9 best cordless drills to shop in 2025, tested by a DIY expert (2025)

Score: 95/100

Our winning 18V combi drill comes in a kit with over 100 accessories, including drill bits (for cutting holes in materials), nut drivers (for tightening and loosening nuts and bolts) and a handy spirit level (for accurate alignment).

The drill excelled in all our in-house tests, taking less than two seconds to rapidly drill 6mm holes in both wood and metal. Its stability impressed throughout, with no excessive vibrations or shakiness and it’s even powerful enough to tackle masonry drilling.

It was also one of quickest drills when it came to driving, taking an average of 18 seconds to drive screws in and 19 seconds to reverse them. Plus, the bright, wide-reaching light made screwing in hard-to-reach places a breeze. Just note that it is heavy, which makes it tricky to hold for extended periods. But you’re probably due a rest anyway...

Key specifications

Score: 94/100

Ryobi’s drill belongs to its ONE+ system of cordless tools, which means you can use the same battery across any number of gadgets from the brand’s range (including its high-scoring lawnmower from our best electric lawnmowers roundup). Our expert found the ergonomic handle comfortable and easy to grip and it was simple to fit and remove the drill bits, too.

It also proved effective in testing, taking less than a second to drill a 3mm hole into wood and remaining well-balanced, except when drilling into metal, where it slipped slightly and started the hole 2mm off where we initially marked. Driving screws in was no trouble though.

With 24 torque settings, you’ll have plenty of control for different tasks and it’s capable of hammer drilling into brick and concrete too, even if it did require a bit more force to keep it straight and balanced.

Key specifications

Score: 94/100

A ribbed rubber handle makes this DeWalt drill easy to grip during a variety of tasks. Attaching and removing drill bits was straightforward and our tester was able to quickly bore though wood and metal without the drill cutting out. They did spot a few inaccuracies from the marked holes though, so make sure to maintain a firm pressure when drilling.

We had similar results with masonry drilling – some holes were slightly off the mark due to slips when first biting into the brick and concrete – however, the majority hit the mark, and vibrations through the drill weren’t excessive.

Like our winner, this model has an excellent battery life so you can tackle lots of jobs before stopping for a recharge (and a tea break).

Key specifications

Score: 89/100

Coming in at under £50, this is an excellent pick for any novice DIY-er looking for a tool that will get the job done well.

Weighing in at under 1.5kg, it’s also one of the lightest drills we’ve tested, making it a good choice for more involved tasks. Our expert said it was best at driving screws, with minimal vibration, but performance dipped slightly when hammer drilling into brick and concrete – excess shaking and a lack of power at points caused some deviations from the marked holes. That said, extra support should help keep it on track.

The battery lasted 35 minutes on test and there’s a handy power level checker so you won’t get caught out mid-task. All in all, clear labels, a detailed manual and easy-to-adjust settings make this an excellent buy.

Key specifications

Score: 88/100

Designed with an effective impact mode that can tackle drilling into harder surfaces, this is a smart choice if you’re taking on more demanding jobs, such as drilling into hard surfaces. In testing, it bore through brick quickly and took an average of just over eight seconds to drill 6mm into concrete, while remaining reasonably stable and well-balanced. And if you do feel any slipping, the electronic brake will stop the drill instantly as soon as the trigger is released.

While its heavy weight helps maintain stability, it also makes it more challenging to hold for extended periods. Our tester also found the handle isn’t as ergonomic as some, although the rubber provides good grip.

It’s very useful when drilling and screwing but, take note, that there isn’t an LED work light and its large size makes it tricky to get into hard-to-reach areas.

Key specifications

Score: 87/100

A small but mighty drill, this is another handy tool to have in your kit when tackling tough materials. While not the fastest at drilling through brick and concrete, it was able to bore though both without cutting out or losing any power. It impressed with its ability to drive screws too; it was one of the quickest on test and remained stable throughout.

The drill comes in a handy carry case, but this only includes one drill bit and one double-ended screw bit, so you’ll need to purchase more depending on the job you’re tackling.

Key specifications

Score: 85/100

Our tester found the controls easy to understand with this one and the gears and torque settings are easy to switch between.

