Best Hammer Drill of 2026
Our Top Picks
| Pick | Model | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Best Overall | DeWalt DCD805B | $149 | Combination drilling + hammer drilling in one tool |
| 💰 Best Budget | Skil HD5290E | $59 | Occasional concrete work, tapcon screws |
| 🔧 Best Rotary Hammer | Bosch RH328VC | $279 | Daily concrete drilling, 1"+ holes, chiseling |
Hammer Drill vs Rotary Hammer: Know the Difference Before You Buy
This is the most important thing in this article
A hammer drill vibrates the chuck forward and back a tiny amount (~1mm) thousands of times per minute. It's a regular drill with a hammer mode added on. Good for: 1/4"–3/8" holes in brick and concrete block, Tapcons, plastic anchors.
A rotary hammer uses a pneumatic piston to slam the bit with real force (~10mm+ stroke length). It's a dedicated concrete demolition tool. Good for: 1/2"–1-1/2" holes in solid concrete, through-holes in foundation walls, chiseling tile, breaking up small slabs.
Buy a hammer drill if you occasionally drill into brick. Buy a rotary hammer if you regularly drill into concrete. If you said "both," that's a fourth option we'll cover.
Comparison Table
| Model | Price | Type | Torque | BPM | Weight | Max Concrete | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DCD805B | $149 | Hammer Drill | 500 in-lbs | 34,000 | 3.4 lbs | 1/2" | ★★★★★ |
| Skil HD5290E | $59 | Hammer Drill | 350 in-lbs | 32,000 | 4.5 lbs | 1/2" | ★★★★☆ |
| Bosch RH328VC | $279 | Rotary Hammer | N/A | 4,600 | 6.8 lbs | 1-1/8" | ★★★★★ |
| Milwaukee 2904 | $229 | Hammer Drill | 1,200 in-lbs | 33,000 | 4.2 lbs | 1/2" | ★★★★★ |
Best Overall: DeWalt DCD805B
DeWalt DCD805B 20V MAX Hammer Drill
500 in-lbs · 34,000 BPM · 3.4 lbs · 1/2" metal chuck · LED work light
Check price on Amazon →What we like
- One tool does double duty — regular drilling plus hammer mode for masonry
- At 3.4 lbs it's actually lighter than many non-hammer drills in this category
- The hammer mechanism engages smoothly — no jarring transition when you flip the mode selector
- Shares batteries with 200+ DeWalt 20V tools
- 34,000 BPM is fast enough for clean holes in brick and cinder block
What we don't like
- Struggles on solid poured concrete — that's rotary hammer territory
- No dust extraction port. Budget $15 for a separate dust shroud if drilling indoors
- Hammer mode on cordless drills drains batteries fast. Budget 10–15 minutes of continuous hammering per 5Ah battery
Best Budget: Skil HD5290E
At $59, the Skil HD5290E is the cheapest way to put a hole in concrete that doesn't involve a sledgehammer. It's corded — no battery anxiety when you're drilling 20 holes for a bathroom grab bar. The 7-amp motor produces 32,000 BPM, enough for 1/4" tapcons in poured concrete. Above 3/8" in solid concrete it fights you — but at this price, renting a rotary hammer for the one big hole is still cheaper than buying one.
Best Rotary Hammer: Bosch RH328VC
The Bosch RH328VC is not a drill with a hammer mode. It's a hammer that happens to spin. The pneumatic piston delivers 2.6 ft-lbs of impact energy — a number that means nothing until you compare it to the ~0.5 ft-lbs of a hammer drill. It punches through solid poured concrete at a rate that makes a hammer drill look like a toy. The SDS-plus chuck accepts bits up to 1-1/8" in concrete, and the chisel-only mode lets you remove tile, break up thinset, and chip away at concrete without drilling a hole first.
This is not a first drill. It's not a second drill. It's a specialty tool for people who know they need it. If you've spent an afternoon leaning on a hammer drill trying to get through a foundation wall, you know.
When to Rent vs Buy a Rotary Hammer
Rotary hammers are the textbook definition of a rental tool. Home Depot rents the Bosch RH328VC for $35/day. If you drill more than eight 1" holes in concrete per year, buy one. Fewer than eight: rent. You'll spend $35 once and never think about it again, instead of $279 for a tool that lives in a case in your garage for 363 days a year.
Bits for Masonry Drilling
| Bit Type | Chuck | Best For | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbide-tipped masonry | Regular 3-jaw | 1/4"–1/2" in brick, block | Bosch BM5000 |
| SDS-plus | SDS-plus | 1/4"–1" in concrete | Bosch HCK005 |
| SDS-max | SDS-max | 1/2"–2" in concrete | Bosch HCK005 |
Important: masonry bits are NOT the same as metal bits. Metal bits cut by shearing. Masonry bits crush by hammering. Using a metal bit on concrete dulls it instantly. Using a masonry bit on metal chips the carbide edge. Buy the right bit for the right material.
The Bottom Line
If you drill into concrete a few times a year for Tapcons and plastic anchors, get a combo hammer drill — the DeWalt DCD805B at $149 is the best all-rounder. If you've never drilled into concrete and just want to be prepared, the Skil HD5290E at $59 covers occasional masonry work. And if you're drilling through foundation walls, chiseling tile, or anchoring bolts into solid concrete: buy or rent a dedicated rotary hammer. The Bosch RH328VC pays for itself in about eight rental days.