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Whether you’re seeking a corded or cordless drill, there are many options on the market. To help you select the model that’s right for you, our team researched the best drills on the market today.
Here are our top five recommendations:
Top 5 Drills
- Best Overall: DEWALT Cordless Drill/Driver Kit
- Best Medium-Duty: BLACK+DECKER Cordless Drill/Driver
- Most Durable: DEWALT Corded Electric Drill
- Best Corded Drill: BLACK+DECKER Corded Drill
- Best Corded Drill Kit: DEWALT DWD115K VSR Mid-Handle Grip Drill Kit
Compare Top Drills
| Product | RPM | Chuck | Clutch Positions | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEWALT Cordless Drill/Driver Kit | 1500 | 1/2 inch | 16 | 3.64 pounds |
| BLACK+DECKER Cordless Drill/Driver | 750 | 3/8 inch | 24 | 4.25 pounds |
| DEWALT Corded Electric Drill | 1250 | 1/2 inch | Not listed | 6.9 pounds |
| BLACK+DECKER Corded Drill | 1500 | 3/8 inch | Not listed | 3.25 pounds |
| DEWALT DWD115K VSR Mid-Handle Grip Drill Kit | 2500 | 3/8 inch | Not listed | 6.7 pounds |
| Product | RPM | Chuck | Clutch Positions | Weight |
Best Drill Overall
DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill/Driver Kit
- $99
- $179
- 45% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Best Medium-Duty Drill
BLACK+DECKER Cordless Drill/Driver
Most Durable
DEWALT Corded Electric Drill
Best Corded Drill
BLACK+DECKER Corded Drill
Best Corded Drill Kit
DEWALT DWD115K VSR Mid-Handle Grip Drill Kit
Buying Guide to Drills
Take a look at this explainer video featuring Tom Silva, and read our buying guide below to learn about power, speed, and other factors that will inform your drill purchasing decision.
Power Source
Drills are either cordless or corded.
Battery
Cordless drills use a lithium-ion battery for power. They’re more portable because you aren’t limited to how far a cord can reach, but they’re not as powerful. You also have to pause every so often to recharge the battery.
Cord
Corded or electric drills are typically more powerful in terms of speed and torque, making them better for heavy-duty tasks. However, you have to set it up near a wall outlet or use an extension cord.
Power
Power for cordless and corded drills is measured differently.
Battery Power
The power of battery-operated drills is measured in voltage. Most cordless drills have a capacity of 12 or 18 volts. Twelve volts is enough for household projects, while 18 volts is needed for heavy-duty tasks.
If you see a drill measured in 20 volts, the manufacturer measured maximum voltage instead of nominal voltage. Maximum voltage is the initial surge of power when you first turn the drill on, while nominal voltage is the power the rest of the time. As such, a drill with 20 volts of maximum voltage is the same as a drill with 18 volts of nominal voltage.
Corded Electrical Power
Corded power is measured in amps, with four, eight, and 10 amps being common. Four amps are sufficient for the occasional household task, while 10 amps are needed for heavy-duty use. Eight amps is a good in-between rating and ideal for an in-home, all-purpose drill.
Speed
Most drills have a variable speed trigger to change how fast the chuck spins. This allows you to tailor the drill’s speed to the task at hand, as lower speeds are better for driving screws, while higher speeds are better for drilling holes.
Chuck Size
This indicates the maximum diameter bit the chuck can handle. You’ll see a quarter of an inch, three-eighths of an inch, and half of an inch sizes. A quarter of an inch is enough for the occasional light task, three-eighths is enough for regular home improvement projects, and a half is needed for heavy-duty projects.
Ergonomics
Your drill should be easy and comfortable to handle. It should have a relatively light form factor that’s evenly distributed from the base to the chuck. It should also have a rubberized handle for comfort and slip prevention.
Extra Features
Some drills have extra features for easier use. Some common extras include an LED light for better visibility, onboard storage for holding bits, and a belt clip for hands-free use.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drills
How long does a cordless drill run for?
It depends on the battery. A battery’s runtime is measured in amp hours (Ah), with a higher Ah rating indicating a longer life.
Will my drill come with accessories?
Some drills come with accessories, while some just come with the tool. Some common accessories bundles include drill bits, batteries, and carrying cases.
What’s the difference between a drill and an impact driver?
Impact drivers are more compact and lightweight than drills. They also have more twisting power, also known as torque. Because of their higher torque, impact drivers are best for driving large fasteners or a large quantity of fasteners. Furthermore, drivers have a clamp that holds the bits with a hexagonal shank instead of a chuck.
Drills, however, feature a chuck and are better for smaller jobs and fewer fasteners.
To learn more about finding the best tools for your home, check out our comprehensive Tool Buying Guide.
How We Selected the Best Drills
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of drills with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Why You Can Trust Us
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIYers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.
Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published numerous tool reviews, from cordless drills and impact drivers to tape measures and laser levels.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
Questions or Comments?
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
