Best Cordless Drills for DIY (2025)

[@BTimmer]

I've got some corded Makita tools and they're wonderful for what they do. I initially started with Craftsman cordless, but 4 years ago I switched to the Ryobi line based on price and the wide variety of tools. I couldn't be happier for a heavy consumer user of their tools. I've done a full to the studs house remodel and many other projects with the Ryobi tools. I just cut up an eight inch tree with the Ryobi chain saw and it performed well. For now I'll just keep my $$ in my pocket and continue with the Ryobi tools. They simply work for me.

[@garymiller5937]

I find this to be one of the funniest videos you've posted in recent memory. I chuckled most of the way through it. I'm no expert like you are, but even I know better than Steve! Thank you for your choices and the laughs! It was fun. 😃😃😃😃❤❤❤❤

[@joshuagibson2520]

I'm on my 4th year using a Craftsman BRUSHED 20v 8pc set I got for 300$ tax and all. Daily use. Construction \ farm \ fence \ flooring \ etc. Heavily used, but never abused and always put up and well taken care of.

[@nascarnate326]

V20 from Lowe’s or 20v from sears ?

[@k1_w3]

11:15 Steve isn’t an AI bot, but he’s probably an NPC. 😂

[@ElFuego35]

IDK... the Publication is CNET,who got caught using AI bots to create their articles.

[@PhillyFixed]

I absolutely HATE these tech guy tool lists. I'm legitimately wondering if they're using ChatGPT to write the rough draft and just editing for grammar at the end. CNET is far from the only offender. Edit... You said it at the end!!

[@denoftools]

It was a bad enough list but when they linked to Amazon for Ryobi I lost it.

[@G34RH34D]

Right. I used to go to CNET to find info on software and even download software off their site long time ago. I lost it when they even recommended B&D drill. My roommates super old B&D corded drill gave up on him not long ago.

[@chrishoward4017]

I love my skil 12 volt tools! As well as my Ryobi 18v HP tools

[@jonathanrabidou356]

I personally like Hercules hammer drill/ impact driver kit that comes with the 2 5 Ah batteries especially if you have a harbor freight coupon

[@travisabt6805]

Jeff, you and I are on the same thought train. There's so many people who over buy what they need either to keep up with the jones' or for the sake of staying in their tool tribe. MOST weekend warriors really only need a ryobi/kobalt/skil level power for what they're doing. But marketing has flooded everyone's heads into getting fuel/XR. So many people can get away with used corded tools instead of full price. Thanks to you and DOTW, I've got the XR line for dirt cheap (price glitches for the win) but still encourage others to those much more economically priced lines.

[@larrywalters8639]

I bought the skil 10 tool combo when it came up on your deals of the week. I love the drill. The multi cutter has been way more useful than i original anticipated. The sander has been great. The circular saw works great for small jobs, and the lanter is just cool. Haven't needed the reciprocal saw yet. I also bought the multi tool, and that has been amazing no struggle with anything I've tried cutting and almost 0 vibration.

[@cryptsub]

The Bauer cordless drill is excellent. 1/2" chuck and brushless - ya can't lose.

[@saggyballsfpv]

I wish I had known about the Bauer lineup before buying everything in Milwaukee. It would have been perfect for my occasional use tools like a jigsaw, compact router, circle saw, etc. and it would have been way cheaper. I’m still happy with my Milwaukee drill through… that thing is a BEAST!

[@Griffinwoodworks]

It seems like Steve just googled what drill category he was looking for and picked one randomly lol.

[@MCW1955]

I started with Ryobi back when the tools were blue and just stayed because I had lots of batteries. Everything I have old and new work fine. The best? Probably not. My son is a professional mechanic and buys nothing off of the trucks. Has the big Ryobi impact and it’s a beast. Rambling on as usual.

[@FarmRanchHomestead]

I'm the same way... I have lots of blue Ryobi tools, and stuck with the Ryobi line for the same reason... I have a lot of the batteries for it. I have had a couple of Ryobi 18V tools fail over the years, but most (probably about 20 of them) just keep on working. I actually had a Ryobi 14.4V set back in the day, and still have a few of those tools around. I have done some sawing and filing on the tools to get them to accept 18V Ryobi batteries because I no longer have any working 14V batteries for them. So far they've worked fine with the 18V batteries, except when the battery comes loose.

[@andrewmiller5145]

What about the harbor freight drills they are great for diyer

[@ggletsplay5041]

I have Makita and Bosch corded and I pair them with Ryobi cordless and I love the Ryobi line. I have done lots of DIY projects and they keep just chugging along. Plus the color is so bright you can see them from a mile away.

