Best Cordless Drills
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A cordless drill is usually the first tool someone buys into a battery system, and the choice comes down to a few things: how much torque the maker lists, how big the tool is, whether it hammers for masonry, and whether a battery and charger come in the box. These eight drills cover compact drill/drivers, higher-torque models and two hammer drills.
Every drill here is listed as brushless. Torque figures are the maker's own and may not be measured the same way from brand to brand, so treat them as a way to sort the tools into light, mid and heavy-duty groups rather than a strict ranking.
Our Top Picks
- Lowest listed torque, with battery and charger: Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless 1/2" Drill Driver Kit
- Compact kit with a 3.0Ah battery: Makita 18V LXT Brushless 1/2" Driver-Drill Kit
- Compact kit with two batteries: Metabo HPT 18V Brushless Driver Drill Kit
- Compact M18 option for Milwaukee owners: Milwaukee M18 Compact Brushless 1/2" Drill/Driver Kit
- 850 in-lbs as a bare tool for ONE+ owners: RYOBI 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 1/2" Drill/Driver
- Two batteries and a Turbo mode: Flex 24V Brushless 1/2" Drill Driver Kit with Turbo Mode
- Hammer drill kit with two 5.0Ah batteries: Makita 18V LXT Brushless 1/2" Hammer Driver-Drill Kit
- Hammer drill for M18 owners, bare tool: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2" Hammer Drill/Driver
Comparison Table
| Drill | Battery system | Listed torque (in-lbs) | Hammer function | In the box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless 1/2" Drill Driver Kit | Skil PWRCore 20 | Up to 400 | No | 2.0Ah battery, charger, 2" double-end bit |
| Makita 18V LXT Brushless 1/2" Driver-Drill Kit | Makita 18V LXT | 440 max | No | One 3.0Ah battery, charger, tool bag |
| Milwaukee M18 Compact Brushless 1/2" Drill/Driver Kit | Milwaukee M18 | 550 | No | One 2.0 Ah battery, charger, carrying bag |
| Metabo HPT 18V Brushless Driver Drill Kit | Metabo HPT 18V and MultiVolt | 620 | No | Two 2.0Ah batteries, charger, carrying bag |
| RYOBI 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 1/2" Drill/Driver | RYOBI 18V ONE+ | Up to 850 | No | None (bare tool) |
| Flex 24V Brushless 1/2" Drill Driver Kit with Turbo Mode | Flex 24V | 1,400 | No | 2.5Ah and 5.0Ah batteries, 160W fast charger |
| Makita 18V LXT Brushless 1/2" Hammer Driver-Drill Kit | Makita 18V LXT | 1,250 max | Yes, up to 31,500 BPM | Two 5.0Ah batteries, rapid charger, side handle, tool bag |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2" Hammer Drill/Driver | Milwaukee M18 | 1,400 | Yes | Side handle and belt clip (bare tool) |
The Picks in Detail
Lowest listed torque, with battery and charger
Skil PWRCore 20 Brushless 1/2" Drill Driver Kit
Skil lists up to 400 in-lbs of torque from a digital brushless motor, with 17 torque settings plus a drill mode. It has a 1/2 inch keyless chuck and an LED worklight with pre-light and afterglow. The kit includes a 2.0Ah battery, a 20V charger and a 2-inch double-end bit, so it is usable out of the box. On paper it is the lightest-duty drill here, which suits furniture, shelves and general household driving.
Pros
- Digital brushless motor, up to 400 in-lbs
- 17 torque settings plus drill mode
- Battery, charger and bit included
- LED worklight with pre-light and afterglow
Cons
- Compact 2.0Ah battery limits run time
- Only one battery included
Compact kit with a 3.0Ah battery
Makita 18V LXT Brushless 1/2" Driver-Drill Kit
Makita lists this brushless driver-drill at 440 in-lbs of max torque, with two speed ranges of 0-500 and 0-1,900 RPM. It is 6-5/8 inches long and weighs 3.8 lbs with the battery installed. The kit has one 3.0Ah battery, a charger and a tool bag. Makita lists capacities of 1/2 inch in steel and 1-1/2 inches in wood.
