When I was growing up, my dad was a lover of DIY, he was always fixing things around the house, spending hours in his workshop, and building furniture like our varnished oak dining table. But one thing I remember most was those ‘amusing’ moments when he was trying to insert a screw into a stubborn piece of wood while cursing away, especially when the screwdriver slipped and the screw fell out.
But with all the technological wizardry available for us in the 21st-century marketplace, you do not have to suffer the embarrassment or the frustration of a wayward screwdriver. There are so many powerful tools to choose from. So please give a round of applause for the cordless drill.
A cordless drill is a must-have power tool for home DIY enthusiasts, handymen, and women. It can be used anywhere in and around your homestead. Once you have purchased one, you will wonder how you have ever managed to keep on top of your home improvement chores without it.
The 6 Best Cordless Drills
- BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Drill
- DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill Combo Kit
- Pink Power PP121LI 12V Cordless Drill and Driver Tool Kit for Women
- WORX WX176L 20V Switchdriver 2-in-1 Cordless Drill and Driver
- Makita XFD10R 18V Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless ½” Driver-Drill Kit
- Bosch GBV18V-535CB15 EC Brushless Connected-Ready Compact Tough ½ In. Hammer Drill/Driver (Our Top Pick)
Our Top Pick for the Best Cordless Drill
Our top pick for the best cordless drill is the Bosch GBV18V-535CB15 EC Brushless Connected-Ready Compact Tough ½ In. Hammer Drill/Driver.
Bosch has crafted an exceptionally well-made drill that is designed with the professional construction worker in mind. So you can expect a smooth and optimal working performance from this compact, tough, and powerful cordless drill.
Check the price on AmazonCordless Drill: A Multi-Purpose Power Tool
A cordless drill is a multi-purpose tool that can be used for a wide range of maintenance and renovations purposes around your homestead.
Light Maintenance: You can use a cordless drill for inserting screws, drilling holes into door frames and drywall, re-attaching handles to a wardrobe, assembling furniture, or even setting up a barbecue grill.
Heavy-duty: A cordless drill can make your life easier when you have to fix a fence, install decking, drill holes into masonry and concrete, or for building your own furniture.
Three Types of Cordless Drills
Drill Drivers
A drill driver is one of the most common and affordable cordless drills. It is ideal for drilling holes, drilling in screws, or loosening screws. It can be used for most surfaces: wood, metal, and interior walls, but it is not ideal for dense material like masonry or concrete. Most cordless drill drivers range in size from ¼-inch to ½-inch.
Hammer Drills
A hammer drill is a very useful tool if you are working with dense building materials like concrete, stone, and masonry as it can spin and move in and out of the material quickly. It has a lot of force behind it like a mini jackhammer. Hammer drills are not suitable for light materials like wood as it can split the wood. If you choose a hammer drill, remember to wear ear safety gear like earplugs as it can be loud.
Impact Drivers
An impact driver is used for commercial applications and is highly favored by cabinetmakers. It has a lot of power and can be used for driving screws into metal and wood. It gives that much-needed control when you are working in tight spots, but as the hammer drill, it can be a loud tool to work with.
There are five things to remember when you are looking to purchase a cordless drill: battery power, torque, drilling speed, brushed or brushless motor, and operator comfort.
1. Battery-Power
A cordless drill is powered by a battery and they can range in power, but the best battery-power to choose is 18 or 20-volts. These voltages are ideal for light, medium, and heavy-duty work applications. Batteries can be either Ni-Cad or Lithium-Ion. Although Ni-Cad has been the favored battery as it gives you the power you need quickly for heavy-duty tasks, Lithium-ion batteries are the most commonly used. They provide a stable power source, they recharge quickly and they are environmentally friendly.
2. Torque
Torque measures the amount of force behind the drill to rotate the screw or drill bit into position. The higher the torque the more power or force the drill can produce.
3. Drilling Speed
The drilling speed relates to the number of revolutions or rotation per minute (rpm’s) that the drill can perform, basically it indicates how fast the drill is. For light-duty drilling chores, single-speed drills that operate at 300 rpm are ideal for general household jobs. For medium-duty tasks look for a drill with a faster rpm from 1200 to 1500. Anything over 1500 to 1900 rpm is ideal for heavy-duty work.
4. Brushed or Brushless Motor
Most standard drills come with a brushed motor that is made up of four basic parts: carbon brushes, a ring of permanent magnets, an armature, and commutator rings. Although a brushless motor has the same components, minus the brushes and the commutator, it features an electronic controller, which means it can be more powerful than a brushed cordless drill.
Brushed motor drills may be cheaper due to their simple mechanical make-up, but the brushless drill means that the tool will have longer run time and the battery will require less charging and will give you an overall optimal working performance.
5. Operator comfort
Operator comfort is a high priority for working with any power tool large or small, especially if you are going to be working for a long time in one stretch, or if you will be working in a tight spot or in an uncomfortable position.
