The 9 Best Cordless Drills of 2024, According To Testing

Best Overall

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hammer Drill/Driver Kit

View On Walmart $339 View On Walmart $339 View On Home Depot $299

Overall, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2904-22 is the best cordless drill, whether you’re working in a construction setting or on advanced DIY projects. This hammer drill features a contemporary brushless motor and has a long-lasting battery you’re sure to appreciate. 

As you might expect from a hammer drill, the M18 is heavy, at about 5 pounds. However, our tester noted that they found it to have particularly good ergonomics and balance, which made the drill comfortable to use for long sessions in spite of its significant weight. 

Our tester was impressed with the M18’s battery pack, which remained fully charged after 50 minutes of intensive use. Their only frustration with the drill came from its clutch, which failed to engage on small screws with softer materials—an issue that could prove problematic with drywall jobs, where the papery surface’s tension contributes to the drywall’s structural integrity. Still, they noted this isn’t what they’d be buying such a heavy duty drill for. 

Product Details: Voltage: 18/20 volt | Brushed or Brushless Motor: Brushless | Battery: 5 amp-hour battery | Chuck Size: 1/2 inch | Weight: 4 pounds and 13 ounces

Best Budget

Ridgid Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

View On Amazon $77 View On Walmart $89 View On Home Depot $100

The Ridgid R86001K Cordless Drill/Driver Kit is the best cordless drill for DIYers looking for value and performance. The light-duty drill is compact and features an LED light that makes it easy to finish projects in small, hard-to-reach spots.

Our tester found that this compact brushed motor drill was successful at driving lag screws and drilling holes of all sizes. However, when our tester drilled 2.5-inch deep holes into concrete, the drill did take some time, as it only completed five holes in about a minute.

Our tester noted that the drill began to stall out with bits at 1 1/2 inches. With that being said, the Ridged has sufficient torque for drilling pilot holes, driving smaller fasteners, and digging out some harder materials, so it’s a good choice for putting together furniture or installing hardware around the home.

The Ridgid R86001K comes with an efficient carrying case and sports a bright LED light that impressed our tester with its illumination and coverage. When it came to ergonomics, our tester found that the drill was comfortable for long-term use as well.

Product Details: Voltage: 18/20 volt | Brushed or Brushless Motor: Brushed | Battery: 2 amp-hour battery | Chuck Size: 1/2 inch | Weight: 3 pounds and 8 ounces

Best Splurge

DEWALT 20-Volt Drill/Driver Kit

View On Amazon $225 View On Lowe's $269 View On Home Depot $269

If you’re looking to invest, the best cordless drill is this pick by Dewalt. The drill comes with two batteries, a charger, and a carrying case, so you’ll have everything you need to power it and keep track of all of its accessories. Our tester appreciated the drill’s light, which can be positioned and pointed to illuminate whatever project you’re working on.

During testing, the Dewalt XR drilled 2.5-inch holes into concrete at about 6.5 seconds per hole, which speaks to the significant overall power of this drill. Our tester found that it was powerful enough to drive a half-inch lag into the wood without a pilot hole, and noted the drill had no trouble with any screw or bit they tried. Its chuck was also successful at grasping and driving both large and fine bits.

We found that the clutch wasn't sensitive enough for smaller screws, offering more power than necessary for detailed jobs. However, this is made up for somewhat by the sensitivity of the trigger, which they found easy to feather between different speeds when working with small screws.

Product Details: Voltage: 18/20 volt | Brushed or Brushless Motor: Brushless | Battery: DCBP034 Dewalt powerstack batteries | Chuck Size: 1/2 inch | Weight: 3 pounds and 10 ounces

Best Battery

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Drill/Driver Kit

View On Walmart $161 View On Home Depot $169 View On Acmetools.com $169

Two battery packs are better than one, especially when they’re designed and weighted for different uses. That’s what makes this Milwaukee pick one of the best cordless drills worth considering. The M12’s 2-amp battery gives the drill a smaller and lighter profile that’s easy to fit into small spaces, while the 4-amp battery gives you all the power you could need for mixing, and holds out for the finish line.

“It's nice to have the lighter ones, especially if you're doing a lot of drilling, because it's a lot of extra weight on your wrist,” says Newell. 

The M12 isn’t all about its batteries, however. The 12-volt drill drives screws with an authority that’s similar to what you’d expect from an 18/20 volt. According to our tester, the drill delivers so much force that you could end up spraining your wrist if it stops suddenly.

Our tester found that lags and 1-inch holes were not an issue. They also noted that the drill was even capable of 1.5-inch holes with a spade bit, though it did stall on occasion. Testers were overall impressed with the drill’s performance, especially since it has such a compact size. 

The chuck was particularly well calibrated, grasping even the smallest bit without trouble. However, like many other drills we tested, the drill’s clutch did run into some trouble with tiny brass screws and occasionally broke them or drove them too far.

During testing, it was noted that the drill’s triangular handle was comfortable for our tester to use, however they did speculate that the thick, triangular shape may not work for everyone. Otherwise, our tester felt that the responsive trigger, LED lighting, and an easy-to-use switch for speeds made this pick user-friendly. 

Product Details: Voltage: 12 volts | Brushed or Brushless Motor: Brushless | Battery: 2 amp-hour battery and 4 amp-hour battery | Chuck Size: 1/2 inch | Weight: 2 pounds and 8 ounces

Best Lightweight

Bosch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

View On Amazon $99 View On Lowe's $129 View On Acmetools.com

The Bosch PS31-2A is the best cordless drill if you prefer a lightweight option. The cordless drill is just over 2 pounds, which could be easier for some to use. 

