Best Cordless Drills

19.2-volt Sears Craftsman 11542 (Around $120)

Budget cordless drill. For everyday around-the-house jobs, reviews say the Craftsman 11542 is an excellent value. This variable-speed cordless drill has two built-in bubble levels and 420 inch-pounds of torque. The 24-position clutch helps prevent over-driving screws. Other features include a 1/2-inch keyless chuck and a spindle lock. It comes in a kit that includes a case, a light, two bits and two NiCd batteries with a charger. The Craftsman drill weighs about 6 pounds. Cordless drills with NiMH and lithium-ion batteries weigh less, but they’re more expensive.


18-volt Makita BDF452HW (Around $200)

Best cordless drill/driver overall. Cordless tools that use lithium-ion batteries weigh much less and have much longer run time, but they are more expensive. The lithium-ion Makita cordless drill weighs just 3.5 pounds, so it’s less fatiguing to use than cheaper drills that use different battery types. Performance is very good in tests, and owner satisfaction for this drill is exceptional. The Makita drill comes with a three-year warranty on the drill, one year on the batteries.


10.8-volt Bosch PS20-2 Pocket Driver (Around $120)

Best cordless screwdriver. For light screw-driving jobs like hanging shelves, building cabinets or assembling furniture, the Bosch PS20-2 Pocket Driver gets rave reviews for its comfort and ability to get into tight spaces. The 10.8-volt lithium-ion battery brings the weight down to 1.6 pounds, and the batteries hold their charge well between uses. An LED light makes the Pocket Driver easy to use in a closet or cabinet. It's not intended for big jobs, but reviews indicate that the Bosch Pocket Driver is a great small tool, with price as its main drawback.


3.6-volt Skil iXO2 (Around $40)

Budget cordless screwdriver. At 3.6 volts, the Skil iXO2 doesn't have much power, but as a cordless screwdriver that weighs only about 10 ounces, it's just right for simple jobs needing 2-inch screws or smaller. Reviewers say it's comfortable to use and gets into small spaces. The lithium-ion battery takes 3 hours or more to charge, but then holds its charge for up to 18 months between uses.


12-volt Panasonic EY7202GQW (Around $290)

Best cordless impact driver. For greater ease when driving lots of screws, reviews recommend cordless impact drivers, which save wear and tear on hand and wrist. While reviews say most pro-level cordless impact drivers work well, they praise this innovative Panasonic impact driver because it adds a clutch to keep it from stripping screw heads. It weighs less than 4 pounds, uses NiMH batteries for long runtime, and carries a one-year warranty.