DEWALT DCH172E2 Review

Not every job that calls for a rotary hammer demands the full weight and power of a corded demolition machine. In fact, a great many professional tasks — mounting electrical conduit, hanging cable trays, fixing pipe brackets, installing handrails — involve drilling relatively small holes in concrete, brick, or block, often at height or in awkward positions where dragging a mains lead and a heavy transformer is actively dangerous. A cordless SDS-plus rotary hammer brings the right level of power to these jobs without the tether. It hits hard enough to sink a 6 or 8 mm anchor hole in seconds, yet it is light enough to use one-handed from a ladder and compact enough to carry on a tool belt all day. The latest brushless motor and battery technology means runtime is no longer the compromise it once was — modern cordless rotary hammers can drill dozens of holes on a single charge, and the freedom to move instantly from task to task without coiling and uncoiling cables adds up to genuine time saved across a working week.

Cordless SDS-plus rotary hammers occupy a growing niche between compact hammer drill-drivers and full-size corded rotary hammers. They typically deliver between 1 and 2 joules of impact energy — enough for drilling holes up to about 16 to 20 mm in concrete and for light chiselling — while weighing under 3 kg including the battery. This makes them ideal for installation and finishing trades where the majority of holes are 6 to 12 mm in diameter and the priority is portability rather than raw breaking power. When choosing a cordless rotary hammer, the key factors are the impact energy rating, the brushless motor efficiency, the battery platform and available capacities, the presence of active vibration control, and compatibility with dust extraction accessories. For tradespeople already invested in a battery platform, a bare tool purchase is straightforward; for those starting fresh, the battery and charger ecosystem is as important as the tool itself.

This review examines a 20-volt brushless cordless SDS-plus rotary hammer from DEWALT's compact Atomic series, delivering 1.4 joules of impact energy with active vibration control. Supplied as a kit with two POWERSTACK compact batteries and a charger, we evaluate its real-world drilling performance on masonry and concrete, runtime and battery compatibility, dust extraction integration, and whether its compact, cordless convenience justifies its position in a professional tool collection.

The DEWALT DCH172E2 is a cordless SDS-plus rotary hammer powered by a brushless motor running on the brand's 20-volt MAX battery platform. It delivers 1.4 joules of impact energy — a figure that places it firmly in the compact cordless class rather than the heavy demolition category. This is a deliberate design choice: the Atomic series prioritises size and weight reduction over maximum hitting power, resulting in a tool that is genuinely light and compact enough for one-handed overhead operation and all-day belt carry. The brushless motor contributes to this efficiency by converting more of the battery's stored energy into mechanical work rather than wasting it as heat in carbon brush friction. The German-engineered hammer mechanism is described by DEWALT as durable, and the tool is rated for drilling in concrete, brick, and block with SDS-plus bits up to approximately 16 mm diameter — the sweet spot for anchor bolts, wall plugs, and conduit fixings.

The kit configuration — designated by the E2 suffix — includes two DEWALT POWERSTACK compact batteries and a charger. The POWERSTACK batteries use pouch-cell technology rather than traditional cylindrical cells, which DEWALT claims delivers 50% more power, a 25% more compact form factor, and 15% less weight compared to the equivalent-capacity DCB203 battery. At 1.7 amp-hours, these are compact batteries optimised for weight and size rather than maximum runtime — they are well suited to a tool like this where the typical usage pattern is short bursts of drilling interspersed with positioning and fixing work, rather than continuous heavy demolition. The batteries are fully compatible with all DEWALT 20-volt MAX tools and chargers, so they integrate into an existing DEWALT battery ecosystem. A removable belt hook lets you carry the tool hands-free between tasks.

The PERFORM AND PROTECT designation means this tool incorporates DEWALT's SHOCKS active vibration control system and is designed to integrate with dust extraction accessories. The vibration damping is particularly valuable on a cordless tool because the lighter overall weight of a battery-powered rotary hammer can actually make vibration feel more pronounced — there is less mass to absorb the recoil. By actively decoupling the handle from the hammer mechanism, the SHOCKS system reduces vibration at the grip and brings this tool into compliance with OSHA Table 1 for silica dust when paired with the DWH200D dust shroud and DWH161 dust extractor. For US and UK trades working under health and safety oversight, this compliance pathway is a significant practical advantage — it means you can meet regulatory requirements without switching to a different tool.

In use, the DCH172 is defined by its compact dimensions and light weight. This is a tool you can comfortably operate one-handed at arm's length above your head — drilling into a concrete ceiling for cable tray supports, for example — without the shoulder and wrist fatigue that a corded rotary hammer would cause in the same position. The SDS-plus chuck provides the familiar push-to-lock bit insertion and positive retention, and the variable speed trigger gives good control for starting holes accurately before ramping up to full speed. The 1.4 joule impact rating means that in dense concrete or hard engineering brick, the drilling speed is noticeably slower than a corded 2.7-joule tool — this is the trade-off for portability. For 6 to 10 mm holes in standard brick and block, however, the pace is more than adequate and the freedom from a power lead more than compensates.

Customer feedback is limited, with only 3 reviews averaging 3.5 out of 5 stars at the time of writing. This is a relatively new model in DEWALT's cordless rotary hammer range, and the low review count means long-term reliability and user satisfaction data is not yet established. The price point is high — nearly £600 for the two-battery kit — reflecting the POWERSTACK battery technology and the compact brushless engineering. For tradespeople already invested in the DEWALT 20-volt MAX platform who can purchase the bare tool, the value proposition improves significantly. The tool is compatible with the full range of DEWALT 20-volt MAX batteries, including higher-capacity options for extended runtime on larger jobs.

The DEWALT DCH172 is the cordless rotary hammer of choice for electricians, data installers, HVAC technicians, and finishing trades who need a compact, lightweight SDS-plus drill for overhead and ladder work — prioritising portability and vibration control over maximum impact power.