both impact energy and a concrete diameter: 6 J and 32 mm, at 1,500 W, 230 V and £84.99. The package list includes a case, SDS-Plus bits, chisels, a side handle, grease and spare carbon brushes. Across 173 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.4, and owners describe lintels and patio concrete that other hammer drills did not finish. The item weight is 7.87 kg, which may include the case. Reviews also mention a sticky trigger, one early chuck failure, a missing flat chisel and a return because reverse would not engage. The 6 J figure is the seller's claim. The listing does not say it was measured to EPTA Procedure 05. Round-shank bits need an adaptor that is not in the box, and a safety clutch is not named.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the only stated 32 mm concrete claim in this set, and you can manage a heavy corded drill.
Less suitable: Overhead work, a clutch the listing does not name, or a long session if the trigger sticks.
Specifications
Common questions
How large a concrete hole does the listing claim?
The bullets state a maximum of 32 mm in concrete, 13 mm in steel and 40 mm in wood, with 6 joules of impact energy.
Does it take ordinary drill bits?
The package lists SDS-Plus bits and chisels. Reviewers say round-shank bits need a separate adaptor, which is not in the box.
Is a case included?
Yes. The package list includes a carrying case, a side handle, grease and spare carbon brushes.
The DongCheng DZC05-26B is the lowest price in this set at £47.17, listed as a corded 800 W, 240 V tool at 2.9 kg, with bullets that state 2.8 J and four modes. Across 98 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.4, and reviewers describe it as strong for the money on concrete and engineering brick. The box list names four SDS-Plus bits, an auxiliary handle and a depth rod, and it does not name a case. One report mentions a sharp edge, and one says the bits did not stay in the chuck. The listing does not state a concrete diameter, so 2.8 J is not a hole size you can copy onto a lintel. It is the best value here because joules are printed and the price is the lowest, on a sample that is far smaller than the Bosch row.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a corded SDS-Plus drill beside a household socket, with a printed joule figure, at the lowest price in this set.
Less suitable: You need a stated concrete diameter, a case in the box, or a review sample in the thousands.
Specifications
Common questions
Does it include a carry case?
The box list names the drill, four SDS-Plus bits, two carbon brushes, an auxiliary handle, a depth rod and a manual. A case is not listed.
What impact energy does the listing state?
The bullets state up to 2.8 joules, also written as 2.1 ft·lb. The listing does not state a concrete drilling diameter.
Is it cordless?
No. The power source is corded electric, listed at 240 volts and 800 watts.
The Draper Storm Force 76490 is £68.39, listed at 900 W and 3.46 kg, with three functions and a rotation stop. The star line is 4.2 from 63 reviews, the lowest stars in this set, and the written sample is thin at about 23 texts. Reviewers praise it on brick and on breaking fence-post concrete, and they describe a case and bits. The specification list does not include a straight-shank adaptor, and a reviewer says the case has a space for one that was empty. Voltage, joules and concrete capacity are not stated. The same table prints 14 A beside 900 W, a single speed of 4,100 rpm, and dimensions of 10 × 10 × 10 mm, which cannot be the tool. Those cells contradict one another, so they are not figures to plan a hole from.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a stated rotation stop for light breaking, and you will ignore the broken dimension cells.
Less suitable: You need a stated joule figure, a supplied adaptor, or a listing whose electrical numbers agree.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it chisel?
The listing says it has three functions, rotary, hammer and chisel, and that a rotation stop is fitted.
What electrical figures does the listing give?
900 watts, 14 amps, and 4,100 rpm as the only speed. Voltage, impact energy and concrete capacity are not stated.
Does the kit include a straight-shank adaptor?
Not in the specification list. A reviewer says the case has a space for one and it was not supplied.
Six SDS-Plus hammer drills on amazon.co.uk were scored from the listing facts and review notes stored for this comparison. There is no lab test. The working sheet has four parts that sum to 105: stars 40, review sample 25, fit as an SDS-Plus hammer 25, and value in this set 15. The weights below are those parts scaled so the published total is 100. Star points are the amazon.co.uk rating divided by 5, times 40, then rounded. Impact energy and concrete capacity count only when that listing prints them. A joule figure on a maker's own page is not copied into a blank Amazon cell. The highest score is the top pick, once. The highest value-part score is best value, once. The page date is 22 October 2026.
Stars
38%Star points are the amazon.co.uk rating divided by 5, times 40, then rounded to the nearest whole number. On this sheet, 4.6 is 37, 4.5 is 36, 4.4 is 35 and 4.2 is 34. The working maximum is 40. The published weight is that share scaled to 100.
Review sample
24%Review volume on amazon.co.uk: 1,000 or more reviews scores 25, 100–199 scores 14, 50–99 scores 10, and 10–49 scores 6. The working maximum is 25. A small written file is not treated as equal to a four-figure sample.
