Make 10 cordless drills for yourself

What’s included: Two 2.0 amp-hour (Ah) batteries and a reversible Phillips/flat-head bit

Ridgid R82005K

CR’s take: If you don’t harbor a lust for power tools but recognize that you need a drill of some sort, this is the one to buy. For $100, you get everything you need and nothing you don’t. Like the 12-volt Bosch above, this model has a pistol-grip profile, making it both comfortable and small enough to toss in the junk drawer. Plus it comes with a 3-year warranty for the tool itself as well as the battery. That’s among the longest for drills in our ratings.

What’s included: Two 1.5 AH batteries

Black+Decker BDCDDBT120C

CR’s take: This bargain-priced drill has a big 20-volt battery that seems like a mismatch for its small ⅜-inch chuck and lightweight 2.5-pound body. It’s half the weight of some of the largest 20-volt tools in our ratings—good for handling but perhaps not so terrific for power. It comes with a lone battery that takes nearly 4 hours to charge vs. only 30 minutes for some other models in our ratings.

What’s included: One 2.0 amp-hour (Ah) battery and a reversible Phillips/flat-head bit

DeWalt DCD791D2

CR’s take: This 20-volt drill from DeWalt (featured in the video above) is neither as brawny as the biggest 18-volt drills we tested nor as balanced as the best 12-volts. But by splitting the difference between those extremes, this model may be the Goldilocks of cordless drills for some users. That means compact enough that you won’t tire from using it to swap out an overhead light fixture but forceful enough to bore holes in hardwood without bogging down. It’s well worth considering if you’re torn between voltage ratings.

What’s included: Two 2.0 Ah DEWALT DC9071 Power Tool Batteries and a hard-sided case

Kobalt (Lowe’s) KDD 1424A-03

CR’s take: Exclusive to Lowe’s, this 4-pound bruiser is a whole lot of drill for the money. One way Kobalt keeps costs down is by giving you only one battery, albeit a big 24-volt unit. Consider buying a second ($50) for larger projects and always keeping one on the charger. This model will drill plenty of holes fast and perform well enough to serve as a tackle-any-task option for the average homeowner.

What’s included: One 2.0 Ah battery, a removable side grip, a single Phillips bit, and a hard-sided case

Milwaukee 2705-22

CR’s take: By pairing a powerful, brushless motor with a giant 5.0 Ah battery, this drill leaves you feeling like you could build a deck in an afternoon. If you tried, there’s little doubt the drill could keep up. That ginormous battery makes the drill heavy; at 4.65 pounds, it’s more than double the weight of some stellar 12-volt models CR tested. And with so much of the weight concentrated in the battery, which snaps onto the base of the handle, it can feel unbalanced. The clutch has 14 settings, so you can dial back the beast for more delicate tasks such as tightening a cabinet pull. Of course, if that’s all you’re doing, a screwdriver will work just fine.

What’s included: Two 5.0 Ah batteries, a removable side grip, and a hard-sided case

Ridgid R86116K

CR’s take: If you don’t mind working with a drill on the bulkier end of the spectrum, you may want to check out this model, because it’s the only tool in our ratings with a built-in hammer-drill setting. That’s a handy function for projects like drilling into masonry—think fastening a ledger board to the foundation of your house to build a deck. (If you don’t know what a ledger board is, then you probably don’t need this drill.) The Ridgid also has an astonishing 115 clutch settings, which allow for precise control when driving screws. And it’s quick if not quite as powerful as the very best drills in our ratings.

What’s included: Two 2.0 Ah batteries and a hard-sided case

Ryobi P1811

CR’s take: Ryobi is a brand sold exclusively at Home Depot. This drill, like many of the brand’s offerings, provides quite a bit for the money, including a charger and two 18-volt batteries. The batteries also power an exceptionally broad slew of tools, including the traditional power tools you might expect, like a circular saw, impact driver, and worklight, as well as some unique offerings like an electric air inflator, pruning shears, and even a leaf blower.

What’s included: Two 2.0 Ah batteries and a soft-sided case

Worx WX176L

CR’s take: This unique drill falls in our light-duty category because of the limitations of its fixed, ¼-inch chuck. But it blurs the lines because it’s powered by a 20-volt battery, which would otherwise place it in the heavy-duty class. It’s a one-off design with two chucks, allowing you to load two different bits at once and easily switch from drilling to driving by rotating the wheel at the business end of the tool. The dual chuck might be more of a liability than an asset for some. The mechanism makes the tool a little unwieldy and hard to maneuver in tight spaces—say, inside a sink cabinet—which is why you’d want a light-duty drill in the first place.

What’s included: Two 1.5 Ah batteries, a single Phillips bit, and a soft-sided case