You already own LXT packs
You charge Makita 18 V LXT batteries already and you want a compact brushless combi body. You understand that the carton will not include a pack or a charger. The DHP487Z is the body in this set that matches that brief.
Makita drill comparison 2026
The best Makita drills, compared.
Top pick: DHP487Z brushless body – Highest star line with 879 reviews, and the listing states a brushless LXT body with hammer drilling. Best value: DK18015X2 twin pack – The only listing in this set that names two batteries and a charger in the carton. Updated October 2026.
Charlie White (Charlie DIYte)Expert source
A cordless combi drill drills holes in timber or steel, drives screws through a clutch, and uses a ratchet hammer for light brick and block. In the UK you usually choose an 18 V body that runs from a slide-on pack. A suitable example matches the battery family you already charge, and its included-components line matches the title. The stated masonry diameter should cover a wall plug, not a chase in concrete. A body-only carton will not run on the day it arrives if there is no pack and no charger. A cell that prints a large speed count is often the torque steps, not extra gears. Hammer mode on a three-jaw chuck is for occasional plugs. Concrete, chasing and chiselling need a sliding-bit rotary hammer. Use the [battery family and kit guide](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/makita-drill/sub/makita-drill-buying-guide) before you treat a low shelf price as a complete kit. The charger should carry a BS 1363 plug and should be the one made for that battery family.
A cordless combi drill drills holes in timber or steel, drives screws through a clutch, and uses a ratchet hammer for light brick and block. In the UK you usually choose an 18 V body that runs from a slide-on pack.
14 products checked · 54 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
4 of 4: Best Makita drills compared
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1-2 of 4Best overall
Best value
9.4/10
9.4/10
8.8/10
8.6/10
∼ £86
∼ £183
∼ £97
∼ £180
4.7(879)
4.7(82)
4.4(47)
4.3(48)
Personal buying guide
Which Makita drill fits you?
Question 1 of 2
Do you already have Makita 18 V LXT batteries and a charger?
The best Makita drills in detail
Our view
The DHP487Z at £86 is a brushless 18 V LXT body that the listing rates for 40 Nm, 13 mm in masonry and steel, and 36 mm in wood, at a stated 164 mm and 1 kg. Across 4.7 from 879 amazon.co.uk reviews, owners who already had an LXT pack treat the body-only price as the reason to buy it, and they mention the compact size, an LED, and a belt clip that can swap sides. The title says batteries and charger are not included, the included line is the drill plus one screwdriver bit, and several reviews still underline a brown paper bag rather than a case. The chuck is plastic: one reviewer wanted gloves, one chuck jammed past finger pressure, one set of plastic chuck gears stripped on first use, and one mode selector stuck on hammer, with no pattern of motor failure in the first 50 UK reviews read. The speeds cell prints 20, while the bullets say two mechanical gears and 20 torque settings plus drill mode. In this set it is the top pick when you already own LXT batteries and a charger. It is a poor first kit if you expected to drill tonight, and the bullets say it is not compatible with G-series batteries.
Pros
- Brushless 18 V LXT body at £86, with 4.7 from 879 reviews
- Listing states hammer drilling, 13 mm masonry and a 13 mm chuck
- Owners who already have an LXT pack treat the body-only price as the point of the listing
- Reviews mention an LED and a belt clip that can swap sides
Cons
- No battery, charger or case in the included line
- Plastic chuck: one jam past finger pressure and one stripped chuck gear in the sample
- Speeds cell prints 20 against two gears in the bullets
Best for: You already own Makita 18 V LXT batteries and a charger, and you want a compact brushless combi body.
Less suitable: You need a pack and a charger in the same carton, or you only have G-series batteries.
Specifications
- Model
- DHP487Z brushless body
- Brand
- Makita
- Price
- ∼£86
- Customer rating
- 4.7/5(879)
- Format
- Body only
- Battery family
- 18 V LXT
- Battery in box
- No
- Charger in box
- No
- Hammer drilling
- Yes
- Listed torque
- 40 Nm
- Motor
- Brushless
- Chuck
- 13 mm keyless
- Wood capacity
- 36 mm
- Voltage
- 18 V
- Weight
- 1 kg
- In the box
- Body and one bit
Common questions
Does this listing include a battery and a charger?
