Hand Drills Buying Guide
| Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
The choice of corded or cordless for hand-held drills is easy: get both. We recommend spending your money and time shopping on the cordless drill and then go cheap, if you need to, on the corded tool. Cheap might mean getting a good one on sale or even getting a venerable used tool. One of our uncles gave us a 1/2" corded hammer drill over fifteen years ago and it's gotten hard, if infrequent use, ever since.
The reason you'll want both tools is simple. Most of the time you'll use the cordless drill, but occasionally you'll need to cut through two inch thick Trex decking with a 4" hole saw. That kind of task will burn your cordless drill up. You'll also really need to drill a small hole the day you forget to charge your batteries.
Three drills is even better than two (and so on). Ideally, you'll have an 18V cordless, a 1/2" corded hammer drill with lots of power, and a light 12V right-angle cordless to get into those small spaces. It's wonderful to put a small bit in your 12V cordless to drill pilot holes and then drive the screws with the 18V cordless without changing bits.
The bottom line is that you'll want a drill that is suited for the task.
You don't want to use a 1 3/4" heavy-duty hammer drill to make a quarter
inch hole in something. At the same time, try making that Trex hole with a
6V cordless. Think about the tasks you want the drill to perform and buy
accordingly.
Weight and Size
Here are some rules of thumb for hand-held drills. The more power the drill offers, the heavier it will be in your hand; this is generally true for battery operated tools, however the LiIon powered drills buck the trend packing more voltage into the same weight package. The higher the voltage of the cordless drill, the more power. Also, the larger the chuck, the more power the drill is likely to have. But like all generalizations, there are exceptions. For example, there are lots of cheap 18V drills that don't really have much power (or don't have it for long). We've thrown away a number of them that were more frustrating than useful regardless of the super-low price.
Weight is a significant factor is you are going to hold the tool in your hand and use it over and over. Repetitive motion injuries like tennis elbow are the consequence of holding a heavy drill and driving screws all day. On the other hand, driving screws with an underpowered tool is just as bad.
The size and shape of the tool helps determine how comfortable the tool
feels when you hold it. It can also be a factor when you are trying to drill
in tight spaces. More compact tools are generally easier to maneuver.
Power = Torque
Torque is the vector product of the radius vector from the axis of rotation to the point of application of the force and the force vector, but knowing that probably won't help you buy a drill. Basically, torque is power in a circle. The more of it you have, the better. Look at torque ratings.
If torque ratings are not available, look at the amperage rating for the
tool if it's corded. The more amps it uses, the more torque the tool is
likely to offer. For cordless tools, the voltage is a good indicator of
power as long as you are dealing with a quality brand. If you get it for $20
at the drugstore, don't expect to use it for long.
Chuck Size and Type
The venerable Jacobs chuck is pretty much gone from cordless tools. This is the standard drill chuck you still find on drill presses and large hand-drills. Your father's old drill probably has a chuck-key attached to the end of the cord with a piece of wire. Keyless chucks are the only way to go for most tasks, but they don't have the gripping power of a Jacobs chuck. It's nice to have a large drill with a keyed chuck around when you have that high-torque job with a slippery bit.
While Jacobs chucks are pretty basic on hand-drills, take a close look and read the reviews when purchasing a drill with a keyless-chuck. Some of them can be tightened and loosened with one hand and others take two. In addition to ease of use, some keyless chucks simply hold better than others.
The chuck size determines how large the bit's shank can be. Smaller
drills tend to accommodated 3/8" shanks and larger drills 1/2" shanks. Shank
sizes above 1/2" are offered in large specialty drills. There are a few 1/4"
chuck drills, but we're not sure why. There's nothing wrong with a small
cordless 3/8" drill. You probably won't be using bits with large shanks in
the tool. The time to think about shank size is when you get to larger
tools. There's a point where two tools will have the same general
specifications, but one will offer a larger chuck. Unless the price differs
a great deal, the larger chuck is the way to go.
