We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Home Products Home Improvement The 7 Best Cordless Drills, Tested and Reviewed From household tasks to heavy-duty yard work, these drills will make DIY projects a breeze. By Rachel Simon Rachel Simon Rachel has written for Dotdash Meredith's Ecommerce team since 2020, covering home goods, tech, fashion, beauty, and more. She's interviewed dozens of experts and is always on top of the latest trends and product releases. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Jamie Fischer Jamie Fischer Jamie Fischer is a commerce writer for Real Simple. She has experience writing content for various digital publications including Parents, and is passionate about home, lifestyle, and beauty products. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 02, 2024 Fact checked by Rich Scherr In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Final Verdict Our Testing Process How to Shop More to Consider FAQs Take Our Word for It What Is Real Simple Selects? Photo: Real Simple / Dera Burreson If you’re the type of person who likes to attempt DIY home repairs, then having an effective cordless drill is essential. Not only are these drills powerful and fast-acting, but they’re also extremely versatile, as they can be used for hanging pictures, installing fans, and everything in between. “A cordless drill offers high mobility,” says Brian Shaunfield, Lowe’s store manager serving Charlotte, North Carolina. “They are perfect for projects in hard-to-reach spaces or jobs where you may not have easy access to a power outlet.” He also notes that, since they’re compact, cordless models are easy to use over longer periods. To find the best cordless drills on the market, we tested 33 options in our Lab, evaluating them based on qualities like performance, ease of use, battery life, and more. We also got expert insight from Shaunfield on what to look for when shopping for cordless drills. Our Top Picks Best Overall Cordless Drill: DeWalt Atomic 20V Max Drill/Driver at Amazon $179 Jump to Review Best Budget Cordless Drill: Skil Pwrcore 12-Volt Cordless Drill at Walmart $110 Jump to Review Best Splurge Cordless Drill: Makita 18-Volt Drill/Driver Kit at Amazon $346 Jump to Review Best Lightweight Cordless Drill: Bosch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit at Amazon $139 Jump to Review Best Cordless Drill for Occasional Use: Ridgid Cordless Drill/Driver Kit at Amazon $77 Jump to Review Best Heavy-Duty Cordless Drill: Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hammer Drill/Driver Kit at Walmart $332 Jump to Review Best Cordless Drill With Accessories: DeWalt 5-in-1 Cordless Drill at Amazon $149 Jump to Review Best Overall Cordless Drill DeWalt Atomic 20V Max Drill/Driver PHOTO: Toolbarn $157 at Amazon $159 at Home Depot $170 at Tractor Supply Co. Our Ratings Performance 5/5 Power 5/5 Ease of Use 5/5 Features 5/5 Value 5/5 What Stands Out The precise, comfortable drill can handle screws of all sizes. What Could Be Improved The lightweight design may not feel as heavy-duty as other models. After trying out 33 drills in our Lab, we can attest that this model from DeWalt is the best cordless drill we tested. It’s lightweight and ultra-precise yet still has enough power to handle larger jobs. We especially appreciate its versatility: No matter what kind of hole you’re trying to make or what surface you’re drilling into, this tool will do the trick. It can easily drive and sink screws of all sizes—even especially large lag screws—so you can rely on it for anything. The keyless chuck impressively gripped all sizes of the bits that we tested without issue. Plus, the drill’s light build gives it a smooth balance and effortless trigger engagement. There’s also a handy LED light to illuminate your work space, which stays on even after the trigger is disengaged. We found the design to be incredibly user-friendly, and we were able to switch out the drill heads with ease. This pick helpfully comes with a convenient bag to store all of its parts, two batteries, and a charger, making it easy to bring it on the go. After six months of use, this model continued to exceed our expectations. It’s comfortable, easy to use, and a great value for the price. Overall, we think this tool is a must-have for anyone looking to complete DIY projects around the house, from light indoor chores to more heavy-duty outdoor tasks. Voltage: 20 | Max RPM: 1650 | Chuck Size: .5 inches | Settings: Not listed | Weight: 2.4 pounds Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Budget Cordless Drill Skil Pwrcore 12-Volt Cordless Drill PHOTO: Walmart $110 at Walmart $110 at Walmart $70 at Lowe's Our Ratings Performance 5/5 Power 3/5 Ease of Use 5/5 Features 3/5 Value 5/5 What Stands Out The compact, affordable model is ideal for simple projects. What Could Be Improved This drill is less suited for major tasks. If you’re looking to keep your tool costs low, consider this budget-friendly cordless drill from Skil. It may not be the most powerful or heavy-duty cordless drill on the market, but it still has plenty to offer. It’s a durable, easy-to-control drill, and it’s compact, too. In our testing, we found that it has a long battery life and charges quickly. This