A cordless drill is one of the most cost-effective tools available, providing more power for your buck than any other tool. These power tools allow you to effortlessly drill holes in wood, metal, or masonry as well as drive threaded fasteners such as screws, nuts, and bolts.
The cordless drills are extremely flexible, and they can be used for a wide range of household projects. You might believe that drills are only for professional-style, heavy-duty house renovation jobs, but they’re much more versatile. For small activities like assembling furniture, they’re excellent time-savers. They’re also great for just hanging a picture or putting up a shelf and for many small household tasks.
You can use the cordless drills in the garden to drill a hole in a plant pot for planting, to make drainage holes, but you can even put a wooden house together for the kids. They can also be used to fit the fence and will make short work of installing a door lock. Special brush bits may also be used for car polishing and as wire wheel brushes to remove rust from metal surfaces – you’ll wonder where this tool has been all your life!
If you’re thinking about the need for a reliable drill in your household, our answer is yes. Definitely.
The cordless drills have come a long way from just being simple tools for professionals to adding features that make them more convenient and easier to use at home where power is not always easily accessible. Today’s models are lighter, smaller, and have powerful batteries that can last for hours of continuous usage.
What kind of drill is best for home use?
It’s difficult to answer this as there are many different types of drills. You may want a drill that is lightweight, has a long battery life and is versatile. If you’re cutting, drilling, screwing, or sanding, you’ll need a different type of drill from those who only need to drive screws into a wall every once in a while.
If you’re using the drill for small household projects (for example, assembling furniture) then it’s best that you go for a lightweight cordless drill. The battery should have a good life and come with an extra battery. This way you can preserve your energy and not have to spend time charging the batteries. A good selection for these types of drills would be the 12 volts Compact drills. The battery life is between 0,5-1 hours and it comes with an extra one to help you work continuously without having to stop to recharge the batteries.
Please note: When we talk about the battery life, it is not equal to the time of work. For example, hanging a picture on the wall may take up to half an hour.: measure the height, prepare the tool and accessories, drill a hole, and finally place the picture and clean it up. From this workflow, the drill operated for only 10-15 seconds.
For a medium type of work, you’ll need a drill with a little more power, for example, an 18 volts drill. Almost all drills have two-speed ranges, and the lower range is good enough even if you’re going to do just small tasks around the house. A higher speed range is needed when you want to drill holes in hard materials or do work that requires more energy and power. The battery will last for 1-1.5 hours, but these tools already have more torque and power to accomplish more difficult tasks.
For heavy-duty work and for professionals, we recommend a heavy-duty drill with a high voltage range and more battery capacity. For example, if you’re using the drills in your carpentry work at home or any other professional activity from which you need the best possible tool, then it’s better to choose a heavy-duty drill that has 20 volts max or more or special models with larger batteries. For heavy-duty work, you have to consider the power (UWO) and the torque (in-lbs) of the drill. Torque is what allows you to drill deep and big diameter holes, and fasten larger size screws into wood or metal.
If you need to drill in brick or concrete as well as metal and wood, we highly recommend a hammer drill, because it will give you the extra hammer function that is needed. The hammer drill can also be used as a regular drill by turning off the hammer action, which makes it a versatile tool. The difference between a regular drill and a hammer drill is that the hammer drill has a mechanism that allows the bit to rotate around its own axis while also being able to apply an impact force perpendicular to the surface. This way, you can easily drill into hard surfaces like masonry.
These types of drills are bigger and heavier and use larger batteries that give more time for work. Even so, they’re still lighter than non-cordless hammer drills.
If you want a buying guide on how to choose the best drill, you can read it here.
Conclusion
The best cordless drill for home use will depend on what you plan to do with it. If your work is light, a lightweight 12-volt model may be sufficient. For medium-duty tasks, the choice should have more power and torque but still be lightweight enough not to cause strain when using it around the house. Heavy-duty work requires even more power – 18V (20V max) or higher – as well as either increased battery life or larger batteries themselves.
The best cordless drill for light-duty work: BOSCH PS31-2A 12V
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| Price history for BOSCH Power Tools Drill Kit - PS31-2A - 12V, 3/8 Inch, Two Speed Driver, Cordless Drill Set - Includes Two Lithium Ion Batteries, 12V Charger, Screwdriver Bits & Soft Carrying Bag, Blue | |
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Get all of your home projects done with this ultra light-weight machine that has both high torque and 2-speed settings, making it perfect for any home task.