Our tester found that the PS31-2A delivers decent power and excellent precision. The combination makes it a great choice for driving screws, especially since it has a clutch that's sensitive to setting screws at the correct depth. 

Due to the 3/8-inch chuck, the driver is incompatible with some larger bits. However, it makes up for that with a responsive clutch that our tester felt worked perfectly. It’s a feature that stands out, as many of the more powerful drills that were tested were less responsive when using light gauge screws and had a tendency to drive them too far.

According to our tester, a built-in LED light, a carrying case, and a trigger that’s sensitive to feathering make the PS31-2A one of the best cordless drills. Plus, our tester found the triangular handle to be comfortable, even if it may be a little too large for some users. 

Product Details:  Voltage: 12 volt | Brushed or Brushless Motor: Brushed | Battery: 1.3 amp-hour | Chuck Size: 3/8 inch | Weight: 2 pounds and 1 ounce

Best Accessories

DeWalt 5-in-1 Cordless Drill

View On Walmart $222 View On Walmart $222 View On Lowe's $199

The Dewalt Xtreme 5-in-1 DCD703F1 is the best cordless drill if you have a variety of projects you’re working on. The drill comes with four attachments, so you can transition from one task to the next with ease. Plus, it features a handy bag that consolidates these accessories for storage.

The cordless drill comes with a hex right angle attachment, a hex quick release offset accessory, a hex quick release add-on, and a ratcheting chuck attachment. Each can be mounted onto the head at 360 degrees.

The Xtreme 5-in-1 is handy, that’s for sure, but it’s also powerful. While its 10.8/12-volt power won’t match an 18-volt style, its brushless motor still does an excellent job at driving screws and drilling. Our tester found the drill to be effective at drilling up to 1 1/2-inch spades, and seating 5/8-inch fasteners, both of which made the Dewalt stall. You won’t want to pick this drill for drilling into concrete, but it’s a great pick for driving standard screws. 

With an LED light that fires on when the trigger is pulled, a comfy grip, and a balanced profile, it’s a well-made drill that our tester found to be an excellent pick both as a primary drill for homeowners that get deep into DIY projects and pros who need versatility.

Product Details: Voltage: 10.8/12 volt | Brushed or Brushless Motor: Brushless | Battery: 2 amp-hour battery | Chuck Size: 3/8 inch | Weight: 2 pounds and 9 ounces

Best Compact

Bosch 18-Volt Cordless Drill

View On Amazon $148 View On Lowe's $129

The Bosch GSR18V-190B22 is a highly sensitive compact drill that still packs an 18/20 volt brushed motor. Delivering many of the details you’d expect in a standard size, this compact is distinguished by its clutch, which our tester found to be sensitive enough to drive screws into lightweight materials with no issue.

The drill is ideal for installing thin fasteners into drywall without punching through the surface or for drilling into plywood, thanks to its good balance of sensitivity and power.

We found that the GSR18V had no trouble driving any of the hardware during testing and could sink even larger lags without stalling. The drill only began stalling with the spade bit, but we found we were still able to get through the 2 x 4 regardless. It did a middling job drilling into concrete, where it took about five seconds on each 2.5-inch hole.

As far as ergonomics, the drill is comfy to hold and use. It’s somewhat weighty for its size, but we found the weight to be well-balanced and stable.

The GSR18V also ships with two lithium-ion batteries, making it a versatile pick that you can use all day. With its remarkably sensitive clutch, two batteries, and 18-volt power in a compact pick, it offers all the performance a DIY builder could need and might do a good enough job for some contractors. Among compact drills, it’s the best cordless drill for power.

Product Details: Voltage: 18/20 volt | Brushed or Brushless Motor: Brushed | Battery: Two 1.5 amp-hour batteries | Chuck Size: 1/2 inch | Weight: 3 pounds and 8 ounces

Best Heavy Duty

DEWALT 20-Volt Hammer Drill

View On Amazon $294 View On Walmart $405 View On Walmart $405

If you’re working on heavy-duty projects, the best cordless drill is the Dewalt XR DCD996P2. This 18/20 volt brushless drill can drill through asphalt and wood alike. Plus, it has a decent touch with placing fasteners even if its torque can prove too much for its clutch.

A proper hammer drill, the XR drilled into concrete remarkably quickly, drilling five holes in only 20 seconds. Our tester found the drill capable of boring through wood and driving fasteners reliably well, even splitting a board when a 5/8-inch lag bottomed out. 

It’s worth noting that our tester found that this high power meant that the drill often drove smaller hardware too far into surfaces before the clutch engaged—at least at lower speeds—and that the clutch did a better job activating at medium and high speeds. Altogether, they found that the drill had too much power for the clutch to activate when using the smallest of screws and required feathering to be able to get the job done. Thankfully, the drill’s trigger is highly responsive and is fully capable of sensitive feathering work.

The Dewalt XR comes with two batteries and is built for all day use as you can charge one battery while you drill with the next.

Product Details: Voltage: 18/20 volt | Brushed or Brushless Motor: Brushless | Battery: Two 5 amp-hour batteries | Chuck Size: 1/2 inch | Weight: 4 pounds and 14 ounces