A cordless drill is the first power tool almost every beginner should buy. It drills holes and it drives screws, which between them cover most of what you do assembling a project — and unlike a saw, it’s forgiving to learn on. If you only ever own one power tool, this is it.
Here is the lens we compare on, and it surprises most beginners: the battery platform matters more than the drill. A cordless drill is really the doorway into a family of tools — a saw, a sander, a light, an impact driver — that all share one battery. Pick a platform with cheap batteries and a big tool lineup and you’ve set yourself up for years; pick a dead-end kit and you buy everything twice. So we weigh the ecosystem, then the drill’s size and features, then price.
How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which tool we recommend, and we’ll tell you plainly when to skip one. Full disclosure.
Quick picks
Ranked on the specs that matter for a beginner and honest buyer fit. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t hands-on-tested these — here is exactly what we do instead.
#
Product
Best for
Price
1
DeWalt DCD771 20V MAX Cordless Drill/Driver
The default first drill for a reason: enough power for wood, a huge and affordable 20V battery ecosystem to grow into, and a price that leaves money for the rest of your kit. The safe beginner default.
Makita's 18V LXT drill is smooth, well-balanced and backed by one of the best battery ecosystems in the trade. If you already own or plan to buy Makita batteries, this is your drill.
The value-platform pick. Ryobi ONE+ isn't the most refined, but it's affordable, the batteries are cheap, and the ecosystem is enormous — a very sensible way for a budget beginner to start building a cordless kit.
A compact 12V drill that's lighter and less tiring than an 18/20V for the small work most beginners actually do. Comes as a kit with batteries and charger — a tidy, complete option for smaller hands and smaller projects.
The cheapest complete drill kit that's still genuinely usable. For occasional light projects and flat-pack assembly it's fine, and it comes with a battery and charger — but a serious hobby will outgrow it.
The default first drill for a reason: enough power for wood, a huge and affordable 20V battery ecosystem to grow into, and a price that leaves money for the rest of your kit. The safe beginner default.
Strengths
+Two speeds and a clutch — drills pilot holes and drives screws cleanly
+20V MAX platform: cheap batteries and dozens of compatible tools later
+Light, compact and easy to control
Trade-offs
−The bare 'B' version ships without battery or charger — check what you're buying
−Not a hammer drill; fine for wood, limited in masonry
Type
Cordless drill/driver
In the set
Single tool
Material / build
—
Key spec
20V, 2-speed, adjustable clutch
Best for
Best first cordless drill for most
Worth knowing. A drill/driver is the one power tool every beginner should own first. The DeWalt 20V line is the most common starting platform in North American home shops, which means the widest, cheapest choice of add-on tools when you expand. Buy the kit (with battery) if this is your first cordless tool.
Specs read from the product listing, on July 24, 2026. “Not listed” means the listing doesn’t state that figure.
#2Best on Makita batteries
Makita XFD10 18V LXT Cordless Drill/Driver
Makita's 18V LXT drill is smooth, well-balanced and backed by one of the best battery ecosystems in the trade. If you already own or plan to buy Makita batteries, this is your drill.
Strengths
+Excellent ergonomics and balance
+18V LXT platform is huge and pro-grade
+Smooth clutch and reliable build
Trade-offs
−Bare tool ('Z') has no battery — a Makita battery isn't cheap on its own
−Slightly pricier entry than the DeWalt for equivalent power
Type
Cordless drill/driver
In the set
Single tool
Material / build
—
Key spec
18V, 2-speed, adjustable clutch
Best for
Best if you're on Makita batteries
Worth knowing. The battery platform matters more than the drill. Pick DeWalt or Makita based on which ecosystem you'll build into — both are excellent, and once you own batteries you'll want to stay on one brand for the savings.
Specs read from the product listing, on July 24, 2026. “Not listed” means the listing doesn’t state that figure.
#3Best budget platform
Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Drill/Driver (PCL206)
The value-platform pick. Ryobi ONE+ isn't the most refined, but it's affordable, the batteries are cheap, and the ecosystem is enormous — a very sensible way for a budget beginner to start building a cordless kit.
Strengths
+Low entry cost and inexpensive batteries
+The ONE+ ecosystem has 300+ compatible tools
+More than enough drill for beginner woodworking
Trade-offs
−Feels less premium than DeWalt/Makita
−Tool-only listing — you'll need a ONE+ battery and charger
Type
Cordless drill/driver
In the set
Single tool
Material / build
—
Key spec
18V, 2-speed, ONE+ platform
Best for
Best budget battery platform
Worth knowing. If budget is the deciding factor and you like the idea of cheaply adding a sander, jigsaw and shop light on the same battery later, Ryobi ONE+ is the friendliest on-ramp in cordless tools.
