Cordless Drills and Drivers Buying Guide

Tool Lab editor Chris Ermides explains how to choose and use cordless drills and drivers.

To say that a drill/driver is an indispensable home-improvement tool is no exaggeration. It accomplishes basic tasks like drilling holes in wood, metal, and masonry, and when fitted with the right bit, lets us drive screws and other fasteners into those holes, and back them out.

Today’s models have come a long way since the first portable drills for homeowners were introduced in the early 1920s. Back then, they weighed more than 5 pounds, were tethered to a cord, and, if the bit grabbed, could break your wrist as the drill spun in reverse. That danger largely disappeared with the introduction of torque-limiting chucks, enabling drills to drive screws— and become known as drill/drivers.

Cords have largely disappeared, too. There are now dozens of cordless versions that utilize the latest in lithium-ion batteries and sophisticated electronics, providing more power, longer run times, and more features (hammer drilling!) than ever before. So whether you’re drilling a 1/16-inch hole in steel or a 6-inch hole in wood, driving screws into drywall or anchor bolts into concrete, there’s a drill/driver suited to the task.

What to Look for in a Cordless Drill/Driver

Common features

• Speed control
• Clutch
• Keyless chuck
• Rotation selector
• Variable-speed trigger
• LED
• Battery-level indicator

Worthwhile upgrades

• Hammer feature—for drilling into masonry or concrete (A)
• Thermal-overload protection
• Electronic torque control
• Brushless motor