Whilst working on a job or a construction site, you’ll come across a variety of purpose-built tools, with SDS drills being one of them. SDS drills are specialist tools designed with a rotary hammer motion. They are primarily used in construction and heavy-duty trades for drilling into hard materials such as concrete, brick, blockwork, and stone, as they provide greater drilling speed, stability, and efficiency compared with ordinary drill bits.
SDS stands for Slotted Drive System (also known as Slotted Drive Shaft). Both SDS Max and SDS Plus drills features a chuck mechanism that accepts drill bits with slotted shanks. The slots allow the bit to slide back and forth within the chuck while rotating, creating a rotary hammer action that greatly enhances its performance when drilling tougher materials.
This mechanism ensures the SDS bit stays secure throughout continuous drilling without having to manually tighten it. It also helps prevent the bit from slipping, and transfers more impact energy directly to the drilling material. As a result, this makes SDS drills suitable for more high-impact tasks, including:
Drilling into reinforced and non-reinforced concrete.
Fixing into masonry walls and floors.
Channel cutting for pipes and electrical conduits.
Chiselling and demolition of brick, block, and tile.
Standard drills and bits are more suitable for lighter tasks such as drilling into wood, metal, or softer masonry, but lack the power and stability required for tougher, denser materials.
SDS drill bits aren’t one-size-fits-all, and the right choice depends on both the material and the job. The three main types of SDS drill bits are:
SDS Plus bits- This is the most common type and has a 10mm shank.
Designed for general masonry work, such as drilling into brick, blockwork, or light concrete.
Versatile and widely compatible with most SDS drills.
Ideal for tradespeople who need reliable performance on everyday jobs.
SDS Max bits
- A larger, heavier-duty option with an 18mm shank.
Built for high-impact drilling through dense concrete, stone, or reinforced substrates.
Transfers more energy from the drill and are often used in major construction work or demolition projects.
Chiselling bits
- Instead of a cutting tip, these feature a variety of different ends; flat, pointed, spade-shaped, bent (cranked shaft), u-type, comb, and tile.
Used for breaking, cutting, and removal tasks, such as tile stripping, channel cutting, or breaking up old masonry.
Available in different widths and lengths depending on the finish required.
Available for both SDS Plus and SDS Max drills.
SDS drill bits also come in a variety of tip designs. The cutting tip is where the real performance difference lies. Depending on the material and the job, you’ll find several specialist options:
Cross-head (four-cutter) tips – Provide multiple cutting edges for smoother drilling, especially when hitting steel reinforcement (rebar) within concrete. They help prevent the bit from snagging and extend overall lifespan.
Two-cutter tips – More common in lighter-duty SDS Plus bits. Ideal for brick and blockwork where rebar isn’t a concern, offering speed and efficiency without the extra cost.
3-cutter chisels – Designed for more heavy-duty drilling, such as concrete, stone, and masonry where there might also be rebar.
Pointed chisels – For breaking through masonry.
Flat chisels – Best for stripping tiles, or breaking sections of concrete with a clean edge.
Spade chisels – Designed for wider demolition tasks, such as breaking up floors or removing large surface areas of dense material.
U-type chisels – For carving or shaping curved channels, as opposed to straight cuts.
Comb chisels – For surface preparation - such as roughing up concrete or stone surfaces, removing plaster or adhesive - before applying new layers like render or plaster.
Bent (cranked shaft) chisels – Feature a bent end that provides better leverage and access when working on surfaces in awkward spaces.
Tile chisels – For lifting floor or wall tiles, and removing old adhesive and grout.
By choosing the right tip design for the material and job, you can drill faster, reduce wear on the bit, and avoid accidentally damaging parts of the material you’re working on.
There are several things to consider when starting a new job or drilling work. Choosing the right SDS drill bit is essential to ensuring the job is done efficiently, correctly, and cost-effectively.
Material you’ll be working on
Brick and blockwork – Less dense, suitable for two-cutter SDS Plus bits.
Concrete (non-reinforced) – Make sure you use carbide-tipped bits for consistent drilling.
Reinforced concrete (with rebar) – Best handled with cross-head or four-cutter tips that reduce snagging and deliver smoother drilling through steel reinforcement.
Natural stone – Abrasive and inconsistent; requires durable carbide tips and steady operation to avoid tip damage.
Tip design of the drill bit
Two-cutter tips – Faster drilling in softer masonry and for less precise drilling.
Cross-head (four-cutter) tips – Used to cut through reinforced concrete without getting jammed against rebar, allowing for more consistent drilling.
Bit length and diameter
Diameter should match the required fixing size or anchor size. Using an undersized or oversized bit can lead to mismatched fixing sizes and compromise the integrity of the job.