Specs read from the product listing, on July 24, 2026. “Not listed” means the listing doesn’t state that figure.
#4Best compact 12V
Bosch PS31 12V Max Drill/Driver Kit
A compact 12V drill that's lighter and less tiring than an 18/20V for the small work most beginners actually do. Comes as a kit with batteries and charger — a tidy, complete option for smaller hands and smaller projects.
Strengths
+Genuinely compact and light — easy on the wrist
+Ships as a full kit (two batteries + charger)
+Plenty of power for pilot holes and driving screws in wood
Trade-offs
−12V has less torque for large bits and dense hardwood
−Smaller platform than the 18/20V lines
Type
Compact cordless drill/driver
In the set
Single tool
Material / build
—
Key spec
12V, 2-speed, kit with batteries
Best for
Lighter drill for small projects
Worth knowing. For furniture-scale woodworking, 12V is often plenty and much nicer to hold all day. If you're not building decks, a compact 12V kit can be the smarter, lighter first drill — and this one comes complete.
Specs read from the product listing, on July 24, 2026. “Not listed” means the listing doesn’t state that figure.
#5Cheapest complete kit
Black+Decker 20V MAX Cordless Drill Kit (LDX120C)
The cheapest complete drill kit that's still genuinely usable. For occasional light projects and flat-pack assembly it's fine, and it comes with a battery and charger — but a serious hobby will outgrow it.
Strengths
+Very low price, includes battery and charger
+Light and simple for occasional light-duty work
+Adjustable clutch for driving screws
Trade-offs
−Less torque and shorter runtime than the pro platforms
−Battery platform is more limited if you expand your tools
Type
Cordless drill/driver
In the set
Single tool
Material / build
—
Key spec
20V, single-speed, kit with battery
Best for
Cheapest complete starter kit
Worth knowing. Honest about what it is: a budget homeowner drill. If you know woodworking will become a real hobby, spend a little more on a DeWalt or Ryobi platform you'll grow into. If you just need a drill that works, this one does.
Specs read from the product listing, on July 24, 2026. “Not listed” means the listing doesn’t state that figure.
How to choose a beginner drill
Do the platform math before you look at the drill. Whichever brand of battery you buy first, you’ll tend to stay with, because every future tool you add wants the same battery — that lock-in is real, so choose a platform with cheap batteries and a deep catalog. DeWalt, Makita and Milwaukee are the big three; Ryobi is the value platform beginners love precisely because the batteries and tools are so affordable.
Voltage, speed and the clutch
On voltage, 12V drills are lighter and easier on the wrist but have less muscle, while 18V/20V(they’re the same thing — one brand’s marketing rounds up) is the do-everything standard most beginners should choose. Two things separate a proper drill/driver from a toy: two speed ranges (low speed for driving screws with torque, high speed for drilling clean holes) and an adjustable clutch— the numbered collar behind the chuck that stops driving once it hits a set resistance, so you don’t strip screws or sink them too deep. Both are cheap, common, and worth insisting on.
Kit vs bare tool
A kit includes the drill, a battery, and a charger; a bare tool is the drill alone. For your first cordless tool, always buy the kit. Only buy bare later, once you own batteries that fit it.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the battery brand matter more than the drill?+
Because your first cordless tool decides which battery every future tool will use. Add a saw, a sander or a light and they'll all want the same battery. Pick a platform with cheap batteries and a big tool lineup and you save money for years; pick a dead-end kit and you buy batteries and chargers all over again.
Should I get 12V or 18V/20V?+
For a first and only drill, choose 18V/20V — it's the do-everything standard with the most tools and power to spare. A 12V drill is lighter and great for light assembly and tight spaces, so it's a nice second drill, but it can feel underpowered for bigger holes and long screws.
Do I need an impact driver too?+
Not to start. A drill/driver drills holes and drives screws and uses a clutch to avoid over-driving, so it handles everything early on. An impact driver is a faster, stronger screw-driver but can't drill precise holes or set a clutch — it's a great second tool once you're on a battery platform, not your first.
Kit or bare tool for my first drill?+
Buy the kit. It comes with a battery and charger, so it works out of the box, and it's usually cheaper than buying the bare drill plus a battery separately. Buy bare tools only later, once you already own compatible batteries.
Sources
OSHA — Woodworking eTool — OSHA guidance on woodworking hazards, guarding and safe work practices (accessed July 24, 2026)