cordless drill has a 1/2-inch chuck bit—unusual for drills of this voltage—that securely held all the bits and drivers throughout our testing. While this model works well for light projects, we observed that it’s not quite as effective on larger holes and may stall sometimes, making it best suited for the occasional quick job. Even though it doesn’t include a storage bag, we appreciate that it comes with a battery and a charger at its already low price, so you won’t need to buy those separately. At home, we used the drill for decking and assembling furniture. We were impressed that the drill’s power didn’t waiver at all as we worked, maintaining its strength throughout the entire repair. After six months of frequent use, the drill maintained its torque and the battery continued to hold its charge well. All in all, this pick is ideal for homeowners and renters alike who need an affordable cordless drill for occasional use. Whether you’re putting hanging pictures or tightening hinges, this drill makes the perfect partner in crime. Voltage: 12 | Max RPM: 1700 | Chuck Size: .5 inches | Settings: 18 | Weight: 1.3 pounds Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Splurge Cordless Drill Makita 18-Volt Drill/Driver Kit PHOTO: Amazon $346 at Amazon $169 at Walmart $169 at Home Depot Our Ratings Performance 4.8/5 Power 5/5 Ease of Use 4.5/5 Features 5/5 Value 4.5/5 What Stands Out The high-quality drill is powerful enough for serious work. What Could Be Improved It’s a bit large and heavy, so holding it may wear you out overtime. For shoppers who are willing to spend a bit more on their tools, we recommend this cordless drill kit from Makita. It’s a sizable and super-powerful drill that’s suitable for serious work, making it ideal for heavy-duty or professional use. This drill features a two-speed transmission and a self-ratcheting chuck so you can grip it with ease despite its significant heft, as well as an LED light. But the real perk of this cordless drill is its power, which is enough to bore large holes at high speed with ease. In our testing, we also found that it has a very responsive trigger that makes it easy to change the speeds. Just keep in mind that this tool doesn’t have a hammer drill mode. And, while the handle is very comfortable to hold, the entire drill is heavy enough to wear you out after all-day use. But if you’re looking for a serious drill, you’ll be happy with this one—especially since it comes with two batteries, a charger, a belt clip, an auxiliary handle, and a bag with plenty of pockets to store everything. Voltage: 18 | Max RPM: 2100 | Chuck Size: .5 inches | Settings: Not listed | Weight: 5.7 pounds Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Lightweight Cordless Drill Bosch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit PHOTO: Amazon $129 at Amazon $129 at Lowe's View on Acmetools.com Our Ratings Performance 4/5 Ease of Use 5/5 Features 5/5 Value 5/5 Power 4/5 What Stands Out The ergonomic drill is powerful yet easy to hold for hours at a time. What Could Be Improved It stalls a bit and may take a while to fully charge. If you have small hands or know you’ll be using your drill for hours on end, consider a more lightweight option like this one from Bosch. It’s an easy-to-carry drill that you won’t get tired of holding, and it has two speed settings and a high torque so you can tackle numerous projects with ease. Despite its small size, this cordless drill still delivered an impressive performance in our tests. Throughout our testing process, we found that this drill drives screws easily at the right depth. It does stall a bit with larger bits and at higher speeds, but you can quickly toggle between the two options to make it work. The cordless drill’s trigger is easy to feather when you need a soft touch, too. This tool comes with LED lights, a canvas storage bag, and two batteries (although keep in mind that recharging the batteries takes a bit of time). While the storage bag is convenient, we do wish it had compartments to keep our drill bits organized. We’ve used this drill for several tasks to date, from hanging up curtain rods to installing dog gates. Even after six months, the drill has continued to be our go-to for smaller projects. At the end of the day, we think this is a great lightweight cordless drill for general household use with few limitations. Voltage: 12 | Max RPM: 1300 | Chuck Size: .4 inches | Settings: 20 | Weight: 2.5 pounds Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Cordless Drill for Occasional Use Ridgid Cordless Drill/Driver Kit PHOTO: Amazon $77 at Amazon $89 at Walmart $100 at Home Depot Our Ratings Performance 4/5 Power 4/5 Ease of Use 4/5 Features 4/5 Value 4/5 What Stands Out Simple and reliable, this drill is effective and easy to use. What Could Be Improved It lacks the bells and whistles of more advanced models, and the design isn’t very ergonomic. Not planning on using your cordless drill very often? Then check out an option like this one from Ridgid, which we found to be ideal for light and infrequent use. It’s a fairly compact, easy-to-use drill that may not have tons of bells and whistles, but it works quite well as a simple, reliable tool with two speed options and a powerful motor. In