Pros
- Brushless, 440 in-lbs max torque
- 0-500 and 0-1,900 RPM speed ranges
- 6-5/8 inches long, 3.8 lbs with battery
- Charger and tool bag included
Cons
- Kit includes one battery
- Works only with Makita 18V LXT batteries
Compact kit with two batteries
Metabo HPT 18V Brushless Driver Drill Kit
This compact driver-drill is listed at 620 in-lbs and 2,000 RPM, 6.1 inches long and 2.6 lbs. Reactive Force Control stops rotation on overload, and it has a keyless metal chuck and a built-in LED light. The kit includes two 18V 2.0Ah batteries with fuel gauges, a charger and a carrying bag, which gives a spare pack.
Pros
- Brushless motor rated 620 in-lbs and 2,000 RPM
- Two 2.0Ah batteries with fuel gauges
- Reactive Force Control stops rotation on overload
- Keyless metal chuck and LED light
Cons
- Works only with Metabo HPT 18V and MultiVolt batteries
- Batteries are compact 2.0Ah packs
Compact M18 option for Milwaukee owners
Milwaukee M18 Compact Brushless 1/2" Drill/Driver Kit
Milwaukee describes this as a brushless drill/driver on the M18 platform that is not part of its FUEL line. It lists 550 in-lbs, two speeds (0-550 and 0-1,700 RPM), a length of 5.7 inches and 2.3 lb without the battery, with an all-metal gear case and a 1/2 inch metal chuck. The kit includes one 2.0 Ah battery, a charger and a carrying bag.
Pros
- Brushless motor with 550 in-lbs
- 0-550 and 0-1,700 RPM
- 5.7 inches long, 2.3 lb bare
- Battery, charger and bag included
Cons
- Kit includes one battery
- Works only with Milwaukee M18 batteries
850 in-lbs as a bare tool for ONE+ owners
RYOBI 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 1/2" Drill/Driver
RYOBI lists up to 850 in-lbs of torque from a brushless motor, a 2-speed gearbox (0-700 and 0-2,150 RPM), a 24-position clutch and a 1/2 inch ratcheting metal chuck. It is a bare tool, so it makes the most sense for someone who already owns ONE+ batteries. For how the HP tier relates to the wider platform, see RYOBI ONE+ vs ONE+ HP.
Pros
- Brushless motor with up to 850 in-lbs
- 0-700 and 0-2,150 RPM
- 24-position clutch for torque control
- 1/2 inch ratcheting metal chuck
Cons
- Tool only, battery and charger not included
- Works only with RYOBI 18V ONE+ batteries
Two batteries and a Turbo mode
Flex 24V Brushless 1/2" Drill Driver Kit with Turbo Mode
Flex rates this drill-driver at 1,400 in-lbs, the highest figure among the drill/drivers here, and describes the motor as sensor-free brushless. Turbo mode is there for faster results and anti-kickback braking adds control. The kit includes a 2.5Ah and a 5.0Ah battery plus a 160W fast charger, so there is a compact pack and a longer-running one.
Pros
- Torque rated at 1,400 in-lbs
- Turbo mode and anti-kickback braking
- 2.5Ah and 5.0Ah batteries included
- 160W fast charger included
Cons
- Works only with Flex 24V batteries
Hammer drill kit with two 5.0Ah batteries
Makita 18V LXT Brushless 1/2" Hammer Driver-Drill Kit
Makita lists 1,250 in-lbs of max torque, speed ranges of 0-550 and 0-2,100 RPM, and hammering at up to 31,500 BPM. Its capacities are 5/8 inch in masonry, 1/2 inch in steel and 3 inches in wood. It is 7 inches long and weighs 6 lbs with a battery. The kit includes two 5.0Ah batteries, a rapid charger, a side handle and a tool bag.
