DeWalt DCD805 vs Makita DHP484 vs Bosch GSB 18V-60 C

The short answer: choose around the feature you need.

Shortlist the DeWalt if you want to investigate its compact body and adjustable work light. Shortlist the Makita if you already use LXT and want a general-purpose brushless combi. Shortlist the Bosch if its listed KickBack Control and precision clutch address your buying priorities. These are reasons to examine each model; they are not measured performance verdicts.

For occasional furniture assembly and timber repairs, also consider whether you need a combi at all. A manageable drill driver may cover the work. For repeated hard-concrete drilling, start with the requirements of an appropriate SDS drill rather than expecting the highest-torque combi to solve every job.

DeWalt DCD805: compact body and an adjustable light.

The UK DCD805N-XJ listing describes an 18V XR brushless hammer drill driver with a two-speed metal transmission, adjustable screwdriving torque control and a pivoting, three-mode LED on the foot. Its overview gives a 177 mm body length and an up-to-90 Nm torque claim. Those are manufacturer figures; they do not tell us how quickly it drills a particular hole or how it feels overhead.

The N-XJ listing checked is tool-only. Its stated contents are the drill, magnetic bit holder and belt hook, with a separate notice that the battery and charger are not included. That matters when a retailer places it beside a Makita or Bosch kit. If you own compatible XR batteries, a bare body can make sense; otherwise build the comparison around a working kit.

The adjustable light is worth looking at if cabinets and awkward corners are common jobs. Check that the whole tool, including the battery and bit, fits the space: a short body measurement alone does not describe usable clearance.

Makita DHP484: a general-purpose LXT option.

Makita lists the DHP484 as an 18V LXT brushless combi with two mechanical speeds, an LED work light, an electronic brake and an adjustable clutch. The published no-load speed ranges are 0–500 and 0–2,000 rpm. Its chuck capacity is 1.5–13 mm. These details help check accessory fit and gearing; they do not establish drilling speed under load.

There is a useful trap in its torque table. Makita lists hard/soft fastening torque as 54/30 Nm and also lists a separate “Max Torque” figure of 65 Nm. Using whichever number looks most impressive would make the comparison less useful. Keep the labels attached to the figures and avoid treating them as interchangeable.

The page includes a DHP484Z version among its available configurations. Check the exact suffix, battery quantity, charger and case on the offer you are buying. An LXT owner should also check the supported battery models rather than treating every Makita 18V battery as equivalent.

Bosch GSB 18V-60 C: controls worth investigating.

Bosch lists a brushless motor, KickBack Control, a precision clutch and a full-metal chuck. Its published soft/hard torque is 31/60 Nm, the no-load speed ranges are 0–600 and 0–1,900 rpm, and chuck capacity is 1.5–13 mm. The page gives a 174 mm head length. Do not read that as a directly comparable whole-tool measurement against another maker’s body length.

KickBack Control is a specific feature to examine if reaction when a bit binds is a concern. It does not remove the need for suitable technique, accessories and the instructions for the job. We have not tested its intervention or compared it against another drill’s protection system.

The exact Bosch order number checked, 06019G2177920, is a Warehouse Outlet listing in an L-BOXX with two 4.0 Ah ProCORE18V batteries and a quick charger. Bosch describes the outlet packaging condition separately. This configuration is not a like-for-like purchase against the tool-only DeWalt. Confirm the condition and contents of the specific offer, and distinguish the GSB model from its various order numbers.

Why the torque headline does not pick the winner.

DeWalt’s up-to-90 Nm claim, Makita’s separately labelled hard/soft and maximum figures, and Bosch’s soft/hard figures do not establish a controlled three-way test. We have not verified common measurement conditions. More torque also does not guarantee a better result on delicate screws, a more comfortable grip or faster drilling with a particular bit.

A fair practical comparison would hold the material, bit, hole size and battery conditions consistent, then record completion time, control and repeatability. Runtime testing would need a defined workload. Until that evidence exists, use the specifications to decide which models to try and which questions to ask.

Make the final shortlist a working-kit comparison.

Write down the exact tool or order code, included batteries and their capacities, charger, case, seller condition and complete price for each offer. Add suitable drill bits and screwdriver bits if you do not own them. Two batteries can help keep work moving, but only if the supplied charger and workload suit your day.

Handle each shortlisted drill with the battery you intend to use. Try reaching the direction switch, changing gears with the tool stopped and positioning it in a representative space. For a buyer starting from nothing, the next likely tool in each battery system may be a better tie-breaker than a small difference in a catalogue number.

The published differences, side by side.

Manufacturer statements checked on 2 November 2026. Torque labels and length conventions differ; these are not results from a common performance test.

Build your buying brief.

• Which compatible packs and chargers do you already own?
• Have you matched tool-only, kit and outlet conditions?
• Can you try the drill with the actual pack and bit fitted?

Sources and scope

Specifications and feature descriptions in this article come from the manufacturers. Buying advice is our interpretation of those records. We have not measured drilling speed, runtime, durability or handling, and have not verified live retailer prices.

1. DeWalt DCD805N-XJ — UK product page

   Source for XR platform, motor, gearing, light, manufacturer torque/body-length claims and tool-only contents. The page uses different clutch-position counts in its overview and feature list; this comparison does not rely on either count.

2. Makita DHP484 — UK product page

   Source for LXT platform, speeds, chuck, listed features, hard/soft torque and separately labelled maximum torque.

3. Bosch Professional GSB 18V-60 C — order 06019G2177920

   Source for motor, controls, speeds, chuck, soft/hard torque, head length, compatibility and the outlet kit configuration. No price or stock claim is reproduced.

Keep building your shortlist.

• DeWalt XR vs Makita LXT vs Bosch Professional 18V: choosing a battery system