our testing, we found that this drill performed well at drilling holes of all sizes. Nevertheless, the tool felt well-balanced and it was easy to tighten when small bits fell out. We also love the LED light—it’s strong and illuminates exactly where you need it. Plus, the battery, charger, and storage case are included in the purchase. On the downside, the drill can stall when working on bigger holes, and the design isn’t as ergonomic as some other options out there (the battery release is widely set and the power switch is hard to move). Still, it’s a solid, low-priced drill that’s great for basic purposes. Voltage: 18 | Max RPM: 1800 | Chuck Size: .4 inches | Settings: Not listed | Weight: 2.6 pounds Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Heavy-Duty Cordless Drill Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hammer Drill/Driver Kit PHOTO: Home Depot $332 at Walmart $332 at Walmart View on Acmetools.com Our Ratings Performance 5/5 Power 5/5 Ease of Use 5/5 Features 5/5 Value 5/5 What Stands Out With many advanced features, this drill is equipped to handle serious DIY projects. What Could Be Improved The expensive price and various features may not be necessary for those with basic drilling needs. For a seriously powerful drill that you can use for the toughest projects, look no further than the Milwaukee M18 Fuel. It’s a pro-level drill that can tackle any material and hole. Despite its heavy-duty power, this drill is still relatively compact and comfortable to hold—another reason it’s a standout option on our list. One of the best things about this drill is its ratcheting chuck, which we found to be durable and easy to use. There’s also the extra-long battery life, LED light, belt clip (for ambidextrous use), and even built-in safety features that prevent over-rotation and overheating as you work. The drill comes with a case and charger, too, as well as an extra battery and auxiliary handle to be used for high torque situations and large bits. We’re amazed by its efficiency and long battery life—even after six months of use, we’ve only had to charge the battery once. This is a fairly pricey drill, and because of its many features, it’s probably not the best pick for the average person. But if you’re a major DIY-er and doing high-stakes projects, we think it’s worth every penny. Voltage: 18 | Max RPM: 2100 | Chuck Size: .5 inches | Settings: Not listed | Weight: 4.9 pounds Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Best Cordless Drill With Accessories DeWalt 5-in-1 Cordless Drill PHOTO: Lowes $133 at Amazon $233 at Walmart $233 at Walmart Our Ratings Performance 5/5 Power 4/5 Ease of Use 5/5 Features 5/5 Value 5/5 What Stands Out This drill is equipped with all the accessories you might need. What Could Be Improved It stalls when making bigger holes. If you don’t want to have to buy accessories separately, opt for a cordless drill that comes with many of its own, like the DeWalt Xtreme. This pick comes with a battery, charger, belt hook, storage bag, and four different chucks (standard, offset, right angle, and driver bit), which means you’ll be able to drive and drill in awkward areas. This cordless drill is compact and lightweight, designed to reach tight spaces with ease. The additional chucks make it an especially versatile option, allowing it to access spaces from all different angles. For a model of this voltage, this drill boasts impressive power, and while it the drill isn’t the best at handling large spade bits, it works well for holes of sizes less than 1 inch. The drill also has an LED light, two speed settings, and a comfortable rubber overgrip on the handle, among other features. While this drill isn’t perfect due to its stalling with the bigger holes, it’s still a great purchase for anyone who is looking for one that comes with handy accessories. Voltage: 12 | Max RPM: 1500 | Chuck Size: 0.4 inches | Settings: 15 | Weight: 1.6 pounds Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Real Simple / Dera Burreson Final Verdict The DeWalt Atomic 20V Max* Brushless Compact 1/2 in. Drill/Driver Kit is our top pick, thanks to its lightweight feel, precise aim, and reasonable price. It’s a drill you can rely on for everyday projects time and time again. For a budget-friendly option Skil Pwrcore 12 Brushless 12V 1/2 Inch Cordless Drill Driver Kit impressed us with its performance on simple projects. Our Testing Process To come up with these recommendations, we tested 33 cordless drills in our Lab. First, we weighed each drill with the battery pack installed and evaluated how it felt in our hands. We noted whether it felt balanced or not and if the handle was too thick or thin to comfortably hold. After assessing the ergonomics of each model, we moved on to test the torque, aka the maximum power output. This test involved drilling into a piece of wood and evaluating whether the cordless drill stalled at all or powered through the surface. Next, we used drill bits to drill holes into wood, noting whether there were any features that improved or impaired the drill’s performance. We also evaluated how easy it was to adjust the speed by gently adjusting the trigger. Then, we tested each cordless drill on concrete, considering how long it took to