Property Workshop is proudly reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small Amazon affiliate commission but this does not affect the price you pay. Learn more here.
If you have a lot of heavy-duty drilling to get through, an SDS Plus drill is your ultimate weapon.
However, there are huge price differences between the leading models, so is it worth paying more than twice as much if you’re after the best SDS Plus drill in the UK?
This article explains why Bosch leads the UK market in SDS technology and why rotary hammers trump standard hammers.
SDS Plus Drill Reviews — The UK’s Top 3 in 2024
If you’re looking for the best SDS Plus drill in the UK, you can’t go wrong with any of the three drills listed below. Consider the pros & cons of each one and then decide which suits you best.
1. Bosch Professional GBH 2-20 D
- Lightweight and compact for overhead drilling
- Durable design and construction
- 1.7J of impact energy
Costing less than £100 at the time of writing, Bosch’s Professional GBH 2-20 D should be sufficient for most tradespeople and DIYers.
The GBH 2-20 D supports core cutters of up to 68mm in diameter and metal holes of up to 13mm, while it can drill through concrete to a diameter of 20mm.
Weighing just 2kg, it’s almost half the weight of our other shortlisted dills. This makes the GBH 2-20 D easy to use for long periods.
Admittedly, its maximum power is a modest 650 watts, but it delivers an impressive impact rate of 4,200 BPM.
An overload clutch prevents the machine from burning out, while forward and reverse rotation enables jammed bits or debris to be easily dislodged and removed.
Long-time users describe the Bosch Professional GBH 2-20 D as a balanced compromise between weight, power, durability and value.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Impressively low price | Not the most powerful |
| Lightweight and easy to use | You can only use SDS bits unless you buy a separate adaptor |
| The compact 323mm length makes it easy to use in confined spaces |
2. Einhell TC-RH 900
- Drilling, Impact Drilling and Chiseling functions
- Overload safety stop
- Pneumatic impact mechanism
- Durable SDS Plus tool chuck
- Robust aluminium gearhead
- Adjustable drilling depth stop
- Supplied with a handy storage case
When you study its technical specifications, it’s no surprise that Einhell’s TC-RH 900 is in the middle of our results table. It’s an in-betweener, with its impact energy and RPM falling midway between the Bosch models.
One thing in the Einhell’s favour is its price — it’s the cheapest of our three contenders. Yet its low price isn’t matched by its weight; this is a heavy and tiring machine to use at almost four kilograms. Anyone prone to aching biceps using heavy-duty tools like an SDS Plus drill should look elsewhere.
Like its competitors, the Einhell has a special carry case, while it additionally comes with ten drill bits and two chisel heads for insertion into the keyed chuck.
Capable of generating 3.0 joules of impact force, this is a powerful and practical piece of kit. Our main criticism involves the slippery front handle, which has no ridges or grooves and sits too close to the body to be entirely comfortable during use.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 3.0J impact force | Tiring to use |
| Lowest price on test | The front handle has no texture |
| Includes 12-piece drill and chisel set |
3. Bosch Professional GBH 3-28 DFR
- Compact size helps manoeuvre in narrow and tight spaces
- L-shaped design
- Vibration Control
- High power-to-weight ratio (800W motor and 3.6kg tool weight)
At first glance, it’s hard to see why the GBH 3-28 is almost three times the price of its GBH 2-20 stablemate. Both are drawn from Bosch’s Professional range, accept a similar range of SDS Plus accessories, and are mains-powered with near-identical front handle grips. However, this model has additional rubber mounting and foam padding to cushion vibrations.
You must delve deeper into the 3-28 spec sheet to see where the extra money goes. For many people, the differences won’t justify that additional outlay.
This device runs at 900 RPM, with a quick-change chuck for faster bit switching mid-job. The GBH 3-28 DFR also has better weight distribution than its sibling and incorporates vibration control technology to reduce the level of chassis shake.
