At a glance
If you are fixing anything to masonry on a regular basis – hanging radiators, anchoring garden structures, running fixings through brick or blockwork – a cordless SDS Plus drill is one of the most useful tools you can own. The dedicated hammer mechanism delivers drilling efficiency that a standard combi drill simply cannot match in masonry. The challenge is that the market is crowded, with options ranging from budget entry-level machines to serious brushless tools built for trade use.
We tested five of the most popular cordless SDS Plus drills available in the UK on a range of real masonry tasks – standard brick, dense blockwork and in-situ concrete – to find out which ones earn their price and which cut corners. Here are the results, ranked from best to fifth, with honest scores throughout. For detailed breakdowns of each model, follow the links to our individual reviews.
Quick verdict summary
All 5 SDS drills ranked
The DCH273 tops the list on a combination of compact weight, brushless motor performance and the breadth of the XR battery ecosystem. At 2.3kg body only it is the lightest of the five models tested, yet it delivers 2.1J of impact energy – the highest in the group. The result is a drill that feels effortless on standard brick and blockwork while remaining comfortable for extended overhead work. The three-mode selector is the most positive of the five, with no slop or vibration drift between positions.
The brushless motor maintains consistent drilling speed across the full battery charge in a way that the brushed competition does not, which matters when you are running a large batch of fixings. For existing DeWalt XR users this is the straightforward choice. For new buyers the platform investment needs factoring in alongside the body-only price.
The DHR243 pushes the DCH273 hard and for Makita LXT users it is the clear choice without question. It shares the same brushless motor advantage and the same compact, light form factor at 2.4kg. The 2.0J impact energy is marginally behind the DeWalt but the difference is negligible for the standard brick and blockwork that makes up the vast majority of domestic masonry work. The LXT platform covers 275+ tools – one of the largest cordless ecosystems available.
The reason it sits second rather than first is purely marginal – the DCH273’s slightly higher impact energy and marginally lighter weight give it a small practical edge in demanding applications. For anyone already invested in LXT, that margin is irrelevant and the Makita is the correct buy.
The Milwaukee M18 BLHX is the M18 platform’s SDS Plus entry and it performs to the standard M18 users expect – solid, reliable and well-built. The brushless motor delivers consistent performance and the 2.0J impact energy handles standard brick and medium blockwork confidently. The build quality is arguably the best of the five, with Milwaukee’s characteristic robust construction that takes site abuse in its stride.
It sits third rather than second primarily because of weight – at 2.5kg body only it is the heaviest of the brushless trio, which becomes noticeable on extended overhead work. The M18 platform itself is extensive and for existing M18 users this is the natural choice for SDS work.
The Bosch GBH 18V-26 is a brushless SDS Plus drill that performs reliably on standard masonry tasks. The 2.6J impact energy is the highest of the group on paper – a meaningful advantage on harder materials – but the heavier body at 2.9kg partially offsets that benefit in practice. For jobs where raw impact energy matters more than all-day comfort, such as anchoring into dense concrete or hard aggregate blockwork, the Bosch has a clear advantage over the lighter competitors.
The Ryobi R18SDS-0 is the most affordable SDS Plus drill in this comparison and it earns its place by delivering genuinely usable performance for the occasional user. The brushed motor and 1.7J impact energy mean it cannot match the brushless trio in sustained heavy drilling, and vibration levels are noticeably higher. But for a homeowner who needs an SDS drill a few times a year for standard brick fixings, it does the job at a price that is difficult to argue with.
Head to head comparison
| Model | Motor | Impact energy | Weight | Platform | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DCH273 | Brushless | 2.1J | 2.3kg | 18V XR | 4.5 / 5 |
| Makita DHR243 | Brushless | 2.0J | 2.4kg | 18V LXT | 4.4 / 5 |
| Milwaukee M18 BLHX | Brushless | 2.0J | 2.5kg | 18V M18 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Bosch GBH 18V-26 | Brushless | 2.6J | 2.9kg | 18V Coolpack | 4.1 / 5 |
| Ryobi R18SDS-0 | Brushed | 1.7J | 2.6kg | 18V ONE+ | 3.9 / 5 |
What to look for when buying
The most important decision when buying a cordless SDS Plus drill is whether to prioritise impact energy or weight. Most domestic UK masonry work – standard brick, medium density block, concrete lintels – is well within the capability of any 2.0J machine. Only if you regularly drill into hard aggregate concrete or need holes larger than 20mm in tough material does 2.5J+ become meaningful. For the majority of homeowners the brushless motor, battery platform and weight are more relevant than raw joule figures.
Battery platform matters as much as the drill. If you already own tools in one ecosystem – DeWalt XR, Makita LXT or Milwaukee M18 – buying an SDS drill in the same platform means sharing batteries you already own. That can make a nominally more expensive drill the better value choice overall.
Brushless vs brushed is a straightforward call at this price point. All four of the top-ranked drills in this comparison use brushless motors, and the practical advantages – consistent performance across the battery charge, lower heat build-up and longer service life – are real and meaningful. The Ryobi is the only brushed option in the group and its lower score reflects the genuine performance difference, not just a spec sheet comparison.
Final verdict and recommendations
For platform-agnostic buyers: DeWalt DCH273. The lightest brushless option with the highest impact energy in the group and the broadest UK retail availability for batteries and accessories.
For existing Makita LXT users: Makita DHR243. Essentially level with the DeWalt in real-world performance and the logical choice if you already have LXT batteries.
For existing Milwaukee M18 users: Milwaukee M18 BLHX. The best-built of the five and a natural fit for anyone already in the M18 ecosystem.
For hard concrete work where energy matters: Bosch GBH 18V-26. The 2.6J impact energy gives it a clear advantage in the most demanding applications, despite the weight penalty.
For occasional use on a tight budget: Ryobi R18SDS-0. It will not match the brushless trio in performance but for a homeowner drilling a handful of fixings per year it is genuinely adequate and excellent value.
The DeWalt DCH273 takes the top spot on the combination of light weight, strong brushless performance and the breadth of the XR platform. The Makita DHR243 runs it very close and is the better choice for existing LXT users. Both are significantly ahead of the brushed Ryobi in sustained use, though for occasional domestic drilling the Ryobi remains the most sensible budget choice.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices correct at time of publishing.
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