Best Cordless Drills
Updated · By the GigaTorq team · Research-based, not hands-on tested
A drill/driver is the first cordless tool most people buy, and the one they use most: drilling holes in wood and metal, driving screws, mixing paint and running hole saws. We went through the published specs of 20 drill/drivers from 12 brands, checked current prices and owner ratings at a major US retailer, and picked the six that make the most sense for different buyers.
We didn't test these drills ourselves. Every number on this page comes from the brand or a major retailer, and every owner rating links to where we found it. Here's how we choose.
Our picks at a glance
Milwaukee 2903
The most torque in our group, in a body under 7 inches long.
Ryobi PBLDD01
A brushless drill, battery and charger for about the price of a bare pro drill.
Ryobi PCL206
The cheapest drill here, with the most owner reviews.
DeWalt DCD800
DeWalt's short, brushless drill for 20V MAX owners.
Milwaukee 3403
A 12V drill at 2.1 lb that still makes 400 in-lbs.
Makita XFD12
A balanced compact 18V drill that owners consistently praise.
Prices and ratings are what we saw at the store on the date shown and change often.
Specs side by side
| Drill | Battery (nominal) | Max torque | Speeds (RPM) | Weight | Length | Clutch settings | Tool warranty | Price | Owner rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 2903 Best overall | 18V (M18) | 1,400 in-lbs | 500 / 2,100 | 3.3 lb tool only | 6.9 in. | 16 | 5 years | $219 tool only | 4.6 (2,573) |
| Ryobi PBLDD01 Best value | 18V (18V ONE+) | 750 in-lbs | 500 / 2,100 | – | – | 24 | 3 years | $129 kit | 774 reviews |
| Ryobi PCL206 Best budget | 18V (18V ONE+) | 515 in-lbs | 450 / 1,750 | 2.6 lb tool only | – | 24 | 3 years | $54 tool only | 4.7 (3,757) |
| DeWalt DCD800 Best compact | 18V (20V MAX) | Not published | 650 / 2,000 | – | 6.37 in. | – | 3 years | $151.74 tool only | 4.7 (329) |
| Milwaukee 3403 Best lightweight | 12V (M12) | 400 in-lbs | 450 / 1,550 | 2.1 lb tool only | 5.9 in. | 13 | 5 years | $149 tool only | 4.7 (430) |
| Makita XFD12 Best for Makita users | 18V (18V LXT) | 530 in-lbs | 500 / 2,000 | 3.9 lb with battery | 6.75 in. | – | 3 years | $154 tool only | 4.7 (31) |
Specs as published by each brand or, where the brand doesn't publish them, a major retailer. "20V MAX" batteries are 18V nominal, the same as 18V batteries. Owner ratings are from a major US retailer, with links in the Sources section.
Milwaukee 2903
M18 FUEL 1/2" Drill/Driver
The most torque in our group, in a body under 7 inches long.
Milwaukee rates the M18 FUEL 2903 at 1,400 in-lbs, tied with Flex's FX1171T for the highest torque of any drill/driver in our database, and it does that at 6.9 inches long and 3.3 lb without a battery.
That headroom matters for big hole saws and self-feed bits: Milwaukee lists capacity for 3-1/2 in. hole saws and 2-9/16 in. self-feed bits in wood. It also gets the longest tool warranty of our picks, 5 years.
Best for
Pros, remodelers and anyone who drills large holes or already owns M18 batteries.
Skip it if
You mostly hang shelves and assemble furniture. You'd be paying for power you won't use.
What owners say
· checked October 22, 2026 (source)
We couldn't read individual reviews for this drill when we checked, so we only report its rating here.
Kits and prices
Spec sources for the Milwaukee 2903
Ryobi PBLDD01
ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver
A brushless drill, battery and charger for about the price of a bare pro drill.
The ONE+ HP PBLDD01 is Ryobi's brushless drill/driver: 750 in-lbs, a 2-speed gearbox (500 and 2,100 RPM), a 24-position clutch and a metal ratcheting chuck.
The kit we priced includes a 2.0Ah battery and charger, so it's a complete starter set. The batteries also run every tool in Ryobi's 18V ONE+ line.
Best for
Homeowners and DIYers who want brushless power without pro prices.
Skip it if
You work on a jobsite every day or already own another brand's batteries.
What owners say
· checked October 22, 2026 (source)
We couldn't read individual reviews for this drill when we checked, so we only report its rating here.
Kits and prices
Spec sources for the Ryobi PBLDD01
Ryobi PCL206
ONE+ 18V Cordless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver
The cheapest drill here, with the most owner reviews.
The ONE+ PCL206 is a brushed drill, so it won't match the brushless models for runtime or punch. But 515 in-lbs and a 24-position clutch cover most household jobs.
It has more owner reviews than any other drill on this page, and owners rate it highly.
Best for
Owners of Ryobi ONE+ batteries who need a basic drill for light jobs.
Skip it if
You have no Ryobi batteries. Add a battery and charger and the brushless PBLDD01 kit is the better buy.
What owners say
· checked October 22, 2026 (source)
What owners like
- Enough power for shelves, furniture and other household projects
- Light and easy to handle for its class
- Runs on the ONE+ batteries many owners already have
- Good value for the price
What they complain about
- Chuck can loosen its grip on bits
- Not meant for heavy-duty drilling
Summarized in our own words from the 30 reviews we could read on the first page of a major US retailer's reviews on October 22, 2026. Each complaint listed came up in only one or two of them. About half of them were marked as written as part of a promotion, so read the praise with that in mind.
Kits and prices
Spec sources for the Ryobi PCL206
DeWalt DCD800
20V MAX XR 1/2-in Brushless Cordless Drill/Driver
DeWalt's short, brushless drill for 20V MAX owners.
