If you’re into DIY, a good cordless drill that’s going to meet your needs is a pretty important piece of kit. Whether you’re a seasoned pro who does regular big projects or an enthusiastic beginner who just wants to hang a picture or two, there’s a battery powered drill out there to suit everyone's budget. But which one to choose?
When it comes to looking for the best cordless drill and bit set for home use, we’ve turned DIY on its head and done the job for you. We’ve done all the research and listed what we think are the best drill drivers and combination drills on Amazon, Argos and eBay to help you find your perfect match. So, get ready to drill down to exactly what you need to know!
So you’ve decided that you need a new cordless drill – what next? There are quite a few different variations in what functions and features drills can have, and which ones you choose depend on the jobs that you need your cordless drill to be able to handle.
There are two main types of cordless drill: drill drivers and combinations (or combis for short). So let's take a look at what these terms mean so you can decide which one would be best for you.
Drill drivers are perfect for completing small tasks around your home, such as hanging pictures and assembling flat pack furniture. They usually have a keyless chuck, which means you can easily change the drill bit without the need for a key or tool.
While they are a great option for your first drill, drill drivers don’t have hammer action (a pulsing action which gives much more power for getting through harder materials), meaning that you won’t be able to drill into brick or concrete for tasks such as hanging shelves.
If you plan on drilling into any kind of masonry, then a combi should be your drill of choice. As well as drilling holes and driving screws, they also have hammer action – so unlike drivers, they do have the extra pulsing function needed for drilling into brick and concrete with ease.
The downside of combination drills is that, owing to the mechanism for the hammer action, they tend to be much heavier than drill drivers, and they also tend to be more expensive. So if you feel you may need this extra power they are a good investment, but if not, a drill driver should suffice.
If you're working with nails, it's best to use a nail gun for better precision.
While voltage doesn’t necessarily equate to better drilling, higher voltage drills will be more suitable if you’re planning on doing a lot of DIY work. Voltages of drills generally range from 12V-24V, so if you’re planning on heavy use, look for a drill towards the top end of this range.
On the other side of the spectrum, if you only plan on doing odd jobs around your home, a drill with a lower voltage should be perfectly capable, and it will probably be lighter and more compact, too.
Torque is the amount of rotational force a drill has, and higher torque means more drilling strength for heavier jobs. However, use too much torque on a job such as drilling in a screw and you could cause damage by stripping the screw head and ruining it completely.
If you need your drill to perform a range of different tasks, you need to be able to adjust the torque so that you’re using the appropriate amount for the job in hand. So, with this in mind, you might want to look for a drill with adjustable torque settings so that you can tackle anything and everything with one tool.
If you need to have more controlled drilling at slower speeds, then you should check the model specifications to see if the drill has two gears to allow for this. Regular users should also check to see whether the drill has metal gears, as these will last much longer than their cheaper but less durable nylon counterparts.
What’s included with a cordless drill can vary hugely. Some cordless drills include just the drill, and batteries and chargers have to be bought separately. Others, meanwhile, include the drill, batteries, chargers, storage bags and numerous drill bits and screwdriver heads!
While some people already own all the drill bits they need or they want to use a specific brand, others may want an all-in-one package to save costs. If you fall into the latter category you should take note of what accessories are included with a drill, so that you can make sure you’re buying everything you need in one go.
Consider adding a tool kit to your DIY collection.
Now you should have a better idea of what sort of cordless drill you’re looking for, so without stopping for the obligatory cup of builder’s tea, it's on to our recommendations. No matter what kind of cordless drill you want, we’ve got it!