Pros
- Hammer drilling up to 31,500 BPM
- Brushless motor, 1,250 in-lbs max torque
- Two 5.0Ah batteries and rapid charger
- Side handle and tool bag included
Cons
- Weighs 6 lbs with battery
- Works only with Makita 18V LXT batteries
Hammer drill for M18 owners, bare tool
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2" Hammer Drill/Driver
Milwaukee lists 1,400 in-lbs of torque, two speeds up to 0-2,100 RPM, a 6.9 inch length and 3.3 lb without the battery. AutoStop control guards against over-rotation in bind-ups, and it has an all-metal 1/2 inch ratcheting chuck. It is sold as a bare tool with a side handle and belt clip.
Pros
- Brushless motor with 1,400 in-lbs
- Up to 2,100 RPM across two speeds
- AutoStop control for bind-ups
- All-metal 1/2 inch ratcheting chuck
Cons
- Tool only, battery and charger not included
- Works only with Milwaukee M18 batteries
How to Choose
Match torque to the work
The listed figures fall into three groups. Skil, Makita XFD131 and Milwaukee's compact drill sit between 400 and 550 in-lbs, Metabo HPT and RYOBI at 620 to 850, and Flex, the Makita hammer drill and the Milwaukee FUEL hammer drill from 1,250 to 1,400. Higher torque helps with large spade bits, hole saws and long screws. For hanging shelves and assembling furniture, the lower group is on paper enough. Makers state torque differently, so use the groups, not small gaps between figures.
Decide whether you need a hammer function
A hammer drill adds rapid impacts along the bit axis for drilling into brick, block and concrete. Of these eight, the two hammer drills are the Makita XPH14T and the Milwaukee 2904-20. If your work is wood, metal and drywall, a drill/driver is simpler and lighter. For masonry anchors, a hammer drill is the tool designed for the job.
Kit or bare tool
Six of the eight come with a battery and charger: the Skil, Makita XFD131 and Milwaukee compact kits with one battery each, the Metabo HPT and Flex kits with two, and the Makita hammer kit with two 5.0Ah packs. The RYOBI and the Milwaukee hammer drill are bare tools, a better fit if you already own the batteries. Our guide to tool only versus kit covers the trade-off.
Size and weight
Listed lengths run from 5.7 inches for the Milwaukee compact drill to 7 inches for the Makita hammer drill. The Makita XFD131 is listed at 3.8 lbs with its battery and the Makita hammer drill at 6 lbs with its battery, a difference worth weighing for overhead work. The Milwaukee drills list weight without a battery, so add the pack when comparing.
Pick the battery system first
Each drill runs on its own maker's battery system: Skil PWRCore 20, Makita 18V LXT, Metabo HPT 18V and MultiVolt, Milwaukee M18, RYOBI 18V ONE+ and Flex 24V. Pick the system whose other tools you may want, such as in our two-tool combo kit guide. For what amp-hours mean, see 2Ah vs 4Ah vs 5Ah. Milwaukee owners can also read M12 vs M18. The full list is on the drills category page.
FAQ
What is the difference between a drill/driver and a hammer drill?
A drill/driver turns the bit. A hammer drill also adds rapid forward impacts, which helps in masonry. Many hammer drills can switch the hammer action off for ordinary drilling.
Does higher torque mean a better drill?
Not by itself. Torque matters for large bits and heavy fastening, but a lighter drill with lower torque can be easier to use for small jobs.
Do I need a drill or an impact driver?
A drill makes holes and drives screws with a clutch for control. An impact driver is made for driving fasteners with added rotational impacts. Many people buy both, often as a combo kit.
Are brushless drills worth it?
A brushless motor is a more efficient design that generally gives better run time per charge. All eight drills here are listed as brushless.
Can I use another brand's battery?
Each drill is designed for its own maker's battery system, so choose the one that matches batteries you own or tools you plan to add.