If you need to drill into stone, concrete, brick or mortar, then likely you’re going to be reaching for your best hammer drill to get the job done. Whether you own your own, you’re renting it, or you’re planning to get one, it’s important to understand what a hammer drill is and when you’ll use one.
If you’re looking to compare models or find out the differences, you’ll find that out below. If you’re just looking to find out right off the bat which one we suggest is the best on the market that’s both high quality and yet affordable, I suggest you go with the Dewalt DCD995B.
This is designed for the serious home DIY champion and works well both has a hammer drill and for general construction needs. It has a 650-watt motor with3-speeds with an all-metal transmission. With up to 2,000 RPMs this fast drilling piece of equipment will fly through masonry like you won’t believe.
Keep reading if you want to find out more about the Dewald DCD995D and many other great hammer drills to find out which one is right for you. There are many on the market, but not all of them are actually high-quality enough to last you long enough to get jobs done for years and years.
I will also review much about what hammer drills are, how to choose the right one, the differences between the best ones in different categories, and the best within different price ranges.
About hammer drills
What is a hammer drill?
While there are many different types of drill son the market it can often be confusing to know which one is right for the job. That’s why we’re going to focus in on hammer drills today and discuss what they are and how to pick one.
A hammer drill looks like a similar design to other drills you may own, however, a hammer drill specifically as a feature which drives the drill bit forward similar to that of a hammer type action while it rotates. Think of it as someone is taking a hammer to the back of your drill while you’re drilling.
Why is this important? It’s necessary when you’re drilling into very dense materials like concrete, brick, or another masonry. When using a hammer drill, you typically have a selection if you want just rotary mode or rotary+hammer mode. In the rotary only mode, you can drill like a normal drilling application so screws and holes into wood. In a rotary+hammer mode, it will induce the hammer action so you can drill into masonry.
This is what makes a hammer drill quite versatile in that it can act as a normal drill and a hammer drill all in one. Hammer drills are most commonly used by electricians and construction contractors who use them when installing electrical boxes or installing cabinets/shelving into brick or concrete walls.
While you can always rent a hammer drill for small projects, if you’re often drilling into concrete, it’s worthwhile to invest in your own hammer drill to make the jobs much easier to complete.
How to choose your hammer drill?
When you begin looking for a hammer drill you’ll have to understand a few things about the differences of each power drill. The differences range from the price, the brand (and there are many brands), if you want it cordless or are ok with a corded drill, the power of the drill, it features and also what kind of warranty is included. I’ll review each of these in this section so you’ll understand a little more about what types of hammer drills there are.
Hammer Drill Budget
The first thing you need to decide when getting your hammer drill is how much are you willing to spend? If you’re just starting out, then you’ll probably be looking at the $100 range which will get you a decent hammer drill with some good features, but it typically isn’t going to be top of the line. It may not be able to handle difficult jobs and may only last you a few years (or less with a lot of use).
If you’re starting a business in construction or as an electrician, then you may want to increase your budget so you can get a hammer drill that’s made to last for many years. More expensive brands typically are made with very durable long-lasting materials. The outer plastic is hard and meant to absorb shock from accidental drops. The inside is made of high-quality metal that can handle extensive use for long periods of time.
Consider your long-term needs when deciding on a drill. If it’s only for a few home DIY tasks, go with something lower budget. If you’re going professional, then go big!
Hammer Drill Brands
When talking about drill brands, there are 3 names that are always top on the market for quality, power, and durability. If you want to go with a trusted brand, then the following 3 are perfect choices:
- Milwaukee
- DeWalt
- Makita
While my personal favorite is the Milwaukee brand as it is a USA brand, I have also worked with both Makita and DeWalt drills and all 3 product exceptional results.
Hammer Drill Features
When picking a hammer drill, the features are important but don’t put too much thought into getting one with every feature possible. It’s likely that the tasks you’ll need it for are the basics tasks of a hammer drill. The more expensive features you may never even use so look at the drill features and decide based on what you are going to use and not based on what you “might” use someday.
One of the most important features on a hammer drill is the varying speeds which are important when dealing with different materials and drilling depths. Another important feature on a drill is one with a side handle.
This becomes very important when you are doing long jobs in which you’ll be holding the drill a lot. It can often become painful to hold in one hand after an hour of drilling so the second handle takes the effort and distributes it to both arms evenly.
