We’ve tested dozens of drills in our search for the best cordless drill. There’s no doubt that Yellow and Black is one of the most popular, so we’re highlighting the best DeWalt drills we think you should consider.
Keep in mind—these careful picks come after hours and hours of testing and real-world use. We know the best DeWalt drill may not be the same for everyone. Rather than recommend a single tool for everyone, we recommend several different models that provide the perfect blend of performance, features, ergonomics, and value for different types of users.
Best DeWalt Drill – Our Top Picks
- Best 20V Max Drill/Hammer Drill: FlexVolt Advantage DCD999 – Buy on Amazon
Jump to this Drill ↓ - Best 20V Max Atomic Compact Drill/Hammer Drill: Atomic DCD799 – Buy on Amazon
Jump to this Drill ↓ - Best 12V Max Drill/Hammer Drill: Xtreme 12V Max DCD706 – Buy on Amazon
Jump to this Drill ↓ - Best for the Money: 20V Max Tool Connect DCD797 – Buy on Amazon
Jump to this Drill ↓ - Best for Home Use: 20V Max DCD771C2 – Buy on Amazon
Jump to this Drill ↓ - Best Drill Combo Kit: Power Detect Hammer Drill Combo DCK299D1W1 – Buy on Amazon
Jump to this Drill ↓
Also In This Article
- Best DeWalt Cordless Drill – More Options
- Best DeWalt Drill and Driver Bits
- Best DeWalt Drill Buying Guide
- Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews
Related Content
Best DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill
DeWalt FlexVolt Advantage DCD999
When I consider what the best drill is in any lineup, I immediately gravitate toward the highest performing. For DeWalt, the best 20V cordless drill is the DCD999 FlexVolt Advantage hammer drill. Since it’s a hammer drill, this is also my pick for the best DeWalt hammer drill overall.
Using a standard 20V Max battery, it’s a highly capable drill that can handle most of the applications Pros tackle. When you put a FlexVolt battery into it, it jumps up to a completely new level. With 2250 RPM on the top end, 38,250 BPM when you’re drilling in concrete, and a monster 1219 UWO of power, it’s easily the highest-performing drill DeWalt has. It’s also in the top tier of performance against other professional-grade drills.
As we expect, the trade-off for the high performance is a larger, heavier model. It’s especially noticeable when you’re using a FlexVolt battery, and you need to use that pack to open the highest performance available. It’s also on the expensive side of DeWalt’s lineup, though the pricing is in line with what we expect from top models from other Pro brands.
Pros
Buy the DeWalt DCD999 if you like:
- Highest performance DeWalt offers in a hammer drill
- Capable of running well using 20V Max batteries
- Performs at a higher level with FlexVolt batteries
- Three-speed gearbox
- LED light controls
- Tool Connect Chip ready
Cons
Consider another model if your deal-breakers include:
- Largest, heaviest DeWalt drill, especially with a FlexVolt battery
- More expensive than other options in the lineup
- Highest performance requires the use of a FlexVolt battery
Numbers to Know
- Motor: Brushless
- Chuck: 1/2-inch
- Top Speed: 2250 RPM
- Max Hammer Rate: 38,250 BPM
- Max Power: 1219 UWO
- Bare Weight: 3.6 pounds
- Head Length: 8.4 inches
Price: $239 bare tool, $299 kit with a 6.0Ah battery and charger
Best DeWalt 20V Max Atomic Compact Cordless Drill
DeWalt Atomic DCD799
If you want to go compact without leaving the 20V Max battery system, take a look at the DCD799 as the best DeWalt 20V Max Atomic compact hammer drill. Its 552 UWO power level is significantly higher than the previous Atomic hammer drill and even beats out the excellent DCD797.
At 6.5 inches long and 2.5 pounds bare, it’s noticeably lighter and more compact than most of your other 20V Max options. You can get a more compact model with the Atomic DCD794, but the drop in power to 404 UWO is significant. So unless you need to drop about 0.6 inches off the length, we prefer the slightly larger DCD799.
Pros
Buy the DeWalt DCD799 if you like:
- Compact and lightweight while remaining on the 20V Max battery system
- Significant improvement in performance over the previous Atomic hammer drill model
- 1/2-inch chuck supports more bit types
- Kit price is under $200
Cons
Consider another model if your deal-breakers include:
- You can still get more compact with the DCD794
- Not as fast on the top end as the DCD797
- Not as powerful as full-size models
Numbers to Know
- Motor: Brushless
- Chuck: 1/2-inch
- Top Speed: 1650 RPM
- Max Hammer Rate: 28,050 BPM
- Max Power: 552 UWO
- Bare Weight: 2.5 pounds
- Head Length: 6.5 inches
Price: $149 bare, $189 kit with a 3.0Ah battery and charger
Best DeWalt 12V Max Cordless Drill
DeWalt Xtreme 12V Max DCD706/DCD701
DeWalt’s Xtreme 12V Max line offers some of the most compact cordless tools the brand makes. When it comes to drills, though, the newest Atomic models sneak in as slightly more compact. That said, the DCD706 12V Max hammer drill does drop the weight down more and its 12V Max batteries weigh less than the 20V Max batteries for the Atomic drills.