We had no issues drilling short 3mm holes, but some loss of power let it down when we were drilling further into metal and wood surfaces. It struggled with tougher materials like brick and concrete too, so we recommend sticking to less demanding tasks such as driving in screws. Here, the drill was free from excessive vibrations and stable throughout.

While there aren’t drill bits included, it does come with two batteries, so you won’t be caught out halfway through a task.

Key specifications

Score: 77/100

Like others in our list, this drill features an interchangeable battery that can be used across other tools in the Bosch range. In testing, it drilled with ease on wood, when we gave it some extra support to keep it stable, but it struggled to bore through metal without slipping away from the marked hole.

Ideally, it could have been a little quicker at driving screws too, but our tester was pleased with the minimal vibrations.

You can’t check the charge level on the battery and its run-time is short; however, the battery recharges in an hour so you can get back to your DIY in no time.

Key specifications

Score: 76/100

Despite being one of the cheapest drills on this list, Black+Decker’s cordless tool is still a worthy buy. Along with the sturdy carry case, it also comes with a two-sided screw bit, which can be stored on the drill body for whenever you need it.

Our expert found that the drill often needed extra time and pressure to keep it stable, but it got the job done. Tougher materials like metal, brick and concrete caused a few issues, with the drill slipping before biting into the surface. It worked well when driving in and reversing screws though, without excessive vibrations.

Key specifications

Battery power: Measured in volts, this will be clearly listed on the box and website, often as part of the cordless drill’s model name. Most drills are usually 18- or 20-volt, which allows you to bore into most materials.

It’s important to note that many brands have expansive battery platforms, which means the same battery can be used across their full range of power tools. This is helpful when building up your tool collection. It’s also why you often see cordless drills sold as “bare tool only”. This is for shoppers who already have a battery from other tools sold by the brand.

Speed vs. torque: These two specs, which are usually listed on the packaging and website product page, are key indicators of overall performance. Measured in RPMs, (short for "revolutions per minute"), speed tells you how fast the drill motor can spin. Torque, measured in newton-metres (Nm), indicates how much force the motor generates as it spins. Speed is good for drilling into softer materials (think: home DIY projects), while torque is good for driving into harder materials (think: heavy-duty construction). Drills with adjustable-speed settings are the most versatile, as they let you adjust the ratio or speed to torque as needed.

Weight: When it comes to handheld power tools, the difference between a couple pounds can add up, especially over the course of a long project. However, if a drill is too lightweight, it could indicate a smaller motor, and it may struggle to provide enough torque to bore through hard materials.

Chuck size: The chuck is the three-pronged clamp at the tip of the drill that holds the drill bit. The larger the chuck, the bigger the bit it can hold and the more tasks it can handle. For the drills in this list, chuck sizes start at 1.5mm and range up to 13mm.

Features: Many of the features our expert expects in the best cordless drills apply to both combi and hammer models. Both models benefit from having a contoured grip, as a comfortable handle can help reduce hand fatigue when you have a lot of holes to drill or screws to drive. Our expert also recommends buying a drill with an LED light, which is helpful when you’re working in dimly lit areas or hard-to-reach spots.

Just one point separates our winners and runners-up, but it’s the Makita DHP484STX5 Combi Drill, that grabbed the top spot. It was difficult to fault, working quickly and accurately across the board – plus, the accessory set ensures you’re all kitted out for whatever DIY task you take on.

The DeWalt DCD799 Drill and Ryobi R18PD3 Cordless Drill, are also excellent tools, with the former having a brilliant battery life and the latter belonging to Ryobi's ONE+ system of cordless tools. Both come in at less than half the price of our winner too.

With over 100 years of product testing experience under our belts – which includes a lot of time spent building flat-pack furniture together in the lab – so we know how to ensure a tool really lives up to its claims. Our homes testing manager, Blossom Boothroyd, lent on this wealth of knowledge to create the rigorous protocols we tested each cordless drill against.

Our senior homes and lifestyle writer, Megan Geall, then transformed all the results and feedback into these easy-read reviews, covering all the questions you'll have before you buy.