Corded vs Cordless Hammer Drills
One of the most important decisions to make when selecting your hammer drill is if you need a cordless or corded drill. Cordless drills are compact and portable which means it’s much more convenient and faster to complete jobs because you don’t have to deal with determining the power source.
On the downside, you can often run out of battery if you don’t have an adequate size battery and if it hasn’t been charged. A corded drill often as well as much stronger power as it is not reliant on the size of the battery pack for the amount of power it produces.
While most people will prefer cordless for the ease of use, if you don’t feel that having a power source available will be an issue (if you’re mostly working inside your own shop) then you can go with the corded for increased power.
Hammer Drill Power
The pounding “power” of a hammer drill is measured in beats (or blows) per minute also known as BPM. The BMP is very important when trying to drill through concrete and brick, but the power of a hammer drill also depends on the amps of the motor and also how the drill feels in your hands. An all-metal chuck (the head of the drill that spins) is typically one thing that gives you good power as well as it can hold the bit in place while you drill into the masonry.
Hammer Drill Warranty
The warranty on the drill is very important as you don’t want to purchase a drill and after a month it stops working. At that point without a warranty, you won’t be able to get it fixed as stores typically only accept returns after a few days.
I’ve taken the top few brands and give you an overview of their warranties so you can take that into consideration when deciding on a drill:
- Bosch: The Bosch tools, specific drills and other power tools, all come with a one-year warranty from date of purchase. You do need to register the drill after purchasing it and if it breaks they will test and repair it along with providing performance checks, lubrication, and replacement of parts worn under normal use for up to one year (shipping paid by you).
- Milwaukee: The Milwaukee brand offers a 5-year warranty on its power tools which requires examination at a Milwaukee factory service center within 5 years after the date of purchase. This is null and void if repairs were made by anyone other than Milwaukee or if there was abuse, misuse, or lack of maintenance.
- DeWalt: Almost all DeWalt tools come with a 3-year limited warranty that includes repair without charge for any defects due to faulty materials. This does not cover tool abuse or normal wear and tear over time. It also does not apply to accessories and bits.
- Makita: The Makita company offers a unique 30-day return/replacement guarantee if you are not satisfied with the product within 30 days they will refund or replace it. They also offer a one-year warranty on product replacement after inspection as long as the issue was caused due to a defective device.
- Black & Decker: Most drills and power tools made by Black & Decker come with a 2-year free warranty which ensures you are protected from product defects for up to 2 years from the date of purchase. This does not include abuse, accidental damage, or repairs made by non-certified Black & Decker service centers. They also include a 1-year service warranty which includes checkups, tuning, and maintenance of the drill for up to 1 year from date of purchase.
Make sure to review the warranty prior to purchasing the product as you can see the Milwaukee brand offers the best warranty out of all of the companies and all of them offer at least a 1-year warranty.
Top 9 Best Hammer Drill
OUR TOP PICK
For many workmen, a corded drill is perfect for all of your needs because you’re not reliant on batteries being charged and you’ll always have plenty of power behind it as it’s plugged in. If you’re looking for the best-corded hammer drill, I’d highly suggest choosing the Bosch RH328VC. This Bosch drill combines both comfort, speed and power all in one. While the price of this model is little bit over $200, it has a high-quality build and is loaded with great features.
Overview:
- 120 Volts
- 8 AMP Motor
- 1 1/8 Inch Chuck Size
- 9.6 Lbs Weight
Features: The RH328VC is ideal for hammering and drilling into very tough materials and comes with 3 different modes including rotary-hammer mode, rotary-only mode, and hammer-only mode. This means no matter what material you need to drill into, it can get the job done. It has a variable speed between 0-900 rotations per minute.
This drill is designed very ergonomically and has the perfect amount of weight that it’s not too heavy but yet heavy enough to exert enough pressure while drilling. It also comes with an auxiliary handle which can rotate 360 degrees providing you with the best of ease when drilling at any direction. The handle ensures that even after long jobs, you won’t leave sore and tired and gives you added stability when drilling at angles.
EDITORS CHOICE
When you need to be mobile but still need a sturdy tool that will get the job done, the Milwaukee 2607-20 is one of the best! Starting just under $100 it offers you with a sturdy design that switches between 3 different modes and lets you tackle substrates of hardwood, softwood, and masonry alike with ease. This is a great piece of equipment for any home garage and for professionals to keep handy for every job!
