9 Best Drills For Home Projects | The Family Handyman

By Dan Stout

Updated on Sep. 30, 2024

Affordable and versatile, a quality driver/drill is a key part of any DIYer's toolkit. Here are the best drills for home use.

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For many DIYers, the most-used tool in their collection is a dependable drill. These versatile tools can be used for everything from hanging things on the wall to assembling a deck.

A pure drill puts holes in things, but most DIYers opt for a combination driver/drill that also functions as a power screwdriver. Here are some of the key things to keep in mind while shopping for a drill.

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The cordless Black+Decker BDCDD12C weighs in at less than three pounds, even with the battery. It offers a keyless 3/8-in. chuck and ships with a single battery and charger.

The brushed motor means it will be noisier and wear out faster than a brushless model. But for the price and convenience, it’s a good deal. And if weight is a major factor for you, it’s worth adding to your short list.

There are other lightweight drills out there. Bosch makes a nice 12V drill that’s even lighter, but it costs around five times as much. On the whole, the Black+Decker BDCDD12C nicely balances price and weight for household tasks.

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If you absolutely want an inexpensive cordless drill, check out the Warrior 18V Cordless Drill/Driver kit from Harbor Freight. It comes with all the essentials: variable speed, multiple torque settings, 3/8-in. keyless chuck, battery and charger included, all for around $30.

It’s a great choice for simple tasks around the house, letting you learn how to use a driver/drill without making a major investment. It may not feel as balanced in the hand as a high-end tool, but it’s a budget-friendly entry point for light DIY.

The Warrior 12V model is even cheaper, retailing below $20. But the boost in battery life and power makes the 18V a better value for only a few more dollars.

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The corded Ryobi D43K provides high-end quality at entry-level pricing. For about $40, this 5.5-Amp drill comes with variable speed and a lock feature to allow continuous drilling without using the trigger.

One of the advantages of a corded tool is often greater power, allowing you to tackle bigger projects. But the 3/8-in. chuck limits the bit size this tool can handle, creating something of a bottleneck. But this drill comes with Ryobi’s three-year warranty, and the keyless chuck is a nice convenience.

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A step up from the budget level brings us to a much nicer tool. The DeWalt 20V Max driver/drill offers the best overall balance between price and performance for basic home use.

The brushless motor gives it a longer run time on a single charge and a longer lifespan overall. It comes with a 1/2-in. chuck, allowing you to tackle jobs that require larger bits. Speaking of bigger jobs, this DeWalt comes with two batteries and a charger, so you can charge the other battery while you’re working. A three-year warranty covers the drill and the batteries.

Note: DeWalt also offers a 20V XR model that resembles the 20V Max. The XR has additional features but costs about twice as much. For average small home projects, it’s not worth the extra money.

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Metabo (formerly known as Hitatchi) offers good value with its D13VF Corded Drill, a sturdy tool with a 1/2-in. keyed chuck. The aluminum gear housing takes a beating and also helps dissipates heat.

This variable-speed drill comes with a removable side handle to support it while you’re working. Note that this model does not have a torque clutch; it’s meant for drilling holes, not setting screws. It’s covered by Metabo’s five-year warranty.

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If you’re ready to move up one more level, take a look at the Milwaukee M18 Compact Driver/Drill. With a 1/2-in. chuck and a brushless motor, this drill packs a lot of power into a compact package; it weighs in at just under 3-1/2 lbs. with the battery.

It comes with an 18-step clutch and two-tier speed switch to help you control all that power, delivering only as much as you need for the task at hand.

Note: The link above is to the tool only. You must purchase a charger and batteries separately, or use the charger and batteries from another M18 tool. Because it’s part of the M18 cordless collection, there are more than 200 tools with interchangeable batteries.

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This DeWalt DWD215G packs enough punch to appeal to pros, and offers several things that make it appealing for home users as well.

The 10-Amp motor is definitely pro-grade, but features such as a 1/2-in. keyless chuck keep it homeowner-friendly. The locking side handle rotates 360 degrees, allowing the most helpful placement in any situation. DeWalt claims the patented motor design generates 50 percent more power while also providing overload protection.

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A hammer drill combines the circular spin of a standard drill with a strong forward strike. These drills are great for drilling into concrete or brick, and can shave massive amounts of time off a project.

Some hammer drills cost several hundred dollars. But if you only need break it out once or twice a year, save your money and pick up a Ryobi D620H.

This 5/8-in. chuck, variable-speed hammer drill comes with a six-foot cord, depth gauge, side handle, and chuck key. Weighing in at five pounds, it can move between hammer or drill operation with the flip of a switch, and the trigger’s lock feature reduces hand fatigue.

Backed by Ryobi’s three-year warranty, the D620H ships with an auxiliary handle, depth stop rod, chuck key and lanyard. If you’re going to tackle a project with more than a dozen holes to drill in masonry, look for a model with higher amperage and power. But for most home projects, this should be fine.

Note: Yes, this drill features a larger chuck than the 1/2-in. models we mentioned earlier. Hammer drills frequently have larger chucks than standard drill/drivers because it’s common to need larger bits when drilling into masonry. They’re also less likely to have keyless chucks because the impact from the hammer strikes can be rough on the chuck.

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While a hammer drill pushes the drill bit forward like a hammer on a nail, an impact driver adds additional bursts of torque to the rotation of the driver head. A hammer drill is the right choice for drilling through difficult material. But an impact driver like the Ridgid 18V R86039B is better for faster, easier setting of screws or bolts.

This impact driver delivers a great deal of force with each rotation, making large projects a breeze. It ships with a single lithium-ion battery and charger, along with a storage bag. The service agreement provides free parts and service for life.

Updated onFunctionPriceChuck size and styleWeightPowerMotor style.Power sourceBonus features