Speed Control and Clutches
Any drill worth its salt offers VSR (variable speed reversing). This allows you to back bits or screws out of holes (reverse) and to control the rotational speed of the bit. You'll want one with smooth action so that a light touch will start the bit going.
Good cordless drills also have a high/low (or high/medium/low) speed feature. This is different than the speed selection on the trigger. It is more like the gears in a car; the lower speed option offers more torque for driving screws or other tasks where speed is undesirable and power is essential.
A good clutch allows you to avoid stripping a screw or worse, breaking
off the head. You select a clutch setting so that it starts to slip (and the
bit stops rotating) when the screw is set. It probably doesn't matter
whether there's a dozen clutch settings or a hundred, as long as the clutch
works. It's essential for cordless drills and a nice option for a corded
tool.
Bells and Whistles
There are other bells and whistles for drills that range from useful to mildly silly. In general, you're more likely to find these features on less expensive tools than the more expensive tools. The best tools spend their manufacturing dollars on better gear boxes and not on stud finders and belt clips.
Some of the more useful features are storage for bits on the tool so you
aren't searching for that Phillips head driver when you need to drive a
screw or a level at the top of the tool that helps make your holes plumb
(provided your work piece is level). Side handles become important when the
drill has lots of power and you're using a large bit or hole saw.
Types of Hand Drills
2-5v Cordless
This category has its purposes for very light use, but don't expect to use your six-inch hole saw. The low power means light weight and if that is your most important consideration get one of these and keep it around the house.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| 2-5v Cordless |  |
$45.65 | 6 | 4 |
The average rating of the 4 products in 2-5v Cordless Drills is 4.5 and the average price is $45.65. The average ranking of the 1137 products in Hand Drills is 4 with an average price of $169.46. Click on the 2-5v Cordless Drills product links for additional data on the models.
6-10v Cordless
This is a good place to look for that drill to use when you don't need a lot of power and don't want to carry around a heavy tool. For under $100 you can get a tool that will do 80-90% of the tasks you'll ask of a drill, but remember that if this is your only drill, you'll be in trouble with you get to that other 10-20% of the jobs.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| 6-10v Cordless | |
$84.49 | 546 | 45 |
The median ranking of the 45 products in 6-10v Cordless Drills is 4.5 and the median price is $84.49. The median ranking of the 1137 products in Hand Drills is 4 with an median price of $169.46. The specific product links have additional reviews and information on each model.
We've picked one product from 6-10v Cordless Drills that we think stands above the rest. The DeWalt DC926LA is our favorite. To find you why, click here.
12-16v Cordless
You are starting to see a more serious amount of power in this analysis. You could argue that 14.4V is sufficient power in a cordless drill if you have a more powerful corded drill for more power-hungry jobs.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| 12-16v Cordless | |
$136.80 | 1649 | 205 |
The 205 products in 12-16v Cordless Drills have an average ranking of 4 with an average price of $136.80. The 1137 products in Hand Drills have an average rating of 4 and an average price of $169.46. Click the individual 12-16v Cordless Drills product links for additional reviews and information on the models.
18-19v Cordless
This analysis represents what we feel is the sweet spot for power and price for cordless drills. You're going to find some really good quality tools that will handle almost any job. These are fairly heavy in the hand so be prepared to build a little muscle if you use one all day.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| 18-19v Cordless | |
$142.96 | 1844 | 192 |
The 192 products in 18-19v Cordless Drills have an median ranking of 4 with an average price of $142.96. There are 1137 products in Hand Drills with an average ranking of 4. The average price is $169.46. Click the 18-19v Cordless Drills product links for detailed information on the seperate models.