Bosch promises equal power in forward and reverse rotations, with impressive chisel performance compared to rival products. Most significantly, 3.1J of impact energy in hammer drill mode makes light work of even the hardest surfaces.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The most impressive impact rating | Too expensive. Almost twice the weight of its smaller sibling |
| Highest power input | |
| More comfortable for ongoing use |
Best SDS Plus Drill — 2024 Comparison Table
| Model | Weight | BPM | RPM | Depth Stop | Impact Energy | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch Professional GBH 2-20 D | 2kg | 4,200 | 650 | Yes | 1.7J | 9 |
| Einhell TC-RH 900 | 3.95kg | 4,000 | 850 | Yes | 3J | 8 |
| Bosch Professional GBH 3-28 DFR | 3.6kg | 4,000 | 900 | Yes | 3.1J | 7 |
SDS Plus Drill Buying Guide
The differences between the leading SDS Plus drills are significant, but one product offers the best blend of performance and value. Bosch invented SDS technology, and their Professional GBH 2-20 D is a fine piece of hardware, ticking most DIY boxes for under £100.
Admittedly, Bosch has an advantage in this market since they introduced Stecken Drehen Sichern (Insert Twist Secure, also referred to as Special Direct System in English-speaking countries) in the mid-1970s.
Other manufacturers have adopted and adapted similar technology in their own way. Still, Bosch has spent almost half a century developing both SDS and the more recent SDS Plus. The latter effectively replaced the original design, though it’s worth noting both SDS and SDS Plus machines share the same 10mm shank.
Rotary Hammer vs Standard Hammer
Another important distinction to make at this point is the difference between a standard hammer drill and a rotary hammer. The latter — which we’re reviewing here — are more sophisticated in that only the drill bit moves back and forth when additional force is needed to create holes or remove masonry.
Sprung ball bearings in the slots holding the bit in place provide a fluid back-and-forth impact which accentuates the power of the spinning drill bit and minimises (or eliminates) any need for physical force to be applied.
On a hammer drill, the entire chuck moves back and forth, and this video demonstrates the resulting difference in performance. However, their relative simplicity also means hammer drills are more affordable.
Power
One of the key criteria to determine the best SDS Plus drill is the amount of power it places behind its piston. Factors include the machine’s RPM and the number of beats per minute (BPM) its bits can deliver.
Any twin-handled hammer drill can chew through hardwood, but tackling aged concrete or thick stone takes real power. You’ll also need a drill bit with a diameter between 4mm and 30mm, while bit lengths range from 110mm to 1,500mm.
Depth Stop
All the products in our shortlist come with a depth stop, which helps ensure whatever you’re inserting has something to bolster it.
Drilling too far would enable rawlplugs to fall out the back of wherever they’re inserted. Depth stops also ensure you aren’t spending more time drilling than is necessary.
These corded devices can pound away on even the hardest surfaces all day, but you’ll go through more drill bits if you have to estimate the depths for every job.
Drill Bits and Accessories
SDS Plus hardware can be combined with a wide range of accessories. Beyond the standard drill bits, core bits are great for cabling and pipework, while bull point chisels give you a starting point for tackling concrete or stone.
Mortar rakes and tile-removing chisels exploit the power of these machines for clearing surfaces, and a clay spade can even break up heavy soil outdoors.
Final Thoughts
Our analysis of the best SDS Plus drills in the UK reveals three powerful and versatile products. Each can make mincemeat of surfaces that would stump a standard drill.
While the more expensive Bosch 3-28 is undoubtedly the most comfortable and efficient, its benefits only justify its cost if you spend all day putting holes into concrete and brick.
Its 2-20 stablemate offers similar performance at almost a third of the price. This is why the Bosch 2-20 wins our award for the best SDS Plus dill in the UK, with the Einhell representing the middle ground between the two.
If it was lighter and more comfortable to use over long periods, the Einhell might even have won.
Pro Tip: If you’re still not convinced an SDS Plus Drill is for you, check out the video below:
