Thanks for taking your time to read our information on the best cordless drill for beginners. Beginners can mean one of two things. You could be new to DIY tasks and want advice on buying a cordless drill. On the other hand you could have been using a corded drill for years and are now considering purchasing a cordless drill instead.
Either way, the information that we provide you with here, should help you out, and point you in the right direction, when it comes to getting your first cordless drill.
Cordless drills are now the most popular choice when it comes to any type of drilling. The fact that they have no electrical lead makes them very portable, and also much easier to use.
You don't need to worry about having an electric socket, and if you get a drill with a good battery life, then that will be able to drill through all materials. Some people still prefer the corded drill models but really cordless is totally taking over now and they are fully powerful enough for all jobs.
Most home owners will want their choice of cordless drill to be able to drill through wood, plastic, metal and the various types of masonry such as brick or block.
Anyone new to DIY tasks will want to be able to do any of these types of drilling task as well. If you have a drill like this, then you can do almost any task around the home and garden. Also I have recently bought a right angle drill that's very useful for getting into awkward areas. It's well worth reading a bit more about them.
The good news is that all cordless drills actually come as drill/drivers so they can both drill and also be used as a screwdriver to drive in and remove screws. The drill function will have its own setting, and if it is a hammer drill, it will have an additional setting for that hammer function. A good tip too is make sure you use the correct bit. A drill bit for tiles , for instance, is much different than a drill bit for concrete and different again if you want to drill metal.
The hammer feature is required if you plan on doing any type of drilling through walls. (Along with a masonry bit)
In a Hurry?
We provide a lot of information on this page, so if you want a quick answer, then the best drill for a beginner is the Bosch Cordless Hammer Drill UniversalImpact. This the best seller is a really great drill.
"With over 1,500 online buyer reviews and a 94% buyer satisfaction rating, this is the most popular choice by UK buyers, based on our extensive research.
The Basic Parts of a Cordless Drill
Cordless drills may seem a little confusing to any beginner, so above we have included an image of a typical cordless drill. Just below we have explained briefly what each of those parts actually does.
Inside the casing there is a motor and gears. When you squeeze the trigger, the motor is powered by the battery, and the motor engages a gear, which in turn spins the drill around in a clockwise direction.
That is pretty much all there is to it. With a cordless drill, the power comes from the battery whereas with a corded drill, you have to plug it into an electrical socket.
I would strongly recommend that you get a rapid bit holder to use with any drill for putting in screws. They are so handy once you get one you'll never be without one again!
Basic features of a cordless drill explained
We have provided some basic information on the features on most cordless drills. If you want to read more detailed information, then check our full cordless drill buying guide by clicking here. However, the information below should be enough to understand the basics.
Battery
The whole point of cordless is that there are no electrical cords to worry about. Instead they use a battery, and these days they all pretty much use Lithium-Ion batteries. These are so much better than the older NiCad batteries that used to discharge quickly.
The batteries vary quite a bit in size from as low as 10.8 Volts up to 20 Volts. The most popular voltage choice for most cordless drills is 18 Volts. Smaller compact drills will use 10.8, 12 or 14.4 Volts.
The larger cordless drills will be either 18 or 20 Volts.
Trigger
The trigger is pretty simple as that is what you squeeze to make the drill/driver work. Some of the better cordless drills have a soft start and this is activated by gently squeezing the trigger.
That is used when driving in screws as it allows the screw to turn slowly at the beginning, until it finds its grip.
Chuck
Almost every cordless drill/driver uses a keyless chuck. That means you open and tighten the chuck by your hand. Chucks are usually 10 mm and the larger ones are 13 mm. This size determines which diamet of bits you can insert into it.
Gear Selector
Many of the basic to mid-price models only have one gear so nothing to think about there. The better models will have 2 gears and some even have 3 gears.
Gears simply improve the speed range that you can drill at. Ger 1 is usually something like 0-600 rpm and the second gear will be somethign like 0-1200 rpm.
