24V SDS Drills – choosing the best drill for your money

The 24V SDS drills set the standard for cordless hammer drills. In some cases they’ve been eclipsed by the newer Li-ion 18V and 36V models but still represent great value and deliver more than enough power for most trade users.

A 24V SDS hammer drill will give you some serious drilling power and decent chiselling (for those models with a roto-stop function). The 24V drills don’t currently have the latest generation of Lithium-Ion batteries but certainly pack quite a punch – and don’t have the Li-ion price tag.

When choosing a 24 Volt SDS hammer drill we think it’s worth sticking to quality brands, so we’ve reviewed the best 24V drills from the leading names.

Bosch

The Bosch GBH 24V is the classic professional class cordless SDS. The NiHM batteries recharge in 30 mins, enabling you to drill 120 holes in concrete on one charge. The drilling performance is as follows: 1.3 joules impact energy, max drilling diameter concrete 20mm, wood 20mm, steel 13mm. It’s a 2 mode drill with a safety clutch to stop the drill body spinning if the bit jams in concrete. A common sight on building sites across the UK.

DeWalt

The DeWalt DC223KA is a very impressive 3 mode cordless SDS with rotation stop for chiseling. Power delivery is via air-cooled NiCad batteries and compares well with any of the 24 volt models: Impact Energy 2.1 J, Max into metal wood 30mm, metal 13mm and concrete 22mm. It also benefits from DeWalt’s patented vibration control feature with an internal mechanism connected to external housings via spring dampeners. This can make a big difference if you’re using such a powerful drill for sustained periods. A high quality tool.

Hitachi

You shouldn’t dismiss the Hitachi 24V SDS drill simply because it doesn’t come with the same heritage as the Bosch, DeWalt or Makita SDS drills. Hitachi’s market presence is growing and their 24 Volt cordless SDS drill has impressive credentials – starting with a 24mm drilling capacity in concrete and a mighty 2.8 joules impact energy. Another big plus is that it’s a 3 mode drill which includes roto-stop for light chiseling. There’s a choice of 2 battery types: the NiCad DH24DVA/NICD 24V SDS-Plus Hammer Drill (charge time 75 mins) and the Nickel Metal Hydride DH24DVA/SUPER 24V SDS-Plus Hammer Drill (charge time 50 mins). Our verdict? A great value drill that’s definitely worth considering.

Erbauer

The 24V Erbauer (the Screwfix-owned brand) also runs off the heavier NiCad batteries. Its a 3 mode SDS drill (rotary hammer, hammer drilling, roto stop for chiselling) and less powerful than most of the above 24 volt SDS drills at 1.7 Joules of impact energy. On the plus side it offers replaceable carbon brushes, 1 hour charger and 2×2.0Ah batteries. Read more about the Erbauer 24V SDS drill.

Makita

Finally the Makita – an innovator in SDS technology. The Makita 24V Rotary Hammer SDS drill looks and feels very solid. Weighing in at 3.8 kg it’s not exactly lightweight but packs a hefty 2.1 joules of impact energy. It’s performance is pretty impressive too: Max drilling diameter in steel: 13mm, wood 27mm, masonry 20mm. Like most leading 24V SDS drills, the battery is a Ni-MH with a recharging time of 1 hour (if you’re looking a lithium ion cordless SDS drill you may need to opt for an 18V or 36V model.) Overall, this is a robust 24 Volt SDS drill at a decent price.

Like to know more about cordless SDS drills generally?  See our Cordless SDS drill guide

P.S. Don’t forget your SDS drill bits