Hilti Hammer Drill and Rotary Hammer

Hilti is a dominate force in the concrete industry and its concrete tools enjoy a stellar reputation. There are quite a number of Hilti hammer drill and rotary hammer models to choose from, and we’re going to help you decide which ones are best for the way you work.

Before we jump in too far, we need to clarify some terms. Many folks ask for a Hilti hammer drill when they are actually looking for a rotary hammer, or rotary hammer drill. What’s the difference?

Both use a combination of rotation and chipping action to drill holes in concrete, but they’re very different classes of tool. When you’re shopping, a hammer drill typically refers to a drill driver that has an additional hammer mode built into it. These tend to be smaller pistol grip tools that run at higher RPMs.

Rotary hammers, or rotary hammer drills, are larger tools that typically spin at lower RPMs but with much greater hammering force. They’re capable of drilling larger holes and often include a chipping mode to break concrete, clear tile, and more.

You can read more about the differences in their mechanisms and applications in our Rotary Hammer vs Hammer Drill article.

When Hilti introduced its Nuron battery platform, the base voltage didn’t change, but the system is completely different. Still running 21.6V/24V Max, the system is smarter with improved batteries and a wider range of brushless products. Instead of having a separate system for higher power needs, Nuron opts for a 2 x 22V configuration instead of having a 36V or 44V battery. Now, you can use the same battery packs for every cordless tool on the Nuron platform.

The Hilti SF 4H-22 is the most compact hammer drill in the Nuron line. It boasts a fast top speed and solid torque for the compact class. Unlike most of its competitors, this model has Active Torque Control built in to stop the motor if it senses a bind-up. It’s your go-to option for drilling holes up to 5/16 of an inch in concrete and working in tight spaces.

Price: Starting at $159 bare

The strongest hammer drill in Hilti’s Nuron lineup is the SF 6H-22. In the mid-range for size and power, it has all the muscle you need to drill holes up to 1/2 an inch in concrete without moving up to a full-on rotary hammer. While Hilti’s SF 10W-22 is the leader in drill torque for the Nuron line, there’s no hammer drill version of that model. With how well the SF 6H-22 handle its role, there’s not a huge need to add the hammer function to its larger counterpart, though.

Price: Starting at $199 bare

If you’re willing to manage a cord, Hilti’s UH 700 hammer drill offers even higher performance than the Nuron cordless options. With outstanding top end speed and torque, plan on using this model for holes up to 5/8 of an inch.

Price: $139

Hilti’s Nuron cordless rotary hammers are highly-effective replacements for corded models. They’re specifically designed to help you maintain high levels of productivity without having to manage a cord.

The most compact cordless rotary hammer drill in Hilti’s lineup is the TE2-22. It’s an in-betweener that’s the basic shape of a pistol grip drill driver that hasn’t reached the full size of your other options. When you’re drilling holes in concrete up to 15/32 of an inch, it’s a great way to drop some size and weight. Even though you can drill up to 7/8 of an inch, you’ll find some of the other models are more efficient at that range if you’re drilling a lot of them.

Price: Starting at $249 bare

The TE 4-22 rotary hammer drill is an excellent option for small to mid-range drilling that keeps the overall size and weight under control. Capable to handling holes in concrete up to 1 3/32 inches, it does it best work with holes up to 9/16 of an inch. This model includes both Active Torque Control and Active Vibration Reduction, making it one of the most comfortable and safe compact models available.

Price: Starting at $299 bare

Hilti’s TE 5-22 is very similar in performance to the TE 4-22 but shifts to an elongated form. It has a slightly higher range that it’s comfortable with, drilling holes up to 23/32 of an inch while reaching the same max diameter. This is another model that includes both ATC and AVR, making it primarily a preference call between it and the TE 6-22.

Price: Starting at $299 bare

The Hilti TE 6-22 has slightly more top-end speed and impact energy than the TE 5-22 and keeps the squattier style that’s more popular in Hilti’s SDS-Plus lineup. It has the same 23/32-inch optimal and 1 3/32-inch max diameter as the TE 5-22 and includes both ATC and AVR.