Before you head off to buy your new drill, a good tip is to visit your local power tool dealer or hardware store and try handing the drills. Try before you buy is a good way to see if you and the drill will be a great fit.
Here are five ergonomic specifications to look out for when purchasing your ideal cordless drill.
- Forward and reverse switch: The control switch should be easy to operate with your thumb and index finger without having to release your grip.
- Handle grip: Look for a soft handgrip that is comfortable to hold.
- Trigger: Being able to have the best control over the trigger is important, so try out the drill and see if your index finger fits around the trigger comfortably. This is especially important if you are drilling into extra tough surfaces like stone or metal that may not have as much ‘give’ as wood.
- Chuck: The chuck is the part of the drill that holds the drill bit or screw. These days most power drills have keyless chucks. To remove the drill bits you just have to twist and remove the chuck. Single-sleeve chucks make sure that the drill bit is fitted securely into the drill.
- Drill accessories and kits: A lot of drills allow you to attach other accessories which then turns the drill into various other handy tools. Also, some manufacturers offer drill kits where you have two separate drills like a drill driver and an impact drill.
6 Best Cordless Drills – Reviews
1. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Drill
Black+Decker has been manufacturing home and garden power tools for just on a century and their dedication to creating high-quality tools means you can expect a well made and reliable power drill that will meet your expectations. The 20V MAX Cordless Drill is the perfect choice for all of your basic DIY duties around your home.
It is lightweight and compact, which makes it the ideal tool for working in tight and confined spaces. The 20-volt max lithium-ion battery and 115 pounds of torque and 650 rpm give you enough power to drill holes and screws into most surfaces like wood, metal, and plastic.
The 11-Position clutch helps prevent stripping of screws, and the convenient LED work light illuminates your work area. The drill also comes with an extra 20-volt lithium-ion battery and charger, and a 10-piece drilling bit set.
Pros
- Affordable
- Ideal for small general household tasks
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- LED light
- Two-year warranty
Cons
- Not ideal for heavy-duty jobs
- Battery takes a while to recharge
2. DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill Combo Kit
The Dewalt 20V MAX Cordless Drill Combo Kit offers you two separate power tools in this kit: a ½-inch drill driver and a ¼-inch impact driver. These two lightweight power tools can be used for most light to medium-duty DIY or maintenance duties in and around your homestead.
Both drills are powered by a 20-volt 1.5Ah lithium-ion battery and a 300-watt high-performance motor, and with a high-speed transmission that delivers two speeds (0-450 & 1,500 rpm), they are strong enough to drill holes and fasten screws into wood, metal, and plastic. The single sleeve ratcheting ½-inch chuck makes sure that the drill bits are fitted securely.
The impact driver features a one-handed loading ¼-inch chuck that accepts 1-inch tips, and the LED light ring with a 20-second delay gives you that extra illumination when you are working in low light areas like under sinks and for fixing cupboard shelves. The kit also includes a convenient belt hook, two 20-Volt maximum lithium-ion 1.3 Ah battery packs, a battery charger, and a contractor carrying bag.
Pros
- Good value
- Choice for two drills
- Good battery life
- Powerful
- Compact
- Carrying case and a belt hook
- Three-year limited warranty
Cons
- Not ideal for use on hardwood floors
- Product manual hard to read
3. Pink Power PP121LI 12V Cordless Drill and Driver Tool Kit for Women
The Pink Power PP121LI Cordless Drill & Driver Tool Kit for Women has been specifically designed with the lady DIY’er in mind. It is compact and lightweight at just over 2 pounds. The drill is easy to control when you are working in tight spots.
The 12-volt lithium-ion battery gives you enough power to drill through most surfaces like wood and metal. You have access to a range of 18 variable torque settings up to 350 rpm on the low setting and 1250 rpm on the high-speed setting. The keyless ⅜-inch chuck makes it easy to remove and re-attach drill bits.
This pretty pink drill is no show pony and it guarantees an overall precise drilling performance. Its forward and reverse drill setting makes sure that you are able to drill in and tightly fasten screws every time. Other handy features include a magnetic screw holder, so you do not need to worry about wayward drill bits, a battery indicator, and a LED work light.
The toolkit includes a 12-volt battery, a compact charger, a 13 piece bit and driver set, and a matching pink carrying case.
Pros
- Ideal for small jobs around the home
- Very good value for money
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Plenty of torque and power
Cons
- Not ideal for medium to heavy-duty jobs
- Not very fast
- Battery and charger not very strong
- One-year warranty
4. WORX WX176L 20V Switchdriver 2-in-1 Cordless Drill and Driver
This sturdy cordless Drill and Driver from WORX is the ideal tool for small to medium DIY tasks and general household applications. It springs into action with just a press of a button. It is fast with plenty of drilling power due to the Powershare 20-volt max lithium-ion battery. The drill also has a 12-speed brushless motor and a choice of variable two-speed selections from 0 to 1,500 rpm.
