Best Cordless Drills for DIYers
The one power tool worth buying before any project. A good brushless drill drives screws, bores holes, and mixes thinset for years. Buy into a battery platform you can grow.
What to look for
- ·Brushless motors run cooler, last longer, and get more work per charge. Worth the small premium.
- ·Pick a battery platform (the brand) you plan to stick with. Tools are cheap, batteries are not.
- ·A two-battery kit is the sweet spot so you are never waiting on a charge.
Quick comparison
| Product | Tier | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt 20V MAX XR Brushless Drill/Driver (DCD800) | Editor's pick | $159 to $199 (2-battery kit) | Most homeowners who want one drill to last |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill/Driver (2904) | Editor's pick | $179 to $249 (kit) | DIYers who want pro-grade power and zero compromises |
| Makita 18V LXT Brushless Drill/Driver (XFD061) | Editor's pick | $139 to $199 (kit) | Comfort over long projects and a deep tool ecosystem |
| Ryobi ONE+ HP Brushless Drill/Driver | Best value | $99 to $149 (kit) | Budget-conscious DIYers building a tool collection |
| Craftsman V20 Brushless Cordless Drill/Driver | Best value | $89 to $139 (kit) | Value seekers who want a familiar name and easy returns |
| Metabo HPT 18V MultiVolt Brushless Drill | Best value | $99 to $149 (kit) | Performance hunters willing to look past the obvious brands |
| Black+Decker 20V MAX Cordless Drill | Budget pick | $45 to $69 | Occasional light tasks around the house |
| Ryobi ONE+ 18V Drill/Driver (PCL206) | Budget pick | $49 to $79 (kit) | Getting onto a big battery system for the least money |
| WORX 20V Power Share Cordless Drill/Driver | Budget pick | $45 to $69 (kit) | Light home tasks and existing WORX owners |
Editor's pick
DeWalt 20V MAX XR Brushless Drill/Driver (DCD800)
$159 to $199 (2-battery kit)
The do-everything homeowner pick. Brushless power, compact body, and a huge tool ecosystem to grow into. Handles decking, framing, and most repairs without complaint.
Best for: Most homeowners who want one drill to last
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's, Amazon.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill/Driver (2904)
$179 to $249 (kit)
The most powerful pick here and a jobsite favorite. If you never want a drill to feel stressed by hardwood, lag screws, or hole saws, this is it. You pay for that headroom.
Best for: DIYers who want pro-grade power and zero compromises
Typically available at Home Depot, Acme Tools, Amazon.
Makita 18V LXT Brushless Drill/Driver (XFD061)
$139 to $199 (kit)
Smooth, balanced, and quiet for its class. Makita tools are known for comfort over long sessions and a battery platform that holds up for years. A refined all-rounder.
Best for: Comfort over long projects and a deep tool ecosystem
Typically available at Home Depot, Lowe's, Amazon.
Best value
Ryobi ONE+ HP Brushless Drill/Driver
$99 to $149 (kit)
Brushless performance at a friendlier price, on the enormous ONE+ battery system that powers 280+ tools. The best bang for the buck if you are building a tool family.
Best for: Budget-conscious DIYers building a tool collection
Typically available at Home Depot, Amazon.
Craftsman V20 Brushless Cordless Drill/Driver
$89 to $139 (kit)
A genuinely good brushless drill at a fair price, sold where a lot of people already shop. The V20 line covers the common household tools without the premium-brand markup.
Best for: Value seekers who want a familiar name and easy returns
Typically available at Lowe's, Amazon, Ace Hardware.
Metabo HPT 18V MultiVolt Brushless Drill
$99 to $149 (kit)
An underrated workhorse that often costs less than the big names for similar performance. Formerly Hitachi, so the engineering pedigree is real even if the badge is newer.
Best for: Performance hunters willing to look past the obvious brands
Typically available at Amazon, Lowe's.
Budget pick
Black+Decker 20V MAX Cordless Drill
$45 to $69
Light-duty and cheap. Fine for furniture assembly, hanging shelves, and small jobs. It will struggle with decking or anything that asks for real torque, so know the limits.
Best for: Occasional light tasks around the house
Typically available at Amazon, Walmart.
Ryobi ONE+ 18V Drill/Driver (PCL206)
$49 to $79 (kit)
The cheapest way onto the giant ONE+ battery platform. Brushed motor, so it is happiest with assembly, shelves, and pilot holes, but it shares batteries with 280+ tools you can add later.
Best for: Getting onto a big battery system for the least money
Typically available at Home Depot, Amazon.
WORX 20V Power Share Cordless Drill/Driver
$45 to $69 (kit)
Cheap, light, and fine for the honey-do list. The Power Share batteries cross over to WORX yard tools, a nice bonus if you own any. Not built for decking or heavy boring.
Best for: Light home tasks and existing WORX owners
Typically available at Amazon, Walmart.
Frequently asked
Do I really need a brushless drill?+
For most homeowners, yes, if the budget allows. Brushless motors run cooler, last longer, and squeeze more work out of each charge. For light, occasional tasks a brushed budget drill is still perfectly fine.
What is the difference between a drill and an impact driver?+
A drill bores holes and drives screws with a chuck that grips round and hex bits. An impact driver only drives fasteners but with far more rotational force, which is ideal for long deck screws and lag bolts. Many kits bundle both.
How much should I spend on my first drill?+
A capable brushless kit with two batteries runs about $99 to $199, and that is the sweet spot. Below that you are usually getting a brushed motor and one slow charger, which is fine for light use but not much else.
Which battery brand should I buy into?+
Pick a platform you will stick with, because over time batteries cost more than the bare tools. DeWalt 20V, Milwaukee M18, Makita 18V LXT, and Ryobi ONE+ all have huge tool lineups you can grow into.
Is a cordless drill powerful enough for a deck?+
Yes. Any of the brushless drills here will drive deck screws all day. For hundreds of long structural screws, pair the drill with an impact driver to save your wrist and the battery.
Planning a bigger job? See the full Decking project guide: cost, DIY vs. hire, and the whole plan.
Open the Decking guide →