Research The Best Cordless Drill & Impact Drivers For the Money

​ If you’re weaving through the endless cordless drill reviews, then read on.. What you won’t find on this site are reviews on cheap drills. Lousy under-performing tools aren’t worth the aggravation and don’t belong in anyone’s tool-shed.

Wanna buy a cheap cordless drill that will make anyone want to jump off a cliff?

check out this one –the Worksite cordless drill – it’s guaranteed to piss someone off!

It doesn’t have to be expensive to be the best drill!

…In a Hurry?

Don’t be disappointed and get the most for your money by choosing the right tool for the job…

What Type of Cordless Drill is Best for You?

Cordless DrillImpact Driver Screw GunScrewdriverHammer DrillRight Angle Drill

This is the most commonly found power tool in any workshop, garage, or construction site. It’s one of the first power tools a woodworker should own. It has enough strength to drill and drive screws into thick planks of wood. It is the quintessential tool for those who enjoy projects around the home.

See our Top Rated Drills

The impact drill does all the same things the drill driver can do (with the exception of using it with a hole saw). The difference is an impact drill is much more powerful. It’s most utilized for when the job calls for more torque like when using lag screws.

See our Top Rated Impact Drivers

The screw gun is used when you need to drive a high volume of screws. The installation of wood decking and fencing, or drywall and is the perfect job for a screw gun. It has a few unique features that make it better suited to high volume and repetitive work. Screw guns feature screws auto-feeds and automatic counter sink adjustments.

This is a convenient little power tool for screwing and unscrewing screws of all sizes. It does not have enough power to drive a screw into a material that is not pre-drilled. It is simply a motorized screwdriver, used in the same applications as a manual screwdriver and is a pretty darn useful tool.

See Our Top Rated ScrewDrivers

The tool is named for its dual action. The hammer driver hammers at the same time it drills. This is designed to drive a screw into extremely hard surfaces like concrete, pavement, and brick. Several hammer drills allow you to switch between hammer and chisel mode.

See Our Top Rated Rotary Hammer Drills

A right angle drill is just a drill driver with a 90 degree bend at the neck. It is designed for using in small spaces. It is perfect for plumbers, cabinet makers, and contractors who renovate around existing construction. It is not uncommon for these drills to feature a compact design making them even more suited to close quarters.

See our Top Rated Right Angle Drills

The Best Cordless Drill: See our Top 7 from each category

We’ve compiled a list of top-rated cordless drill driver brands from each category to make the buying process easier for you.

So take a seat, grab a coffee (or beer) and enjoy the countless hours of research and hands-on tests we’ve done and feel free to email us with any questions you have.

#1 The Best 20v Cordless Drill: DEWALT DCD795D2

The DeWALT cordless hammer drill features a smooth running brushless motor. It provides 57% more run time than the standard motor. It has two speed transmission that is high speed with three different drive modes. It comes with a 1/2 inch ratcheting, keyless chuck. It has an ergonomic handle that ensures a better grip with a balanced feel — it feels super light and comfortable to use. The kit includes two XR Li-Ion batteries, a charger, and carry case that hold the entire kit and in my opinion – it’s the best 20v cordless drill for the money. Full Review

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My Overall Impression

#2 The Best 18v Impact Driver: Makita 18v Lxt

This is a compact, cordless impact driver that features a brushless motor. It is a four speed motor with a Quick Shift mode for fastening control. Other special features of the Makita are the integrated modes that ensure proper fastening. The Assist Mode, and Tightening Mode control the speed and torque of the motor to prevent breakage, stripping, and damage to your working material. It’s a powerful impact driver that can tackle even some of the toughest lag bots. Full Review

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#3 Dewalt 20v DCF620B Max Brushless ScrewGun

This cordless screw gun has 4,400 rpm brushless motor. It has a three year limited warranty, one year of free service, and a 90 money back guarantee. The DeWALT built motor ensures the maximum amount of runtime. The DeWALT features and ergonomic design that gives it more balance than the corded models. The lock-on nose cone locks securely yet removes easily. It has an attachment for you to add a collated magazine.

This is a specialty tool geared towards those that are drywallers – it’s pretty much a useless drill outside of installing sheetrock.

