10 Cordless Drills for the Do-It-Yourselfer
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Whether you’re cruising the tool aisle at a home center or searching the countless retailers online, you’ll find an overwhelming array of cordless drills. CR is here to help narrow your choices—down to the 30-plus models we’ve purchased and tested, for starters.
We perform the bulk of our tests on a benchtop instrument called a dynamometer. It measures torque under different loads that we use to derive scores for power, speed, and run time. If you were to add up all the energy expended by the drills in our ratings and apply it to the real world, you could drive 79,292 1½-inch-long #8 wood screws into pine.
“Across the board we’ve seen drills improve in the last decade,” says Frank Spinelli, who oversees cordless drill testing for Consumer Reports. Spinelli also notes that as a group, drills are getting lighter and more powerful every year, though there are still clear differences among models.
Check out our cordless drill ratings for detailed results of all that effort. There you’ll find models from contractor favorites DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee, as well as brands for the average homeowner: Black+Decker, Greenworks, Hitachi, Panasonic, Porter-Cable, Ridgid, Skil, and Worx. We also tested models from Kobalt (available at Lowe’s) and Ryobi (Home Depot).
For more on drill types, see CR’s cordless drills buying guide.
Here are 10 models for the dedicated DIYer, from weekend warrior to future master carpenter. They’re broken down into three categories—general use, heavy duty, and light duty—and listed alphabetically, not in order of CR rank.
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Bosch PS32-02
CR’s take: One of only three brushless models in our general-use category, this Bosch delivers solid performance at under 2 pounds, less than half the weight of a number of heavy-duty drills we tested. The slim, pistol-grip profile makes this 12-volt model comfortable to handle, and the downsized package still accommodates features such as a built-in LED light and bit storage. If you’re upgrading from an old 18-volt drill and don’t find yourself doing lots of heavy-duty work with your drill, this is a well-rounded option.
What’s included: Two 2.0-amp-hour (Ah) batteries, five bits, and a soft-sided case
Makita FD07R1
CR's take: This brushless Makita weighs just over 2 pounds and stands barely 6 inches tall. Despite its slim profile, the Makita packs a serious punch, making it a solid alternative to some of the larger, 18- and 20-volt models. It comes with two batteries and a rapid charger, which tops off an empty battery in an impressive 60 minutes, so you’ll never be without a drill. Also nice, the battery mounts to the bottom of the drill, so unlike the Bosch, it stands upright.
What’s included: Two 2.0-Ah batteries and a reversible Phillips/flat-head bit
Ridgid R82005K
CR’s take: If you don’t harbor a lust for power tools but recognize that you need a drill of some sort, this is the one to buy. For $100, you get everything you need and nothing you don’t. Like the 12-volt Bosch above, this model has a pistol-grip profile, making it both comfortable and small enough to toss in the junk drawer. Plus it comes with a three-year warranty for the tool itself as well as the battery. That’s among the longest for drills in our ratings.
What’s included: Two 1.5-Ah batteries
Black+Decker BDCDDBT120C
CR’s take: This bargain-priced drill has a big 20-volt battery that seems like a mismatch for its small ⅜-inch chuck and lightweight 2.5-pound body. It’s half the weight of some of the largest 20-volt tools in our ratings—good for handling but perhaps not so terrific for power. It comes with a lone battery that takes nearly 4 hours to charge vs. only 30 minutes for some other models in our ratings.
What’s included: One 2.0-Ah battery and a reversible Phillips/flat-head bit
DeWalt DCD791D2
CR’s take: This 20-volt drill from DeWalt (featured in the video above) is neither as brawny as the biggest 18-volt drills we tested nor as balanced as the best 12-volts. But by splitting the difference between those extremes, this model may be the Goldilocks of cordless drills for some users. That means it’s compact enough that you won’t tire when swapping out an overhead light fixture but forceful enough to bore holes in hardwood without bogging down. It’s well worth considering if you’re torn between voltage ratings.
What’s included: Two 2.0-Ah batteries and a hard-sided case
Kobalt (Lowe's) KDD 1424A-03
CR’s take: Exclusive to Lowe’s, this 4-pound bruiser is a whole lot of drill for the money. One way Kobalt keeps costs down is by giving you only one battery, albeit a big 24-volt unit. Consider buying a second battery, $50, for larger projects and always keeping one on the charger. This model will drill plenty of holes fast and perform well enough to serve as a tackle-any-task option for the average homeowner.
What’s included: One 2.0-Ah battery, a removable side grip, a single Phillips bit, and a hard-sided case
Milwaukee 2705-22
CR’s take: By pairing a powerful, brushless motor with a giant 5.0-Ah battery, this drill leaves you feeling like you could build a deck in an afternoon. (If you tried, there’s little doubt the drill could keep up.) That huge battery makes the drill heavy; at 4.65 pounds, it’s more than double the weight of some stellar 12-volt models CR tested. And with so much of the weight concentrated in the battery, which snaps onto the base of the handle, it can feel unbalanced. The clutch has 14 settings, so you can dial back the beast for more delicate tasks such as tightening a cabinet pull. Of course, if that’s all you’re doing, a screwdriver will work just fine.
What’s included: Two 5.0-Ah batteries, a removable side grip, and a hard-sided case
Ridgid R86116K
CR’s take: If you don’t mind a drill on the bulkier end of the spectrum, you may want to check out this model. It’s one of the few drills in our ratings with a built-in hammer-drill setting. That’s a handy function for projects such as drilling into masonry—think fastening a ledger board to the foundation of your house to build a deck. (If you don’t know what a ledger board is, you probably don’t need this drill.) The Ridgid also has an astonishing 115 clutch settings, which allow for precise control when driving screws. And it’s as quick, if not quite as powerful, as the very best drills in our ratings.
What’s included: Two 2.0-Ah batteries and a hard-sided case
Ryobi P1815
CR’s take: Ryobi is a brand sold exclusively at Home Depot. This drill, like many of the brand’s offerings, provides quite a bit for the money, including a charger and two 18-volt batteries. The batteries also power an exceptionally broad slew of tools, including traditional power tools, such as a circular saw, an impact driver, and a work light, as well as some unique offerings like an electric air inflator, pruning shears, and even a leaf blower.
What’s included: Two 2.0-Ah batteries and a soft-sided case
Worx WX176L
CR’s take: This unique drill falls in our light-duty category because of the limitations of its fixed, ¼-inch chuck. But it blurs the lines because it’s powered by a 20-volt battery, which would otherwise place it in the heavy-duty class. It’s a one-off design with two chucks, allowing you to load two bits at once and easily switch from drilling to driving by rotating the wheel at the business end of the tool. The dual chuck might be more of a liability than an asset for some. The mechanism makes the tool a little unwieldy and difficult to maneuver in tight spaces—say, inside a sink cabinet—which is why you’d want a light-duty drill in the first place.
What’s included: Two 1.5-Ah batteries, a single Phillips bit, and a soft-sided case
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