SDS Plus vs SDS Max: Which Shank for the Job

What is the difference between SDS-Plus and SDS-Max?

The difference between SDS-Plus and SDS-Max is the size of the shank, and with it the size of hammer, hole and chisel each one is built for. SDS names only the insert end of the tool, the part that locks into the rotary hammer. The same shank can carry a drill bit, a core bit, a chisel or a ground rod driver.

An SDS-Plus shank is 10 mm across and goes 40 mm into the chuck. Two open grooves drive it and two closed slots lock it in. An SDS-Max shank is 18 mm across and goes 90 mm in, with three open grooves and two locking slots, so the hammer pushes on about five times the surface (Tanner Bolt and Heller shank guides; Wikipedia's chuck entry gives the areas). That larger shank is what lets a heavy hammer pound a 2 in. bit or a 24 in. chisel without shearing the end off.

Because the shanks differ, the hammers differ. SDS-Plus hammers are the 1 in. class: lighter, cheaper, and in every trade that hangs anything from concrete. SDS-Max hammers are the 1-9/16 in. to 2 in. class: heavier, with roughly two to three times the impact energy for most makers, built for big holes, coring and breaking. The table below is the whole comparison in one place.

Trait	SDS-Plus	SDS-Max
Shank	10 mm, 2 open grooves + 2 locking slots, 40 mm insertion	18 mm, 3 open grooves + 2 locking slots, 90 mm insertion
Hammer class	1 in. and 1-1/8 in. rotary hammers: 7 to 9 lb, 1.5 to 3.6 ft-lb of impact energy	1-9/16 in. to 2 in. rotary and demolition hammers: 12 to 25 lb, 4.5 to 17 ft-lb
Solid bit range we stock	5/32 in. to 1-1/4 in., up to 34 in. deep	3/8 in. to 2 in., up to 47 in. deep
Core bits	Some 1-1/8 in. hammers are rated for thin-wall cores to 3-1/8 in.; none in our catalog	2 in. to 6 in. one-piece core bits; tunnel bores to 3-1/8 in.
Chisels	Bull points, 3/4 in. flat, scaling chisels to 2-1/2 in., a 3 in. tile chisel, a 4 in. floor scraper	Bull points, 1 in. flat to 24 in. long, scaling chisels to 3 in., clay spade, asphalt cutter, 6 in. floor scraper, bushing tools
Typical jobs	Drop-in, wedge and screw anchors to 3/4 in., conduit and pipe hangers, tile removal, ground rods	Anchors 3/4 in. and up, through-wall holes, sleeves and penetrations, slab and wall breakout, trenching
Bit price, 1/2 in. x 6 in. class	$7.21 (min. 5) per bit (2-cutter)	$41.99 (4-cutter, 8 in. deep)
Adapters	No adapter lets an SDS-Plus hammer drive SDS-Max tools	An SDS-Max to SDS-Plus adapter runs small bits in the big hammer

Verdict: SDS-Plus for holes up to 1 in. and light chipping. SDS-Max above 1 in., for coring, and for breaking concrete.

Should I get an SDS-Plus or an SDS-Max rotary hammer?

The SDS Plus vs SDS Max choice for a hammer is simple. Get an SDS-Plus rotary hammer if the largest hole you drill every week is 1 in. or smaller. Get an SDS-Max hammer if you drill above 1 in., core holes, or break concrete every week. Four crew profiles cover most of the jobs this guide gets asked about. Use the chooser below, or read the tables under it, which hold the same answers.

The chooser works from this table, which follows what each shank can actually reach in our catalog. Find your hole size, then the drilling depth, and read the shank.

