Best Cordless Drill Australia (2023 Buyers Guide)

Finding the best cordless drill that fits your personal needs and contains all the features you need can be difficult. Why? Because there are so many different brands and designs on the market. 

Do you need a brushless motor (because they’re the best), or will a brushed motor do just fine? How about speed and torque settings; do you need all those fancy-sounding bells and whistles?

There’s so much to choose from, it can make your head spin. So that’s where we come in.

We’ve tested and reviewed some of the best and most popular cordless drills on the market today. Below, you’ll find our results. From the best cordless drill Australia, to the best cordless hammer drill. So let’s find you a new drill!

How to choose the right cordless battery drill

Cordless drills are essential tools for any professional or DIYer. But they can have so many different settings and features that choosing the best cordless drill for you isn’t always that easy.

That’s why we’ve written this buying guide for you. This section runs you through the different types and bits of terminology you’ll come across during your search, so you know what to look for (and what it all means).

Already know your way around a drill? Great! Then you can just skip this section and scroll straight down to our reviews of the best battery drills on the market today.

Types of drills

Not every handheld power drill is the same type of drill. So before you buy yourself a drill, you need to know what type you need.

• Drill/driver
  This is the most common type of cordless drill, and also the most “basic” version. As the name suggests, this device does two things. It drills holes and drives screws. All drill/drivers can do both these actions.

• Hammer drill
  A hammer drill is either a separate device or any drill/driver that has a special hammer setting. While on this setting, the drill bit rapidly moves back and forth (hammers). You can use a hammer drill to hammer your way into tough materials like concrete, stone, or brick.
  Since a hammer drill moves the drill bit in and out to force your way through materials, it often has more power and weighs more than a normal drill driver. Many hammer drills come with an additional handle for added grip.

• Impact driver
  Again, this type of tool is very similar to the drill/driver, although specifically designed for driving screws that your normal drill/driver might struggle with.
  That’s due to the added feature that it will produce more power (torque, more on that below) when facing resistance. It does this through short, high-impact bursts of power, hence the term “impact driver”.
  Unlike the hammer drill, which can feature as a setting on a drill driver, an impact driver is actually a separate device. So if you specifically need to drive in lots of screws at a high speed then an impact driver might be better for you than a drill/driver.

• Rotary hammer drill
  Another type you might come across is the rotary hammer drill. This is like the hammer drill mentioned earlier, but with even more force. The drill both rotates and hammers at the same time, which helps break up the concrete or stone surface while drilling its way through it.
  This doesn’t appear as a drill/driver setting and is a separate device. A rotary hammer drill is ideal if you need to do heavy-duty work regularly, making it a great addition to a tradesman’s toolkit.

Corded vs cordless electric drills

The article you’re reading right now is a battery drill review, meaning all the drills on this list are cordless and work on batteries. But are you sure a cordless electric drill is the right option for you? Let’s compare the two.

• Corded drills
  Corded drills are connected to the main power supply through a cord. This means you cannot use these drills unless you have a power outlet nearby.
  This makes corded drills more limited in the spaces where you can use them than cordless drills. Aside from that, the lack of a card means it’s less likely to pose any safety hazards due to tripping over the cable or accidentally getting it tangled up with your work (1). But the cord does come with benefits.
  Corded drills are currently still the most powerful drills on the market. Although battery-powered drills are getting better every day, they haven’t yet reached the same level as corded drills.
  Also, when you don’t have to travel with your drill and you always use it in the house close to a power outlet, you might not need the benefit of a cordless drill in the first place.

• Cordless drills
  Since you don’t have to worry about being close to a power outlet you can use your cordless drill anywhere you like. This makes cordless drills perfect for people who travel around a lot, or who just want to have that bit of freedom.
  As mentioned, this does mean your drill might have a bit less power than a corded alternative would. But if you’re just planning to use it around the house for some DIY, a cordless drill will almost certainly do the job just fine.
  On a final note, when getting a cordless drill it’s advised to always get a spare battery (many cordless drill kits come with an extra rechargeable battery), so you have some backup power if needed.
  If you already own cordless power tools from a brand like Bosch or DeWalt you may be able to use the same rechargeable battery on your cordless drill as well, as many brands now offer product lines that all use the same type of battery.

Is Makita better than DeWalt for cordless drills? is a question people often ask.

Drill size

Most quality drills will have this setting, but it’s still important to double-check before purchasing a new drill. The setting is normally operated through a simple switch or button, changing the direction from clockwise to counterclockwise or vice versa.

This is an essential function for when your driver/drill gets stuck, or when you want to take a screw out instead of driving it in.

Speed

You might think higher speed is always better, but think again. Yes, a high rotation speed is great when you want to drill into something.

But if you are doing precision work like neatly driving in small screws, you don’t want your drill to drive it in at full speed, potentially damaging the surface and overdriving the screw head.

Ideally, your drill/driver will have multiple speed settings so you can easily change the speed depending on the job at hand.

Torque settings

Related to this is the torque setting (2). This is a really useful setting when driving in screws. What it does is ensure your drill stops as soon as the resistance gets too great. In other words, it stops as soon as the screw is in tight, in time before overdriving and damaging your screw head.

