We conduct a number of our drill tests using a benchtop dynamometer, or 'dyno,' a calibrated instrument featuring a free-spinning spindle and an electronic brake.
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CR's test engineers clamp each drill onto the spindle, then run it flat out at each speed, measuring maximum revolutions per minute (RPM). These results, along with measurements taken under different loads, determine the speed score.
To calculate run time, we cycle the batteries on and off to simulate the torturous nature of stop-and-go tasks, such as building a deck. Then we completely drain each battery and time how long it takes it to recharge. And we use the dyno to measure torque, which we translate into our power score. This test is a reflection of how big a hole a drill can bore, or how large a fastener it can drive.
CR's experts also use each drill like you would at home, driving screws and drilling holes to take note of balance, feel, and how easy it is to adjust the chuck and speed. This is how we arrive at the handling score for each drill.
To see how loud each drill is, we measure sound in decibels at the user's ear when the drill is in operation. As it turns out, all but the smallest models require hearing protection for safe use.
The DeWalt DCD701F2 Xtreme is the most comfortable drill we've ever held. It's loaded with convenience features and packs enough strength and stamina to easily handle common jobs around the home.
The DeWalt DCD701F2 Xtreme 12V Max Brushless 3/8 in. Drill/Driver Kit combines power, comfort, and convenience in a way that none of the other tested drills do. In our tests, it bored 30 1-inch holes through a 2-by-10 on a single battery charge, showing it can handle just about anything within the four walls of a home (and even the occasional foray into more aggressive work, like a small decking repair). Other drills we tested had similar power, but the DeWalt DCD701F2 really excels in ergonomics and convenience features. The molded handle seems to account for every curve and bulge of the hand, the battery is designed so that the drill can stand upright when not in use (other drills, like the runner-up Bosch PS31-2A 12V, need to be placed on their side), and the LED is positioned so that it illuminates the drill front better than most. In all our years of testing, we haven't found a drill that's as much a pleasure to use as this one.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTThe Bosch PS31-2A 12V has power similar to that of the DeWalt DCD701F2, but it's clunkier to hold. And the little touches, such as the LED, aren't as nice.
If the DeWalt DCD701F2 is overpriced or unavailable, we also like the Bosch PS31-2A 12V Max 3/8 in. Drill/Driver Kit. In our tests, this 12-volt Bosch couldn't drill as many 1-inch holes on a single charge as our top pick, but it still has more than enough power for general home tasks. In our own measurements, we found it to be about 5 ounces lighter than the DeWalt DCD701F2, but it feels heavier because the balance isn't as nice. The Bosch battery slides up into the handle, making the grip fatter and not as contoured as the DeWalt's. Also, the LED doesn't illuminate as well. Even with these drawbacks, we've been using (and recommending) this drill for years, and we've seen firsthand a long track record of reliability.
This Milwaukee isn't as comfortable to hold as our top pick, but it has all-day power, especially when used with the high-capacity battery.
If you're looking for a real workhorse of a drill, or if you have other tools in the Milwaukee 12-volt ecosystem, we like the Milwaukee -22 M12 Fuel 1/2 in. Drill/Driver. It's pricey for a 12-volt tool, but when we tested it with the included 4.0 Ah high-capacity battery, it put up numbers that rivaled or exceeded many of those of the 18-volt drills we looked at. Its considerable power is emphasized by the fact that it comes with a 0.5-inch chuck (the nose of the drill, where the bits fit in), which is larger than what is found on a standard 12-volt drill. This allows the Milwaukee to accept larger drill bits. The downsides are that, like the Bosch PS31-2A 12V, the handle isn't as comfortable as the DeWalt DCD701F2's, and when using the lower-capacity battery, the tool can be placed only on its side when set down. We think most will be just fine with the capabilities and comfort of our top-pick DeWalt, but this Milwaukee can definitely get a lot of work done.
The 18-volt Milwaukee -22CT handles demanding work faster and easier than the smaller, 12-volt drills, yet it manages to retain the great ergonomics and other features of our top-pick DeWalt drill.
If you take on projects that have you drilling lots of holes and sinking long screws, we recommend stepping up to the Milwaukee -22CT M18 Compact Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver Kit. This 18-volt drill shares the most important characteristics of our less powerful top pick: It's extremely comfortable to hold and use, and the little convenience features, such as the belt hook and LED, are spot-on. It's also extremely short'shorter than even any of the 12-volt tools we tested'so it fits into tighter spots. Compared with our 12-volt Milwaukee pick, this larger drill completes tougher jobs much faster, doing the same work in less than half the time with a battery that lasts a lot longer. We tested drills during a kitchen remodel and a few smaller house renovations, and this is the drill we reached for over all the others.
This DeWalt is similar to the 18-volt Milwaukee, but it offers a little more battery life and an LED that can be used independent of the drill. It also has a higher price tag.
