Best Cordless Drill Under $100 – Top 5 [NEW 2022]

A cordless drill shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. In fact, there are a few options for the best cordless drill under $100.

We’ve picked a few cordless drills that offer plenty of power and features, and that won’t break the bank. Check them out.

Product Summary: Best Cordless Drills under $100

What did we look for when putting together our roundup of the best cordless drill under $100? A few things — price being just one of them.

We paid attention to battery types. All the drills we reviewed use Lithium-Ion batteries.

Some, such as the Makita, have 12v batteries, while others, like the Black+Decker, have 20v max batteries. We found that for home use, there’s not much difference between 12v and 20v max.

Most of our drills have 3/8-inch chucks that are keyless, except the Bosch drill, which has a heftier, 1/2-inch chuck.

Best Cordless Drill Under $100 Reviews

Makita CT226 12V Max CXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit

What’s better than the best cordless drill under $100? Two cordless drills for under $100.

Technically, the Makita 12V cordless combo kit comes with a driver-drill and an impact driver, so not really two drills. But you are still getting two cordless tools for the price of one.

The kit also comes with two lithium-ion 12v batteries. The batteries are lightweight and attach to the end of the drill or driver to improve comfort and reduce the risk of fatigue.

People who have tried out the Makita combo kit have mostly been pretty pleased with it. Some called it “perfect” while others were thrilled with the battery life.

There were a few people who were less than jazzed about the combo kit, though. Some noted that their batteries gave out after just a few months of use.

Others complained that the tools in the combo kit are incompatible with other Makita batteries.

Things We Liked

• Two tools for the price of one.
• 1.5 amp hour batteries charge fast and are lightweight.
• Tools have lights on them.

Things We Didn’t Like

• The motor isn’t brushless.
• The drill and the impact driver aren’t compatible with pod-style batteries from Makita.

PORTER-CABLE PCC608LB 20V MAX Lithium Compact Brushless Drill

The drill from Porter-Cable has a 20v max lithium-ion battery and a brushless motor. A brushless motor means there are less friction and resistance, which helps to increase run-time.

The motor has 360 max watts out (MWO), which makes it ideal for those tough jobs when you need a decent amount of torque. It also has two speed settings, up to 1,700 RPM.

Despite its power, the drill is pretty compact and lightweight. Even with batteries, it only weighs 3.2 pounds.

Those who used the drill were pretty impressed with its power and with the batteries’ ability to hold a charge. Some estimated that they were able to get about 4 hours of use out of a single charge.

Another feature that made users of the drill happy was the grip. Several people noted that it was very comfortable to hold the drill in their hands.

People who were less than thrilled with the drill’s performance felt that it handled driving better than drilling. They noted that the drill bits seemed to slip out of the chuck easily.

Things We Liked

• Has a powerful, brushless motor.
• Comfortable grip and lightweight.
• Has a work light.
• Long battery life (comes with two batteries).

Things We Didn’t LIke

• Chuck might not be able to grip drill bits adequately.
• No battery life indicator.

Bosch 18-Volt Compact Tough Drill/Driver Kit

The Bosch 18-Volt Compact Tough Drill is small but mighty. It weighs just three pounds (without the battery) but still has 350 pounds of torque and up a speed of up to 1,300 RPM.

The drill runs on 18v Lithium-Ion batteries and comes with two. It’s also compatible with any 18v batteries created by Bosch, so if you already have other cordless tools from the brand, you can easily swap batteries in and out.

The drill has a 1/2-inch chuck and 20 clutch settings, giving you more options when it comes to control and power.

We were pleased to note a few convenient features or “extras” with the drill. For example, it has an LED light, which can make it easier to see when you’re working in tight, dark corners.

The drill also comes with extras, such as a carrying case.

People who’ve used the Bosch drill have delighted with it, for the most part. One comment praised the location and positioning of the work light, which really illuminates areas and doesn’t cast shadows.

Others have been happy to point out that the chuck is much improved over early models.

People who had complaints about the drill noted that the batteries seem to die quickly. Some pointed out that they thought the drill was suited for medium or light jobs, at best.

Things We Liked

• 1/2-inch chuck.
• LED work light.
• Includes two batteries.

Things We Didn’t Like

• Batteries don’t last that long.
• MIght not deliver the power you want or need.

BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Lithium 2-Speed Drill/Driver

The Black+Decker 20V Max Lithium 2-speed Drill/Driver is designed to be more compact than most cordless drills so that it can fit into tighter spaces (think cabinets). The drill weighs in at less than 3 pounds, as well.

Like most cordless drills these days, it has a keyless chuck. The clutch does leave a little to be desired, as it has only 11 settings.

If you’re only using your drill for light tasks, those 11 settings should be sufficient.

The 20v Max Lithium-Ion battery is compatible with many other tools (both power tools and lawn/garden tools) in the Black+Decker family.

People who’ve used the Black+Decker have noted that there are probably better drills out there, but for the price, the Black+Decker gets the job done. A few people were quick to note that it can handle some jobs, but it’s not up to scratch when it comes to really heavy duty tasks.

