Jesse ShawThe 5 Best Cordless Drills for 2021
Updated: Oct 11, 2021
For effective and precise woodworking, cordless drills are a must. I do have an old hand drill but can’t imagine ever using hand tools for drilling or screwing things anymore. It’s just way faster and more precise with these baddies. I use cordless drills all the time and have spent countless hours with a couple of my go-to brands. Every now and then, I ask my woodworking buddies for reviews on their tool choice. If I’m lucky, they’d let me borrow them for a couple of days or weeks.
My Choice for Stand-Alone Drill
DeWalt DCD791D2 20V Max XR Li-Ion Brushless Compact Drill/Driver Kit.
$99.00
Most Affordable Set
DeWalt DCD791D2 20V Max XR Li-Ion Brushless Compact Drill/Driver Kit
$149.00
Best value for the Money!
DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 2-Tool (DCK240C2)
$159.00
2nd Best value for the Money!
Makita CT225SYX 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Compact Cordless 2-Pc. Combo Kit (1.5Ah).
$179.00
For the Milwaukee Fan
Milwaukee 2801-22CT M18 1/2 in. Compact Brushless Drill/Driver Kit.
$189.00
I prepared a list of my favorite cordless drills that are the best quality for the best price. A few things to think about first. A 12 Volt drill is fine for working on small projects around the house but will not give you the power you need in the woodshop or on the job. If you're serious about using a drill you will want at least 18V of battery power. 20 Volt is that much more powerful. For maximum torque, you will want a Driver. Nowadays, you’re better off buying a drill set that has a Driver and Drill. It’s a far better value, and you’ll want to be able to use both the Drill (with a Drillbit) and the Driver (with a screw bit) at the same time.. Not having to switch out bits alone is worth the extra cash. I simplified the list with my top choice of stand alone drill, and the 3 best Drill/Driver sets that will last over a decade and are the most affordable.
My Choice for Stand-Alone Drill
For people who need to drill and screw a lot of holes, I would recommend the DeWalt DCD791D2 20V Max XR Li-Ion Brushless Compact Drill/Driver Kit. It has a bigger battery (20 volts) and of course a higher power output. This is the best drill money can buy. Tough jobs won’t be that tough this drill. If you’ve used a smaller drill in the past, you will notice the big jump in power. It comes with an LED light you can switch on and off for easy viewing in dark areas. For its size and weight, it’s extremely easy to handle.
DeWalt DCD791D2 20V Max XR Li-Ion Brushless Compact Drill/Driver Kit
$99.00
Most Affordable Set
Makita CX200RB 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Sub-Compact Brushless Cordless 2-Pc. Combo Kit (2.0Ah), Black
I had this drill set for 7 years and it worked great. It’s not the most powerful but it should be good for 80-90% of your woodworking tasks. It has a slim grip, very lightweight and convenient to carry around anywhere. Makita is a great Japanese brand you just rely on.
Makita CX200RB 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Sub-Compact Brushless Cordless 2-Pc
$149.00
Best value for the Money!
If you want value for money, this DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 2-Tool (DCK240C2) is right for you. At just $159 now, you get a maximum of 20-v power for the price of a 12-V tool. That’s a bump up the power for you at this price. But please take note that this is a “consumer” grade drill set. This is for the weekend woodworker who needs decent power but not heavy-duty work.
DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill Combo Kit, 2-Tool (DCK240C2)
$159.00
Next is that Makita CT225SYX 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Compact Cordless 2-Pc. Combo Kit (1.5Ah). Well, what can I say? It’s a Makita! It’s powerful enough for most jobs, lightweight, and decent battery life. Its grip feels right in the hand especially for those with small hands. A lady woodworker friend of mine loves it. It makes drilling effortless and fun. It’s the bigger brother of my old Makita CX200RB 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Sub-Compact Brushless Cordless 2-Pc. Combo Kit (2.0Ah).
And, you might just be able to buy it on sale (at the time of this writing!) It’s currently at $129 from its original price of $179. That’s great value for money folks. This drill set would last for many many years!
Makita CT225SYX 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Compact Cordless 2-Pc. Combo Kit (1.5Ah).
$179.00
For the Milwaukee Fan
When we talk about cordless drills, we can’t skip the Milwaukee brand. I’d go with the 18-volt Milwaukee 2801-22CT M18 1/2 in. Compact Brushless Drill/Driver Kit. It’s practically on par with the DeWalt DCD701F2 20-volt drill in terms of ergonomics and power. I personally don’t care but it doesn’t have an on and off switch for its LED light. If that's important to you it might be something to consider since it’s also premium-priced at about $200. But hey, Milwaukee is one of the most reputable brands out there and known for powerful torque in their drills.
Milwaukee 2801-22CT M18 1/2 in. Compact Brushless Drill/Driver Kit.
$189.00