Makita
Makita XPH12 18V LXT Compact Brushless Hammer Drill
The XPH12 has been Makita's volume-selling 18V hammer drill since late 2016: 530 in-lbs and 30,000 BPM in a 7-1/8 inch body that weighs just 3.6 lbs with a compact 2.0Ah pack. It sits well below the 1,250 in-lb XPH14 flagship, trading top-end grunt for the class-leading power-to-weight ratio and glass-smooth trigger control Makita is known for. Nearly a decade in production with a 4.4-star record makes it the known quantity of the compact class - even if the spec sheet now reads dated.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓Standout power-to-weight: at 3.61 lbs with a compact battery it was among the lightest hammer drills in Pro Tool Reviews' compact shootout.
- ✓Makita's 18V LXT 2.0Ah packs recharge in 25 minutes - the fastest charge turnaround of any mainstream platform, so two batteries never leave you waiting.
- ✓Owner reviews consistently praise trigger smoothness, low vibration, and precise low-speed control for finish and cabinet work.
- ✓Proven since 2016 with a 4.4-star average across 218 Home Depot reviews - the long-term reliability record its newer rivals can't match yet.
- ✓Brushless motor delivers up to 50% more work per charge than Makita's brushed models, and owners echo the strong battery life.
- ✓The 18V LXT ecosystem is the industry's largest at roughly 300 tools, all sharing the same Star Protection batteries.
- ✓Street pricing runs well under list - Walmart sells the bare tool for around $110 versus $154 at Home Depot.
- ✓30,000 BPM hammer mode covers Tapcons and shallow anchors without carrying a second tool.
Cons
- ✗Middle-of-the-pack muscle: PTR's compact shootout measured it 6th in torque (126.4 in-lbs average under load) with a 62% efficiency rate.
- ✗Owners report slow going and heavy battery drain when hammer-drilling in hard masonry - it's a wood-and-metal drill first.
- ✗A recurring complaint: after a few uses some units' mode collar sticks in the hammer setting.
- ✗The design dates to 2016 and has never been refreshed, while DeWalt and Milwaukee have each turned over their compacts twice since.
- ✗530 in-lbs on paper trails the DeWalt DCD805's 796 in-lbs at nearly the same street price.
- ✗Kit pricing is uncompetitive - $274 for the 2.0Ah XPH12R kit versus $199-219 for rival kits with equal or bigger batteries.
- ✗No anti-kickback protection, no multi-mode LED, no app features - it's a bare-bones spec sheet by 2026 standards.
- ✗Makita's US push toward the separate XGT 40V platform leaves LXT buyers wondering how long flagship development continues.
Common Questions
It's a 2016 design - is it still worth buying?
How fast do the batteries recharge?
Can it hammer-drill concrete?
Any recurring problems to know about?
Where's the best price on one?
Compare the Makita XPH12 18V LXT Compact Brushless Hammer Drill
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