THE RIGHT TOOL. A BETTER BUILD. Independent thinking for UK tool buyers
Our approach
Buying guide · 3 min read

How to choose your first cordless drill

Start with your jobs and materials. The biggest number on the box can wait.

Vector illustration of tools, materials and a buying checklist

Evidence: research-based explainer. No hands-on testing or live price verification.

Think about what you’ll drill into. Flat-pack furniture and holes in timber call for different things from drilling into brick. A drill driver handles many everyday jobs. A combi drill adds a hammer mode for suitable masonry work, while hard concrete or frequent masonry drilling may call for an SDS drill and the right bits.

Check the stated drilling capacities, chuck size and intended uses for each model. Torque is useful to understand, but more of it won’t automatically make a drill right for you. Good speed control, manageable weight and room to work in a tight corner can matter just as much.

Look at the drill with its battery fitted. A larger pack may let you work for longer, but it can also make the tool heavier and bulkier. For occasional DIY, choose something you can hold and control comfortably rather than assuming you need the largest model.

Read the kit contents before you compare prices. A body-only tool normally needs a compatible battery and charger bought separately. Allow for suitable bits as well. A big accessory set is only useful if it contains the bits your jobs need.

Match the tool to the material.

Use this to build a shortlist, then confirm the manufacturer’s intended applications and capacities for the exact model.

Match the tool to the material.
Your workA starting pointWhat to check
Furniture and timber projectsA manageable drill driverChuck, clutch, handling and suitable bits
Occasional suitable masonryA combi drill may suitMaterial, hole requirements and stated capability
Hard concrete or repeated masonryAn appropriate SDS drill may be neededThe job, bit fitting and model instructions
Lots of demanding screwsA separate impact driver may helpFixings and impact-rated accessories

Build your buying brief.

  • Which material and hole sizes does the job call for?
  • Does the kit include a compatible battery and charger?
  • Is the complete tool comfortable to hold and control?

Before you buy

Check the exact model, supplied kit and current manufacturer documentation. Our guides explain buying decisions; they do not replace the product manual.

Read our editorial methodology →
THE NEXT USEFUL STEP

Put it into context.