Independent comparisons. We may earn from shop links. More info

Metabo cordless drill for masonry

Updated: 2026-10-23

If you need one wall plug in ordinary brick, a Metabo cordless drill for masonry can be suitable only when it is an SB combi with hammer action and you use the correct round-shank masonry bit. A BS drill driver does not gain percussion because you push harder, and an SB combi is still not an SDS rotary hammer. The exact order number matters because Metabo sheets carrying the SB 18 L name quote different capacities. Use the [main Metabo cordless drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/metabo-cordless-drill) to identify the row you own, then check its manufacturer specification before choosing a hole diameter.

If you need one wall plug in ordinary brick, a Metabo cordless drill for masonry can be suitable only when it is an SB combi with hammer action and you use the correct round-shank masonry bit.

Our top picks

Metabo Metabo Y/602317870

Best overall

Metabo Metabo Y/602317870
6.8/10about £154.15
View offer
Metabo Metabo PowerMaxx BS Basic

Best value

Metabo Metabo PowerMaxx BS Basic
7.1/10about £114.67
View offer
Metabo Metabo SB 18 L 614053580

Rank 3

Metabo Metabo SB 18 L 614053580
7.6/10about £99.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Which compared drills can drill masonry
  2. 2.Why 10 mm and 13 mm belong to different sheets
  3. 3.Use the right bit for the keyless chuck
  4. 4.When to stop and use an SDS drill or professional

Which compared drills can drill masonry

Four rows state a hammer or include a hammer drill: SB 18 L order 614053580, order 614053940 with a 78-piece set, B07719JR75 at 50 Nm, and the £528.50 combo with an SB 18 LTX BL I. The other four are drill drivers: both PowerMaxx listings, BS 18 order 602207710 and the metal drill. A buyer returned the BS 18 because percussion had been expected. A bit labelled for masonry does not add a hammer. For one plug in soft brick, an SB combi can be proportionate. Repeated holes or hard concrete can leave a combi behind. The Metabo cordless drill buying guide is the SB versus BS choice.

Why 10 mm and 13 mm belong to different sheets

Metabo's current UK page for order 614053580 states 13 mm in masonry and 26/60 Nm. The Amazon row states a hammer and leaves the diameter unspecified. Use 13 mm only for that order number. An older sheet for 602317570 states 10 mm and 25/50 Nm, and some UK shops still print those figures beside the SB 18 L name. B07719JR75 is model Y/602317870 at 50 Nm, not the £99.99 kit. Do not average 10 mm and 13 mm, and do not treat chuck opening as masonry capacity. Order 614053940 still has no masonry diameter on Amazon. The combo's 200 Nm cell belongs to the impact driver.
Metabo Metabo Y/602317870

Testsieger

Metabo Metabo Y/602317870
6.8/10about £154.15
View offer

Use the right bit for the keyless chuck

For an SB combi, use a round-shank, carbide-tipped masonry bit. Remove the battery, seat the shank centrally and tighten the keyless chuck, then refit the pack. Hammer mode is for masonry only. Wood and metal bits stay on the ordinary drill position. An SDS-Plus bit belongs in an SDS chuck. These combis do not become SDS tools through an adapter, and they do not chisel. Do not clamp a chisel in the keyless chuck. Mark the hole, keep the drill square, and use controlled pressure rather than your full body weight. If progress stops, release the trigger. Rule out concealed cables and pipes before you drill a wall. If the fixing is structural, ask a competent professional. Collar and gear steps are in how to use a Metabo cordless drill.

When to stop and use an SDS drill or professional

A combi suits occasional plug holes in ordinary brick, inside the stated diameter. Dense engineering brick, hard concrete and larger anchors are reasons to consider an SDS-Plus rotary hammer. A UK rule of thumb is SDS around 10 mm and above in hard masonry. That does not replace the Metabo sheet. Stop if the bit stalls or overheats. Order 614053580 declares 91 dB(A) and 11.8 m/s² for impact drilling in concrete. Those are laboratory emissions, not a personal safe time. HSE flags regular hammer use beyond roughly 15 minutes a day as a prompt for employers, not a guaranteed allowance. Household DIY is not governed by PUWER. Call a professional when services or the fixing are uncertain. Do not open a swollen pack.

Common questions

Can an SB Metabo combi drill a plug hole in brick?
Yes, when the brick is suitable, the hole is within the capacity for that exact order number and you use a sharp masonry bit in hammer mode. Keep the drill square and use controlled pressure. Stop if it does not advance rather than forcing it.
Can a PowerMaxx or BS 18 drill masonry?
The compared PowerMaxx and BS 18 rows have no hammer mode. A masonry bit or accessory set does not add percussion. For planned brick drilling, choose an SB combi or an appropriate SDS tool rather than relying on extra pressure with a BS drill driver.
Is the SB 18 L masonry limit 10 mm or 13 mm?
It depends on the order number. Current Metabo UK information for 614053580 states 13 mm, while an older sheet for 602317570 states 10 mm. Match the label on your tool to its document; do not apply one figure to every SB 18 L.
Can I put an SDS bit in the keyless chuck?
No. SDS bits have a slotted shank intended for an SDS chuck. Use a conventional round-shank masonry bit in the combi's keyless chuck. If the work needs an SDS bit, chiselling or sustained concrete drilling, use an SDS rotary hammer designed for it.
Does the 78-piece set make the drill better for concrete?
No. An accessory count does not change the hammer mechanism, capacity or battery system. Check which bits are included and what material they suit, but judge the drill by its exact order number and specification. Concrete may still require an SDS tool.
Does 11.8 m/s² tell me how many minutes I can drill?
No. It is a declared vibration emission from a specified test, not an individual safe-time figure. Workplace exposure depends on real trigger time, task and conditions, and employers must assess it. Do not convert the number directly into a personal daily allowance.
When should I stop and get professional help?
Stop when you cannot rule out pipes or cables, the fixing is structural, the bit will not progress in dense masonry or the job involves repeated concrete holes. Professional selection of the tool and fixing is safer than forcing a combi beyond its intended work.

Related pages

Best Metabo cordless drill

Metabo 12V or 18V cordless drill

Metabo cordless drill

Metabo cordless drill buying guide: order of checks

How to use a Metabo cordless drill: collar and chuck

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 for these eight listings.

  1. Metabo UK: SB 18 L cordless combi drill 614053580 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  2. Metabo UK: PowerMaxx BS Basic cordless drill driver 600984500 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  3. Metabo UK: BS 18 LTX-3 BL Q I Metal cordless drill driver 603180840 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  4. Metabo UK: battery solutions (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  5. Metabo UK: XXL warranty (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  6. HSE: vibration advice to employers (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  7. HSE: hand-arm vibration regulations (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  8. Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, regulation 4 (retrieved 22 October 2026)