Beginner’s Guide: How To Choose the Best Drill Driver

Choosing the right cordless drill driver is no easy task. There are many different models to choose from and it can be hard to know which one will best suit your needs. Let’s take a look at some of the things you should consider when trying to find the best cordless drill driver for you! When looking for a new cordless drill, there are two main types that you need to think about: battery life and size/weight. If you plan on doing any work that requires using your hands as well as drilling (i.e., installing furniture) then weight and length become an important consideration as well as power output (if not more important).

What is a cordless drill driver?

A cordless drill driver is a power tool powered by a battery, that has two modes; drilling and screw driving. This allows you to select low or high torque, and speed, depending on whether you want to drill a hole or drive a screw. They are powered by a rechargeable battery and can be used anywhere. Many people refer to this type of drill as a “cordless” drill driver.

Two types of motor types in cordless drills: brushed and brushless. A brushed motor is less powerful but more affordable. A brushless motor is more powerful and expensive. The most cordless drill driver can be used for DIY projects, such as building furniture or installing shelves. This drill is also very useful when you need to make quick repairs around the house, but do not want to get out your full-size power drill.

What are the types of cordless drill drivers?

There are three main types of cordless drills: lightweight, compact, and heavy-duty. Each type is designed with specific uses in mind, so you need to determine which type matches best your intended use.

• A lightweight cordless drill either comes in a 12V or a 20V version, which has a high impact on the weight. A 12V version is usually less than 2.5 pounds, on the other hand, its 20V brother weighs around 4 pounds with a battery. It most commonly has a ⅜ inch keyless chuck (the part that holds the bit). This type is often small enough to fit into tight spaces and is versatile enough for many different jobs around the house. As you would expect, this tool does not have as much power (around 250 UWO) as the larger models, but it is perfect for smaller tasks, so we recommend these drill drivers for home use only.
• The most popular type of cordless drill driver is the compact model, which only exists in a 20V version, and depending on the size of the battery it weighs around 4 pounds, just like a heavier lightweight drill driver. Nevertheless, there are key differences, which make this type so popular. It has a ½ inch keyless chuck, some with a plastic sleeve, but there are full metal ones too. These drills are more powerful than the lightweight models (between 300-500 UWO), which obviously means more torque too. This is why it can handle more advanced tasks around the house and can also serve as a secondary tool for a carpenter. We recommend the compact cordless drill drivers for those, who are dealing with more demanding DIY tasks.
• Heavy-duty cordless drills drivers are the most powerful of the three types. These models usually weigh over 4 pounds and come with larger batteries with higher capacity. They have a ½ inch full metal chuck and are often supplied with a side handle for better grip. They deliver much higher torque and power (600+ UWO) than the other types, but are also larger in size and typically cannot fit into tight spaces. This type of drill is intended for heavy-duty tasks and recommended for professionals, i.e. construction workers.

What features should I look for when buying a cordless drill driver?

There are many different cordless drill drivers available on the market, so when you are looking for a new one it can be hard to know which one will be the best suit your needs. A few key features that you should look for include:

1. Power (make sure it provides enough power to get the job done)

A cordless drill driver with high power will allow you to get the job done more quickly and efficiently. The amount of power a cordless drill produces is measured in UWO (Unit Watts Out), which value was created specifically for power tools and is calculated from its speed and torque. Cordless drills with more UWO will be able to get through tough projects easily. If you know that you will be working on large, bulky projects like on construction sites, you’ll need a heavy-duty cordless drill with more UWO (600-800). For average DIY or even lighter home use like assembling furniture, we recommend a compact or lightweight drill driver with 400-600 or 200-400 UWO.

2. Speed (and number of speed settings)

Although UWO is calculated from this parameter, you should also consider the specific speeds and speed settings your desired drill has, to be sure it’s best suited to the task at hand. The best cordless drill driver models have two or sometimes even three different speed settings, so you can always find the speed and torque that best suits the type of project you want to work on. For low-speed / high-torque jobs like screwing, a speed setting with 350 to 500 rpm is preferred. For high-speed / low-torque jobs like drilling into metal, a setting with 1,700 to 2,000 rpm will do the job best. It’s important to select a drill driver with a variable speed trigger, which helps you control your tool during use by adjusting the speed from 0 to MAX steplessly.

3. Torque (hard material?…more torque!)

Similarly to speed, this value is also used when calculating the UWO of your drill driver. Nevertheless, the amount of torque in itself is an important determining factor (measured in inch-pounds) for the outcome of your projects. The heavy-duty cordless drill drivers will have enough torque (800-1,000 in-lbs) for almost any type of project you are working on. If you are a professional and need to get through tough material or deal with heavy objects, you’ll want to choose one of those models. For DIY and light home use, we recommend a less powerful drill driver with fewer inch-pounds of torque. Compact tools have appr. 500-700 in-lbs, lightweight ones move around 200-400 in-lbs.