Hole size	Under 8 in. deep	8 to 18 in. deep	19 to 31 in. deep	32 to 47 in. deep
Up to 3/8 in.	SDS-Plus	SDS-Plus	SDS-Plus 36 in. bit (3/8 in. only)	SDS-Plus 36 in. bit reaches 34 in.; nothing reaches 47 in.
1/2 in.	SDS-Plus, or SDS-Max through the adapter	SDS-Plus; SDS-Max to 16 in.	SDS-Plus 36 in. bit (no SDS-Max 1/2 in. bit drills past 16 in.)	SDS-Plus 36 in. bit reaches 34 in.; nothing reaches 47 in.
5/8 in.	SDS-Plus, or SDS-Max through the adapter	SDS-Plus	SDS-Plus 36 in. bit or SDS-Max	SDS-Max (the SDS-Plus 36 in. bit stops at 34 in.)
3/4 in.	SDS-Plus; SDS-Max when it is the daily size	Either; SDS-Max in rebar-heavy slabs	SDS-Max (the SDS-Plus 36 in. bit is slow in a 1 in. hammer)	SDS-Max
7/8 and 1 in.	Either; the SDS-Plus 4-cutter is at its limit	Either; SDS-Plus bits reach 16 in.	SDS-Max	SDS-Max
1-1/8 to 2 in.	SDS-Max (SDS-Plus reaches 1-1/4 in. at the limit)	SDS-Max	SDS-Max	SDS-Max (1-1/4 in. and up)
Core 2 to 6 in.	SDS-Max	SDS-Max	SDS-Max on the X-Tendr extension	Not made; use a diamond core rig
Chisel or break	SDS-Plus for tile, chases and chips; SDS-Max for slabs, walls, trenches and asphalt

Your week looks like	Shank	Why	Start with
Hangers for conduit, pipe, duct, strut and cable tray: 3/8 and 1/2 in. drop-ins, 1/4 in. nail-ins, overhead all day	SDS-Plus	Holes are 1/4 to 5/8 in. and the hammer is overhead for hours, so weight wins	STP-813 1/2 in. stop bit for 3/8 in. short drop-ins, $18.62 (min. 2); SDS-HD1 nail-in driver, $34.90
Pier brackets, equipment pads, rack frames: 5/8 and 3/4 in. wedge or screw anchors in slabs and footings with rebar	SDS-Plus 4-cutter, SDS-Max when 3/4 in. is daily	Both shanks drill 3/4 in. The Max hammer finishes a 3/4 in. hole faster and does not slow down in rebar	EVL84064 5/8 x 8 in. SDS-Plus X-Cutter, $23.94 (min. 2); SMTE1334 3/4 x 8 in. SDS-Max X-Cutter, $50.59
Through-wall holes, 1 in. and larger anchors, sleeves for pipe and conduit	SDS-Max	Above 1 in. solid, or any core bit, SDS-Plus bits run out of size and the hammer runs out of energy	SMTE3634 3/4 x 31 in. deep SDS-Max X-Cutter, $116.56; 880SL1055 2-3/4 in. core bit, $232.14
Breaking out slabs, trenching for drain tile, lifting tile floors, cutting asphalt	SDS-Max	Chiseling is energy. An SDS-Max hammer in hammer-only mode moves concrete; an SDS-Plus hammer chips it	7000BP 12 in. bull point, $15.07 (min. 2); 7024FC 1 x 24 in. flat chisel, $34.86

One hammer of each is the answer for a crew that does all four. If the budget runs to one, buy the SDS-Max hammer and the SDS-Max to SDS-Plus adapter ($75.16) for the small holes, with the limits in the adapter section below.

What size holes can SDS-Plus drill before you need SDS-Max?

SDS-Plus drills solid holes from 5/32 in. up to 1 in. well and 1-1/4 in. at the limit, and SDS-Max takes over above 1 in., up to 2 in. solid and 6 in. with a core bit. The two ranges overlap between 1/2 and 1 in., which is where most of the buying confusion sits. In that zone, pick by depth and by hammer: a 1-9/16 in. SDS-Max hammer brings two to three times the impact energy to a 3/4 in. hole, and weighs about twice as much as a 1 in. SDS-Plus hammer.

