Best cordless drills 2024

The best cordless drill makes DIY jobs easy, whether you're putting up a few shelves or tackling a multiday project.

We test drill drivers and combi drills (that come with a setting to hammer drill hard materials) from popular brands, including DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee and more. 

We judge each on how well they tackle wood, metal and brick, sink short and long screws, how much they slow down when using larger drill bits and how easy they are to use.

To find the best cordless drills we also test battery life and recharge time for each drill with a 2.0Ah battery, to give you a guide as to how much juice each one has.

The best cordless drills

Only logged-in Which? members can view the cordless drill test results below. 

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

The cordless drills we tested

All the cordless drills we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best cordless drills from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

Black & Decker BCD001 18V Cordless Drill Driver

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Type of drill (motor) Drill driver (brushed)

Battery range 18V power connect

Measured no-load battery life (2.0Ah battery) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Maximum stated torque 37Nm

Number of torque settings 10

No load speed 600 rpm

Need to know 0.8kg (bare tool), drilling and screwdriving settings, keyless chuck with 10mm capacity, 25mm maximum drilling depth on wood, 10mm on metal, LED light, battery sizes available: 1.5Ah to 4Ah, 400mA fast battery charger, 2-year guarantee

Bosch EasyImpact 18V Cordless Combi Drill

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Type of drill (motor) Combination drill (brushed)

Battery range 18V-power for all battery system

Measured no-load battery life (2.0Ah battery) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Maximum stated torque 40Nm

Number of torque settings 20

No load speed one/speed two 430/1,630 rpm

Need to know 1kg (bare tool), drilling, hammer drilling and screwdriving settings, impact rate on hammer drilling 24,450 beats per minute, keyless chuck with 13mm capacity, 30mm maximum drilling depth on wood, 13mm on masonry and steel, LED light, battery sizes available: 1.5Ah to 6Ah, power for all AL 18V-20 battery charger, 1-year guarantee

Bosch GSB 18V-55 Brushless Cordless Combi Drill

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Type of drill (motor) Combination drill (brushless)

Battery range 18V-GBA

Measured no-load battery life (2.0Ah battery) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Maximum stated torque 55Nm

Number of torque settings 20

No load speed one/speed two 460/1,800 rpm

Need to know 1.1kg (bare tool), drilling, hammer drilling and screwdriving settings, impact rate on hammer drilling 27,000 beats per minute, keyless chuck with 13mm capacity, 35mm maximum drilling depth on wood, 13mm on masonry and steel, batteries have a battery level indicator on them, LED light, belt clip, battery sizes available: 2Ah to 5Ah, GAL 18V-40 battery charger, 1-year guarantee

DeWalt DCD776 18V Cordless Combi Drill

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Type of drill (motor) Combination drill (brushed)

Battery range 18V-XR

Measured no-load battery life (2.0Ah battery) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Maximum stated torque 42Nm

Number of torque settings 15

No load speed one/speed two 450/1,800 rpm

Need to know 1.3kg (bare tool), drilling, hammer drilling and screwdriving settings, impact rate on hammer drilling 7,650/25,550 beats per minute, keyless chuck with 13mm capacity, 30mm maximum drilling depth on wood, 13mm on masonry and steel, batteries have a battery level indicator on them, LED light with delay feature so it stays on after you've stopped drilling, space for a belt hook, battery sizes available: 2Ah to 15Ah, DCB107 battery charger, 3-year guarantee on registration of drill with manufacturer

Dewalt DCD778 18V XR Brushless Cordless Combi Drill

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Type of drill (motor) Combination drill (brushless)

Battery range 18V-XR

Measured no-load battery life (2.0Ah battery) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Maximum stated torque 65Nm

