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Comparison · 4 products tested against published criteria

Best cordless drills for home projects

Battery ecosystems cost more than the drill. We compare torque under load, charger speed and what the platform costs to expand.

By THRYV News Desk · Updated August 5, 2026 · 8 min read

Illustrative photograph for Best cordless drills for home projects
Illustrative studio photograph of this product class — not a picture of a specific model.

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At a glance

  • Best overall:Makita DHP486 combifrom $259 (bare)
  • Also considered:DeWalt DCD999 hammer drillfrom $279 (bare)
  • Best for home use:Bosch AdvancedImpact 18from $159 with battery
  • Best budget:Ryobi ONE+ HP compactfrom $99 with battery

Prices shown without a retailer are manufacturer list prices. Checked offers show the retailer and the time we last verified the price.

Buying a drill is really buying a battery platform. The tool is the cheap part; the packs, charger and future tools are where the money goes. We compare torque delivered under sustained load, charge times measured from empty and the published price of expanding each system.

Best cordless drills for home projects — side-by-side comparison
ProductScorePriceTorqueBatteryCharge timeWeightPlatformBuy
MakitaDHP486 combiBest overall9.0

from $259 (bare)

130 Nm18V LXT45 min (5.0 Ah)2.6 kg300+ toolsAmazon
DeWaltDCD999 hammer drill8.7

from $279 (bare)

150 Nm20V Max / Flexvolt60 min (5.0 Ah)2.8 kg250+ toolsAmazon
BoschAdvancedImpact 18Best for home use8.2

from $159 with battery

63 Nm18V Power for All70 min (4.0 Ah)1.7 kgGarden + DIY rangeAmazon
RyobiONE+ HP compactBest budget7.7

from $99 with battery

50 Nm18V ONE+110 min (4.0 Ah)1.5 kg260+ toolsAmazon
Best price today

Prices shown without a retailer are manufacturer list prices. Checked offers show the retailer and the time we last verified the price.

The shortlist in detail

#1Best overall

Makita DHP486 combi

The professional pick with the deepest tool range.

9.0
Price

from $259 (bare)

Best for
Anyone who will add more tools to the same battery system.

What we liked

  • Holds torque under load
  • Huge 18V tool catalogue
  • Batteries available everywhere

What we didn't

  • Bare-tool pricing hides the real cost
  • Heavier than rivals
#2

DeWalt DCD999 hammer drill

Most power on tap, best for masonry.

8.7
Price

from $279 (bare)

Best for
Renovation work involving brick and concrete.

What we liked

  • Strongest hammer action in the group
  • Flexvolt packs cross platforms
  • Robust chuck

What we didn't

  • Loud
  • Heaviest with a big pack fitted
Check priceAmazon
#3Best for home use

Bosch AdvancedImpact 18

The sensible homeowner buy.

8.2
Price

from $159 with battery

Best for
Flat-pack, shelving and light renovation, plus a shared garden platform.

What we liked

  • Comes with a usable battery and charger
  • Light and well balanced
  • Shares packs with Bosch garden tools

What we didn't

  • Torque drops on long screws into hardwood
  • Plastic chuck
Check priceAmazon
#4Best budget

Ryobi ONE+ HP compact

Cheapest route into a broad battery platform.

7.7
Price

from $99 with battery

Best for
Occasional jobs where budget beats speed.

What we liked

  • Very cheap entry
  • One battery fits a wide catalogue
  • Compact for tight spaces

What we didn't

  • Torque well behind the leaders
  • Chargers are slow
Check priceAmazon

The verdict

For a household toolbox the Bosch AdvancedImpact 18 is the right amount of drill for the money, especially if you also own Bosch garden tools. If there is any chance of buying a saw, sander or impact driver later, start on Makita 18V — the platform is the purchase, not the drill.

9.0

Our pick

Makita DHP486 combi

Amazon

Common questions

Do I need a hammer function?
Only for masonry. For timber, plasterboard and flat-pack assembly a plain combi is quieter and lighter.
Are third-party batteries safe?
They void most warranties and cell quality varies widely. Buying a second genuine pack in a deal is usually the cheaper risk.

Sources

Specifications and list prices come from each manufacturer's own product page. Offer prices are read from the retailer at the time shown next to the price and are not supplied by the brands.

Why you can trust this comparison

THRYV publishes the criteria before the shortlist, scores each product against them, and states plainly where a figure comes from the manufacturer rather than our own testing. Prices change constantly — we publish only offers we checked ourselves, with the time we checked. We may earn a commission from the links on this page; it never changes a ranking or a score.

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