When it comes to performance, there’s certainly a difference between your 12V Max and 20V Max options. The DCD706 has a top speed of 1500 RPM with 25,500 BPM and 250 UWO. That’s noticeably slower and less than half as powerful as our DCD799 Atomic recommendation.
It’s still a good tool, though, and you should take a look at what all the 12V Max system has to offer. If your work doesn’t require the highest performance available and you can lean on lighter and more compact tools to get the job done, DeWalt’s Xtreme 12V tools might be right up your alley.
Pros
Buy the DeWalt DCD706 if you like:
- Lightweight, compact option
- 12V batteries add less weight than 20V Max batteries
- Available as a drill/driver (DCD701) if you don’t need the hammer drill function
Cons
Consider another model if your deal-breakers include:
- Not compatible with the popular 20V Max battery system
- Performance level is well below the Atomic compact options
- You can get a slightly more compact drill from the Atomic series
Numbers to Know
- Motor: Brushless
- Chuck: 3/8-inch
- Top Speed: 1500 RPM
- Max Hammer Rate: 25,500 BPM
- Power: 250 UWO
- Bare Weight: 2.3 pounds
- Head Length: 6.6 inches
Price: $129 bare, $169 kit with two 2.0Ah batteries and a charger
Best DeWalt Cordless Drill for the Money
DeWalt 20V MAX XR Tool Connect Brushless Compact DCD797
When it comes to getting the best value from a DeWalt drill, I recommend sticking with the XR brushless range. The DCD797 finds an excellent balance of performance and price. For performance, its 2000 RPM top speed put it well ahead of our other compact drills in testing. While it’s not quite as strong as the Atomic DCD799, its 460 UWO are enough to support a 1/2-inch chuck and use some of the larger bits the 3/8-inch 12V Max models can’t
For size, the DCD797 is squarely in between DeWalt’s full-size and most recent Atomic compact models. That’s right on par considering its performance in our tests also puts in between those two classes.
What seals the deal for this model is that the kit is less than $200—a significant drop from the $269 price tag it had when it first launched. That’s on top of the fact that this is a Tool Connect product with smart controls and tracking built in.
Pros
Buy the DeWalt DCD797 if you like:
- Best value among DeWalt cordless drills
- Tool Connect smart controls and tracking on board
- Excellent performance among compact drills
Cons
Consider another model if your deal-breakers include:
- Not as powerful as DeWalt’s full-size drills
Numbers to Know
- Motor: Brushless
- Chuck: 1/2-inch
- Top Speed: 2000 RPM
- Max Hammer Rate: 34,000 BPM
- Power: 460 UWO
- Bare Weight: 2.8 pounds
- Head Length: 7.4 inches
Price: $179 bare, $199 kit with two 2.0Ah batteries and a charger
Best Budget DeWalt Cordless Drill for Home Use
DeWalt 20V Max DCD771
If you’re looking for a model to keep around the house for occasional projects and repairs, the best DeWalt drill for home use is the DCD771 in its kit form. For just under $100, you get a DeWalt 2-speed drill with two batteries and a charger to get you started on the 20V Max battery system. That alone makes this one of the top-selling drills and nearly every retailer that carries DeWalt tools.
The performance is on the lower side, but with speed hitting 1500 RPM and 300 UWO of power, it’s still effective for most of the projects you’re likely to tackle around your home.
Pros
Buy the DeWalt DCD771 if you like
- Inexpensive kit that includes two batteries
- 1/2-inch chuck supports a wider range of bits
Cons
Consider another model if your deal-breakers include:
- Brushed motor
- Larger and heavier compared to other drills with similar performance
- Lacks the power to use some of the larger bits that fit in the chuck
Numbers to Know
- Motor: Brushed
- Chuck: 1/2-inch
- Top Speed: 1500 RPM
- Power: 300 UWO
- Bare Weight: 3.6 pounds
- Head Length: 7.4 inches
Price: $99 kit with two 1.3Ah batteries and a charger
Best DeWalt Cordless Drill Combo
Power Detect Hammer Drill and XR Brushless Impact Driver Combo DCK299D1W1
A drill and impact driver combo kit is a great way to get into a cordless system and save money over buying the tools separately. There are a ton to choose from, and my top pick for the best DeWalt cordless drill combo is the DCK299D1W1. I prefer it over some of the less expensive options because it gives you the best performance.