4. Weight (with or without battery?)

It is important to consider how heavy your future drill driver is. If they are too heavy, then it can be hard for you to work with them. If you are working on a project where you have to hold your tool above shoulder height for a long time, then it is best to stay away from extremely heavy models.

When it’s about the weight of cordless drill drivers, it is important to differentiate between bare tools and ready-to-use products. Whereas the bare tool does not include the battery, the ready-to-use product does, so you have two options to find a drill driver with less weight.

You can go for a lighter bare tool, which is typically also smaller in size. 12V drill drivers have less weight (around 1.8 pounds), but less power too. The more powerful 20V products are also heavier and can weigh 4.0 to 4.6 pounds. If you are looking for the best power to weight ratio, go for a more efficient brushless drill driver, which is also more compact, hence weigh less too, around 3.5 pounds.

The other option to reduce the weight of your tool is to play with different capacity batteries. More capacity means more runtime, but also more cells, more metal, more weight. If you choose a cordless drill driver, check the available battery sizes, which can vary from 1.3 to 5.0Ah and their weight from 0.4 to 1.6 pounds. Newer batteries are typically lighter as they come with the latest generation cells with more capacity, but the same size as old ones. Same as the bare tool, 12V drill drivers come also with lighter batteries than 20V products.

5. Batteries (lifetime and capacity)

Before getting into lifetime, we have to differentiate between two definitions: in the case of rechargeable batteries, shelf lifetime refers to how long it can be stored without using and charging it, before going bad completely. It’s also important to keep in mind when storing battery packs, that high humidity and temperatures have a bad effect and reduce shelf lifetime. The other definition is cycle lifetime, which defines how many complete charges and discharges a battery can do before it no longer holds the charge. This value is always fixed for rechargeable batteries and varies depending on their quality.

There are two types of batteries for cordless drills drivers: nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and lithium-ion (Li-ion). The Li-ion technology is much more advanced and more reliable than NiCd and typically stores a higher amount of energy too. Nickel-cadmium is cheaper, but their capacity will start to degrade significantly after 400-500 charge/discharge cycles and eventually reach their lifetime at around 1000. Their shelf lifetime is somewhere between 18 and 36 months.

Lithium-ion batteries are a great choice for extended and more convenient use. Although their cycle and shelf lifetime are also around 1000 charge/discharges and 2 to 4 years, these types of batteries usually come with additional protection against overheating and deep discharge, which can extend their lifetime significantly. They also offer higher capacity than NiCd’s due to their higher energy density and their voltage does not drop as it depletes. However, lithium-ion cells come at a higher price.

Another important thing regarding batteries is their capacity. As mentioned before, Li-ion batteries can hold a higher amount of energy relative to their weight than NiCd ones. For both capacity is measured in ampere-hours, or amp-hours (Ah). If you double the Ah value on a battery, you’ll get roughly double runtime, simple as that. Due to technology improvements, the energy density of Li-ion cells gets higher and higher, which means their weight relative to their capacity decreases. In practice, newer batteries with higher capacity can weigh the same as lower capacity, but older models.

Higher capacity cells take longer to charge, this means that you will have to wait longer periods of time before being able to use your cordless drill again! In general, Li-ion batteries require less time until they are fully charged and these tools also come with faster chargers. Therefore it’s best to evaluate your needs and purchase a drill with Li-ion batteries and a fast charger.

6. Durability (dropped on the ground?…no problem)

Durability is a very important aspect when selecting a cordless tool. Most of the drills available right now offer the best in terms of durability and ergonomics. The components with heavy loads are usually made from steel, copper, brass, or aluminum, but their grade can differ from brand to brand. That is the same with plastics when we look at the outer shell of the drills. Top brands use glass fiber-filled plastic (GF) for the housing and rubber (TPE) at the handle areas to increase grip, improve handling and make the usage safer. High-quality materials are the best at handling the wear and tear that come with heavy day-to-day use.

There are also a few things you can look for to make sure that the drill driver is durable and built well. For one, it should feel solid in your hands. The best drills will not be wobbly in your hand, parts will not rattle and it won’t feel cheap, but instead very solid. This ensures they won’t break even when dropped because the housing will absorb most of the shock.

Another sign to look for when searching for the most robust drill drivers is the chuck. The most durable tools have a metal chuck because plastic chucks are more likely to wear out or even break when dealing with the most demanding tasks. The construction of the metal chuck makes sure, that it opens and closes easily, holds the drill bit tightly during use, and ensures it can be changed anytime when needed. Drills with plastic chucks could be a good choice for a homeowner who will be primarily using the drill for projects around the house. These tools are usually lighter and cheaper too, which are important factors from a handling perspective and for your wallet.

It also helps with the durability of the machine, if it comes in a carry case, so you can transport your tool without worrying about breaking it or carrying your accessories separately.

Finally, the top cordless drill driver brands often offer a good warranty and are supported by great customer service.