Overview:
- 4.5lbs With Battery
- 1800 Rotations Per Minute
- 18 volts Lithium Ion
- ½ Inch Chuck Size
Features: This hammer drill comes complete for every job you need to be done on the go. It’s a compact hammer drill that uses lithium-ion batteries and for its size and price, its power doesn’t disappoint with up to 525 lbs of torque with up to 1800 rotations per minute.
Built with the Milwaukee standards that you expect coming in at only 7 ¾ in length, an all-metal gear case and chuck, and their 4-pole frameless motor. It also has the built-in trademark REDLINK from Milwaukee which is an onboard intelligence that protects you from abusive situations by providing you with overload reduction that extends the life of the drill.
2507 comes with 3 different modes that you can switch between including the driving mode, drilling mode, and the hammer-drilling mode. This provides you the best flexibility whether you’re drilling into hard/soft wood, brick/concrete, and even some metals. It also has a built-in LED light that points directly at the drilling location so you can focus on the task at hand without worrying about lighting.
BEST VALUE
A rotary hammer drill is one that’s brought out for heavy-duty jobs when you need to drill through concrete or brick with excellent speed and precision. For that, the best that I suggest is the Makita HR2475. This is a powerful rotary hammer drill that has a 7 AMP motor that makes drilling through concrete smooth and easy. This is the ideal lightweight hammer drill when you often have masonry drilling needs.
Overview:
- 1,100 Rotations Per Minute
- 7 Amp Motor
- 120 Volts
- 6.2 Lbs Weight
Features: There are many great features of the HR2475 including the 3 different operating modes. This includes hammer action, rotation action, and hammer-rotation action no matter what your needs. Easily flip between modes by using the speed trigger located next to the operating trigger.
The HR2475 caps out at 1,100 rotations per minute with its 7 AMP motor making drilling into masonry pain-free. It is built with the Makita Motor Advantage technology which includes interlocking steel laminations, dual ball bearing armature, and copper commutator bars making the motor extremely well powered and efficient so you can focus on drilling through those tough materials.
This model also comes with ergonomic handles on the back to give you enough pressure and one to stabilize it on the side. From using this rotary hammer drill, I have noticed it does not vibrate as much as others and it has a torque limiter so you don’t have to deal with any nasty kick-backs.
RUNNER UP
The DW511 hammer drill (check our review here) is definitely a great choice both in terms of durability and efficiency and it comes from a very well-known brand. While this is a hammer drill, it’s also a perfect choice for standard drilling of holes into wood and screwing in nails for home tasks in the non-hammer modes.
Overview:
- 7.8 AMP Motor
- 2700 Rotations Per Minute
- ½ Inch Chuck Size
- 4.3 Lbs Weight
Features: This drill gives you a great sense of control with it’s built inside handle that allows you to get the right grip and angle when drilling into dense walls and substances. With its lightweight, it’s portable enough to take anywhere with you and won’t tire you out after a long days work.
The power of this device is intense coming in with 7.8 amps which aren’t a surprise being a corded drill. It’s perfect for drilling through concrete, brick, hardwood and softwood, and some types of hard metals. It can drill into masonry up to ½ inch and can achieve up to 2,700 rotations per minute which will make short work of any job.
RUNNER UP
Porter is an up and coming company in the drilling arena, so don’t let the name discourage you in any way. This Porter drill replaces the PC650D drill with a bit more power. This drill is great for pro drillers looking for a good hammer drill without a hefty price.
Overview:
- 6.4 Lbs Weight
- 120 Volt
- 7 Amp Motor
- Up to 3,100 Rotations Per Minute
Features: This hammer drill has a ½ inch chuck and offers two varying speeds from 0-1,100 and 0-3,100 rotations per minute depending on your needs. While having a high RMP is always great, it’s not always the best for each situation so having the ability to select between the two is ideal.
It can also offer over 50,000 blows per minute with its hammer mode which makes masonry simple and easy to break through. This is a corded drill, so not as mobile but still portable at only 6.4 lbs in weight.
RUNNER UP
This Hiltex drill is one of the best ones for most home DIY drillers who want a decent drill at an affordable price and is a good alternative to a more high-end hammer drill. This drill while made by a much lesser known brand still offers a good punch for a low price.
Overview:
- 110 Volts
- 0-3500 rotation per minute
- 1 ½ Inch Chuck Size
- 14 Lbs Weight
Features: This corded hammer drill comes with 3 settings including hammer only, hammer and rotation, or rotation(drill) only modes and can handle concrete, brick and steel alike. It has 6 different varying speed settings from between 0-3500 beats per minute.
