Written by Dan Roth
Updated April 4, 2024
Few power tools are as versatile as the best cordless drills, but there are a lot of things to consider when it’s time to buy one: battery life, power, and price to name a few.
We rounded up a wide range of power drills from top-picked brands to find out their differences. The Makita FD07R1 Cordless Driver / Drill Kit (available at Amazon for $199.00) is our pick for the best cordless power drill because it's lightweight and powerful. However, if you’re looking to partake in DIY projects for home improvement purposes, such as building a deck or hanging shade sails in your backyard, we have a number of cordless drills at different price points that will also get the job done.
Editor's Note:
The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.
Best Overall
Makita FD07R1 Cordless Driver / Drill Kit
- Voltage: 12 volts
- Weight: 2.3 pounds
This cordless, 12-volt drill from Makita may be lightweight, but it packs big-drill muscle. It has a very short snout and a slender, comfortable grip. The compact profile makes it easy to maneuver into tight spots, and it’s well-balanced in your hand.
This powerful, brushless and cordless drill powered right through our toughest task—boring through lumber with a spade bit—without binding up or getting tired.
Other details that made it stand out are the integrated LED for lighting up work, its high-quality feel in your hand, and hard-shell carrying case. The Makita family of cordless tools runs deep, too.
Even veteran tool-slingers will be impressed with the capabilities of this drill and the responsive way it tackles jobs.
Pros
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Lightweight and compact
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Well balanced
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Powerful
Cons
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None that we could find
$199.00 from Amazon
$199.00 from Home Depot
Best for Bigger Jobs
DeWalt DCD777C2 Cordless Drill / Driver Kit
- Voltage: 20 volts
- Weight: 2.6 pounds
This half-inch chuck DeWalt drill feels great in your hand and has lots of torque.
It’s a responsive, thoughtfully designed piece of equipment. It has a light, a belt clip, and even rubber stand-offs on the body to prevent the drill from ruining surfaces. A bonus: The 20-volt battery works with a lot of other tools in the lineup.
This drill shrugs off every one of the tasks we could throw at it, from boring with a spade bit to delicately sinking screws into the wallboard.
It’s a bit bigger and costs more than the other drills we found, but for an intermediate or advanced DIY homeowner, jumping straight to this DeWalt is the most likely way to love your job.
Pros
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Plenty of torque and driving power
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Several handy features
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Interchangeable 20-volt battery
Cons
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On the heavy side
Buy now at Amazon
Other Cordless Drills We Tested
Milwaukee 2407-22 Cordless Drill / Driver Kit
- Voltage: 12 volts
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
This cordless drill from Milwaukee had some nice touches, but there were some things we didn’t like.
It has a LED “fuel-gauge” display on the side of the body that lights up when you press the trigger, providing an ongoing snapshot of charge level. The controls are slick and smooth to operate, and its compact size makes it easy to handle.
However, the size makes us suspect there’s not a lot of power reserve, especially when you start challenging it with harder tasks. It’s also hard to stand the tool up when not in use–its battery serves as a narrow foot and makes the drill prone to falling over.
The Milwaukee is heavier than some of the smaller drills, even though it’s not much bigger. The extra weight, combined with a thicker grip, may fatigue your hands sooner.
This drill proved unsuitable for the more demanding tasks. It doesn’t have enough torque for boring with a spade bit. It took a long time, binding several times in the process.
If you buy this drill, stick to the smaller tasks and you’ll be okay.
Pros
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Lets you know how much battery is left
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Compact
Cons
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Not much power or torque for heavier projects
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Deceptively heavy
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Narrow foot makes it difficult to stand upright
Buy now at Amazon
$129.00 from Home Depot
Craftsman C3 19.2-Volt 3/8-inch Drill / Driver Kit
- Voltage: 19.2 volts
- Weight: 4.41 pounds
This Craftsman drill is made well enough, but that’s about it.
