The satisfaction DIY enthusiast gets after making creative household projects can’t be compared to anything. It’s a joy that only DIY aficionados can understand.
Cheer Yourself Up!
We acknowledge your passion as a DIYer and also know the problems that you face during the process of doing projects. But, don’t worry, every problem has a solution.
For instance, you can use cordless drills for household projects. It’s one of the best power tools that’s versatile, time-saving, perfect for light-duty tasks, and takes the project finishing to the next level.
That’s why we’re here to help you choose the best cordless drill for light work. Below we’ll discuss our top 5 picks of cordless drills and discuss the features you should consider while purchasing a cordless drill.
Types of Cordless Drills and Drivers
Before we head towards the review part, there are a few things that you should be aware of. Like, the main thing most people don’t know is there are different types of tools in this category and in addition, each of them is suitable for some specific purposes.
Choosing the wrong drill without knowing whether it caters to your requirements is like pouring money down the drain. So make sure to read our guide below to understand which type of cordless drill you need.
- Screwdriver – Can only drive in smaller screws in materials like soft wood or plastic. Not suitable for hard wood or any other tough jobs.
- Drill/Driver – Drill/Driver is quite famous among the DIYers like you. It’s the combination of drill and driver. You can perform both tasks with it. A person can bore holes and drive screws on wood, metal, or plastic but not in tough materials.
- Combi Drill – It’s more powerful than the Drill/Driver. You can bore holes even in the toughest type of concrete, masonry, and any other material. They are also expensive, but it’s perfect for a person who’s a carpenter by profession and needs a high-power drill for heavy-duty tasks.
- Impact Driver – It’s used for driving all types of screw, large fasteners in any type of wood or hard surfaces. These tools usually come with a huge amount of impact force and can handle the toughest screwing tasks.
- Hammer Drill – Hammer drill is the exact opposite of an impact driver. It’s not engineered to drive screws, but you can do it. The main purpose of this drill is to bore holes in concrete, stone, brick, and all types of hard material.
Which Type of Cordless Drill Do You Need?
Since you’re a DIYer and love to do lightwork on your own, then go with the Drill/Driver. With this, you can easily tighten screws and drill holes in most materials.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Cordless Drill for a Household Project
The question might be ringing the bell in your mind “How can you choose the right cordless drill?”. After all, there are hundreds of options available. Rest assured because we’ll solve this problem with our buying guide.
Battery and Voltage
Cordless drills are the ones that run on battery power. These drills come with rechargeable batteries, and their functionality entirely depends on them.
Hence, pick the drill that comes with additional batteries and the one that doesn’t need hours for charging. In this way, you can work on the project without any difficulty.
Other than that, all cordless drill comes with a voltage range between 4V to 48V. The higher the voltage, the more power you’ll get. For instance, 12V drills are suitable for DIYers as you can drive screws easily or bore small holes. While if you want more, 20V MAX (18V) cordless drills are best for you.
Torque
Another thing that you need to consider is the torque. In simple words, torque is the rotational power for tightening screws. Usually, the amount of torque is measured in inch-pound. High torque means a powerful drill.
Speed Setting
Aside from torque, the other important factor is the speed setting of the drill. You may have seen a value like this 1,500 RPM in the specification section. This represents the speed of the drill that’s measured in RPM (revolution per minute).
With low RPM, you can’t work efficiently. If you go with the drill with High RPM, you can’t minimize the speed for low-level tasks. Hence, it’s better to choose a drill that has a variable speed range switch. It will allow you to change the speed according to the requirement of work.
Size and Weight
We can’t hold a heavy machine constantly. So what will you do with a heavy cordless drill? It will probably create problems for your work. That’s why always check the weight of the drill before making any decision.
Aside from that, you should also check the size. If you work in tight spaces, go with portable drills that can easily fit in all places.
Chuck
Chuck is the part of a drill where you’ll attach the bit. The bigger the chuck, the more heavy-duty tasks your drill can perform. Since you’re a DIYer, a ⅜ or ¼ chuck is what you need. At the same time, ½ chuck is for those who want to do heavy-duty tasks.
Additional Features
Some additional features you should consider are the warranty of the drill. Also, don’t forget about the LED light feature that will help you work in darker areas.
Our Top 5 Cordless Drill Picks For Light Work
Here are our top 5 cordless drill picks; these drills are ideal for light work or household projects.
BOSCH Power Tools Cordless Drill Kit - PS31-2A
The first pick on our list is the BOSCH PS31-2A power tool drill kit. It’s exactly what you need for DIY projects. It offers high torque of 265 in.lbs and versatility with the two-speed setting. You can adjust the speed according to the workload. The first range is 0-350 RPM, and the second is 0-1,300 RPM.