Things We Liked

• Includes a 20v battery that’s compatible with other Black+Decker cordless tools.
• Has a keyless chuck.
• Compact size and lightweight.
• Has a light.

Things We Didn’t Like

• Won’t really be able to tackle heavy-duty jobs.
• Drill bits can be wobbly.
• Only 11 clutch settings.

Pink Power PP181LI 18 Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Electric Drill Driver Kit for Women

Ladies, if you’ve been looking for the best cordless drill under $100 and have been thinking “if only they made it in pink,” then we’ve found the drill for you.

We’re kidding, of course, although we get the sense that Pink Power isn’t when it markets its pink-colored drill “for women.”

The motor on the drill has a speed of up to 550 RPM, which is quite a bit slower than other models in our roundup. What the Pink Power drill might lack in actual power, it makes up for in features, such as a level, magnetic strip for holding screw or drill bits and a light.

People who were happy with their Pink Power drill noted that they were pleased to have “their own drill” that their male partners wouldn’t use or take away. Women who were less than thrilled with their drills noted that the packaging might look cute, but the drill failed when it came to actual performance.

Things We Liked

• Lightweight, compact design.
• Comes with drill bits and screwdriver bits.
• Has nice features, such as an LED light and a magnetic grip.

Things We Didn’t Like

• Blatant “pinkwashing.”
• The drill doesn’t offer much in the way of power.

Chuck, Battery, and More: What to Know About Cordless Drills

When you’re in the market for the best cordless drill under $100, what are the features that you should pay the most attention to? We recommend checking out the battery, the chuck, the clutch and the handle.

Take a closer look at each one.

• Chuck. The chuck is the clamp at the tip of a cordless drill that holds the drill bits or screwdriver bits in place. The bigger the chuck, the more powerful the drill.

That said, you’re likely to find a 3/8-inch chuck on a cordless drill. Some models have a 1/2-inch chuck, but that’s not as common.

Lower-end, inexpensive drills might have a 1/4-inch chuck.

Another feature to pay attention to when checking out the chuck is how it opens. Most chucks are keyless these days, which means you can open and close them by hand.

You might find a model that does require a key to open and close it. Keyed models can be a pain to use — especially if you lose the key!

• Battery. The battery is what powers the cordless drill, so it’s pretty important that you choose one that’s got a fair amount of power. There’s a lot to look for in a battery.

First off, take a look at the power. Generally speaking, the battery’s voltage will give you a sense of its power. A 12v battery is usually much less powerful than an 18v battery, for example.

That said, depending on the tasks you’re doing, you might not need the most powerful battery. For plenty of DIY-ers, a cordless drill with a 12v battery is sufficient.

Another thing to look for is amp hours, which is the amount of fuel in the battery. The higher the amp hours, the longer the battery life.

The trade-off here is that a higher amp hour battery (such as 4aH) will usually weigh a lot more than a lower amp hour battery (such as 2aH). It might make sense to go the two-battery route, rather than getting a drill with a super-heavy, long-life battery.

These days, most cordless drills use a lithium-ion battery.

• Clutch. The clutch plays a pretty big role when it comes to protecting your drill and reducing the risk of stripping screws. When your drill hits a certain amount of resistance, the clutch engages.

When the clutch is engaged, the drill won’t spin anymore. Many cordless drills have a range of clutch settings, which allows you to adjust the amount of resistance the drill can experience.

• Handle. The handle of the drill determines how balanced it is and how comfortable it is to hold. Most cordless drills have the battery at the base of the handle, which provides weight at the end.

The battery also allows the drill to stand upright when you set it down.

Less common these days is a pistol grip handle, where the battery slips into the shaft of the handle. A pistol grip drill can be pretty comfortable to hold, in part because it doesn’t have the heavy battery at the end.

Should You Go Cordless?

One question you might have when considering the best cordless drill under $100 is “should you even go cordless?”

For most DIY-ers, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Cordless drills offer a few benefits over corded models.

For one thing, you can use a cordless drill pretty much anywhere, as long as you have a charged-up battery. With a corded drill, you’re limited by outlet location and cord length.

Changes and updates in technology mean that many of today’s cordless drills have a lot to offer when it comes to power, so you don’t have to plug in to get the power you want.

Tips for Using a Cordless Drill

Ready to get started with your cordless drill? Here’s what to do.

• Charge it up. Follow the instructions for charging the battery and make sure you get a full charge before you begin.
• Be safe. Wear safety goggles and long-sleeved clothing to protect your eyes and skin while you work. Wearing a mask isn’t a bad idea, either.
• Secure what you drill. If you are drilling into a loose piece of wood or metal, clamp it in place with a vise before you start working.
• Use the right bit. Size and type matters when it comes to your drill bits. Choose a bit that’s designed for the material you’re drilling into, whether that material is brick, metal or wood.

Final Thoughts on the Best Cordless Drill Under $100

Which is the best cordless drill under $100? We’re going to vote for the Makita CT226 12V Max CXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit.

The Makita gives you two tools for the price of one, but that’s not all that sets it apart from the competition. It also boasts super lightweight batteries that provide a long-lasting charge.