No. The title says batteries and charger are not included. The included line is the DHP487Z and one screwdriver bit.
Will a G-series battery fit?
The bullets say it is not compatible with G-series batteries. The compatible-devices line says Makita 18 V LXT batteries.
Is hammer mode listed?
Yes. The bullets state hammer drilling, 13 mm in masonry, two mechanical gears and 20 torque settings plus drill mode. The speeds cell prints 20.
Our view
At £182.50 the DK18015X2 bullets name an HP457D combi drill, a TD127D impact driver, two BL1813G packs, a DC18WA charger, a canvas bag and three 65 mm PH2 gold bits, and amazon.co.uk shows 4.7 from 82 reviews. Reviewers praise having both tools together, a bag that holds the drill, the driver, the packs and the charger, and an impact driver they call powerful. One gift recipient calls the battery life amazing, while another wishes the packs were 3.0 Ah or 4.0 Ah, and one buyer sent the set back with no defect stated. The specification table does not say brushless, a single 42 Nm cell covers two tools, and the 5.65 kg weight is not split by tool. The included-components cell prints 1 x item against that bullet list. No review in the sample says these BL1813G packs fitted an LXT drill. It is the best value in this set if you want two tools, two named packs and a named charger in one carton, and the wrong spare-battery purchase if your other tools are LXT.
Pros
- Bullets name an HP457D, a TD127D, two BL1813G packs and a DC18WA
- 4.7 from 82 reviews, with praise for both tools and the carry bag
- Listing bullet states a three-year warranty when registered online with Makita
Cons
- No review in the sample says the BL1813G packs fitted an LXT tool
- Reviewers wanted larger packs than the ones supplied
- One 42 Nm cell and a 5.65 kg weight are not split by tool
- Included-components cell prints 1 x item against the bullet list
Best for: You want a combi and an impact driver with packs and a charger named in the same listing.
Less suitable: You need batteries for a DHP487 or any other LXT tool.
Specifications
- Model
- DK18015X2 twin pack
- Brand
- Makita
- Price
- ∼£183
- Customer rating
- 4.7/5(82)
- Format
- Twin pack
- Battery family
- BL1813G
- Battery in box
- Yes
- Charger in box
- Yes
- Hammer drilling
- Yes
- Listed torque
- 42 Nm
- Voltage
- 18 V
- Weight
- 5.65 kg
- In the box
- Two tools, packs, charger
Common questions
What is named in the DK18015X2 box?
The bullets name an HP457D combi drill, a TD127D impact driver, two BL1813G batteries, a DC18WA charger, a canvas carry bag and three 65 mm PH2 gold bits.
Does the listing say brushless?
No. The specification table does not say brushless.
Why does one cell say a single item?
The included-components cell prints 1 x item. The bullets list two tools, two batteries, a charger, a bag and three bits.
Our view
The DHP482 listing at £97 pairs the drill with a B-53811 100-piece bit set and still leaves the battery and charger out. The table prints 62 Nm, 1,900 rpm, two speeds and a 12.7 mm chuck, the compatible-devices line says Makita 18 V LXT batteries, and amazon.co.uk shows 4.4 from 47 reviews. Owners who already had a battery call it light next to an older drill and easy to use, and one describes battery life as good over the first couple of months. Several buyers say the description does not make the missing battery clear, one ordered the body, the battery and the charger on separate days, and reviews describe a plastic bag or a plain brown box rather than a case. Hammer mode is not in the specification table, the wood cell says 13 mm beside a 12.7 mm chuck, and the part number is DHP482Z while the model cell is DHP482. One of 11 UK reviews describes a unit that arrived marked and smelt of electrical burning. The bit set is the extra in the carton, not a way to run the drill tonight.
Pros
- 100-piece drill and screwdriver set in the included line, at £97
- Table prints 62 Nm, 1,900 rpm and two speeds
- Compatible-devices line names Makita 18 V LXT batteries
Cons
- No battery, charger or case; reviews say the missing battery is easy to miss
- Hammer mode is not in the specification table
- Wood cell of 13 mm sits beside a 12.7 mm chuck
- One of 11 UK reviews describes a marked unit that smelt of electrical burning
Best for: You already have LXT packs and you want this body plus a large bit set.