7. Chuck (is there more to talk about?)

Yes, there is. We have already discussed the topic of metal and plastic chucks, but there are other properties to pay attention to. The most important is the chuck opening size, or maximum bit size. The chuck opening capacity determines how big (or small) drill bits can be mounted into it. Generally speaking, there are two different sizes currently available: 3/8 inch (for small bits) and 1/2 inch (for large bits). 3/8 inch chucks are typically used on lightweight tools and made from plastic. The 1/2 inch version on the other hand is assembled on compact and heavy-duty drills and is available both in plastic and metal. You should make sure that your cordless drill driver has a chuck opening at least as wide as the largest drill bit you will be using.

Another property to discuss is the type of tightening. There are three different types, but basically, only two are currently available on the cordless drill driver market:

• The first type is the keyed chuck, which requires a key to adjust the jaws and fix the bit. It is easily recognizable from the gear teeth around the outer rim. This type of chuck is suitable for applications where high torque is required, nevertheless, it is not used anymore on the newest cordless drill drivers.
• The next type is the keyless chuck, which doesn’t need a tool to use. We recommend it because it is easier and more comfortable to handle. It has different sub-types, like the one with a manual spindle lock. This type has either two sleeves on the chuck or one sleeve on the chuck and a lock button on the drill to fix the spindle. Anyhow you need to use both hands to get a proper grip. These chucks with a manual spindle lock are good for smaller drills used in lighter-duty applications around the house.
• The third type is the single-sleeve keyless chuck with only one sleeve on the chuck and a built-in automatic spindle lock function, which makes the handling very easy. This is very popular among both professionals and DIYers because it allows comfortable handling, good grip, and easy bit changes without using any additional effort or tools. Currently, this type is the most popular on the cordless drill driver market.

8. Price tag (you don’t want to break your bank account!)

Different models have different prices. It is important to know how much you are willing to spend or what your budget would be, before looking at the different price tags. The price is depending on several factors, such as the power output, and special features, but also the brand, model, battery type and quantity, or the accessories that come with it. We know it can get complicated very easy, so here are some clever tips, how you can save money:

1. If your intention is to build up your own workshop at home for DIY or even professional purposes, there is an easy way to save a lot of money: think ahead and select a brand with a tool portfolio that contains all or most of the desired tools you want to have. With that, you will be able to share the batteries and charger among all of your tools, and you only have to buy different bare tools (without battery and charger) later.
2. Check the brand more carefully! Some top brands might seem to offer their products overpriced compared to other less known ones, but there is always a good reason for it. Long market history, higher-grade materials used, better quality build, longer warranty period, or excellent customer support are things, which might not be that important first, but in the long run, these can be game-changers.
3. What’s in the box? You might be able to save a little money if your drill kit includes some extra equipment like a side handle, a set of drill and screw bits, a carrying case, and even an extra battery (above the base charger and battery). This can drive down the final price because you are getting additional equipment and not just the drill itself.

If you like to buy a cordless drill for heavy-duty purposes you might need to invest in a more robust and powerful model, but for light-duty home projects, a cheaper cordless drill driver might do the job. Remember that you can always upgrade to a more expensive model if your current one is not enough anymore!

What is the average cost of a cordless drill?

The price ranges from $50 – $300. The most expensive models are used by professionals like construction workers or other contractors, while the cheaper ones are more appropriate for DIY and home use. You can already find very good models with good performance for around $100 – $150.

9. Brands (who makes the best quality tool?)

We’ve already gone through the differences between brands when it comes to pricing, so now let’s look at the best players on the market.

Two of the best brands are DeWalt and Milwaukee, both from the US. These products are best known for their durability and high power output. DeWalt and Milwaukee tools can be used by professionals without worrying about breakdowns or running out of power.

Another top brand is Makita from Japan. Its popularity lies in the reliability of their products and the size of their product portfolio. When you buy a Makita tool, you’ll get a well-built design, that will last for years.

Bosch from Germany is also one of the top power tool makers. The Bosch cordless products are known for being high quality and full of the latest high-tech features. They can go through many tough jobs without breaking down, so you can trust that they’ll be reliable for a long time.

But there are some other brands with shorter market history and lower prices, than the above ones, but still good quality like Teccpo from China. Teccpo is also a great brand with a large number of sales on Amazon. The quality and the power of the tool are more than enough for tough DIY use.

The most popular power tool brands:

• DeWalt
• Makita
• Bosch
• Milwaukee
• Black+Decker
• Craftsman
• Ryobi
• Hitachi
• Teccpo

So after all of this, which cordless drill driver should you buy?

As you can see there are a lot of factors, which affect this decision and it all depends on what your unique situation is. If you seek power, robustness, reliability, versatility, innovation, ease of use, or the best value to cost ratio, there are tools out there which are perfect for you, and we’re here to help to find it. Our team consists of experts with years of experience in power tools and helping customers make smart choices when shopping online. We know which brands offer great products at competitive prices and can give more insight into what type would suit your needs the best based on the type of projects you’ll be doing.

That’s all folks! Hope this has been helpful. Good luck on making that purchase and if you want to learn more, don’t forget to check all of our articles. If you have any questions or comments, please drop them below, we’re always happy to help! –BestDrillAdvisor Team