Cordless and Corded Drills
Power, functionality, mobility and weight are all considerations in choosing a drill. Use this corded and cordless drill comparison to find the right balance for your projects.
Cordless Drills
Cordless drills drill and drive or remove fasteners, depending on the settings and the bit you use. A cordless drill offers high mobility. Finding the best cordless drill for your projects starts with understanding power and battery capabilities.
Cordless Drill Power
The battery voltage tells you how much power a cordless drill can use and indicates the type of work it can handle:
- A 12-volt drill is sufficient for light-duty work, like putting together ready-to-assemble furniture or hanging shelves.
- A drill with an 18- or 20-volt rating meets most home needs, including installing window treatments and fastening artwork, mirrors, etc. to wall studs.
- A 24-volt drill is less common, but handles heavier work, like driving fasteners into masonry or dense hardwoods, and can offer longer run times than lower-voltage drills.
A max voltage rating indicates the maximum voltage the battery delivers when the drill isn’t drilling or driving. A higher-voltage battery means more power but also more weight, so balance your needs with comfort. For example, an 18- or 20-volt drill can be the best drill for home use, since it’s a good balance of power and weight.
Look for cordless drills that can share batteries with other power tools and with cordless lawn and landscape tools.
Cordless Drill Run Time
Amp-hour ratings indicate the amount of power a drill battery delivers over time. In general, higher ratings mean more run time but think about amp hours and voltage together:
- A drill with a high-voltage, low amp-hour battery has power but won’t run as long as one with a lower-voltage, higher-amp-hour battery.
- A drill with a high amp-hour, low-voltage battery gives you more run time but less power.
The material you're working with, the level of continuous use and even temperature affect how long a battery lasts.
Cordless Drill Charging Time
The size of the battery and the capabilities of the charger determine charge times, but times vary. For example:
- Some 12-volt, 2-amp-hour batteries charge in 30 minutes.
- 20-volt, 1.5-amp-hour battery charge times can range from 30 to 60 minutes.
- 24-volt, 2-amp-hour battery charge times range from 30 to 55 minutes.
Cordless Drill Battery Type
Most modern cordless drills feature lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries, though you can find some with nickel cadmium (NiCd or NiCad) batteries:
- Li-ion batteries are lighter and smaller than NiCd batteries of the same voltage.
- Li-ion batteries can hold a charge for several months between uses.
- NiCd batteries tend to be less expensive.
Cordless drills often come with at least one battery and a charger. Some drills don't come with a battery or charger, you by the tool alone.
Corded Drills
A corded drill doesn’t require charging, but has limited mobility. You might need a compatible extension cord, which adds to total cost. A typical corded drill can drive fasteners but has a greater risk of overdriving or stripping them than a cordless drill.
Corded Drill Power
Amperage indicates how much current a corded drill can draw safely and, as a factor of wattage, how powerful a drill is. Higher-amp drills provide more wattage and more power:
- A 7- to 8-amp drill works for home projects from drilling pilot holes for window treatments to mixing paint.
- A 10-amp or higher drill can handle heavy-duty work like drilling into masonry.
In addition to amperage and wattage, drill chuck size, bit size and the material you’re drilling are factors in how well a drill works for a task.
High-power corded drills require heavy-duty extension cords. The wrong extension cord can overheat and even cause damage to the drill. Follow the drill manufacturer's instructions for selecting an extension cord for your corded drill. See our tips for storing a cord and using it safely.
Drill Features and Capabilities
Some capabilities are necessary for certain tasks, while some simply make the work easier. Here are some considerations when choosing a handheld power drill.
Drill Size
Handheld drills are usually available with 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch chuck sizes. The chuck holds the bit and a chuck size tells you the largest bit shank that fits the drill:
- A 1/4-inch chuck is sufficient for a light-duty drill/driver.
- A 3/8-inch drill accepts a wide range of bits, making it versatile for household tasks.
- A 1/2-inch drill handles heavier applications.
Keyed or Keyless Chuck
Keyed chucks require a tool to tighten and loosen. Cordless drills typically have keyless chucks you operate by hand, making swapping bits quicker and simpler. A ratcheting chuck is a keyless chuck that lets you hear or feel a click when the bit is secure.
Most drill chucks can accept bits with a smooth shank or a hex shank. You can also find bit holders that allow you to quickly swap driver bits without operating the chuck. See our drill bit guide to learn about bit types and uses.
