Whether you’re a handyman or a person who likes to fix things around the house yourself, a power drill is hands down the most important tool in your collection. When it comes to these drills, there are just so many things that you can do with them. Anything from hanging artwork and shelves to assembling DIY furniture sets is possible thanks to these tools. Whether or not you need one of these drills around the house isn’t the question. The benefits and value that a power drill brings to a household make them a must.
The question is how to choose the right drill. With so many models to choose from, getting a drill that’s right for your needs can a little challenging. In this guide, we focus on corded drills as they usually pack more power and eliminate the hassle of having to recharge them. Since you’re using these tools around the house, having access to an electrical outlet won’t be a problem anyway. You might also be interested in our articles about the best mechanics tool sets and the best multi tools. If you want to end up with a corded drill that gets the job done as smoothly as possible, you must keeps the following things in mind before purchasing one.
1. Power
This is a major factor that comes into play when choosing a corded drill. It goes without saying that getting a model with enough power to drill through whatever it is that you’re drilling is essential. The power of corded drills is measured in amps. As a general rule, the more amps the better. Having more drilling power on a tool that’s made for drilling is definitely a good thing. If you want to stay on the safe side, aim for as much amps as possible.
One thing that you should keep in mind though is that more amps usually mean heavier weight. Whether the additional drilling power justifies the additional weight depends mainly on your type of use and your physical abilities. If you want large drilling power and can work with a heavier drill, then you should definitely go for it. If not, you should get a lighter model that you can use with ease.
2. Speed
Speed is another key thing to keep in mind when buying a new corded drill. If you have some drilling experience, you’ll know that having multiple speeds on a drill isn’t just for show. Being able to switch between different speeds allow you to do different things with your corded drill. Generally speaking, the higher speeds are used for drilling and the lower speeds are used for driving screws. Not all corded drills have multiple speeds option. As a result, there are drills that used for drilling only and others that can be used for both drilling and driving screws
Which one is right for you depends mainly on your use. If you’re absolutely sure that you’ll be using your drill for drilling only, a single speed corded drill in the 1000 RPM range will do the trick. If you want to have some flexibility when using your drill, a multiple speed option is your best bet.
3. Reverse mode
The reverse mode is an extra option that’s available in some corded drills. What the reverse mode does is reversing the drilling direction, which allows you to remove screws with ease. If you’re planning on using your power drill for driving and removing screws, this option can make your life much easier.
4. The clutch and the chuck
A good clutch and chuck are essential for any decent corded drill. What the clutch does is react to resistance difference, which protects you from things like stripping screws and driving them too deep. While an adjustable clutch is not something that every drill has, it makes a big difference and is definitely worth having. As for the chuck, it’s the piece of metal in which the drilling head is inserted. The size of the chuck is directly related to the size of drilling heads that can be used with it. For the highest level of versatility for a home use, a 3 / 8-inch chuck is perfect. This chuck size allows you to do all kinds of drilling that you would need around a typical household. Now that you’re familiar with the top things to keep in mind when choosing a new corded power drill, it’s time to have a look at the best models that are currently available on the market.
1. BLACK+DECKER DR260C 5.2 Amp 3/8” Drill/Driver
This corded drill model is the perfect companion around the house. Its basic design and solid performance make it a good choice to keep at home whenever for any drilling needs that may arise. Being a Black + Decker product gives you a piece of mind about the overall quality, which is something that this Brandos well-known for. The first thing that you’ll notice about this drill is its compact size and orange color. Asides from the overall simple design, the ergonomic shape of the handle make using this drill for long periods of time as comfortable as possible. You also get a secure grip which is essential for drilling accurately and for your own safety.
Having a 5.5 amp power make this drill suitable for most household tasks. Needing driving power of more than that is very uncommon for typical household tasks. The keyless chuck is also very convenient to handle which is definitely a good thing to have. Another thing that we like about this model is its 1,500 RPM speed. Generally speaking, 1000 RPM is enough. Having this extra speed make this drill super fast when using around the house. It also has adjustable speeds which makes it excellent for both drilling and driving screws.
