Your typical power drill works fine when working with softer surfaces like wood – but if you’re an electrician working with concrete or other hard materials, then you’re going to need a hammer drill.
If you’re curious as to what hell would be like – try drilling through concrete with a bad hammer drill. Watch in desperation as your drill gently massages the concrete while overheating in your hand (if it doesn’t run out of battery first). No thanks.
On the other hand, a good quality hammer drill will have high instantaneous torque, a long battery life, and will be compatible with a wide assortment of attachments.
To help you separate the treasure from the trash – we’ve reviewed the Top 6 Drills for Electricians of 2024. After reviewing the top brands including Dewalt, Milwaukee, and Bosch – we’re confident we’ve found the best cordless hammer drills on the market. Let’s jump straight into the reviews.
- High-performance transmission
- Heavy duty chuck
- 3-Mode LED light with Spotlight mode
- Compact dimensions
- Fuel gauge for battery management
- Variable 2-speed design
- Double LED for dark spaces
- Excellent price
- Compact & light ergonomic design
Contents
Top 6 Best Cordless Drills for Electricians
Dewalt Cordless Hammer Drill – Best Overall
- DEWALT-built high power, high efficiency brushless motor of DEWALT 20V hammer drill delivers up to 75% more runtime vs. 18V NiCad brushed motors
- The cordless hammer drill features heavy-duty 1/2-inch ratcheting nitro-carburized metal chuck with carbide inserts for superior bit gripping strength
- 3-Mode LED provides lighting in dark or confined spaces up to 20X brighter than previous model
Dewalt’s cordless hammer drill tops our list not just for its competitive pricing but for packing all the essential features and capabilities you’d want in a professional tool. It boasts a high-performance transmission, enhancing its efficiency and delivering speeds that make quick work of any task.
Further improving this drill’s efficiency, it is equipped with a brushless motor, offering over 50% power savings when compared to a brushed motor of equal power output. This drill is capable of up to 250 BPM and 2250 RPM, allowing you to drill through some of the toughest materials without any trouble.
There is even a three-mode LED flashlight on this hammer drill that allows you to work in unlit areas and still see what you’re doing. The LED even features a spotlight mode that can light up a broader space so that anyone around you can also see what they’re working on in a darkened area.
With a power output of 820 UWO (Units Watts Out), this is one of the more powerful hammer drills in its price range, meaning that it offers excellent value for money. The chuck on this drill is designed to be heavy-duty, and it features carbide inserts so that it can grip the bit tightly.
Each of the three speeds is also fully reversible, further enhancing this drill’s versatility. The product itself is well made like you would expect from most Dewalt tools, though it doesn’t come included with a battery. However, if you already have one of Dewalt’s 20V Max batteries, it will be compatible.
Check Price- Huge 250 BPM / 2,250 RPM output
- Heavy duty chuck
- 3 Mode LED flashlight with Spotlight mode
- Huge battery life
- No battery included
Bosch Cordless Hammer Drill – Premium Choice
- MOST COMPACT: Shortest head length and smallest height
- LIGHTEST WEIGHT: Only 2.3 lbs
- SHORTEST HEAD LENGTH IN CLASS: Better balance and control of tool for perfect working in tight areas
If you’re looking for a premium hammer drill and you don’t mind paying a little bit more for higher quality, then the Bosch PS130-2A is the right choice for you. When compared to other hammer drills, this model features a compact design that is easy to transport and maneuver around while in use.
Ideal for those frequently working in tight spaces, Bosch’s compact hammer drill outshines larger models with its ease of maneuverability and lightweight design. Weighing just 2.3 pounds, its short head length and reduced height make it a top pick for comfortable, extended use in cramped conditions.
This hammer drill also features 2 speeds and 20 clutch settings, which allow you to adjust its performance based on what you’re working with. The inclusion of an LED ensures that you will be able to see what you’re doing in the darkest of work areas, without needing a secondary light source.
There is even a gauge that displays how much life is left in the battery so that you aren’t surprised when the drill stops working. This also makes it easier to swap out the battery for one that is fully charged without interrupting your work.
This drill comes included with not only one, but two 12V Max Li-Ion batteries, and also a 60-minute charger. The inclusion of a soft grip makes this one of the more comfortable hammer drills on the market, and the improved ergonomics allow you to work for a longer time before getting fatigued.
Check Price- Compact dimensions
- Fuel gauge for battery management
- Two batteries included
- Ergonomics
- A little less powerful than larger models
Makita Cordless Hammer Drill – Great Value
- BL Brushless motor delivers 530 in.Lbs. Of max torque
- Efficient BL Brushless motor is electronically controlled to optimize battery energy use for up to 50% longer run time per charge
- The BL Brushless motor eliminates carbon brushes, enabling the BL motor to run cooler and more efficiently for longer life
For those eyeing savings without sacrificing performance, Makita’s cordless hammer drill emerges as a prime choice. It stands close in capability to higher-priced models, shedding only the non-essential features, thereby offering remarkable value and efficiency at a more accessible price point.