Number of torque settings 15

No load speed one/speed two 500/1,750 rpm

Need to know 1.15kg (bare tool), drilling, hammer drilling and screwdriving settings, impact rate on hammer drilling 8,500/29,750 beats per minute, keyless chuck with 13mm capacity, 30mm maximum drilling depth on wood, 13mm on masonry and steel, batteries have a battery level indicator on them, LED light with delay feature so it stays on after you've stopped drilling, space for a belt hook; battery sizes available: 2Ah to 15Ah, DCB107 battery charger, 3-year guarantee on registration of drill with manufacturer

Erbauer ECD18 18V Cordless Combi Drill

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Type of drill (motor) Combination drill (brushed)

Battery range 18V-EXT and EXT EliteCell

Measured no-load battery life (2.0Ah battery) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Maximum stated torque 40Nm

Number of torque settings 17

No load speed one/speed two 420/1,450 rpm

Need to know 1.1kg (bare tool), drilling, hammer drilling and screwdriving settings, impact rate on hammer drilling 6,300/21,750 beats per minute, keyless chuck with 13mm capacity, 30mm maximum drilling depth on wood, 10mm on masonry and steel, batteries have a battery level indicator on them, LED light, belt hook, battery sizes available: 2Ah to 5Ah, EC18-Li battery charger, 3-year guarantee

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Makita DHP453 18V Cordless Combi drill

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Type of drill (motor) Combination drill (brushed)

Battery range 18V-LXT

Measured no-load battery life (2.0Ah battery) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Maximum stated torque 42Nm

Number of torque settings 16

No load speed one/speed two 400/1,300 rpm

Need to know 1.3kg (bare tool), drilling, hammer drilling and screwdriving settings, impact rate on hammer drilling 6,000/19,500 beats per minute, keyless chuck with 13mm capacity, 36mm maximum drilling depth on wood, 13mm on masonry and steel, batteries have a battery level indicator on them, no LED light, space for a belt hook and hanging hole (to hang from wall), battery sizes available: 2Ah to 6Ah, DC18SD battery charger, 3-year warranty on registration of drill with manufacturer

Makita DHP485 18V Brushless Cordless Combi Drill

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Type of drill (motor) Combination drill (brushless)

Battery range 18V-LXT

Measured no-load battery life (2.0Ah battery) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Maximum stated torque 50Nm

Number of torque settings 21

No load speed one/speed two 500/1,900 rpm

Need to know 1.1kg (bare tool), drilling, hammer drilling and screwdriving settings, impact rate on hammer drilling 7,500/28,500 beats per minute, keyless chuck with 13mm capacity, 38mm maximum drilling depth on wood, 13mm on masonry and steel, batteries have a battery level indicator on them, LED light with delay feature so it stays on after you've stopped drilling, belt hook, battery sizes available: 2Ah to 6Ah, DC18SD battery charger, 3-year warranty on registration of drill with manufacturer

Milwaukee M12 BDDX 12V Cordless Drill Driver

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Type of drill (motor) Drill driver (brushed)

Battery range 12V-RedLithium M12

Measured no-load battery life (2.0Ah battery) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Maximum stated torque 32Nm

Number of torque settings 16

No load speed one/speed two 400/1,500 rpm

Need to know 0.8kg (bare tool), drilling and screwdriving settings, keyless chuck with 10mm capacity, 25mm maximum drilling depth on wood, 10mm on steel, drill has a battery level indicator on it, LED light with delay feature so it stays on after you've stopped drilling, belt hook, 1/4" hex tool holder, 90-degree hex tool holder, battery sizes available: 2Ah to 6Ah, C12C battery charger, 3-year guarantee on registration of drill with manufacturer

Parkside PABS-20 20V Cordless Drill Driver

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Type of drill (motor) Drill driver (brushed)

Battery range 20V-X20V

Measured no-load battery life (2.0Ah battery) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Maximum stated torque 45Nm

Number of torque settings 25

No load speed one/speed two 400/1,400 rpm

Need to know 1.25kg (bare tool), drilling and screwdriving settings, keyless chuck with 13mm capacity, 30mm maximum drilling depth on wood, 13mm on steel, batteries have a battery level indicator on them, LED light, belt hook, battery sizes available: 2Ah to 4Ah, PLG 20 C1 battery charger, 3-year guarantee

