Cordless Drill Buyer's Guide

Cordless drills are the most popular power tools on the market. They come in a variety of sizes and power output depending on what type of job you are doing. They are available in homeowner and professional grade. These tools are popular because most materials are held together with fasteners and drills can install and remove them much faster than by hand. Drills also make holes in materials such as wood, plastic, metal, and concrete. Cordless technology has improved greatly over the last few years and cordless drills can run signifant amounts of time before needing a charge. Battery technologies like Lithium-ion can power tools for longer periods of time and have a longer overal lifespan. Recently, other new technologies have been added to drills including L.E.D. worklights, and rapid battery chargers. The guide breaks down the types of drills, important terms, and other things to consider when shopping for your new cordless drill.

Nickel Cadmium battery. It’s an inexpensive cell technology and has a very low temperature sensitivity. A high number of charge cycles is possible. Stored Ni-Cad batteries quickly lose charge and can develop a sort of “memory effect” if they are not regularly drained and fully charged (known as “conditioning”). Cadmium is a heavy metal and is considered an environmental hazard.

Nickel Metal Hydride battery. Much higher potential capacity than Ni-Cad batteries and require less conditioning. Considered less toxic than Ni-Cad batteries, but they shouldn’t be tossed in the garbage when they are no longer viable, as they can still be somewhat toxic. They are more sensitive to temperature than Ni-Cad, and they they can start to degrade if exposed to extreme cold or heat. They lose their charge faster than Ni-Cad batteries. Some NiMH batteries perform less reliably after repeated empty-to-full charges.

Lithium-Ion battery. Has a much higher capacity than other battery technologies, and has no memory effect at all, so there’s no need for periodic conditioning. Its charge loss during storage is less than half that of NiCad batteries. They are often more expensive than other battery technologies

Determines what size of bit the drill can hold. There are two standard bit sizes: ⅜” and ½”. ⅜” chucks are ideal for everyday applications, while ½” chucks are better for heavy duty tasks.

Measures drill speed. RPM means rotations per minute. Drills with multiple speed settings enable you to take on a variety of applications.

The largest diameter bits that can be used with a particular drill. The maximum capacity will differ depending on the material (wood, plastic, metal).

Protects drill motor if the screw it’s drilling meets resistance. Typically the clutch can be adjusted to limit torque applied to the fastener to prevent stripping.

How tightly you squeeze the trigger determines how fast your cordless drill bit rotates. The tighter you squeeze, the faster the bit rotates.

When you purchase a cordless drill, use technical specifications and design features to help narrow your selection. Whether you need a drill for simple household repairs or professional remodeling jobs, understanding key specifications can help you find what you’re looking for.

A cordless drill’s power is measured in volts. Available models range from compact 3.6 volt pocket drivers to powerful 28 volt drills. If you only need a cordless drill for light tasks, stick with one in the 3.6- to 15.6-volt range. Drills with that kind of voltage should give you the power you need to do minor tasks like hang curtain rods, attach cabinet handles and mount wall hangings. Heavy-duty projects, like remodeling a room or building a deck, would probably require a drill in the 18 to 28 volt range. Those more powerful types of drills can be expensive because of the higher voltage, torque, and speed they offer. Higher voltage drills also require larger batteries and tend to weigh more than small, cordless drivers.

Speed in drills is measured in rotations per minute (RPM). Cordless drills with multiple speed settings are suitable for a wider range of tasks. If you want to tackle several different types of repairs and projects, choose a drill with more than one speed setting. There are many affordable cordless drills that have speed settings that go from 0-200 RPM to 0-600 RPM, perfect for a variety of light-duty tasks and projects. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need a cordless drill that reaches speeds surpassing 1,500 RPM—that is probably a bit excessive for simple tasks like replacing door hinges or putting up closet racks. Lots of smaller, more compact cordless drills offer one or two speed settings, perfect for lighter tasks.

Keep in mind that speed does not equate power. A little drill with a high RPM can swiftly drive fasteners into pre-drilled holes, and is perfect for quickly assembling furniture or handling minor repairs around the house. However, it will be useless at driving large screws into lumber. If you want to tackle more ambitious projects, ignore the drill’s speed and pick a model with high torque and power.

Grip is an important component of a cordless drill. Finding one with a comfortable grip makes all the difference when you’re working with it for a few hours. So before you purchase one, hold it if you can. Observe how your palm and fingers fit around it and pay attention to how it feels. Think about how you would feel after holding it an hour or longer working on a project.

With new design advances, several drill brands have created more comfortable, ergonomic grips to make holding them more comfortable. Some even have rubberized grips. Several manufacturers offer lines of ultra-compact drills. These tools are much smaller and lighter, making them even easier to use. Look for one with a good grip design. And if you are prone to wrist, elbow, or shoulder problems, opt for an ultra-compact model.