Familiar name leads race for best 12V cordless drill
We like the 12V class because it weighs less and takes up less space than the 18V/20V max models. There is always a trade-off between speed and power. But while the 18V class continues to advance, 12V and some of the best 12V cordless drill models are also competing with compact 18V drills.
Bosch PS32 12V Max EC Brushless Cordless Drill
Bosch's PS32 takes the 12V mantra to heart – start with a light, compact design and build from there. Being the lightest and most compact, it still performs as we've come to expect from a Pro model. You won't find a better blend of everything you'd expect from the best 12V cordless drill than the Bosch PS32!
Best 12V Cordless Drill Runner Up
- Ridgid R82005 12V Cordless Drill Driver
The Ridgid 12V Drill still holds up well despite being relatively old compared to many others on our list. It didn't set the world on fire in any category except value, but its solid first-half performance in nearly every other metric led it to a solid second spot.
Best 12V Cordless Hammer Drill
Makita PH05 12V CXT Brushless Hammer Drill
If impact drill capability is a must, check out Makita's PH05. It had the highest drilling speed in our tests, including in concrete. It has more torque and less weight than its competition, and it ends up with a good margin on the Milwaukee and Hilti.
The most compact 12V electric drill
Bosch PS32 12V Max EC Brushless Cordless Drill
Bosch's PS32 is the most compact 12V cordless drill, beating out Ridgid for the win. It does make the drill very easy to use.
The most powerful 12V cordless drill driver
Bosch GSR12V-140FC FlexiClick 12V Electric Drill
In the 12V class, there is not nearly as much difference from the lowest to the highest torque as in the 18V class. However, Bosch's FlexiClick beats Metabo and Skil.
Fastest Drilling 12V Cordless Drill
Skil DL529001 12V Max Brushless Drill
Skil say they are a DIY brand, but their performance continues to compete with and beat professional brands. If speed is your goal, Skil's 12V Max brushless drill driver is the way to go, and the Metabo is pretty much the only one that can hit it.
Best Value Cordless 12V Power Drill
Ridgid R82005 12V Cordless Drill Driver
Ridgid's R82005 is no spring chicken, but it continues to offer the best value in the 12V class. Part of that is performance. Part of that is the $84 kit price. They offer lifetime service agreements and include battery replacements in the deal. If that's not enough, you can jump up to the 2-tool combo kit and buy an impact driver for $129.
Why Use a 12V Cordless Drill?
The best 12V cordless drill models do a lot for professionals and DIYers alike. They can handle about 80% of the work that the 18V/20V Max models can. Even compared to the compact 18V class, they are lighter and have a smaller footprint.
They're easier to use, but the tradeoff isn't just speed and power. They also have fewer bells and whistles. This simplicity benefits some users, while others want more features to help produce great results.
Test Results
Check out our Best Cordless Drill homepage for test details.
heavy load test
The heavy load test can be a bit misleading if you are used to 18V supplies. With the smaller motor, we asked each model to drill as fast as possible with a 3/4″ Bosch Daredevil high speed auger bit.
The Skil (1252 RPM) and Metabo (1196 RPM) beat the competition by more than 200 RPM, with Makita's PH05 (963 RPM) in third place.
The Metabo HPT (formerly Hitachi) formed the basis – no surprise for a tool as long as this model has been around. Milwaukee (747 RPM) was uncharacteristically close to the bottom, but was still pushing plenty of RPM to keep progress. Bosch's FlexiClick did slightly better at 769 RPM, while their PS32 hit 799 to end the sub-800 RPM group.
In terms of efficiency, the Skil is your best bet, maintaining 77% of its no-load speed. Metabo and Bosch's PS32 tied for second with 66%. Milwaukee (48%) came in last, with Metabo HPT (54%) and Hilti (58%) climbing from there.
light load test
Milwaukee's 1/2″ Shockwave Titanium Twist Bit provided resistance for our light load tests. Skil (1420 RPM) and Metabo (1362 RPM) continued to dominate the speed tests. Ridgid finished the podium class with 1088 RPM.
Milwaukee remains at the 781 RPM base, supporting the Metabo HPT (810 RPM) and Makita's FD07 (888 RPM).
The Skil maintains its efficiency leadership at 87% of its no-load speed. Bosch's P32 (81%) came in second, with its FlexiClick, Ridgid and Metabo tied for third at 76%.
Milwaukee is up to 50% efficiency from the previous test. Hilti (61%) and Makita's FD07 (64%) came in second and third.
concrete test
Three of our 12V drills are impact drills, so we ran them alongside a 1/4" Bosch multi-purpose drill.
Milwaukee drilled a 3-inch hole in less than 11 seconds and won the game easily. Makita (12.73s) was almost 2 seconds behind, maintaining a good gap with Hilti's 15.73s.
We prefer the 18V drill for light concrete drilling, but all three are very capable as long as you don't mind the time spent.
torque result
Our torque results are from soft torque tests. Check out our shootout homepage for full test details.
