Cordless Drill Review

Most cordless drill and driver reviews favor subcompact and compact models

This report covers cordless drill/drivers that can switch between driving screws and drilling holes. If your needs amount to furniture assembly and hanging items on walls, you might be just fine with a cordless screwdriver (which can't drill holes). We cover cordless screwdrivers in a separate report.

We found the largest review of cordless drills and drivers at ConsumerReports.org, where 67 drills, 12 impact drivers and 10 cordless tool kits are put through objective tests of speed, power, run time and charging time. Editors also note what kind of batteries the tools use. Cordless drills and drivers powered by lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are lighter and more compact than models that use older nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) or nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries.

Li-ion batteries also keep their charge much longer between uses, making them ideal for homeowners who might use a cordless drill one day, then not need it again for a couple of weeks. Tools run at full power, even as the battery discharges, and the top-rated Li-ion tools build in "fuel gauges" that warn when the battery will soon need to be recharged. Fast chargers take only 15 to 30 minutes, so even a very lightweight subcompact or compact drill can keep going all day with fresh batteries. Despite their higher price, expert reviewers say because Li-ion cordless drills and drivers have such longer operating lives that they can be better investments in the long run.

The Li-ion cordless drills compared at ConsumerReports.org vary in voltage, from a tiny 3.6 volts to a stout 36 volts. Experts say 12-volt drill/drivers are the best choice for most users; we found excellent comparison tests of these at Popular Mechanics and Popular Woodworking, as well as at three publications aimed at professional builders and remodelers: Journal of Light Construction, Fine Homebuilding and Tools of the Trade. Most of these sources also test stronger 18-volt Li-ion drills, as does Fine Woodworking magazine.

Even expert comparison tests often cover too short a period of time to assess a tool's durability. Owner-written reviews sometimes report on a drill's performance over several years -- reinforcing or contradicting shorter-term tests. Brand surveys of quality and customer satisfaction -- such as the annual survey of cordless-drill buyers published by J.D. Power and Associates -- help fill in the picture. Milwaukee tops the latest survey as a brand, but several others share its 5-star rating, and Hitachi and Craftsman are the top-ranked budget brands.

Reviews show that price, voltage and manufacturers' specifications really don't distinguish the best performers; rather, it takes objective comparison tests plus expert assessments of balance and ease of use.