No DIY arsenal would be complete without a reliable cordless drill. Useful for assembling new furniture, fixing any damage from everyday wear and tear, and other odd jobs around the house, a drill is an essential in every home toolbox. But while most of us have a mains-powered drill hiding away somewhere in the house, a cordless model lets you move around freely and work without restrictions, allowing you to reach the trickier corners and cubby holes around your home.
There’s a huge range of different types of cordless drills (and drill drivers, and hammer drills, and SDS drills, which we’ll talk about shortly) and they come with an equally sizable range of functions to handle all the DIY tasks you could possibly need them for. If you want some tips on where to start and what to look out for, then check out our buying guide below. If you already know what you’re looking for and want to get straight to business, you can skip ahead to our round-up of the best cordless drills below.
How to choose the best drill for you
What type of drill should I buy?
There are quite a few different types of drill out there, most of which look pretty similar to the untrained eye. Below you’ll find a quick summary of the main types, and how they differ from each other.
Drill Driver– If you want a no-frills drill you can use for a variety of tasks around the home, consider a drill driver. The most common type of drill, this can be used to drill holes in everything from walls to wood to masonry, and drive screws, too. They’re lighter than the more powerful drills below which makes them more manoeuverable for awkward-to-reach jobs. They will struggle with tougher jobs, however, as they don’t have the powerful motors or high-torque designs of the other tools below.
Impact Driver– These might look like a standard drill, but they’re specifically designed to drive screws, not drill holes – they use a combination of huge spinning torque and percussive blows against the back of the driver bits to power screws into the toughest surfaces. They’re traditionally much more compact than the other tools here, and as there’s no back and forth motion (unlike hammer and SDS drills) they’re also less hard on the wrists. They normally use hex-shank driver bits, and while you can theoretically use specific impact-ready drill bits (standard drill bits may break due to the combination of rotation and concussive force), it’s not what they’re designed for, and they’re not as suited to millimetre-precise jobs. Driving screws is their forte: where you might need to drill a guide hole for screws with a traditional drill, and have to swap between drill and driver bits as a result, an impact driver will do the job on its own due to its extra power.
Combi Drill – If you need to drill into tougher materials like metal or concrete, and also drive screws, then your first port of call is a Combi Drill. These will cope with basic everyday drilling and screwdriving, but often offer improved torque for more demanding jobs and also add a basic hammer function that can break through harder materials. They’re pricier than standard drill drivers and not as powerful as high-end hammer or SDS rotary hammers, though.
Hammer Drill– These use a more powerful forwards and backwards hammering action in combination with the spinning drill bit to strike through the toughest masonry or stone. That power results in a bigger, bulkier drill that’s more capable than lesser combi drills, but they also tend to cost more than their more basic counterparts. They’re generally not as powerful as the SDS drills below, though, much noisier, and don’t often have the capability to be used in a hammer-only mode with chisel bits.
SDS Drill– Also known as SDS rotary hammers, these tools are normally bulkier and heavier than standard hammer drills, but are designed for much more heavy-duty DIY jobs where power is paramount. The SDS-specific drill and driver bits have small indentations at the rear where they slot into the drill (no chuck key is required, so this takes seconds), and ball bearings in the SDS chuck hold them securely in place while hammering the bit back and forth. These drills come in three main types: two-mode, three-mode and three-mode with interchangeable chuck. Two-mode models only allow you to choose between rotary-only and combined rotary/hammer action, whereas three-mode models also add the option of hammer-only action – which makes it possible to use them with chisel-type attachments for demolition duties.
How long do the batteries last?
The obvious disadvantage of using a cordless drill is that it needs to be charged before you can get to work. The good news is that most cordless drills now use lithium-ion batteries, which hold their charge well even when not in use and can be recharged at any time - not just when they’re empty. The higher the battery capacity (normally measured in Ah), the longer the battery will theoretically last – of course, that will depend entirely on what you use the drill for, as hammer action modes will drain power quicker than pure rotary modes. If battery life is a concern, many drills now come with changeable batteries so you can always have a spare to hand – for bigger jobs, it’s worth considering buying a spare.
