Is the DEWALT DCH273B Hammer Drill Really Worth It?
Worth it, with one real catch
Why drilling into concrete wrecks your wrists first
Your arm remembers the last time a cheap hammer drill kicked back against a masonry anchor: the sudden jolt through the wrist, the bit skating sideways instead of biting in. That's usually the moment people start reading hammer drill reviews instead of just grabbing whatever's cheapest off the shelf. Concrete doesn't forgive a weak tool, and it definitely doesn't forgive one that vibrates so hard your grip gives out before the hole is finished.
How a rotary hammer drill actually works
A rotary hammer isn't just a drill with a hammer setting bolted on, and that's the part worth understanding. Inside the DCH273B, a brushless motor drives a piston that compresses air against a second piston near the bit, and that trapped air cushion delivers the actual blow, not the motor spinning harder. That's how DEWALT gets 2.1 joules of impact energy out of a cordless tool: the strike comes from that German-engineered pneumatic mechanism, sealed off from the motor, so it keeps hitting hard even as the battery runs down. The rotating dial on top switches between three of those states: pure rotation for drilling wood or metal, rotation plus hammering for concrete and masonry, and hammer only for chipping out old mortar or tile. You're not swapping tools, you're swapping which half of that piston mechanism gets engaged. Layered on top is the SHOCKS Active Vibration Control system, a dampened handle mounting that soaks up shock before it reaches your hands. On a plain rotary hammer that vibration travels straight into your wrist for as long as the trigger's pulled; here, a chunk of it gets absorbed before it gets that far, which matters more at hour three of drilling anchors than it does in the first five minutes. It ships as a bare tool, so battery and charger are a separate cost if you're not already on the 20V Max platform, but the chuck takes standard rotary hammer bits without an adapter, and the whole thing stays light enough for rod hanging and overhead cable tray work, not just floor level demo.
You're not buying a stronger drill, you're buying a mechanism that survives the third hour of a job the same way it survived the first minute. The vibration control and the piston system are the same feature seen from two angles: less shock reaching your hands means you can keep working accurately for longer, which is the whole point of paying rotary hammer money instead of hardware store drill money.
Who the DEWALT DCH273B hammer drill is for, and who should skip it
Worth it if
- you already own DEWALT 20V Max batteries and a charger
- you drill into concrete or masonry on a regular basis
- you want less vibration fatigue on long anchor jobs
- you need one tool that drills, hammers and chips
Skip it if
- you need a complete kit with battery and charger included
- you only drill into wood or drywall occasionally
- you want the lightest possible option for all-day overhead work
Not for the once-a-year picture-hanger who just needs a hole in drywall.
The DEWALT DCH273B hammer drill verdict: is it worth it
If you already run DEWALT's 20V Max batteries and drill into concrete or masonry regularly, this is a quiet yes. If you only need to hang a few pictures or drill the odd hole in drywall, a fifteen dollar drill does that job fine and this one will just sit in its case.
Picture the next anchor hole: dial set to hammer drill, bit biting straight in instead of skating, done in seconds instead of a minute of leaning your whole body into it. That's the difference this tool is actually selling, and it's the kind of thing you stop noticing because it stops being a fight. A large number of owners report it outworking their old corded drills on demo and masonry jobs, which lines up with what the mechanism promises. Just budget for the battery separately since this one arrives tool only, and it'll still be there when you're ready.
Amazon shoppers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 3,414 ratings. That is their number, not ours.
Before you go
Which brand of hammer drill is the best?
DEWALT is one of the most consistently well rated brands in this category, and the DCH273B's brushless motor with a piston-driven hammering mechanism is typical of why tradespeople reach for it over lighter homeowner brands.
What is the best hammer drill for a homeowner?
For occasional masonry work, a lighter corded or compact cordless hammer drill is usually enough, since a full SDS rotary hammer like this one is built for daily anchor and demo work rather than the odd shelf bracket.
What is the best hammer drill for DIY?
If you're already invested in a cordless battery platform and tackle masonry projects a few times a year, a rotary hammer like the DCH273B earns its keep, since the same battery covers drills, drivers and saws too.
Which brand of drill is the most reliable?
Reliability comes down to the internal mechanism as much as the brand, and a sealed piston hammering system paired with a brushless motor tends to hold up better under repeated concrete work than lighter hammer drills built for occasional use.
By the numbers
Like 94% of the 77 home & garden products we've reviewed, this one earns a conditional "worth it, but" — just 6% clear our unconditional top tier. All verdicts are published as open data in the Is It Worth It Reviews Verdict Dataset (CC BY 4.0).
Full spec sheet
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
|---|---|
| Maximum Rotational Speed | 1100 rpm |
| Voltage | 20 volts |
| Amperage | 5 A |
| Maximum Chuck Size | 20 millimeters |
| Additional Features | Brushless Motor,Lightweight,Cordless |
| Maximum Torque | 1.5 ft-lb |
| Number of Speeds | 3 |
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