Best Cordless Drills | Convenient Power on the Go

1. Dewalt DCD771C2 20V MAX Cordless Drill Driver Kit

What put it ahead?

When Dewalt deals with drills and drivers, they put comfort and performance ahead. The 3.64 lbs compact drill kit comes up with ergonomic gripping handle. It is designed for fitting into areas that are interpreted to be tight.

There’s a half an inch sleeve chuck with ratcheting feature embedded. It ensures proper tightening of the bit shanks and so the drill bits with enough grips. The LED light provides that accuracy as you want.

Not just drilling, do fastening works as well with this high-speed transmitter. You may fit it into your applications by adjusting the speed at levels of 0 to 450 and 1,500 RPM. It’s time to go crazy with the 20V cordless kit.

If you are a man of specs, its motor UWO would put you to rest. 300 units of watts out it provides when the question arises on its ability and power. With better efficiency, this DeWalt product is ready for the quest for a variety of applications.

What draw it back?

Expensive batteries that the kit requires are not much support to longer format or performances. Be grateful that the batteries come up with the package. But you’ll face the real trouble when any of the battery dies.

Bits are another headache. If you are a regular driller, probably you’ll be having a number of drill bits with you. Otherwise, you would need to separately order for bits of your need. This kit does not pre-include them.

2. Bosch 12-Volt Max Brushless 3/8-Inch Drill/Driver Kit

What put it ahead?

The brushless kit is a bunch of things to keep in: two batteries, a charger and the cordless drill itself packed into the carry bag. What a delightful drilling experience you may get when a 3/8 inches drill driver kit pairs up with 12V batteries!

Delivering 180-inch pounds of torque, the cordless combo pack of Bosch allows you 21 clutch settings. That leads to even more versatility when you get 0 to 400 RPM torque settings and 1300 max RPM speed driller settings.

You’ll have a wider range of applications availed by its durable EC brushless motor. Bosch has adopted new Durashield technology of housing their motors. The kits have been tackling 10 feet drops withstanding tests to appear in the market. This is all because of that Nylon composite usage in a flexible housing.

The bunch of reasons for which you may choose this Bosch product sternly includes the precision and compactness. The 2 pounds device is a supreme choice as you intend to use it overhead and tight spaces.

What draw it back?

You will be at peace until you need to replace the battery. It’s quite hard to get the batteries out of the battery case.

The bits may often fall while using as the users of its mention. Well, there’s a solution to it. If you stop drilling and re-tighten the chuck at intervals, the drill works fantastic. But, what a mess by Bosch!

3. Makita CX200RB 18V Brushless Cordless Combo Kit

What put it ahead?

Size and weight of low voltage devices but performance of 18 v tools is what Makita promises and are found to be the case too. That’s a simple summation of information. On one hand, the cordless brushless tool is 5-5/16 inches long with 11.2 lbs weight altogether. On the other hand, you’ll find 1,240-inch lbs torque. That’s what they were talking about.

With an ultra-compact design, the LXT subcompact drill and driver has 1300, 3000 rpm and 1600, 3900 rpm settings. This would suit the tool with almost any job you have with them.

A mouthwatering feature that it confers goes by the name of assist mode or A-mode. This assures that the driving speed will be low until any impact begins. IT firmly assists elimination of issue like cam-out of screws and cross threading.

What draw it back?

On account of time passage and usage, the cordless drill kit doesn’t allow you much to have control over its speed. The speed control has become inconsistent in case of a few customers.

Clutches are available only for the drill. The driver does not have one. What it means is no control on the torque of the device as long as the driver is concerned.

4. Ryobi P208 One+ 18V Lithium-Ion Drill/Driver

What put it ahead?

The vibrant color with extraordinary rubber grip and tantalizing trigger construction will force anyone to goes through its specs. Its pistol styled handle will ensure identical performance even at wet conditions.

The magnetic bit holder Ryobi provides (called Magtray) has revolutionized the market of cordless drill and drivers. This is placed right at the tip of the battery casing. It holds the bits through magnetic attraction. You will have easier access to your bits when working high or tight places.

If you are new to LED lights at work spots, you will love this tool. This allows you to continue your work at dim conditions too.