Range	SDS-Plus (what we stock)	SDS-Max (what we stock)
Smallest solid bit	5/32 in. x 4-1/4 in. 715S41064, $4.14 (min. 10)	3/8 in. x 8 in. deep SMTE1338, $41.82
Largest solid bit	1-1/4 in. EVL18114, drills 16 in. deep, $98.56	2 in. SMTE2202, drills 18 in. deep, $270.47
Deepest hole	34 in. with the 36 in. 1/2 in. x 36 in. bit, $54.45	47 in. with the 52 in. 1 in. x 52 in. bit, $202.99
Core bits	None	2 in. to 6 in., 880SL1035 2 in. x 12 in. from $204.36
Tunnel bores (one-piece, no core to knock out)	None	1-1/2 in. to 3-1/8 in., 950CC7331 1-1/2 in. x 22 in. from $236.06

Prices checked on eldoradotools.com on Oct 19, 2026. Each is priced per bit, and the minimum order is shown when it is more than one.

Anchor sizes translate to bit sizes like this. A wedge anchor takes a bit the same diameter as the anchor, so 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4 in. wedge anchors drill with 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4 in. bits (Hilti KB-TZ2 and Simpson Strong-Tie install sheets). A drop-in anchor takes a bit one size up, and the exact size depends on the anchor brand. ITM sizes its stop bits at 1/2 in. for a 3/8 in. drop-in, 5/8 in. for a 1/2 in. drop-in, 7/8 in. for 5/8 in. and 1 in. for 3/4 in. Hilti's HDI-TZ evaluation report lists 9/16 in. for the 3/8 in. anchor and 27/32 in. for the 5/8 in. Read the install sheet for the anchor in your hand.

Either way, every anchor size to 3/4 in. can be SDS-Plus work, and SDS-Max earns its place at 1 in. and beyond. Our foundation repair tools guide walks through the pier bracket and wall anchor holes step by step.

Which rotary hammers take SDS-Plus, and which take SDS-Max?

Every major maker sells both: 1 in. and 1-1/8 in. rotary hammers take SDS-Plus, and 1-9/16 in. to 2 in. rotary hammers and demolition hammers take SDS-Max. The size in a hammer's name is the maker's rated solid bit diameter in concrete (Hilti numbers its models differently). The chuck is the same across brands, so an SDS-Plus bit fits any SDS-Plus hammer and an SDS-Max bit fits any SDS-Max hammer.

Maker	SDS-Plus hammer	Rated bit	Impact	Weight	SDS-Max hammer	Rated bit	Impact	Weight
Milwaukee	M18 FUEL 1 in. (2915-20)	1-1/8 in.	3.6 ft-lb	8.9 lb	M18 FUEL 1-9/16 in. (2717-20)	1-9/16 in.	5.0 ft-lb	11.7 lb
DeWalt	20V XR 1 in. (DCH273B)	1 in.	2.1 J (1.5 ft-lb)	not listed	FLEXVOLT 1-9/16 in. (DCH481X2)	1-9/16 in., 3 in. core	6.1 J (4.5 ft-lb)	not listed
Bosch	Bulldog 1-1/8 in. (RH328VC)	1-1/8 in., 3-1/8 in. core	2.4 ft-lb	7.7 lb	1-9/16 in. (RH540M)	1-9/16 in., 4 in. core	6.1 ft-lb	15.2 lb
Makita	1 in. AVT (HR2641)	1 in., optimum 1/4 to 5/8 in.	2.1 ft-lb	7.1 lb	1-9/16 in. AVT (HR4013C)	1-9/16 in., optimum 5/8 to 1-1/4 in., 4-1/8 in. core	8.4 ft-lb	15.1 lb
Hilti	TE 30-22 (TE-C = SDS-Plus)	3/16 to 1-3/32 in.	2.8 ft-lb	8.6 lb	TE 60-22 (TE-Y = SDS-Max)	optimum 23/32 to 1-9/16 in.	6.5 ft-lb	14.1 lb

Maker specifications as published on Oct 19, 2026. Impact energy is quoted as each maker prints it; 1 ft-lb is 1.36 J. Weights are bare tools where the maker lists one.