If the Milwaukee 18-volt drill is not available, or if you have other 20-volt DeWalt tools and batteries, we also like the 20-volt DeWalt DCD800E2 20V Max XR Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver Kit. It's very similar to the 18-volt Milwaukee in power, ergonomics, and overall design. The DeWalt lasted a little longer in our battery test, and it has an LED that can also be switched on independently of the drill and slightly rotated, a unique feature that turns it into a rudimentary flashlight (which could come in handy in nearly any crawl space). The light is neat but not necessary, so we prefer the typically less expensive 18-volt Milwaukee, which is a little shorter and delivers roughly the same power and battery life.
The budget-friendly Ridgid R performed great in our tests, but it had a harder time with relentless drilling than our other 18- and 20-volt recommendations.
If you're looking for more power and battery life than what the 12-volt models provide, but you're hesitant about the cost of the 18-volt Milwaukee and 20-volt DeWalt drills, we recommend the Ridgid R 18V Brushless SubCompact Cordless Drill/Driver Kit. It doesn't have the same strength as the other two, but it has enough power for most midsize DIY projects, such as light framing. We see it as a good drill for someone starting out on the DIY road who might want a decent drill at a lower cost.
The DeWalt DCD701F2 Xtreme is the most comfortable drill we've ever held. It's loaded with convenience features and packs enough strength and stamina to easily handle common jobs around the home.
The DeWalt DCD701F2 Xtreme 12V Max Brushless 3/8 in. Drill/Driver Kit offers the best combination of power, size, ergonomics, and convenience. Like the majority of the drills we looked at, it has more than enough strength for household tasks. But it really shines ergonomically: It is, by far, the most comfortable drill we've held. In addition, it offers great minor touches, including a wide belt clip and a bright LED that's positioned to cast maximum light at the front of the drill. The body of the drill is balanced, and because of the way the battery is positioned, the tool can stand up, making it easier to set down and pick up in the middle of a project (unlike many of the other drills, which can be placed only on their sides).
It has plenty of power for around-the-house tasks. In our power tests, the DeWalt 12-volt was able to drill 30 1-inch holes into a 2-by-10 on a single battery charge, and it could sink over 100 3-inch drywall screws into a doubled-up 2-by-10 (3 inches of wood). Obviously, that's more than enough to tighten up some cabinet hinges and hang a mirror. Yet it's also plenty for those times you might need to deal with a larger project, such as building garage shelving or replacing a short flight of deck stairs. If you need a drill for constant, all-day aggressive use, we recommend our upgrade pick, but if you'll be dipping a toe into larger DIY projects only occasionally, the DeWalt 12-volt will have no problems.
The DeWalt DCD701F2 is really small and light. From tip to tail, the DeWalt 12-volt is less than 6 inches long; it was one of the shortest drills we looked at. On our scale it weighed just under 2.5 pounds, landing in the midrange of 12-volt drill weights. But the DeWalt's balance was so nice that, before we weighed the drills, we were convinced it was the lightest one we were testing. The truth is that the Bosch GSR12V-300B22 is almost half a pound lighter, but its design and weight distribution made it feel heavier in our hands.
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The DeWalt 12-volt drill stands out for its ergonomic design. The handle appears to be designed with every contour of a hand in mind. Even the slightest details are accounted for, such as the little depression where the forefinger knuckle rubs against the drill body. The handle tapers nicely, allowing the pinky finger to find purchase, and the trigger and forward/reverse control are well positioned for quick use. We tested the drill in both small and large hands, and everyone thought it was extremely comfortable to hold.
It can stand up, making it easier to grab mid-project and less likely to mar a delicate surface. DeWalt employs a 'foot'-style battery, which slides into the base of the handle from the front of the tool, giving it a small platform to stand on. By contrast, many competitors' 12-volt drills, like those from Milwaukee and Bosch, use a battery that slides up into the handle. So not only are these handles bulky, but without a foot, the drills can also rest only on their sides, so they're not as easy to set down and grab in the middle of a project.
It's really easy to check the remaining charge in the battery. Unlike many drills, the DeWalt's battery gauge is on the battery rather than on the tool. This means you can quickly check both batteries before you start your project. Other drills have the battery gauge on the actual tool, so to check each battery, it needs to first be installed in the drill. It's a minor point, but it emphasizes the overall convenience of the DeWalt DCD701F2's design.
The LED is well placed and evenly lights up the front of the drill. Since the battery was designed to slide into the base of the handle, DeWalt also had room to place the LED down below the grip, whereas many other 12-volt drills place their lights just above the trigger. The 12-volt DeWalt LED's lower position means it casts much better light at the nose of the tool and reduces the drill's shadow considerably. In our tests, the light from the Bosch and Milwaukee models' LEDs barely illuminated above the drills at all.
