Advice When Buying an SDS Drill

SDS drills run from under £60 to over £1,000, and the dearest tool is not automatically the right one. Work through these decisions in order and you will land on the right machine first time.

1. Pick the right SDS system

For fixings, general drilling up to 26mm and light chiselling, you want SDS-Plus; it covers the vast majority of trade and DIY work. Step up to SDS-Max only if you regularly drill over 26mm, run core bits, or spend serious time breaking; the tools and bits are heavier and dearer. SDS-Quick suits light household fixing only. Our guide to the SDS systems covers the differences in detail.

2. Judge power by joules, not watts or volts

Impact energy in joules (J) is the single most useful number on the spec sheet. As a rule of thumb: 1.2 to 2 J handles plug holes and fixings up to about 16mm; 2.5 to 3.5 J covers anchor holes, 20mm-plus drilling and regular chiselling; 5 J and above is SDS-Max territory for big cores and demolition. Wattage and voltage tell you much less: a well-designed 2.7 J machine will outdrill a crude high-wattage one.

3. Corded or cordless?

Corded drills cost less for the same performance and never run flat, so they win for workshop, garage and anywhere with sockets. Cordless models win on ladders, on first fix and on sites where 110v transformers are a pain. If you already own batteries on a platform such as Makita LXT, DeWalt XR, Bosch Professional 18V, Milwaukee M18 or Einhell Power X-Change, a body-only cordless drill is often the cheapest route; if not, remember batteries and a charger can double the price.

4. Weight and vibration

A 2.5kg to 3.5kg SDS-Plus drill is comfortable for overhead work; SDS-Max machines at 5kg to 12kg are not, so match the tool to where you drill, not just what you drill. Vibration matters legally as well as physically: hand-arm vibration (HAVS) exposure limits restrict daily trigger time, and a machine with a proper anti-vibration system can double the hours you can legally work. Tools on this site list vibration-related features where the manufacturer provides them.

5. Features worth paying for

A rotation-stop chisel mode turns the drill into a light breaker and is worth having on any SDS-Plus machine. A safety clutch is essential; kickback control is better still. Brushless motors on cordless models buy runtime and lifespan. A quick-change or adaptor chuck lets one tool handle wood and steel too. Dust extraction compatibility is increasingly important now silica dust is treated as seriously as asbestos; on-tool extractors and shrouded bits keep you the right side of the rules. Finally, check the warranty: trade brands typically offer three years on registration, DIY brands two.

6. Set a sensible budget

Under £100 buys a capable DIY corded SDS-Plus from brands like Einhell, Draper or Sealey. £150 to £350 covers professional corded machines and body-only cordless from the big four. Kits with batteries run £300 to £700, and SDS-Max machines from about £120 for value corded models to four figures for premium breakers. Compare the whole range on our search page, or start with a category from the menu above.