With this 12V drill, you’ll get two lithium-ion batteries, so charge one and use another without compromising your work. The chuck size is ⅜; rest assured, you can use a wide range of bits.
In terms of portability, the weight should be only 1.8 lbs, and the size is about 7 inches in length. That means the BOSCH PS31-2A will easily fit in all spaces. Moreover, the LED light will make your work easy-peasy at night.
On the downside, we notice that the chuck has a problem. No doubt it has a large capacity, but it’s difficult to tighten bits. In addition to that, you might need some practice to remove the battery from the tool.
DEWALT 20V DCD771C2 Max Cordless Drill
If you ask us which is the best drill in this article regarding power and capacity, it’s DeWalt 20V DCD771C2. First, it’s from the DeWalt brand, well-known for its build and quality. Second, it’s a 20V drill that comes with two batteries.
The chuck size is ½ which allows you to perform any task. Also, the chuck is good at holding the bit efficiently. With two-speed variable settings (0-450 and 0-1,500 rpm), you can manage the speed and do the task without facing any difficulty.
The motor of the DeWalt DCD771C2 delivers 300 UWO (unit watts out) / 372 in-lbs of torque. It makes the drill powerful enough that you can use it on a wide range of applications. Another thing that’s noticeable it’s a compact drill. The length is only 6.5 inches, and the weight is 3.64 pounds.
Makita FD07R1 12V MAX CXT Cordless Driver-Drill Kit
The third drill we’ve picked for you is from the Makita brand; the model is FD07R1. This is a lightweight 12V drill with a weight of 2.3 pounds that will definitely not give your hand any problem. It has a brushless motor that promises efficiency and delivers 280 in-lbs of torque.
Another benefit of this motor is it will save energy and offer a 50% longer run time. The batteries are CXT lithium-ion, and they come with a protection circuit that ensures you won’t face overheating issues.
The chuck size is ⅜, and it’s a keyless one. Therefore, there won’t be any problem at the time of changing bits. There’s also a charging indicator that’ll notify you about the charging level. It also offers the two-speed option (0-450 & 0-1,500 RPM). In short, it’s a good drill, and you can go with this one if you think it meets your requirements.
BLACK+DECKER 12V MAX Cordless Drill BDCDD12C
Are you not into drilling holes on different materials but only on soft applications like wood? You should choose Black Decker 12V BDCDD12C cordless drill.
This drill is best for low-duty tasks. It will be your lightweight drill (2.8 lbs) and a personal screwdriver that will help you perform most household tasks without any hassle. Apart from being lightweight, we notice the drill has a soft-grip rubble handle for easy grip. It also features LED light and 11 position clutch.
The size of the keyless chuck is ⅜, making the swapping of bits a child’s play. In brief, Black Decker 12V BDCDD12C is undoubtedly a good and affordable option since it comes under $50.
DEWALT XTREME DCD701F2 12V MAX Cordless Drill
The last recommendation is Dewalt XTREME DCD701F2 12V cordless drill. The drill comes with a brushless motor that delivers 32% more power and longer life than others. It features a ⅜ ratcheting chuck that promises smooth operation and versatility for bits. The no-load speed RPM range of the drill is 0 – 425, 0 – 1,500 with two settings.
In terms of size, the drill is shorter, so there’s no need to worry about whether it will work in tight spaces. In addition, you’ll get two 12V max 2.0 Ah batteries, a belt clip, and a tool bag. All of these things are included in the package.
FAQs about Cordless Drills
Which is the best cordless drill for household projects?
We’ve concluded that the Best Cordless Drill for light work and heavy-duty household tasks is Dewalt 20V DCD771C2. It’s an excellent drill in terms of performance; you can do almost all types of household tasks easily with it.
Is 12V enough for a drill?
Yes, 12V is enough for a drill if you only plan to use it for DIY tasks. In case you’re looking for a cordless drill for heavy-duty tasks, you should go with 18V (20V MAX).
What is the difference between a 20V drill and a 12V drill?
The 12V drills are perfect for household tasks like tightening screws, drilling holes in wood, or other soft materials. But if we talk about 20V drills, they are more powerful. These batteries run longer than 12V batteries. And they also deliver more power to the drill; that’s why you can drill in tough materials.
Why is a cordless drill good?
A cordless drill is good because, with this drill, you don’t need to plug the drill into an electrical socket. Another best thing is that cordless drills are known for delivering high torque. In addition, they are also convenient because their lightweight, so you can use them easily.
Conclusion
Undeniably choosing a perfect cordless drill is a little bit difficult but not impossible. If you’re confused, we suggest you read our buying guide thoroughly. It will help you understand what type of cordless drill you want.
We hope you like our guide on the best cordless drill for light work or household projects. Yet, if you’ve questions about Best cordless drill driver for homework, feel free to ask us in the comment section.