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#4 Hitachi DB3DL2 3.6 V Dual-Position Cordless Screwdriver Kit

The Hitachi cordless screwdriver utilizes a dual position handle that switches from straight to the pistol position to maximize the versatility of the tool. It has lithium-ion powered batteries that have a life three times longer than the standard battery life for a cordless screwdriver. The quarter inch hex chuck is designed for quick bit changes. It’s a compact and lightweight design measuring less than 11 inches in length and weighing a pound. There is a built-in LED light to illuminate your work area. The Hitachi cordless screwdriver comes with a lifetime tool warranty and a two-year battery warranty. Read full review

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#5 Best Cordless Hammer Drill: Milwaukee M18 2605-20

The Milwaukee 7/8” SDS Plus Rotary hammer drill packs an impressive 1.8 ft-lbs of impact energy. It has a powerful and dependable brushless motor. It is an 18V drill that is one of the most compact drivers of this type. The REDLINK PLUS feature prevents over-discharge, overloading, and overheating. It has a ratcheting lock chuck to secure your bits. The ergonomically designed handles and grips absorb shock to give a secure and comfortable grip. Read our in-depth review

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#6 Milwaukee 2615-21CT M18 Cordless Right Angle Drill Kit

The Milwaukee right angle drill is the most compact drill on the market measuring less than four inches in length. It has 12 torque settings and features one of the first electronic clutches on the market. The kit includes batteries, a carrying bag, and the multi-voltage charger that takes both the M18 and M12 batteries. There is an onboard fuel gauge for the battery as well as an LED light. Full review

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Cordless drill reviews: The only buyer’s guide You need.

From fine woodworking to heavy-duty constructions, power drills can make just about any task much easier. The fact that they can be adapted to most tasks (using bits) also makes them highly versatile, something that has only improved with the advent of a cordless drill. It’s safe to say that these are an absolute must-have for any toolbox, which means you’ll be looking forward to purchasing one if you haven’t already done so. Since these tools come in many different varieties, it’s very important that you know what to consider when reading various reviews.

Brushless VS a Brushed Motor

In both brushed and brushless motors, magnets are what produce the rotary motion of the shaft. The means of power delivery is what sets apart these two types, with the former utilizing carbon brushes for this task. The latter make use of internal circuitry to create a revolving magnetic field, which effectively eliminates the need for brushes.

Mode of operation aside, the most important point to note is that brushless motors are more efficient and more powerful than their brushed counterparts. Drills that rely on these motors also tend to produce less friction and heat when in use. Still, drills with brushed motors are usually cheaper, which is something you’ll want to consider if you’ll be using yours for minimally-intensive tasks.

Read our in-depth article on Brushed vs Brushless – to understand why it’s important to buy brushless drills.

RPM and Torque

Short for rotations per minute, the RPM figure is what indicates the maximum speed achievable by a particular drill. Most low-end models provide at least 2 options here (usually 300 rpm and 800 rpm) plus a slide switch to allow users select low or high speed. These are best suited for light-duty tasks, but torque must also be taken into account when comparing speeds.

Torque refers to the rotary turning force of the device. Basically, the more torque a drill has, the better its ability to drill into hard surfaces. Choose low speed drills if this is what you have in mind, or those on the higher side of the RPM scale if you’ll mostly be boring holes.

Clutch

Also known as torque selector, this feature minimizes the likelihood of overdriving or snapping screws. More specifically, the clutch is what disengages the drive shaft when a certain level of resistance is attained. While most cordless drills have an adjustable clutch, the number of settings available varies across models. Experts recommend choosing a device with a wide range so you can fine-tune the drill’s operation. Popular opinion dictates that a decent device should have at least 24 clutch settings. Although you won’t need such a diverse range for basic tasks, it will make it easier to tailor the drill to the material(s) you’ll be working with.

Chuck

This is the part of the device that holds the rotating bit in place. A good chuck should hold the bit securely without any wobble, but it’s also important to check the size before purchasing. Unless you’ll mostly be drilling small holes, look for a 13mm chuck that will be able to hold larger bits. This would especially be crucial if you’re likely to take on heavy-duty projects in future.

Also remember to check out keyless chucks — these have metal prongs to allow users loosen and tighten them easily without having to use keys. The fact that they can hold most bits also makes them ideal for general-purpose drilling. Another design that makes it easier to change bits is the hex chuck. Although they only work with hexagonal bits, hex chucks are well-suited for drilling hard materials and less likely to slip.

