Best Cordless Drill for First-Time Homeowners: 4 Picks by Budget

Quick verdict

A cordless drill is the tool you will reach for most often after you move in. It hangs shelves, assembles furniture, drives deck screws and drills pilot holes. Which one you buy matters less than which battery system you join, because every future tool will run on that battery.

We compared four drills across three tiers by reading the makers' specs, independent tests from Project Farm, Torque Test Channel, Classic Act Workshop and Pro Tool Reviews, and written reviews such as This Old House. Here is the short version:

• Best all-rounder: DEWALT DCD771C2. A widely recommended first drill with two batteries, a 1/2 inch chuck and a strong warranty.
• Best for the budget: Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP compact. A modern brushless drill that held its own against DEWALT in testing, on a huge battery system.
• Best for light chores only: BLACK+DECKER LDX120C. A simple starter for furniture and picture hanging.
• Best compact upgrade: Milwaukee M12 FUEL 3403-22. Small, strong and built for long use.

What a first-time homeowner needs

You do not need a pro-level drill. You need a drill that:

1. Holds a bit tightly. A 1/2 inch all-metal chuck does this best.
2. Stops before it strips a screw. A clutch with many settings gives you control.
3. Runs long enough. Two batteries and a charger in the kit means no waiting.
4. Is comfortable. Weight and balance matter more than the power number on the box.
5. Opens the door to more tools. The battery system should have the saw, impact driver and light you will want later.

Torque numbers on the box are a poor guide. Project Farm noted that makers' own test methods are not very realistic, and it measured real working torque far below the claimed maximum on several drills.

Our four picks

Best all-rounder: DEWALT DCD771C2

According to the maker, the DCD771C2 kit includes a 20V MAX drill with 300 unit watts out, two speeds (0-450 and 0-1,500 rpm), a 1/2 inch single-sleeve ratcheting chuck, two compact batteries and a charger. DEWALT lists a 3-year limited warranty, one year of free service and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. The listing puts the weight at about 3.6 pounds.

This Old House named it the most durable pick in its test and noted that it drilled and drove through hard, medium and soft woods and has a good balance. Its downsides were that the compact battery lasted only about 20 minutes of heavy use, no bits come in the box, and some customers said batteries stopped holding a charge after a few months.

Choose it if you want the safest, best-known starter drill. Skip it if you want a brushless motor, since the listing does not mention one.

Best for the budget: Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP compact brushless

The listing says this kit has a brushless motor, up to 400 inch-pounds of torque, two speeds (0-450 and 0-1,700 rpm), a 24-position clutch and a ratcheting chuck, in a 6.4 inch body. In Classic Act Workshop's test, a Ryobi HP brushless kit finished lag bolts and a 2-inch hole saw faster than a DEWALT brushless kit, though its trigger felt less precise and its impact driver was harder to start screws with.

Ryobi has a very large range, with reviewers counting hundreds of tools on the ONE+ battery. 731 Woodworks says the brand is best for beginners and occasional projects, not for hard daily use, and that a Ryobi battery fits tools made as far back as 1996.

Choose it if you want a modern drill and plan to add tools, including yard tools, over time. Skip it if you expect daily heavy use.

Best for light chores only: BLACK+DECKER LDX120C

This is a simple 20V MAX drill with a 3/8 inch chuck, an LED work light, and a battery and charger. We found limited independent testing of this exact model. A similar BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX drill, the LD120VA, was tested by This Old House. That drill was the heaviest of its picks at 4.2 pounds, worked well for furniture assembly and hanging items, but stalled in harder wood.

Choose it if you only hang a few pictures, assemble flat-pack furniture and change batteries once a year. Skip it if you plan to build decks, drill large holes or use the drill weekly.

Best compact upgrade: Milwaukee M12 FUEL 3403-22

The maker lists a brushless motor, 400 inch-pounds of torque, an all-metal 1/2 inch chuck, a length of 5.9 inches and a kit with a 4.0Ah pack, a 2.0Ah pack and a charger. It runs on Milwaukee's 12V system, a lighter line than the 18V M18 system. We found no independent test of this exact kit, but Milwaukee's larger drills ranked near the top in Project Farm's hammer drill test, and Torque Test Channel found them strong in torque.

A compact 12V drill is easier overhead and in tight spaces. The trade-off is a smaller battery and, for heavy jobs like lag bolts, a little less power than an 18V/20V drill.

Choose it if you want a small, strong drill that will last for years. Skip it if you want the largest range of low-cost tools.

Pros and cons by pick

Drill, impact driver or hammer drill?

Shoppers often get these three mixed up, so here is the short version.

• Drill/driver. The all-purpose tool. It makes holes and drives screws, and its clutch lets you stop before a screw goes too deep. This is the one to buy first, and it is what all four picks above are.
• Impact driver. It adds quick sideways taps as it turns, which drives long screws and lag bolts with little effort. It takes hex-shank bits only and is rougher for delicate work. Many people add one second.
• Hammer drill. A drill with a mode that adds a forward pounding action, for masonry and concrete. Project Farm and Pro Tool Reviews tested these for concrete work. If you live in a house with brick or block walls you may want one. Otherwise a drill/driver is lighter and easier to handle.

What buyers and reviewers say

Across the written reviews, videos and forum threads we read, these points repeat for first-time drill buyers.