With the 6.6 AMP motor, it packs the power to get the job done. While the weight of the drill comes in a bit higher than others at 14lbs it has a sturdy side handle to ensure you have the appropriate grip needed to drill for extended periods.
RUNNER UP
When it comes to drills, nobody does it better than Milwaukee! If you’re still on a budget, but have a little extra to spend the Milwaukee 2706-20 is an excellent choice for a hammer drill/driver for you! It has a nice compact size with a highly powerful brushless motor that offers up to 1,200 lbs of torque with 2,000 rotations per minute. It’s one of the best home and professional hammer drills at an affordable price.
Overview:
- 4.5 Lbs Weight
- 2,000 Rotations Per Minute
- 18 Volts
- ½ Inch Chuck Size
Features: This Milwaukee drill is incredible as it’s a cordless battery powered tool that still offers up to 1,200 lbs of peak torque power and gives you up to 2,000 rotations per minute which is great for a non-corded drill. It has a two-speed setting which allows you for variable speeds for either a low-speed high-torque or for a fast drilling performance.
It also offers its One-Key technology which is the Bluetooth enabled technology that some people find incredibly useful and others who find it totally pointless depending on your needs. The One-Key technology helps you understand the performance of the device in case it is deteriorating over time which means it needs a maintenance check. It also helps you to determine where your tools are at. If you’re working on many projects across lots of job sites you may need a way to keep inventory track of your tools and the One-Key technology helps easily with that.
RUNNER UP
For those of you just starting out with drilling into masonry or just drilling in general, it’s best to startout with a nice drill that’s simple to use but still powerful. The Bosch 1191VSRK is a corded hammer drill that packs a punch and definitely is a good choice for beginner drillers.
Overview:
- 7 AMPs
- ½ Inch Chuck Size
- 0-3,000 Rotations Per Minute
- 120 Volts
Features: This drill has a very powerful 7AMP motor that provides high power and up to 3,000 rotations per minute which is perfect when drilling through concrete, brick or aluminum. It’s lightweight design makes it easy for beginners to hold and with its side handle that rotates 360 degrees it gives you the proper leverage and angle you need when drilling into tough substances. It also has a nice rubber grip on each handle to ensure your hands stay comfortable during the hammer action of the drill.
This Bosch drill has 2 drill settings that you can easily flip between if you want the hammer action or the rotary-only action. The 1191VSRK has a ½ inch chuck capacity and can drill into concrete with up to a 5/8-inch diameter and steel up to a ½ inch diameter.
RUNNER UP
If you’re looking for the best budget hammer drill that works perfectly for around the garage or home for all of your needs, then by far one of the best home budget drills is the Black & Decker DR670. Black & Decker is a well-known home tool company that provides you with anything from hand tools to power tools and is known for high quality at an affordable price. While they may not be the best choice for high-use construction workers, it’s definitely a perfect budget choice for hobbyists.
Overview:
- ½ Inch Metal Chuck
- 4.4 Lbs Weight
- 550-Watt Motor
- Up to 2,800 Rotations Per Minute
Features: This budget hammer drill is perfect for drilling into bricks and concrete around the house with its corded 550-watt motor. It can reach peak speeds of up to 2,800 rotations per minute which is a very high speed for such a light-weight tool. With the size and speed of this drill it can also make piercing through metal seem smooth and easy.
While the feel of Black & Decker tools may have a slightly less durable feel with it’s hard plastic exterior, I have personally used it for many jobs and found it to be very high-quality and will last a long time. It has an additional rotating handle grip which helps you maintain control when drilling into tough surfaces.
The DR670 has a speed trigger which allows you to select variable speeds based on the thickness of the material you’re drilling into. You can switch between hammer or rotary so it’s a good home drill for both masonry and normal drilling of holes and screws alike.
Best Hammer Drill Buying Guide
Conclusion
When you’re choosing the best hammer drill for you it’s important to remember a few key things. What is the price range you’re comfortable spending on the hammer drill? What will you primarily be drilling into – wood, concrete, metal, brick? How often will you need to use the hammer drill and will it be for home use or professional construction? Each drill model is different and is meant for a different use. Some are meant for repeated high-performance while others are meant for casual home DIY tasks.
It’s also important to understand the safety of the drill and if it includes a rubber grip and extra handle. These are important for jobs that require long-term constant drilling as you don’t want the drill to heat up too hot when drilling for long-periods and you want to ensure you have a good grip so your hands and arms don’t get sore.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does hammer drill work?
