Thomas Hawkins, master electrician and owner of Electrician Apprentice HQ, comments, “The corded versus cordless debate depends upon the project. If working in a tight area where you don’t need a lot of power but need versatility, go cordless. But if you’re not restricted in your movements and especially need extra power, go corded. It all boils down to what you’re trying to accomplish.” We spent hours researching corded drills from the most popular tool brands, evaluating power, reliability, and versatility. Our favorite corded drill is the BLACK+DECKER DR260C 3/8-Inch Corded Drill, thanks to its compact size, variable speeds, and powerful performance. Here are the best corded drills for all of your DIY needs. Don’t let its compact size fool you. The BLACK+DECKER corded drill packs a powerful punch with its variable speeds. The 5.2-amp motor provides a lot of juice with 1,500 RPMs for quickly powering through almost any job around the home. This handy tool weighs just 3.5 pounds, making it easier to use for more extended work sessions. Plus, there’s a lock-on button to keep the power flowing without having to squeeze the trigger the entire time you are using the drill. It even has a bit storage chamber in the handle. For accurate drilling, the 3/8-inch drill with keyless chuck has a one-handed forward/reverse slider and variable speed switch. Set it on a slower speed for precise drilling through hard metals, or pump it up to bite through masonry and wood in minutes. This little workhorse can switch from drilling wood, drywall, and metal to taking on sanding and buffing jobs with a change of attachments. This pick is great for the DIYer who wants a drill that weighs less and can last a long time. It scores high marks for the power and versatility it provides, and with a very reasonable price, as well. Price at time of publish: $26 The Bosch 8-amp hammer drill can drive quickly into concrete and is tough enough to remove stubborn tile, drywall, and more. And thanks to its vibration-control design, even demolition jobs or remodels won’t put too much strain on your hands. The power-to-weight ratio is impressive at 8 amps and 2.6 foot-pounds impact energy, yet the tool is a reasonably lightweight 7.7 pounds. Its 1 1/8-inch chuck holds the largest bits for the utmost in drilling power. If all that isn’t impressive enough, the three modes of operation on the multifunction selector make this drill powerful and versatile: Choose from rotation only, hammer only, or rotation plus hammer. The Bosch Vario-Lock feature puts the drill in neutral, so you can choose from 12 different positions to get the job done right. Price at time of publish: $300 This compact drill fits into small spaces and is especially good for those times when you are working overhead. It has an all-metal 3/8-inch keyless chuck for easy bit changes, a handy hook for attaching the drill to your belt or nearby work area, and a reverse function. It’s a good choice for DIY projects that involve light drilling into metal or wood. Price at time of publish: $46 The D-handle can rotate 360 degrees for positioning right where you need it, and the grip is rubberized for comfort and stability. On the downside, it does require a key to change the bits, but it’s a nicely balanced drill that minimizes user fatigue even on lengthy projects. Price at time of publish: $214 A lock-on button gives solid control for this comfortable and ergonomically designed pistol grip drill that is ideal for prolonged use on big or little jobs. The versatile and powerful drill can get through steel and wood jobs with the Porter-Cable hand-position options offering better control and comfort than many of this drill’s counterparts on the market. Price at time of publish: $53 As a bonus, the all-ball-bearing construction gives the drill a long life to get through project after tough project. If your projects regularly call for plenty of power, this is an excellent choice for your tool collection. Price at time of publish: $71 The side handle designed for control on the Milwaukee is needed once the drill is on the job due to the serious torque, and the 2-finger trigger reduces hand fatigue and strain. Not ever DIYer needs a drill with this much power, but if you do, this is the one to add to your tool box. Milwaukee is known for creating easy-to-use and hard-wearing products that last year after year, job after job. Price at time of publish: $158 For more control, the drill has a rear spade handle with two positions and a three-position side handle. Both are ergonomically designed with a soft grip for extra comfort, as well as reduced fatigue and strain to your hands and wrists. Price at time of publish: $199 Amps measure the power of a corded drill’s motor. Most of today’s corded drills have motors that fall between 5 amps and 10 amps, with the higher number being more powerful. That’s important because the stronger the motor, the more torque—that’s the force with which the drill bit rotates—the tool possesses. Still, don’t automatically assume that you need the most powerful drill; for general around-the-house tasks, a 5-to-7-amp motor is usually sufficient. But if you routinely drill through hard materials, such as masonry or metals, you’ll find a higher-power drill is better suited to your needs.
Chuck
The chuck is the clamp at the front of the drill that holds the bit in place. When purchasing drill bits, you need to select bits the same size or smaller than your drill’s chuck. The three most common chuck sizes are:
1/4-inch, which is a light-duty drill3/8-inch, which is a general-purpose drill1/2-inch, which is a heavy-duty drill
You’ll also want to consider the ease of switching out drill bits.
Keyed chucks require a “key” tool to switch bits.Keyless chucks, which are by far the most common today, let you switch the bit without a tool. Often, you just twist and tighten the bit with your hand.
Rotation Speed
Rotation speed refers to how many full revolutions the bit makes per minute (rpm). As a general rule, corded drills have maximum rotation speeds of 200 rpm to 2,000 rpm. For typical DIY tasks around the house, 500 to 1,000 rpm is sufficient. Don’t assume that the faster the drill, the more powerful it is—that’s not necessarily true, as it’s the amount of torque, not speed, that determines how well a drill penetrates hard materials. Many lower-end drills have just one maximum speed, but higher-end drills often have variable-speed settings, letting you choose from two or more speeds. Usually, lower speeds are best for drilling into harder materials, while faster speeds are suited to softer materials.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs. For this roundup, she considered dozens of corded drills, evaluating each for basic features, extras, and customer feedback. She also received input from Thomas Hawkins, master electrician and owner of Electrician Apprentice HQ.
