Cordless drills can be the best way to handle odd jobs around the house or even bigger jobs like home improvement and renovations. However, with so many varied options on the market, it’s easy to get confused about which products are great and which are not so great.
In this article, we take a look at 7 of the best cordless drills on the market today. After our reviews, we list the key things you’ll want to watch out for when choosing one to ensure you end up with the best product for your needs.
1. Milwaukee M18FDD2 Cordless Drill Driver (Top Pick)
The Milwaukee M18 is a great quality drill that can handle any heavy-duty task. It is one of the most compact cordless drills around, so it’s very convenient for use in tight spaces. Even with the compact design, this drill packs a lot of power.
Handling it is quite comfortable, it fits well in the hand and it’s not too heavy. You can use it for extended periods without your arm getting tired.
It falls down a little with the power switch. Some people have found that the switch can get stuck sometimes, requiring them to press it twice to make it work. The business end of the drill may get a little hot sometimes too. It is, after all, a heavy-duty drill in a compact size.
Overall, this is a great power drill to own and will stay with you for a long time.
What We Like:
- Powerful
- Compact
- Handles well
What We Don’t Like:
- Tricky switch
- May get a bit hot while in use
2. Bosch Cordless Drill Driver PSR 18
This drill is great quality and reliable, just what you would expect from Bosch. It is lightweight and easy to handle for both men and women. It uses a universal battery that you can interchange with any other Bosch power tool, which is a very handy feature since you can exchange the battery when the charge is low and keep on working.
This is not a heavy-duty drill. Use it for light tasks around the home, such as setting up furniture or hanging pictures. It is not the right tool for drilling brick.
One downside to this drill is the design of the direction switch. Some people may find that their thumb gets in the way of the switch when the drill is set to reverse. Other than that, this is a perfect drill for using around the home.
What We Like:
- Lightweight
- Handles well
- Universal battery
What We Don’t Like:
- Direction switch is too close to your thumb
3. WORX WX175 Brushless Drill/Driver
The WX175 from Worx is very fast and super responsive. It has a lot of power and can handle just about any job you throw at it. It can also take just about any bit that you are likely to ever use, making it one of the most useful cordless drills around.
Handling is very comfortable; it fits well in the hand and has a nice feel to it. Although it is a heavy-duty drill, it is relatively lightweight; your arm won’t get tired too quickly.
When using it at high speed, it may start to whine. This can be off-putting for some people, but this is still a solid drill that you can use for just about anything.
Overall, this is a good quality, reliable drill that you are likely to keep for years.
What We Like:
- Fast and responsive
- Handles well
- Versatile
What We Don’t Like:
- May whine at high speed
4. Milwaukee 2407-22 M12 3/8 Drill Driver Kit
The M12 is a great drill for light work and is good to keep in your house for once-in-a-while jobs. It’s light enough to carry under your arm or to use on a ladder and it handles nicely. The unit is compact, so it’s good for tight spaces and can easily be stored.
The power is on the low side but it has a surprising amount of torque. If you have a heavy-duty job to do, you’ll need a bigger drill, but you won’t find many household jobs it can’t handle.
The variable speeds work well, so switching from drilling to removing screws is easy. The electric brake is very smooth also; there is no sudden jarring motion.
The only real downside to this drill is that it’s only for light tasks. Keep it in a drawer somewhere handy and you’ll have a great power tool for just about any domestic job that comes up.
What We Like:
- Compact
- Plenty of torque
What We Don’t Like:
- Light duty only
- Low power
5. Ryobi P277 One+ 18 Volt Lithium Ion Drill Driver
The P277 from Ryobi is strong and works well. It feels a little light for a heavy-duty drill, but It has a nice balance and is comfortable to hold. You can use it for quite a while without your arm getting tired.
It is reasonably quiet as well; it sounds like a smaller, light-duty cordless drill, but it doesn’t lack in power. It takes a universal battery, which is always good, so if you have other Ryobi power tools, you can swap them out when the charge runs low.
