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The 6 Best Drills of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter

Author: Liang

May. 13, 2024

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Tags: Tools

The 6 Best Drills of 2024 | Reviews by Wirecutter

After drilling over 1,000 holes and sinking at least 60 pounds of screws in drill tests dating back to 2013, we've found the DeWalt DCD701F2 Xtreme 12V Max Brushless 3/8 in. Drill/Driver Kit to be the best one yet.

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Manufacturers like to market them to pros, but don't be put off: For all those slightly-more-involved home tasks—from hanging a baby gate to mounting shelving—a drill will make the work faster, easier, and more enjoyable. You'll be more likely to achieve solid, professional-looking results than if you used hand tools alone.

Cordless drills are more powerful than they've ever been. Yet they've also gotten so compact and lightweight that you can probably handle one even if you've never picked up a drill in your life.

This DeWalt is similar to the 18-volt Milwaukee, but it offers a little more battery life and an LED that can be used independently of the drill. It also has a higher price tag.

The 18-volt Milwaukee 3601-22CT handles demanding work faster and easier than the smaller, 12-volt drills, yet retains the great ergonomics and other features of our top-pick DeWalt drill.

This Milwaukee isn't as comfortable to hold as our top pick, but it has all-day power, especially when used with the high-capacity battery.

The Bosch PS31-2A 12V has power similar to that of the DeWalt DCD701F2, but it's clunkier to hold. The little touches, such as the LED, aren't as nice.

The DeWalt DCD701F2 Xtreme is the most comfortable drill we've ever held. It's loaded with convenience features and packs enough strength and stamina to easily handle common jobs around the home.

The DeWalt DCD701F2 Xtreme 12V Max Brushless 3/8 in. Drill/Driver Kit combines power, comfort, and convenience in a way that none of the other tested drills do. In our tests, it bored 30 1-inch holes through a 2-by-10 on a single battery charge, showing it can handle just about anything within the four walls of a home. It can even handle occasional more aggressive work, like a small decking repair. Other drills we tested had similar power, but the DeWalt DCD701F2 excels in ergonomics and convenience features. The molded handle seems to account for every contour of the hand. The battery is designed so that the drill can stand upright when not in use. Other drills, like the runner-up Bosch PS31-2A 12V, need to be placed on their side. The LED is positioned to illuminate the drill front better than most. In all our years of testing, we haven't found a drill that's as much a pleasure to use as this one.

Further reading:
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If the DeWalt DCD701F2 is overpriced or unavailable, we also like the Bosch PS31-2A 12V Max 3/8 in. Drill/Driver Kit. In our tests, this 12-volt Bosch couldn't drill as many 1-inch holes on a single charge as our top pick, but it still has more than enough power for general home tasks. We found it to be about 5 ounces lighter than the DeWalt DCD701F2, but it feels heavier because the balance isn't as nice. The Bosch battery slides up into the handle, making the grip fatter and not as contoured as the DeWalt's. Also, the LED doesn't illuminate as well. Even with these drawbacks, we've been using (and recommending) this drill for years, and it has a long track record of reliability.

If you're looking for a real workhorse of a drill, or if you have other tools in the Milwaukee 12-volt ecosystem, we like the Milwaukee 3403-22 M12 Fuel 1/2 in. Drill/Driver. It's pricey for a 12-volt tool, but when we tested it with the included 4.0 Ah high-capacity battery, it rivaled or exceeded many of the 18-volt drills we looked at. Its considerable power is emphasized by the fact that it comes with a 0.5-inch chuck, larger than what is found on a standard 12-volt drill. This allows the Milwaukee to accept larger drill bits. The downsides are that, like the Bosch PS31-2A 12V, the handle isn't as comfortable as the DeWalt DCD701F2's, and when using the lower-capacity battery, the tool needs to be placed on its side when set down. Most users will be fine with the capabilities and comfort of our top-pick DeWalt, but this Milwaukee can definitely get a lot of work done.

If you take on projects that have you drilling lots of holes and sinking long screws, we recommend stepping up to the Milwaukee 3601-22CT M18 Compact Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver Kit. This 18-volt drill shares the most important characteristics of our less powerful top pick: It's extremely comfortable to hold and use, and the convenience features, such as the belt hook and LED, are spot-on. It's also extremely short—shorter than any of the 12-volt tools we tested—so it fits into tighter spots. Compared with our 12-volt Milwaukee pick, this larger drill completes tougher jobs much faster, doing the same work in less than half the time with a battery that lasts a lot longer. We tested drills during a kitchen remodel and a few smaller house renovations, and this is the drill we reached for over all the others.

If the Milwaukee 18-volt drill is not available, or if you have other 20-volt DeWalt tools and batteries, we also like the 20-volt DeWalt DCD800E2 20V Max XR Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver Kit. It's very similar to the 18-volt Milwaukee in power, ergonomics, and overall design. The DeWalt lasted a little longer in our battery test, and it has an LED that can also be switched on independently of the drill and slightly rotated, a unique feature that turns it into a basic flashlight. This could come in handy in nearly any crawl space. The light is neat but not necessary, so we prefer the typically less expensive 18-volt Milwaukee, which is a little shorter and delivers roughly the same power and battery life.

If you're looking for more power and battery life than what the 12-volt models provide, but you're hesitant about the cost of the 18-volt Milwaukee and 20-volt DeWalt drills, we recommend the Ridgid R87012 18V Brushless SubCompact Cordless Drill/Driver Kit. It doesn't have the same strength as the other two, but it has enough power for most midsize DIY projects, such as light framing. We see it as a good drill for someone starting on the DIY road who might want a decent drill at a lower cost.

A bit set to go with the drill

  • The Best Drill Bit Set

    Ryobi's 300-Piece Drill and Drive Kit and 95-Piece Drill and Impact Drive Kit are the best drill bit sets we've found in years of testing.

Drill Buying Guide | Tools & Equipment

Drills are a toolbox essential for home improvers and trade professionals alike. The right drill can be used to bore holes, loosen or tighten screws, and even chisel away materials. Combine this with the ability to use on a variety of different surfaces and materials, and you'll easily be able to undertake a variety of DIY tasks and projects.

There is a wide range of drills available. Our handy guide will explain everything you need to know about drills and help you decide on the best option for you. Before we start, take a moment to consider your future drilling priorities to help narrow down your search.

Corded or cordless?

Corded drills are often lighter than their cordless cousins as there is no heavy battery pack. If you opt for a mains-powered, corded drill, you will also need to use an extension lead. A cordless drill will give greater mobility as you can take it anywhere without having to tow an extension cable behind you. However, the most powerful cordless tools are usually more expensive than their corded equivalents.

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