Few tools get as much use around farms and workshops as power drills do. Metal, wood, and plastic surfaces are no match for a great drill, and ours spends most of its time in the utility vehicle so that it’s accessible no matter what part of our property we’ve ridden to. We spent some time putting some of these tools to the test and reading the reviews of other folks out there to find which are the best cordless drills to have on hand — sticking at or close to the 20V range.
Here are our picks!:
$119 — Milwaukee M18 Li-Ion Cordless Compact Electric Drill
This is one of the most popular drills out there, and for good reason! We’ve worked with this and a variety of other Milwaukee tools, and we have yet to be disappointed by any of them. The M18 Li-Ion has a four-pole frameless motor featuring a robust design and rare-earth magnets for longer life. It delivers 500 in.-lbs. of torque and 1800 RPM — all packed into a compact 7.25-inch frame that’ll get you access to some of the tightest work spaces. There is a half-inch keyless chuck, and its RedLink Intelligence provides advanced protection in abusive situations and manages the tool’s temperature to provide maximum life.
The kit includes two M18 compact RedLithium batteries, an M18 and M12 multi-voltage charger and a carrying case.
One review to seal the deal: The Milwaukee M18 half inch Drill Driver is well made tool well worth the premium price. It is well designed, light and very powerful. As a drill it is fast and efficient. As a driver it is precise and well under control . The battery charge level indicator lights are just another feature that tells you how well thought out this design is. In short, I have found nothing so far to dislike about this tool.
$119 — DEWALT 20V Li-Ion MAX XR Compact Cordless Electric Drill
A heavy-hitter from a household name. The DEWALT 20 Volt MAX XR is engineered with a DEWALT brushless motor that delivers up to 57 percent more run time than a conventional brushed motor. A three-mode LED provides bright lighting in dark work areas — as well as having an LED spotlight mode with 20-minute shutoff function allowing for extended work time in dark or confined spaces. The drill is compact at just 6.9 inches front-to-back, and lightweight. The transmission has two speed ranges: 0–600/0–2000 RPM.
This drill comes with a belt hook, but the battery and charger are sold separately.
One review to seal the deal: Had this drill for over 3 years now and use it almost everyday as a contractor/landscaper, it takes a beating from time to time from being in the dirt and has been dropped off a few ladders for sure and never had a problem, I even pushed it pretty hard and used it for mixing tile thin set for a full day after my partners corded drill burned up and it kept us going through the end of the job, great drill, I use the light as a work light on a pretty regular basis.
$159 — Makita CT225R 18V, 2Piece, COMPACT, Lithium-Ion, Cordless, Combo Kit
It seems every time a contractor comes out to our place, they’re packing a Makita. The CT225R is a variable two-speed, half-inch drill/driver (0-400 & 0-1,500 RPM) with a Makita-built four-pole motor. It provides 1,460 in. lbs. of max torque and weighs only 2.8 lbs. with the battery, which is an 18V Compact Lithium-Ion 2.0 Ah battery BL1820 that reaches full charge in 25 minutes or less.
This includes an 18V Compact Lithium-Ion 2.0 Ah battery and tool bag.
One review to seal the deal: Love these tools. Had a very, very old Makita cordless drill that I rode hard and still worked fine, but these things have serious power. My first impact wrench, oh my, it seems like magic. If you are driving in large screws you need an impact wrench, you will not believe the difference. I though the light was gimmicky, but all new drills have them. Well, trust me, you want the light also. So nice to clearly see what you are working on in cramped locations.
$116 — Craftsman 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver
The V20 20V MAX two-speed drill/driver has a half-inch chuck to fit a variety of drill bits for different applications. The 280 UWO gives the power needed to complete your heavy duty tasks. The quarter-inch Impact Driver has a maximum torque rating of 1,450 in.-lbs. for driving large fasteners. The one handed bit insert makes changes bits quick and easy.
The kit includes two 20V MAX lithium-ion batteries and a carrying bag.
One review to seal the deal: Fits great in your hand. It’s annoying to have a tool feel funny while using it. I use these daily. The quick insert for the impact is awesome. The adjustability for the drill makes sure you have exactly the right setting you need.
$49.99 — Black & Decker 20 Volt MAX Cordless Lithium-Ion Drill
If there’s a specific low-end price point that you’re hoping to hit, then this drill will give you good value for your dollar. 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.
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