Can You Use a Cordless Drill for Concrete? Answered

Just about everyone has some sort of cordless drill in their garage or at least knows someone that does.

As the cordless drill is one of the most versatile and handy tools to have around.

But if you need to drill into concrete for a particular DIY project, you might be wondering if you can use a cordless drill for concrete?

While rotary cordless drills are not as efficient as a hammer drill for drilling into concrete, for small jobs, where you only need to drill a few holes, a standard rotary cordless drill will get the job done.

If you’re planning on drilling into concrete though, you definitely want to keep reading.

As we will be discussing in this article when you should and shouldn’t use a cordless drill for concrete, what a cordless drill needs to drill into concrete, how to drill into concrete, and other concrete drilling considerations.  

When You Should and Shouldn’t Use A Cordless Drill for Concrete

While you can use a rotary cordless drill to drill a few holes into concrete.

If you have more than a few holes to drill, you should be using something more substantial than just a basic cordless drill.

As cordless drills are really only intended and meant for light-duty all-purpose drilling and not for repetitively drilling through hard surfaces such as concrete, masonry, and brick.

So for medium-duty concrete jobs, it’s best to use a cordless hammer drill specifically designed for concrete and masonry.

As a cordless hammer drill will save you a lot of time and frustration while drilling into concrete as well as reduce wear and tear on the drill.

And for large concrete jobs, it’s best to move up one step even further to a corded hammer drill, as they are generally more powerful and designed for more heavy-duty work compared to their cordless counterpart.  

What a Cordless Drill Needs to Drill Into Concrete

While standard rotary cordless drills can drill through concrete, some cordless drills do have features that make them more capable and better equipped to drill through concrete, which we explore below.

1. High Torque or Unit Watts Out

When looking at the specs on a cordless drill the two most common measurements of a cordless drill’s power capability are torque and unit watts out.

As most cordless drill specs will usually denote one or the other.  

Cordless Drill Torque

Torque is the measure of twisting force that causes rotation.

So when it comes to cordless drills, the more torque the drill has, the more twisting force the drill is capable of, which equates to more power when drilling through or into concrete.

With cordless drills, torque is measured as inch-pound or pound-inch, which is the torque of one pound of force applied to one inch of distance from the pivot point.

This sounds super complicated but the main thing to know is that the higher the inch-pound (in-lbs) rating the more torque and rotational force the drill will have.

Torque ratings on cordless drills will usually range from around 200 in-lbs on the low end to 1,200 in-lbs on the high end.

But when looking for a cordless drill that can handle drilling through concrete, you want to look for one that has an inch-pound rating of ideally at least 300 or above.

Cordless Drill Unit Watts Out

Unit watts out (UWO) is a measure of a cordless drill’s power capability that it can achieve based on the drill’s motor and drive components with higher UWO ratings denoting more power.

So while torque is measuring the twisting force of the drill, unit watts out is measuring the drill’s general power capability based on its internal components. 

And if you’re looking for a cordless drill that can handle drilling into concrete, you ideally want to look for a unit watts out rating of 300 or higher.  

2. Lots of Battery Power

Drilling into concrete requires a lot of power, so you want to look for a cordless drill that has a lot of battery power if you plan to drill into concrete.

And when it comes to battery power on a cordless drill there are two main considerations you need to take into account, including voltage and Amp-hours.  

Where voltage translates to the amount of power the drill can deliver and Amp-hours describes how long the drill can deliver that power.

Cordless Drill Voltage

Cordless drills can have voltage ratings from 4 to 20 volts (V) but most cordless drills will either be 12V, 18V, or 20V.

And the higher the voltage rating is on the drill the more power the drill is capable of producing.

So when looking for a drill that is capable of drilling through concrete, it’s best to stick with higher voltage ratings and go with a cordless drill that is either 18-Volt or 20-Volt.

Cordless Drill Battery Amp Hours

The higher the Amp-hours (Ah) a cordless drill battery has the longer the battery will last.  

So if you plan to drill through concrete, which requires a lot of power, you want to have a battery on your drill that has a lot of Amp-hours, so the drill doesn’t run out of power right in the middle of the job.

Because of this, it’s best to choose a cordless drill battery that has at least a 3Ah rating or higher.

Cordless Drill Battery Type

One other consideration for cordless drill batteries is the type of material used to hold the charge.

There are four main materials used in cordless drill batteries including NiCad, NiMh, Alkaline, and Lithium-Ion.

But the newest and most powerful type of battery available for cordless drills is Lithium-Ion.  

So if you’re looking for a drill that has a lot of power and can drill through concrete you want to choose a drill that uses Lithium-Ion batteries.  

3. Hammer Action Ideally

Drills with hammer action can really help to drill through concrete and other hard surfaces, as it uses two sets of gears to create a percussion hammering action while the drill is rotating.    

Unfortunately, most basic cordless drills do not have a hammer action feature.

And while it’s not absolutely necessary to have hammer action on a cordless drill, it can make things a lot easier and save you a lot of time when trying to drill through concrete.