Bit changing has been entirely tool-less with this kit. You do not need any wrench or similar tool to replace bits. Just select your bit, place it into the chuck and grip it.

Surely it’s not a hammer drill. But it offers sufficient variation in speed and torque. You can have 2 levels in speed gearbox and min blowing 24 clutch positions.

What draw it back?

It needs retightening the chuck at every reasonable interval. Your bit will loosen up almost every time you grab to use it. Trouble will maximize when you’ll let yourselves set up at heights.

This is a tool only package. It literally means “tool only”. You’ll not even find a bag other than a plastic one with it. Not much-rugged construction is slightly heavier.

5. PORTER-CABLE PCCK604L2 20V MAX 2-Tool Cordless Drill/Driver

What put it ahead?

This cordless drill driver emerges into the market with some rugged construction to portray. But what Porter-Cable provides best is the 283 units of wattage out. Getting such high UWO in a 3.5 lbs cordless tool may be dream come true to many.

The 8.25-inch drill has a robust handle. The conspicuous red triggers allure any user to drill and fasten. This 20V tool comes handier by its bit storage support and LED light job back up.

These are 2-speed drill driver with RPM ratings set at 0 – 350 and 0 – 1500 ranges. These features make it a serious budget killer.

One-handed bit changing feature is added to the ¼ in. impact drivers and ½ in. drill chucks. With quick load altering the 3.3 lbs impact driver offer 2,800 and 3,100 RPM ranges. The 6.9-inch drivers can amaze you with its 1450 inch pounds torque.

What draw it back?

Porter Cable hasn’t equipped the charger with good cord. The cord is flimsy. It stays clipped to the battery most of the time.

The benefit of having LED with it gets nullified since it lights up only when the trigger is pressed. It is never possible to make use of the light without using the drill. This is not safe every time.

6. DEWALT DCK240C2 20v Drill Driver/Impact Combo Kit

What put it ahead?

A 20V combo kit like this with so ergonomics embedded may monopolize any market. It is one hand operated a device with rubber grips on the handle. The 5.55 inches impact driver tool won’t let you lift more than 2.8 lbs of its weight. In short, the 1.5Ah combo kit is nicely designed to fit any tight area.

Offering more convenience the loading of the 0.25-inch chuck is also an issue of one hand. But keep in mind that the chuck is meant for 1 inch bit tips only. To add more to the portability you’ll get a belt hook with it to fit yourself into all probable worksites.

Dewalt just not only features 3 LEDs with it, but it also adds more. The LEDs surrounding the chuck will lit up as soon as you press the trigger on. But it won’t put off until you count 20 seconds after trigger release. This would help you keep track of both fastening and drilling.

Dewalt will suffice you with its great 300 UWO motor performance. It adds the feature of 2 speeds system: 0 to 450 rpm and the other up to 1,500 rpm. But the most interesting news for any user is its compatibility. You may use any 20 V MAX batteries of Dewalt with any of its 20 V device irrespective of the Ah ratings.

What draw it back?

The 1.3 Ah batteries would often let customers taunt this Dewalt good. The larger batteries of DeWalt last about 45 minutes. But this one struggles to offer so.

Chuck, the bit holder, isn’t an excellent performer. Reviews of customers are flooded with this issue. There’s no solid reason for which the bits fall off. Obviously, the chuck loosens on the application.

7.  WORX WX176L 20V Switch driver 2-in-1 Cordless Drill

What put it ahead?

A lovely dual chuck platform puts this drill-driver complex tool of Worx ahead of its competitors. Both drilling and fastening chucks are ready to perform with its numerous combinations of drill bits and driver bits. All you need is to switch to the chuck you need.

The ease of control is aided by its lightweight and compact structure. Screws, now, won’t strip off by dint of the 2 gear speed control system. Switch driver also engages 12 torque control mechanism. To avail that, just go below the handle and above the 20 V Power Share battery platform.

The (nearly) 3 lbs tool assists your visibility in the worksite with the help of its built-in LEDs. Besides, bits loosening and falling off, which are the most common issues for almost any budget drill driver combos, are not any task to fumble around.

What draw it back?

27 ft-lbs or 330 inch-lbs output torque is a drawback. To sense it out: it can’t drive Kreg screws into drilled joints.

