The Front Desk Review

Best Rotary Hammers · head-to-head

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) vs DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool)

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) is cheaper at $219. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) or DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool)?

The DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) is the cheaper at $219. The DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.

See Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) on Amazon See DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) on Amazon

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Full spec sheet

✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool)
US price $379 $219
BrandMilwaukeeDeWalt
Released——
Chuck type SDS-plus SDS-plus
Impact energy joules 2.7 1.4
Max drill diameter (mm) 25 16
Voltage 18V 20V MAX (18V nominal)
Blows per minute 4800 4980
No load (rpm) 1330 1060
Vibration control AVS (Anti-Vibration System) SHOCKS Active Vibration Control (rated 8.8 m/s²)
Operating modes 3-mode: rotary hammer, hammer only, rotation only —
Weight (lb) 6.8 4.4

Sources — Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool): milwaukeetool.com (verified 2026-08-01). DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool): dewalt.com (verified 2026-08-01).

What's the difference between the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) and DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool)?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (7 of 9). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Impact energy joules: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) 2.7 vs DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) 1.4
  • Max drill diameter (mm): Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) 25 vs DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) 16
  • Voltage: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) 18V vs DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) 20V MAX (18V nominal)
  • Blows per minute: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) 4800 vs DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) 4980
  • No load (rpm): Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) 1330 vs DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) 1060
  • Vibration control: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) AVS (Anti-Vibration System) vs DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) SHOCKS Active Vibration Control (rated 8.8 m/s²)
  • Weight (lb): Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2912-20 1 In. SDS Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) 6.8 vs DeWalt DCH172B ATOMIC 20V MAX 5/8 In. Brushless SDS-Plus Rotary Hammer (Bare Tool) 4.4

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