Rotary Hammers Price Comparison 2026
Compare 156 rotary hammers from Bosch, Makita, DeWALT and more — find the best price across top UK retailers, from budget SDS Plus to professional SDS Max.
Rotary hammers occupy a very different world from standard percussion drills — and the price gap between a budget Einhell and a professional Bosch GBH tells that story clearly. Our catalogue spans 36 £ to 937 £, with the bulk of serious trade tools sitting between 215 £ and 399 £. Bosch dominates this category with 62 listed models at an average well above the market midpoint, while Einhell carves out a credible budget niche for occasional DIY use.
The single most important distinction to understand before buying is the chuck standard. SDS Plus is the workhorse format — it handles bits up to 32mm in concrete and covers the vast majority of domestic and light trade applications. SDS Max steps in for heavy-duty demolition and large-diameter core drilling, and you'll find it on the bigger Bosch and Metabo professional models at the top of our price range. Getting this wrong means your bits won't fit, so it's worth confirming before you compare offers.
Cordless has genuinely matured in this category. The Bosch 18V GBH range and Makita's equivalent platforms now deliver impact energy figures that were unthinkable from a battery tool five years ago — and the convenience on a busy site is hard to argue with. That said, mains-powered tools still win on sustained heavy chiselling, where battery runtime becomes a real constraint. If you're already invested in an 18V platform from cordless drills or impact drivers, it's worth checking whether a bare-tool rotary hammer from the same brand makes financial sense.
One thing our data highlights: vibration ratings are rarely discussed in product listings but matter enormously for anyone using these tools regularly. Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is a genuine occupational health risk, and UK regulations set daily exposure limits. Models with active vibration damping — a feature you'll find on mid-range Bosch and Makita tools from around 215 £ upwards — are worth the premium if you're drilling for more than an hour a day. Budget tools from Einhell and Yato are fine for occasional use; they're not designed for eight-hour shifts. Compare the full range of options and current prices across retailers on angle grinders and other power tools alongside your rotary hammer shortlist.
How to Choose a Rotary Hammer: The Criteria That Actually Matter
Most buyers focus on wattage or price and miss the specs that determine whether a rotary hammer will actually do the job. Impact energy in joules and chuck type are the two numbers that matter most — get those right first, then worry about everything else.
Impact Energy (Joules) — the real measure of drilling power
Wattage is almost meaningless for rotary hammers. Impact energy in joules is what tells you how hard the tool hits per strike. For drilling 6–10mm holes in brick or lightweight concrete, 1.5–2.0J is perfectly adequate. For sustained work in reinforced concrete or masonry walls, you want at least 2.5–3.0J. The heavy Bosch GBH 5-40 D and GBH 8-45 DV push well beyond 5J — these are tools for breaking out floors, not hanging shelves. Don't buy more joules than you need; higher-energy tools are heavier and harder to control in confined spaces.
SDS Plus vs SDS Max — getting the chuck standard right
SDS Plus covers the vast majority of use cases: drilling up to 32mm in concrete, light chiselling, general masonry work. It's the standard on almost every tool priced from 127 £ to 399 £. SDS Max is for professional heavy-duty work — core drilling, demolition, holes above 40mm. The bits are larger, the tools are heavier, and the prices reflect it. A handful of older or budget models use a hex or keyless chuck, which limits you to smaller bits and lower impact energy. Always confirm the chuck type before comparing prices, as bits are not interchangeable between standards.
Cordless 18V vs mains-powered — matching the tool to the job
Cordless 18V tools (Bosch, Makita, DeWALT) have closed the performance gap significantly and are the right choice for most site work where cable management is a nuisance. The trade-off is runtime: a 4.0Ah battery will typically give you 45–60 minutes of active drilling before needing a charge. For continuous heavy chiselling — breaking up a concrete floor, for instance — a mains-powered tool is still the more practical option. If you're already on an 18V platform, check whether the bare-tool price makes sense; batteries are expensive, and buying a second brand just for a rotary hammer rarely pays off.
