Corded SDS-Max Drills

Corded SDS-Max drills are the heavy artillery of the rotary hammer world. The SDS-Max shank is bigger and stronger than SDS-Plus, built to transfer serious impact energy into large-diameter drill bits, core bits and full-size breaking chisels. These are the tools for structural fixings, drilling 30mm and upwards into mass concrete, cutting through walls for soil pipes and flues, and demolition jobs like lifting screeds, breaking out lintels and removing plinths.

Because the work is relentless, mains power makes sense: a 110v or 240v supply delivers hour after hour of full-power impacts with nothing to recharge. Impact energy on the machines here runs from around 5 J up to a brutal 19 J on the biggest Bosch breakers. That energy comes with weight, typically 5kg to 12kg, so manufacturers fit anti-vibration systems, soft-start electronics and safety clutches that stop the tool wrenching your wrist if a bit jams. Vibration control is worth paying for: it directly affects how long you can legally and comfortably work under HAVS exposure limits.

Buying advice is simple enough. Match the impact energy to the job: around 5 to 7 J for holes up to 40mm and general chiselling, 8 to 13 J for frequent breaking and big cores, and the 19 J class when the job is mostly demolition. Check the voltage matches your supply, as many models here are sold in 110v site versions.

We list 18 corded SDS-Max machines from Bosch, DeWalt, Draper, Einhell, Makita and Sealey, from around £121 up to £1,100 for the top professional breakers, each with full features, pros and cons, and a live price link.