Don’t be fooled by its small size; you will be surprised at how much it can handle. It can even be used as a secondary tool for professional work. Perhaps the best of many benefits is that it fits in very small spaces; the power-to-size ratio is outstanding in the category.
Perfect for minor homework and maintenance. Assembling furniture is an experience with it, as it speeds up the work in an extraordinary way. Thanks to the 20 clutch settings, you can also be sure that it will not damage the furniture.
The Bosch PS31 2A drill driver is capable of drilling through drywall, wood, and even metal thanks to its high torque and two-speed settings.
The design of this product’s pistol grip-style handle makes it one-of-a-kind. It not only looks good, but it is also highly space-saving. Two batteries are included in the package, so you won’t have to stop working because you’re out of power.
It includes LED lighting, which is especially useful in low-light situations. It’s constructed of sturdy, high-quality materials that are easy to grip and operate even for novices.
PROS
- Incredibly light-weight and power-to-size ratio
- High torque with 20 clutch settings
- Two-speed settings
- Pistol grip-style handle
CONS
- It may be too small for people with big hands.
- A stronger case would be better.
The best cordless drill for medium-duty work: MAKITA XFD131 18V LXT
| Price history for Makita XFD131 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2 Inch Driver-Drill Kit (3.0Ah) | |
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Makita cordless drills are built to deliver class-leading performance. The Makita 18V LXT Cordless 1/2 Inch Drill Driver (XFD131) is one example; it has a powerful, brushless motor that delivers 440 in.lbs of max torque and only weighs 3.8 lbs! This means you can work comfortably for hours with precision and confidence–while still having the power on hand for those tough jobs too.
This powerful tool has a two-speed transmission that allows users to choose between high torque mode for fast drilling and adjustment speeds, or low gear (0 – 500/1 900 RPM) which is perfect if you want finer control of your workpiece held securely in place with minimal vibration while making more precise holes without sacrificing any power!
This power tool has a high range of torque with the BL brushless motor, which is electronically controlled for optimal battery energy usage and a 50% longer run duration per charge! The medium-duty or (sometimes) heavy-duty work can be done without problems since it provides up to 440 in. lbs of Max Torque with 395 UWO power.
Because it’s a premium product, we got it with all of the essential accessories and high-quality materials. The tool has a rubberized grip and a long-lasting body. There is also a built-in dual LED light that can be used when working in low light. The package includes two batteries and a charger, all in a soft bag.
PROS
- Light-weight design (only 3.8 lbs)
- High torque and power
- Battery energy use
- Good value for money
CONS
- There is no hammer mode
- A hard case would be better
The best cordless drill for heavy-duty work: DEWALT DCD996P2 20V MAX
| Price history for DEWALT 20V MAX XR Hammer Drill Kit, Brushless, 3-Speed, Cordless (DCD996P2) | |
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The DEWALT DCD996P2 20V MAX XR is the best cordless drill driver for heavy-duty home projects with hammer mode and small product size characteristics. The rugged housing and all-metal gear mean it can handle tasks that other drills are no longer capable of.
The superior power and performance make it ideal for drilling through high-density concrete, wood, metal, brickwork masonry. It’s perfect for home repairs or building projects that require heavy-duty drillers.
This powerful hammer drill can handle tough tasks with ease thanks to its 918 in-lbs max torque as well as 820 ft/lbs Max Power – making this one of the most versatile tools on your toolbox!
With a 3-speed all-metal high-performance gearbox that optimizes the tool to task for much faster application speeds. This ensures you’ll be able to run longer, more efficient jobs. And 20 volts of power ensures pesky screws turn effortlessly while the high-powered battery (5.0 Ah) keeps going strong.
The 1/2 inch ratcheting nitro carburized metal chuck features carbide inserts for superior bit gripping strength. The ergonomic handle makes working in close-quarters places like under automobiles or inside buildings more comfortable.
The tool, along with two 5Ah batteries, a charger, a belt clip, and a side handle are all included in one hard case.
PROS
- Extreme huge torque and power
- Battery energy use
- Hammer mode
- High-quality chuck
CONS
- We haven’t found it yet