[@wsmarshjr]

Consumer Reports once described that color as "SHREK green" 😂 -- while also giving a high rating to the particular tool.

[@robarnold4570]

Craftsman v20 (brushed and brushless). I own plenty of these and have no regrets. They work great.

[@jesseoswalt258]

I’ve got the Kobalt line of cordless power tools & I really like them. I’ve got the Bauer cordless drill from Harbor Freight in my garage for stuff around the house & I really like it too. I think that the Bauer tools would be perfect for the DIY’er. It’s very affordable & is a great tool. It’s definitely not pro level but for the average Joe DiY guy it would definitely be a good choice.

[@larryh7760]

Almost any of the major brands will do just fine for DIY. Heck, I saw a contractor using a Hart tool on the new home he was working on. He did say his main nailer was in the shop, but it was getting the job done.

[@charlesperry1051]

I am completely bought into Dewalt 20V tools. I have too many batteries and chargers to consider another 18/20V brand. BUT if I were to get into 12V tools, it would definitely be Milwaukee. Their 12V line is amazing.

[@77gmcnut]

My choice for my diy needs is Ryobi because of the breadth of the product line. Compact 12v for me is Milwaukee. I also have some Skill and Craftsman.

[@gerrbearlavallee6687]

When my ancient Porter Cable Nicad tools finally died,(about the time that I retired)so I didn't need heavy duty anything. I bought the Skil 12v and the 20v(actual 18v) all brushless and they have performed great for me as an upper end DIYer. I just wish that the line was more extensive, especially the 12v. BTW, the 20v portable floodlight is 2 thumbs up.

[@remocres]

light dyi here i love to get one of those drills but the amount i use them i cannot justify . so i got the HF nickel metal one about 3 yrs ago does me fine .i did take older one which batter died i wired a cord and use it with a small rechargeable 12 volt battery . although i did see one of your pick im tempted

[@joeouttanowhere9410]

Excellent comparison video, with real value and smart choices for DIY'ers! Kudos and thanks!

[@christianlucas6553]

Yeah, call me crazy, but I'll stick with my Hercules from Harbor Freight. At the end of the day, they are a block away. Their warranty is sufficient for me. And when you grab items on sale, you can't beat them. I have every single cordless they make. Everything matches, and all the batteries and charges match. I know their are better cordless competitors, but bang for buck, you can't beat Hercules. The older I get, the more I realize the makita tools that I was so hooked on were a waste of money. Don't get me wrong, I have some Makita cordless drills that are 30 years old and still going. I just think for me, Hercules is everything and more above satisfactory for my needs.

[@leopdion5976]

If you want compact go Bosch and it’s quality is great

[@reconbbs360]

I'll stick with my DeWalt, Bosch, and Milwaukee (M-12). Working with professional grade power tools my entire adult life at work has definitely influenced my purchasing decisions regarding my power tools I keep at home. Huge fan of DeWalt's Atomic line for "DIY". Just recently gave Milwaukee a shot by purchasing their new 3/8 stubby impact wrench. That thing is a monster for how small it is. Bosch's 12v brushless line would also be great for DIY. Super compact but still has a decent bit of power. I'm still recuperating from my DeWalt DCD1007B hammer drill that I purchased for work. $250 tool only. At least I bought it while a promo was going on so I got a "free" 8ah Powerstack battery. Talk about a beast regarding drilling through concrete though.

[@michaelmincey2622]

Thank you for getting us the correct info

[@miketimmerman6336]

Let’s be honest for 80% of the public a DIY level drill is a tool used to drill into drywall and pine studs to hang stuff on walls. Spending over $100 for that is wild. For the group watching (more serious home gamers) you hit the highlights. RYOBI for the system. Skil 12v for compact DIY, Bauer for value. But for DIY, what is on sale tends to win.

[@timwagster9458]

That has to be an AI bot. I just got the dewalt drill/driver combo @Lowe's for $149. I am so happy with my choice. In 2018 my son got the dewalt set @Lowe's (I think it's 12V Brushed) and I was gona swipe it from him. LOL! So glad didn't and now I have the 20V Brushless set. Thanks for pointing out the bots and who/what to avoid. 👍🏻😁

[@hamonthecob]

For a DIYer with no ambitions of ever getting more serious, my absolute top recommendation would be the *Black & Decker 20V Matrix* set. Currently $200 on Black & Decker, but often on sale for $150 or less. I think I got mine on sale for around $99. Gives you a nice case, the tool body, attachments for drill, impact, sander, multi-tool, router, and jigsaw. Comes with a battery and charger. Absolutely everything you need as an around-the-house DIYer. I keep mine in my house and all my "good" tools are in my shop. I have a ton of the B&D 20V stuff that I've owned for years, and have been a lot harder on it than a little casual DIY use (I renovated an entire Victorian 2200 sq ft house with those tools), and everything has been solid. Is it as good as my Dewalt XR stuff? No, but it's far better than its price suggests compared to the big guys.