Chuck size

The chuck is the part at the end of the drill driver where you will insert the drill bit. Drill chucks come in two different sizes:

• 10 millimetres (3/8 inch)
• 13 millimetres (1/2 inch)

The larger the chuck, the larger the drill bit you can insert. For most indoor/DIY use a 10mm drill chuck will do just fine.

Brushless technology

The latest cordless drills might have a brushless drill motor, as opposed to a brushed motor.

As the name suggests, a brushless drill doesn’t contain brushes, which results in less friction and heat when using your device. This results in less wear of the motor and thus longer durability.

Aside from that, they are also more energy-efficient than their brushed counterparts and they even deliver more power and speed.

In other words, brushless motors are better than brushed motors in every respect. That is, aside from the price tag, because, as is to be expected, brushless drills are generally more expensive than traditional drills.

Best cordless drill reviews Australia

Ready to pick your new drill? Now you know what features and benefits to look for, it is time to have a look at the list with the best cordless drills available today.

We’ve tested and reviewed dozens of cordless drills to determine the best drill for every type of use. Whether you want a compact little drill for indoor use or a heavy-duty hammer drill to bash your way through some concrete, we got you covered.

Still not sure or any questions left unanswered? Then you might want to have a look at the frequently asked questions section below or simply leave us a comment in the comment section at the end of this article.

First on the list is a drill/driver from the Reader’s Digest’s Trusted Brand award winner of 2013 till 2020, as voted by Australians: The Bosch Universal Cordless Drill Driver.

This is the perfect drill driver for all-purpose use, regardless of whether you’re just doing some redecorating in the house or you’re a trader on the job who needs it every day.

Available at a mid-range price, this universal cordless drill driver is relatively lightweight at only 1.2 kilograms, making it less strenuous to use for longer periods on end. With 18V and a maximum speed of 1450 rounds per minute (rpm) you know you will get the job done.

Speed can be easily adjusted depending on the project you’re working on. You can further adjust it to your needs due to a total of 20 different torque settings and a maximum setting, which means you never have to worry about an overdriven screw head again!

As the name suggests, it’s a great cordless drill for universal use.

Best suited for?

Anyone who just wants a good, solid cordless drill that will stand the test of time. It is the perfect mix of DIY meets professional, which does mean that it might not be the best option if you have specific needs.

If you’re looking for the best 18V cordless drill Australia that won’t break your bank then this might be the right drill for you. The Black + Decker drill/driver gives you the trustworthiness of a well-known brand, but for a relatively low price.

It is slightly heavier than the Bosch drill/driver, but at 1.68 kilograms it is still relatively light and easy to use and transport. It comes with 10 different torque settings to ensure you can adjust your drill/driver based on your needs.

The maximum speed is not that high, with only 650 rounds per minute, but this is still enough for most small jobs around the house. A handy additional feature is the LED light at the front, which lights up the work surface when you’re using it.

Best suited for?

People on a budget who aren’t too bothered by max speeds and dozens of torque settings. A simple, cheap cordless drill that will get the job done.

If it wasn’t for the slightly more upscale price, we probably would’ve picked this drill/driver as our top pick. And we wouldn’t be the only ones.

This DEWALT model gets an impressive 5-out-of-5 star rating at Amazon, based on over a thousand customer reviews! And there’s a good reason for that.

The first thing you notice when holding this drill/driver is how small it is. It is by far the most lightweight option on this list, weighing a mere 454 grams! This makes it great if you need to hold it for hours on end, lift it up to reach those high spots, or need to carry it around with you to and from work every day.

But don’t think this small size means it isn’t powerful. In fact, due to its efficient brushless motor and 20V voltage, this drill/driver still manages to blast out a top speed of 2,000 rpm.

A final feature worth mentioning is that it comes with a 3-mode LED light to illuminate your work surface, which means you’ll always have maximum visibility. Even when it’s dark.

Best suited for?

People who specifically want a compact cordless drill.

The second Bosch on the list is yet another great drill, but this time with a more specialised function.

This cordless drill is a hammer impact drill that’s specifically designed to help you hammer your way through rough surfaces like concrete or stone. However, don’t be alarmed as it’s still a drill/driver. You simply switch the gear to change between screwing or drilling.

Another noteworthy feature is its brushless motor, which means it works more efficiently than a brushed motor and is more durable as well. That means you can enjoy your new Bosch for even longer, making it a true purchase for life.

Lastly, the bottom of the drill handle contains a magnetic screw holder, which allows for convenient one-handed operation as the screws are simply attached to the device by the magnet.

Best suited for?

People looking for a driver/drill with (impact) hammer setting for high-impact jobs.

Verdict: The best cordless drill Australia

The Bosch Universal Cordless Drill Driver came out on top as the best overall choice. It blends high-end brand and quality with a relatively low price tag, which makes it great for overall use.
Looking for the cheapest drill on the market that will still last for years and give you a decent performance? Then you might want to pick the Black + Decker BDCDC18-XE18V Drill Driver instead.