Cordless drills & tool kits

Cordless drill & tool kit selector

Sort our Ratings based on features, brands and other factors.

What's behind our cordless drill & tool kit Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 99 models in cordless drills & tool kits to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
This is based on Power and Torque, Run Time, Charge Time, and Handling. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.
Speed
Speed of drilling and driving screws.
Power
Twisting force for tightening and loosening.
Run time
This reflects how much work the drill can perform per battery charge, as measured on a dynamometer.
Charge time
This is based on how much time it took to fully recharge a discharged battery.
Handling
This is based on the drill's weight and balance, as well as the effort needed to position the head.
Noise at ear
Denotes sound pressure, measured in decibels.
Weight (lbs.)
This includes the drill and battery pack, to the nearest tenth of a pound.
Volts
As specified for the battery pack the cordless drill uses.

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Recommended cordless drills & tool kits

Recommended cordless drills & tool kits are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended cordless drills & tool kits

Cordless drill & tool kit buying guide

To find the cordless drill & tool kit that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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After months of drilling holes, driving screws, and rip-sawing lengths of pine beams, we found some heavily promoted cordless tools to be light on performance. But others were up to the task. Something to look for: More cordless drills and tool kits feature lighter or longer-running lithium-ion cells. If you're looking for information about cordless drills & tool kits, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ cordless drill & tool kit reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our cordless drill & tool kit buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased Ratings and cordless drill & tool kit reviews to help you choose the best cordless drill & tool kit for your needs.

Ratings & recommended cordless drills & tool kits

Cordless drills (89)

The Ratings rank cordless drills by overall score within categories. Decide whether the projects you handle warrant the higher power and price of the latest technology. Note that drills that deliver added speed, power, and run time were excellent in speed and at least very good in power, but they are heavier as well. Also decide whether you're willing to wear earplugs; models that scored a fair in our noise tests were at or above the 85-decibel level at which we recommend hearing protection. Then see our Quick Picks for tested models that deliver performance and value.

Cordless tool kits (10)

The Ratings rank cordless tool kits by overall score within categories. Then see our Quick Picks for tested models that deliver performance and value.

Recently reviewed cordless drills & tool kits

Black & Decker LDX112C (Tested)

This 12-volt model from Black & Decker has a 3/8-inch chuck and one speed range. It comes with one lithium-ion battery.

Black & Decker LDX112C

Makita TD020DSEW

Makita 6980FDWDE

Hitachi DS18DMR

Cordless drill & tool kit buying guide

Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries power more and more drills and drivers. Added power and run time per pound over the familiar nickel-cadmium (NiCd) cells are the major talking points. Greener design is also a plus, since Li-Ion batteries don't contain toxic cadmium, which can leach into ground water if spent NiCd batteries are thrown into the trash instead of recycled. But Li-Ion cells could die an early death if you aren't careful. Several lithium batteries from multiple brands couldn't be recharged after we ran them down to full discharge. ... Read more

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