Vibration damping and HAVS compliance
This is the criterion most DIY buyers ignore and most professional buyers prioritise. Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is a serious and irreversible condition caused by prolonged exposure to tool vibration. UK Control of Vibration at Work Regulations set a daily exposure action value of 2.5 m/s² — easy to exceed with a budget rotary hammer after just 30 minutes. Active vibration control systems (Bosch's AVS, Makita's AVT) significantly reduce transmission to the operator's hands. These features appear consistently on tools priced above 215 £. If you're using the tool professionally or for more than an hour at a stretch, this is not an optional extra.
Operating modes — do you actually need chisel-only?
Most rotary hammers offer three modes: rotation only (for wood/metal drilling), rotation plus percussion (concrete and masonry), and chisel-only (for breaking and chiselling without rotation). The third mode is genuinely useful for tile removal, light demolition and pointing work — but only if the tool has enough impact energy to make it worthwhile. A 1.5J tool in chisel mode is frustrating; a 3.0J+ tool is genuinely productive. Budget single-mode tools exist at the lower end of the market and are fine if you only ever drill concrete. Just be honest about whether you'll ever need to chisel.
Weight and balance for overhead or extended work
A rotary hammer that feels manageable at floor level becomes exhausting above shoulder height after ten minutes. Professional SDS Max tools can weigh 5kg or more — fine for floor work, punishing for ceiling fixings. Most SDS Plus tools in the 127 £ to 215 £ range weigh 2.5–3.5kg, which is workable for most applications. Check whether the auxiliary handle is adjustable and whether the tool's balance point sits comfortably in your grip. Bosch and Makita both invest noticeably in ergonomics at the mid-range; budget brands less so.
- Budget and occasional use (From 36 £ to 127 £) : Dominated by Einhell and Yato. These tools are adequate for occasional DIY — drilling wall plugs, light masonry work — but vibration damping is minimal and build quality reflects the price. Not suitable for professional or prolonged use. Einhell's TC-RH 800 is a reasonable entry point if your needs are genuinely light.
- The sweet spot for serious DIY and light trade (From 127 £ to 215 £) : This is where the market gets interesting. Bosch GBH 2-26 F and GBH 2-28 Professional sit here, offering genuine SDS Plus performance with multi-mode operation. Far Tools and Fieldmann also appear at this level. For a homeowner tackling renovation work or a tradesperson needing a reliable second tool, this range offers the best value.
- Professional SDS Plus — the trade standard (From 215 £ to 399 £) : Makita and DeWALT feature strongly here alongside Bosch's cordless 18V GBH range. Expect active vibration control, multi-mode operation, higher impact energy (2.5–4.0J) and proper dust management. These are tools built for daily professional use. The Bosch GBH 18V-40 C at the lower end of this bracket is one of the most versatile cordless rotary hammers on the market.
- Heavy-duty and SDS Max professional (Over 399 £) : Bosch GBH 5-40 D, GBH 8-45 DV, GBH 12-52 D and the top-spec GBH 18V-45 C occupy this territory. These are specialist tools — SDS Max format, 5J+ impact energy, designed for demolition, core drilling and sustained heavy work. Metabo also competes at this level. Unless you're regularly drilling 40mm+ holes in reinforced concrete, this is more tool than most buyers need.
Top products
- Bosch GBH 18V-40 C Professional (Bosch) : The most versatile cordless SDS Plus rotary hammer in the range — 4.0J impact energy from an 18V platform is genuinely impressive. Best value if you're already on the Bosch 18V system; buying batteries from scratch softens the appeal.
- Bosch GBH 2-28 Professional (Bosch) : The go-to mains-powered SDS Plus tool for tradespeople who want reliability without the cordless premium. Solid 3.2J impact energy, excellent build quality and wide bit availability. Not exciting, but consistently one of the best-regarded tools in its class.
- Bosch GBH 2-26 F Professional (Bosch) : A step down from the GBH 2-28 in impact energy but meaningfully lighter — a fair trade for anyone doing a lot of overhead work. Good entry point into the Bosch Professional range without paying for power you may not need.