Ryobi R18PD3 18V Cordless Combi Drill

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Type of drill (motor) Combination drill (brushed)

Battery range 18V-ONE+

Measured no-load battery life (2.0Ah battery) Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Maximum stated torque 50Nm

Number of torque settings 24

No load speed one/speed two 500/1,800 rpm

Need to know 1.25kg (bare tool), drilling, hammer drilling and screwdriving settings, impact rate on hammer drilling 6,500/23,400 beats per minute, keyless chuck with 13mm capacity, 38mm maximum drilling depth on wood, 13mm on masonry and steel, batteries have a battery level indicator on them, LED light, battery sizes available: 2Ah to 9Ah, RC18115 battery charger, 3-year warranty

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How we test cordless drills

We test the most popular cordless drills that are widely available across UK retailers.

We buy every drill tested, so you can be confident in getting an honest and unbiased review.

Plus, we regularly revisit the cordless drills on sale to see if there are more popular models that need testing and when we find them, we do.

Drilling and screwdriving performance

• A panel of DIY enthusiasts and novices use each drill to bore holes into wood, steel sheet and brick
• They also sink 25mm and 75mm screws into wood
• The same drill bits are used in every drill
• Each drill is rated for how easy it carries out each task – the best get through even hard materials like a knife through butter, the worst struggle more with metal and brick
• Everyone agrees on their favourite drills and these are our Best Buy recommendations

Speed efficiency

• We use a tachometer to measure the no-load speed each drill rotates at and the speed when drilling large holes in wood and brick
• The more a drill slows down while performing heavy-duty tasks, the lower its speed efficiency and the 'harder' the drill is being worked in these tasks
• A lower speed efficiency indicates a drill may handle larger drill bits less easily
• All drills we've tested can do the tasks, but the best barely slowed (by only a few percent), while the worst slowed down by 13% when drilling large holes in wood.

Battery life

• Each drill is tested with a compatible 2.0Ah battery
• Each drill is run with no-load to see how long the battery lasts. This gives a maximum run time for each drill 
• The no-load battery life is measured off a five-minute charge
• The time to recharge an empty 2.0Ah battery back to full is measured 

Ease of use

Our testers rate each drill for weight, comfort, how easy the battery is to remove and insert, how easy controls are to adjust and how much the drill vibrates when in use.

Find out more about how Which? is not influenced by product manufacturers or retailers and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.

7 things we learned testing cordless drills

1. Controls are very similar across cordless drill brands We found some comfier to hold, with less stiff controls, but overall there are only minor differences in how easy the cordless drills are to use.
2. Battery life differs All cordless drills were tested with a 2.0Ah battery. The worst lasted 30 minutes on no load (which means without actively drilling anything). The best lasted 67 minutes (no load).
3. None of the drills got hot after our battery test We ran the drills continuously until the battery died, and found that none were hot, but some drills' casings got warm while others stayed cool to touch.
4. They all get through wood, brick and metal sheet eventually Though some drills get through brick and metal quicker and easier than others. Drill drivers (ones without a hammer drilling setting) struggled more.
5. Some drills struggle to sink longer screws While all the drills we tested could sink a short 25mm screw into wood, the best could also sink longer 75mm screws just as easily. The worst struggled to do this.
6. We measured a difference in how much the drills slow down when doing load-intensive tasks While all the drills we tested could complete these jobs, some drills had more left to give, and others were starting to show early signs of struggling. If you're going to be drilling large holes frequently, the drills with a better speed efficiency will handle these tasks better.
7. It's important to buy the correct drill and drill bit for your job We've seen some negative reviews elsewhere that say a drill struggled to complete a job that it isn't designed for. For example, you can't expect a drill driver to make lots of half-inch holes through thick iron sheets without feeling the strain more than a combi or hammer drill. Think about the tasks you'll be doing, and read our expert reviews and advice to find the right drill for the job.