The best cordless drills
Bosch PSB 1800 LI-2 Cordless Combi Drill: The best combi drill under £100
Price when reviewed: £74.99
For such a small tool, the Bosch PSB 1800 packs a lot of power into its lightweight frame. With a two speed gearbox and 20 pre-selectable settings for torque, drill and impact drill, you get a lot of machine for your money. It charges quickly and the battery lasts a long time, so you can count on it for ad-hoc fixes and other small pieces of DIY.
Unlike most of the more versatile drills on the market, Bosch’s combi drill doesn’t over-deliver in one function at the expense of the others; this lightweight model performs just as well when it comes to impact drilling into wood as it does with fitting light fixtures.
Key specs - Weight: 3kg; Battery: 2 x Lithium Ion; Voltage: 18V; Speed: 1350rpm.
Terratek 120 Piece 18V Cordless Drill Kit: The best budget drill driver
Price when reviewed: £37.95
If you’re looking for a drill to throw in the toolbox and have on standby for the day you need it, the Terratek 120 piece kit is worth a serious look. This multi-functional kit is versatile enough to tackle any routine DIY tasks you come up against, so you’ll be prepared for those everyday fixes that are sure to pop up.
Although it’s lightweight and well-equipped for handling the smaller tasks, the Terratek drill isn’t the most powerful on the market and would struggle with anything that needs a bit more strength, and doesn’t use the more robust, long-lasting lithium ion battery technology found in pricier models. That said, the versatility that comes with the selection of drill bits and the accessory kit included makes up for the lack of power. Plus, with variable speed settings, it’s hard to find a better option at this price.
Key specs - Weight: 3.2kg; Battery: 1 x NiCAD battery; Voltage: 18V; Speed: Variable.
Black + Decker 18V Lithium Ion 2 Gear Hammer Drill: Best budget hammer drill
Price when reviewed: £59.98
Sometimes you want a good all-round product that can handle just a little bit more than you think it will need to. This is where the Black + Decker really steps up, with variable speeds and two gear settings, allowing you to prioritise either torque and control or speed based on the job at hand.
The Black + Decker has an impressive battery life, with a lithium ion battery that holds over 80% of its charge over 90 days. It’s also spring loaded to make changing it as quick and easy as possible. Although this drill is more powerful than your average combi drill, it’s not got the power to tackle serious masonry work; for more regular use, a heavier duty hammer drill will be a much better choice.
Key specs - Weight: 2.7kg; Battery: 1 x Lithium Ion; Voltage: 18V; Speed: Variable.
DeWalt 18V XR Lithium Ion SDS Plus Body Only Rotary Hammer Drill: The best SDS rotary hammer under £200
Price when reviewed: £184 body only/£322 drill set
If you’re planning on working with metal, wood or masonry, you’ll need a drill with enough torque to break through the toughest of surfaces. This DeWalt model is surprisingly powerful for its size; despite weighing in at just 3kg, it packs all the power of a corded SDS+ model into a lightweight, portable piece of kit.
If you’re going to be using your new drill fairly regularly and are able to cough up a little more, you’ll be pressed to find a better tool than the DeWalt hammer drill. It’s not one for the occasional DIY-er, but regular users will appreciate the drill’s low vibration levels, which will make long drilling sessions easier on the arm. It also comes with a handy hammer only mode - a feature you won’t find on cheaper models.
Key specs - Weight: 3kg; Battery: Lithium Ion (sold separately); Voltage: 18V; Speed: 0-1200rpm.
Ryobi One+ Cordless 18V Impact Driver: The best impact driver under £100
Price when reviewed: £89.99
It’s easy to head straight to the big names and overlook the lesser known ones when you’re in the market for a new power tool, but Ryobi proves that shouldn’t always be the case. The brand may not be as well known as other drill manufacturers, but its One+ Impact Driver is hard to beat, offering some very stiff competition to the usual go-to names.
The Ryobi One+ isn’t the cheapest or prettiest of the bunch - making it easy to pass over - but this little machine is a lot more powerful than it looks. It’s so powerful, in fact, that you’ll need to buy good quality impact-ready bits. It also comes with the kind of extras you probably didn’t realise you need, including its ergonomic design, GripZone handle and 3 LED lights to light up your work area.
Key specs - Weight: 1.63kg; Battery: Lithium Ion (sold separately); Voltage: 18V; Speed: 0-3200rpm.