- Einhell TE-HD 18/20 Li - Solo SDS Plus (Einhell) : The most capable of Einhell's cordless rotary hammers and the best budget option for occasional DIY. Vibration damping is basic and it won't survive professional daily use, but for the price it's hard to fault for light masonry work. Remember: sold without battery.
- Bosch GBH 5-40 D Professional (Bosch) : A serious SDS Max tool for serious work — 8.8J impact energy puts it firmly in the demolition and core-drilling bracket. Overkill for standard trade use, but if you regularly drill 40mm+ holes in reinforced concrete, nothing in this catalogue touches it at the price.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SDS Plus and SDS Max rotary hammers?
SDS Plus and SDS Max are incompatible chuck standards — bits from one will not fit the other. SDS Plus is the standard for mid-range tools, handling bits up to 32mm diameter in concrete and covering the vast majority of trade and DIY applications. SDS Max uses a larger shank for professional heavy-duty work, supporting bits up to 50mm+ and delivering significantly higher impact energy. If you're drilling standard wall fixings or working in typical masonry, SDS Plus is almost certainly what you need. SDS Max is for demolition, core drilling and large-diameter holes in reinforced concrete.
Is a cordless rotary hammer as powerful as a corded one?
For most SDS Plus applications, a quality 18V cordless rotary hammer now matches corded performance — the Bosch GBH 18V-40 C, for example, delivers impact energy comparable to many mains-powered tools in its class. The real limitation is runtime: a 4.0Ah battery gives roughly 45–60 minutes of active drilling. For sustained heavy chiselling or all-day continuous use, a mains-powered tool remains more practical. If you're on a job site where cable management is a problem, cordless wins. If you're breaking up a concrete floor for hours at a stretch, plug in.
What impact energy (joules) do I actually need?
For most domestic and light trade work, 2.0–2.5J is sufficient. Drilling 6–12mm holes in brick, block or standard concrete for wall fixings, cable runs or shelf brackets doesn't require anything heavier. Step up to 3.0–4.0J if you're regularly working in reinforced concrete or need to chisel as well as drill. Beyond 5.0J, you're into specialist demolition territory — heavy, expensive, and overkill for anything short of breaking out a concrete floor or drilling core holes above 40mm.
Should I worry about vibration ratings when buying a rotary hammer?
Yes — especially if you'll be using the tool for more than 30 minutes at a time. UK regulations under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 set a daily exposure action value of 2.5 m/s², which a budget rotary hammer can exceed in under an hour of use. Prolonged exposure causes hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), a permanent and progressive condition. Active vibration damping systems — standard on Bosch and Makita tools from around 215 £ upwards — make a measurable difference. For occasional DIY use, this is less critical; for professional daily use, it's non-negotiable.
Are budget rotary hammers from brands like Einhell worth buying in 2026?
Einhell tools are worth buying for occasional DIY use — but not for professional or prolonged work. The TC-RH 800 and the 18V cordless TE-HD range offer genuine SDS Plus functionality at a fraction of the cost of Bosch or Makita equivalents. The compromises are real though: higher vibration levels, less robust build quality, and limited after-sales support compared to the professional brands. If you're drilling a dozen wall plugs a year, Einhell makes complete sense. If you're on site every day, the false economy of a cheap tool becomes apparent quickly.
What is the risk of buying a rotary hammer without a battery included?
Bare-tool listings (marked 'Solo' or 'body only') can look like bargains but require a compatible battery and charger, which can add 127 £ or more to the total cost. This is only good value if you already own batteries from the same brand's platform. Bosch 18V, Makita LXT and DeWALT XR batteries are not interchangeable. Always check whether the listing includes a battery before comparing prices — a 'Solo' Bosch at one price versus a kit with battery at a higher price may actually favour the kit.
Which rotary hammer brands have the best after-sales support in the UK?
Bosch Professional and Makita offer the strongest after-sales networks in the UK, with authorised service centres across the country and readily available spare parts. DeWALT and Metabo are also well-supported. Bosch Professional tools typically come with a 3-year warranty when registered, which is competitive. Budget brands like Einhell offer a standard 2-year warranty but have fewer repair options if something goes wrong outside that period. For tools that will see heavy professional use, the service network matters as much as the purchase price.