Best Drills October 2026
Finding the right cordless drill depends on whether you need heavy masonry drilling or high-torque screw driving. This guide lets you compare top-rated models by weight, power, and performance so you can pick the right tool for your projects.
Last updated: 6 October 2026
Drills: Top 5
1
Makita DHR202Z (w/o Battery)
from £99.9512 stores
from £99.95
12 stores
2
Makita DTW300Z (w/o Battery)
from £59.1213 stores
from £59.12
13 stores
3
Dewalt DCH273N (w/o Battery)
from £96.3410 stores
from £96.34
10 stores
4
Makita DTD173Z (w/o Battery)
from £49.998 stores
from £49.99
8 stores
5
Dewalt DCF850N-XJ (w/o Battery)
from £92.997 stores
from £92.99
7 stores
The Makita DHR202Z is an 18V SDS-plus rotary hammer drill built for heavy-duty drilling in concrete, brick, and wood. It delivers 2.0 joules of impact energy at up to 4,000 beats per minute, making it suitable for tough masonry tasks. It comes as a bare unit without a battery or charger.
Pros
2.0 J impact energy for tough masonry
SDS-plus chuck for quick bit changes
Built-in work light
Drills up to 20 mm in concrete
Cons
Heaviest tool on the list at 3.2 kg
No dedicated screwdriving mode
Battery and charger sold separately
The Makita DTW300Z is a compact 18V cordless impact wrench that delivers up to 330 Nm of torque. With four adjustable power stages and a brushless motor, it excels at automotive tasks such as seasonal tyre changes and heavy fastening. It is sold as a bare tool without a battery.
Pros
High tightening torque up to 330 Nm
4 selectable torque settings
Brushless motor for long runtimes
Integrated work light
Cons
High noise level of 108 dB
Not designed for standard drilling
Bare unit with no battery included
The Dewalt DCH273N is a versatile 18V cordless SDS-plus rotary hammer drill offering 2.1 joules of impact energy. Powered by a brushless 400 W motor, it drills holes up to 24 mm in concrete and masonry with minimal effort. It is delivered as a body-only unit.
Pros
High 2.1 J impact energy
Drills up to 24 mm in concrete
Relatively light for a rotary hammer at 2.6 kg
Brushless 400 W motor
Cons
No screwdriving function
Sold without battery or charger
The Makita DTD173Z is a compact and lightweight 18V impact driver weighing only 0.85 kg. It provides 180 Nm of torque across four electronic speed settings, giving you excellent control for precision screwdriving and fastening. It is supplied as a bare tool.
Pros
Ultra-lightweight at just 0.85 kg
4 torque stages up to 180 Nm
High top speed of 3,600 RPM
Built-in work light and brushless motor
Cons
No hammer drill mode for masonry
Bare unit without battery or case
The Dewalt DCF850N-XJ is an ultra-compact 18V impact driver that generates 208 Nm of torque from a 475 W brushless motor. At under 1 kg in weight, it easily fits into tight corners while delivering strong fastening power for timber and metal framing. It is sold body-only.
Pros
Strong 208 Nm max torque
Lightweight design at 0.95 kg
Brushless 475 W motor
Standard hex chuck for quick bit swaps
Cons
No hammer drill function for masonry
High noise level of 99 dB
Sold without battery or charger
Compare specifications
| Screw Function | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Impact Hammer, Drill, Hammer Drill | Impact Driver, Impact Wrench | Drill, Hammer Drill | Impact Driver | Impact Driver, Screwdriver, Impact Wrench, Drill |
| Features | Lighting, Brushless motor, Multiple gear | Lighting, Brushless motor, Multiple gear | Brushless motor | Lighting, Brushless motor, Multiple gear | Brushless motor, Multiple gear |
| Power source | Battery | Battery | Battery | Battery | Battery |
| Batteries included | None | None | None | None | None |
How we create the list
The ranking is updated monthly and is based on data we collect from our own platform. Products that rank highly are popular among our users while also maintaining high quality according to editorial expert assessments. Specifically, we weigh how many users follow the product via price alerts or lists, how it is rated by experts and users, as well as how much traffic it generates to stores and how well it is represented in retail. The texts on this page are AI-generated and created to give you a quick and clear overview. No products are paid placements – the ranking is driven solely by data.
