Drill vs hammer drill vs rotary hammer: which do you need?
They look alike but do different jobs. Buying the wrong one means slow work and a tool that wears out early.
Drill / driver
The everyday tool for drilling holes in wood, metal and plastic and driving screws. It only rotates. Choose this if most of your work is carpentry, fitting and general repairs.
Hammer drill (impact drill)
A hammer drill rotates and also taps the bit forward rapidly, which helps it break into brick, block and light concrete when used with a masonry bit. It is a good all-rounder if you mostly drill wood and metal but sometimes need to drill into a wall.
Rotary hammer (SDS)
A rotary hammer uses a piston mechanism to deliver much stronger impacts than a hammer drill, so it drills concrete quickly and can also chisel. It takes special SDS bits that slot in rather than being tightened in a chuck.
- SDS-Plus: lighter, for holes in concrete up to about 26 mm and light chiselling
- SDS-Max: heavier, for large holes and serious breaking work
A quick way to decide
- Mostly wood, metal and screws — drill / driver
- Occasional brick or block — hammer drill
- Regular concrete — rotary hammer (SDS-Plus for most jobs)
- Frequent large holes or breaking — SDS-Max or a demolition hammer
Corded or cordless?
Cordless tools give you freedom on site and are handy for quick jobs; choose a battery size that matches how long you work. Corded tools give steady power all day without worrying about charge, which suits workshops and heavy drilling.