[@denoftools]

the matrix set is about the only thing from B&D, besides appliances, that I can easily recommend.

[@hamonthecob]

@@denoftools YMMV, but I have a whole bunch of their stuff, and it's all been great for me. I did end up switching over to Dewalt finally because of the extended range of tools that B&D doesn't offer, but like I mentioned, I renovated an entire home with just B&D 20V tools. I've also had their line trimmer and blower for about 15 years, and they've been rock solid. Their pole saw is also great, as is their hedge trimmers. The pole hedge trimmers are less good, but only because of ergonomics and balance, not because the tool itself performs badly. I cut down an entire pine tree in my back yard with my pole saw. LoL slow, but it got the job done! I also have their tire inflator, which helped me out of a bind on more occasions than I can count in the cold months of OH/WV/PA. Damn alloy wheels don't hold air for shit!

[@ST-421]

That guy at CNET phoned in that article. Just goes to show anyone can put together a random list without any kind of knowledge or research and get paid. Rethinking my career now...

[@kyfeam]

Love my Bosch 12v drill.. I use it more than any other tool.. has some serious power for being so compact..

[@Rockhead75]

Nothing beats the Hercules when you get the buy a battery and get a free tool ! Got to be patient but with time you save big time and get pro level tools

[@bernitup6492]

I has picked my Skil 12v tools as throw aways on clearance but man I fell in love and have been adding. I started with the Hitachi 18v brushless almost 10 years ago but these are normally sitting in my garage. Also have the m12 for those tougher jobs but those also sit. Skil tools just keep on going. Hercules are also awesome tools. I picked up their hammer drill and man it got some power.

[@sizzleneck]

You’re right about M12, getting them on special or hackable is the was to go👌🏼

[@JOELTILSON]

Ryobi is perfect for me. Brushless cordless power tools are more powerful with a great price.

[@marcelgaud]

Dude, for DIY,,,,, I've have most all of my stuff, "China Freight" Bauer........they work GREAT! Sometimes, you've gotta use one of the bigger battery's though, 3a or 5a.,,,,,,,, CHEAP/ GREAT!!!!!!!

[@jlidral]

honestly i have found for most of what i do a nice compact 12v drill works great i really only break out my 20v for bigger jobs.

[@jamessmith2668]

This reminds of when the Chevrolet Vega won car of the year

[@denoftools]

My first car was a '73 Vega and I might nominate it for trash can of the year.

[@harlanborders943]

Myself if I was telling some one what brands to buy. What ever you want just keep your eyes open catch them on sale clearance. Never pay full price if at all possible

[@thewayidoit8895]

The best tool IMHO are the older 18v dewalt line. Pick them up at yard sales or estate auctions for almost nothing because the batteries are junk and new batteries don't last. Then buy a 20v dewalt battery adapter and at least 1 4ahr or larger battery. Good to go!

[@gardenstate235]

Metabo set is good for DIYs and even pro it used to be in 99.00 for the drill and driver at Lowe's I have a few of them it comes with a charger and 2 2-AMPH battery

[@haddonhts]

I just picked up the Ryobi Brushless Drill/Driver set with (2) 2ah High Performance batteries, it came with a free tool which I returned so it ended up about $97 in the end.

[@martinnunez9728]

M12 Fuel for the win for DIY in my book

[@rodneyfields4081]

Bear when can we expect US General mini tool boxes in new colors? Oh and if I were you I'd go get my Goat back.

[@denoftools]

Nothing official, but my guess is if it happens, it won’t be until the holiday season

[@Coxfame]

M12 probably is the most compact in SIZE but not in weight. I'll take dewalt 12v at 2 lbs wih battery, non any m12 can beat that.

[@frankwrogg2515]

As a diyer and was starting over today, i would get the walmart hypertough line of new tools

[@ThriftyToolShed]

Trust the Tool Bear! 🧸 👍

[@joeyt5786]

I have old Craftsman 19.2v tools and I have Ridgid tools

[@peterc9166]

My778 works fine for me

[@andrewmiller5145]

I'm a Stanley fan boy don't get me wrong but even I think black and Decker power tools are on the way to the scrap yard

[@kc0lif]

i only use pro or prosumer brushless.

