๐ง Product Review
Best 18V Cordless Hammer Drills UK 2026
Eighteen volts is the sweet spot for a cordless drill in the UK. It has the grunt to drive long screws and bore into brick in hammer mode, without the weight and price of a trade-heavy system. We compared seven of the most popular 18V combi drills on Amazon UK, from the compact DeWalt to the raw-torque Makita, so you can pick the right one first time.
Key takeaways
- DeWalt DCD778S2T is our best all-rounder: brushless, compact, and sold as a two-battery kit.
- Makita DHP486Z delivers the highest torque here at 130 Nm for the toughest jobs.
- Ryobi RPD18BL2 is the budget pick and shares cells with the huge ONE+ garden range.
- Bosch GSB 18V-55 wins on comfort and balance for everyday screwdriving.
- Stick to one battery platform so your next tools share the same cells.
Suggested reading: 12V vs 18V cordless drill and best drill bit sets.
Quick picks
Best overall
DeWalt DCD778S2T 18V KitMost power
Makita DHP486Z 18VBest for pros
Bosch GSB 18V-55Best trade build
Milwaukee M18Best budget
Ryobi RPD18BL2Best light DIY
Black & Decker BCD700Quick comparison
| Drill | Kit | Torque | Motor | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DCD778S2T | 2x 2.0Ah kit | 65 Nm | Brushless | All-round value |
| Makita DHP486Z | Body only | 130 Nm | Brushless | Raw power |
| Bosch GSB 18V-55 | Body only | 55 Nm | Brushless | Comfort & control |
| Milwaukee M18 | Body only | High torque class | Brushless | Trade durability |
| Ryobi RPD18BL2 | 1x 2.0Ah kit | 95 Nm | Brushless | Budget ecosystem |
| Black & Decker BCD700 | 1x 1.5Ah kit | Entry | Brushed | Light home tasks |
| Einhell TE-CD 18/40 | Body only | Mid | Brushless | X-Change value |
In-depth reviews
1. DeWalt DCD778S2T 18V XR Brushless Hammer Drill
Kit: 2x 2.0Ah batteries and charger ยท 65 Nm ยท brushless motor
DeWalt's XR line is the default for a reason. The DCD778S2T packs a brushless motor into a compact body that weighs little yet still turns out 65 Nm, enough for decking screws and the odd hole in soft brick. Selling it as a two-battery kit means you are working on arrival, and the XR platform spans hundreds of tools if you build out later.
Where it sits: the safe pick for a first proper drill. It is not the most powerful here, but the balance of size, runtime, and price is hard to beat for mixed home and workshop use.
Compact and light
Two-battery kit
Brushless efficiency
65 Nm trails the top pick
Not for heavy masonry
2. Makita DHP486Z 18V LXT Brushless Combi Drill
Body only ยท 130 Nm ยท brushless ยท 13mm chuck
If torque is the priority, the Makita DHP486Z is the headline act at 130 Nm. That figure means it drives long coach screws and bores large holes in timber without bogging down, and the hammer mode handles breeze block and softer brick. It is a body-only tool, so you need LXT batteries, but the LXT range is one of the largest in the UK.
This is the one to reach for when a lighter drill would stall. Buy it if you already run Makita, or if your jobs lean heavy rather than occasional.
Class-leading 130 Nm
Compact for its power
Huge LXT ecosystem
Body only, no battery
Overkill for light DIY
3. Bosch Professional GSB 18V-55 Cordless Combi Drill
Body only ยท 55 Nm (28 soft / 55 hard) ยท brushless ยท 13mm metal chuck
Bosch's blue Professional range is built for the trades, and the GSB 18V-55 is the sensible entry point. The brushless motor and 13mm Roehm metal chuck give a planted, balanced feel, and at 55 Nm it covers wood, metal, and masonry without complaint. Bosch quotes a 28 Nm soft / 55 Nm hard split, which tells you it stays controlled on delicate screwdriving yet has headroom for tougher holes.
It is a body-only buy, so factor in ProCore batteries. Pick it if you value feel and finish over headline torque.