If you have seen a professional use a hammer drill, it would be easier to explain the working process. Apart from the spins, the hammer drill moves in a to and fro direction, hitting the spot you intend to drill.
If you can take an x-ray vision or take apart the covering of the hammer drill bit, you would realize there are two separate plates coupled together with a spring. When the drill is turned on, the lower jagged part stays fixed, while the upper one rotates.
The regular drill is designed to rotate, but for hammer drills there in a spring holding two jagged shafts facing each other. The force of the spin causes a tension, which pulls the spring apart to separate the perfect connection between the plates and slides the upper plate forward to intercept the next edge of the lower plate.
After which the weight in the spring is released making the rotating portion of the plate hammer the fixed portion to restore the previous positioning. The continuous process of rotation, sliding and storing potential energy, creates the upward and downward movement of the hammer drill.
The rotating force in the hammer drill allows it go several beats per minutes, but the limit is the separating weight of the shafts as they move against the other that reduce the beat per minute, and also the increased travel distance slows down the speed of the hammer drill.
What is hammer drill used for?
Although the hammer drill rotates like the regular drills, when it is equipped with a masonry bit, it spins and also has a forward movement to drill through tougher surfaces. The hammer drills are designed to drill through solid surfaced materials like concrete, stones, bricks or mortars.
Hammer drills come in two types, corded drills, and cordless drills. The availability of electricity is one of the factors that would determine the kind of hammer drill you would use.
Corded hammer drills are built to be very powerful with higher rotation per minute (RPM) for hammering, but they can only work when there is access to electricity. Cordless hammer drills are valuable when there is no access to electricity nearby, but the disadvantage here is that you may have to charge and consistently manage the tool.
Some other uses of the hammer drill are to break up hard soil, to bust up concrete, pulling up ceramic tiles, starting holes in concrete, and to remove rust, cement or weld spatter.
If we would talk about what the hammer drills can be used for, then it would sound fair if we also talk about functions that it shouldn’t be used for; and the biggest error you can make with your hammer drill is using it as a screwdriver.
Which hammer drill is best?
There are a lot of hammer drills having serious competition in the marketplace, with several DIYers and handymen making various choices of which of the drills they consider as the best.
When you want to choose the best hammer drill there a few things you have to consider, some of them are the power source, the motor power, chuck size, reversible function, torque and speed, transmission and the build-up quality. The build-up quality would include the weight and balance, battery life for cordless drills and cable length for corded drills.
If you ask which hammer drill is best, then I would recommend the Dewalt DW511, mainly because of its excellent performance in most of the required features of the hammer drill mentioned above.
The Dewalt DW511 is a reliable and powerful hammer drill built with enough conveniences like good weight and size to increase your accuracy and speeding up the work process. This high-quality hammer drill is easy to use; it makes the most challenging task seem simple!
Let me pick some of the features one after the other:
- Power source: corded drill
- Motor power: 7.8 Amp
- Reversible function: YES
- Torque: 2,700 RPM and 46,000 BPM
- Weight: 4.3 lbs
- Cord length: 8-foot
- Variable speed feature: YES
Other features of the Dewalt DW511 that would impress you is the 360-degree side handle that offers multiple hand-positioning options, the chuck key with holder and the depth rod.
Can you use a hammer drill for wood?
Anyone who works in a construction job would tell you that the hammer drill is the perfect tool for masonry, concretes or cement, but using the hammer drill action on a wooden surface would destroy the wood, especially if the wood has a light surface.
The hammer action of a drill is designed to move in an upward and downward direction and at the same time rotate. Having this action through wood wouldn’t produce clean holes.
The good part is that almost all hammer drills have the hammer action that can be engaged when you have to use them, they could also be used as a regular drill.
Wood doesn’t pose difficult enough to require a hammer action, and since the primary purpose of a hammer drill is to drill through masonry when you think about using it on woods, you should turn off the hammer action on the tool.
Then instead of a masonry bit, use a spade bit, or a paddle bit depends on what you call it. Set a moderate speed rate, place the drill bit against the piece, and drill. If the speed is too low, the hole you are drilling would be untidy, and when it is too high, there may be overheating and burn marks on the wood.
While you are drilling through wood, use a clamp to hold it from slipping off. Put a scrap wood underneath it, to prevent the fibers from being torn out and also, so your drill bit wouldn’t damage your worktop.
