Best Cordless Drills for Home DIY (2025)

A decent cordless drill is probably the most useful tool you can own for home DIY. But with prices ranging from £30 to £300+, which one is actually worth buying? Here's our honest take after using these tools daily.

What to Look For

Before the reviews, here's what actually matters:

Voltage (Power)

• 12V - Light duty, small hands, tight spaces
• 18V - The sweet spot for most home use

Quick note: You might see American brands advertising "20V MAX" - this is the same as 18V. The UK has stricter marketing rules, so over here they have to call it 18V. Don't be fooled by the bigger number.

For home DIY, 18V is all you need. 12V drills are fine for light work but struggle with tougher jobs.

Brushless vs Brushed Motors

Brushless motors are more efficient, last longer, and give more power. They cost more but the difference is worth it if you'll use the drill regularly.

Chuck Size

• 10mm - Fine for most home use
• 13mm - Better for larger drill bits

Batteries

This is where manufacturers make their money. A drill with two batteries is worth the extra cost - you can use one while the other charges.

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Our Top Picks

Best for Home DIY: DeWalt DCD778

Price: £120-150 (bare tool) / £180-220 (with batteries)

For most homeowners, this is the sweet spot. DeWalt is reliable, powerful enough for anything around the house, and widely available. It'll handle everything from flatpack furniture to drilling into brick, without being overkill for occasional use.

Pros:

• Solid build quality
• Good power for home use
• Excellent battery life
• Compact size
• 3-year warranty
• Batteries available everywhere

Cons:

• Batteries expensive if you don't have DeWalt already

Best for: Regular DIYers who want a quality tool that'll last years

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Best Budget: Parkside (Lidl)

Price: £40-70 (with batteries)

Here's the thing - if you only need to drill a hole and drive a screw every few months, you don't need to spend £200+. Lidl's Parkside range is surprisingly capable for occasional use. The 20V (18V nominal) drill gets the job done for hanging pictures, assembling flatpacks, and basic home tasks.

Pros:

• Incredibly cheap
• Good enough for occasional use
• Batteries work across Parkside range
• 3-year warranty from Lidl

Cons:

• Build quality is what you'd expect for the price
• Won't last like the pro brands
• Limited power for tough jobs
• Only available when Lidl stocks it

Best for: Very occasional DIY, first drill on a tight budget

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Best Compact: Makita HP333D

Price: £70-90 (with batteries)

Genuinely impressive for the money. It's 12V so less powerful than 18V options, but for hanging pictures, assembling furniture, and basic drilling it's more than capable. Great if you have smaller hands or tight spaces to work in.

Pros:

• Excellent value
• Very compact and light
• Good for small hands
• Makita quality at budget price

Cons:

• 12V limits power
• Struggles with masonry
• Small battery capacity

Best for: Light home use, tight spaces, smaller hands

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Best for Masonry: Makita DHP486

Price: £140-170 (bare tool) / £250-300 (with batteries)

If you're regularly drilling into brick or block, this is the one. The hammer action is noticeably more effective than cheaper drills. Great for older Devon homes with solid walls.

Pros:

• Excellent hammer drill
• Very powerful
• Brushless motor
• Professional quality

Cons:

• Overkill for basic home use
• Heavy
• Expensive

Best for: Older brick homes, heavy DIY, semi-professional use

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Pro Choice: Milwaukee M18 FUEL

Price: £300-450 (twin pack with batteries)

This is what I use daily - the Milwaukee M18 FUEL M18 FPD3 combi drill and M18 FID3 impact driver combo. It's absolute overkill for hanging a picture frame, but if you're doing serious work day in, day out, nothing else comes close.

The impact driver alone makes driving long screws effortless - once you've used one, you won't go back. And the 5.0Ah batteries run all day on most jobs.

Pros:

• Outstanding build quality - built like a tank
• Best-in-class power and torque
• Impact driver is a game-changer
• 5-year warranty
• Huge ecosystem of compatible tools

Cons:

• Serious overkill for occasional DIY
• Expensive
• Heavy

Best for: Tradespeople, serious renovators, anyone who uses tools daily

Unless you're doing a full house renovation or you're a tradesperson, you probably don't need Milwaukee. But if you want the best and budget isn't the main concern, this is it.

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Avoid: Ultra-Cheap Amazon Specials

Those £20-40 drills from brands you've never heard of? They're false economy. Weak motors, poor battery life, and they break. You'll end up buying twice. At least Parkside has Lidl's warranty behind it.

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Quick Comparison

Drill	Voltage	Brushless	Price	Best For
DeWalt DCD778	18V	Yes	££	Regular DIY
Parkside (Lidl)	18V	No	£	Occasional use
Makita HP333D	12V	No	£	Light duty
Makita DHP486	18V	Yes	£££	Masonry
Milwaukee M18 FUEL	18V	Yes	££££	Professional

Battery Ecosystems

Here's the thing nobody tells you: once you buy into a battery system, you're stuck with it. Milwaukee batteries don't fit DeWalt tools, and vice versa.

If you think you'll buy more power tools later (circular saw, jigsaw, etc.), pick your brand now with that in mind. The "bare tool" prices are much lower if you already have compatible batteries.

Most popular ecosystems:

• DeWalt XR 18V (great for home DIY)
• Makita LXT 18V (reliable all-rounder)
• Milwaukee M18 (professional grade)
• Bosch Professional 18V (solid option)
• Parkside X20V (Lidl - surprisingly extensive range)

For home use, DeWalt or Makita are probably the best balance of quality, availability, and price. Milwaukee is what the pros use.

Do You Need a Hammer Drill?

Hammer drills have a setting that adds rapid impacts while drilling - essential for masonry (brick, block, concrete).

• Living in a new-build with lots of stud walls? Standard drill is probably fine.
• Older Devon home with solid walls? Hammer drill is almost essential.

Most drills marketed for home use include hammer function anyway.

Our Honest Recommendation

For most homeowners, the DeWalt DCD778 hits the sweet spot - it's reliable, powerful enough for anything around the house, and won't break the bank.

If you only pick up a drill twice a year, grab a Parkside from Lidl next time they have them in. No shame in it - the right tool is the one that fits your needs.

And if you're a tradesperson or doing a major renovation? The Milwaukee M18 FUEL is worth every penny.

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More interested in getting the job done than buying tools? We bring all our own equipment - including the Milwaukee kit. Call 01392 964094 or get a quote.