Less suitable: You need hammer mode stated on the listing, or a battery and a charger in the box.
Specifications
- Model
- DHP482 with 100-piece set
- Brand
- Makita
- Price
- ∼£97
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(47)
- Format
- Body with bit set
- Battery family
- 18 V LXT
- Battery in box
- No
- Charger in box
- No
- Listed torque
- 62 Nm
- Chuck
- 12.7 mm
- Wood capacity
- 13 mm
- Voltage
- 18 V
- Weight
- 2.79 kg
- In the box
- 100-piece bit set
Common questions
Are the battery and charger in the box?
No. Included components list a 100-piece drill and screwdriver set. Reviews say the battery and charger are separate purchases.
Does the listing state hammer mode?
No. The drill type cell says combination drill. Hammer mode is not in the specification table.
Which LXT batteries does the page name?
The compatible-devices line says Makita 18 V LXT batteries. The part number is DHP482Z and the model cell is DHP482.
Our view
At £180 the bullets name an HP457 combi hammer drill, a TD127D impact driver, two 1.3 Ah Li-ion batteries, a heavy duty case and three gold impact bits, and amazon.co.uk shows 4.3 from 48 reviews. Buyers who use a drill five or six times a year call it enough without spending more than £200, and one owner prefers a major brand in case a repair is needed later. The model cell prints XDT16T and the torque cell prints 20 Nm, which do not match the HP457 and TD127D named in the bullets. A charger is not in the included line, and one review says the charger did not match the photograph. Reviews say the packs do not fit the usual 18 V batteries on the buyers' other Makita products, one pack did not fit a Makita radio, and runtime on the small packs is called short depending on the job. No review in the 14 read describes a failed gearbox, chuck or motor. Buy it only after you have checked that these packs are the family you already use.
Pros
- Included line names an HP457, a TD127D, two 1.3 Ah packs and a hard case
- Reviewers cite occasional DIY without going over £200
- No gearbox, chuck or motor failure in the 14 UK reviews read
Cons
- Model cell prints XDT16T and the torque cell prints 20 Nm, against the tools named in the bullets
- A charger is not in the included line
- Reviews say the packs do not fit the buyers' other 18 V Makita tools
Best for: You have confirmed this battery slot before you pay, and occasional DIY is the job.
Less suitable: You need a charger named in the listing, or packs that fit an LXT drill.
Specifications
- Model
- HP457 and TD127D twin pack
- Brand
- Makita
- Price
- ∼£180
- Customer rating
- 4.3/5(48)
- Format
- Twin pack
- Battery family
- 1.3 Ah Li-ion
- Battery in box
- Yes
- Hammer drilling
- Yes
- Listed torque
- 20 Nm
- Voltage
- 18 V
- In the box
- Two tools, packs, case
Common questions
What tools are named in the box?
The included line names an HP457 combi hammer drill, a TD127D 18 V impact driver, two 1.3 Ah Li-ion batteries, a heavy duty case and three gold impact bits.
Is a charger listed?
Not in the included-components line. One review discusses a charger that did not match the photograph.
Do the reviews say the batteries fit other 18 V Makita tools?
No. Reviews say the packs do not fit the usual 18 V batteries on the buyers' other Makita products, and one pack did not fit a Makita radio.
How we compared
We compared four Makita drill listings on amazon.co.uk, drawn from a wider look at bodies and kits in this category. The score on each row is the amazon.co.uk star rating times 20, so 4.7 becomes 94. That is not a lab test. The review count sits beside the stars and is not added as a second score. Battery family, and whether the carton names packs and a charger, decide the top pick and the best value. A body-only price is not treated as a complete kit.
1
Battery family
30%LXT and G-series are both called 18 V and do not share a slot. A pack from the wrong family will not run the tool.
2
Box contents
25%A body-only code means no battery and no charger. A bit set is not a battery. Packs and a charger have to be named before a listing is treated as a kit.
3
Mechanism
20%A combi hammer covers screws, timber, steel and brick plugs. Concrete, chasing and chiselling need an SDS-plus rotary hammer, which is not in this set.
4
Listing consistency
15%Capacity and model cells can disagree with the bullets or with the Makita UK sheet. The conflict stays on the row rather than being turned into extra points.