Cells potential balancing is poorly done by the charger. It will affect the durability of the batteries since it does not power off even when 100% charged.

Neither belt clip nor any carrying case is provided with it. So it is not that suitable in terms of portability. Moreover, there is no delay off mechanism in the LEDs with trigger release.

8. Hitachi DS10DFL2 Cordless Compact Drill Driver Kit

What put it ahead?

Hitachi cordless drill driver is the name of a precise and efficient performer. The 2.2 lbs weight of the tool gives you the essence of the engineering skills of its manufacturers. This 3/8 inch chuck drill will allow you any position and place to work in.

For single sleeve ratcheting chuck, the bit replacement of this device has become quicker and simpler. On the other hand, when the duty cycle is over you may keep this 12 V combo tool at a free-standing position. That’s how it is built.

21 torque stages are available while drilling. Along with that, an additional drill mode setting avails both control and precision of your task to a whole new dimension.

The partial pressing of the trigger turns the LEDs on but keeps the machine torqueless. With some practice, this would help you locate the drilling or screwing at the right spot even at low lights.

What draw it back?

The built-in LED lights won’t keep lit up for some expected additional seconds on the release of the trigger. This will hamper you if you are acquainted with any other drill driver of this price range.

To insert the battery you would need to take special care to place it to the slot. It’s not just snapping the batteries in. This definitely kills time.

The indication for pre-charging and the charged condition is the same flashing pattern. Moreover, the covering of chuck is made of plastic.

9. BLACK+DECKER LDX120C Lithium-Ion Drill / Driver

What put it ahead?

This 1.5 kiloWatts cordless drill driver is marvelously designed for tight space work. Weighing 3.4 lbs this handy tool reduces the tiring and fatigue in both drilling and fastening. Whether it is plastic, wood or thin metal drilling and screw driving can be done with its crushing 115-inch lb torque.

Having so much control with 11 clutch positions in confined driving or drilling is users dream. Black + Decker provide that with an outstanding compact structure. In addition to that, every possibility of stripping the screws off is tactfully prevented.

The countersinking feature is added as soon as B&D incorporated speed variation control with this device. So, material damage, one of the most common side effects of extra speed and torque, is finally reduced. Moreover, the 20V Max Lithium-Ion batteries helped it become more compact with a greater lifespan.

What draw it back?

The body of the drill is made of plastic. This often doesn’t give the customers a premium look and feel while using it.

It’s not the perfect choice for bigger tasks. For deeper and wider holes and larger projects, you will need 2/3 times recharging.

For wider bits, the gripping is not that satisfactory. Many customers confessed bits getting stuck while grips spinning around. For larger bits, you should take the hex shaped bits.

10. Milwaukee 2407-22 M12 3/8 Drill Driver Kit

What put it ahead?

Milwaukee had to gather 2 batteries with a charger to charge them along with the drill to put in this kit. But it will not have any extra battery platform extended at the bottom of the handle. The comfort delivering ergonomic handle is the entire battery keeper.

The all-metal locking chuck separates it from its neighboring tools. This 3/8 inch drill driver promises two stages of speeds peeking 400 and 1,500 RPM each. So it’s not only compact but also durable and efficient at your workplace.

Retightening bits during work is irritating. We know it, so does Milwaukee. And hence it has come up with single sleeve ratcheting chuck to offer some real bit grips. And the built-in LEDs set up just above the trigger and conspicuous fuel tank on board won’t let the performance be interrupted.

What draw it back?

Along with appreciations of power, you will always find this tool to be complained about as heavy. Yes, powerful tools are massive but its competitors do not deliver much less power being way lighter.

Despite having a power greater than average drill drivers, Milwaukee has failed to produce an all-day working cordless kit with this. You should not plan to buy it if you have any industrial applications in your project.

Battery removal is quite problematic with respect to similar products.

Guide to Buy the Best Cordless Drill

Drilling may seem hard to a newbie. But it would seem simple to you if the best cordless drill gets into your hand with all its features are embedded perfectly and proportionately.

As you proceed through this exclusive guide, facts and aspects would unfold to you. Set your budget and get to know what’s meant for you.

