1/2-Inch Hammerdrills

Tester Comments
This is a heavy-duty unit with good weight and balance. It has large dials for controlling speed and hammer/drill functions, and two thumb screws for side handle and depth rod adjustment. The tool comes with a large chuck key, a 6′ 8″ power cord, and plastic carrying case.

Price
$145

Contact
www.boschtools.com

Tester Comments
This was our favorite hammerdrill. It has the best balance, side handle, and overall performance.
The padded pistol grip helps dampen vibration, and the controls are easy to use. It has an 8′ power cord and a plastic carrying case.

Price
$189

Contact
www.dewalt.com

Tester Comments
Delivering surprising power for its compact size, the Fein unit was one of our favorites. It’s lightweight, and has a well-designed side handle. Its offset depth rod is nice, but the dials are small. It comes with a 10′ power cord, but no case.

Price
$359

Contact
www.fein.com

Tester Comments
This is the lightest hammerdrill we tested, but it kept up with the others. It has large lever dials and a nice padded grip. Its unique side handle design has a button-release depth guide. The trigger lock-on switch isn’t recessed, and could be unintentionally engaged. The tool comes with a 7′ 8″ power cord and a plastic carrying case.

Price
$189

Contact
800-472-7307

Tester Comments
This is a lightweight, compact hammerdrill with plenty of power. It has large dials to control speed and large buttons to control hammer/drill modes. The forward/reverse lever is located on top of the pistol grip. The trigger lock-on switch isn’t recessed, and could be accidentally engaged. The tool comes with an 8′ 2″ power cord and a plastic carrying case.

Price
$176

Contact
www.hitachi.com

Tester Comments
This model’s extra weight dampens some vibration. The large side handle and short depth guide operate with wing nuts. The trigger lock-on button is recessed. Hammer/drill functions are controlled by a collar ring located behind the chuck, and can be difficult to manipulate. The forward/reverse switch is located on the bottom of the pistol grip, where it seems susceptible to damage. The tool comes with an 8′ 9″ power cord and a metal carrying case.

Price
$219

Contact
www.makitatools.com

Tester Comments
This tool’s weight and balance made it one of our favorites. It has a smart padded side handle with internal storage and an offset depth guide. The large control dials have user-friendly icons. Its ambidextrous forward/reverse switch and trigger lock-on switch are well positioned. The tool comes with an 8′ 6″ power cord and plastic carrying case.

Price
$209

Contact
www.metabousa.com

Tester Comments
This is a heavy-duty hammerdrill with good balance and power. It has large dials with easily-read numbers and icons for speed control and hammer/drill functions. It has a padded handle to dampen vibration, a large trigger, and a recessed trigger lock-on button, but its side handle could be better designed. The tool has a 9′ 8″ power, cord, but doesn’t have a carrying case.

Price
$150

Contact
www.mil-electric-tool.com

Tester Comments
This is a heavy-duty, well-balanced tool. It has a smart chuck design and a large chuck key. Its dials and icons are on the small side, but they’re easy to operate even while wearing gloves. The plastic side handle could be more stable. The tool comes with a 10′ power cord and a plastic carrying case.

Price
$165

Contact
www.porter-cable.com