The new innovative design of the WORX drill means it is two tools in one, and the quick shifty system and a keyless ¼ inch chuck allow you to quickly shift the drill to an automatic screwdriver. You can also interchange drill bits easily with the quick change rotating dual chuck, and the electronic clutch comes with 11 different positions to choose from.
There are two-speed selections: low speed for delicate surfaces and a faster speed for tougher applications. The electronic torque control ensures that there is no stripping of screws or splitting of delicate wood surfaces.
If you are working in low light conditions, the built-in automatic LED light illuminates your work area. WORX has also designed the tool with a PowerShare battery that is interchangeable with other WORX tools.
Pros
- Ideal for small to medium-duty tasks (works well on hardwood)
- Solid tool
- Good design
- Lightweight
- Two tools in one
- Powerful
- Good battery life
- Ergonomic handle
- Three-year limited tool and one-year battery warranty
Cons
- Battery is hard to remove
5. Makita XFD10R 18V Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless ½” Driver-Drill Kit
Makita is the leading manufacturer of reliable and technologically superior power tools, and the XFD10R Cordless Driver-Drill is one of the newest drills in their 18-volt lithium-Ion range. This sturdy and durable professional-grade drill has everything you need for all those light to medium DIY jobs around your home. It can be used to drill holes into wood and metal and also an automatic screwdriver.
It delivers lots of power with the Makita designed four-pole motor that gives you 480 MAX torque and an all-metal two-speed transmission with speeds from 600 to 1900 rpm. There is no need to worry about those annoying slippages with the drill bit as the all-metal ratcheting chuck helps the drill to maintain continual contact on a wide range of surfaces.
One of the highlights of this drill is the lithium-ion slide-style battery that is protected by Makita’s Star Protection technology. It is designed to stop the tool and battery from overheating after longterm use. The battery power for this drill is excellent and you can recharge the battery in less than 30 minutes.
Working with the Makita is a delight as it is lightweight at 3.3 pounds and it is comfortable to hold with the ergonomically designed rubberized soft-grip handle. The dual LED lights are mounted under the chuck, and the innovative afterglow function provides you with a few seconds of light after you have released the trigger, which helps you work smarter in low light conditions.
Makita also offers a three-year limited warranty for the drill and battery charger.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Lightweight
- Good design
- Powerful
- Easy to handle
- Lots of torque
- Fast charging battery
Cons
- Expensive
- Long drill bits tend to wobble in the drill
6. Bosch GBV18V-535CB15 EC Brushless Connected-Ready Compact Tough ½ In. Hammer Drill/Driver
If you are looking for a tool that offers you two tools in one and can deliver a reliable and smooth working performance, this Hammer Drill/Driver from Bosch is a perfect choice.
This durable and well-designed drill is favored by many professionals. It is not hard to see why it rates so highly. It is a construction site style tool with a tough Durashield housing. So it will still continue to perform well even if you drop or use it outside in all kinds of weather.
The drill is powered by an 18-volt 4.0 Ah lithium-ion battery and its advanced EC brushless motor is well known for its work-horse mentality. As the tool is protected by Electronic Motor Protection, you do not have to worry about the drill overheating after long term use.
As well as being a highly versatile tool, it can tackle the toughest of DIY tasks. With 535 pounds of torque, you can use it for drilling holes or screws into wood or metal, and like a hammer drill when you are working with dense building materials. The smart Bosch drill features a keyless ½-inch auto-lock chuck that makes it easy to change drill bits. The handy magnetic metal bit holder means you can effortlessly attach and accurately drill screws every time.
The drill functions very well in dark, tight spaces as the 20+1 precision clutch and variable speed trigger gives you much needed control and it has a drill-area LED light. Any DIY task can be completed quickly and efficiently as the drill can operate up to speeds of 1,900 rpm.
Bosch has designed this tool with the operator in mind as the cordless drill comes with a compact battery, a charger, four bits, a belt clip, and a sturdy carrying bag.
Pros
- High quality
- Ideal for low to high-duty DIY tasks
- Good size and weight
- Very powerful
- Compact and durable
- Smooth performance
- Good torque
- Fast
- Great battery life
- Comes with a belt clip and a sturdy carrying bag
Cons
- Expensive
Our Top Pick for the Best Cordless Drill
Our top pick for the best cordless drill is the Bosch GBV18V-535CB15 EC Brushless Connected-Ready Compact Tough ½ In. Hammer Drill/Drive
Bosch has crafted an exceptionally well-made drill that is designed with the professional construction worker in mind. So you can expect a smooth and optimal working performance from this compact, tough, and powerful cordless drill.
Check the price on Amazon
