Cordless Drill Reviews

Your cordless drill is quite likely the most useful tool in your inventory. Whether you’re a serious professional or a home handy-man that uses your cordless drill only occasionally, you rely on it to speed and simplify your project, and to provide quality, consistent results.

With so many products on the market today, provided by many quality manufacturers, deciding on the drill or drill/driver kit that is right for you can be a challenge. Hopefully, we can bring you relevant information that will help you make your selection with knowledge and confidence.

How Do You Choose?

How do you make your selection among the many cordless drills on the market in 2022?  There’s a very straight-forward answer.

It depends.

It depends on what you need from the standpoint of:

  • Features
  • Price
  • Durability
  • Available accessories

While all of the drills and drivers reviewed here are high-quality and packed with features, you may not need the most expensive, high-powered cordless drill to hang a curtain rod once in a while or fix a gate hinge. What you do need is a tool that you can rely on to work properly and be capable of handling every type of job you throw at it.

For daily use under more demanding workloads and with a variety of project materials, some factors will be more critical to you:

  • Battery life: The battery and recharge time is an important consideration for how long you can use the drill at once
  • Power: The drill’s performance in multiple conditions that will make your job easier
  • Weight: If you’re handling your drill continuously throughout the day, this becomes an important consideration
  • Multi or variable-speed: Wood, steel, and masonry present different challenges for drilling/driving, making variable speeds a necessity in choosing the right tool for the job

These cordless drills will provide you with the functionality and long life that give you a great return on your tool investment.

Top 3 Cordless Drills and Drivers – Best of 2022

Here are three of the top candidates to consider when scouring the market for a new cordless drill or drill/driver that will make your life easier and produce professional results.

Top Pick - Overall

Sale
DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill / Driver Kit, Compact, 1/2-Inch (DCD771C2), Yellow
The Dewalt DCD771C2 is our top pick for Best Overall Cordless Drill. It is fit for both homeowners and pros alike and provides enough torque to accomplish most light to medium projects. Featured highlights include:

  • Battery Voltage: 20v
  • Battery Type: Lithium Ion
  • RPM: 1,500
  • Warranty: 3 Year Limited
  • Top Pick - Budget

    Sale
    BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Driver, 3/8 Inch, With LED Work Light, Battery and Charger Included (LDX120C)
    The Black+Decker LDX120C is our top choice for budget drill/driver combos. It's best suited for light, around-the-house projects, but with enough power for the average homeowner. Featured highlights include:

  • Battery Voltage: 20v
  • Battery Type: Lithium Ion
  • RPM: 650
  • Torque: 115 in-lb
  • Warranty: 2 Year
  • Top Pick - Pro

    Sale
    DEWALT 20V MAX* Cordless Drill / Driver Kit, Compact, Brushless (DCD777C2)
    The Dewalt DCD777C2 is our top pick for a Pro-level Cordless Drill. If you're looking for a drill/driver that can handle the most demanding jobs, either at home or on the job, then this is a great option for you. Featured highlights include:

  • Battery Voltage: 20v
  • Battery Type: Lithium Ion
  • RPM: 1,750
  • Torque: 500 in-lb
  • Built-In LED
  • Brushless Motor
  • Warranty: 3 Year Limited
  • Drill, Driver, or Combination – What Do You Need?

    Having the right tool for the job streamlines any project. When selecting your cordless drill, keep sight of what you need this tool to do for you:

    • Drills: Your cordless drill will be your best friend for typical drilling functions around the house. They are easy to use and accommodate a wide variety of bits for every job, including bits for driving every type of screw you come up against.
    • Drivers: Typically slightly smaller than a drill, and rather than utilizing the familiar chuck that drills utilize, hold your bits in a hex-shaped “collet”. Drivers are designed specifically for driving screws and bolts, with variable speeds.
    • Drill/driver kits: Though many leading cordless drills are also capable of being used as drivers, many manufacturers market drill/driver kits that include both tools with interchangeable accessories and batteries.

    Features That Make the Difference – What to Consider When Buying a Cordless Drill

    When making your choice, there are several drill features that should be considered in your final decision:

    • Price: When it comes to your tools, it’s often true that you get what you pay for. Making a slightly higher initial investment will reap the benefits of tools with a longer lifespan, more features, and usually a better warranty.
    • Chuck: A convenient, keyless chuck provides ease of changing bits and other accessories to switch from drilling and driving quickly
    • Torque: To make the transition from drilling and driving, variable torque is important. This allows you to control the force exerted by the bits or drivers, to prevent damage such as stripping screws when driving. A clutch on the drill controls the torque.
    • Batteries: Don’t underestimate the importance of battery life and charging speed. Many cordless drills come with two batteries so that you can be using one while the other is charging to keep your work moving.
    • Accessories: Some drills or drill/driver kits include both batteries, charger, and even carrying/storage cases. Consider all the extras when making your choice.
    • Power: Generally, the rated voltage is a good indication of the power the drill provides – a 20V cordless drill will have more power than an 18V model
    • Lighting: Often you’re working in areas that don’t exactly have abundant light. Some drills include LED lighting that illuminates your work area when you press the trigger.
    • Brushed vs. brushless motors: While brushed motors are typically cheaper, brushless motors are more powerful, quieter, and generate less heat when running.

    Keeping these features and drill construction in mind while reviewing your options will help you make the right choice for the best cordless drill or drill/driver kit that will provide professional results and long life.

    Last update on 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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    About the author

    Stephen Rice

    Stephen Rice

    Stephen is a hobby woodworker... a weekend warrior, if you will. Over the past 8 years, he's been tackling projects around the house and building furniture for family and friends. During his time as a woodworker, Stephen has tested and used just about every power tool out there, across multiple brands. He's not loyal to one brand, but simply chooses the best option for the job at hand. When he's not in the shop, Stephen can be found doing just about anything outdoors.

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