The Chuck

Cordless drills may be assorted into a few categories on the basis of the size of the chuck. All you need to know about Chuck, primarily, is that it is the bit holder. Whether you want to drill or fasten/unfasten screws using a drill driver combo, the chuck, with its three traditional clamps in it, will grip on the drill or driver bit you select.

Now, why chuck? It is the chuck that determines your workload or material. Greater the chuck capacity, larger the bit it can hold and greater the drill has the power. No other part may serve a better approximation of the particular tool you need.

 ¼ Inch Chucks

From drilling drywalls and tackling other household tasks to shaping your dream DIY, such light duty drills would play the best part. They may have batteries ranging from 12 to 20 volts but comes up with the smallest motors cordless drills have.

They are not only limited by the size of the bits they receive, but the types of the bits are also to be hex shaped for sure. Of course, such bits are available in the market, but these drills aren’t meant for a heavy worker.

3/8 Inch Chucks

The drills that come up with 3/8 inches of chuck are the most balanced ones. They are perfect for almost all the drilling and fastening tasks that you’ll regularly encounter. Usually, they are not too many variants other than 12 V batteries.

They would probably suit you the best unless you need a hammer drill. If you can allow yourself working with keeping it on charging condition, you’ll never fall short of the Lithium juice.

½ Inch Chucks

Drills having this size of chucks are the most powerful. They can drill out almost any surface ranging from bricks to concretes. What serves you with so much capability must demand a higher share of bucks and it does so.

Defining your need is the first and foremost act you need to accomplish. Doing so and comparing and contrasting the types above you’ll advance one more step closer to the best cordless drill for you.

Select the power level you need and take the drill that fits your bits.

The Power It Draws

For both cordless drills and impact drivers, it is Units Watts Out or UWO value that tells you the power it will deliver to the load. A motor can be specialized either for speed or for torque. Some have both at a moderate level.

UWO is an assessment of both speed and torque together. Speed is measured in RPM whereas torque is often specified by inch-lbs or feet-lbs.  Such devices follow a thumb rule: more than speed less is the torque and vice versa.

However, if you have household tasks more than relatively heavier jobs, you should get your interest locked at a mediocre level of speed and torque.

Comfort and Weight

Drilling holes at the ceiling levels or somewhere adjacent to your head level would naturally be difficult. This is where traditional corded drills and drivers fail any chance to cordless ones whatsoever.

Whether you work overhead or not drills should be as light as possible. Cordless drills are at best 7lbs in weight kicking off from 4lbs or even less. so, you should, of course, find the best cordless drill for you that weighs perfect for you.

The design of the tool, especially the handle, should be ergonomic enough to deliver comfort while you work. This reduces fatigue at work too much extent.

Get to know well about the material it is built with. Sometimes too lightweight means poor construction material like plastic around the chuck. Most avoid them if you can afford.

Numerous Speed Settings

The best contenders among the brands offer a number of speed levels. Often you don’t need full speed. Rather you would need lower speed to induce power into the material such as metals or tiles.

A greater number or trigger gears allows a user to keep him or she set ready for a wide range of applications. While using larger bits, lowering your gear will assist you. Smaller bits will, on the contrary, would ask for higher speed.

Wider Clutch Settings

A clutch or torque level selector knob will help you prevent over-forceful penetrations. Thus with a dew practice, you will get to know which clutch level will snap the screw. Then you may take precautions.

Setting the low stage on clutch will stop the chuck from further drilling after a certain level. Sensing the resistance the material offers, a wider torque selector gives you greater control over your drilling and fastening.

The Direction Reverse Switch

Apart from trigger switch, reversible direction switch is the one that is used the most often. Especially when you are fastening and unfastening too often, its position becomes a crucial factor.

The position and mechanism of it should be such that you need not to change the grip and all it requires are a simple press of thumb or index finger

The Batteries

Batteries of any cordless electric powered device have at least two aspects to concentrate. One is the voltage and the other is its Amp-hour or Ah rating.

· Voltage

Voltage is the reflection of the power the device draws. Certainly, 12V batteries aren’t as powerful as 18V ones. But it often varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.