The hammer drill is the Power Detect DCD998. Similar to the FlexVolt Advantage DCD999 but a little less powerful, it gets a performance boost when you use a 20V Max 8.0Ah battery or higher. It pairs with the DCF887 impact driver. While it’s not the most recent brushless impact driver in DeWalt’s lineup, it continues to be a steady performer in our testing.
Price: $349
Best DeWalt Cordless Drill – More Options To Consider
While the drills I recommended above are the best in my opinion, it’s no guarantee that one of them is the perfect fit for you. If that’s the case, here are some other models that we recommend.
DeWalt 20V Max XR Brushless Hammer Drill DCD996
Premium 20V Max brushless hammer drill for those who don’t need the Power Detect or FlexVolt Advantage upgrades.
Price: $369 kit; $239 bare
DeWalt 20V Max XR Brushless Hammer Drill with Tool Connect DCD997
Same premium brushless hammer drill as the DCD996 but with the Tool Connect upgrade for smart controls, tracking, and more.
Price: $389 kit; $199 bare
DeWalt 20V Max XR Power Detect Hammer Drill DCD998
High-performance brushless hammer drill that gets a boost when you use a 20V Max 8.0Ah or higher.
Price: $329 kit; $239 bare
DeWalt 60V Max Mixer Drill DCD130
A 60V tool with a strong pistol grip designed specifically for the rigors of mixing applications.
Price: $379 kit; $269 bare
DeWalt 60V In-Line Studf and Joist Drill DCD470
60V Max drill designed for the high torque applications of electrical and plumbing rough-ins.
Price: $579 kit; $429 bare
DeWalt 20V Max FlexVolt Advantage Magnetic Drill Press DCD1623
Cordless magnetic drill press that gets a significant performance boost when you use a FlexVolt battery.
Price: $2,499 kit; $2,099 bare
Best DeWalt Drill and Driver Bits
You can’t use a drill without drill bits. However, making a recommendation on the best DeWalt drill bits depends a lot on your desired application.
Cobalt Alloy Steel Pilot Point
For the absolute best DeWalt twist bits, we recommend their Industrial Cobalt Alloy Steel Pilot Point set. You can find these in several kits online, and the 29-piece is a popular way to go. These German-made bits feature cobalt in the steel blend that offers better life and speed when you’re drilling in hard materials, such as stainless steel. Plus, the Pilot Point tip resists walking better than other designs when you’re starting the hole.
Price: $109.99 for a 29-piece set (DWA1269)
FlexTorque Driver Bits
For your screwdriver bits, go with DeWalt’s FlexTorque line. These bits work great in your drill and are impact-rated to handle the hard-hitting action of an impact driver. Better yet, that 1/4-inch hex shank on the bits also fits into many multi-bit screwdrivers and cordless screwdrivers. DeWalt is expanding its Max Fit system into impact-rated driver bits, but at the moment, we’re sticking with the FlexTorque ones.
Price: $29.99 for a 40-piece set (DWA2NGFT40IR)
Best DeWalt Drill Buying Guide – What We Look For
Performance
Performance is our number one priority for good reason—if the drill can’t do the job, it’s worthless. Given the choice between two or more models, we’ll typically go with whichever one can do the job most effectively and efficiently.
Features
Features that make the job more efficient, easier, or more convenient come into play as you work your way up the price scale. Not everyone needs all the bells and whistles, but if you can add some (or all) within your budget, you get a tool that you can genuinely enjoy using.
In general, here are the features we look for on a drill:
- Brushless or brushed motor
- Number of standard modes
- Smart controls
- Smart tracking/inventory
- Clutch design
- Drill/driver/hammer drill selection design
- LED light design
- Chuck size/type
- Belt hook
- Unique features
Ergonomics
The ergonomics of a drill can make or break your experience. One that’s overweight, poorly balanced, or doesn’t feel right in your hand can make every day feel like Monday. As you’re shopping, see if you can pick up the drill you’re considering and see how it feels in your hand. Work the trigger and all the controls to make sure there’s nothing about the physical design that is a deal-breaker for you.
Even when you can’t pick up a drill before buying, compare the weight to other models you’re considering. If the work or projects you have planned are space-limited, be sure to check the head length as well.
Price and Value
Most people have a budget they’d like to stay in when they’re buying a drill. As I’m shopping, I first consider the performance followed by features and ergonomics. I’m a value guy, so I’m always looking for the best balance of everything (plus a sale price if I’m lucky). However, your priorities may be different—that’s why we offered so many recommendations and information to help you compare.
Remember to look beyond just the drill you’re considering, though. Take a look at what other tools you can power using the same batteries. If you want something lightweight and buy DeWalt’s 12V Max hammer drill only to discover the majority of the other tools you need are on the 20V Max system, it wasn’t a very good value for your situation.
Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews
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