If you drill into masonry, brick or concrete for a living, an SDS drill earns its place in the van faster than almost any other tool. A rotary hammer with an SDS chuck sinks fixings, runs cable and pipe, cores holes and, with the hammer only mode and a chisel bit, chases walls and breaks out tile in a fraction of the time and effort a combi drill takes. The difference on a day of fixing work is not small, it is the difference between a sore wrist and a job finished before lunch.
This guide covers the best SDS drills UK trade and serious DIY buyers are choosing in 2026, corded and cordless, from an everyday SDS-plus rotary hammer to a heavy SDS-max for large holes and breaking. First, the three decisions that shape everything else: chuck type, power source and modes.
Before comparing models, settle three things. They matter more than the colour of the body.
Then the details that decide how it feels in the hand all day:
With those decided, here are our six picks for 2026.
The GBH 2-26 is our best overall corded pick because it is the rotary hammer so many trades reach for by default, and for good reason. It is a light, well balanced SDS-plus tool that drills brick, block and concrete all day without fuss, handles fixings and cable runs with ease, and has the hammer only mode for light chasing and chiselling. The Bosch Professional blue range has a strong reputation for lasting in real trade use, spares and bits are everywhere, and the safety clutch takes the sting out of a jammed bit. It is not the cheapest, but it is the one a lot of people would buy again without thinking about it. For a dependable everyday SDS drill, it is hard to beat. Check the current price on Amazon.
Check price on AmazonThe HR2630 is our best value three mode pick because it packs rotary drilling, rotary hammer and hammer only chiselling into one corded tool at a sensible trade price. That hammer only setting means you can drop in a chisel bit for light tile removal and chasing rather than buying a separate breaker, which makes it a genuinely versatile first SDS drill. It is a comfortable size for one or two handed work, has solid impact energy for its class and carries Makita's reputation for reliability. The honest note is that it is a mid weight tool rather than a feather, so for lots of overhead work you will feel it, but for all round value and flexibility it is an excellent choice. Check the current price on Amazon.
Check price on AmazonThe D25133K is our best compact corded pick for anyone who values a light, controllable tool in tight spaces and up ladders. It is a slim SDS-plus rotary hammer that still has the grunt for everyday fixings and drilling in brick and concrete, with a rotation stop for chiselling and a chuck that takes standard SDS-plus bits. The lower weight makes a real difference on a long day of overhead or awkward drilling where a heavier tool wears you down. It is not built for large diameter holes or breaking, so match it to fixing and medium hole work, which is exactly what most trades do most of the time. For a handy, easy to live with SDS drill, it is a strong option. Check the current price on Amazon.
Check price on AmazonThe DHR263 is our best cordless pick because it brings proper SDS-plus performance to the huge Makita 18V LXT battery platform, so if you already run LXT tools a bare body is an easy add. Running on two 18V batteries for 36V output, it has the power for real masonry drilling and the three modes for drilling, hammer drilling and chiselling, without a cable to trip over or find a socket for. Cordless freedom genuinely speeds up site work, ladder work and anywhere power is awkward. The trade off, as with any cordless SDS, is runtime and the cost of batteries, so it suits someone invested in the platform rather than a one tool buyer. For cordless convenience with trade power, it is excellent. Check the current price on Amazon.
Check price on AmazonThe M18 FUEL SDS-plus is our best premium cordless pick for trades who want corded level performance without the lead. The FUEL brushless motor and the M18 platform deliver strong impact energy and fast drilling, with the kind of electronics, anti vibration and overload protection you expect at the top end. If you already run Milwaukee M18 tools and batteries, it slots straight in and becomes the go to for masonry holes, fixings and light breaking on site. It sits at the higher end on price, and like all cordless SDS it leans on good batteries to shine, but for a professional who drills masonry daily and values cordless freedom, it is a serious tool that earns its keep. Check the current price on Amazon.
Check price on AmazonThe GBH 5-40 D is our pick for heavy holes and breaking, stepping up to the larger SDS-max chuck for work an SDS-plus tool should not be asked to do. This is the tool for large diameter holes, core drilling into concrete, and breaking out with a chisel, with high impact energy and a vibration control handle that makes the heavy work bearable. It is a specialist, so it is a second tool for most people rather than a first SDS drill, and it is heavier and dearer to match the job. If your work regularly involves big holes or demolition, buying a dedicated SDS-max rather than flogging a small tool is the honest, and ultimately cheaper, choice. Check the current price on Amazon.
Check price on Amazon| Model | Chuck | Power | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch GBH 2-26 | SDS-plus | Corded | Dependable all round trade drilling |
| Makita HR2630 | SDS-plus | Corded | Three mode value, drill and chisel |
| DeWalt D25133K | SDS-plus | Corded | Light, compact, tight spaces |
| Makita DHR263 | SDS-plus | 18V cordless | Cordless freedom on the LXT platform |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL | SDS-plus | 18V cordless | Premium cordless power |
| Bosch GBH 5-40 D | SDS-max | Corded | Large holes, core drilling, breaking |
Start with the work, not the badge. If you drill fixings and medium holes in brick, block and concrete, an SDS-plus three mode tool covers almost everything, and whether you go corded or cordless comes down to how much you value working without a cable against runtime and battery cost. If you already own a battery platform, a bare cordless body is usually the smart buy. If you regularly drill large diameter holes or break out concrete, do not stretch a small tool, buy an SDS-max for that work and keep an SDS-plus for everyday holes.
Weigh impact energy in joules alongside weight and vibration, because a lighter tool you can control all day often beats a heavier one with a bigger number on the box. Check the handle and the clutch, make sure the modes match your work, and buy a brand with easy access to bits and spares. Finally, cost it against the job: the right SDS drill pays for itself in time saved and wrists spared, and that time is money you can quote for with confidence.
An SDS drill, properly a rotary hammer, uses a piston to deliver a hard hammer blow down the bit while it turns, so it drills masonry, brick and concrete far faster and with far less effort than a combi drill. The SDS chuck, which stands for the slotted drive system, lets the bit slide and take that impact rather than being clamped like a keyless chuck. A combi drill hammers by vibrating two ridged plates together, which is fine for the odd wall plug but slow and hard on the wrist for repeated holes or anything above about 10mm. If you drill masonry regularly, an SDS rotary hammer is the right tool and a combi drill is not a substitute.
SDS-plus is the standard chuck for the vast majority of trade and DIY work. It covers wall plugs, fixings, drilling through brick and block, running cable and pipe, and light chasing and chiselling, typically up to around 26mm to 32mm in concrete. SDS-max is a larger, more powerful chuck for heavy work: large diameter holes, core drilling, and serious breaking and demolition. It is heavier, costs more and is overkill for everyday fixing work. Buy SDS-plus unless you regularly drill large holes or break out concrete, in which case add an SDS-max as a second tool.
Look for a three mode SDS drill: rotary only for drilling wood and metal with the right chuck adapter, rotary hammer for masonry and concrete, and hammer only, which turns the rotation off so you can use a chisel bit for light chasing, removing tile and breaking out. A two mode tool drops the hammer only setting, which rules out using it as a light breaker. For most trades the extra flexibility of three modes is worth having, and it means one tool covers more of the job.
Yes, for most SDS-plus work a modern brushless cordless rotary hammer on an 18V platform is genuinely powerful and far more convenient on site, up ladders and away from a socket. The trade off is runtime and the cost of batteries, so a cordless SDS makes most sense if you already own batteries in that brand. For very heavy continuous drilling, core work or SDS-max breaking, corded still gives constant full power for less money, so many trades keep a corded SDS or breaker in the van alongside a cordless one for everyday holes.
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