The 4 Best Cordless Power Drills of 2022

Let’s face it, most DIYers are looking for an affordable reliable drill with basic features that will deliver power when they need it, in a size they can easily handle. For those homeowners, the ones looking for an ultra-compact, lightweight, drill with tons of torque and battery life, we recommend the Makita FD09R1.

Whether you’re hanging a door, mounting shelves, or putting together that wooden swing set, its durable 7-inch frame, and lightweight body won’t weigh you down. With two 2.0 Ah batteries, you’ll never have to worry about being left without power and there’s no guessing when you need to swap them out since they come with an LED level indicator. It’s a great perk for a mid-priced model, unavailable on drills costing much more. A rubberized grip and comfortable trigger make it easy to operate. When you hit the trigger, a light pops on and since you can clip it on your pants, you can be hands-free when moving from task to task or climbing a ladder. Everything fits in a hard case and Makita offers a 3-year limited warranty.

The only downside? You’ll have to buy your own drill bits, since it doesn’t come with any, but its ⅜ inch chuck will fit most standard drill bits.

As a DIYer, if you’re looking for one drill to check all the boxes, this is it. Dewalt has an excellent reputation for durability and quality and this cordless, brushless Dewalt drill is our top pick.

At 20-volts this drill is powerful enough to tackle the toughest jobs you can throw at it, like building a deck, yet its compact size and lightweight design make it easily maneuverable for simple tasks, including those in small spaces. Two rechargeable 1.3 Ah batteries mean you’ll never have to stop working to wait for a charge and at a mere 2.5 pounds, and coming in at just a bit over the hundred dollar mark, it won’t tax your budget or your arm. The hammer feature is an added bonus that provides you with the option to engage the function when needed. It should be noted that it doesn’t come with any drill bits, few drills do, but it does have a belt hook. Best of all it comes with Dewalt’s 3-year limited warranty, one-year free service, and a 90-day money-back guarantee.

What’s it missing? This model doesn’t come with a separate handle that can provide added stability when using it in hammer mode. However, its size and design do compensate for that.

This durable, heavy-duty cordless drill will stand up to your toughest jobs and comes with 30 bits making it the best value for the money and for DIYers who are just starting out. It’s a very generous package for the price, especially since it’s the least expensive drill on our list. Other notable features are a magnetic bit holder, an easy-grip trigger with variable speeds, including reverse, and a ⅜ inch keyless chuck. The 24-position clutch provides plenty of torque while creating better control to set screws and avoid overstripping. The battery holds a charge for a long time (users have reported up to 4 hours) and remains charged for up to 18 months when not in use. It’s interchangeable with other Black + Decker power tool batteries, so if you have one of these on hand, you’ll double your battery life. It also comes with a 2-year warranty.

In the cons column is that one battery and it doesn’t have a light, which can be helpful in dim workspaces. It also doesn’t come with a bag to store all those loose drill bits.

The Craftsman V20 Cordless Drill is the priciest drill we ranked, but it’s a sturdy power tool with a mighty motor. More durable than their brushed counterparts, brushless motors last longer, too, making the price tag reasonable for anyone who's willing to spend a little more. It also has a 3-year warranty to back it up. There are a lot of other great features, including a ½ inch ratcheting keyless chuck, a two-speed gearbox, for quicker fastening, and a reverse setting. While it’s not the smallest drill, it’s still considered semi-compact and comfortable to hold. Two high-performance quick charging batteries set you up for a day of uninterrupted work and a trigger-activated light is ideally positioned to shine on your work area. A roomy soft bag is an added bonus for storage.

However, all that reliable force, battery power, and speed come at a cost. This drill weighs in at over 6 pounds, making it the heaviest on our list.