The Best Cordless Drill for Home or Professional Toolkits
I reckon a cordless drill is probably the first power tool on any must-have list. Call them drill/drivers if you prefer. DIYers and pros both spend a lot of time drilling holes, and doing up screws. About the only thing that might come close is a circular saw or maybe a jigsaw.
Of course there are hundreds of cordless drills to choose from, and to be honest whether you buy something pro-grade or just a cheap cordless drill from a decent brand then most of them are OK. Prices are competitive too, so whereas a while back there could be some argument for buying a corded model, I just don’t see the point today. Maybe if you’re buying a big SDS hammer drill, but not for these general-purpose tools.
So if they’re all so good why write a cordless drills review? Well you know some are still better than others. Plus there are 20V cordless drills, and 12V cordless drills, and questions over what makes the best cordless drill for your toolkit. So let’s look at those things.
In a hurry? Use these quick links:
Best Cordless Drill Overall: DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill/Driver Kit
Best Cordless Drill For The Money: Avid Power 20V Cordless Drill Set
Best Small Cordless Drill: Bosch 12V Cordless Drill/Driver Kit
Cordless drill checklist
A lot of cordless drills have very similar feature sets. At the pro level I would go for one of the big brands. You’ll seldom go wrong with a cordless drill from DeWalt, Bosch, Makita, or Milwaukee. More budget-friendly models from Ryobi, Black+Decker, or Craftsman are also pretty good for the DIY user. People do get nervous about imports from China or the Far East but the right choice can get you a bargain.
Here’s what I think are the key details worth thinking about:
n Performance: Personally I favor either a 20V or 18V cordless drill. In basic power terms they are actually both the same (I’ve talked about this in an article here). 12V cordless drills are also popular, and if you want something particularly light or compact I can see their use. However, if I was only buying one I would go for the higher performance of a 20V tool every time.
Another key factor is the Ah (amp hours) of the battery. This applies to any cordless tool. This figure isn’t about power but working time. The higher the Ah, the longer the drill will run between charges. Simple as that. The downside is that higher Ah batteries cost more, and take longer to charge. Most of the 20V drill drivers that I looked at come with a 1.5Ah or 2Ah battery. You’ll probably get no more than half an hour of continuous hard work, and then they’ll need charging. That makes a spare a bit of a necessity, and if you have the budget I would recommend a 4Ah model.
Before we get done with batteries I just want to mention brush and brushless motors. Many budget cordless drills have a brush motor. These are older technology originally used on corded drills. They’re reliable, and low-cost, but they don’t make as effective use of battery power. Eventually the brushes wear and may need to be changed. Brushless motors are maintenance free, and designed to work more efficiently with batteries but they do cost more.
n Speed & Torque: Speed is often seen as important, but I wonder how big of a deal it is. Variable speed is usually a question of how hard you squeeze the trigger. Most people will start slow, and then just ramp it up to the maximum. Some cordless drills offer two speed ranges but I’ve never used the slower one. In theory, a higher rpm drives a drill bit faster, and gets the job done more quickly so maybe if you’re a contractor it makes a difference but most DIYers probably won’t notice.
The same is true of torque (twisting force). It’s a big deal if you’re buying an impact driver, but not so much with with these tools.
There’s a new measure I’m seeing more of now: UWO (unit watts out) which is the point where speed and torque are at their highest combined. Trouble is at the moment not many drill manufacturers are using it so it’s difficult to make comparisons.
n Kit Contents: A lot of cordless drills come as a ‘bare tool’. Prices are very attractive but you don’t get a battery or charger. It’s a good idea if you already have other cordless tools from the same brand because you can swap batteries between the two. Unfortunately batteries from different brands are unlikely to work so if your cordless drill is a first purchase then these things need to be added. Buying a cordless drill kit like the ones I’ve picked here will often work out cheaper than getting battery and charger separately.
A basic cordless drill/driver kit will include a single battery, charger, and maybe a bag or case. Some come with a set of drill bits and/or screwdriver bits. For those just starting out they can be a good deal. More comprehensive kits might have both a 20V and 12V cordless, or a 20V cordless and a hammer drill, or a circular saw… If you’re looking for several tools then these cordless drill combos are worth checking out.
n Size & Weight: Physical size may not be a big deal a lot of the time, but keen DIYers and trade professionals will often appreciate a more compact model, especially if they have to work in tight spaces. The same is true of weight. If you have to work above your head all day a heavy cordless drill can soon get tiring.
n Extras:
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- Chucks on these cordless drills are usually 3/8” or 1/2″. While it isn’t an exact measure a larger chuck often means a more powerful tool.