We really tried to find something wrong with this drill but repeatedly came up with nothing. It's compact, powerful, and very comfortable to hold. Those are the most important elements of a drill, and the DeWalt DCD701F2 achieves high marks in all three categories. Any negatives are those shared by other 12-volt drills: It's not powerful enough for all-day aggressive DIY work, and it can't drill into masonry.
Before we begin the 12-volt and 18-volt competition sections, a caveat: If you're already invested in one of the following battery platforms, these tools are likely to be a great value for you, especially if you can find one sold as a 'bare tool' (without the battery and charger), which drastically reduces the price. Although these models have faults in comparison with our picks, they are solid performers. And you're likely to forgive their flaws due to the convenience of expanding your collection within a single, consistent brand.
The Milwaukee -22 M12 Fuel 1/2 in. Drill Driver Kit is an older version of the Milwaukee 12-volt we recommend. It's not as powerful and will likely be phased out soon.
The Bosch GSR12V-300B22 12V Max EC Brushless 3/8 in. Drill/Driver Kit is the lightest drill we tested, coming in at an even 2 pounds in our measurements (although the overall design makes it feel about the same weight as the DeWalt 12-volt, which is 7 ounces heavier). The Bosch performed well, but it typically costs more than the DeWalt.
The Skil DL PWRCore 12 Brushless 12V 1/2 in. Cordless Drill Driver Kit comes with only one battery, and at 7 inches, it's longer than most of the 12-volt drills we tested. The charger can give it a 25% charge in five minutes, which almost offsets the lack of a second battery'almost. The Skil also lacks power and has an overload-protection feature that constantly kicked on while we were using the tool, which was annoying.
We did not test the Makita FD07R1 12V max CXT Lithium'Ion Brushless Cordless 3/8 in. Driver Drill Kit. It shares many characteristics with our main pick, the DeWalt 12-volt, but the light is positioned above the handle, so it doesn't illuminate a work surface as well. It's also typically a lot more expensive.
A previous runner-up, the Milwaukee -22 M12 3/8 in. Drill/Driver is not as powerful as the 12-volt DeWalt or Bosch models, and it weighs more.
The Black+Decker BDCDD12C 12V Max Cordless Lithium Drill/Driver comes with only a single battery. It doesn't have a belt hook, onboard bit storage, or a battery gauge. This model also offers just one speed, and it's merely a little faster than the low speeds of the other drills we tried. In practical terms, this means jobs don't go as quickly with this drill, especially with smaller screws, which you normally need to drive at high speed. The power is not that great, either.
The DeWalt DCD791D2 20V Max XR Li-Ion Brushless Compact Drill/Driver Kit was a previous pick, but it has now been discontinued. Similarly, the Milwaukee -22CT M18 Compact Brushless 1/2 in. Drill Driver Kit was also a pick, but it has been replaced with the Milwaukee -22CT we now recommend.
The Craftsman CMCD713C2 V20 Brushless Cordless Drill/Driver Kit is nice, but it's not as powerful as our picks, and it felt chunkier in the hands.
DeWalt has two versions of their Atomic drill (the DCD708C2 and the DCD794D1). These are meant to be a bridge between the two classes of drills, combining the size of the 12-volt drills with power closer to the larger, 18- and 20-volt tools. The problem is that, over time, the 12-volt drills have become more powerful and the 18- and 20-volt drills have become smaller, effectively squeezing the Atomic drills out of the picture. The Milwaukee 18-volt drill we recommend is shorter than both of the Atomics and considerably more powerful.
The Ryobi PSBDD01K One+ 18V Brushless Compact Drill managed to drill just 31 holes on a single charge, making it one the least powerful 18-volt drills we tested. In fact, its capabilities are in line with our top 12-volt recommendation, the DeWalt DCD701F2, but with the added weight of an 18-volt tool. Also, the handle design includes an added finger notch that we found uncomfortable.
Flex is a new brand of cordless power tools. Its 24-Volt Brushless Cordless Drill has a lot of positive feedback at Lowe's (where it is exclusively sold), but we don't think the added voltage is necessary for around-the-house work. Plus, the larger battery adds weight.
In our tests, the Makita XFD11RB Sub Compact Drill/Driver wasn't as powerful as the other 18-volt drills we recommend. It also tends to be more expensive, and the LED is positioned at the top of the handle.
The Black+Decker BDCDE120C 20V Max Lithium Drill/Driver with AutoSense Technology was a champ at driving screws, but it didn't do well in our drilling test, managing only 25 holes (which put it in the middle of the pack). It also has only a 0.375-inch chuck (the rest of the 18-volt models have 0.5-inch chucks), which limits it with larger bits. In addition, it's a single-speed tool, whereas all of the others we tried have two speeds.
This article was edited by Harry Sawyers.
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