The Best Drill

We analyzed 3,621 reviews from 23 websites to find the best drill. Sources included:
WirecutterWalmartTarget
+20 More

Top Drills

Best for Most People
Best Drill Dewalt XTREME 12V MAX Drill
$79 from 10 stores
View All
Why Consider This:
This cordless kit includes one 3/8 in. drill/driver, two 12V MAX* 2Ah batteries, charger, and tool bag . This drill is compact and performance packed, ideal for precision applications like drilling small pilot holes. It can also can accept up to a ½ in. spade bit.
People Like:
  • Great Ergonomics
  • Battery gauge on the battery
  • Belt hook
People Dislike:
  • Adjustable clutch dial
  • Wobbly chuck, on some models
  • Isn't as powerful as higher voltage drill kits
98
Owner Score
102 Reviews from 6 Sites
95
Media & Critic Score
2 Media Reviews
Buy On Amazon.com
Why Consider This:
If that Bosch model is not available, or if the price has jumped too high for you, we also like the Milwaukee 2407-22 M12 ⅜ Drill/Driver Kit.
People Like:
  • Compact and incredibly lightweight.
  • The battery life is extraordinary.
  • Ergonomic and rubberized hand grip for additional comfort
People Dislike:
  • Not made for heavy duty work
  • The transport box is heavy.
  • Not as fast as more heavy-duty drils
92
Owner Score
742 Reviews from 3 Sites
90
Media & Critic Score
1 Media Reviews
Buy On Amazon.com
Why Consider This:
The DCD791D2 20V MAX* XR® Li-Ion Brushless Compact Drill / Driver Kit is lightweight and compact for working in tight spaces for long periods of time. High-speed transmission delivers 2 speed variations allowing users to choose the level of performance needed for various applications. Comfort grip adds balance and control.
People Like:
  • Excellent Motor
  • Lightweight Design
  • Compact
People Dislike:
  • Chuck Challenging to Tighten
  • No magnetic bit holder
  • Batteries don’t fit perfectly
94
Owner Score
1,227 Reviews from 4 Sites
95
Media & Critic Score
2 Media Reviews
Buy On Amazon.com

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When it comes to reviewing the best drill, critic.ly is different than other sites. How?
Unbiased & Unsponsored: Critic.ly aggregates and analyzes reviews from real owners and industry critics. We remove spam, sponsored reviews, and other forms of bias to make sure you get the best possible sense of what people actually think about products.
Our reviews of the best drills were based on 3,621 reviews from 23 websites.
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How to Find the Right Drill

The 12-volt pick is a kitchen-drawer drill. It’s good for a lot of things around the house—putting up hooks, installing baby gates, swapping out light fixtures, minor drywall repairs and maybe straightening a saggy gutter. It’s a drill for a homeowner who wants to zip through IKEA furniture builds, help a kid make a nice science-fair project, and build a bookshelf. However, if you’re a rabid DIYer with plans to build a deck, a doghouse, and a tree house, we recommend the stronger 18-volt drill. This one offers longer battery life and more power. It’s designed for constant heavy-duty use and is something that would be seen hanging off a pro carpenter’s tool belt.

Drills We Eliminated

We research and analyzed 7 drills. Here's what we concluded about the ones that didn't make the cut.
Skil PWRCore 12 Brushless 12V 1/2'' Drill/Driver Kit
Runner Up
Highly rated (92 owner score, 92 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.
Bosch PS31-2A 12-Volt Max Drill/Driver Kit Drill/Driver Kit
Runner Up
Highly rated (94 owner score, 90 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.
Bosch DDS183-02 18-Volt Brushless Compact Drill/Driver Kit Drill/Driver Kit
Runner Up
Highly rated (79 owner score, 90 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.
Black & Decker BDCDD12C 12V MAX Drill/Driver
Runner Up
Highly rated (96 owner score, 75 expert score), but a slight notch below the best.

Sources & Methodology

Critic.ly uses a combination of machine learning and human editors to help you find the best products.
We start by aggregating and analyzing reviews from real owners and industry critics. We remove spam, sponsored reviews, and other forms of bias to make sure you get the best possible sense of what people actually think about products.
We convert every review to a weight average score from 0 to 100.
For this article, we analyzed 3,621 reviews from 23 sites to find the best drill.