Cordless vs corded drills: which should you buy?
Freedom or steady power? How to choose between a cordless and a corded drill, and what to look for in each.
Both make holes and drive screws. The difference is where the power comes from, and that changes how you work.
Choose corded if
- you work near a socket, in a workshop or on one site all day;
- you drill many large holes in metal, or do steady heavy work;
- you want the lowest price for the power.
A corded drill never runs out of battery and costs less. Look at the wattage, the chuck size (13 mm is the most versatile) and variable speed with reverse.
Choose cordless if
- you move around: fitting, maintenance, ceilings, rooftops;
- you drive a lot of screws (a cordless drill driver’s clutch makes this easy);
- there’s no power at the site, or cables are a risk.
Look at the voltage (12 V for light work, 18–20 V for most jobs), the battery size in Ah, and brushless motors, which run longer per charge. Buy within one battery platform so batteries fit your other tools, and consider a kit with two batteries.
For brick and concrete
A hammer-function drill handles occasional holes in brick. For regular concrete work, a rotary hammer is faster and easier on your hands.