At 6.37 inches front to back, the DCD800 is one of the shortest full-size 1/2 in. drills we compared, which helps between studs and joists. It has a metal ratcheting chuck, 650 and 2,000 RPM speeds and a 3-mode LED.
DeWalt doesn't publish torque for this drill. It only says it delivers up to 40% more power (unit watts out) than the older DCD791, so we can't rank it on torque.
Best for
DeWalt 20V MAX owners who want a compact, brushless upgrade.
Skip it if
You want published torque numbers to compare, or you're not on DeWalt batteries.
What owners say
· checked October 22, 2026 (source)
We couldn't read individual reviews for this drill when we checked, so we only report its rating here.
Kits and prices
Spec sources for the DeWalt DCD800
Milwaukee 3403
M12 FUEL 1/2" Drill/Driver
A 12V drill at 2.1 lb that still makes 400 in-lbs.
At 2.1 lb without a battery and 5.9 inches long, the M12 FUEL 3403 is the lightest drill on this page with a published weight. Its 400 in-lbs of torque is close to some 18V compact drills.
It's the one to grab for overhead work, cabinet installs and long days of light drilling.
Best for
Cabinet and trim work, overhead drilling, and users who want the least weight.
Skip it if
You need to run large hole saws or long spade bits all day. An 18V drill does that better.
What owners say
· checked October 22, 2026 (source)
We couldn't read individual reviews for this drill when we checked, so we only report its rating here.
Kits and prices
Spec sources for the Milwaukee 3403
Makita XFD12
18V LXT Lithium-Ion Compact Brushless Cordless 1/2" Driver-Drill
A balanced compact 18V drill that owners consistently praise.
Makita's XFD12 makes 530 in-lbs with 500 and 2,000 RPM speeds, and Makita lists it at 3.9 lb with a battery. That's one of the few drills where the brand publishes the weight with a battery.
Owners mainly praise its balance and its power for the size. It has fewer reviews than the other picks, so treat its rating with a little caution.
Best for
Makita 18V LXT owners who want a compact everyday drill.
Skip it if
You need fine low-speed control for delicate screws. A few owners say the trigger is hard to feather.
What owners say
· checked October 22, 2026 (source)
What owners like
- Plenty of power for a compact drill
- Compact, well balanced and comfortable to hold
- Long runtime, especially with larger batteries
- Feels solidly built; several owners are repeat Makita buyers
What they complain about
- Trigger is hard to feather at very low speed
- Low gear feels faster than its rated speed
Summarized in our own words from the 31 reviews we could read on the first page of a major US retailer's reviews on October 22, 2026. Each complaint listed came up in only one or two of them.
Kits and prices
Spec sources for the Makita XFD12
Also considered
- Bosch GSR18V-535C: A light (2.5 lb bare) 535 in-lbs brushless drill. We left it out of the picks because the store listings we checked had no owner reviews and we couldn't find enough owner feedback elsewhere to judge it. Last seen at $139 (tool only), October 22, 2026.
How to choose a cordless drill
Torque
Torque (in-lbs) tells you how hard a drill can twist before it stalls. 300 to 500 in-lbs covers furniture, shelves and pilot holes. Large hole saws, spade bits and lag screws call for 700 in-lbs and up. Some brands, including DeWalt and Craftsman, publish "unit watts out" instead, which can't be compared across brands.
Voltage
"20V MAX" and "18V" batteries are the same thing: 20V is the voltage with no load, 18V is the nominal voltage under load. Our table shows the nominal number so you can compare like for like.
Brushless or brushed
Brushless motors run cooler, last longer and get more out of each charge. A brushed drill like the Ryobi PCL206 is fine for light use and costs less.
Weight
Brands usually publish weight without the battery, and a battery adds roughly 1 to 1.5 lb depending on its size. Compare tool-only weights with tool-only weights.
Battery platform
The battery is the expensive part. If you already own batteries from one brand, buying a bare tool from that brand usually saves the most money.
FAQ
Is a 20V MAX drill more powerful than an 18V drill?
No, not because of the voltage. 20V MAX batteries are 18V nominal, the same as 18V batteries. Motor, gearing and battery size make the difference.
Do I need a hammer drill?
Only for drilling into brick, block or concrete. For wood, metal and drywall, a drill/driver is lighter and does the same job.
Drill or impact driver?
A drill makes clean holes and controls screws with its clutch. An impact driver drives long screws and lag bolts more easily. Many people buy both, which is why so many are sold as 2-tool combo kits.
Should I buy a kit or a bare tool?
If you don't own the brand's batteries, buy a kit. The battery and charger are worth far more bought together. If you do own them, the bare tool is the better deal.
Sources
Where every number on this page comes from
- 2903-20 price: retailer page
- 2903-22 price: retailer page
- Milwaukee 2903 owner rating: retailer page
- Milwaukee 2903 specs: documents.milwaukeetool.com
- Milwaukee 2903 specs: www.milwaukeetool.com
- Milwaukee 2903 specs: www.milwaukeetool.com
- PBLDD01K1 price: retailer page
- Ryobi PBLDD01 specs: retailer page
- PCL206B price: retailer page
- Ryobi PCL206 owner rating: retailer page
- DCD800B price: retailer page
- DeWalt DCD800 owner rating: retailer page
- DeWalt DCD800 specs: www.dewalt.com
- 3403-20 price: retailer page
- Milwaukee 3403 owner rating: retailer page
- Milwaukee 3403 specs: documents.milwaukeetool.com
- Milwaukee 3403 specs: www.milwaukeetool.com
- XFD12Z price: retailer page
- Makita XFD12 owner rating: retailer page
- Makita XFD12 specs: makitatools.com
- GSR18V-535CN price: retailer page