Best Cordless Drills 2026

Who it's for: anyone who wants one drill that handles everything — drilling studs, driving long screws, assembling furniture. This is the safe default pick in the 20V class.

Brushless motor, a 15-position clutch, and a compact 6.9-inch head length. The kit ships with two 2.0Ah XR batteries, a charger, and a contractor bag — enough to start a job and keep a spare battery on the charger.

Who it's for: heavy drilling and long fasteners — decks, framing repairs, big hole saws. The side handle and 5.0Ah batteries are built for that work.

The highest torque rating on this list, paired with two XC5.0 batteries for long runtime. Milwaukee's FUEL line is brushless with electronic overload protection. It's heavier than the compact picks, which is the honest trade for the power.

Who it's for: anyone already invested in Makita's 18V LXT batteries — or anyone who wants a well-balanced drill with plenty of power for its size.

Makita's mechanical 2-speed gearbox gives it a fast top end for drilling and a strong low range for driving. The kit includes a 3.0Ah battery, charger, and tool bag. LXT is one of the largest 18V platforms going, so the battery works across hundreds of tools.

Who it's for: anyone who wants full 18V power in a small, easy-to-handle drill — cabinet work, overhead drilling, or long days of driving screws.

This is Bosch's compact 18V drill — shorter and lighter than most full-size models, with enough torque for general work. The B12 kit keeps the price down with one 2.0Ah battery and a charger. At about $120 it undercuts the big pro brands.

Who it's for: DIYers who want pro-style specs on a budget — and access to the enormous ONE+ battery platform, which runs over 300 tools.

Brushless motor, 750 in-lbs of torque, and a 24-position clutch — numbers that keep up with drills costing more. The kit includes one 2.0Ah HP battery, a charger, and a bag. If you're starting a battery platform from scratch, this is the most affordable way into a strong one.

Who it's for: first-time buyers who want a full-size 1/2-inch drill at a fair price — hanging curtains, assembling furniture, basic repairs.

A straightforward two-speed drill with a 24-position clutch, LED work light, and a battery and charger in the box. It won't match the pro brands on torque, but it covers the everyday jobs most homeowners actually do — and the V20 line has a solid range of companion tools.

Who it's for: light household duty on a tight budget — hanging pictures, driving small screws, assembling flat-pack furniture.

The cheapest drill on this list, usually around fifty dollars. Single speed, 11-position clutch, and a 1.5Ah battery with charger. It's a basic tool for basic jobs — don't ask it to drill concrete or drive 3-inch deck screws all afternoon.

Who it's for: anyone who reaches for a drill often but rarely needs full 20V power — pilot holes, small fasteners, quick fixes. Light enough to live in a kitchen drawer.

A genuinely small drill — under two pounds with the battery — with a brushless motor and a 15-position clutch. The kit includes two 2.0Ah batteries, a charger, and a bag, usually around $150. It's the 12V drill for people who still want a real tool.

Who it's for: cabinet installs, electrical boxes, and anywhere a full-size drill won't fit. It runs on the same M12 batteries as Milwaukee's compact tool line.

One of the smallest brushless drill/drivers you can buy, with a short head length that gets into cabinets and between studs. It won't replace an 18V drill for heavy work, but for driving screws all day in tight spots, the small size is the whole point.

Who it's for: a second drill for quick jobs — predrilling, driving small screws, anything where you'd rather grab something light than lug the big kit out.

A long-running favorite among DIYers: two 2.0Ah batteries, a charger, and a carry case in the box, with a 20+1 clutch for driving screws cleanly. At barely over two pounds, it's the drill you actually reach for when the job is small.