Length should be chosen based on hole depth. Long bits are suitable for deep holes but may flex under heavy loads; for shallow drilling, shorter bits provide greater control and precision.
Drill compatibility
Ensure the bit shank corresponds to the drill chuck type (SDS Plus or SDS Max). Mismatched systems are not interchangeable without adaptors, and these do not offer the best performance.
SDS drill adapters can only be used on SDS max drills, allowing for the use of SDS plus bits. Adapters cannot be used on SDS plus drills to allow for SDS max bits.Â
When it comes to choosing the right bit for the job, compromise can lead to unfixable errors, poor job satisfaction, and generally make the job harder than it needs to be.
SDS drill bits aren’t compatible with ordinary drills due to their unique design, and only SDS drills are designed to fully house an SDS drill bit. Depending on the type of SDS drill bit you need for the job, you will require one of two SDS drills:
SDS Plus drills – Compact and versatile, these drills accept SDS Plus bits (10mm shank) and are widely used for medium-duty masonry applications.
SDS Max drills – Larger, more powerful drills that accept SDS Max bits (18mm shank). These machines are designed for heavy-duty drilling and chiselling where maximum impact energy is required.
These are also available as both corded and cordless options. Cordless SDS drills are often used in hard to reach areas, where a corded drill might struggle. A corded SDS drill, however, offers more power than a cordless SDS drill and are often used for more heavy-duty jobs. They also allow for more consistent drilling, unlike cordless SDS drills which require battery changes and charging.
SDS drills deliver significantly more power than conventional drills. Operating the drill correctly is essential to protect both the operator and the equipment from damage and harm. What makes SDS drill safety imperative is the jobs they are required for. With heavy construction materials, there is more room for risk, and additional factors to consider to keep you safe when using the drill:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Always wear safety glasses to protect against flying debris.
Hearing protection is recommended due to the high noise levels generated by the hammer action.
Use anti-vibration gloves or take regular breaks during extended operation to minimise hand–arm vibration damage.
Correct drill settings
Set the drill to rotary hammer-drill mode when drilling into masonry or concrete.
Use hammer-only mode for demolition or surface removal with chiselling bits.
Avoid running the tool in rotary-only mode with SDS bits, as this prevents the mechanism from engaging properly.
Controlled operation
Apply steady, consistent pressure. Forcing the drill reduces efficiency, overheats the bit, and risks damaging both the tool and material.
Maintain a firm grip with both hands to manage torque reaction and prevent the drill from spinning in your grip, especially with larger SDS Max drills.
Ensure the drill is aligned squarely with the work surface to prevent bit bending or breakage.
Site awareness
Before drilling, confirm the location of hidden pipes, electrical conduits, or reinforcement to avoid accidental damage.
Use dust extraction attachments or a vacuum system where possible. A lot of dust is created when drilling into concrete and masonry, which can be hazardous if breathed in.
Tool condition
Inspect the drill chuck and bit for wear or damage before use. Replace worn or chipped bits promptly to maintain precision and job efficiency.
Compared to ordinary drill bits, SDS drill bits undergo rigorous and heavy-duty drilling. With the proper care and maintenance, you can extend their lifespan - reducing the cost of replacements and preventing breakages during a job.
Clean after use – Dust, slurry, and debris should be removed from the flutes after each drilling session. Blocked flutes reduce dust extraction, increase friction, and generate heat that can further accelerate the wear of your bits.
Do not use oil/lubricants to clean your SDS drill bits. This will reduce the hammering effect of your bits, and make the drilling less efficient. Oil and lubricants will also attract dust when drilling, forming a gritty paste which will also wear down the drill bit.
Correct storage – Store bits in a dry, protective case or rack to prevent rust and corrosion on your drill bits.
Monitor tip condition – Carbide and hardened tips wear gradually under repeated impact and drilling. Worn or rounded tips reduce drilling speed, increase the overall effort to use, and may damage the material. Make sure to replace bits promptly when they become significantly worn.
Avoid overheating – Prolonged continuous drilling without pauses can cause the bit to overheat, softening the tip and weakening the bond between tip and shank. Allow the bit to cool periodically during extended use.
Match bit to substrate – Using the correct tip design (e.g. cross-head for rebar, two-cutter for blockwork) reduces stress on the bit and prolongs their lifespan. Using the wrong type of tip can accelerate wear and increase the risk of tips breaking.
Although SDS bits represent a higher initial cost than conventional masonry bits, their increased efficiency, reduced slippage, and extended service life result in fewer replacements, faster job completion, and more consistent results in heavy-duty drilling.
