Best Rotary Hammers for Concrete Anchor Holes
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Prices were listed by the retailer as of Oct 30, 2026 and can change. Confirm the current price and availability on the retailer's page before you buy.
Before you compare any specification, settle the power source. Of the 157 models in this group, 86 are cordless, and each cordless tool belongs to a battery platform: M18 (34 models), NURON 22V (17), M12 (15) and XGT 40V (6) lead the list. A platform is simply the family of batteries and chargers that fit a given set of tools. Once you buy into one, every later tool, spare battery and charger tends to follow, so the first purchase quietly decides many of the next ones.
The other half of the decision is corded versus cordless. Corded rotary hammers skip the platform question altogether, while cordless models trade that for freedom from an extension cord on a slab or a ladder. If you already own batteries from a brand, a bare tool on the same platform can be the cheapest way in. If you own none, a kit that lists a battery and charger saves hunting for them separately. Note that only 38 percent of listings state their kit contents, so a missing line does not tell you what is or is not in the box.
After the power source, look at what the tool actually does. SDS is a bit-holding system made for hammering into masonry: SDS-Plus is the lighter format, and SDS-Max is the larger one used with bigger bits. The size or capacity figure in a listing, such as 5/8 in., 1/2 in. or 2 in., tells you the bit size the tool is described around. Prices in this group run from $206 to $5,083 with a median of $711, so it pays to know which of these specs your anchor holes need.
How to choose
Battery platform or corded
Decide this first. A platform is the family of batteries and chargers shared across one brand's tools. In this group the largest are M18 with 34 models and NURON 22V with 17. If you already own batteries, buy a bare tool on that platform. Starting fresh, a kit with a battery and charger is simpler.
SDS type and bit capacity
SDS-Plus and SDS-Max are bit-holding systems built for hammering into masonry. The listed size, like 5/8 in. or 2 in., describes the bit size the tool is built around. Match it to the anchor diameters you plan to drill. Of the 157 models, 144 are listed as rotary hammers and 13 as hammer drills.
Rotary hammer or hammer drill
Rotary hammers and hammer drills are listed separately in the catalog, and the type is shown on each listing. A hammer drill with a 1/2 in. chuck is a different tool from an SDS rotary hammer, so check the type line and chuck or bit system before you compare prices or power figures.
Kit contents
A kit lists extras such as batteries, a charger or a case; a bare tool is the tool only. Of the 157 models, 75 are listed as kits, 24 as bare tools and 58 do not state a configuration. Read the in-the-box line closely, since only 38 percent of listings state their contents.
Motor type and voltage
A brushless motor is one without carbon brushes, and 81 percent of models in this group are listed as brushless. Voltage is the battery's electrical level, such as 18 V, 22 V or 60 V. Treat both as listed facts to compare, not as proof that one tool outperforms another.
Our picks from the catalog
These picks come from what the listings state: prices, specifications and kit contents. Each says which listed facts it is based on.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 5/8 in. SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer w/ (1) 5Ah Battery & Charger
$499.00 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 5/8 in. · Battery capacity: 5 Ah
This Milwaukee M18 FUEL 5/8 in. SDS-Plus rotary hammer is listed at $499.00, inside the middle half of prices in this group. It earned the value pick for having the most listed specifications and kit items for its price: 18 V, brushless motor stated, a 5 Ah battery, a charger and a 1,400 RPM maximum speed. Keep in mind it sits on the M18 platform, so later batteries and tools should match that system.
Hilti 22-Volt NURON SF 4H ATC Lithium-Ion 1/2 in. Cordless Brushless Hammer Drill Driver (Tool Only)
$206.00 · · Voltage: 22 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: NURON 22V · Size / capacity: 1/2 in.
The Hilti NURON SF 4H is listed at $206.00, the lowest price among the 142 models whose listings state at least two specifications. It is a 22 V brushless 1/2 in. hammer drill on the NURON 22V platform. Keep in mind that it is a bare tool: no battery or charger is stated, so you would need to buy those separately. It is also listed as a hammer drill, not an SDS rotary hammer.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Hammer Drill/Driver w/ Carbide Hole Cutter Kit (4-Piece)
$329 to $482 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 8 Ah
This Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2 in. hammer drill/driver carries the highest listed max torque in this group at 1,400 in-lbs, plus a 2,100 RPM maximum speed and an 8 Ah battery capacity. It is listed from $329 to $482. Torque is the twisting force at the chuck. Keep in mind the listing states a charger only, and it is a hammer drill, not an SDS rotary hammer.
DeWalt 60V FLEXVOLT Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless 2 in. SDS MAX Rotary Hammer Kit, (2) 9.0Ah Batteries, Charger and Kit Box
$1,339.00 · Kit · Voltage: 60 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: FLEXVOLT 60V MAX · Size / capacity: 2 in. · Battery capacity: 9 Ah
The DeWalt FLEXVOLT 60V 2 in. SDS-Max rotary hammer kit is listed at $1,339.00 and has the most complete kit contents stated: 2 batteries, a charger and a case or bag. It lists 9 Ah batteries and a brushless motor. Keep in mind the price sits well above the $711 group median, and the listing gives no torque or speed figure in the data we have.
Skip it if...
- Skip a bare tool such as the Hilti NURON SF 4H if you own no NURON 22V batteries, since the listing states no battery or charger.
- Skip the 1/2 in. hammer drill picks if you want an SDS bit system, because both are listed as hammer drills, not rotary hammers.
- Skip the DeWalt 60V kit if you want a lower price, as it is listed at $1,339.00 against a group median of $711.
- Skip any listing that does not state its configuration if you need a battery and charger included, since 58 of 157 models do not say.
- Skip buying into a platform just for one tool if you already own batteries from another brand, as the platforms are not interchangeable.
Buying checklist
- Choose corded or cordless before comparing models.
- Pick a battery platform and check you own or will buy batteries for it.
- Confirm SDS-Plus or SDS-Max and the listed size against your anchor diameters.
- Check the type: rotary hammer or hammer drill.
- Note voltage and battery capacity in Ah when comparing kits.
- Compare the price to the $711 group median.
- Confirm a charger is stated before assuming one is included.
Frequently asked questions
How many rotary hammers are in this group?
The catalog lists 157 models in this group. Of these, 144 are listed as rotary hammers and 13 as hammer drills. Milwaukee has the most listings with 54, followed by Hilti with 45, Makita with 28, Bosch with 12, DeWalt with 10 and JET with 5.
What is the price range?
Prices run from $206 at the low end to $5,083 at the high end, with a median of $711. The picks here span from the $206.00 Hilti bare tool to the $1,339.00 DeWalt kit, with a Milwaukee kit at $499.00 in between.
What is a battery platform?
A platform is the family of batteries and chargers that fit a brand's tools. In this group, M18 has 34 models, NURON 22V has 17, M12 has 15 and XGT 40V has 6. Buying into one platform generally means later tools and batteries should come from the same system.
What do kit and bare tool mean?
A kit lists extra items such as batteries, a charger or a case. A bare tool is the tool only. Across 157 models, 75 are listed as kits, 24 as bare tools and 58 do not state a configuration. Only 38 percent of listings state their contents at all.
How many models have a brushless motor?
About 81 percent of models in this group are listed as brushless, meaning the motor has no carbon brushes. Of the 157 models, 86 are cordless. The four picks here all state a brushless motor, but the listing is the source for that fact, not a comparison of performance.