Product highlights:
- 5.2 amp drilling power
- Adjustable speeds
- Top drilling speed of 1,500 RPM
- Ergonomic grip
- Keyless chuck
- Can drill and drive screws
2. PORTER-CABLE PC600D 6.5 Amp 3/8-Inch Variable Speed Drill
This is a corded drill that’s capable of more than simple household tasks. If you’re looking for a drill that you can rely on for all of your household tasks, including the not-so-common ones, this is a model that we highly recommend. Having a 6 amp motor means that this is a high-performance site drill. Being powerful enough to be used on a construction site means that this drill can handle anything that you might throw at it. Add to that a whopping speed of 2500 RPM and you have a corded drill that you can totally rely on.
Despite its massive power, this corded drill weighs just 4.3 pounds. Combining high-power with lightness makes this model truly outstanding. When you get this model, you’re getting the performance of a corded drill and the light weight of less powerful models, which is definitely a good thing. As it has multiple speeds, this model is perfect for both drilling and driving screws. The keyless chuck of this corded drill allows you to change bits quickly whenever you need to. One feature that we really loved about this model is the lock-on button.
When drilling for long periods of time, you can use this button so you don’t have to keep squeezing the trigger for the entire duration. If you use your drill for long periods of time, this is a feature that you’ll really appreciate.
Product highlights:
- 2500 RPM speed
- Keyless chuck
- Weighs just 4.3 pounds
- 6 amp drilling power
- Useful lock-on button
3. DEWALT DWD112 8.0 Amp 3/8-Inch VSR Pistol-Grip Drill
DeWalt is a name that needs no introduction in the power tools world. Once you see the DeWalt name on a tool, you know it’s to the task, and this model is no exception. If you’re looking for a high-power drill that can get through almost anything, your search ends here. With a whopping 8 amps, this corded drill takes drilling power to a whole new level. Whether you want to use it for drilling wood or metal, there is no stopping that thing. In addition to the massive drilling power, this corded drill has 2,500 RPM drilling speed, which is among the highest that you can currently get.
Being able to change the drilling speed means that this model can be used for both drilling and driving screws, which make it a versatile tool to have in your set. Despite its power and speed, this model weighs just 4 pounds, which makes it more convenient to work with, especially for long periods of time. Another thing that’s worth mentioning about this model and make it really stand out is its all-metal chuck, which allows for better bit retention. As for the build quality of this corded drill, it’s nothing short of top notch. The ball-bearing construction makes this drill capable of withstanding the harsh treatment of a construction site and capable of lasting for a long time.
Product highlights:
- 2,500 RPM speed
- 8 amps drilling power
- All-metal chuck for better bit retention
- Weighs just 4 pounds
- Solid build quality
4. SKIL 6445-04 7.0 Amp 1/2 In. Hammer Drill
This is a drill that’s a little different from the other models on our list, as it’s meant for more heavy duty stuff. Being a hammer drill means that this model is capable of drilling holes in things like brick walls. With this beast around, getting a handyman to drill some holes is something that you’ll no longer have to do. When you look at this model, you’ll notice that it has two handles. Being designed for drilling through tough surfaces like brick walls, having two handles is just a matter of common sense. Using both handles, you can drill through these surfaces accurately.
A whopping 7 amp drilling power is there to back this model up. Add to that a 1/2 inch keyed chuck that could accept larger bits and you’ll have one amazing drilling machine that’s capable of taking on even the toughest surfaces. You can also control the drilling speed of this model to get the perfect speed depending on the surface that you’re drilling through. One thing to keep in mind though is that this drill isn’t designed for small drilling tasks. It accepts larger bits and is used for drilling larger stuff.
Product highlights:
- 7 amp drilling power
- Can drill through surfaces like brick walls
- 1/2 inch keyed chuck for larger bits
- Hammer drilling mechanism
- Adjustable drilling speed
5. BLACK+DECKER BDEDMT Matrix AC Drill/Driver
While some people prefer having corded drills with large drilling power around the house, other prefer models that are just enough for their typical household needs. If you’re one of these people, this model provides the performance that you need and a great bang for the buck. This Black + Decker corded drill has a 4 amp drilling power. While it’s nothing particularly impressive, it’s really all you need to drill the common stuff around a household. Higher drilling power usually comes with an added cost. If you’re sure that you’ll only be doing minor drilling, you save this extra money for something more useful.