Two numbers matter more than the brand. Impact energy decides how fast a bit of a given size drills, and tool weight decides how long a person can hold the hammer overhead. An SDS-Plus hammer at 1.5 to 3.6 ft-lb and 7 to 9 lb is the overhead tool. An SDS-Max rotary hammer at 4.5 to 8.4 ft-lb and 12 to 15 lb is the floor and wall tool, and an SDS-Max demolition hammer at 9 to 17 ft-lb and 16 to 25 lb is the breaker. Makita prints the optimum range on both of its hammers, and the numbers say it plainly: 1/4 to 5/8 in. on the 1 in. SDS-Plus HR2641, 5/8 to 1-1/4 in. on the 1-9/16 in. SDS-Max HR4013C.

Can you use SDS-Plus bits in an SDS-Max hammer?

Yes, an SDS-Max hammer can run SDS-Plus bits through an SDS-Max to SDS-Plus adapter. An SDS-Plus hammer cannot run SDS-Max bits: we know of no adapter in that direction, and a small hammer could not deliver the energy a big bit needs. Milwaukee (48-03-3025) and Bosch (HA1030) both sell Max-to-Plus adapters, and neither page prints a limit on them. Our limits below come from the shop and from the ITM product copy, not from a maker's manual. The ITM 725MAX001 ($75.16) is an SDS-Max shank with an SDS-Plus chuck on the end. Hang a run of anchors overhead with the big machine and you stop swapping tools, or carrying a second hammer up the lift for the small holes.

The adapter has three rules.

1. Keep to small bits. An SDS-Max hammer hits far harder than an SDS-Plus bit is built for. Up to 5/8 in. the bit copes. A larger bit takes the full blow through a 10 mm shank made for a lighter hammer. We keep the adapter to 5/8 in. and under and switch to a true SDS-Max bit above that.

2. Expect faster wear. Even a small SDS-Plus bit wears quicker under SDS-Max impact energy, and a worn or over-driven bit can break. Budget for bits and wear eye protection.

3. Never chisel through it. An adapter adds a joint between the hammer and the tool. In hammer-only mode that joint eats energy and loosens. Chisel with a chisel that matches the hammer's own shank.

Weight is the other reason crews leave the adapter in the truck for ceiling work. A 15 lb SDS-Max hammer with an adapter, a bit and a dust shroud is a long, heavy stack to hold against a deck. For a day of 3/8 in. drop-ins, a 1 in. SDS-Plus hammer is the lighter tool for the job.

Are SDS and SDS-Plus the same thing?

Yes, SDS and SDS-Plus are the same 10 mm shank, and any bit sold as SDS fits an SDS-Plus hammer. Bosch introduced SDS in 1975 and later added the Plus name; Tanner Bolt's shank guide calls the two completely interchangeable. Hilti's TE-C shank is the same fitting under another name, and Hilti's TE-Y is SDS-Max.

Two other systems are not interchangeable with either: SDS-Top, a 14 mm shank that Wikipedia's chuck entry lists as discontinued in 2009, and spline, a 19 mm shank with 12 drive splines that older large hammers use (Tanner Bolt). Our spline extension shafts exist for those machines and for nothing else. If a hammer takes 1/2 in. hex or 3/4 in. hex, it is a chipping or breaker hammer, not a rotary hammer, and no SDS tool fits it.

Which chisels can each shank run?

SDS-Plus runs the small chisels: a 3/4 in. flat, a 2-1/2 in. scaling chisel and a 3 in. tile chisel. SDS-Max runs the demolition set: 1 in. flats to 24 in. long, scaling chisels to 3 in., a clay spade, an asphalt cutter, bushing tools and a 6 in. floor scraper. The chisel is where the shank decision matters most. A 1 in. SDS-Plus hammer in hammer-only mode chips tile, knocks off a high spot and cuts a chase for conduit. It will not break out a slab. For foundation and basement work, where a crew cuts a trench along the footing for drain tile and then has to lift the strip, the SDS-Max bull point and flat chisel are the tools that do the lifting.

