Cordless Drill Reviews & Impact Drivers

We spent hundreds of man-hours on cordless drill reviews and impact drivers with hands-on objective testing. We also rated the most powerful cordless drills through head-to-head comparative testing. All 12V, 18V (20V), and 36V models go through our testing rig, and we rank them for their respective categories. When Pros want to upgrade their systems it’s often difficult to know where to go. While you may have your favorite “color” or brand, we seek to help you understand the competition. We understand the tendency for Pros to choose favorites. Our cordless drill reviews and our impact driver reviews seek to avoid bias by using standardized testing methods. Without an objective testing source, you may find yourself purchasing a tool that can’t get the job done. Pros Can Trust Our Cordless Drill Reviews We not only test power, we look at run-time, vibration, and ergonomics. The best cordless drill for one may not be the same for another. Our drill and driver reviews take that into account, testing various torque and speed scenarios. Our individual cordless drill reviews are thorough, and break down the build quality, features, feel, and performance of each tool.

Milwaukee M12 Right Angle Drilling

Milwaukee M12 Right Angle Drill Kit Review 2415-21

The 2415-21 Milwaukee M12 3/8″ Right Angle Drill Kit makes it easy to drill holes and install fasteners in tight spaces thanks to its compact head size, a 3/8″ ratcheting chuck and a locking spindle. Milwaukee is all about making certain tasks easier and this drill is ideally suited for cabinet installers, furniture builders and anyone else that has to work in confined spaces.

Black & Decker SS18SB-2 SmartSelect 18V Drill/Driver Review

Black and Decker SS18SB-2 SmartSelect 18V Drill Driver Review

Nowadays, cordless drills come with multiple speeds and adjustable clutches. These are good things if you know how to properly set them. To help simplify things, Black & Decker has come out with the SS18SB-2 SmartSelect 18V Drill/Driver so that you don’t have to guess what settings to use. Whether you are trying to drive a tiny screw or drill a 1″ hole with a spade bit, the settings on this drill are super easy to set for just the task you have at hand.

Milwaukee M12 cordless drill driver

Milwaukee M12 Cordless Drill Driver Kit Review

The Milwaukee 2410-22 M12 Cordless 3/8″ Drill/Driver Kit features a compact 12V Li-Ion battery powered drill/driver that packs in full size tool features like an all metal locking chuck, 250 in-lbs of torque and a two-speed transmission. The M12 line of tools from Milwaukee is designed for the professional contractor that needs more from their tools in a compact form, so that they can fit into small spaces and not have the fatigue that is associated with larger, heavier tools.

Milwaukee 2455-22 M12 No-Hub Coupling Driver

Milwaukee M12 Cordless No-Hub Driver 2455-22

The new Milwaukee 2455-22 M12 Cordless No-Hub Coupling Driver Kit is specifically designed to quickly install no-hub couplings with accuracy and repeatability. With specific torque settings for 60 and 80 in/lbs, this is the first tool of this kind in the industry. The No-Hub Driver has the ability to fasten up to 300 clamps on a single charge and it is supposed to be accurate for up to 25,000 clamps before it needs to be recalibrated.

Skil 2895LI-02 18V Cordless Drill/Driver Review

Skil 2895LI-02 18V Drill Driver Review

One of the first things we noticed about the Skil 2895LI-02 18V Cordless Drill/Driver was how lightweight it felt in our hands. Now some might take this as a negative point, but we liked what we saw because the tool had good balance, was easy to hang onto and appeared to be well made. While many heavy duty homeowners will like this tool, we think that many budget conscious contractors can also benefit from its no-nonsense approach to driving and drilling.

Hitachi WH10DFL 12V Lithium Ion Micro Impact Driver Review

Hitachi WH10DFL 12V Lithium Ion Micro Impact Driver Review

Take something that is good and make it better. That’s what Hitachi did with their new WH10DFL 12V Peak Lithium Ion Micro Impact Driver. This impact driver is also part of the KC10DFL 12V Driver Drill and Impact Driver Micro Combo Kit. Features like a smaller size, lighter weight, better batteries and more power are just a few of the improvements that make this new tool stand out. In a market with many new tools in the sub-compact category, it can be a tricky endeavor to add value and good features.

Hitachi DS10DFL 12V Peak Lithium Ion Micro Driver Drill Review

Hitachi DS10DFL 12V Micro Driver Drill Review

Take something that is already good and continue to make it better. That’s what Hitachi did with their new Hitachi DS10DFL 12V Micro Drill Driver. This drill is also part of Hitachi’s KC10DFL 12V Driver Drill and Impact Driver Micro Combo Kit. Features like a smaller size, lighter weight, better batteries and more power are just a few of the improvements that make this new tool stand out. In a market with many new tools in the sub-compact category, it can be a tricky endeavor to add value as well as good features.

Porter Cable PC180DK-2 18V Drill Driver Kit Review

Porter Cable PC180DK-2 18V Cordless Drill Review

When you hear the name Porter Cable, thoughts of quality tools usually come to mind; so when we heard about the new PC180DK-2 18V cordless Drill/Driver Kit we were pretty excited to check it out. This cordless drill/driver kit comes complete with two Ni-Cad batteries, a “fast” 60-minute charger, carry case and double-ended bit. As we began to remove the drill from its packaging we quickly noticed its quality, like the gray hard-molded ABS plastic body with black overmolded rubber grips. The tool has a decent heft to it that seemed to convey a rather robust build quality. This is a tool that is ready for business.

Milwaukee 2601-20 M18 1/2" Drill/Driver Review

Milwaukee 2601-20 Drill Review

When we picked up the Milwaukee 2601-20 M18 drill we immediately noticed its serious heft. Weighing in at 4 lbs, this is not a light-duty model that you’ll want to reserve for assembling furniture and pre-drilling holes for shelves. This is a heavy-duty tool that can certainly hold up to commercial use. It also weighs much less than Milwaukee’s V28 line of tools – which makes it a good fit for professionals who want as much power as they can get without having to look like circa-1984 Arnold Schwarzenegger to carry the tool around all day long.

Milwaukee M18 Cordless 1/4" Hex Compact Impact Driver 2650-22 Review

Milwaukee M18 1/4-inch Hex Compact Impact Driver 2650-22 Review

The new Milwaukee M18 1/4″ Hex Compact Impact Driver (2650-22) delivers impressive torque for its size. The new 4-pole frameless motor not only reduces the size of the tool, it also maximizes its efficiency to increase battery life. This is an incredibly nimble tool that will prove itself to be invaluable in the field for professionals; though its higher price tag will make it a bit of a stretch for the average consumer.