The UK's bestCordless Drills2022 Review

This pro-level drill is one of the best combi drills available right now. Made by the Japanese tool masters Makita, the DHP484Z made short work of block, steel, and timber, using its big brushless motor for a supremely comfortable drilling experience.

Featuring a reliably solid build and premium materials in its construction, the Makita isn’t as flashy as the DeWalt DCD796, but it has a greater level of attention to detail. If you hate rattles and odd noises, this is the best drill for a DIYers that like a bit more quality. Stats-wise, it’s almost on top with 54 Nm of torque, 30,000 ipm in hammer mode and 2,000 rpm under the hood.

The only thing that holds the Makita back here is that it’s a seriously bare tool. It doesn’t come with anything more than a cardboard box and a belt hanging hook. Unless you’ve already got Makita batteries and a charger, this could get expensive quite quickly.

Easily one of the biggest tool brands out there, Bosch are favoured by professionals as well as savvy DIYers. This Bosch PSB1800 18V Cordless Hammer Drill set might not be the highest performing drill they make, but it’s a two battery set that comes in a handy case.

This Bosch “green” DIY drill is quite light and compact, which makes it ideal for getting into tight spaces around the home. It’s not the best grip size for people like me with big hands, but the trigger and torque selector all click around with a hefty clunk. It feels well made and should last for ages.

The performance of this drill was unfortunately a bit sluggish. With just 1,350 rpm to play with, and only 20,250 bpm in hammer mode it struggled with some of my challenges. You go get 38 Nm of torque though. It’s obviously not the most powerful drill that Bosch make, but it’s fine for light use around the home and garden.

Built tough for trade use, the DeWalt DCD796 hammer drill sailed through all my challenges. It can put holes in steel plate without breaking a sweat and will happily chew through blockwork all day long. It’s not just powerful, it’s also incredibly comfortable to use thanks to a futuristic rubberised grip shape.

What really sets this drill apart from the competition though is the impressive amounts of metal used in its design. The only drill on my list to boast an all-metal chuck, you can tell straight away that this tool is built to last. It puts out 2,000 rpm, has the highest level of torque at 70 Nm, and blows away the rest with a huge 34,000 bpm in hammer mode. What’s not to like?

As a bonus, you can use this combi drill as a powerful work light. Rather than a weak LED that would struggle to light up a kitchen cupboard, the DCD796 has three different levels of light to illuminate your workspace. It’s a masterful piece of kit that comes with a professional level case too. I love it! I just wish the battery would stop rattling about…

The other big Japanese tool brand, Ryobi and their recognisable green kit are well known to DIYers all over the place. Featuring what I think is the most comfortable grip pattern out there, Ryobi tools are easy to hold and comfortable to use.

Seeing as the Ryobi R18PD3 is a big and chunky drill, it needed to be powerful to make up for the size. The screw driving action was strong, but the drilling side of things was let down by a weird electronic speed control that made it all a bit inconsistent. Still, you get 50 Nm of torque, 1,800 rpm at the sharp end, and a decent 23,400 bpm in hammer mode.

The reason why I think this is one of the best drill kits out there, even though you don’t get a case, is because of the two batteries that come with this drill. Ryobi make a huge range of affordable bare tools, and this set might be the best way to start your new tool collection!

Probably the biggest surprise to me in this whole test is the clever little Hychika DD-12BC Cordless Drill Driver. Limited to just 12 Volts of power, I almost wrote it off as a little toy. I’m more than pleased to say it proved me utterly wrong. It’s a surprisingly powerful drill that can put away screws like the professionals!

With a comfortable grip and lightweight body, it’s ideal for smaller hands and getting into tight spaces. The little 10 mm chuck can’t fit big bits, but if you’re just using it around the house you’re not likely to use one anyway. You get an adequate 1,500 rpm at the business end and 30 Nm of torque to play with. One of the big drawbacks of this drill is the lack of hammer mode though, if you want to put holes in bricks it’ll take too long.

The other thing I really liked about this set is the accessory kit, although I don’t think the bag it comes in will protect it from damage. You do get a brilliant little tool roll filled with useful bits to get started. This pint-sized drill will get the job done even if it only comes with one battery.

Another entry from the big yellow and black tool company, the DeWalt DCD776 is a super reliable workhorse that just doesn’t have the refinements of the DCD769. The brushed motor isn’t quite as powerful, but you get a case, a charger, and a battery to make this the best drill kit for beginners on here.

This is a time-tested drill design that might not be the most compact but feels rock-solid and pretty much bulletproof. I’ve got no doubt that this drill will last for a long time whether on a building site or in your workshop. The 1,500 maximum rpm is good enough, 42 Nm of torque does the job, and 25,500 bpm in hammer mode is plenty for drilling in blockwork.

If you don’t want to splash out on a pro-level brushless drill but want a drill set from one of the best names in the business, the DCD776 is ideal. It might not have the most impressive stats or the most up-to-date shape, but this is a trustworthy bit of kit that comes with batteries included.

The Terratek 18V Cordless Drill Driver is the smallest and lightest drill on my list is, not surprisingly, also the least capable. It’s the least expensive as well, so you can’t expect class-leading performance. Boasting absolutely no frills, the Terratek does at least have a work light on it, although you can’t drill into masonry and there’s only one gear.

I was pleasantly surprised by the feel of this little drill. It’s rather comfortable thanks to its ergonomic grip, and it even fits my sasquatch hands! That’s where the design positives end though, as there was a fair bit of chuck wobble and one of those awful little two-part plastic chucks.

With a pitiful 650 rpm at the drilling end and less than 20 Nm of torque to play with, this is not a powerful drill. It struggled to drive home screws and didn’t drill very quickly. However, this drill is so reasonably priced that it’s good enough as a backup or emergency power tool.

BLACK + DECKER is a brand with a serious pedigree, even though they’re not known for making the best quality kit anymore. The BCD700S1K Hammer Drill is a reasonably capable tool that suffers from a too low drilling speed and weird, slightly sticky grip.

One thing I’ll give the BCD700S1K is a thumbs up in the looks department. I really like the sleek black and orange stylings, but the handle is a bit small for me. There’s just 1,400 rpm at the bit end, 21,000 bpm in hammer mode and 40 Nm of torque to play with. This tool works better at driving screws than drilling holes, but it gets the job done eventually.

On the bad side, I can’t stand the odd two-part chuck that can only fit bits up to 10 mm. It feels a bit cheap and nasty. The lack of LED work light is unforgivable in a modern drill as well, it’s going to be impossible to use in a dark cupboard. I don’t think I’d pick this drill for many jobs.