Chisel	SDS-Plus	SDS-Max	Pick this when
Bull point	3100BP 10 in., $16.61 (min. 2)	7000BP 12 in., $15.07 (min. 2); 7024BP 24 in., $34.86	Starting a break or cracking a slab. Plus for a corner or a block; Max for the slab
Flat chisel	3110FC 3/4 x 10 in., $16.61 (min. 2); 3118FC 3/4 x 18 in., $19.94 (min. 2)	7010FC 1 x 12 in., $15.07 (min. 2); 7024FC 1 x 24 in., $34.86	Cutting concrete to a line and cleaning up after the point. The 24 in. Max chisel keeps your hands out of the trench
Scaling chisel	3115SC 1-1/2 x 10 in., $30.89; 3122SC 2-1/2 x 10 in., $35.52	7025SC 2 x 12 in., $24.45 (min. 2); 7029SC 2 x 24 in., $36.20	Lifting mortar beds, scale and coatings. Plus for a wall; Max for a floor
Tile chisel and floor scraper	3175TC 3 in. tile chisel, $31.36; 2244FS 4 x 10 in. MINI floor scraper, $86.20	7070FS 6 x 25 in. floor scraper, $341.82	Bathrooms, closets and edges with Plus; whole floors with Max
Gouge chisel	3120GC 7/8 x 10 in., $29.61	7075GC 1 x 12 in., $50.16	Round-bottomed chases for pipe, conduit and cable
Ground rod driver	3150GR 5/8 in. rod, $50.76	7050GR 7/8 in. rod, $88.14	Driving ground rods without a sledge. Match the socket to the rod
Clay spade, asphalt cutter, bushing tool	None	7065CS clay spade, $120.69; 7055PH asphalt cutter, $117.98; 7045BT bushing tool, $97.11	Hardpan, blacktop patches and surface prep are SDS-Max only

Prices checked on eldoradotools.com on Oct 19, 2026, per piece.

Field tip: Run every chisel in hammer-only mode. Rotation on a chisel twists the tool in the hole, wears the shank and can snap a flat blade. Most rotary hammers have the mode on the dial; check yours. Most SDS-Max hammers also let you turn the chisel to the angle you want before it locks. Browse all SDS-Plus chisels and SDS-Max chisels.

Which core bits and extensions need SDS-Max?

Every carbide core bit, tunnel bore and SDS extension shaft we stock is SDS-Max, because a core bit removes a ring of concrete up to 6 in. across and a 1 in. class hammer runs out of energy well before that. Bosch and Makita rate their 1-1/8 in. and 1 in. SDS-Plus hammers for thin-wall cores to 3-1/8 in., and nothing larger. A one-piece core bit cuts about 3 in. deep before you knock the core out and go again, and the pilot drill is included. A tunnel bore drills the full hole in one pass with no core to remove, in sizes from 1-1/2 to 3-1/8 in. Extensions reach through thick walls and footings.

Tool	SDS-Max product	Price	Pick this when
Core bit, sump discharge or 2 in. conduit sleeve	880SL1055 2-3/4 in. x 12 in., pilot included	$232.14	A 2 in. PVC line through a foundation wall
Core bit, 4 in. sleeve	880SL1115 4 in. x 12 in., 10 teeth	$363.31	Chilled-water, drain and duct penetrations
Core bit, largest	880SL1145 6 in. x 22 in., 14 teeth	$574.27	Large sleeves without a diamond rig
Tunnel bore	950CC7337 2-1/8 in. x 22 in.	$260.23	Many same-size holes with no core to knock out
Extension, 30 in.	XT6702 X-Tendr	$52.67	Reaching through a thick footing with any SDS-Max bit 1-1/4 in. or larger (the adapter must pass through the hole)
Replacement pilot	880PD1143 1/2 x 5 in., threaded	$21.79 (min. 2)	The spare that keeps a core bit starting true

Prices checked on eldoradotools.com on Oct 19, 2026, per piece.

Coring is also the job where an SDS-Max hammer meets its own limit. Above 6 in., or in heavily reinforced concrete, the answer is a diamond core rig, not a bigger hammer. See all SDS-Max core bits and extensions and adaptors.

How much more do SDS-Max bits cost than SDS-Plus bits?