Can you use a hammer drill on metal?
Hammer drills are more like regular drills with extra features; they move back and forth as they rotate, to give them a better pass through concrete, or brick materials.
Most hammer drills have modes that can be selected. For metals, you should turn off the hammer mode and use the regular drill option since it is unnecessary to use the hammer action on metal.
You imagine hammering a hard drill bit on the metal piece you intend to drill through; you would not only destroy your workpiece; you would also destroy the bit which may result in accidents.
Basically, before drilling through any surface, you have to select a drill that would be suitable for that function, and for drilling metals, you don’t need any fancy drill bit. You can use high-speed steel, black oxide steel, cobalt steel, or titanium nitride; you only have to ensure that the bit has a sharp edge.
Remember to wear eye protection like safety glasses to protect the eyes from the tiny metallic fragments created by the drill thread. Mark the spot you want to drill, clamp the piece down, start with a small hole, drill slowly, frequently lubricate, complete your drill and clean up your metal piece.
Can a hammer drill be used on steel?
Unlike regular drills that are used for woods and metals, the hammer drill has a fast and furious drive, so they can be used for drilling through hard surfaces like concretes, tiles and bricks, but many of them can also be used as a regular drill when you turn off the hammer action.
So to this question on if a hammer drill can be used on steel, the answer is YES it can, but you would have to select the regular drill mode and turn off the hammer drill mode.
To bore holes through steel, you should mark the spots you want to drill, then clamp the piece firmly on your workbench to keep it from spinning and causing any harm, make a center punch on the place you have marked, then select your drill bit.
For steel, although the high-speed steel drill bit is more accessible than others, you select a bit that is hard enough to drill steel like the cobalt steel or titanium carbide bit. Begin with a smaller size bit and increase it to your desired size.
Now you can press the hammer drill against the piece of steel and drill slowly while you apply firm pressure on the tool. If you are working on a large size steel, apply lubricants in the hole you are drilling to prevent excessive smoking.
You should also reduce the drill speed as you get close to the other side, and keep it spinning as you pull the bit from the piece. Let the steel cool off, then clean up the hole, use a heavy rasp to file the surface and remove the sharp edges around the steel piece.
Can hammer drill be used as a regular drill?
Most high-quality new hammer drills are designed with three modes to determine their function, the drill mode, the hammer mode, and the hammer drill, while regular drills have only one action and it is to rotate.
The hammer mode works like a jackhammer, the drill mode rotates the bit, but the hammer drill combines both actions, so you have a hammering rotation; that is why they are also called “rotary hammers.” Since a hammer drill is a combination of hammer and rotation, the tool can also be used as a regular drill, all you need to do is put it in the drill mode.
If you are deciding on the type of drill to buy, go for the hammer drill for its versatility, but there are also some considerations you have to take while you make your choice.
The first one is that the hammer drill has more moving parts than the regular drill, that is why it is always more expensive; the parts have to be more durable. The second one is the weight and size of the hammer drill that is heavier compared to the regular drill.
Although the weight and size are not much of a problem, most hammer drills have a side-mounted handle that aids their control, but if you have to do some drillings that requires a better precision and skill, then work with a regular drill instead. Regular drills are lighter and can be used more conveniently, but they have limited functions.
Here you’ll find out what is a hammer drill:
Can hammer drill use screwdriver?
If you have enough knowledge on drills, you would know that there are separate types of drills, some are the regular compact drills that can be used for screw driving, the regular impact drills that are designed specifically for screw driving, and the hammer drills that should not be used as a screwdriver.
Using a hammer drill for a screwdriver would create a 60% chance of damaging your screws. So even when you turn off the hammer action, the hammer drills are built to have higher torque than any regular drill to sooth hammering tasks, and the lowest speed and the lowest torque settings are still too high for any screw driving action. The high torque of the hammer drill can easily strip off the screw thread.
If you need a screwdriver, use an impact driver, you shouldn’t confuse it for a hammer drill. The impact screwdrivers are built to increase rotational drive and can be used to drive screws, nuts, nags, and lags, and shouldn’t be used for any drilling activity.
But some new drills are made to be multifunctional; they can be used as an impact drill and also a hammer drill. If you need both an impact drill and a hammer drill, then this would be perfect.
These multipurpose drills would give you better control, you would have the impact drill mode that can effectively drive screws and the hammer drill mode to take on hard surfaces, so you still have to switch modes to select the operation you want to run.