Watch: How to buy the best cordless drill

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What's the best cordless drill for my job?

There are many different drill types and accessories available, so finding the right one for your DIY jobs can feel a bit daunting.

Cordless drill types

Drill drivers A versatile option for small jobs. They are designed to drill holes in wood and metal as well as be a 'driver' to tighten and loosen screws. They're good for hanging shelves and picture hooks and to construct flat-pack furniture. 

They tend to be cheaper than other drill types, easy to use, but can struggle with tougher materials, such as brick.

Combi drills A brilliant all-rounder drill. As well as all the features of a drill driver, combination (or combi) drills have a hammer (or impact) drilling setting for drilling into brick, concrete or other hard materials.

Combi drills can be used on a variety of surfaces. They're typically more expensive and heavier than drill drivers.

We've tested drill drivers and combi drills, but there are other drill types aimed at more specific, heavy-duty tasks.

Impact drivers For larger projects that require a lot of screwdriving. They look like a drill, but aren't designed to drill holes. 

They use a mechanism that helps to reduce the impact on your hands and wrist. They can also effectively tighten bolt heads and nuts.

Due to their high torque, impact drivers are good for driving screws through hard materials and are less likely to damage screw heads compared to a drill driver or combi drill. 

Hammer drills A powerful drill for getting through hard surfaces. Sometimes called impact drills or percussion drills, they allows you to control the torque settings while keeping the hammer action you find on combi drills.

This allows you to adjust the power while keeping the rotation speed low, making this type of cordless drill suitable for drilling into hard materials without damaging the surface. 

SDS hammer drills They are similar to a hammer drill, but have a Slotted Drive System (SDS) that uses a piston to fire the drill bit forward and backward.

It reduces friction and gives a stronger hammer action, making it the ideal drill for heavy-duty projects with tough materials. 

You can turn off the rotation of the drill, allowing you to do chiselling tasks.

Cordless drill features

Voltage In theory a higher voltage will tend to be more suitable for heavy-duty DIY work. But it doesn't always translate to a higher torque drill or more effective drilling. We've predominantly tested 18V drills, but voltages can range from around 12V to 24V.

Battery capacity Measured in Amp hours (Ah), the more Ah a battery has, the heavier it is but the longer it will last. Capacities tend to range from 1.5Ah to 5.0Ah, but some brands' batteries go even higher.

It's good practice to have at least two batteries for your drill, so one can be recharging while you carry on working with the other.

Motor type Drills tend to come with either a brushed or brushless motor. The latter is designed to reduce friction and resistance, leading to drills with a higher power, speed and electronic control – but they are usually more expensive. 

Our tests found brushed and brushless drills perform similarly in lighter DIY tasks, so the real benefits of brushless drills may be more apparent in longer, heavier projects.

Gear (speed) selector Most drill drivers and combi drills have a selector switch for you to change between two speeds.

Speed is measured in Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). Each setting will have a maximum speed, and most drills have a pressure-sensitive trigger – squeeze less for slower rotation, and more for faster speeds.

A low speed is ideal for driving screws and drilling in soft material, while a higher speed is ideal for drilling into hard materials.

Torque adjustment collar Allows you to adjust the torque (rotational force) to sink a screw to the correct depth.

A higher torque will be able to overcome more resistance and drive longer screws, but too much can cause a loss of control and drive a screw deeper into the material than desired.

Drill modes Drill drivers have screwdriving and drilling modes, while combi drills have an additional hammer/impact drilling mode.

• Screwdriving – a mode that allows you to control the torque level (by the adjustment collar) to screw slowly and effectively.
• Drilling – a mode that sets the drill to full power (max torque) to bore holes.
• Hammer/impact drilling – a mode very similar to drilling, but additionally thrusts the drill bit forwards and backwards to ‘hammer’ hard material as you drill. It gets through material such as masonry quicker and with less effort.

