Best cordless drills ranked 2020: price review, reviews

Cordless drills are becoming more and more popular every day, which is not surprising, because they are very convenient and mobile tools that can be indispensable in difficult conditions. Professionals are already actively using them, but for many home craftsmen such drills remain a wonder. So it's time to tell you how to choose the right cordless drills and take a closer look at 6 best models.

What characteristics to look at when choosing a cordless drill-screwdriver

Battery type. Cordless drills are equipped with three types of batteries:

• Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) - the classic version, which has long become the standard for cordless power tools. These are inexpensive, reliable and durable batteries that can work even in cold weather. Their main disadvantages are the tendency to self-discharge and the presence of a "memory effect". This means that an unused battery will gradually run down by itself, and if you put on charging an incompletely discharged battery, then exactly the level of charge that was available at that moment will become its new lower limit, that is, the capacity of the battery will fall. In addition, the presence of cadmium in the battery seriously complicates its disposal.
• nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) - were created as a replacement for nickel-cadmium. They are non-toxic and easy to dispose of, their memory effect is almost not pronounced, and their weight is lower than that of the previous type of batteries with the same capacity. Moreover, they are much more expensive, and their self-discharge effect is even more pronounced than that of their predecessors. Today, batteries of this type are rare.
• Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries are the most popular type of rechargeable battery in portable electronics. On such batteries, not only power tools work, but in general almost all gadgets: from laptops to smart watches. These are lightweight, capacious batteries, free from memory effect and self-discharge problems. True, they are quite expensive, and they do not feel very well in the cold, but against the background of the merits, these problems somehow fade away.

Battery voltage. This parameter can be called an analogue of the power consumption of network models. There is no direct relationship between performance and voltage, but usually the higher the voltage, the more the tool is capable of. Usually drills are equipped with 12-24 volt batteries.

Battery capacity. It is measured in ampere-hours and shows how long a drill can operate on a single charge. Typically, household models are equipped with batteries for 1.5-2 Ah, while professional ones can find batteries for 3 Ah or more.

Chuck type. Drill-screwdriver accessories are inserted into the chuck: bits and drills. Cartridges can be:

• quick-clamping - allowing you to change the equipment without using an additional tool, with your bare hands;
• key - requiring special tools to replace drills: this is not very convenient, but extremely reliable.

A separate type of chuck is a bit attachment. These are used to equip cordless screwdrivers.

Chuck diameter. It shows what size drill the drill can use. Usually this parameter is from 1.5 to 16 mm.

Modes of operation. Among cordless drills, they are found as hammerless tools that are used in work only rotation, and percussion mechanisms accompanying the rotation also reciprocating movements. The impact energy of this type of instrument is low, but the presence of even a weak striking mechanism greatly facilitates the work with hard materials.

Maximum drilling diameter. A direct consequence of such a parameter as maximum torque. Usually the largest holes are drilled in wood, followed by concrete and metal.

The number of speeds of work. Inexpensive tools usually run at the same speed. More complex and expensive tools are equipped with a gearbox that allows you to lower the rpm in order to increase the torque. Just as a car's low gear helps it get out of deep mud, a drill's low gear helps it handle the heaviest and hardest materials.

Options. Important additional features of the drill include:

• smooth speed control;
• blocking the power button;
• reverse, which allows you to release a jammed drill;
• illumination of the working area;
• overload and overheating protection.

Additional functionality should not determine the choice, but it can affect it very seriously. Fortunately, even budget drills are increasingly being equipped with a variety of options.

Ranking of the best cordless drills

Cordless drill

1. BOSCH GSR 12V-15 FC 2.0Ah x2 L-BOXX Set 30 Nm

Professional drill-driver from the "blue" line Bosch. The price of almost 15,000 rubles cannot be called anything other than very high, but the tool is definitely worth it. The kit comes with two 12-volt 2 Ah batteries, which give the drill a very serious performance. The maximum engine speed reaches 1300 per minute, the torque is 30 Nm. The reducer supports two speeds. In low gear, the drill is capable of making a 30mm hole in wood and a 10mm hole in metal. Reverse and electronic speed control are provided. The drill is equipped with three attachments at once: a keyless chuck, an angle chuck and a bit holder, as well as a case and a charger.