Fit as an SDS-Plus hammer
24%Each listing starts at 8. Points are added when the row names a side handle, a chisel or rotation-stop mode, a case, printed joules, a concrete diameter, a safety clutch, SDS-Plus bits in the box, or a brushless motor, then capped at 25. A serious specification clash loses 4. A repeated review fault loses 3. The floor is 0.
Value in this set
14%Value is scored inside this shelf, with a working maximum of 15. The lowest price with joules stated and 50 or more reviews scores 15. Under £60 with a case and 1,000 or more reviews scores 13. The only battery-in-the-box kit scores 11. The highest price with both joules and a concrete diameter stated scores 9. A mid price with the lowest stars and a specification clash scores 6.
Start with the wall, then the stated joules, then the concrete diameter, then the handle, the clutch and where you will stand. Watts come after those. The notes below follow that order. The scores on this page are listing scores.
An SDS-Plus hammer drill is a rotary hammer for brick, block and concrete once a combi drill's ratchet hammer stops cutting. If it has a rotation stop, it will also do light chiselling. The chuck takes a 10 mm grooved shank. The bit slides while a piston strikes it. That is a different mechanism from the ridged disc in a combi drill, even when a listing says impact drill. Confirm the job before the watts. Soft-brick plug holes and screws stay with a combi drill.
Watts are electrical input. The blow is the joule figure, and it is comparable only when the maker names the method, commonly EPTA Procedure 05. A 6 J marketplace claim is an EPTA figure only when the listing says so. A blank joule cell stays blank.
Chuck size on these listings is often 10 mm or 13 mm, and sometimes a copied inch figure. It is not the hole the tool will drill in a wall. Read a concrete diameter only from a sentence that says concrete.
Straight-shank bits do not lock in an SDS-Plus chuck unless an adaptor is in the box. Pushing your weight onto the drill, and leaving the hammer on for timber, are the other two habits that damage the hole and the bit. Hold the side handle.
Impact energy is the blow, and it comes before watts. UK guides put useful home SDS-Plus work around 2 J to 3 J, light fixing-only tools around 1.5 J to 2.2 J, and heavier Plus tools up towards 5 J. Those bands are guide ranges. A joule figure is comparable only when the maker names the method, commonly EPTA Procedure 05. A marketplace claim is an EPTA figure only when the listing says so. Read concrete capacity from a sentence that says concrete.
Prefer a side handle when the listing names one, and a safety clutch only when the listing names one. A clutch is a mechanical slip when the bit jams. It is not an electronic kickback cut-out. Match weight and power source to where you will stand. A lighter corded tool suits overhead work beside a household socket. Cordless SDS-Plus removes the lead and adds a battery platform. A 110 V tool needs a site transformer. It does not plug into a household socket.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a light corded SDS-Plus drill for plug holes and a lintel, after a combi drill has stalled. The Bosch PBH 2100 RE is about £59.94, at 2.2 kg, with a case and 4.6 from 1,683 reviews. The Amazon table does not print joules or a concrete diameter.
You are lifting tiles or breaking a small lump of concrete and you want a stated rotation stop. The Draper Storm Force 76490 lists three functions and a rotation stop, at about £68.39, with 4.2 from 63 reviews. Voltage, joules and concrete capacity are not stated, and 14 A, 4,100 rpm and a 10 mm cube clash with a 900 W drill.
You cannot use a lead, and you want a battery in the box for a short SDS-Plus job. The Dong Cheng DCZC22 is a 20 V brushless kit with one 4.0 Ah battery, a charger and a case, at about £79.99, with 2.1 J stated and 4.5 from 100 reviews. Concrete capacity is not stated, and runtime is disputed.
In this set of six amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Bosch PBH 2100 RE. It scores 90, at about £59.94, with 4.6 from 1,683 reviews, 2.2 kg and a case. The Amazon table does not print joules. The best value is the DongCheng DZC05-26B. It has the highest value-part score, 15, because 2.8 J is printed and the shelf price is the lowest in the set, about £47.17, with 4.4 from 98 reviews. The Dong Cheng DCZC22 scores 83 and takes neither award. These scores are listing scores. They are not a lab test.
Bosch PBH 2100 RE
Highest score at 90, from 4.6 across 1,683 reviews, 2.2 kg and a case at about £59.94. The Amazon table leaves joules and concrete capacity blank.
DongCheng DZC05-26B
Highest value-part score at 15: lowest price in the set, about £47.17, with 2.8 J printed and 4.4 from 98 reviews. The sample is far smaller than the Bosch row, and no case is listed.
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, retrieved for the page dated 22 October 2026. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file.
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 from the UK listings checked for this page on 22 October 2026. We did not lab-test these SDS-Plus hammer drills.
