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Cordless drill buying guide

Person uses a cordless drill to drill a hole into a fence post.
The cordless drill will be the most used power tool you'll own, so deciding which one to buy is an important decision. This guide will help you choose the cordless drill that's right for you.

Why cordless?

The biggest advantage of a cordless drill is convenience. You can use a cordless drill anywhere while a corded drill needs a nearby source of electricity and often an extension cord. While corded drills are often more powerful, the larger cordless drills have enough power and features to take on most jobs around the home.

Which size is best?

The drill that's best for you depends on how you'll be using it. Cordless drills are sized according to voltage, for example 12V, 14.4V and 18V. Drills with a higher voltage are more powerful and have a lot of features but are bigger and heavier than those with lower voltages. If you only anticipate doing light duty work or prefer a drill that isn't that heavy, then think about a low voltage drill.

What is brushless technology?

Brushless technology is the latest innovation in cordless drills.

Unlike a conventional brushed drill motor, the motor in a brushless drill doesn't have brushes. That means less heat and friction is created when operating the drill so there's less wear and tear and ultimately greater durability.

A brushless motor is also more efficient and more powerful than a brushed drill motor. It gives more torque, speed and run time—meaning you can get more work done in between charges.

Other features

Variable speed settings add more versatility to your drill. High speed settings are great for drilling while low speed has greater torque, or turning power, for driving screws with ease.

Hammer action allows you to drill into bricks, concrete or stone.

Another term you'll hear is “torque settings”. This means that you can set the drill to stop turning when it meets a certain amount of resistance. Use it when driving screws so you don't strip the screw head or overdrive it.

Don't forget the battery

Consider two batteries for your drill. When one runs out you can swap it over and keep working while the drained one charges. Also think of how long you want the battery to last between charges. You can find this out by looking at the battery's amp hour (Ah) number. The higher the number, the longer the battery will last. The trade-off is that larger batteries are heavier.

Explore your options

Check out our wide range of cordless drills.

 

Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.