Excellent balance
Metal chuck, brushless
Strong brand support
Body only
55 Nm is mid-pack
4. Milwaukee M18 Cordless Hammer Drill
Body only ยท high-torque brushless ยท REDLINK electronics
Milwaukee's M18 platform is the choice of many UK trades, and the brushless hammer drill driver sits at the core of it. The draw is build quality and the REDLINK overload protection that shields the motor and battery from heat and strain. Torque sits in the high class, so it earns its place on site where a drill gets dropped, kicked, and run all day.
Like the Makita and Bosch, it is body only. Choose M18 if you are building a trade-grade kit and want the batteries to outlast the job.
Tough trade build
High torque
Large M18 range
Body only
Premium price point
5. Ryobi RPD18BL2-0 ONE+ Brushless Combi Drill
1x 2.0Ah kit ยท 95 Nm ยท brushless ยท 13mm metal chuck
Ryobi's ONE+ system is the value king, and the brushless RPD18BL2 is a genuine surprise at its price. It turns out 95 Nm from a brushless motor, enough for serious screwdriving and light masonry, and the 13mm metal ratcheting chuck holds bits firmly. Buy it as part of the kit and you are on the ONE+ platform, which also covers lawn mowers, strimmers, and pressure washers.
For a first drill that will grow with you, the ecosystem is the real win. The trade brands beat it on outright durability, but not on value.
Strong 95 Nm for price
ONE+ garden crossover
Brushless motor
Not trade-tough
Single small battery in kit
6. Black & Decker BCD700S1K-GB 18V Hammer Drill
1x 1.5Ah kit ยท brushed motor ยท hammer function
Black & Decker is the name most people grew up with, and the BCD700 is the no-fuss option for flat-pack, curtain rails, and the odd shelf. It is brushed rather than brushless, so it is heavier per watt and the battery is small, but for a handful of jobs a month it is perfectly adequate and the price is gentle.
Think of it as the sensible spare or the first drill for a teenager's flat, not the tool you build a workshop around. The hammer mode covers the occasional hole in a soft wall.
Lowest cost
Ready-to-go kit
Familiar brand
Brushed motor
Small battery, limited torque
7. Einhell TE-CD 18/40 Li-i Power X-Change Drill
Body only ยท brushless ยท Power X-Change battery system
Einhell's Power X-Change is the quiet achiever of the UK value segment, and the TE-CD 18/40 brings a brushless motor to a keen price. It sits in the mid-torque band, enough for furniture, fencing, and light masonry, and the X-Change battery is shared across Einhell's garden and power tools. If you want one battery to run the drill, the hedge trimmer, and the pressure washer, this is the budget path.
It is body only, so pair it with an X-Change starter pack. The finish is not quite Bosch or DeWalt, but the value is real.
Brushless at low cost
Wide X-Change range
Light and balanced
Body only
Mid torque only
How to choose the right 18V hammer drill
Picking between these comes down to four things. First, torque: 55 Nm is plenty for shelves and flat-pack, while 95 to 130 Nm handles decking, fence posts, and bigger holes. Second, brushless vs brushed: brushless runs cooler and longer on a charge, and the models above are mostly brushless for good reason.
Third, kit vs body only. If this is your first drill, a kit with two batteries means you are never waiting on a charge. If you already own cells in that brand's system, save money and buy body only. Fourth, the ecosystem. A drill is rarely the last tool you buy, so the range of compatible gear matters. Ryobi and Einhell stretch into garden kit; DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee are the trade favourites.
For hammer work specifically, remember a combi drill's percussion is for soft brick and breeze block, not engineering brick or concrete. When the wall fights back, step up to an SDS rotary hammer, which is built for that abuse. Match the tool to the wall and every job gets easier.
One more note: pair any of these with a decent drill bit set and a cordless impact driver for driving long screws without cam-out. The drill does the holes, the impact driver does the fixing, and together they cover almost every job around the house.
Frequently asked questions
Final verdict
For most UK buyers the DeWalt DCD778S2T is the pick: a brushless two-battery kit that covers almost everything without overspending. If torque is the priority and you already run Makita, the Makita DHP486Z at 130 Nm is the brute. On a tight budget with an eye on garden tools too, the Ryobi RPD18BL2 is the smart entry into the ONE+ world.
Whichever you choose, commit to one battery platform and let the rest of your kit grow from there. And if you are still weighing voltage, our 12V vs 18V comparison breaks down exactly when the smaller size is enough.
Last reviewed: August 20, 2026 ยท Evidence-based review ยท Contains affiliate links