Drill Speed
A variable-speed drill gives you control and versatility for drilling different materials. Lower speeds or rotations per minute (RPM) with more torque work best drilling and driving in harder materials and plastics, while higher RPMs and lower torque are suitable for softwood workpieces.
Adjustable Clutch
An adjustable clutch on a cordless drill lets you easily balance speed and torque, or rotational force. Harder materials and larger bits require more torque. Lower torque is suitable for softer materials and smaller bits. A clutch helps prevent driving a screw too deep or stripping a screw head.
Brushless Motor
A brushless motor on a cordless drill offers better runtime, more power and greater durability than a comparable brushed motor. A brushless motor is also lighter and quieter. See our comparison of brushless and brushed motors for details.
For protection and portability, get a drill/driver kit that includes a hard or soft carrying case. If you’re shopping for a cordless drill, look for drill kits that include an extra battery.
If you’re looking for full-feature drill/driver kits, consider power tool combo kits that combine variable-speed drills with power tools, such as impact drivers or hammer drills, or other tools like reciprocating saws and circular saws.
When operating any drill, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use and safety. Wear safety glasses and secure loose hair, jewelry and clothing.
Other Types of Drills and Drivers
In addition to standard handheld drills, there are other types of drills and driving tools that work well for specific tasks.
Some drills and drivers, including impact drivers, hammer drills, rotary hammer drills and impact wrenches, require specialized bits. Make sure the bit you choose is suitable for your tool.
Cordless Screwdrivers
Cordless screwdrivers range from light-duty tools for household chores, like assembling furniture, to high-power models for installing electrical fixtures, door hardware and more.
Right Angle Drills
Right-angle drills allow you to work in tight spaces such as between floor joists. The chuck on a right-angle drill is mounted to the drill body at a 90-degree angle.
Impact Drivers
Impact drivers are designed to drive fasteners. These tools have an impact action that increases the rotational force or torque as the bit spins. They can handle heavy-duty tasks, such as installing lag bolts on a deck frame, driving fasteners into dense wood or installing long fasteners, more efficiently than a drill. They’re also useful if you’re working on a project that requires installing lots of fasteners.
Hammer Drills
Hammer drills are for heavy-duty drilling. The hammering action pounds the bit into the workpiece as the bit spins. These two forces allow you to quickly bore holes in masonry materials like brick and concrete block.
Rotary Hammer Drills
Rotary hammer drills have a hammering action like that of a hammer drill, but the mechanism exerts more force, giving a rotary hammer more power. In addition to brick and block, a rotary hammer can drill into concrete and stone. Rotary hammers are typically contractor-grade tools.
Air Drills (Pneumatic Drills)
Air drills or pneumatic drills are contractor-grade tools that run on compressed air rather than electricity. These drills require an air hose connected to a suitable air compressor. An air drill doesn’t have an electric motor so it’s lighter, produces less vibration and has lower maintenance needs.
Screw Guns
Screw guns are designed specifically for driving screws. These tools are useful if you need to drive lots of screws to specific depths quickly, such as when installing drywall. A screw gun typically has higher rotations per minute (RPM) than a drill and can install screws more quickly and accurately, with less risk of stripping screw heads or driving fasteners too deeply.
Impact Wrenches
Impact wrenches use a hammering action to give the driver bit extra torque when necessary to tighten or remove nuts and bolts. These are common tools for mechanics and are useful for tasks like securing and removing lug nuts on a vehicle wheel.
Drill Presses
Drill presses are bench-top or freestanding tools that create precisely spaced holes and simplify boring to exact depths. While they’re not mobile, they drill with greater accuracy. With the right tool and proper adjustment, you can bore at almost any angle without fear of the drill bit walking or reaming the hole out of round.
Key Points for Choosing the Right Type of Drill
- Corded drills offer continuous power, but cordless drills give you mobility.
- A 7- to 8-amp corded drill or 18- to 20-volt max cordless drill is a good choice for most DIYers.
- Pay attention to features like drill size, adjustable clutches and keyless chucks to get the most out of your drill.
- Consider other types of drills and drivers, such as impact drivers, hammer drills and cordless screwdrivers, for additional versatility.
Shop for drills on Lowes.com by factors like power, brand and price range to find the best drill for your projects. Or talk to a Red Vest Associate at your local Lowe’s. They can help you find the right drill, whether you need a model that can take on a variety of projects or have specific drilling and driving needs.