Cordless drills are a blessing for DIY enthusiasts. Amazingly, you can do a lot with this compact piece of equipment, even if you are a complete novice.
However, finding the best cordless drill for DIY project can be a constant struggle, especially when you don’t know what to look for.
Before investing in a drill, you need to make sure it checks all the right boxes.
In this post, we’ll tell you:
- What qualities does the best cordless drill for DIY project have
- The best cordless drills for DIY work available right now
Let’s dive in.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Cordless Drill Driver for DIY Project (Medium-duty work)
Before we talk about our top picks, let’s take a look at the factors to consider before buying a cordless drill for DIY medium-duty projects.
Power
Power is arguably the most important feature of a cordless drill. How much power you need on a drill depends on the intensity of work you require from it.
If you want to drill big holes in strong materials, you’d need more power. But, it does come with a trade-off: More weight.
Typically, the number of volts on a drill’s battery determines its power.
For medium-duty DIY projects, a 12 – 20V cordless drill is going to be perfect. It wouldn’t be too heavy and will do the job effectively.
But, of course, you can go with a higher-voltage battery if the extra weight doesn’t bother you.
A 20V cordless drill model generally weighs around 5 lbs including the battery.
Handle Comfort
Most drills used to have the pistol grip before cordless drills were a thing.
Today, most cordless drills come with a T-handle, which is relatively much more comfortable and provides better balance.
Plus, because your hand isn’t in the way in this configuration, a T-handle can get into tighter spots.
However, a pistol grip lets you apply more force, it tends to be better for heavy-duty drilling.
But, since all the cordless drills on our list have super comfortable handles, you don’t have to worry about it.
Clutch
The function of a drill clutch is to regulate the amount of torque you apply to a screw. This prevents you from overdriving a screw once it’s snug into place or breaking its shaft.
So, when a preset resistance level is achieved, the clutch disengages the drive shaft. As a result, the screwdriver bit stops running.
The best cordless drills come with a lot of settings to give you more control over the power your drill delivers. Low clutch settings are for small screws, whereas higher settings are for large ones.
There’s also a “Drill setting” that lets the motor apply maximum power.
Speed
Drills that are on the cheaper side come with a single speed, but that doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. It mainly depends on what type of work you want to do with it. Most cordless drills come with a two-speed setting, for instance:
- 300 rpm (For driving screws)
- 800 rpm (For drilling holes)
A trigger or a slide switch lets you change the speed settings. However, the above speeds aren’t ideal for medium-duty DIY projects.
For more refined work, you want to look for a drill with a variable speed setting and over 1000 rpm speeds.
Batteries
Ideally, you want a battery that:
- Is long-lasting
- Gets quickly recharged
- Is lightweight
The weight of the battery depends on its voltage and capacity, so that’s a tradeoff you have to accept.
The good thing is: Most batteries these days are long-lasting and come with fast recharging capability.
However, it’s always a good idea to have a spare battery with you.
With all that out of the way, let’s now talk about our top 5 cordless drills for DIY work.
Our Top 5 Picks for DIY or Medium Work
With a 530 in-lbs. peak torque, this is one of the most powerful cordless drill drivers on our list.
In addition, its ergonomic handle lets you work for long hours without straining your hand. It’s great for tight spots, too.
Moreover, the cordless drill comes with a 2-speed transmission.
- 0 – 450 rpm
- 0 – 1700 rpm
Therefore, you’ll be able to drill a variety of holes and drive screws on metal, wood, and plastic without a problem.
What’s more, the two 2000mAh batteries have enough juice to last for several hours.
Plus, thanks to the ultra-fast charger that comes with it, you can recharge the battery in an hour.
The keyless chuck allows you to open and close chuck jaws without needing a key.
However, the drill bits aren’t very high-quality, but you can always buy them separately if you want.
If you want a cordless drill with the best compromise between power and compactness, this Milwaukee cordless drill will interest you.
Thanks to its small size, you can use it in tight spots with great balance and control.
Moreover, the brushless motor provides up to 500 in-lbs. maximum torque, making it suitable for medium-duty DIY projects.
The 18-volt lithium-ion battery offers high performance and great capacity, allowing you to work for long hours without any interruption.
What’s more, the ½ inch chuck holds a wide range of drill bits securely.
As for the speed control, you get two ranges:
- 0 – 500 rpm
- 0 – 1800 rpm
However, there have been some instances where the battery didn’t work properly. But, mostly, it offers an impressively long work time.
The DEWALT MAX cordless drill driver comes with a brushless motor that’s 57% more efficient than its brushed counterparts.
On top of that, the drill comes with XR Li-ion batteries that further add to the capacity of this drill. As a result, you get a great run time.
