The best cordless drills are powerful enough to make DIY drilling tasks as easy as pie. If you need some serious drilling power, we’ve also picked out the best hammer drills for boring holes in masonry and other tough materials.
DeWalt 20V Max XR Brushless Drill
Suitable for most DIY jobs
The DeWalt DCD991P2 is the best cordless drill overall due to its power, three speeds, and a brushless motor that can reach an impressive 2000 RPM. The three-speed settings mean you can still manage finer jobs that require a slower speed too. An LED torch will illuminate where you’re working and because this DeWalt cordless drill’s motor doesn’t have brushes, you can expect the motor to last longer as well.
Milwaukee 0726-22 M28
A powerhouse cordless drill hammer
Power is something the Milwaukee 0726-22 M28 Hammer Drill certainly isn’t short of. This cordless drill hammer packs a punch with 28 volts of power and a brushless motor that gives you 750-in-lbs of torque. Where this cordless drill really impresses is its hammer mode that goes up to 480 impacts a second, which is great for taking on masonry.
Black+Decker 20V Max Drill
A solid option
The Black + Decker LDX120C is one of Amazon’s best selling cordless drills. This cordless drill is light and easy to handle, weighing just 2.8 lbs. There is only one spin speed on this cordless drill that can reach up to 1500 RPM. This is a good, basic drill for everyday drill tasks.
Kobalt 24-Volt Max Lithium Ion Drill
Impressive drill speed
The Kobalt KDD 1424A-03 cordless drill is more affordable than other models. The 24-volt battery and two-speed settings mean this cordless drill is ideal for pretty much any DIY job. Included with this drill are 24 clutch settings, a double-ended driver bit, a charger, a storage bag, and a belt clip.
Makita XPH11ZB 18V LXT
No arm aches
A real winner if you’re looking for a super lightweight cordless drill, the Makita XPH11RB weighs just 2.9 lbs and comes from one of the leading drill brands around. This cordless drill has been designed so that it can reach in tricky areas and an LED will light up what you’re working on.
What to look for in a cordless drill
The first thing you’ll need is power. You can measure the power of each cordless drill by its battery voltage. Most of the cordless drills in our round-up offer 20 volts and the higher the voltage, the more torque you can expect from your drill. Sure, you may need to turn to corded drills for the toughest jobs, but cordless models can handle most of the drilling you need.
Top cordless drills should have an adjustable clutch which means you technically shouldn’t ever end up with a stripped screw. The more clutch settings, the more control you’ll have, and some of the best cordless drills in our guide offer as many as 24 clutch settings.
Variable speed is key for those tricky tasks and for manageable precision. The very best cordless drills will have three-speed settings, but it’s still worth considering drills with just two-speed settings since these could be ample for what you need. Lower speed settings are ideal for drilling screws, but high speeds are more suited to boring holes. Be sure to have a look at the maximum RPM each drill is capable of as this will also affect what it can be used for. If you want the best cordless drill spin speed, the Milwaukee 0726-22 M28 is the one for you.
Finally, for drilling holes and working with the toughest of materials, you will need one of the best hammer drills to take on the job. While you will pay a premium for these types of drills, their power really doesn’t compare if you’re doing professional jobs or boring holes.