Chuck The hole into which you slot the drill bits or other accessories. Most cordless drills have a chuck size of either 10mm (3/8 inch) or 13mm (1/2 inch). Most are keyless, which lets you tighten and loosen the chuck without the need for extra tools, making swapping bits quick and easy.

Forward/reverse switch Lets you change the direction the drill rotates, allowing you to tighten and loosen screws. The reverse mode is also useful for backing the drill bit out of a hole after you've drilled it.

Cordless drill accessories

Drill bits They come in various shapes and sizes, but the most important thing is to have the correct type of drill bit for the material you're drilling into.

If you’re working with extremely hard materials (concrete, paving slabs or metal, for example) make sure your drill bit is tipped with tungsten carbide. This is approximately twice as strong as steel, and better able to withstand heavy-duty drilling.

LED light Dark, compact spaces can be difficult to work in, but an LED light shines a light on the task – allowing you to work more precisely and confidently.

Auxiliary handle An extra handle that can be positioned on the left or right side of the drill. It can allow for extra control and help the user apply more force when drilling compared to just the usual grip.

Belt clip If you're going to be using lots of different tools on a home improvement job, a belt clip will allow you to hang the cordless drill from your belt, so you can keep it by your side with both hands free.

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Is high torque good for a drill?

It depends on the task. 

Higher torque is needed for tasks that require more force, such as drilling through hard materials or sinking long screws. If you'll primarily be doing this, a drill with a higher maximum torque will work better for you.

High torque can be bad for other tasks, such as drilling into softer materials like wood or plaster, where excess force could cause the material to split or be damaged at the surface.

Speed and torque are inversely related in a drill driver or combi drill. This means the faster the drill speed the lower the torque, and vice versa. High speed is good for low-load jobs, such as drilling into wood. 

So being able to better adjust a drill's speed and torque is arguably more important than the maximum torque a drill can output, especially if you want an all-rounder to handle a variety of tasks.

Are cheap cordless drills any good?

The cheapest drill-drivers start from as little as £40, but can go all the way up to around £300 for a pricey combi drill.

Our tests have found that cheap drills can get simple DIY jobs done, so if you're putting up the occasional shelf or picture hook this may be all you need.

However, if you're doing meatier projects, or drilling into tough surfaces like brick walls, our tests found it's generally worth spending a bit more. 

You can save money by getting drills with smaller battery capacities, though you'll need to charge them up more often. Drills are primarily sold in three ways:

• Bare just the drill, no battery or charger. The cheapest way to get a drill, but only really useful if you already own compatible batteries
• Standalone Comes with one or more batteries and a charger 
• Collection As part of a larger set, that may contain cordless power tools and accessories. Pricier, but usually cheaper than buying all the tools separately

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How to use a cordless drill

1. Check for hidden pipes and cables before drilling The areas above, below and either side of a switch or socket are no-go areas
2. Choose the correct drill bit This will vary depending on the material you're working with, but don't select the hammer action if the drill bit is rotary and non-hammer.
3. Be careful when drilling hard materials On hard materials such as concrete, prevent the drill bit from overheating by regularly withdrawing from the hole.
4. Prevent jamming When drilling downwards, pull the drill out regularly to clear the dust and prevent the drill bit from jamming.
5. Look after tungsten drill bits Don’t plunge tungsten carbide-tipped drill bits into cold water to cool them. If you do this, it could crack the weld.
6. Choose the correct torque If the screw hasn't been fully sunk to the surface and the drill and chuck has stopped rotating, that's a sign to move to a higher torque setting.
7. Choose the correct speed Select different speeds for drilling brick, metal and wood. Low speeds for brick, and higher speeds for metal and wood. A combi drill in hammer/impact mode will also make drilling into hard surfaces easier.
8. Cool the drill If the motor on your electric drill starts to warm up too much and smell, remove the drill from the hole and run it at full speed with no load. This draws air into the motor to cool it down.