HP457DW
£132.19
Drill Type | Combination drill |
---|---|
Voltage | 18V |
Torque Settings | 16 settings |
Gears | 2 metal gears |
Accessories Included | Case, 74 piece drill and screw bit set |
Battery Charge Time | 1 hour |
Weight | 4.26 kg |
PSB 1800
£110.00
Drill Type | Combination drill |
---|---|
Voltage | 18V |
Torque Settings | 20 settings |
Gears | 2 gears |
Accessories Included | Case, 11 drill bits, 6 masonry bits, 5 wood bits, 3 spade bits, 34 screw bits, 7 sockets, 1 adaptor |
Battery Charge Time | 1 hour |
Weight | 1.3 kg |
R18PD3-215GZ
£74.99
Drill Type | Combination drill |
---|---|
Voltage | 18V |
Torque Settings | 24 settings |
Gears | 2 gears |
Accessories Included | Extra 18V battery |
Battery Charge Time | 3 hours |
Weight | 2.86 kg |
£48.00
Drill Type | Combination drill |
---|---|
Voltage | 18V |
Torque Settings | 10 settings |
Gears | All metal gear box |
Accessories Included | Case |
Battery Charge Time | 3 - 6 hours |
Weight | 2.2 kg |
£39.99
Drill Type | Drill driver |
---|---|
Voltage | 12V |
Torque Settings | 22 settings |
Gears | 2 gears |
Accessories Included | Case, tool wallet, 10 drill bits, 6 screw bits, 5 sockets |
Battery Charge Time | 1 hour |
Weight | 2.2 kg |
£32.99
Drill Type | Drill driver |
---|---|
Voltage | 12V |
Torque Settings | 12 settings |
Gears | - |
Accessories Included | 2 drill bits, 10 driver bits, 1 magnetic holder, charger |
Battery Charge Time | - |
Weight | 0.84 kg |
£37.95
Drill Type | Drill driver |
---|---|
Voltage | 18V |
Torque Settings | 19 settings |
Gears | 2 gears |
Accessories Included | Case, 6 drill bits, 6 screw bits, 1 bit holder |
Battery Charge Time | 1 hour |
Weight | 2.2 kg |
D018
£49.99
Drill Type | Drill driver |
---|---|
Voltage | 18V |
Torque Settings | 18 settings |
Gears | - |
Accessories Included | 2 double ended drill bits |
Battery Charge Time | - |
Weight | 1.43 kg |
£57.99
Drill Type | Drill driver |
---|---|
Voltage | 21V |
Torque Settings | - |
Gears | 2 gears |
Accessories Included | Case, 9 dill bit sleeves, 2 two-way drill bits, glass drill bits set, 5 twist drill bits, extension rod |
Battery Charge Time | 1 hour |
Weight | 2.52 kg |
£36.99
Drill Type | Combination drill |
---|---|
Voltage | 18V |
Torque Settings | 16 settings |
Gears | - |
Accessories Included | 6 drill bits, 6 screwdriver attachments |
Battery Charge Time | 3 - 5 hours |
Weight | 1.0 kg |
Image | 1 ![]() Makita | 2 ![]() Bosch | 3 ![]() Ryobi | 4 ![]() Black+Decker | 5 ![]() HYCHIKA | 6 ![]() Blue Ridge | 7 ![]() MYLEK | 8 ![]() Werktough | 9 ![]() Flybiz | 10 ![]() Terratek |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | G-Series 18V Cordless Combi Drill | Cordless Hammer Drill Driver | 18V Cordless Combi Drill Starter Kit | 18 V Cordless Combi Hammer Drill | 12V Cordless Drill | Cordless Drill Driver | 18V Cordless Drill Driver | Cordless Drill Driver | 21V Professional Industrial Rechargeable Cordless Drill Driver | 13pc Cordless Drill Driver |
Features | A Drill to Stand the Test of Time From a Respected Brand | The Ultimate Drilling Kit in One Package | Best Cordless Drill Under £100 With Over 100 Tools to Buy Into | A Powerful Combi From a Name You Can Trust | A Set With the Widest Range of Accessories for Under £50 | Lightweight Yet Tough | A Robust Choice With Some Useful Features | A Back to Basics Drill With High Torque Settings | Great for Working in Tight Spots Around the House | Lightweight With Lots of Control |
Price | £132.19 | £110.00 | £74.99 | £48.00 | £39.99 | £32.99 | £37.95 | £49.99 | £57.99 | £36.99 |
Drill Type | Combination drill | Combination drill | Combination drill | Combination drill | Drill driver | Drill driver | Drill driver | Drill driver | Drill driver | Combination drill |
Voltage | 18V | 18V | 18V | 18V | 12V | 12V | 18V | 18V | 21V | 18V |
Torque Settings | 16 settings | 20 settings | 24 settings | 10 settings | 22 settings | 12 settings | 19 settings | 18 settings | - | 16 settings |
Gears | 2 metal gears | 2 gears | 2 gears | All metal gear box | 2 gears | - | 2 gears | - | 2 gears | - |
Accessories Included | Case, 74 piece drill and screw bit set | Case, 11 drill bits, 6 masonry bits, 5 wood bits, 3 spade bits, 34 screw bits, 7 sockets, 1 adaptor | Extra 18V battery | Case | Case, tool wallet, 10 drill bits, 6 screw bits, 5 sockets | 2 drill bits, 10 driver bits, 1 magnetic holder, charger | Case, 6 drill bits, 6 screw bits, 1 bit holder | 2 double ended drill bits | Case, 9 dill bit sleeves, 2 two-way drill bits, glass drill bits set, 5 twist drill bits, extension rod | 6 drill bits, 6 screwdriver attachments |
Battery Charge Time | 1 hour | 1 hour | 3 hours | 3 - 6 hours | 1 hour | - | 1 hour | - | 1 hour | 3 - 5 hours |
Weight | 4.26 kg | 1.3 kg | 2.86 kg | 2.2 kg | 2.2 kg | 0.84 kg | 2.2 kg | 1.43 kg | 2.52 kg | 1.0 kg |
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That concludes our delve into the best cordless drills available right now. We hope that you found the information you need to be able to decide what cordless drill you want to buy, and that you found the perfect one that meets all your needs in our listing. Wishing you the best of luck with your DIY projects!
Author: Catherine Torrance
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