Speed
On drills with driving, drilling and hammer drilling thre will also be a speed selector. You simply turn the dial to the appropriate symbol on the collar of the chuck
Torque
Torque is simply the amount of force or pressure that you want your drill/driver to apply to screws when driving them in. Beginners tend to set the torque at the highest number and then use that setting for every task. That is a mistake and should be avoided
If for example you were driving short screws into soft wood, then a high torque would over drive that screw and bury it into the wood (known as over driving)
Any beginner to using one of these should set it to the lowest torque, and test it. Then increase it until you find the right torque for the length of screw and they type of wood.
For example driving a 50 mm (2") screw into a piece of mahogany is going to need a higher torque setting that driving a 25mm (1") screw into a piece of soft wood.
Forward and Reverse
This is a fairly straightforward feature, and it means you can drive screws into something and when in reverse it will take those out.
Handle
Most handles have been ergonomically designed to give you the best grip suitable for your hand. Typically these will be rubberised, which prevents vibration and also offers a more comfortable grip.
LED Work Light
Most cordless drill/drivers will also come with a small work light, which is useful when working in poorly lit or confined areas. This comes on automatically when the trigger is engaged.
Hammer Feature
Some cordless dril/drivers come with a hammer function. This allows you to be able to drill through masonry such as brick, block, mortar etc. A drill does two things:
- Rotates - the drill spins around and is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm)
- Hammers - the drill also hammers very quickly in and out and is measured in bumps per minute (bpm) and some refer to this as blows per minute.
The ordinary rotational function is suitable for drilling wood, plastic and metal and the hammer function should never be used for drilling through those materials. You only ever use the hammer function for drilling through tougher materials such as brick, cement, mortar, granite, stone etc.
Our Recommendation for the Best Cordless Drill for a Beginner
Bosch Cordless Hammer Drill UniversalImpact
- We would recommend this model from the Bosch brand as it has 2 batteries and a charger, so as a beginner you have everything you need to get started
- This is a durable drill ideal for all jobs around the home including drilling masonry
- Online buyers rate this very highly with a big 92% online satisfaction
- We also think this model is great value for money for anyone starting out
Just below we have included the pros and cons of what real life buyers had to say..
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
We picked this Bosch model because despite there being more expensive options, we thought this was excellent value for money. For anyone know to drill/drivers, this is a tough compact model that any beginner will enjoy using.
The Runner Up
Dewalt 18V Cordless Combi Drill
- If you are a beginner and have some extra cash to spend then buy a high quality drill/driver like this Dewalt model
- It comes with one battery and a 1 hour charger.
- This is a more powerful model than the Bosch we have mentioned above
- Buyers have given this 18 Volt model a very high 96% buyer satisfaction rating because it is a top of the range drill/driver
Just below we have included the pros and cons of what real life buyers had to say..
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Dewalt make some of the best cordless drills on the market. if you have the money then don't hesitate to get this model if you want to own of the best cordless drills on the market for beginners.
The Cheapest Alternative
BLACK+DECKER 18 V Cordless 2-Gear Combi Drill
- We understand that not everyone hass a huge amount of money to spend
- That is why we have included this Black & Decker model and it is usually available for around £50-60 and it comes with a battery, charger and case which represents great value
- Online buyers have given this one a high 92% buyer satisfaction and a great and affordable price point
- The hammer action on this cordless drill/driver is very good according to buyers
Just below we have included the pros and cons of what real life buyers had to say..
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
The Black & Decker brand sit at the lower price point in the British market. Many buyers trust the brand and really like their tools. They are reliable and they have a very solid customer service.
Summary of Cordless Drills for Beginners
Hopefully we have provided you with enough information on what to look for when buying a cordless drill/driver if you are buying one of these for the first time.
Your final choice really comes down to much you can afford, or are willing to pay. It will also depend on what brand you want to own and that the model you pick has all the right features.
The 3 models we have included on our list have all the right features so you will not be missing out there. They all come with batteries and chargers so that means you can get started right away. I have a Makita magnetic bit holder that I use when I am putting in a lot of screws and I can't recommend this type of accessory highly enough. Everybody should have one of these tools. Just makes any job so much easier.
If you have taken the time to read our guide on the best cordless drill for beginners, then you will understand what each feature allows you to do. Happy shopping and we hope you find what you need.