20-36v Cordless
For that job that requires lots of torque, but a cord is not an option, this analysis contains the most powerful cordless drills. This is the leading edge of cordless technology and the prices reflect that. For the price of one of these babies you can get an nice 18V drill AND a decent 1/2" hammer-drill to use when you need more power.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| 20-36v Cordless |  |
$181.71 | 79 | 18 |
The 18 products in 20-36v Cordless Drills have an median ranking of 3.5 with an average price of $181.71. The average ranking of the 1137 products in Hand Drills is 4 with an average price of $169.46. Single product links have detailed data on the models.
Cordless Angle
We believe that most of the drills in this analysis are purchased in the middle of projects. These are the drills that bail you out when there is very limited access where you need to drill a hole or drive a screw. The first impulse is to buy a right angle attachment for your existing tool, but they don't work very well. Consider a lighter duty right-angle drill as a toolbox complement to a heavier cordless tool.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Cordless Angle | |
$194.63 | 176 | 29 |
The average ranking of the 29 products in Cordless Angle Drills is 4.5 and the average price is $194.63. The average rating of the 1137 products in Hand Drills is 4 with an average price of $169.46. Click on the individual Cordless Angle Drills product links for more reviews and information on the seperate models.
Cordless Hammer
The hammer feature is important if you are planning to drill holes in masonry. This analysis contains cordless tools with action like a jack-hammer to provide short rapid hammer thrusts. These thrusts will pulverize relatively brittle material and speed up drilling in those materials.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Cordless Hammer | |
$238.11 | 565 | 96 |
There are 96 products in Cordless Hammer Drills with an average rating of 4. The average price is $238.11. The median rating of the 1137 products in Hand Drills is 4 with an median price of $169.46. Click on the Cordless Hammer Drills product links for additional reviews and information on the specific models.
Small Chuck Corded
This is the drill your father and grandfather had. They are useful and fairly inexpensive, but have largely been replaced by the cordless versions. We recommend having a corded drill in your toolbox as a compliment to your cordless drill, but it makes more sense to spent a few extra dollars on a 1/2" chuck tool.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Small Chuck Corded | |
$66.11 | 289 | 84 |
The average ranking of the 84 products in Small Chuck Corded Drills is 4 and the average price is $66.11. There are 1137 products in Hand Drills with an average ranking of 4. The average price is $169.46. Single product links have detailed information on the models.
Large Chuck Corded
We recommend a good 1/2" chuck drill as a compliment to your cordless tool (or tools). When your cordless tool poops out or can't handle the power requirement, find an extension cord and get out your corded tool.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Large Chuck Corded | |
$143.70 | 579 | 116 |
The average rating of the 116 products in Large Chuck Corded Drills is 4 and the average price is $143.70. The 1137 products in Hand Drills have an median ranking of 4 and an median price of $169.46. Click the Large Chuck Corded Drills product links for detailed reviews and information on the single models.
Corded Hammer
The hammer feature is important if you are planning to drill holes in masonry. This analysis contains corded drills with action like a jack-hammer to provide short rapid hammer thrusts. These thrusts will pulverize relatively brittle material and speed up drilling in those materials. There are serious hammer drills in this analysis and 1/2" chuck drills with a hammer feature. You'll know if you need one of the serious tools.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Corded Hammer | |
$125.16 | 197 | 58 |
There are 58 products in Corded Hammer Drills with an average ranking of 3.5. The average price is $125.16. The average rating of the 1137 products in Hand Drills is 4 with an average price of $169.46. Single product links have more reviews and information on the models.
Corded Angle
Like cordless angle drills, a lot of these tools are purchased in the middle of projects when you can't reach a spot to drill a hole or drive a screw. These are less expensive than a cordless version of the same tool, but the cord negates a bit of the "get in tight spaces" capability.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Corded Angle | |
$183.48 | 241 | 23 |
The median ranking of the 23 products in Corded Angle Drills is 4 and the median price is $183.48. The median rating of the 1137 products in Hand Drills is 4 with an median price of $169.46. Seperate product links have additional data on the models.
