Updated on Mar 22, 2024 4:56 PM EDT
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More › Breaker For Okada Excavator
Editor’s Note: Testing for this article took place in mid 2023 and these products remain our current top recommendations for 2024 until we revisit this category. Stay tuned for our 2024 updates.
In the past, jackhammers were noisy, heavy tools operated mostly by professional road crews or demolition workers. Much has changed, and many of today’s jackhammers fall within the scope of general contractor or even DIY use. They are still the optimal tool when it comes to carving up concrete, but some also have the versatility for smaller demolition jobs. While commercial jackhammers still carry high price tags, others fall well within the budget of a DIYer, and in some cases can cost less than renting a tool or hiring a demo out.
With a wide variety of jackhammers available, it can be hard to know which is the right one for the job. This information and list of top jackhammers can help solve that problem. It covers the important technical and performance issues to consider and also offers our picks for the best jackhammers available for a range of different purposes.
Although I’ve never worked construction or demolition as a professional, I have done some heavy-duty remodeling that involved using electric jackhammers and smaller demolition hammers. To add to my own experiences, Bob Vila researchers looked into the latest tool developments and assessed feedback from real-world users.
When putting together this collated selection, we wanted to offer jackhammers to suit as wide a variety of purposes as possible. In addition to outright performance, we also considered ease of use, weight, and versatility. Reliability and durability were also key issues with a demolition tool that almost invariably is used in harsh environments, and will regularly get covered in all manner of dust and debris.
Price is always important, and here again we wanted to offer a broad spectrum. Pro-grade jackhammers can be expensive, but we also found a number of well-regarded models that are surprisingly affordable.
Each of the following tools is, in our opinion, the best jackhammer in its category. Titles help reflect performance and have been provided so you can quickly focus on the right solution for your needs.
Given the enormous choice available, it isn’t easy to choose a single best jackhammer. Still, the Bosch is the one most likely to satisfy most users, most of the time. It comes from a brand with an outstanding reputation for high-quality, durable tools.
A key factor in choosing this jackhammer was its power-to-weight ratio. The Bosch jackhammer weighs just 38 pounds, yet delivers an impact force of 22 foot-pounds at 1,300 blows per minute (bpm). The manufacturer claims this gives it a best-in-class material-removal rate (though doesn’t offer direct comparisons).
Among user-friendly features is the shock-absorbing top handle that offers plenty of space for gloved hands. There’s also an auxiliary handle that will rotate through 360 degrees for increased control. This Bosch has an air-cushioned vibration-control system, and the keyless chuck will accept both standard 1⅛-inch chisels and the collet type from a pneumatic jackhammer. The Bosch does come with a premium price tag, and additional chisels are extra, but it is a dependable all-around jackhammer for contractor or home use.
Get the Bosch jackhammer at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.
With rental rates for similar tools at around $100 per day, buying a low-cost jackhammer like this one from Vevor can make sound financial sense even if it’s needed for only one or two jobs and then sold on. That’s not to suggest that this isn’t a robust tool. It is very popular with high levels of customer satisfaction.
The powerful 2,200-watt motor delivers up to 1,400 bpm. Impact energy is not quoted, but similar tools provide around 45 foot-pounds, which is a reasonable assumption. The Vevor is heavier than some competitors at 48.5 pounds, but it’s still manageable. Another thing that makes it attractive to DIYers and contractors is the inclusion of four different chisels; among them is a spade tool that can be used for digging trenches. Breakdowns are rare, though there are reports of hammer action failures.
Get the Vevor jackhammer at Amazon, Walmart, or Vevor.
Two things are required to maximize destructive force: impact energy and tool weight. It means lighter models, despite having similar performance figures, can’t deliver the outright power that the Makita does. The combination of 46.5 foot-pounds and 71.3 pounds of mass results in faster, more efficient breaking of concrete and asphalt surfaces.
But as we often hear, power is nothing without control. The Makita jackhammer uses proprietary anti-vibration technology with an exclusive counterbalance system so most of the energy goes through the chisel and not the user. Wide side handles also allow for better balance and maneuverability.
On some jackhammers, the cord can be a mere 6 feet, which makes an extension a necessity. The Makita has a very useful 16.4-foot-long cord. It also comes with a useful wheeled cart for easier transportation and a selection of four chisels.
Get the Makita jackhammer at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Acme Tools.
The XtremepowerUS jackhammer weighs just 19.75 pounds, ranking it among the lightest tools in its class. Despite its compact dimensions, it has plenty of performance to offer. The 1,000-watt motor delivers 8 foot-pounds of impact energy and an extremely rapid impact rate of 3,000bpm.
This is a useful tool for concrete breaking, tile removal, and general demolition of brick and block work. The ergonomic D-grip main handle and 360-degree side handle (which can be removed completely if desired) help you control the breaker easily. Two ⅝-inch chisels are included, and it comes in a tough blow-molded case. The price will make it very attractive to DIYers and to tradespeople who need a jackhammer only occasionally.
Get the XtremepowerUS jackhammer at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
There are several lightweight cordless demolition drills around but few high-performance cordless jackhammers exist. The Milwaukee MX Fuel cordless breaker is an exception. With impact energy of 50 foot-pounds, it is actually the most powerful jackhammer on this list. Its 1,300bpm is competitive, too.
Cordless tools are rated by voltage rather than by amps or watts. Demolition drills are typically 24 volts (V), and occasionally 36V. The Milwaukee cordless demolition hammer is a 72V model, which goes some way to explaining the impressive impact statistics. As you would expect from the brand, it is also well made and reliable.