It only offers a single speed, which is geared lower and spins at a lower maximum RPM than the others. The charger feels flimsy and awkward to use, too.
It did power through easier tasks, driving screws into wood and wallboard and drilling smaller-diameter holes. It also did surprisingly well when boring through a thick material with a spade bit, but it did take longer than other drills because of its low speed.
There’s no shame in going with the Craftsman, but you’re missing out on handy features such as a light, belt clip, and two-speed capability. There’s also no storage case or bag.
Pros
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Well constructed
Cons
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Single-speed driver
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Takes longer to drive through materials
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No extra features
Buy now at Amazon
$81.79 from Walmart
Worx WX176L Switchdriver Cordless Drill / Driver
- Voltage: 20 volts
- Weight: 2.9 pounds
Worx has created the “Switchdriver,” a drill with a quick-change trick that handy homeowners will appreciate.
The ability to switch between, say, a drill bit and a screwdriver bit without breaking the flow of a project has a certain charm. But because it uses a quick-change bit mounting system instead of a traditional chuck, it may not work with the bits you already have.
It shares the same 20-volt battery as other tools in the Worx line, and it appears well-made and thoughtfully designed. During use, however, it became clear that this tool is out of its element when tasks get serious.
It has adjustable torque control that provides good control, though we noticed a delay in the initial response to the trigger and less fine speed adjustment than some of the other drills. In your hand, the balance also seems a little off because of the longer snout.
If you’re building flat-pack furniture or hanging curtain rods, the Switchdriver will do well, but its rotating head likely limits how powerful it can be and how durable it will be.
Pros
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Go from drill bit to screwdriver bit with a flip
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Adjustable torque control
Cons
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Not too powerful
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Balance is off
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Bits you already own may not work with this tool
Buy now at Amazon
$111.68 from Walmart
What to Consider When Buying a Cordless Drill
Sometimes known as drill-drivers because of the multiple jobs they do, you’re probably more likely to see cordless drills sinking screws into something rather than drilling holes. As often as cordless drills get used, you want to make sure you have the right one for your jobs. Here are a few things to think about.
Battery
Buying a cordless drill can be the first step in committing to an entire universe of cordless tools and accessories that work with a common battery design. It's worth checking out what else those lines include to understand which company offers the stuff that appeals to you the most.
Equally important is battery life. You don’t want your drill to lose power in the middle of a job. That’s when more than one battery can really come in handy, especially when it can take a few hours for a battery to be fully charged.
Size and Weight
A heavier drill may feel more hefty in your hand, but it also can lead to fatigue. As technology advances, drills are becoming lighter, and a brushless motor can shave off some weight, too. Larger chuck sizes can be an indicator of how powerful your drill is. Drills with 3/8-inch chucks likely won’t be able to handle the jobs that drills with 1/2-inch or larger chucks can tackle.
Price
A lot goes into the price of a cordless drill. You can often buy drills without the battery or charger included, which saves you some money if you've already got those items. You may also be able to save money by purchasing a drill driver kit with a cordless drill and other additional items, such as a circular saw, impact driver, or hammer drill.
Another factor contributing to the price of a drill is whether it has a brushless or brushed motor. While brushless motors cost more, they pay off with powerful, efficient performance. If you don’t need to use your drill often, a drill with a brushed motor may be sufficient.
Other Features
As you might expect, drills with extra features tend to be more expensive. But they can also be more convenient. Some of the drills we reviewed have a LED light that is super helpful when you’re working in tight spots. Other drills we reviewed had bumpers to protect surfaces should a drill bump into them and belt clips that make it more convenient to move around a job.
Really, which cordless drill is best for you comes down to how frequently you need to use it and what kind of jobs you’re going to use it for. If you only need a cordless drill to hang pictures, you don’t need to invest in a high-priced model. Conversely, a low-powered drill won’t be useful if you’re a serious DIYer who’s using a drill for construction and remodeling jobs.
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Meet the writer
Dan Roth is an editor, writer, and automotive journalist.
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