Having adjustable speeds means that this model can be used for drilling and driving screws, which makes it perfect for using around the house. The compact size of this model also makes it easier to work with in confined spaces. One that you’ll particularly like about this model is the fact that it has an 11-position clutch. This allows for a much better level of control over the drill, especially when driving screws. If you want a corded drill that’ll make driving these screws much easier, this is a model that you’ll definitely like.
Product highlights:
- Compact size
- 4 amp drilling power
- Excellent for driving screws
- Adjustable speed
- 11-position clutch
6. DEWALT DWD210G 10-Amp 1/2-Inch Pistol-Grip Drill
This is another super-heavy duty from DeWalt. This is, by all means, a corded drill that is designed for professionals. If you’d love to have a professional-grade drilling machine lying around the house ready for anything you might throw at it, this model is one of the best drillers that you can get right now. In terms of drilling power, this thing resets the bar. With a mind-blowing 10 amp, this model has the highest drilling power than any other model on our list. This is a model that can drill through virtually anything. We just can’t think of any surface that’s available around any household that this driller can’t get through.
Having a 1/2 inch chuck means that this corded drill is designed for larger drilling tasks. If you’re looking for a tiny drill for driving some small screws, there are other models on that list that are better suited for this task. If you’re looking for a drilling monster, this is what you’re looking for. Having an ergonomic, 2-handle gripping system makes drilling with this model super-accurate. In addition to well-designed handles, the rubber triggers make controlling this drill even more accurate. The only downside of this model is its weight, which is 4..9 pounds. Unless you have some serious drilling to do, the extra power won’t justify this extra weight.
Product highlights:
- A massive 10 amp drilling power
- 1/2-inch chuck
- Pistol grip for accurate drilling
- Rubber triggers
- Weighs 4.9 pounds
7. BLACK+DECKER DR560 1/2-Inch 7.0 Amp Drill/Driver
Power meets compact size in this corded drill. If you’re looking for a compact model that can punch above its weight, this model will leave you impressed. Weighing just three pounds, you won’t believe how light this thing is when you hold it. As for the drilling power, this is a 7 amp model with a 1/2 inch chuck, which makes capable of some serious drilling. Things, like drilling holes or driving large fasteners through wood, are super-easy with this model. If you’re looking for a model that you can use for smaller screws though, there are other models on our list that can do just that.
The design of this corded drill’s handles is very innovative. In addition to the main grip, you get a secondary 360-degree handle, which allows for a high level of accuracy when drilling. In addition to the enhanced control, the handle has an ergonomic design that makes it comfortable to use even for prolonged periods. Thanks to having an all-metal keyed chuck, this corded drill provides a better bit retention than that of similar models without this feature. Having a keyed chuck might be considered a downside by some people as losing the key can be a little bit problematic. If you’re not the kind of person who keeps losing stuff all the time though, this isn’t something that you should worry about.
Product highlights:
- 7 amp drilling power
- 1/2 inch chuck
- All-metal keyed chuck
- 2 handles for better grip
- Ergonomic handle design
8. Neiko 10506A 1/2″ Reversible Hammer Drill
This is a compact corded hammer drill that offers a spectacular value for money. If you’re looking for a decent quality model that can drill through things like concrete with ease without being an overkill for home use, we highly recommend this one. The first that you’ll notice about this model is its compact size. Considering the fact that this is a hammer drill makes its size truly impressive. What isn’t impressive though is the weight, which is a whopping 5 pounds. If handling a 5-pound drill is too much for you then you should probably consider a lighter model.
This model has 4.2 amps of drilling power. Compared to some of the other beast models on our list, this isn’t by any means impressive. However, comparing the price tags of these models makes this a reasonable compromise. Also, 4.2 amps are more than enough for casual drilling around the household. The handle of this drill was also convenient to use. As it’s covered with a shock-absorbing material, you won’t feel much of those annoying vibrations when drilling, which will help you drill more accurately. All in all, this is an excellent household corded hammer drill that provides an exceptional value for money.
Product highlights:
- 4.2 amps of drilling power
- Compact size
- Weighs 5 pounds
- Comfortable handles
- Can drill through concrete
- Exceptional value for money