Whilst working on a job or a construction site, you’ll come across a variety of purpose-built tools, with SDS drills being one of them. SDS drills are specialist tools designed with a rotary hammer motion. They are primarily used in construction and heavy-duty trades for drilling into hard materials such as concrete, brick, blockwork, and stone, as they provide greater drilling speed, stability, and efficiency compared with ordinary drill bits.
SDS stands for Slotted Drive System (also known as Slotted Drive Shaft). Both SDS Max and SDS Plus drills features a chuck mechanism that accepts drill bits with slotted shanks. The slots allow the bit to slide back and forth within the chuck while rotating, creating a rotary hammer action that greatly enhances its performance when drilling tougher materials.
This mechanism ensures the SDS bit stays secure throughout continuous drilling without having to manually tighten it. It also helps prevent the bit from slipping, and transfers more impact energy directly to the drilling material. As a result, this makes SDS drills suitable for more high-impact tasks, including:
Drilling into reinforced and non-reinforced concrete.
Fixing into masonry walls and floors.
Channel cutting for pipes and electrical conduits.
Chiselling and demolition of brick, block, and tile.
Standard drills and bits are more suitable for lighter tasks such as drilling into wood, metal, or softer masonry, but lack the power and stability required for tougher, denser materials.
SDS drill bits aren’t one-size-fits-all, and the right choice depends on both the material and the job. The three main types of SDS drill bits are:
SDS Plus bits- This is the most common type and has a 10mm shank.
Designed for general masonry work, such as drilling into brick, blockwork, or light concrete.
Versatile and widely compatible with most SDS drills.
Ideal for tradespeople who need reliable performance on everyday jobs.
SDS Max bits
- A larger, heavier-duty option with an 18mm shank.
Built for high-impact drilling through dense concrete, stone, or reinforced substrates.
Transfers more energy from the drill and are often used in major construction work or demolition projects.
Chiselling bits
- Instead of a cutting tip, these feature a variety of different ends; flat, pointed, spade-shaped, bent (cranked shaft), u-type, comb, and tile.
Used for breaking, cutting, and removal tasks, such as tile stripping, channel cutting, or breaking up old masonry.
Available in different widths and lengths depending on the finish required.
Available for both SDS Plus and SDS Max drills.
SDS drill bits also come in a variety of tip designs. The cutting tip is where the real performance difference lies. Depending on the material and the job, you’ll find several specialist options:
Cross-head (four-cutter) tips – Provide multiple cutting edges for smoother drilling, especially when hitting steel reinforcement (rebar) within concrete. They help prevent the bit from snagging and extend overall lifespan.
Two-cutter tips – More common in lighter-duty SDS Plus bits. Ideal for brick and blockwork where rebar isn’t a concern, offering speed and efficiency without the extra cost.
3-cutter chisels – Designed for more heavy-duty drilling, such as concrete, stone, and masonry where there might also be rebar.
Pointed chisels – For breaking through masonry.
Flat chisels – Best for stripping tiles, or breaking sections of concrete with a clean edge.
Spade chisels – Designed for wider demolition tasks, such as breaking up floors or removing large surface areas of dense material.
U-type chisels – For carving or shaping curved channels, as opposed to straight cuts.
Comb chisels – For surface preparation - such as roughing up concrete or stone surfaces, removing plaster or adhesive - before applying new layers like render or plaster.
Bent (cranked shaft) chisels – Feature a bent end that provides better leverage and access when working on surfaces in awkward spaces.
Tile chisels – For lifting floor or wall tiles, and removing old adhesive and grout.
By choosing the right tip design for the material and job, you can drill faster, reduce wear on the bit, and avoid accidentally damaging parts of the material you’re working on.
There are several things to consider when starting a new job or drilling work. Choosing the right SDS drill bit is essential to ensuring the job is done efficiently, correctly, and cost-effectively.
Material you’ll be working on
Brick and blockwork – Less dense, suitable for two-cutter SDS Plus bits.
Concrete (non-reinforced) – Make sure you use carbide-tipped bits for consistent drilling.
Reinforced concrete (with rebar) – Best handled with cross-head or four-cutter tips that reduce snagging and deliver smoother drilling through steel reinforcement.
Natural stone – Abrasive and inconsistent; requires durable carbide tips and steady operation to avoid tip damage.
Tip design of the drill bit
Two-cutter tips – Faster drilling in softer masonry and for less precise drilling.
Cross-head (four-cutter) tips – Used to cut through reinforced concrete without getting jammed against rebar, allowing for more consistent drilling.
Bit length and diameter
Diameter should match the required fixing size or anchor size. Using an undersized or oversized bit can lead to mismatched fixing sizes and compromise the integrity of the job.