So if you’re looking for a cordless drill that can handle drilling through concrete, you want to look for a hammer drill or a drill that has a hammer action feature.  

4. Concrete or Masonry Drill Bits

While having a powerful cordless drill is very important if you want to drill through concrete, something that is equally as important is having the proper drill bit for concrete.

As they make specific drill bits that are intended for drilling into concrete and masonry such as this popular 7-piece masonry drill bit set from Dewalt on Amazon.   

Because if you don’t have the right drill bit for concrete, you can have the most powerful cordless drill on the market and still never get through that concrete.  

How to Drill Into Concrete

What You Need to Drill Into Concrete

• Hammer Drill (Ideally)
• Carbide Masonry Drill Bit
• Pencil
• Safety Goggles, Work Gloves, Dust Mask, Ear Protection
• Shop-Vac (Optional)
• Blue Painter’s Tape (Optional)

Step-By-Step Guide to Drill Into Concrete

1. Mark the spot where you want to drill the hole while being mindful of pipes, wiring, or ductwork that could be damaged while drilling.
2. Set the depth stop on the drill 1/4-inch longer than the depth needed for the whole. (If your drill does not have a depth stop, you can also use blue painter’s tape instead, by measuring the appropriate length on the drill bit itself and then placing a piece of blue painter’s tape on that point of the drill, so you know where to stop drilling.)
3. Fit the drill with the appropriate size carbide masonry drill bit.
4. Make a guide hole by positing the bit and starting the drill at the lowest speed until 1/4-inch depth is reached, making sure not to apply too much pressure to avoid breaking the drill bit.
5. Shop-vac or blow the dust out of the guide hole.
6. Place the drill bit back into the guide hole and drill at medium speed until the desired depth is reached, remembering to occasionally shop-vac or blow the dust out of the hole from drilling as needed.

What Power Drill Do I Need for Concrete?

The type of power drill needed for a concrete job can vary greatly depending on the size of the job. 

So to help you decide on the best power drill for a particular concrete job, we have broken down the different types of concrete jobs with examples and provided the best power drill for that particular job.

Can a 12V Cordless Drill Drill Concrete?

While 12V cordless drills use to be the industry standard in the not-too-distant past.

Today 12V cordless drills are really at the bottom end of the range when it comes to battery-operated cordless drills and power.

As most tool manufactures today such as Dewalt, SKIL, and Crafstman are using much more powerful 18V and 20V batteries, as they provide a lot more power and usability compared to the less powerful 12V battery.

However, there are still some tool manufacturers that use 12V battery power in their cordless drill lineup and plenty of 12V cordless drills out there. 

So you might be wondering if a 12V cordless drill can drill into concrete?  

While a 12V cordless drill will more than likely struggle to drill into concrete due to lack of power, a 12V cordless drill can, in fact, drill into concrete with enough time and pressure.

But if you need to drill more than 1 or 2 holes into concrete, it’s best to upgrade to either a more powerful cordless drill or a corded drill to save you time and frustration, as a 12V cordless drill is not designed or intended to drill into concrete.  

Do I Need a Special Drill Bit for Concrete?

If you plan to drill into concrete, then you need to use a concrete or masonry drill bit, as these drill bits are designed and engineered specifically to penetrate and drill through concrete, masonry, brick, and stone.  

As concrete or masonry drill bits are made from extremely tough materials such as tungsten carbide metal or widia plate that can withstand and hold up to drilling into concrete without quickly becoming dull or breaking.

In addition, masonry drill bits also have a unique two-stage design that allows them to more easily drill into concrete, which includes a larger tip and a smaller shaft, so that shaft can more easily pass through the larger diameter whole produced by the larger tip.  

If you’re looking for a good set of masonry bits we recommend either the Dewalt Masonry 7-Piece Percussion Drill Bit Set, which you can see on Amazon by clicking here if you’re using a hammer drill, or the Dewalt Masonry 5-Piece Drill Bit Set, which you can see on Amazon by clicking here if you’re using a standard rotary drill without hammer action.  

Can You Drill Concrete Without a Hammer Drill?

We have talked a lot about drilling into concrete in this article as well as the differences between drilling into concrete with and without a hammer drill.

But do you really need a hammer drill to drill into concrete and is it possible to drill into concrete without a hammer drill?

The good news if you already own a standard rotary drill without hammer action is that you do not need a hammer drill to drill into concrete, as a standard rotary drill is more than capable of drilling into concrete.

So if a standard rotary drill can drill into concrete, you might be wondering what the point of having a cordless drill with hammer action is?

Well, the reason is that a hammer drill or a cordless drill with a hammer function can more easily and quickly drill through concrete, due to its hammer action that more efficiently and quickly chips away at concrete compared to just drilling alone.

What are the Best Cordless Hammer Drills for Concrete? (From Least to Most Expensive)

Cordless drills come in all different sizes, configurations, and price points, which can make choosing one for your particular needs and budget confusing and sometimes even overwhelming.

So to help with this, we have rounded up the best and most popular cordless drills for drilling through concrete with a focus on value and budget-friendliness.    