[@Sylvan_dB]

I've noticed the last few years that "best of" lists are total trash. This one is a perfect example. The categories make no sense and there is insufficient distinction to make a difference between them. My conclusion is these lists are nothing more than click generators. First they generate clicks to their article for views and all that entails, then they hope to generate clicks and perhaps commissions on their affiliate links. I'll close with a tip: If you provide a list that seems generated at least thoughtfully and preferably by experience I will watch that video. The most the other list should have been mentioned here is a few seconds in the intro something like, "I saw this other list and I disagree, here is my list."

[@lilsammywasapunkrock]

If you want to hang a shelf or small diy projects around the home, buy the warrior from harbor freight or the cheaper Ryobi/kobolt from the hardware stores. If you are a weekend warrior, you can't go wrong with Bauer from harbor freight, or the better Ryobi tools. As a professional, you get the Milwaukee if you are worried about image, Makita if you don't care about battery prices, and DeWalt if you actually use the tools. Say someone rips off the drill bit you still have batteries and charges, you can get a cheap DeWalt at any pawn shop anywhere. I personally shop by battery prices. Now that we have knock off Makita batteries that actually work, I have dusted off my 10 year old Makita tools that I stopped using because I couldn't afford the batteries. For my "mechanic"/dirty garage tools, I use Bauer, again, the 1.5 ah battery sometimes goes on sale for $20, and if a battery dies, no big deal go grab another one cheep next sale.

[@dieselgreg60]

Why didn’t they mention Rigid they have lifetime service warranty

[@denoftools]

There’s also a long history of them, not honoring it

[@RonRichards-v5f]

Ridgid power tools have a 3-year warranty and you can enroll in the "lifetime service agreement," which Ridgid has a history of nitpicking and not honoring and making people jump through hoops.

[@dieselgreg60]

Rigid is the platform I am currently using as a DIYer, but I have never had to use the warranty. I am a retired commercial/industrial union electrician and the platform I used in this trade was Dewalt because at the time they were the best but once I retired I passed Dewalts on to my son and bought Rigid. My son is a pipefitter and he said Milwaukee fuel is currently the best and he uses my old Dewalts as his DIY platform. I might as well throw out all the purchase receipts I have been saving

[@williamcoulston7788]

I will stick with harbor freight 😊, I have a few Bauer tools and I love them I don't use them alot so why pay a lot

[@thewayidoit8895]

Bring back the BEAR . Who wants to look at Jeffs Mug all the time!

[@TitanRaider23]

That brushed M18 drill is more than the brushless compact drill

[@realfloridaredneck1988]

Anyone who recommends people buy Black and Decker drills clearly doesn't know what the heck they're talking about. If a person is looking for a cheap 12v drill driver with no ass, I'd send them over to Harbor Freight and recommend the Warrior. It's cheaper than the Black and Decker and about the same in performance. But seriously, who would want to invest a penny into buying a drill driver like that? I really like your recommendation to buy into the Skil 12v line. I bought my kid brother a Skil 12v brushless drill last Christmas, because he's starting to tinker around with projects, I am quite impressed with the performance of that little drill.

[@skip7243]

I've seen reviews of other items by CNET, they are a JOKE! Thanks for calling them out.

[@SpatialDragon]

Okay, but it is the best of 2024. 2025 just started and they COULD come out with better stuff this year.

[@rslatara-l4v]

Kobalt love?

[@straycatnip]

To quote Steve's ex wife Marcy" cluck cluck cluck cluck"

[@monkeysnark7043]

You have to believe everything they write, as this is an award winning writer?🤔🤣🤣🤣As a semi pro diy, I will stick to my Makita line, and my Fuel line for twelve volt.

[@aaadamt964]

I'll stick to Milwaukee.

[@coreyho6578]

Totally forgot cnet existed years ago.

[@stevegorkowski3246]

In the first place you don't need to look for the best tool. The best line of tools for your use. I don't want a dozen chargers. All of my chargers are on the wall . You need to standardize your power tools and batteries. The problem I have with Milwaukee tool users is they don't like the price they have to pay for replacement batteries. They ask me to replace the cells and I say you're better off to buy the battery. I show them the cost of new cells. Why I bring this up is they don't factor the cost of the battery pack when they buy a tool.

[@mrsmith5739]

Steve deserves to be replaced by AI

[@jeromegrunwald9564]

3:25...Just a reminder, this one shown is the first generation. Its good, but the current second generation is better.