Length should be chosen based on hole depth. Long bits are suitable for deep holes but may flex under heavy loads; for shallow drilling, shorter bits provide greater control and precision.
Drill compatibility
Ensure the bit shank corresponds to the drill chuck type (SDS Plus or SDS Max). Mismatched systems are not interchangeable without adaptors, and these do not offer the best performance.
SDS drill adapters can only be used on SDS max drills, allowing for the use of SDS plus bits. Adapters cannot be used on SDS plus drills to allow for SDS max bits.Â
When it comes to choosing the right bit for the job, compromise can lead to unfixable errors, poor job satisfaction, and generally make the job harder than it needs to be.
SDS drill bits aren’t compatible with ordinary drills due to their unique design, and only SDS drills are designed to fully house an SDS drill bit. Depending on the type of SDS drill bit you need for the job, you will require one of two SDS drills:
SDS Plus drills – Compact and versatile, these drills accept SDS Plus bits (10mm shank) and are widely used for medium-duty masonry applications.
SDS Max drills – Larger, more powerful drills that accept SDS Max bits (18mm shank). These machines are designed for heavy-duty drilling and chiselling where maximum impact energy is required.
These are also available as both corded and cordless options. Cordless SDS drills are often used in hard to reach areas, where a corded drill might struggle. A corded SDS drill, however, offers more power than a cordless SDS drill and are often used for more heavy-duty jobs. They also allow for more consistent drilling, unlike cordless SDS drills which require battery changes and charging.
SDS drills deliver significantly more power than conventional drills. Operating the drill correctly is essential to protect both the operator and the equipment from damage and harm. What makes SDS drill safety imperative is the jobs they are required for. With heavy construction materials, there is more room for risk, and additional factors to consider to keep you safe when using the drill:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Always wear safety glasses to protect against flying debris.
Hearing protection is recommended due to the high noise levels generated by the hammer action.
Use anti-vibration gloves or take regular breaks during extended operation to minimise hand–arm vibration damage.
Correct drill settings
Set the drill to rotary hammer-drill mode when drilling into masonry or concrete.
Use hammer-only mode for demolition or surface removal with chiselling bits.
Avoid running the tool in rotary-only mode with SDS bits, as this prevents the mechanism from engaging properly.
Controlled operation
Apply steady, consistent pressure. Forcing the drill reduces efficiency, overheats the bit, and risks damaging both the tool and material.
Maintain a firm grip with both hands to manage torque reaction and prevent the drill from spinning in your grip, especially with larger SDS Max drills.
Ensure the drill is aligned squarely with the work surface to prevent bit bending or breakage.
Site awareness
Before drilling, confirm the location of hidden pipes, electrical conduits, or reinforcement to avoid accidental damage.
Use dust extraction attachments or a vacuum system where possible. A lot of dust is created when drilling into concrete and masonry, which can be hazardous if breathed in.
Tool condition
Inspect the drill chuck and bit for wear or damage before use. Replace worn or chipped bits promptly to maintain precision and job efficiency.
Compared to ordinary drill bits, SDS drill bits undergo rigorous and heavy-duty drilling. With the proper care and maintenance, you can extend their lifespan - reducing the cost of replacements and preventing breakages during a job.
Clean after use – Dust, slurry, and debris should be removed from the flutes after each drilling session. Blocked flutes reduce dust extraction, increase friction, and generate heat that can further accelerate the wear of your bits.
Do not use oil/lubricants on your SDS drill bits. This will reduce the hammering effect of your bits, and make the drilling less efficient. Oil and lubricants will also attract dust when drilling, forming a gritty paste which will also wear down the drill bit.
Correct storage – Store bits in a dry, protective case or rack to prevent rust and corrosion on your drill bits.
Monitor tip condition – Carbide and hardened tips wear gradually under repeated impact and drilling. Worn or rounded tips reduce drilling speed, increase the overall effort to use, and may damage the material. Make sure to replace bits promptly when they become significantly worn.
Avoid overheating – Prolonged continuous drilling without pauses can cause the bit to overheat, softening the tip and weakening the bond between tip and shank. Allow the bit to cool periodically during extended use.
Match bit to substrate – Using the correct tip design (e.g. cross-head for rebar, two-cutter for blockwork) reduces stress on the bit and prolongs their lifespan. Using the wrong type of tip can accelerate wear and increase the risk of tips breaking.
Although SDS bits represent a higher initial cost than conventional masonry bits, their increased efficiency, reduced slippage, and extended service life result in fewer replacements, faster job completion, and more consistent results in heavy-duty drilling.