A reliable drill is a must-have for everything from home repairs to DIY builds. Whether you are looking for a corded or cordless drill, the right model makes drilling faster, safer, and more effortless. In our guide, we review the best drills to help you find one that fits your needs and budget.
Here are our top five recommendations.
Top 5 Drills
- DEWALT Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Kit:
- BLACK+DECKER Cordless Drill/Driver: Best Medium-Duty
- TECCPO Cordless Drill: Best Kit
- DEWALT Brushless Cordless Drill/Driver Kit: Best Heavy-Duty
- BLACK+DECKER Corded Drill: Best Corded Drill
Compare Top Drills
| Product | RPM | Chuck | Clutch Positions | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DEWALT Cordless Drill and Impact Driver KitCheck Price | 1500 | 1/2 inch | 16 | 3.64 pounds |
BLACK+DECKER Cordless Drill/DriverCheck Price | 750 | 3/8 inch | 24 | 4.25 pounds |
TECCPO Cordless DrillCheck Price | 1700 | 1/2 inch | 21 | 3.3 pounds |
DEWALT Brushless Cordless Drill/Driver KitCheck Price | 2000 | 1/2 inch | 16 | 3.64 pounds |
BLACK+DECKER Corded DrillCheck Price | 1500 | 3/8 inch | Not listed | 3.25 pounds |
Best Overall
DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill/Driver Kit
The handle on this cordless drill features a highly ergonomic rubber grip. DEWALT’s kit includes a carrying bag, two 20V batteries for heavy-duty jobs, and a charger. The power tool features a large 1/2-inch tip or chuck. Additionally, it has two speed settings, with the second setting offering up to 1,500 revolutions per minute (RPM).
Best Medium-Duty
BLACK+DECKER Cordless Drill/Driver
This cordless drill has a chuck size of three-eighths of an inch, a battery capacity of 20 volts, and a maximum speed of 750 RPM, making it a good choice for medium-duty tasks. Its 24 clutch positions offer maximum control. This model also comes with a 20V battery and charger, plus 30 bits for driving screws and drilling holes.
Best Kit
TECCPO Cordless Drill
This drill comes with a plethora of useful accessories, including two batteries, one charger, one carrying bag, 33 bits, and a bit case. Its battery charger is small, preventing it from taking up too much space in your toolbox or chest. Additionally, the drill can handle heavy-duty tasks with its 20-volt battery and maximum 1,700-RPM speed.
Best Heavy-Duty
DEWALT Brushless Cordless Drill/Driver Kit
Despite being relatively compact at just 6.9 inches, this cordless drill has a chuck size of half an inch, a maximum speed of 2,000 RPM, and a battery voltage of 20 volts, giving it the features needed for heavy-duty work. Additionally, this drill comes with two batteries, one charger, and one carrying case.
Best Corded Drill
BLACK+DECKER Corded Drill
This drill uses a cord for power, making it more powerful than its cordless counterparts. It’s also lightweight at just 3.25 pounds, yet has a chuck size of 3/8 inches, a maximum speed of 1,500 RPM, and a power rating of 5.2 amps. It works best for medium-duty construction tasks or any household tasks and comes with a variable speed trigger for maximum control.
Buying Guide to Drills
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.
Drill FAQs
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.