The 10.8V drills are the same as the 12V ones. This is just a voltage regulation factor which you need not bother. But on the other hand, a 14.4V drill of a certain brand may not suffice you as a 12V one may do you in practice.

· Amp-Hour or Ah

The Ah rating reveals the storage capacity of the battery. More the Ah of the battery more is its runtime, but greater is its size. Besides, larger batteries would sensibly take a longer time to recharge. Most cordless drills come up with two 1.5Ah batteries to push the duty cycle up.

Their Chargers

Lithium Ion batteries are the most common in the market. But it matters how and when you charge them. In modern days chargers have lights to indicate a full charge. The charge level (often called “fuel level”) indicator lights come in great help to keep the battery life extended.

Prefer Brushless Motors

Brushless motor is the perfect choice in each and every way. It faces scanty friction while operation. Yet it would percept the type of workpiece by recognizing the resistance it offers. It adjusts the power draw from the battery.

Such drills will have long-lasting batteries as well as the device. So you’ll have more power you need but won’t run short of the runtime. Just look at the warranty period manufacturers with brushless motors have to offer and you’ll get the thing. It is 3-5 years vs. 3 years or less.

A Carrying Bag or a Case

Buying drill driver combo kits refer to handling a number of tools and tool accessories at a time. One can’t find it any good without a bag or a case to handle them. Certainly, hard cases would gain multitudinous preference since it would prevent any bumping among tools and parts.

LED Work lights

There are at least a dozen extra features best cordless drills possess but built in LEDs require distinctive attention. Some drills have LEDs surrounding the chuck, some near the trigger while others at the foot of the handle.

Those drills having work lights at the bottom, ask for handling with proper care. Otherwise, you may block the passage of light right at the middle of your work and may jeopardize the entire task. Most prefer LEDs set around the chuck.

There’s a too useful feature of delayed turning off of the work light on the release of the trigger. Some drills are made such that a slight depression on the trigger lit the LED on. Best cordless drills are those in which both the features are blended together.

Additional Features

Belt clips and cases with hard sides are common in modern day cordless drills. Belt clips turn out to be too handy when you have regular ceiling jobs. Besides, it helps in safe storage of the tool too.

Some brands have produced chargers with the capability of serving charges to both 18V and 12V variant batteries. If you have tools of both the ratings you won’t mind spending some bucks for it. Battery cases also have flashlights on them in some cases.

What Type of Cordless Drill Do You Need?

Drills have a huge variety in terms of their workpiece materials and applications. As soon as you set your sail to get the best cordless drill for you, you’ve narrowed down your search somewhat. But that’s just the commencing.

Primarily cordless drills may categorize themselves into two sections: hammer drill and drill/driver

The Drill / Driver

These machines are capable of both drilling holes and driving screws. You’ll find their applications mostly on timber and plastic and partly on metal. They are the most popular ones in the market and may suffice you the best.

The Hammer Drill

Hammer drills are nothing more than general drills except for the fact that they possess a special setting for working on the masonry. While working on stone, concrete or bricks these drills by the dint of that particular setting rocks on the load to exert greater force with hammer action.

They are obviously bulkier than the drill/drivers.

Many drill/driver kits include impact drivers too. They are specially built for applications like fastening and unfastening screws and bolts.

Both drills and drivers are equally important and having similar constructions are often just differentiated by bits only. So, the market is full of drill and driver tools which most people buy in a single package.

Know Your Package

How will you feel if you find a smart drill at a decent price but all it appears after it’s been shipped without any accessories? It’s not rare for a newbie to find him or her in such a situation.

Know that there are typically 3 categories drills are packaged and sold. They are-

1.  A Bare Tool

This package is the least expensive one but may turn out to be worthless if you are a new user. If you already have compatible batteries and charger then this is perfect for you.

2. A Kit

Cordless drill drivers with some essential accessories like drill and driver bits are found altogether in these packages. Some kits offer items other than just drills and drivers. Make sure whether you need all of them or not.

Note that most drill drivers that come in kits are 18 V ones. They are quite heavy duty in nature and are so priced.

3. Tool + Batteries + Charger

This package may be the best one for any starter. Almost all of such packages will offer 2 batteries with a charger dedicated for them. Keep in mind that dedicated chargers are the best for your batteries’ durability.