Air Drills
Air tools are very light in the hand (provided the air hose is not too constricting) because they are very small. The power is supplied by the air pressure rather than a larger motor and battery (for cordless tools). They are generally fairly quiet too. They have the obvious limitation of requiring a compressed air source, but in some applications that is readily available.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Air Drills |  |
$126.50 | 11 | 93 |
There are 93 products in Air Drills with an median rating of 5. The median price is $126.50. The 1137 products in Hand Drills have an median ranking of 4 and an median price of $169.46. Click the individual Air Drills product links for additional information on the specific models.
Angle Air
Right-angled drills allow you to drive that screw or drill that hole that a standard grip tool can't reach. Air tools are very light in the hand (provided the air hose is not too constricting) because they are very small. The power is supplied by the air pressure rather than a larger motor and battery (for cordless tools). They are generally fairly quiet too. They have the obvious limitation of requiring a compressed air source, but in some applications that is readily available.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Angle Air | |
$106.48 | 8 | 22 |
The 22 products in Angle Air Drills have an average ranking of 3.5 with an average price of $106.48. The 1137 products in Hand Drills have an median ranking of 4 and an median price of $169.46. The single product links have detailed information on each model.
Specialty Drills
The drills in this analysis look a little like the fish you see in very deep water with their eyes in the wrong place or other strange and wonderful features. If you are in water this deep, we expect that you know that you are doing.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Specialty Drills | |
$545.49 | 32 | 16 |
The 16 products in Specialty Drills have an average ranking of 4.5 with an average price of $545.49. The 1137 products in Hand Drills have an average rating of 4 and an average price of $169.46. Click the Specialty Drills product links for more information on the individual models.
Bit Sharpeners
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Bit Sharpeners | |
$287.47 | 197 | 18 |
The average ranking of the 18 products in Drill Bit Sharpeners is 4 and the average price is $287.47. The median ranking of the 1137 products in Hand Drills is 4 with an median price of $169.46. Click the individual Drill Bit Sharpeners product links for more data on the single models.
Cordless Impact Drivers
Impact drivers deliver a high spead stream of strong rotory hammer impulses to the driver bit. These battery powered impact drivers are very similar to the air powered impact wrenches auto mechanics use to install and remove lug nuts on your automobile wheels. Since the rotary force is generated by rotary hammer stirking the bit, the pressure required to drive a screw is greatly reduced. Very handy to drive fasteners which tend to seize as they turn such as lag bolts and long stubborn screws. They also work well to break loose stubborn nuts and bolts. Impact drivers typically do not have universal chucks like a drill, instead they have bit holders similar to the bit holders on a power screwdriver.
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Cordless Impact Drivers | |
$198.69 | 530 | 52 |
The 52 products in Cordless Impact Drivers have an median rating of 4.5 with an average price of $198.69. The median ranking of the 1137 products in Hand Drills is 4 with an median price of $169.46. Click on the individual Cordless Impact Drivers product links for detailed reviews and information on the single models.
Cordless Screwdrivers
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Cordless Screwdrivers | |
$70.17 | 776 | 56 |
The median rating of the 56 products in Cordless Screwdrivers is 4 and the median price is $70.17. The average rating of the 1137 products in Hand Drills is 4 with an average price of $169.46. The product links have detailed information on each model.
Cordless Drivers
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Cordless Drivers |  |
--- |
The average rating of the 1137 products in Hand Drills is 4 with an average price of $169.46. Click the individual Cordless Drivers product links for detailed information on the single models.
Specialty Cordless Screwdrivers
| Group | Average Rating | Average Price | Reviews | Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Drills | |
$169.46 | 7772 | 1137 |
| Specialty Cordless Screwdrivers | |
$172.66 | 47 | 10 |
There are 10 products in Specialty Cordless Screwdrivers with an median rating of 4.5. The median price is $172.66. There are 1137 products in Hand Drills with an median rating of 4. The median price is $169.46. Individual product links have detailed data on the models.
