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If you plan on kicking off a project around the house or in the garage, you owe it to yourself to invest in a set of proper tools. After you acquire basics like a hammer, level, tape measure, wrenches, ratchets, and an ever-growing socket set (that somehow doesn’t have a single ten-millimeter socket), the next step is power tools — and one of the most commonly-used power tools out there is the cordless drill. With a basic set of driver and drill bits, you’ll be able to assemble and disassemble almost anything on your to-do list. A good cordless drill will save you time and money, improve your quality of work, and last years.
There are lots of options out there, though, so take advantage of this gear guide to find the one that’s best for your needs and budget.
Makita XFD12T
Ryobi P215
Black u0026 Decker LD120VA
DeWalt DCK283D2
Craftsman CMCD700C1
Bosch PS31
Related: 7 magnificent multitools that belong in every toolbox
Why should you trust us
The most common types of cordless drills
If you’re new to power tools, that’s perfectly fine; we have good news for you. There isn’t a great deal of background information you need to understand before buying a cordless drill, but reading up on a few key points can help you make an informed decision. We created this guide to help you make sense of the different options available, as well as the best way to get the most value for your money. Read on to get up to speed on things like brushless motors, impact drivers, and battery compatibility. You’ll be ready to buy with confidence in no time.
Brushed
For decades, cordless drills used brushed motors just like you would find in car starters and other electronic devices. Think of brushes as blocks of consumable material that sit alongside the spinning mass within your drill’s electric motor. These motors are relatively simple, reliable, and easy to maintain. New ones are still readily available and fairly inexpensive.
That being said, maintenance will be necessary eventually. Because they do experience physical contact and quite a bit of friction, brushes will wear down with use and need to be replaced. This isn’t expensive or terribly difficult, but it is an extra step that you might not want to deal with.
Brushless
Brushless electric motors use a contact-free design made possible by powerful magnets. By limiting physical contact to only the bearings that hold the rotating components in place, brushless motors experience minimal wear and generate far less heat. This also allows them to run more efficiently and smoothly. At low speeds, brushless drills will be slightly easier to control with precision. No cordless drills are what we’d call loud, but brushless motors are quieter than brushed ones.
Brushless designs are more complicated than brushed alternatives, and they will cost you more money upfront. As a tradeoff, you’ll probably be able to push them harder and keep them in service longer.
Individual tools
The least expensive way to add a cordless drill to your tool box is to buy one individually, with no accessories. This also means it won’t come with any batteries, so you’ll want to make sure you either have compatible batteries from another power tool from the same manufacturer, or a plan to buy a battery and charger separately.
Because many people buy with brand loyalty, this is not an uncommon way to buy tools. The top brands make tools available on their own, so don’t think that you have to sacrifice quality to shop this way. If you have batteries on hand or are buying other tools already, this can be an economical way to go.
Kits
If you’re building a toolset from scratch or just getting into the power tool game, kits are a convenient option. They’re also significantly more affordable than buying all your tools separately. The tools included in these kits use the same batteries and come with a single charging station.
One of the most common tools to pair with a cordless drill in a kit is a small impact driver. The two of these look similar but function differently. Cordless drills use continuous electric current to spin a bit, and you can determine the speed with the tool’s variable trigger. A clutch can be used to control slip and prevent excessive force from being used. An impact driver does not allow for this kind of modulation and does not use continuous force. Instead, quick pulses of energy act on the bit in a hammering motion. This is useful for things like breaking rusty bolts loose, but we definitely wouldn’t advise sinking a sheetrock screw into your drywall with an impact driver.
Features to look for in a cordless drill
The cordless drills in this gear guide are basically differentiated by motor type, power available, and durability. Consumer-grade drills have more than enough power and durability to handle projects around the house. Opting for a brushed motor can save money without a noticeable sacrifice in capability for most users. These options are great for installing anchors in drywall and performing light builds.
By stepping up to a professional-grade cordless drill, you’ll get more power (which is especially useful for drilling) and more rugged materials that can handle the bumps and scrapes of life on a construction site. These drills typically use brushless motors that last longer, generate less heat, and consume less energy. Invest in one of these, and you’ll have a tool that can handle heavy-duty projects for years to come.
Do you need a cordless drill?
In short – yes, you need a cordless drill! Once you have a place of your own and maybe a garage or backyard, it’s time to invest in power tools and get work done like a pro. Cordless drills will save you time and result in better results. With nearly endless bits and attachments to choose from, you can drive and drill just about anything.
Many cordless drills can be purchased as part of a larger kit. If you have the money handy, this is a great way to beef up your tool box and take advantage of battery compatibility. Even though there are plenty of quality brands out there, you’ll often see people pick one and stick with it so they can use one kind of battery and charger for all their power tools.
- Get jobs done in less time
- Handle screws and drilling with one powerful tool
- Admit it, cordless drills are more powerful than your hands
- Expand your tool box with relatively inexpensive bits and accessories
- Cordless drill batteries are compatible with other power tools from the same manufacturer
Pricing ranges for cordless drills
- Less than $100: Choose from a selection of serviceable cordless drills. These options will be fine for occasional jobs around the house, but might not hold up to commercial use.
- More than $100: Premium cordless drills will cost a little extra, but you’ll end up with the same high-quality equipment found on construction sites around the world.
How we chose our top picks
It would be great to spend time with each one of these cordless drills. It would be even better to hand them out to our friends and knock out a whole bunch of home improvement projects in a weekend. Unfortunately, reality often steps in and prevents us from conducting hands-on testing. When that happens, we scour hundreds of reviews and professional sources and crowdsource information from thousands of consumers to find products with a proven record of success. Using that knowledge and our own experience, we make sure only the best products make it into our gear guides.
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