5
Review evidence
10%The published score is the amazon.co.uk star line times 20. The number of reviews is shown beside it and does not create a second score.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Makita drill buying guide
A Makita drill on amazon.co.uk is usually an 18 V combi. You are either adding a body to packs you already own or starting from nothing. Judge a listing by the battery family, by whether the included-components line matches the title, and by whether the capacity cell matches Makita UK. A body-only code means no battery and no charger. A bit set is not a battery. A combi hammer covers screws, timber, steel and brick plugs.
What should you check on a Makita drill?
A Makita drill in this set is an 18 V cordless combi, or a twin pack that pairs a combi with an impact driver. A combi has a three-jaw chuck, a clutch, two gears and a ratchet hammer. It drills, it drives screws through the clutch, and the hammer is for light masonry such as brick plugs up to the diameter the listing states. A drill-driver, often coded DF, has no hammer. An impact driver, the TD127D in both twin packs here, uses a hex shank and rotational hits. It is not a masonry chuck.
Best for
- Owners of 18 V LXT batteries who want a compact brushless body
- Buyers who want two tools with packs and a charger named in the listing
Not ideal for
- Anyone who needs a charger and batteries in the same carton as an LXT body
- Concrete, chasing or chiselling that needs an SDS-plus rotary hammer
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Assuming every 18 V pack fits
LXT and G-series are both sold as 18 V and do not share a slot. The BL1813G packs in the DK18015X2 are described as G-series only. Reviews on the other twin pack say the 1.3 Ah packs did not fit the buyers' other 18 V Makita tools.
- 2
Expecting a body-only drill to run tonight
Z means no battery and no charger. The DHP487Z carton is the drill and one screwdriver bit. The DHP482 adds a 100-piece bit set and still leaves the pack and the charger out. A bit set does not replace a battery.
- 3
Trusting one awkward cell
The DHP482 wood cell says 13 mm, while the Makita UK PDF states an auger up to 38 mm, and hammer mode is not in that listing's table. The other twin pack prints model XDT16T and 20 Nm, which do not match the HP457 and TD127D named in the bullets. Driving with the clutch locked, or staying in hammer mode after the bit has stalled, is a separate way to damage the job.
What to weigh up
Battery family
HighThe battery family decides whether the drill runs on the packs you already own. LXT and G-series are both sold as 18 V and they do not share a slot. The DHP482 and the DHP487 are LXT bodies. The DK18015X2 names two BL1813G packs and a DC18WA charger. Part Shop Direct describes the BL1813G as a G-series battery, not an LXT pack, and as no longer available as a spare. The other twin pack names two 1.3 Ah packs and does not print an LXT code.
Box contents
HighBox contents decide whether the price is a tool or a kit. On these Makita bodies, Z means the carton does not include a battery or a charger. A bit set is not a battery. The DHP487Z included line is the drill and one screwdriver bit. The DHP482 listing adds a 100-piece drill and screwdriver set and still leaves the battery and the charger out. Reviews say that missing battery is easy to miss.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are starting from nothing
You need a combi, a second tool, packs and a charger named in one listing. Do not treat a body-only price as the whole cost. The DK18015X2 is the only row here that names two packs and a charger, and those packs are G-series rather than LXT.
You want a bit set as well
You already have LXT batteries and you want this body plus a large bit set. The DHP482 listing includes a 100-piece set and still leaves the battery and the charger out. Hammer mode is not in its specification table.
Common questions about Makita drills
Which Makita drill is the top pick in this set?
The top pick in this set is the DHP487Z, a brushless 18 V LXT body at about £86. amazon.co.uk shows 4.7 from 879 reviews. The listing states hammer drilling, 13 mm in masonry and steel, and 36 mm in wood. Choose it only if you already own LXT batteries and a charger. The carton is the body and one screwdriver bit. It is a poor first kit, and the bullets say it is not compatible with G-series batteries.
Which Makita drill is the best value in this set?
The best value in this set is the DK18015X2 at about £182.50. It is the only listing here that names two batteries and a charger: two BL1813G packs and a DC18WA, plus an HP457D combi, a TD127D impact driver, a canvas bag and three bits. amazon.co.uk shows 4.7 from 82 reviews. The table does not say brushless, and one 42 Nm cell covers two tools. Skip it if your other tools are LXT, because those packs use a different slot.