Battery

A cordless tool is only as good as its battery. In other words, the reliability of your power source can make the difference between a good day’s work and having your drill run out of juice when you need it the most. It’s thus crucial that you invest in a battery that will be able to hold its charge for long enough, besides generating power at high levels of efficiency.

Drills with such batteries will always carry a higher price, but they weigh less and run longer on a single charge than devices relying on older power sources. Speaking of which, most old-school chargers can take up to 5 hours to fully recharge a battery, while their modern ‘smart’ counterparts will only take an hour at most. You’ll also want your drill to have a battery gauge so you always know how much power you have remaining as you work.

The Material You’re Drilling

Before heading out shopping, take time to think about where the tool will be used more often. For woodworking, the smaller models (specifically those in the 12V range) will be well-suited for most tasks. Only go for larger drills (18-20V) if you’ll be boring large holes or using a hole saw.

If you work with metal, try to go for as much power as you can afford. Keep in mind that most models are only capable of drilling light metal, which means you might have to look for something better suited for heavier applications. If you’re a mason, what you should be looking for is a cordless hammer drill. Thanks to its high-speed hammering action, a tool in this category will comfortably be able to bore through concrete and stone.

What’s the Difference between NiCad & Lithium Batteries?

These two represent the most popular battery choices on the market today, the older of wich is the nickel cadmium (NiCad) variety. Besides being relatively inexpensive, NiCad batteries are also quite durable, with some having the ability to withstand 1000 charge cycles. However, their poor energy density means these batteries have to be recharged often. In addition, there has been a number of concerns with regards to the toxic chemicals commonly used in the manufacture of these products.

This is perhaps the reason why lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have emerged as an alternative power source for cordless tools. Compared to NiCad batteries, these are made using lighter materials and have twice the energy density. The latter makes them excel at delivering high-range power over a single charge. All these benefits come at a price, which means you’ll have to part with more when purchasing drills with Li-ion batteries.

Which Drill Voltage Should I choose? 12V, 18V, 20V, 36V?

Generally speaking, the higher the voltage of a power tool, the more the torque it produces and, as a result, the more you’ll have to pay for it. While most power tools have voltages falling between 3V and 48V, cordless drills shrink this range to 12-36V. On most models, the voltage will be indicated by a figure printed on the side of its battery.

As for your choice of voltage, this will ultimately depend on the kind of projects you take on. For light tasks, consider buying a low-voltage model, which would be the 12V in this case. Opt for an 18- or 20-volt drill if you’ll be tackling some heavy-duty tasks, or even a 36V tool if you need to drill large holes quickly or drive huge fasteners. It’s also worth noting that voltage also affects weight, so expect high-voltage tools to weigh more.

What Does The “ah” Mean in Cordless Batteries??

‘Ah’ is short for ampere hours, and is used to indicate the capacity of a particular battery. A high-capacity battery will generally outlast one with a lower Ah rating, but there are a few exceptions. For this reason, make sure you go through our reviews to see where a particular model falls in battery performance tests.

Also keep in mind that high-capacity batteries will always be heavier than their smaller counterparts. As such, you’ll have to take portability into account when figuring out how long you want your battery to last between charges. A battery with a high Ah rating will also take longer to charge. Depending on the application(s) you have in mind, look for something that balances all these elements, of course taking your budget into consideration as well.

What does Variable Trigger Speed Mean?

Basically, a variable speed trigger is a switch that allows you to select different speeds depending on the task at hand. On most models, this feature is made possible using a range of gears. While drills with variable speed settings generally offer more versatility, it’s important to choose one that offers great control at all speeds.

In other words, your drill should be easy to operate and provide sufficient variable control. For more delicate tasks, opt for a model that has a 2-speed switch as well as a trigger with variable control. This way, you’ll be able to vary the speed from barely rotating to the top of each range.

Whether you’re a hobbyist or professional craftsman, rest assured that there’s a drill on the market that’s just right for you. As you shop, be sure to consider what you’ll be using the tool for, the materials you frequently work with, as well as any challenges you might encounter when tackling a project. Keep in mind that price doesn’t always go hand-in-hand with quality and performance, so try to compare as many drills as you can so that you can find the best cordless drill for under 150, 100, 75 and 50.00 to suit your needs.

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