drill five holes. We made sure to note if the drill felt appropriate for this task or if it was geared more toward light use. In addition to the above tests, we also evaluated the batteries and chargers of the drills we tested. Does the charger have a built-in fan to prevent overheating? Are the charging indicator lights easy to understand? Is the charging cord long enough? These are all questions that we kept in mind while reviewing each cordless drill’s battery. Finally, we considered whether the drill came with any means of storage, such as a case or bag. If so, we made sure that everything fit properly and considered any additional features (like space for extra accessories and included drill or driver bits). Once our Lab testing was complete, we rated each cordless drill for its performance, power, ease of use, features, and overall value. Then, we took them home to evaluate their use over the course of one, three, and six months. Real Simple / Dera Burreson How to Shop for Cordless Drills Like a Pro Voltage The voltage of cordless drills typically falls between 12 to 18 volts, and most options are enough “to meet most homeowners’ work needs,” Shaunfield says. While higher-voltage drills are better suited for heavy-duty projects, Shaunfield adds that more voltage means the tool has a bigger, heavier battery, which may make it difficult to hold over longer periods of time. It’s also worth noting that a 20-volt battery is the same as an 18-volt battery. Chuck Size A drill’s chuck size refers to the maximum size of the bit that can be inserted into the drill. Sizes usually vary from around 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch, and the higher the number, the more versatile the drill will be since it means it can handle bits of all different sizes. Be prepared to pay more for a drill with a 1/2-inch chuck size, though. Real Simple / Dera Burreson RPM Revolutions per minute (RPM), aka how fast the chuck can turn, is also an important factor to consider when shopping for cordless drills. Speeds typically range from 500 to 2000 RPM, and tools with higher RPMs are generally more expensive due to their extra power and efficiency. Settings Cordless drills can have up to 20 clutch settings, which are used to set the clutch to a certain torque range. The higher the number, the more torque you’ll get and the bigger fastener you can use, letting you better control the depth of the fastener you’re driving. You’ll want to be able to adjust easily between clutch settings, since you’ll use different ones for different projects and needs. Battery “As a cordless drill battery needs recharging periodically, you should compare the runtimes of batteries—or how long they'll be effective during use—by looking at amp-hour ratings,” Shaunfield says. “More amp-hours and more volts provide longer runtime.” When deciding what amp-hour rating is right for you, consider how often you plan on using your drill and how many consecutive hours you’ll need it in action. More Cordless Drills to Consider Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver Kit: This 18-volt drill has a lot going for it, including a powerful motor, an all-metal chuck, two batteries, and a comfortable grip. Despite these positive attributes, we found that it stalls occasionally and drains power fast. Bosch 18 V Compact 1/2 In. Drill/Driver Kit: Another 18-volt option, this low-priced drill has plenty of power and a sensitive clutch, allowing us to drive screws without over-driving. Still, it’s fairly basic overall (there’s no LED light or belt clip, for instance), and pretty heavy to hold. Questions You Might Ask Is a brushed or brushless motor better? When it comes to deciding between a brushed and brushless motor, Shaunfield says it depends on your needs. “A brushless motor offers better runtime with a lower vibration, which reduces fatigue,” he says. “They are also more powerful, require less maintenance, and have greater durability.” Brushed motors “are typically more affordable but are less responsive and require a higher maintenance cost” in addition to usually being heavier and louder, Shaunfield adds. What are the differences between a cordless drill and an electric screwdriver? According to Shaunfield, the main difference between the two is power. “Cordless drills tend to have higher-voltage batteries than electric screwdrivers, delivering greater levels of torque at higher speeds,” he says. “This means that cordless drills will allow you to drive larger screws into heavier-duty materials, like hardwoods and plastics.” Take Our Word for It This article was written by Rachel Simon, a writer for Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, and many other publications, and updated by Jamie Fischer, a commerce writer for Real Simple. To come up with this list, we tested 33 cordless drills in our Lab and evaluated each for factors such as battery life, performance, ease of use, and more. For expert insight, Rachel spoke to Brian Shaunfield, store manager at Lowe’s serving Charlotte, North Carolina. What Is Real Simple Selects? Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn’t an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company. Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.