How much does a Makita drill cost on amazon.co.uk?
In this set the DHP487Z body is about £86 and the DHP482 with a 100-piece bit set is about £97. Neither includes a battery or a charger. The twin packs are about £180 and about £182.50, and only the £182.50 listing names two batteries and a charger. As a rule of thumb, not as an amazon price, some LXT bodies sat around £50 to £90 at dealers the same week. A body-only price is not a complete kit.
What should you check before you buy a Makita drill?
Check the battery family first. LXT and G-series are both called 18 V and do not share a slot. Then read the included-components line against the title, because a body-only code has no pack and a bit set is not a battery. A combi hammer covers plugs, not concrete chasing. Register within 30 days if you want the extra consumer cover. That extra cover does not apply to business use.
Will every 18 V Makita battery fit every Makita drill?
No. In this set the DHP487 and the DHP482 are LXT bodies. The DK18015X2 names two BL1813G packs, which Part Shop Direct describes as G-series only, not LXT. The other twin pack names two 1.3 Ah packs, and reviews say those packs did not fit the buyers' other 18 V Makita tools. CXT is 12 V max and XGT is 40 V max. Match the family printed for the tool, not the voltage on its own.
Does a Makita combi drill replace an SDS rotary hammer?
No. Hammer mode on these combis is for screws, timber, steel and brick plugs, up to 13 mm in masonry on the DHP487 listing. It is not the tool for all-day concrete, chasing or chiselling. That work needs an SDS-plus rotary hammer, and none of these four listings is one. Compare that class in the rotary hammer comparison. If you are unsure what is behind a wall, isolate the circuit and call a professional.
What does a Z code mean on a Makita drill?
On these Makita bodies, Z means the carton is the tool without a battery or a charger. The DHP487Z included line is the drill and one screwdriver bit. The DHP482 listing is a body plus a 100-piece bit set. You cannot run either drill on the day it arrives unless you already own a charged pack and a charger of the same family. A bit set does not replace a battery.
How long is the Makita UK guarantee?
Makita UK states one year on the tool and two years on Li-ion batteries and chargers bought after 1 April 2025, plus two further years if a consumer registers within 30 days. The consumer terms exclude business use and chucks. The DK18015X2 listing says three years when you register online. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 still requires the goods to match the description. The UK phone line published by Makita is 01908 211678. Do not open a lithium battery.
Our verdict
The top pick in this set is the DHP487Z brushless LXT body if you already own LXT batteries and a charger. It shares the highest star line, 4.7, and it has the large review count, and the listing states a brushless motor and hammer drilling. It is a poor first kit. The best value is the DK18015X2, the only listing here that names two batteries and a charger as well as a combi and an impact driver. Those packs are G-series, not a way to feed an LXT drill. The DHP482 adds a 100-piece bit set and still needs your own LXT pack. The other twin pack is worth buying only after you have checked that its 1.3 Ah packs match the slot you already use, and it does not name a charger.
Best overallView offer
DHP487Z brushless body
Highest star line with 879 reviews, and the listing states a brushless LXT body with hammer drilling.
Best value
View offer
DK18015X2 twin pack
The only listing in this set that names two batteries and a charger in the carton.
Editorial
DIY & tools editor
Drilling and accessoriesCordless toolsDIY tools
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.
Updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to Makita drills
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Makita drill buying guideChoose the battery family and the kit style before you compare shelf prices.Best Makita drill in this setWho the top pick and the best value are for, and who should skip each.How to use a Makita drillCollar, gears, clutch and hammer, and when to stop and call a professional.Makita drill LXT or G-seriesWhy the twin-pack batteries will not run an LXT body such as the DHP487.Makita drill combi or SDSBrick plugs on a combi versus concrete, chasing and a chisel on SDS-plus.
Related comparisons
Sources
Sources for this comparison, last checked on 22 October 2026.
- Makita UK DHP487 product page (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Makita UK DHP482 technical PDF (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Makita UK warranty (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Part Shop Direct BL1813G battery (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, regulation 4 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- HSE vibration in construction (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- HSE noise for employers (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- HSE CIS36, control of silica dust (retrieved 22 October 2026)
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 article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Listings, review counts and public sources still decide the comparison. We did not run a lab test.