Moreover, the cordless drill from DEWALT is compact and lightweight, allowing you to use it in tight spots effectively. It weighs just around 3.4 lbs. and is 6.9 inches front to back.
What’s more, the handle is super comfortable, so you can work for hours without straining your hands. The chuck is made of all metal and provides a firm grip on a variety of drill bits.
There are two-speed settings on this DEWALT cordless drill:
- 0 – 550 rpm
- 0 – 2000 rpm
That makes the drill perfect for medium-duty DIY projects of all kinds.
The cordless drill comes with a 3-mode LED light for night work. So, you also won’t have to worry about illuminating your workspace.
However, the clutch may feel a little stiff in the beginning.
The CRAFTSMAN V20* is one of the best cordless drills for DIY work. Thanks to its high-performance motor that produces 280 unit watts, it can handle all kinds of medium-duty DIY tasks.
Moreover, the 20V Lithium battery makes sure that you get ample runtime. The battery also adds to the performance of the drill.
Even if you run out of battery juice, the super-fast charger provides you a full recharge in 60 minutes or less.
There’s an indicator that tells you how much charge is left in the battery. Plus, the white bright LED light provides enough illumination for night work.
In addition, you get two-speed settings on this drill:
0 – 400 rpm
0 – 1500 rpm
So, you can drive screws and drill holes effectively.
On top of all that, Craftsman is offering a generous 3-year limited warranty on this cordless drill. So, there’s minimum risk involved as you can always get back to the company should anything come up.
However, the CRAFTSMAN cordless drill comes with a single battery, unlike some of its competitors. Plus, there’s no carry bag either.
The BLACK+DECKER cordless drill driver is one of the most cost-effective ones out there. The good thing is it offers everything you need for home-based medium-duty tasks.
For instance, the battery life is great, so you won’t have to worry about recharging the drill for about 4 hours straight. Plus, you can always get a spare battery.
Moreover, the ergonomically designed soft-grip handle makes the drill pretty comfortable to use. And, because it’s lightweight, you’ll be able to handle it for long hours without hassle.
Plus, although the drill comes with a single speed, you get good control over it.
However, you don’t get a lot of power on this one since it’s more like a starter kit. Plus, you don’t get a drill case or a carry bag with it.
Conclusion
We’ve talked about the qualities of the best cordless drill driver. Let’s do a quick recap. While finalizing a cordless drill for DIY work, make sure it:
- Is powerful enough for medium-duty DIY projects (around 12 – 20 volts)
- Has a long-lasting battery (a spare one is a plus)
- Is lightweight and has an ergonomic and comfortable handle
- Has two variable speed settings (for screwing and drilling)
We’ve also talked about our top 5 picks, and hope that it makes the selection process easier for you.
Let’s discuss a few questions you might have about cordless drills for DIY work.
FAQs about cordless drills
What Material Can You Use a Cordless Drill On?
A cordless drill with enough power can drill all kinds of materials. It’s typically used on metal, wood, plastic, brick, concrete, or stone.
How Can You Maintain a Cordless Drill Easily?
Maintaining a cordless drill is easy. Here are a few tips:
- Clean your drill regularly
- Avoid overheating it (overuse)
- Store it in a drill box
- Look out for rust
- Replace worn-out components
- Use with care
What’s the Best Drill Voltage for Medium-Duty DIY Projects?
For medium-duty DIY work, any good cordless drill in the voltage range of 12V – 20V MAX (10,8V – 18V) will do. Of course, you can go with a more powerful one, but more power typically means more weight.
Is Higher Voltage Better on a Cordless Drill?
It depends on the usage. The higher voltage means higher performance, so if you want to drill into harder material regularly, it is worth choosing a drill with a higher voltage.
But other hands higher voltage isn’t always better on a cordless drill. The more the voltage on a drill, the heavier the bare tool and its battery tend to be. So if you want to use the tool for light DIY tasks then you want a drill that’s not too heavy to handle conveniently.
What Does the 1 and 2 Switch on a Drill Do?
The 1 and 2 switches on a drill let you select the speed of drilling. Cordless drills typically have two speed options; high and low. Switch 1 is for low speeds whereas switch 2 puts the tool on the high-speed setting.
- Switch 1 or the low-speed setting is ideal for driving screws
- Switch 2 or the high-speed setting is perfect for drilling holes
What Does Brushless Mean on a Drill?
The word “Brushless” on a drill means that the drill motor doesn’t have any brushes.
Brushless drills tend to be more energy-efficient than their brushed counterparts. This is because a brushless drill optimizes the power supply, torque, and speed based on the task at hand.