An SDS-Max bit costs about six times an SDS-Plus 2-cutter bit at 1/2 in., about three times at 3/4 in., and about twice at 1 in. (1.4 times against the SDS-Plus 4-cutter). That curve is the clearest reason to decide SDS Plus vs SDS Max by hole size. Below 3/4 in. the SDS-Plus bit is so much cheaper that a crew can treat it as a consumable. At 1 in. the gap is small, and the SDS-Max bit drills 4 in. deeper with a hammer that does not strain to turn it. The comparison is not quite like for like: every SDS-Max bit in the table drills deeper than its SDS-Plus neighbour.

Hole	SDS-Plus 2-cutter	SDS-Plus 4-cutter X-Cutter	SDS-Max 4-cutter X-Cutter	Max cost vs Plus 2-cutter
1/2 in.	715S63264 drills 4 in., $7.21 (min. 5)	EVL63264 drills 4 in., $12.56 (min. 4)	SMTE1312 drills 8 in., $41.99	5.8x
5/8 in.	715S84064 drills 6 in., $14.06 (min. 4)	EVL84064 drills 6 in., $23.94 (min. 2)	SMTE1358 drills 8 in., $48.80	3.5x
3/4 in.	715S84864 drills 6 in., $18.13 (min. 2)	EVL10034 drills 8 in., $33.32 (min. 2)	SMTE1334 drills 8 in., $50.59	2.8x
1 in.	715S10001 drills 8 in., $39.58	EVL10001 drills 8 in., $52.93	SMTE1701 drills 12 in., $75.28	1.9x (1.4x against the X-Cutter)

Prices checked on eldoradotools.com on Oct 19, 2026, per bit. SDS-Plus bits are priced per bit and sold by the sleeve; the minimum is shown. SDS-Max bits are sold individually. The 1/4 in. x 6-1/4 in. 715S61664 is $4.33 (min. 10), or $102.92 for a tube of 25 ($4.12 each).

"SDS-Plus is a lot more accessible and less expensive. For anything using smaller-diameter tooling, SDS-Plus is a much more economical tool to use."

David Castro, President, Eldorado Tools

The 2-cutter is the price leader for plain concrete and block. Step up to the 4-cutter X-Cutter when the slab holds rebar: the four carbide edges drill past glancing hits that stall a 2-cutter, and the rebar chamfers keep the bit from snagging. When a hole lands dead on a bar, neither shank's drill bit is the answer; our rebar drill bit guide covers cutters and punchers for both shanks.

Which SDS-Plus and SDS-Max products should a crew stock?

A crew should stock the bit sizes its anchors call for in the shank its hammer takes, plus one bull point and one flat chisel in that shank. The table pairs the two shanks job by job so a foreman can order both from one list.

Job	SDS-Plus pick	SDS-Max pick	Pick this when
3/8 in. drop-ins overhead (1/2 in. hole, 13/16 in. deep)	STP-813 stop bit, $18.62 (min. 2)	Adapter + the same stop bit, $75.16	Plus when the hammer is overhead all day; adapter when the Max hammer is already in hand
1/2 in. short drop-ins or 1/2 in. wedge anchors	STP-1019 5/8 in. stop bit for short drop-ins, $20.93 (min. 2) (STP-1033 for standard length, $23.78 (min. 2)); 715S63264 1/2 in. 2-cutter, $7.21 (min. 5)	SMTE1358 5/8 in., $48.80; SMTE1312 1/2 in., $41.99	Plus by default; Max when the slab is rebar-heavy and the count is high
Bulk 1/2 in. anchor holes, light aggregate	RL-63264-B Redline 2-cutter 25-pack, $98.42 per pack ($3.94 per bit)	No equivalent	Plus. This is the cheapest 1/2 in. hole we sell
5/8 and 3/4 in. anchors in footings and pads	EVL84064 5/8 x 8 in. X-Cutter, $23.94 (min. 2); EVL10034 3/4 x 10 in., $33.32 (min. 2)	SMTE1358 5/8 in., $48.80; SMTE1334 3/4 in., $50.59	Either. Max when 3/4 in. is the daily size or the holes run past 8 in. deep
Through-wall anchors, 31 in. deep	715FL3634 3/4 x 36 in. 2-cutter, $83.53	SMTE3634 3/4 x 36 in. X-Cutter, $116.56; SMTE3678 7/8 in., $161.64	Max. A 36 in. bit in a 1 in. hammer is slow and wanders
1 in. and larger anchors, seismic frames	EVL10001 1 x 10 in. X-Cutter, $52.93	SMTE1701 1 x 17 in., $75.28; SMTE2214 1-1/4 x 23 in., $119.90	Max. 1 in. is the last size SDS-Plus does well
Rebar in the hole	RT-10 5/8 in. puncher, $83.42	RMX-10 5/8 in. puncher, $145.88	Match the hammer you drilled with
Breaking and chipping	3100BP bull point, $16.61 (min. 2); 3110FC flat chisel, $16.61 (min. 2)	7000BP bull point, $15.07 (min. 2); 7024FC 24 in. flat chisel, $34.86	Plus for chips, chases and tile; Max for slabs and walls
Pipe and conduit sleeves	None	880SL1055 2-3/4 in. core bit, $232.14	Max only