Price: ₽ 14 999

BOSCH GSR 12V-15 FC 2.0Ah

Best all-round drill / screwdriver

2. BOSCH GSB 180-LI 2.0Ah

Another professional tool from Bosch in our selection. This time, the drill, which costs almost 10,000 rubles, is equipped with an impact function, so it is possible to drill holes in brick and concrete with great efficiency. The tool is equipped with a convenient keyless chuck with a diameter of 1.5 to 13 mm and a two-speed gearbox. The maximum number of beats per minute is 27,000, the maximum idle speed is 1,700 per minute. A torque of 54 Nm allows the tool to punch holes in wood, metal and concrete of 35, 10 and 10 mm respectively. Reverse, spindle fixation, electronic overload protection, electronic speed control are provided. The set includes two replaceable batteries for 18 volts and 2 Ah, a charger and a case.

Price: ₽ 9 140

BOSCH GSB 180-LI 2.0Ah

Cordless drill

3. Makita BDF460SF 46 Nm

This cordless drill the strike function did not come from Japan, but even without it, the instrument demonstrates a very decent performance. The maximum idle speed reaches 1,500 per minute, and the maximum torque in low gear is 46 Nm. This is enough to make holes with a diameter of 38 mm in metal, and 13 mm in metal. Keyless chuck supports drills up to 12.7 mm in diameter. The set includes a 3 Ah 24 V nickel metal hydride battery, a case, a charger, an additional handle and a drilling depth limiter. It's not a pity to pay 9,000 rubles for such a machine.

Price: ₽ 9 200

Makita BDF460SF

Cordless impact drill

4. Metabo PowerMaxx SB 12 2.0Ah х2 case 40 Nm

Impact drill driver, which is powered by a proprietary 12-volt lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2 Ah. The tool produces up to 21,000 beats per minute at 1,400 rpm at idle. The maximum torque of 40 Nm allows you to drill holes up to 18 mm in diameter in wood and up to 10 mm in metal and concrete. The reducer supports 2 operating speeds. The keyless chuck is compatible with drills with a diameter of 1.5 to 10 mm. The functions of reversing, fixing the spindle, electronic speed control, as well as a spotlight lamp and blocking of the power button are provided. The set includes two batteries, a charger and a case. The price for all this is quite reasonable - a little more than 6,500 rubles.

Price: ₽ 6 819

Metabo PowerMaxx SB 12 2.0Ah

Cordless drill

5. RYOBI RAD1801M 12 Nm

Very lightweight and compact angle drill the price of about 4000 rubles. The 18 V battery provides 12 Nm of maximum torque, allowing the tool to punch holes up to 38 mm in wood and 10 mm in metal. The keyless chuck supports drills up to 10 mm in diameter. The single-speed motor delivers up to 1100 rpm. In the presence of a motor brake, reverse, spindle fixation, electronic speed control, illumination of the working area, blocking of the power button, fastening for bits on the body. The tool is supplied without a battery.

Price: ₽ 4 099

YOBI RAD1801M 12 Nm

Best Budget Drill / Driver

6. Cordless drill Bort BAB-12-D 28 Nm

A great example of what a good battery drill driver doesn't have to be expensive. For this tool they ask only a little more than 2,500 rubles, but it is able to cope with even the most difficult work. There is a keyless chuck and a single-speed motor capable of delivering 600 rpm at 28 Nm of torque. This is enough to make a 20 mm hole in wood and 8 mm in metal. Reverse, illumination of the working area, blocking of the power button and electronic speed control are provided. Includes 2 x 1.3 Ah 12-volt batteries, charger and bag for storage and carrying.

Price: ₽ 2 418

Bort BAB-12-D 28 Nm

FAQ

Can a cordless drill handle metal?
Probably yes. In the passports of cordless drills, the diameter of the holes in the metal that the tool can make is indicated.

Which is better for the home: corded or cordless drill?
It all depends on how much and in what conditions you have to use the drill. The rechargeable battery is perfect for relatively short working sessions in hard-to-reach places without access to an outlet. Networked is better at handling complex materials, but only where there is electricity.

Read also:

Best cordless drills