Milwaukee claims the jackhammer can move 2 tons of material per charge, though they don’t state what material or conditions. They also say you could dig a 40-foot trench that is 1 foot wide and 6 inches deep. Real-world performance may differ, but it still impresses. A recharge time of 90 minutes makes a spare battery something of a necessity for professional use.
Get the Milwaukee jackhammer at The Home Depot, Northern Tool + Equipment, or Acme Tools.
High-performance jackhammers tend to come with something of a weight penalty, which restricts maneuverability. Wrestling a heavy tool around soon becomes tiring. The TR Industrial jackhammer offers an excellent compromise. The 1,700-watt motor delivers an impressive 44.2 foot-pounds of energy at 1,800bpm. Yet even with metal housings that help give it jobsite durability, it weighs only 35 pounds.
A rubberized grip and rotating side handle provide further assistance in reducing the effort required to handle the TR Industrial jackhammer. It comes with two chisels; an extra-long power cord of 20 feet; and a wheeled, blow-molded case with metal latches. The tool meets independent Underwriters Laboratories and Electrical Testing Laboratories safety standards and is competitively priced.
Get the TR Industrial jackhammer at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.
Electric jackhammers are popular and easy to use but have one major drawback: the cord. The maximum safe recommended cord length for extensions is 100 feet, and they should never be daisy-chained together because they can overheat and start a fire. Beyond that range, there are two choices: either cordless (which are very expensive) or gas.
This Yescom 2-stroke gas model costs just a fraction of a battery-powered alternative. The 51.7-cubic-centimeter (cc) motor delivers up to 40.5 foot-pounds of impact energy at 1,500bpm. Performance is similar to the best electric jackhammers. A rugged steel casing helps protect the motor and mechanism, and the comprehensive kit includes two chisels, gloves, and goggles.
Environmental impact is the main negative with gas-powered machines. The Yescom meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission requirements but not the more strict California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards.
Get the Yescom jackhammer at Amazon or Walmart.
Jackhammers are very different tools than the claw or framing hammers that many DIYers are used to working with. It can be difficult to understand the technical jargon and the impact of various performance figures. The following section helps clarify the details provided by manufacturers to make it easier to assess how suitable each model will be for the work you need to do.
Jackhammers can be divided into four main types: hydraulic, pneumatic, gas, and electric.
The weight of a jackhammer can be a confusing figure because it can mean two different things. The first is obvious—the actual physical weight of the tool. This can vary considerably. The heavy-duty Makita jackhammer profiled above weighs more than 70 pounds, whereas the XtremepowerUS is under 20 pounds. That can make a big difference in how tiring it is to use each jackhammer.
The other way weight is expressed by manufacturers is in terms of the force, or impact energy, the tools deliver. Looking at the Makita again, it is rated as a 70-pound tool. Although often called a weight, strictly speaking, this relates to the force applied. However, not all companies use this force specification, and while it might be useful when comparing jackhammers, it isn’t as accurate as the impact ratings.
As with weight, there are two impact figures that potential buyers will want to consider. The first, impact energy, is most important in terms of the raw power delivered through the chisel. It could also be seen as the breaking force. It is given as foot-pounds, usually written as ft.lbs. or ft/lbs. This can be confusing when some tools (like the Makita) give a pound rating only. For clarification, the Makita’s actual impact energy is 46.5 foot-pounds, and this is the figure that ought to be looked at when making comparisons.
Second is the impact rate, or how fast the hammer action works. This is given in blows per minute. Light-duty jackhammers often have higher revving motors than large devices, and therefore a faster impact rate. It doesn’t equate to more breaking power unless the two machines being compared are otherwise the same.
A jackhammer, by its nature, is usually a brute-force tool, and as such, requires few extra features. However, there are a few performance issues and accessories worth considering.
A jackhammer is not a dangerous tool as such, but the weight and power of the breakers can lead to injury if not handled with some care. The most important thing to do upon purchasing one is to read the owner’s manual, even if you have used similar tools before.
Pay particular attention to how to turn the tool off quickly in an emergency. Also follow maintenance guidelines. A jackhammer that malfunctions because it hasn’t been looked after properly can cause serious safety issues.
We’ve covered the subject of jackhammers and the various performance options in considerable depth. Although we’ve reviewed the technical aspects of these powerful tools in great detail, research on jackhammer purchases revealed a few questions of a more general nature. The answers to those have been provided below.
The type of hammer used for demolition can have several different names. The term “jackhammer” applies to all of them, though it is most often used for large upright tools. They are also called breaker hammers. Lighter, more manageable models might be called demolition hammers or rotary hammers. There are other hammers used for light demolition called sledge hammers and club hammers.
The size jackhammer you need will depend on the type of work you’re undertaking. The 70-pound Makita featured above is designed for heavy-duty applications like breaking up large areas of concrete or asphalt. The Bosch is a great general-purpose tool, and the XtremepowerUS is easy to handle.
The term “jackhammer” can be applied to a number of different tools. Traditionalists might argue that a jackhammer is used upright, and a demolition hammer is used horizontally. However, as can be seen by the article above, there are a number of crossovers. We feel that focusing on the tool’s capabilities is more important than the name it has been given.
Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.
Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.
We’re committed to testing and reviewing products so you can make an informed decision. Advertising does not influence our product reviews and it never will. We always focus our coverage on standout products and never hesitate to mention their flaws and quirks. By using our affiliate links, you’re supporting our work and helping us continue to provide expert analysis. Find out more about our product evaluation process.
By Tom Scalisi, Catherine Hiles, Evelyn Auer
Subscribe to our newsletters for the best tips, tricks, and ideas to transform your home and yard.
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Breaker For Jcb Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.