On the negative side, some people have found that the sliding directional switch tends to get in the way during use, and they can easily knock it while working. The unit is also bigger and bulkier than earlier Ryobis, but this is only a minor thing.
Overall, this is a good, cheap cordless drill that will handle most tasks easily, and is good for using over long periods.
What We Like:
- Lightweight
- Universal battery
- Easy handling
What We Don’t Like:
- Bulky
- Directional switch located poorly
6. Black+Decker Lithium-ion Drill Driver
The Black+Decker BDCDC18-XE18V is a compact and lightweight drill that is best for DIY tasks. It has 10 torque settings so you can adjust it to suit a variety of materials and screw sizes. You can drill into different material including wood, metal and plastic with this cordless drill.
The build quality is good, it has an anti-slip soft grip that is designed to fit well in your hand and offer comfort and control. The variable speed trigger gives you ultimate control while drilling holes and screw driving. The 18V Lithium-Ion battery system holds 80% of its charge over 3 months of being idle so there is no need to charge it before each use. This set comes with 1 ion battery and a 200mA charger.
The maximum drilling capacity is 25mm into wood and 10mm into steel making it great for DIY jobs. The drill also features a handy clip for an extra screwdriver/ drill bit and an LED light that illuminates the area when in use. This is a powerful and fast drill in a compact package.
What We Like:
- Lightweight and powerful
- LED light for use in dimly-lit areas
- Value for money
What We Don’t Like:
- Not heavy duty – best suited to DIY use
7. CACOOP 18V Lithium-Ion power Cordless Drill
The CACOOP cordless drill kit is a great value drill option suited to home repairs and DIY projects. It comes with a range of accessories including 6 twist drills, 6 screwing drills, a double-ended bit and a magnetic bit holder.
The set also comes with a 1H charger to charge the 1500 mAh battery. The CACOOP ion batteries have thermal protection for safety and a charge indicator to avoid overcharging. The battery can be charged in just 60 minutes.
This compact drill only weighs 1.2kg and has a soft grip to make it comfortable to hold and use. It has a 10mm auto-locking metal chuck and you can easily change bits with one hand. The cordless drill has 2 speed settings and a range of pre-selectable torque settings to provide optimum power for drilling into a range of materials. The CACOOP cordless drill also comes with a sturdy tool box for convenient transport and storage.
What We Like:
- Lots of accessories
- Quick charge
- Comes with a toolbox
What We Don’t Like:
- Only good for light-duty day to day tasks
Cordless Drill Buyer’s Guide
A cordless drill offers efficiency, ease of use and convenience. A drill should be in every homeowner’s toolbox or workshop and a cordless model is a great choice that’s ideal for a number of applications. Use this buyers guide to find the best cordless drill for your home improvement needs:
How To Buy A Cordless Drill
You can purchase a cordless drill in one of three ways:
- As a stand-alone drill that comes with a battery pack and a charger.
- As part of a kit or drill set where you get several power tools from the same brand.
- On its own with no battery or charger.
Purpose
When comparing the best cordless drills for your tool kit, think about what kind of jobs you will be using it for.
Chuck size is a good indicator of what you can do with a drill. Heavy-duty power drills will have a chuck size of 1/2 an inch. This is large enough to accommodate almost all drill bits.
A light-duty drill will have a chuck size of 3/8 of an inch. The drill power can still be good and is best for most general home use. They offer good versatility and performance but they won’t do as much as the impact driver or heavy-duty variety.
There are also very light-duty drills with a 1/4 inch chuck. These types take hexagonal drill bits and are best for specialty jobs.
Related: The Best Impact Driver
Motor
Try to get a brushless motor if you can. A brushless motor will have less friction than a standard motor and can adjust the power output when they sense resistance. You will get a longer run time from the battery this way.
Handling
The best cordless drill will feel comfortable in your hand and will be easy to use. Make sure it doesn’t turn left or right in your grip, and that it doesn’t strain your hand to hold for extended periods. Test it with the type of battery you will be using, as that’s where most of the weight comes from.