Price: Starting at $429 bare

The TE 30-22 is Hilti’s top-performing cordless SDS-Plus rotary hammer. Even though it has the same max capacity as some of the other models in the line, its 2.8 ft-lbs of impact energy make it more efficient when you’re consistently drilling near the top of the range. As you would expect for the class leader, both ATC and AVR are on board.

Price: Starting at $869 bare

Currently, Hilti has just one cordless SDS-Max rotary hammer drill on the Nuron platform and it’s a beast! Boasting 6.0 ft-lbs of impact energy, it still uses just one battery to easily drill holes up to 1 9/16 inches. Even if you need to occasionally drill holes as large as 2 5/32, the TE 60-22 has you covered. Of course, with performance this high, using the highest-capacity Nuron battery is the way to go. Continuing the trend, you get both ATC and AVR on this model.

Price: Starting at $1109 bare

The TE 2 is the smallest and lightest of the corded rotary hammers in Hilti’s lineup. Sporting a pistol grip design, it’s your best compact option for drilling holes up to 1/2 of an inch regularly and can tackle diameters up to 7/8 of an inch when it needs to.

This model comes in two configurations. The difference between the TE 2 and the TE 2-S is that the S model includes a chipping mode. Chipping with a rotary hammer this size isn’t very efficient on larger demo and remodeling jobs. However, it’s great when you need to manage precision chipping when larger hammers are a bit too much.

Price: $219 – $229

The TE 3-C is very similar to the smaller TE 2 and gets a bit longer and heavier while maintaining the pistol grip style. For the extra size, you gain a significant boost in impact energy and a slightly larger 5/8-inch optimal top end. More notably, the max range moves past the 1-inch mark.

Price: $249

The TE 7-C makes the shift to a D-handle style and continues the upward power trend slightly. With the same range and optimal range as the TE 3, its 1.9 ft-lbs of impact energy hit a little harder.

Price: $399

Leading the SDS-Plus class on the corded side, the TE 30 is the heaviest hitter for Hilti. Its 2.7 ft-lbs of impact energy are only slightly higher than the TE 7, but its faster top speed and hammering rate give it a higher optimal working range. If you’re consistently drilling 3/4-inch holes, you’ll find this to be the most effective rotary hammer without stepping into the SDS-Max class.

The model numbers give away the difference between the TE 30 and TE 30 AVR. For $120 more, you get Hilti’s Active Vibration Reduction system. As the largest of the SDS-Plus models, it’s a difference you’ll notice and that we highly recommend taking advantage of.

Price: $749 – $869

Even though Hilti’s SDS-Max rotary hammers all have a similar look, their performance levels and weights are very different. The lightest of the group is the TE 50-AVR, which hits at 4.4 ft-lbs and moves up to 1 1/4 inches for the top of its optimal range. It can also handle holes all the way up to 1 9/16 inches if you need it to.

Price: $869

Stepping up to 5.8 ft-lbs of impact energy, the TE 60 rotary hammer drill is the mid-range performer of the SDS-Max class. Boasting the same full range as the TE 50, the optimal range for this model is 1 9/16, and it’s more effective at chipping and light breaking.

Both configurations include AVR and there’s an option to step up with Active Torque Control as well. When you’re drilling in concrete with a tool this powerful, it’s well worth it to have bind up protection, especially when you’re drilling in reinforced concrete frequently.

Price: $1249 – $1879

Staking its claim as king of the hill in power, the TE 70 series is the strongest rotary hammer in Hilti’s extensive lineup. Hitting with a monster 10.7 ft-lbs of impact energy, this is the model you turn to when you need to drill holes up to, and even beyond, 2 inches. It’s no surprise that this is also the heaviest of the bunch.

Like the TE 60, you have the option of having AVR only or adding ATC to give you bind up protection.

Price: $1879 – 2489