Corded Vs Cordless Drill – Is One Better Than the Other?

There might be more to consider when choosing between a corded vs cordless drill than you think. Corded vs cordless tools both have jobs that they’re great at, so one isn’t necessarily better than the other.

However, either a corded or cordless drill may be the better option for your specific project, so it’s a good idea to know the pros and cons of each to help you decide. While one type of drill offers more power, the other provides more convenience for the user. This guide will help you understand some of the important differences between a cordless drill vs corded drill so that you can choose the best one for your needs.

Corded vs Cordless Tools: What are the Main Differences?

On the surface, there doesn’t seem to be much difference between corded vs cordless power tools. They both look similar, save for an electrical cord on the corded versions, and they’re both made to perform the same tasks.

However, there are two important differences with corded vs cordless tools that you should consider before making your choice: power and convenience.

Convenience

Convenience is probably the most obvious difference between a cordless drill vs corded drill. A cordless drill doesn’t have a power cord attached to it and instead runs on battery power.

What does this mean for you? For starters, you won’t need to be close to a power outlet to operate your drill, which can make things a lot easier when you’re dealing with a large project. Cordless drills are very portable, allowing you to take it where you need to go without being limited by a cord.

Another point to consider is a cordless drill in terms of safety. With no power cord attached, there is less risk of tripping over the cord, accidentally making contact with water when using the plugged-in drill, or the cord getting in your way as you work.

In terms of convenience, a cordless drill usually pulls ahead of a corded drill.

Power

When considering corded vs cordless power tools, you should think about the power you’ll need from your drill to get the job done. Power can differ significantly between corded and cordless drills, and this is where you’ll likely notice that a corded drill can offer you a little more than a cordless.

Corded drills tend to have more power than cordless drills. The power that electricity provides can give the drill more leverage to drill into tough materials than a cordless drill.

You also won’t have to worry about running out of power with a corded drill because it has a continuous power supply while connected to electricity. With a cordless drill, however, you’re limited with the length of time you can operate it, depending on how long your battery lasts for and if you have charged backups.

The Corded Drill: What Should I Look for and When Should I Use It?

Is a corded or cordless drill right for your project? Let’s dig a little deeper into the corded drill, its benefits, and what types of projects for which it works best.

When to Use One

It seems like most electronics are moving toward cordless, battery-powered versions. While cordless drills are undoubtedly convenient because they don’t have cords, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s automatically the type of drill you should buy.

Corded drills have higher top speeds than cordless varieties, which means that they can provide more power when you need it. If you’re working with hard materials, like plastic, glass, or metal, then a corded drill may give you the power you need to create holes, insert screws, etc.

Also, projects that require a lot of drill usage over a period of a few hours will probably be a good match for a corded drill. When you use a cordless drill, you’ll risk running out of battery and becoming unable to complete your tasks until you charge a new battery.

Important Benefits

Here are a few of the benefits of a corded drill to consider:

• Lightweight. Corded drills are usually more lightweight than cordless drills because they don’t have a bulky battery pack attached to them. The weight can matter when you need a drill that’s ultra-portable and doesn’t weigh down your hands and arms when using it for a long time.

• Compact. Also because of their lack of battery packs, corded drills are usually smaller than corded drills. Their size makes it more convenient to get into tight spots for drilling,

• Ability to handle bigger motors. As we mentioned, corded drills tend to have more power. That’s because electricity helps power larger motors than batteries can handle without draining the battery too fast.

• Long lifespan. Batteries don’t usually last longer than a few years, so you’ll need to replace them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. A corded drill, however, has a more reliable power source, so you may get a longer life from it without spending extra money every few years.

The Cordless Drill: What Should I Look for and When Should I Use It?

We’ve looked at some of the differences of a corded vs cordless drill and when the corded drill is beneficial. Let’s look at some of the circumstances in which a cordless drill might be a better option:

When to Use One

The biggest draw for a cordless drill is its portability and convenience for quick jobs. When you’ll only need to use a drill a few times, or when you can complete your project quickly, then a cordless drill may be just what you need because the battery should provide enough power for you to finish the job.

Cordless drills can also be helpful for finishing large projects, like putting together pieces of furniture. Corded drills can limit how much you can move and where you can use your drill, depending on the length of the cord and where the nearest power outlet is.

Important Benefits

In addition to the portability of cordless drills, there’s one other feature that may make them a better choice for some people: the battery.

Although the battery can make your drill more cumbersome than a corded drill, it may also come in handy if you have other cordless power tools. Depending on the manufacturer of your drill and other tools, you may be able to use the same battery for your drill with other tools, and vice versa.

If so, you can charge some of the batteries you already have so that you have some spares available while you work. This can save you some money instead of purchasing extra batteries for your drill.

Conclusion: Corded vs Cordless Drill

Corded and cordless drills both have their benefits and drawbacks, so one isn’t always a better choice than the other. You’ll need to weigh the pros and cons and decide what kind of drill makes more sense for what you need.

Choosing between a corded vs cordless drill boils down to your preferences and the projects you tend to work on most. Corded drills are helpful for large, but quick, projects, while cordless drills can give you more power when working with hard materials and when completing long projects.