Which Cordless Drill Should I Choose?

If you want the short story, just the recommendations we have them here up front. If you want the whole story, keep reading below these recommendations.

Best Cordless Drill under $200

The Makita BDF452HW 18v cordless drill is extremely well-loved by owners and testers. We think it's the best cordless drill for the money. Here's why we recommend it:

  • Average rating of 4.4 out of 5 in 186 reviews at Amazon
  • Came out on top in serveral performance tests including Popular Mechanics.
  • I've personally used this drill and I love it. It's lightweight, yet powerful.
  • Positive postings in forums and blogs all over the Internet.
  • Found in the toolbox of many professionals.

Research the Makita 18v Cordless Drill at Amazon.

Best Cordless Drill under $250

The Panasonic EY6450GQKW 18v cordless drill get's less attention, but it's a fantastic drill. Here's why:

  • Average rating of 4.7 out of 5 at Amazon; only two people out of 25 did not give it a 5.
  • Many of those tests Makita wins don't include the Panasonic; it has about the same torque as the Makita, but a higher power battery.
  • The build quality is rock solid, making it heavier than the Makita.
  • People who own this drill tend to absolutely love it.

Research the Panasonic 18v Cordless Drill at Amazon.

Festool - The Best of the Best

In all of my research on cordless drills I have seen very little about Festool, but there's no doubt that they make the absolute best cordless drills. But they have the price tag to go along with the German engineering. If you're wonderiing makes a 14.4v cordless drill worth over $500, see our page about:

Festool Cordless Drills.

Best 24V-36V Cordless Drill and Hammer Drill

The Milwaukee 0724-24 V28 Cordless Hammer Drill is a step up in power from 18v drills and a great hammer drill. Here's why we recommend it:

  • 4.5 stars at Amazon
  • 600 pounds of torque is a significant improvement over 18v drills.
  • 3.0 amp-hour 28V battery for ample run time.
  • Milwaukee's V28 line is a great system with several other tools available.

Research the Milwaukee V28 Cordless Hammer Drill at Amazon .

Best Cordless Drill under $75

The Hitachi DS12DVF3 12-Volt Cordless Drill is great drill for "around the house" tasks. Here's why we recommend it:

  • 4.5 stars at Amazon; no one out of 31 people gave it lower than a 3!
  • 230 pounds of torque is surprising in a 12 volt drill.
  • 2 - 1.4 Ah batteries keep you going.
  • You get the drill, 2 batteries, a flashlight, and a set of bits for a great price.

Research the Hitachi 12-Volt Cordless Drill at Amazon

Best Cordless Screwdriver

The Makita TD020DSEW 7.2-Volt Cordless Screwdriver beat out the Hitachi for Best Cordless Screwdriver. Here's why:

  • 33% more battery capacity and over 3x the torque of the Hitachi
  • Hitachi has higher average rating, but reading the reviews gives the advantage to the Makita.
  • The swivel head and buit-in LED are mandatory.

Research the Makita 7.2v Cordless Screwdriver at Amazon



What is the Best Cordless Drill

There are several ways to compare drills to determine which cordless drill is best:

  • Compare specifications: torque, run-time, etc.
  • Evaluate the components used with scientific theories of which materials are best
  • Test several drills for which one drives the hardest, runs the longest, etc.
  • Survey several owners of cordless drills asking them about their experiences.

Since each of those methods has drawbacks, the only proper way to select the best cordless drill is to incorporate all of those methods. That's why we've poured over specifications and results from real tests, as well as reading reviews on retail sites and forums around the Internet. We've even read up on how customers were able (or not able) to get warranty service for their cordless drills.

And, of course, we compared drills from the same class against each other. That's why we have sections for the best 24v cordless drill, 18v cordless drill, cordless hammer drill, cordless right angle drill, cheap cordless drill, and more. Check out the categories to the left to see all of the classes we analyzed.