You need power and reliability, but don’t want to break the bank. We get that. Sometimes it’s because you’re particularly hard on your tools, whether they get dropped or exposed to the elements often. So we’ve pored over the reviews and tapped into our personal experience with a lot of tools to find three of the best drills for under $100.
While you can get a lot of bang for your buck, if you are willing to go up in price to even $150, there’s a whole lot more out there that you can get (see here). But to stay under a Benjamin, here’s what we got:
$49.99 — Black & Decker 20 Volt MAX Cordless Lithium-Ion Drill
This drill is widely praised and widely available, and there’s basically nothing out there that’ll give you so much value for your dollar (less than half the cost of some of the best drills out there). The Black & Decker 20V MAX is a 3/8th-inch drill/driver ideal for drilling into wood, metal, and plastic, and for all screw driving tasks. The compact, lightweight drill (a great aspect of it!) features an 11-position clutch for precise driving control and an LED light.
The kit includes a 20V MAX lithium-ion battery and charger.
One review to seal the deal: Inexpensive but impressive. Seems to be made for occasional use, plastic trigger, forward/reverse selector feel cheap, but they do work fine. 1.5ah battery is not the longest lasting but fine for the occasional use I got this for. comes with a charging cradle rather than just the plug which I like. So far it has enough power and run time for quick jobs, looks like if it gets dropped too many times it might not last, but it is also one of the lightest weight drills I have had and that is actually a nice trade off.
$99 — Milwaukee M18 Li-Ion Cordless Compact Electric Drill Driver
We’re going to be absolutely sure to come clean right out of the gate: This comes in under $100 because it doesn’t include the battery. But, if you’re a Milwaukee Tool person, you almost certainly already have the batter to fit this, making it a great deal price-wise. This drill has a four-pole frameless motor that includes rare-earth magnets for longer life while delivering 500 in.-lbs. of torque and 0–400/0–1800 RPM. At only 7.25 inches long, the compact design allows greater accessibility into tight work spaces.
No carrying case or batteries/chargers are included.
One review to seal the deal: This tool is just right for my woodworking business. I’m already a fan of Milwaukee Tools. This driver is the perfect blend of speed, size and power. I’m very satisfied and I believe you will be too!
$65.99 — Craftsman C3 19.2-volt 3/8-in. Lithium-ion Drill/driver Kit
An older version of this drill has been the go-to drill at our farm for more than half a decade. The power and lasting battery make this a huge win for the price. If there’s any negative thing to say about it, it’s that this drill is going to be on the heavier side than what many folks are used to. The 3/8-inch keyless chuck hand tightens bits fast and securely, and it boasts a powerful variable speed motor that produces 0-600 RPM and 250 in-lbs. of torque.
The kit includes a Compact lithium-ion battery and multi-chemistry charger.
One review to seal the deal: It’s a very good drill for the money. Powerful and versatile, I choose the Craftsman C3 because the 19.2v battery works in a number of other Craftsman cordless tools. So, I plan to get various other 19.2v Craftsman hand tools and just use two or three batteries between them all.
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