SKIL 20V Cordless Hammer Drill

Quick Specs

• Volts:  20V
• Battery: Lithium-Ion (Available in Various Amp Hours)
• Hammer Drill Action:  Yes
• Chuck:  1/2-Inch Keyless Ratcheting Chuch
• Why It’s Great:  Affordable Price, 3-IN-1 Multi-Function, 350 Inch-Pounds of Torque

If your shopping on a budget, one of the best cordless drills for concrete is the SKIL 20V Cordless Hammer Drill, as this affordable cordless drill has tons of power as well as plenty of torque.

Providing as much power and torque as some of the more expensive cordless drills on the market but at almost half the cost.

The SKIL 20V Cordless Hammer Drill is also loaded with high-end features including a keyless ratcheting chuck, 17+1+1 chuck settings, variable speed control, and 3-In-1 multi-function that allows you to easily switch between drill, hammer, and screwdriver mode.  

Craftsman 20V Cordless Hammer Drill

Quick Specs

• Volts:  20V
• Battery: Lithium-Ion (Available in Various Amp Hours)
• Hammer Drill Action:  Yes
• Chuck:  1/2-Inch Keyless Ratcheting Chuck
• Why It’s Great:  Affordable Price, Mechanical Mult Speed Transmission, Made In the USA

One of the more affordable cordless drills out there that can still drill through concrete with ease is the Craftsman 20V Cordless Hammer Drill, which is the top-of-the-line hammer drill that Craftsman makes.  

As it has more than enough power to drill through concrete, thanks to its 20V Lithium-Ion battery, 500 BPM (blows per minute) hammer action, and 280 unit watts out rating.  

While certainly not the most powerful cordless drill available, this affordable drill makes a great alternative to some of the more powerful and expensive cordless drills on this list.

As the specs on this cordless hammer drill from Craftsman are not too far off the far more expensive Dewalt XR hammer drill below.   

And as an added bonus this Craftsman tool is made right here in the U.S.A.

Dewalt Atomic 20V Max Cordless Hammer Drill

Quick Specs

• Volts:  20V
• Battery: Lithium-Ion (Available in Various Amp Hours)
• Hammer Drill Action:  Yes
• Chuck:  1/2-Inch Keyless Ratcheting Chuck
• Why It’s Great:  Compact Size, Powerful 340 Unit Watts Out

Dewalt is one of the most well-respected brands in power tools on the market today.

As their full line of power tools, which includes everything from drills to circular saws, offers industry-leading quality, features, and durability.

And the Dewalt Atomic 20V Cordless Hammer Drill is a great example of this quality, as it’s loaded with premium and high-end features.

Such as a high-performance 2-speed brushless motor capable of 1650 revolutions per minute, 20V cordless power, hammer functionality, and a robust 340 unit watts out of power.  

In addition, the Dewalt Atomic Cordless Hammer Drill is also 18% smaller compared to standard-size hammer drills, which makes it a lot easier to get this tool into tighter spaces. 

Makita 18V LXT Sub-Compact Cordless Hammer Driver-Drill

Quick Specs

• Volts:  18V
• Battery: Lithium-Ion (Available in Various Amp Hours)
• Hammer Drill Action:  Yes
• Chuck:  1/2-Inch Keyless Ratcheting Chuck
• Why It’s Great:  Compact Size, Powerful 350 Inch-Pounds of Torque, Excellent Durability

The Makita 18V LXT Sub-Compact Cordless Hammer Driver-Drill has one of the most powerful torque ratings on this list, offering a max 350 inch-pounds of torque.

Making it a great choice for anyone planning on drilling into concrete.  

But it’s not just its powerful toque rating that makes this cordless drill so great, as it’s also loaded with features that make it one of the most capable and robust drills out there for the money.

As this cordless drill from Makita offers a powerful brushless motor for long-lasting durability, a mechanical variable 2-speed transmission capable of up to 1700 revolutions per minute, and an electric brake for better usability and efficiency.

In addition, this cordless drill is also equipped with Makita’s Extreme Protection Technology (XPT™), which uses a series of protective seals inside the tool to help keep water, dust, and debris out.

Dewalt 20V Max XR Compact Hammer Drill

Quick Specs

• Volts:  20V
• Battery:  Lithium-Ion (Available in Various Amp Hours)
• Hammer Drill Action:  Yes
• Chuck:  Metal 1/2-Inch Keyless Ratcheting Chuck
• Why It’s Great:  Excellent Durability, High-Speed Transmission, Powerful Brushless Motor

One of the best cordless drills for concrete is the Dewalt 20V Max XR Compact Hammer Drill.

As this compact hammer drill has everything you would need to quickly and easily drill through concrete.

As it has a powerful brushless motor, a high-speed 2-speed transmission capable of up to 2,000 revolutions per minute, and loads of torque.  

In addition, this powerful cordless hammer drill from Dewalt has several features that make using this drill super convenient and comfortable including a 3-mode LED light that is 20X brighter than the previous model, LED spotlight mode, ergonomic handle, and a compact and lightweight design. 

To find out if a cordless drill can get wet, check out our article “Can You Get a Cordless Drill Wet? Answered“.