[@twc9000]

Those articles written by AI are so annoying. They are usually very repetitive, and full of contradictory incomplete statements. They just want people buy from their affiliate links.

[@briansharpe4722]

For kicks, I asked ChatGPT for its top-5 list of best 12v compact drill drivers available in US market. Here’s the result, which tends to prove that Steve is either discount A.I. or just a lame human: 1. DeWalt Xtreme 12V Max DCD701F2 2. Bosch 12V Max PS31-2A 3. Milwaukee M12 Fuel Installation Drill Driver Kit 2505-22 4. DeWalt Xtreme 12V 5-In-1 Drill Driver Kit DCD703F1 5. Bosch 12V Flexiclick 5-in-1 Drill Driver System GSR12V-300FCB22

[@FarmRanchHomestead]

What's sad to me is that the so-called "expert" probably got paid to submit that article. I seriously doubt if he's even used most of the brands of tools that he touts in the article, let alone the many other brands not mentioned. I think Jeff hit the nail on the head when he said this guy likely just did a web search for the category and picked a tool brand at random. When I was much younger (in my late teens), I worked at a home improvement store (part of a chain that was later closed down due to competition from Home Depot). Back then, the Makita 7.2V Cordless drill was all the rage. I don't recall if they had any other tools in that line, but if they did, there weren't many. This just goes to show how far the cordless/battery-powered tool industry has come since those early days.

[@denoftools]

Don't be two sad, you would be shocked how little these folks get paid

[@ediddy2497]

Steve is AI. Gen 1. The list will improve by Gen 4.

[@MacAutoDiag]

If you want the best drill buy the kobalt 24v Xtr hammer drill. Thank me later

[@leopdion5976]

I’ve got the Skil and it’s a whole lot better than DIY

[@marcelgaud]

Hey "Tool Bear" > How come I've not seen "the Bear" forever???????????????

[@denoftools]

Long story, but I did a whole video on it a while back

[@marcelgaud]

@@denoftools so, what month/year can I look it up? (I've bought a "TOOL BEAR" sticker, it hangs on my Tool Room.

[@denoftools]

@@marcelgaud kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnjKZHx8gNWBhaM

[@engineer_alv]

What a joke calling that 10 yr old $260 Makita drill the most compact 18V drill. CNET might be good for PC and gadgets but I have never trusted them when it comes to tools and this ranking confirms my thoughts.

[@damnrite811]

What is this list bro. It’s so out of touch “award winning staff” 😂

[@dynadork3312]

This looks like a garbage article churned out by a content farm... made to get clicks and revenue from people who don't know any better. Pretty pathetic, imo. "Steve" may not be an AI but this article was probably slopped together by one.

[@SweeturKraut]

WTF is happening!? I got a brushless Makita drill, 3ah battery, charger , and a bag five years ago for $80 bucks. The impact kit was also $80 bucks. So BLEED teal… but no on this one.

[@hybridt]

"Experts" just phone it in cause man with just a few hours of being here on YT you can gain more insight then these "Experts"

[@chaseschilling9058]

Ill probably get hate for this but i dont get the bosch hype

[@ST-0311]

These lists are ridiculous. Steve may or may not be an AI bot, but I've seen them from people who supposedly should know better. For example, I saw one done by Bob Villa a few years ago, and there wasn't one tool on the list I would consider buying.

[@denoftools]

The first video I did like this was in response to a Bob Villa article. Absolute trash.

[@Kreacher1974]

Makita is trash. For DIY, Ridgid is the way to go.

[@williamhouse754]

❤️🤣❤️🤣❤️🤣❤️🤣❤️

[@wingspizza6364]

Whoever wrote this article/list has a low tool IQ or a specific agenda as you pointed out. The 7 Eleven on the corner 😂. Kobalt is a nice line for DIY as well.

[@noelv1976]

This is by far the worst list I’ve ever seen. What a tool this Steve guy is.

[@damnrite811]

What is this list bro. It’s so out of touch “award winning staff” 😂 this guy is intentionally trying to piss everyone off, this is a troll list.

[@sdmike1985]

This list is terrible. I love my Milwaukee tools, I never pay full price for them,but that Milwaukee drill is way overpriced. I have Ryobi for my Diyer tools for my home. Milwaukee for my mobile mechanic business.

[@dolrr54]

It sounds like Steve Conaway needs to stick to what he knows because he doesn't know squat about tools!🤔👎

[@leopdion5976]

I’ve got the Skil and it’s a whole lot better than DIY