As with any drill, the motor is the most important part, and this drill features a reliable 4-pole electric motor which provides up to 480 in-lbs of torque. The transmission on this model is capable of two speeds: the first goes up to 600 RPM, while the second is capable of up to 1900 RPM.
Like the Bosch model that we just looked at, this Makita cordless hammer drill is much more compact and easier to use in confined spaces. This model only weighs 3.4 pounds with the battery installed, though keep in mind that this drill doesn’t come included with one.
This drill is also further optimized for working in the dark, as it is equipped with dual LEDs compared to the previous models’ single LED. Ergonomics were evidently a high priority in the minds of the designers, as the rubberized grip on this hammer drill helps reduce the vibrations that make their way to your hands.
The gears in this drill are also fully made out of metal, ensuring that they can last a longer time. Finally, as a gesture of how much faith Makita has in this relatively affordable drill, it comes included with a three-year manufacturer warranty.
Check Price- Double LED for dark spaces
- Great price
- Compact and light
- Warranty
- Lower power output gives it trouble with harder surfaces
Milwaukee Cordless Hammer Drill
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Milwaukee’s cordless hammer drill stands out for its budget-friendly price and exceptional value, mirroring the Makita in affordability and performance. It’s powered by a robust 4-pole motor, delivering 500 in-lbs of torque and a top speed of 1800 RPM, ensuring reliable and efficient performance.
This drill features two speeds, with the first ranging between 0 and 400 RPM, and the second ranging between 0 and 1800 RPM. Another similarity with the Makita drill is the inclusion of a metal gear case, which helps improve the durability and impact resistance of this model.
The Milwaukee drill is another relatively compact model, which makes it more versatile than larger drills, but it also gives up some power. As with the other models, this drill features an LED built-in, making it easier to work in dark environments.
Just like Milwaukee’s excellent step drill bit, Milwaukee built this tool to last.
REDLINK compatibility ensures that you can keep track of the drill’s performance and data while it operates, ensuring that it doesn’t overheat or otherwise get damaged. Unfortunately, this drill features worse build quality than the Makita model, and it is also less efficient, draining battery power a bit faster.
Check Price- Excellent price
- REDLINK-compatible
- Metal gear case and chuck
- Inefficient motor drains batteries
- Disappointing build quality
Ridgid Cordless Hammer Drill
- FULLY ADJUSTABLE CLUTCH: With over 100 possible positions, you can tighten the clutch to produce the exact amount of torque needed for the job
- BRUSHLESS MOTOR: This tool’s brushless motor helps it run faster and last longer than its brushed counterparts
- LED LIGHTING: Keep your work illuminated with the independently activated LEDs on the front of the tool
Shifting gears to the higher-end spectrum, Ridgid’s cordless hammer drill justifies its price with enhanced features. A standout is its fully-adjustable clutch, offering over 100 settings for precise control over torque, catering to a wide range of drilling requirements with ease.
The inclusion of a brushless motor on this drill means that you can use it for a longer time before the battery dies, making it ideal for longer jobs. The extra handle that comes included with this drill can be mounted on either the left or right, ensuring that it can be used comfortably by lefties and righties.
As with the other drills, this model comes equipped with a useful LED light so that you can see what you’re working on in dark spaces. Ergonomics were also a clear priority in the design of this drill, as it features a rubberized grip that will help keep your hands from getting tired.
This drill’s performance is also impressive, as it’s capable of up to 27 300 BPM, and it has a maximum RPM of 2100. Unfortunately, this drill just doesn’t offer any significant advantages over our top three models, and it’s also a bit larger, making it more unwieldy, especially in small spaces. You’re better off with a Milwaukee.
Check Price- 100 clutch positions
- Brushless motor
- Ergonomic handle
- Bulky
- Features don’t justify the price
Huepar Cordless Hammer Drill
The final cordless hammer drill that we’ll be reviewing is a high-end model from Huepar, and it is equipped with the kind of features that you would expect to see on a model at this price point. The brushless motor ensures that this drill can run efficiently and that it won’t overheat, even with moderately heavy use.
This model also comes included with a battery, making it a great choice for customers who don’t already have one ready for use. On a single charge, this drill can punch about 110 holes in a concrete surface. This drill is also versatile, allowing you to toggle between rotation, hammering, or both.
Equipped with a one-touch chuck, it’s also easy to install or replace bits, making this power drill an excellent choice for beginners. The inclusion of a torque limiting clutch will disengage the gears if the bit gets stuck, preventing potential damage to the gears themselves.
This hammer drill is meant to be as comfortable as possible for long jobs, with the handle being designed to control vibrations. While this hammer drill features an impressive 2.2J of impact force, it is only capable of 1000 RPM at max speed. We also faced some issues with reliability, so we couldn’t give this model a top-three spot.
Check Price- Included battery
- Bits are easy to replace
- Vibration reduction features
- Surprisingly tame performance
- Problems with reliability