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During testing, we found that the Milwaukee Fuel 3403-22 is “a beast in disguise.”

Best Cordless Drills Tested and Reviewed

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We were impressed by how fast and securely this compact drill drove screws.

When we took this drill home, we found it highly reliable for all sorts of DIY projects.

There are 12 clutch and two-speed controls, with a maximum speed of 1,550 rpm.

Milwaukee M12 Fuel 3403-22 Drill/Driver Kit placed on table

PHOTO: The Spruce

At only 5.95 inches in length, this compact drill easily works in tight spaces.

This drill also has a remarkably long battery life.

The kit includes the drill, a charger, a carry bag, and two batteries.

Person drilling a wooden board using Milwaukee 2904-22 M18 FUEL 1/2-inch Hammer Drill/Driver Kit

The Milwaukee 2904-22 is compact and easy to use, but it provided plenty of power in our tests.PHOTO: The Spruce

This is a professional-level tool that’s built well and performs well.

For everyday use, we love how accessible this drill is.

We also found the built-in LED light extremely useful when repairing a hot tub.

A wooden board being drilled using the Milwaukee 2904-22 M18 FUEL 1/2-inch Hammer Drill/Driver Kit

In addition to the LED light, it also comes with a belt clip.

Unlike more expensive models, it only includes one battery and does not include a carrying bag or case.

Impressive for a 12-volt drill.

Person drilling a wooden board using Milwaukee 2904-22 M18 FUEL 1/2-inch Hammer Drill/Driver Kit

The drill kit includes two batteries and a soft-sided carrying case.

The Bosch battery has an exceptional run time, often outperforming even much larger 18-volt drills.

It delivers a bigger performance than its compact size might lead you to believe.

A wooden board being drilled using the Milwaukee 2904-22 M18 FUEL 1/2-inch Hammer Drill/Driver Kit

Bits remained secure in the chuck without wobbling, and the drill was very comfortable to grip.

This is a great set of accessories for driving and drilling in odd spaces.

You’d have a hard time finding the various attachments separately.

Skil Pwrcore 12 Brushless 12V 1/2 Inch Cordless Drill Driver Kit displayed on table with screws

PHOTO: The Spruce

The kit also includes one battery, charger, and bag.

After all the testing was completed, the 5-amp-hour battery was still on full charge.

That lets you work even in tight quarters.

Person drilling wood with Skil Pwrcore 12 Brushless 12V 1/2 Inch Cordless Drill Driver Kit

PHOTO: The Spruce

If you are a serious DIYer or in the construction business, then this would be an excellent choice.

It’s a professional-level tool with a correspondingly premium price.

After testing the drill, we found that it possesses a significant amount of power.

Person holding Skil Pwrcore 12 Brushless 12V 1/2 Inch Cordless Drill Driver Kit

The trigger is highly responsive and allows for easy speed variation within the high and low ranges.

It includes an auxiliary side handle for better control when working at high speeds or high torque.

We were impressed with the power and ease of use this drill provides.

Person drilling wood with Skil Pwrcore 12 Brushless 12V 1/2 Inch Cordless Drill Driver Kit

We did note that the forward/reverse bar is a little awkwardly placed, though.

It’s overkill forsmall projects around the house, however.

The drill has two batteries, a charger, an auxiliary handle, and a carry bag.

Person holding Skil Pwrcore 12 Brushless 12V 1/2 Inch Cordless Drill Driver Kit

Generally, the more powerful the drill, the larger the chuck.

For most DIYers, however, a drill with a 3/8-inch chuck is sufficient.

TheBosch PS31-2Ais one such drill with enough power and versatility for most DIY projects.

Bosch PS31 12 Volt Max 3/8 in. Cordless Drill/Driver Kit displayed on table with screws

PHOTO: The Spruce

A 3/8-inch chuck is large enough to hold good-sized bits but not so large that the drill is unwieldy.

Drills intended for only lightweight jobs often have 1/4-inch chucks.

Many drills have a low- and high-speed setting.

Person drilling into concrete block using BBosch PS31 12 Volt Max 3/8 in. Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

PHOTO: The Spruce

The high-speed options are ideal for faster drilling into materials like wood and plastic.

Our favorite drill, theMilwaukee Fuel 3403-22, has two-speed tweaks with a maximum of 1,550 rpm.

You should also look out for options with a variable speed trigger, like theBosch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit.

Person drilling wood using Bosch PS31 12 Volt Max 3/8 in. Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

This allows you to precisely adjust the RPM in real time to suit your needs.

Typically, you cannot adjust speed or torqueon an electric screwdriver.

Cordless drills, on the other hand, have numerous uses, depending on the bit thats attached.

Person holding Bosch PS31 12 Volt Max 3/8 in. Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

Most cordless drills today run on lithium-ion batteries.

Generally, you might expect a lifespan of roughly 500 charges from these batteries before you need a replacement.

When shopping for a cordless drill, youll see some models boasting of a brushless motor.

Person drilling into concrete block using BBosch PS31 12 Volt Max 3/8 in. Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article is edited and updated byMichelle Ullman, a tool expert for The Spruce.

Person drilling wood using Bosch PS31 12 Volt Max 3/8 in. Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

Person holding Bosch PS31 12 Volt Max 3/8 in. Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

DeWalt Xtreme 12V Max* Brushless Cordless 5-in-1 Drill/Driver Kit displayed on wood table

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Person assembling a DeWalt Xtreme 12V Max* Brushless Cordless 5-in-1 Drill/Driver Kit

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Hand holding DeWalt Xtreme 12V Max* Brushless Cordless 5-in-1 Drill/Driver Kit

Person assembling a DeWalt Xtreme 12V Max* Brushless Cordless 5-in-1 Drill/Driver Kit

Hand holding DeWalt Xtreme 12V Max* Brushless Cordless 5-in-1 Drill/Driver Kit

DeWalt Xtreme 12V Max* Brushless Cordless 5-in-1 Drill/Driver Kit displayed on wood table

Milwaukee 2904-22 M18 FUEL 1/2-inch Hammer Drill/Driver Kit displayed on wooden workbench

PHOTO: The Spruce

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A wooden board being drilled using the Milwaukee 2904-22 M18 FUEL 1/2-inch Hammer Drill/Driver Kit

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Person checking the measurement from Milwaukee M12 Fuel 3403-22 Drill/Driver Kit

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