Best Cordless Drills of 2026
Seven cordless drills tested on real driving and drilling tasks, from budget homeowner kits to pro-grade brushless drivers.
A good cordless drill is the single most-used tool in most DIYers’ kits, which makes it the hardest one to get wrong. We’ve tested drills across every price tier — from budget homeowner kits to pro-grade brushless drivers — and narrowed it down to the seven that actually earn a spot in your garage. Picks span DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, and Ryobi, so there’s an option for whatever battery ecosystem you’re already invested in, or starting fresh.
How We Picked
Every drill here was evaluated on real driving and drilling tasks — deck screws, spade bit holes, cabinet assembly — not spec-sheet torque numbers alone. We weighted clutch precision, battery ecosystem size, chuck quality, and price-to-performance, then split picks by who each drill actually serves best.
Best Overall: DeWalt DCD771C2 20V MAX Kit
The default answer for most homeowners. A 15-position clutch precise enough for finish work, a ratcheting single-sleeve chuck, and access to DeWalt’s massive 20V MAX battery ecosystem, all at a price that doesn’t require a second thought.
Pro Pick: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2953-20 Drill/Driver
Milwaukee’s brushless M18 drill pairs with the same POWERSTATE motor platform as their impact driver line. More torque and better runtime than the DeWalt, at a price that reflects it. The right call if you’re already on M18 or doing heavier structural work regularly.
Best Value: Ryobi ONE+ HP Brushless Drill Kit
Ryobi’s HP line brought genuine brushless performance to their budget-friendly 18V platform. It won’t out-torque the pro brands, but for the price — and the huge lineup of ONE+ yard and shop tools it’s compatible with — it’s hard to beat for a first drill or a light-use second drill.
Quietest: Makita FD09R1 12V Drill/Driver
Makita’s compact 12V platform trades some torque for a noticeably quieter, smoother-running motor and a smaller, lighter body — a good pick for indoor work, apartment dwellers, or anyone who wants less noise and vibration for lighter-duty jobs.
Best Impact Driver Pairing: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2853-20
Not a drill in the traditional sense, but if you’re buying into a platform, pairing a drill with a dedicated impact driver like this one splits driving and drilling duty and extends both tools’ life. Fast, strong, and cool-running under sustained structural work.
Best Compact: DeWalt ATOMIC 20V MAX Compact Drill
A shorter, lighter version of DeWalt’s mainline drill built for tight cabinet interiors, between-stud work, and anyone whose hands tire on a full-size drill by the end of the day. Same battery platform as the DCD771C2, so it’s an easy add if you’re already invested.
Budget Pick: Black+Decker 20V MAX Cordless Drill
If you need a drill for occasional picture-hanging and light assembly and don’t want to spend much, this covers the basics without pretending to be a pro tool. Skip it if you’re doing anything more demanding than light-duty homeowner tasks.
Which One Should You Buy?
If you don’t already own cordless tools, start with the DeWalt DCD771C2 — it’s the safest, most broadly useful pick and opens the door to the widest battery ecosystem. If you’re doing heavier structural work or you’re already on Milwaukee’s M18 platform, the 2953-20 is worth the upgrade. Everyone else should buy based on whichever battery platform they’re already committed to — the drills themselves are closer in real-world performance than the spec sheets suggest.
Affiliate Disclosure: DIY Arsenal participates in the Amazon Associates Program and other affiliate programs. When you purchase through links on this site, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally tested and genuinely believe in.
