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DEWALT is an excellent brand when it comes to manufacturing power tools. If you’ve ever owned a tool from them you know they’re simply unbeatable. We figured it is time to give you a guide on their drill selection and help you find the best DEWALT hammer drill!
In this hammer drill comparison, we will take a look at DEWALT’s most popular hammer drills. The DCD996B vs DCH273B vs DCD985B vs DCD999B vs DCH293B and we compare them all against each other.
What makes the best DEWALT hammer drill?
Deciding which DEWALT hammer drill is best for you depends on which job you will be using it for. There are two types of hammer drills: regular hammer drills, and Rotary hammer drills. Therefore we compared the most popular of each type.
Furthermore, we took a look at the following points for each hammer drill:
- Strength/Power – How much RPM does the hammer drill have
- Battery life – What is the average battery life after a full charge
- Max Chuck size – The maximum size of bit that will fit in the hammer drill
- Applications – Where can you use the hammer drill for
Here is our list of the best DEWALT hammer drills:
The best DEWALT hammer drills
Hphtools’ Choice
DEWALT Flexvolt Hammer Drill 20V (DCD999B)
- 2000 RPM maximum speed
- 1/2-Inch drill bit size
- Powerful ‎5 Amps motor
Pros and cons
According to our experts
This DEWALT hammer drill offers great value for money. It even comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
Because the DCD996 uses Flexvolt batteries it will last very long on a single charge. You can use this drill for days without charging!
This is a regular drill and therefore is not able to drill into hard materials. For this, we recommend a rotary hammer drill instead.
The price of the DCD999b might not be the lowest on this list but it certainly offers the best value for money. We found that in the case of a hammer drill you are better off spending a bit more money to get the latest technology compared to older DEWALT hammer drill models.
DEWALT Hammer Drill 20V MAX XR (DCD996B)
- 2250 RPM maximum speed
- 1/2-Inch drill bit size
- 2.50 Amps motor
Pros and cons
According to our expertsThis is a very affordable hammer drill, which for this quality, is a surprice. It feels sturdy and well build.
The DEWALT DCD996b still uses DEWALT’s old XR batteries. We like the Flexvolt batteries a bit more.
The DeWALT DCD996B features a powerful 20V brushless motor that delivers up to 75% more power than traditional 18v Nicad motors. This is a great improvement across the full range of the DEWALT product line and is unique to their cordless hammer drills.
Why buy this hammer drill?
This DEWALT hammer drill is the most popular option at the moment. It is a great pick if you are looking for a simple yet powerful drill to get most jobs done. This is a great tool to use for small projects in and around the house.
Are you looking for a more detailed review for the DCD996b? Check out our guide: DEWALT DCD996 vs DCD796 – which hammer drill is better?
The best DEWALT Rotary hammer drill
DEWALT 20 Volt rotary hammer drill (DCH293B)
- 1000 RPM maximum speed
- 1-1/8-Inch drill bit size
- Best value for money
Pros and cons
According to our expertsThe DCH293b is part of DeWALT’s SDS plus family, meaning it has a special chuck designed for heavy-duty drill bits.
This is a cordless rotary hammer drill with plenty of power. We were surprised how long a battery will last after a single charge.
Rotary hammer drills are a bit more expensive than regular hammer drills
The stronger alternative to the DEWALT DCD996b and DCD999b is the DEWALT DCH293b. Drilling into heavy dense materials like masonry or brick will be no problem with this rotary hammer drill.
Why buy this hammer drill
When power is the main thing you are after this might be the best DEWALT hammer drill for you. With 1000 RPM and 3.5 Joules power output this hammer drill is an absolute beast.
This is our favorite drill for tile removal. If you want to see the full list of hammer drills for tile removal, read our guide: Best hammer drills for removing tile
DEWALT 20 Volt rotary hammer Drill (DCH273B)
- 1100 RPM maximum speed
- 1-1/8-Inch drill bit size
- Good value for money
Pros and cons
According to our expertsWe’ve found the DEWALT DCH273B to be a good middle way between price and quality
This hammer drill is a bit heavier than some of the other hammer drills on this list. This can be an issue when drilling for extended periods of time.
Why buy this hammer drill
This is the best DEWALT hammer drill if you are looking for an affordable professional option. This hammer drill offers almost the same performance as the DCH293b. With a power output of 2.1 Joules and 1100 RPM, this might not be the strongest rotary hammer drill on this list but should be sufficient for most jobs.
DEWALT rotary Hammer Drill (DCH263B)
- 1165 RPM maximum speed
- 1-1/8-Inch drill bit size
- Decent value for money
Pros and cons
According to our expertsThis is the best DEWALT rotary hammer drill if you are on a budget. It offers very good value for money.
We like the D grip of this drill. In our opinion, it is more stable than a traditional grip.
Compared to other hammer drills on this list, the DEWALT DCH263B is a bit dated.
The best budget DEWALT hammer drill is theDEWALT DCH263B. This hammer drill features an SDS Plus chuck allowing it to grip large drill bits. The DEWALT DCH263B has a powerful 20v motor that outputs 3 joules in power and speeds up to 1165 RPM.
If you are planning to use this hammer drill for masonry or other dense materials check out: SDS max vs SDS plus drill bit guide.
Best DEWALT hammer drill overview
| DEWALT Hammer drill | Voltage | Speed | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
 DEWALT DCD999B | 20 Volts | 2000 RPM | 9.4 |
 DEWALT DCD996B | 20 Volts | 2250 RPM | 9.3 |
 DEWALT DCH293B | 20 Volts | 1000 RPM | 9.2 |
DEWALT DCH273B | 20 Volts | 1100 RPM | 8.9 |
DEWALT DCH263B | 20 Volts | 1165 RPM | 9.4 |
