The best 18V SDS drills reviewed
We’ve had some pretty heated debates over the best 18 volt SDS drills. The truth is that each of the leading 18V SDS drills has clear strengths – it really depends on what you’re looking for: lightweight design? Price? Drilling power? A fast charging Lithium-Ion battery?
Thankfully there’s something for everyone – and we’re not just sitting on the fence either.
18V SDS drills are designed to be lighter and more versatile than the 24V and 36V models – ideal if you’re carrying your drill around a site frequently or doing lots of overhead drilling. Usually the weight saving is at the expense of power, but the top brands are raising their game all the time. As with other cordless SDS drills, Lithium-Ion batteries are grabbing the headlines – but this also means you can get great deals on Ni-MH or NiCad based drills. Again, it’s all about what you want from your drill – and our guide is designed to help you choose.
DeWalt DC213KB 18V SDS Plus Hammer Drill
In the 18V category, DeWalt offer the 3 mode DeWalt DC213KB (which means you get hammer-only mode, so you can use it for chiselling). The best thing about this cordless SDS drill is the power: 2.1 Joules of impact energy allowing you to drill 20mm diameter holes in concrete. The other notable thing is the vibration control – DeWalt score highly here meaning you can use the drill for longer without fatigue. This DeWalt 18V SDS drill run off Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries – the next best thing to Lithium-Ion – which means you’ll wait a little longer for charging. Overall a good 18V cordless, with some competitive deals around.
Makita BHR202RFE 18V Cordless SDS Plus Hammer Drill
The Makita BHR202RFE is arguably the most complete 18V cordless SDS drill out there. Why? You get 3 modes (including rotary stop for chiselling), Lithium-Ion batteries (rechargeable in 22 minutes), a hard-hitting 1.93 J of drilling power and a max dilling capacity of 22mmin concrete – that’s a seriously tidy package in an 18 volt drill. The only negatives are that it’s heavier than most and doesn’t perform as well for vibration control as the DeWalt. That considered, it should be near the top of anyone’s list.
Hitachi Dh18Dll4 18v Cordless SDS Plus Hammer Drill
This 2 mode Hitachi 18V SDS drill is lightweight (2.1kg) and comes at a decent price. It doesn’t match the others for drilling power – 1.4J – although it’s pretty fast with a No Load Speed of 0-750.1500. So if you’re looking for a versatile drill that is not going to be up against concrete and masonry all the time, the low price tag might be attractive.
Bosch GBH 18 V-Li 18v Cordless SDS Plus Hammer Drill
Bosch have clearly decided that 18V drills are all about giving you the best power-to-weight ratio. The GBH 18 V-Li SDS drill is lighter than the DeWalt and Makita (2.1kg) and not far behind in impact energy at 1.7 Joules. It is equipped with Bosch’s innovative Lithium-Ion batteries with Hyper-Charge and no memory effect. It’s a very impressive SDS drill that can put 115 holes in concrete on one charge. The only downside is that it’s 2 mode – so if you’re looking for a drill with chiselling attachment, it’s not for you. Otherwise an excellent, state-of-the-art cordless SDS drill.
See our 24V SDS drill reviews
Read the latest 36V SDS drill reviews