Prices checked on eldoradotools.com on Oct 19, 2026. SDS-Plus bits are priced per bit and sold by the sleeve, with the minimum shown; Redline packs are priced per pack; SDS-Max tools are sold individually. Browse the full SDS-Plus and SDS-Max collections.

FAQ

What are the disadvantages of SDS-Plus?

An SDS-Plus hammer tops out around 1 in. in solid bits, runs no core bits of ours, and chisels too lightly to break a slab. A long 10 mm bit also flexes, so a 36 in. SDS-Plus bit drills slower and wanders more than the same size in SDS-Max.

Can I use an SDS-Plus bit in a normal drill?

Not directly, and not well. A three-jaw chuck cannot grip the grooved SDS shank, and a hammer drill's clutch-driven hammering is too weak for a carbide SDS head even with a shank adapter. Use a round or 3-flat shank masonry bit in a hammer drill, and keep SDS bits for rotary hammers.

Will an SDS-Max bit fit an SDS-Plus hammer?

No. The 18 mm SDS-Max shank will not enter a 10 mm SDS-Plus chuck, and we know of no adapter that goes that direction, because an SDS-Plus hammer does not deliver enough energy to drive an SDS-Max tool.

What size is an SDS-Max shank?

An SDS-Max shank is 18 mm (about 23/32 in.) in diameter and inserts 90 mm into the chuck, with three open grooves and two locking slots. An SDS-Plus shank is 10 mm (about 25/64 in.) with 40 mm insertion, two open grooves and two locking slots.

Is SDS-Plus enough for a foundation repair crew?

SDS-Plus covers pier bracket anchors up to 3/4 in. and the rebar cutters that go with them. The crew still needs an SDS-Max hammer for the 31 in. wall anchor holes, the sump discharge core and the trench breakout, so most foundation crews run one of each.

Does SDS-Max drill faster than SDS-Plus?

Yes, in the same hole size, because an SDS-Max hammer delivers roughly two to three times the impact energy for most makers. The difference shows above 1/2 in. and becomes decisive above 3/4 in. Below 1/2 in., the SDS-Plus hammer is as fast and far easier to hold overhead.

Questions about a job? Call our team at (833) 4-ETOOLS or email sales@eldoradotools.com.

Sources: shank dimensions from Tanner Bolt's chuck-systems reference, Heller's shank guide and Wikipedia's chuck and drill-shank entries; hammer specifications from Milwaukee, DeWalt, Bosch, Makita and Hilti product pages; wedge anchor bit sizes from the Hilti KB-TZ2 Anchor Fastening Technical Guide; drop-in bit sizes from ICC-ES ESR-4236 (Hilti HDI-TZ) and ITM; adapter listings from Milwaukee 48-03-3025 and Bosch HA1030. Prices from eldoradotools.com on Oct 19, 2026.

Change log: first published Oct 2026 with prices checked on Oct 19, 2026.