Shopping for a cordless drill might not be something that gets you too amped, but if you choose the wrong drill, you’ll be less than electrified about your choice.

Finding the perfect cordless drill isn’t too terribly difficult, if you know which features are important and which aren’t and how much to spend.

Read on for some tips and tricks to finding the perfect cordless drill for your needs.

First, consider your needs. Some experts say that if you don’t have need for a heavy duty cordless drill, there’s no sense in buying one. And since most cordless drills aren’t incredibly durable and will often last only a couple of years at most, don’t spend more for a drill than you need to. This is a purchase that will be repeated.

Let’s first consider the important features of a drill. These are things to pay attention to when you go shopping.

Types of drills

Standard/basic – A standard drill is ideal for the home do-it-yourself enthusiast, because it’s good for sinking screws and drilling through thin metal, wood and other lighter products.

Hammer drill – This type of cordless drill includes a switch that allows you to turn the hammer feature on and off. This type of cordless drill is ideal for drilling through things like bricks and concrete.

Impact driver – This type of cordless drill is much more impactful than the hammer drill and standard drill. These are designed for drilling screws, but they feature a chuck and bit spin that, combined with the internal hammer, can create rotational power that’s up to three times more than the motor itself.
For most people, a standard cordless drill or hammer drill are fine. If you will be doing a lot of driving in screws, then consider the impact driver, but you have to acquaint yourself with quickly and easily changing screw heads.

Things to look for

Other things to think about when choosing your cordless drill are voltage, speeds, battery, chuck size, and price. Let’s look at each of these.

Voltage – These days you can buy cordless drills in a range of voltages, from 9.6 to 18. Generally, a 12 volt drill is a good choice. They usually cost about the same as a 9.6 volt, but are better performers.

Speeds – Some cordless drills offer variable speeds. All basic drills will feature two speeds – a low speed (usually for driving in screws) and a high speed (for things like drilling). A variable speed cordless drill will allow for variable speed with the low range and the high range. Most users will benefit from choosing a cordless drill with a variable speed range.

Battery – Obviously, the battery component is pretty important when you’re talking about a cordless drill. Look for a cordless drill that features a long-lasting Lithium Ion battery, or those that are environmentally friendly, like NiMH. Most important is that you choose a cordless drill that comes with two batteries (or you purchase another battery for the one that’s supplied with the drill you purchase).  That way you’ll always have one and not have to stop mid-project to recharge. (Ideally, as well, you’ll get a battery pack that features a charge time of an hour or so.)

Chuck size – The chuck is the mechanism that clamps the bits in place when the drill is rotating. Stick with the basics here and choose a drill that features interchangeable chucks, so you’ll have the right tool no matter the job.

Cost – We can’t tell you exactly how much to spend, but we will tell you this – if you shop around, you can get a solid and multi-featured cordless drill for about ₤50 and up to ₤100. For most buyers, any cordless drill within that price range will suit perfectly.