- LED work lights are quite common, and useful if you have to work inside cupboards or anywhere else that’s a bit dark.
- All cordless drill/drivers have a clutch so you can adjust the driving force when doing up screws. It’s a key feature. Most cordless drills have 15 or 20 positions which is more then most people will ever need.
- A belt hook is a nice extra so you don’t have to find somewhere to put the drill down when you’re working up a ladder, for example.
OK. Crunch Time!
Best Cordless Drill Overall: DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill/Driver Kit
You can’t really go wrong buying a 20V DeWalt cordless drill. They are well-made, reliable, and durable. That’s underlined by the fact they are a contractor favorite. This kit features their most recent model, called the Atomic. It has a brushless motor, and is 25% more compact and 13% more powerful than the previous one.
It is remarkably small too – just 6.3 inches front to back, and it weighs around 3 pounds with a battery fitted. It has a 2-speed motor with a maximum of 1,650 rpm, and a UWO of 340 if you need to know that. Battery is a 1.5Ah unit which is OK, but a bit feeble for pro use. I would get a bigger spare. There’s a 1/2” chuck, an LED light, and the whole lot comes in a nice canvas bag.
n What I like
- Tough, high-performance, compact, pro-grade tool
- It’s not cheap but the price is competitive
- Comes with battery and charger in a good tool bag
n What I don’t like so much
- It’s tough to criticize. The only downside is that 1.5Ah battery
By the way, at the time I wrote this the previous version was still available, and worth a look if you want to save a few bucks.
Best Cordless Drill For The Money: Avid Power 20V Cordless Drill Set
A lot of people are concerned about cheap cordless drills from China and the Far East, and reliability can be an issue. Avid Power are a bit of a hybrid with design and engineering facility in Minneapolis and manufacturing overseas (though they don’t say where). They are building themselves a reputation for decent tools that offer good value for money, and this 20V cordless drill kit is another example.
Specification is pretty standard for a low-cost 20V cordless drill. It has a brush motor, a 3/8-inch chuck, and a variable speed trigger running at a maximum of 1,350 rpm. There’s an LED light, and useful charge indicators on the 1.5Ah battery.
Unfortunately, there’s no bag or case but you do get 10 drill bits, 10 screwdriver bits, and a useful flexible shaft for driving in awkward places.
n What I like
- Great value for DIY use
- Designed and engineered in the US
- Includes a useful set of drill and screwdriver bits
n What I don’t like so much
- No bag or case
- I’ve seen a few reports of battery charging problems
Best Small Cordless Drill: Bosch 12V Cordless Drill/Driver Kit
I’m not a big fan of 12V cordless drills, but I understand that their lighter weight, and compact dimensions make them popular. I have a friend who is an electrician, and he has both 20V and 12V models so he’s covered for different tasks.
You can get much cheaper 12V cordless drill kits than the Bosch, but this is the one I would buy. There’s the brand’s reputation for one, which is among the best in the business. The drill has a brushless motor with 2 speeds. Maximum is 1,300 rpm. It’s a relatively small cordless drill that weighs just 2 pounds, and has a slender grip that is easy to handle (though front to back it isn’t any shorter than the 20V DeWalt). It comes with a 3/8-inch chuck, 2 x 2Ah batteries, an LED work light, charger, and a quality soft case.
n What I like
- Bosch reputation for reliability
- Light, compact, and easy to handle
- 2 batteries with higher capacity than many rivals
n What I don’t like so much
- I can’t really fault it but it’s not as powerful as the DeWalt, and more expensive than the Avid Power
So what do you think?
Personally, I’m going to pay the extra for the DeWalt cordless drill every time, but I probably do more DIY than average. If I was just starting out putting together a tool kit, and I wanted a budget-friendly option then the Avid Power cordless has a lot going for it. I’ll admit I’m biased about the Bosch 12V cordless drill. It’s a great tool, I just don’t know why I would need one.
