DEWALT DCH273NT-XJ Review

Drilling into concrete, brick, or masonry is one of those jobs that separates serious power tools from the also-rans. A standard hammer drill might manage the occasional 6 mm hole for a wall plug, but when you are fixing heavy radiators, running conduit through a brick wall, or core-drilling for extractor fans day in and day out, you need a tool that punches through rather than grinds away. That is the difference a rotary hammer drill brings. Unlike a conventional hammer drill that uses a vibrating cam mechanism, an SDS-Plus rotary hammer uses a pneumatic piston to drive the bit forward with far more impact energy, making holes faster, cleaner, and with much less pressure from the operator. Add a brushless motor and cordless freedom to that equation, and you have a tool that a professional electrician, plumber, or HVAC installer can carry from job to job without hunting for power or dragging a transformer. For anyone who regularly works in hard materials, the question is not whether to own an SDS rotary hammer — it is which one gives you the right balance of drilling capacity, vibration control, and battery runtime.

Rotary hammer drills occupy a specific place in the power tool hierarchy: they are not general-purpose drills and they are not demolition hammers, but they handle the middle ground of anchoring, through-drilling, and light chiselling in masonry that makes up a huge portion of trade work. When choosing an SDS-Plus rotary hammer, the key numbers to check are the maximum drilling diameter in concrete, the impact energy measured in joules, and the vibration rating — because even a powerful hammer is a liability if it shakes your hands numb after an hour. Cordless models add battery runtime to the equation, and the brushless motor technology found in modern professional tools extends that runtime significantly while reducing maintenance. DEWALT's DCH273 sits in their 18V XR range as a compact SDS-Plus rotary hammer designed for drilling up to 24 mm in concrete, with rotation-stop for light chiselling and the brand's Perform & Protect low-vibration system.

In this review we cover the DEWALT DCH273NT-XJ in detail — the brushless motor performance, drilling capacity in different materials, the vibration reduction technology, battery runtime on common pack sizes, and the ergonomics that matter when you are drilling overhead or at awkward angles all day. We also look at what comes in the box and what does not, because this is a bare unit and knowing what you need to add is part of the buying decision.

The DCH273 is built around a brushless motor that runs on the DEWALT 18-volt XR battery platform, delivering up to 1,100 RPM and a maximum drilling capacity of 24 mm in concrete with an SDS-Plus bit. The brushless design eliminates the carbon brushes that wear down and need replacement in conventional motors, resulting in less internal friction, lower heat buildup, and roughly 50% less energy wasted as heat — all of which translates directly into longer runtime per battery charge and a longer overall service life. The electronic clutch protects both the motor and the user by disengaging the drive if the bit jams, preventing the tool from wrenching out of your hands. The rotary hammer delivers enough impact energy to drill 90 or more 10 mm diameter by 80 mm deep holes in concrete on a single 5.0 Ah battery charge, making it viable for a full day's anchoring work with a couple of spare batteries on rotation.

DEWALT has put genuine engineering effort into vibration control on this model, and it shows in the numbers. The Perform & Protect system brings the vibration level down to 6.6 m/s² in hammer drilling mode, which is among the lowest in its class for an 18-volt SDS-Plus rotary hammer. This matters in practical terms because lower vibration means you can drill more holes before fatigue sets in, you have better control over bit placement, and over the course of a career it reduces the cumulative strain that leads to hand-arm vibration syndrome. The tool achieves this through a combination of a counterbalance mechanism inside the hammer mechanism, decoupled handles, and damping materials at key contact points. The multi-position side handle rotates 360 degrees around the collar, letting you set it at whatever angle gives you the best leverage for the task — whether that is drilling down into a floor, horizontally into a wall, or up into a ceiling.

In daily trade use, the DCH273 distinguishes itself by being genuinely compact and manageable. At 2.5 kg without a battery it is light enough for one-handed overhead drilling when you need your other hand to hold a bracket or steady yourself on a ladder. The overall dimensions — roughly 17.5 cm long by 13.4 cm wide by 6.3 cm tall — make it easy to get between joists and into tight service voids where a full-size SDS-Max hammer would not fit. The built-in LED work light positioned above the trigger illuminates the drilling area, which is particularly useful when you are working inside cabinets, under staircases, or in unlit plant rooms. The tool has three operating modes: rotary hammer for drilling into masonry, rotation-only for drilling wood or metal with a standard chuck adapter, and rotation-stop for light chiselling in plaster, render, and tiles. The mode selector is a simple collar switch that is easy to operate even with gloved hands.

What you get in the box reflects the bare-unit designation: the DCH273 rotary hammer itself, a multi-position side handle, a depth stop rod, a belt clip, and a DEWALT TSTAK carry case. There is no battery, no charger, and no SDS-Plus bits included — this is aimed at tradespeople who already own DEWALT 18V XR batteries and have their preferred set of SDS bits. The TSTAK case is part of DEWALT's modular storage system and clips together with other TSTAK boxes for organised transport between jobs. The belt clip is a practical addition for when you are up a ladder and need both hands free between drillings. The tool is compatible with the full range of DEWALT 18V XR batteries from compact 2.0 Ah packs for lightweight work up to 9.0 Ah FlexVolt batteries for all-day heavy drilling.

The DCH273NT-XJ holds a strong 4.6 out of 5 stars rating from over 2,600 reviews on Amazon and ranks as the 10th best-selling hammer drill in the DIY & Tools category — a significant vote of confidence from a large user base. It is manufactured in the Czech Republic and covered by DEWALT's standard manufacturer's warranty. At around £266 for the bare unit, it represents a professional-grade investment that pays for itself in time saved on site — fewer trips to find power, less fatigue from vibration, and the ability to drill in confined spaces that would defeat a corded SDS hammer. For electricians chasing walls, plumbers fixing pipe clips, HVAC installers mounting units, and general builders who need reliable concrete drilling without the cord, the DCH273 offers a compelling combination of compact size, low vibration, and genuine all-day capability on the DEWALT 18V platform.

This compact cordless SDS-Plus rotary hammer is ideal for professional electricians, plumbers, HVAC installers, and builders already on the DEWALT 18V XR platform who need reliable concrete drilling up to 24 mm with class-leading low vibration in a tool compact enough for confined spaces.