Makita 12V Hammer Drill Tops the Charts as the Best 12V Hammer Drill
We recently tested more than 50 drills of various shapes, sizes, and power ratings in our recent Best Cordless Drill head-to-head article. The Makita XP05 hammer drill entered the 12V competition. To be fair, it didn’t have loads of competition in the 12V hammer drill category because there just really aren’t that many options available at the moment. So, how did this Makita 12v hammer drill stack up? Here’s what we learned.
Standout Features
It’s tough to find too many 12V models that include a comprehensive feature set. As a compact supplement to more powerful 18V models, many manufacturers are more interested in keeping the cost down. It’s not too often that you’ll find a 12V drill with smart controls, smart tracking, specialized modes, or the suite of accessories that premium flagship models have. Such is the case with this Makita 12V hammer drill.
However, the Makita PH05 does have a brushless motor and a two-speed gearbox. Like several brands, Makita goes with a plastic/metal chuck instead of all metal. There is a drill/driver selection collar separate from the clutch collar, an LED light, and a stout metal belt hook to wrap up the highlights.
Performance
Speed Testing
In our speed under load tests, we started with a 1/2″ Milwaukee Red Helix Titanium Twist Bit and 5-ply OSB subfloor. The Makita PH05 averaged 975 RPM, finishing 4th in the full group of 12V drills and the fastest of the 3 hammer drill options.
Holding onto 66% of its tested no-load speed, you probably don’t want to go too much bigger in high speed, though we tested a 3/4″ Bosch Daredevil High-Speed Auger bit with similar speed and efficiency.
In low speed, you can pick up some of those larger bit sizes, up to 1″ or a little over. Some of the more efficient bits out there can help you take it even further.
Makita wasn’t the fastest hammer drill when it came to concrete drilling. None of these 12V hammer drills threaten even the 18V compact class’ performance. Makita’s 12.73-second average puts it in the middle between Milwaukee’s 10.8-second efforts and Hilti’s 15.73-second average.
Torque Testing
Finally, we measured each tool’s torque as well. The Makita 12V hammer drill generated an average of 104 in-lbs of torque on our compression rig. This was a 1st-place finish against the other hammer drills, and a 5th-place finish overall.
There isn’t a wide range of results with the lowest falling just under 100 in-lbs and the highest at 116 in-lbs. The rest of the group comes together between 102 in-lbs and 108 in-lbs.
The takeaway from all this is that the Makita PH05 holds its own in the 12V class. It’s going to be a little slower than the top performers but has the muscle to do the same work.
Size and Weight
This Makita 12V hammer drill is in a tie as the tallest in the group at 7.5″. That has less of an impact than its head length which measures up at 6.7″. It’s one of the more compact heads—pretty impressive for a drill that needs a little extra room for its hammer mechanism.
With a range of 1.96 pounds to 3.24 pounds in the 12V class, the Makita PH05 is comfortably in the lower weight half at 2.48 pounds. There’s a handful with lower weights, but we’re talking about less than 4 ounces except the Bosch PS32 as the lightest.
Price
Right now, you can snag the Makita 12V hammer drill for $108.39 as a bare tool or $179 as a kit with two 2.0Ah batteries.
That’s a little higher as a bare tool but pretty compelling as a kit, especially considering you get light concrete drilling as part of the deal.
The Bottom Line
With the scores tallied, the Makita PH05 makes into the upper tier for 12V drills overall and has a comfortable lead at over its hammer drill competitors. From top to bottom, there aren’t any major flaws in the design. Its biggest advantage is that you get a hammer drill mode and add light concrete drilling to your light-duty resume’.
Makita 12V Hammer Drill Specs
- Model Number: Makita PH05
- Steel Capacity: 3/8″
- Wood Capacity: 1-1/18″
- Masonry Capacity: 5/16″
- No-Load Speed: 0-450 / 0-1,500 RPM
- Blows Per Minute: 0-6,750 / 0-22,500 BPM
- Max Torque: 280 in-lbs
- Overall Length: 6-5/8″
- Weight (with battery): 2.4 lbs
- LED Light: Yes
- Warranty: 3-Year Warranty on tool and battery
- Price: $179