What people praise

1. Light, compact drills are easier to live with. Testers keep coming back to weight and balance, and the compact models get praise for fitting in tight spots.
2. A second battery is a big upgrade. Kits with two batteries and a charger let you keep working while one charges.
3. A big battery system pays off later. Reviewers like being able to add a saw, a light or a yard tool without buying another battery.

What people complain about

1. Short battery life in starter kits. This Old House's test found the DEWALT's compact battery lasted about 20 minutes under heavy use.
2. No bits in the box. Several kits ship without drill bits.
3. Low-end drills stall in hard wood. The BLACK+DECKER model This Old House tested stalled in harder wood, and the cheapest drills in Project Farm's tests ran out of steam early on lag bolts.

Your first day with a new drill

Read the manual first. These steps are the routine most safety guides teach.

1. Charge both batteries fully. Do it the day before a project so you are not waiting on the charger.
2. Wear safety glasses. Drilling throws chips, and a bit can snap.
3. Set the clutch low. Start at a low number for screws and raise it only when the screw will not go in. Use the drill symbol (no clutch) for drilling holes.
4. Pick the speed. Use low speed for large bits and driving screws, and high speed for small holes.
5. Match the bit to the job. Use a twist bit for metal and wood, a brad-point bit for clean holes in wood, and a driver bit that fits the screw head tightly.
6. Clamp or hold the work. Never hold small pieces in your hand while drilling.
7. Drill a pilot hole. For hardwood and near board edges, a small hole first prevents splitting.
8. Back out to clear chips. On deep holes, pull the bit out now and then to clear the chips and cool it.
9. Remove the battery to change bits or store the tool. It prevents accidental starts.

A word about battery systems

When you buy a drill, you also buy a battery system: the family of tools that share one battery. Ryobi's ONE+ and DEWALT's 20V MAX are two of the biggest. 731 Woodworks points out that Ryobi's batteries fit tools going back to 1996, which shows how long the company keeps its systems stable. DEWALT's range goes up to pro-grade tools. Milwaukee's 12V line is lighter than its 18V line, which is a plus for compact tools, but some heavy tools only run on the larger battery. Before you buy, look at the tools you may want in the next few years and check that the brand makes them.

How to choose

• You want the lowest cost and might add a lot of tools. Ryobi.
• You want the simplest safe choice. DEWALT DCD771C2.
• You will only use a drill a few times a year. BLACK+DECKER, or a basic budget kit.
• You want a drill that lasts and stays comfortable. Milwaukee M12 FUEL.
• You already own a battery. Buy a bare drill from that brand.

What to buy with your first drill

A drill is only as good as its bits. Many starter kits ship with none, so budget for a general-purpose drill bit set, a few screw-driving bits and a box of mixed screws. Our screw assortment set guide explains what to keep on hand. For shelves and furniture, a speed square helps you mark true lines, and when you are ready to build, our circular saw guide shows what to buy next.

Key specs to look for

Where to buy

All four drills are sold on Amazon. We rate the DEWALT DCD771C2 as our mid-range pick, the Ryobi HP and BLACK+DECKER as budget picks and the Milwaukee as a pro-tier upgrade.

DEWALT 20V MAX XR Drill Driver, Battery and Charger (DCD771C2)

Mid ($$)Worth-owning score 8.3/10

• A widely recommended first drill with a 1/2 inch ratcheting chuck and two speeds
• Kit includes two batteries and a charger, per the maker
• Backed by a 3-year limited warranty and a very large tool range

View on Amazon

How we scored it

Usefulness 9/10 · Value 8/10 · Durability 8/10. This is our own opinion, based on specs, buyer reviews and independent tests. It is not an Amazon or customer rating.

RYOBI 18V ONE+ HP Compact Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver Kit

Budget ($)Worth-owning score 8/10

• Brushless motor, 24-position clutch and a ratcheting chuck, per the listing
• Beat a comparable DEWALT in several of Classic Act Workshop's speed tests
• Joins a huge battery system sold at Home Depot

View on Amazon

How we scored it

Usefulness 8/10 · Value 9/10 · Durability 7/10. This is our own opinion, based on specs, buyer reviews and independent tests. It is not an Amazon or customer rating.

BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Driver, 3/8 Inch (LDX120C)

Budget ($)Worth-owning score 6.3/10

• A simple, low-cost starter with an LED work light, battery and charger included
• 3/8 inch chuck suits furniture, curtain rods and shelf brackets
• Best for occasional light jobs, not for big holes or thick lumber

View on Amazon

How we scored it

Usefulness 6/10 · Value 8/10 · Durability 5/10. This is our own opinion, based on specs, buyer reviews and independent tests. It is not an Amazon or customer rating.

Milwaukee 3403-22 M12 FUEL 12V 1/2 in. Drill Driver Kit

Pro ($$$)Worth-owning score 8.3/10

• The maker lists a brushless motor, 400 inch-pounds and an all-metal 1/2 inch chuck
• About 6 inches long, so it fits tight spots and stays comfortable overhead
• Kit includes a 4.0Ah pack, a 2.0Ah pack and a charger, per the maker

View on Amazon

How we scored it

Usefulness 9/10 · Value 7/10 · Durability 9/10. This is our own opinion, based on specs, buyer reviews and independent tests. It is not an Amazon or customer rating.

Check the current listing and read recent reviews before you buy. Look at what is in the box, since some listings are tool only. Whichever you choose, pick up a pair of safety glasses and a set of bits in the same order.