Most people won't buy a 12V tool for their torque. While some are better than others, the class as a whole only differs by 17 inch-pounds. Bosch's FlexiClick leads the way with 116 in-lbs of torque. Metabo came in second at 108.8 in-lbs, followed by Skil at 107.6 in-lbs.
The lowest torque is the Hilti, at a still relevant 99.2 in-lbs. Milwaukee was a little higher at 102 inch-pounds, and then we hit a log jam near the 104 inch-pound mark.
feature set
Even the best 12V cordless drills are pretty mediocre in terms of features compared to 18V drills. Here are a few that stand out and which models have them:
Brushless Motor
- Bosch PS32
- Metabo BS 12 BL Q
- Milwaukee 2503/2504
- Makita FD07
- Makita PH05
- Skill DL529001
All Metal Chuck
- Milwaukee 2503/2504
Interchangeable Chuck System
- Bosch GSR12V-140C
- Metabo BS 12 BL Q
weight
The Bosch (1.96 lbs) wins the weight war as the only tool/battery combination under 2 lbs. Their FlexiClick model came in second at 2.24 pounds and the Makita FD07 was third at 2.33 pounds.
The Milwaukee (3.21 lbs, 3.23 lbs for the hammer version) is the only model to break the 3 lb barrier, and their 2504 hammer drill is slightly heavier than their drills. The Skil weighs 2.89 lbs.
footprint
Most of these rigs maintain a compact footprint, but none quite as compact as Bosch's PS32 (6.2 inches high, 6.4 inches long). Ridgid comes next, with a shorter stature (5.9 inches) and a longer head (6.9 inches). Bosch's FlexiClick wraps the ultra-compact side at 6.2 inches high and 7.0 inches long.
Metabo HPT is ahead of the big picture in design. At 7.3 inches tall and 7.8 inches long, it's noticeably bigger, with the Skil (7.7 inches tall, 7.1 inches long) and the Hilti (7 inches tall, 7.7 inches long) far ahead.
value
After gathering all other results plus bare tool and kit prices and feeding them into our algorithm, four models are worth far more than the rest. Ridgid has released solid performance and design with its R82005 for an $84 kit price. The Skil remains popular due to its combination of performance and $80 kit price. Metabo beat Hilti to take third place in a fierce competition.
Warranty
If you're the kind of person who doesn't mind having your tool registered, a warranty can add a lot of value to your purchase.
- Metabo HPT DS10DFL2: Lifetime Warranty
- Ridgid R82005: Lifetime Service Agreement
- Hilti SF 2H-A: 20 years
- Milwaukee 2503/2504: 5 years
- Skill DL529001: 5 years
- Bosch PS32: 3 years
- Bosch GSR12V-140FC: 3 years
- Makita FD07: 3 years
- Makita PH05: 3 years
- Metabo BS 12 BL Q: 3 years
price
Here's how pricing is calculated. For tools that do not have a kit available, we will add to the charge for a battery/charger starter kit.
Best 12V Cordless Drill Final Ranking
- Bosch PS32 – $139
- Ridgid R82005 – $43.99 (tools only)
- Metabolism BS 12 BL Q – $229
- Skill DL529001 – $48.02
- Bosch GSR12V-140FC – $157.28
- Makita FD07 – $157.99
- Makita PH05 – $95.41 (bare)
- Metabo HPT DS10DFL2 – $98.66
- Hilti SF 2H-A – $215.06 (kit)
- Milwaukee 2503-22/2504-22 – $169 / $179
Best 12V Cordless Hammer Final Ranking
- Makita PH05 – $95.41 (bare)
- Milwaukee 2503-22/2504-22 – $179
- Hilti SF 2H-A – $215.06 (kit)
Best 12V Cordless Drill: 5 Takeaways
1. How did Milwaukee finish last?
We're not used to seeing Milwaukee rank so low, but it's a little deceiving. Despite their high rankings, both models are capable of handling the job with ease. Sadly, it's still the heaviest in the pack that favors light and compact designs.
If you're an M12 fan, don't lose any sleep over this. It's a great tool that we don't mind using at all.
2. Metabo has a 12V line…and it's legal
Metabo were keen to get their first 12V tool into our hands for this shootout and we're really glad they did. They sacrificed some weight and size for better power, which works really well if you're looking for a 12V drill that emphasizes performance. They have really mastered handle design and weight balance. Overall, this is a design that other brands can borrow from.
3. These aren’t bad tools
This is related to Takeaway #1 and bears repeating. The difference from worst to first is less than 15 points, and none of these workouts hit the cut-off point for us not to recommend it. So if you're already using a battery platform, stick with it. If you're thinking of buying one, while the Metabo HPT line is about to be updated, there's nothing bad about the tools in this lineup.
4. Skil continuously improves quality
The Skil is aimed at the latest generation of DIY enthusiasts and you'll see nod to this in the USB rechargeable battery packs and chargers. But they've been performing above our expectations for the DIY and Prosumer brands. They give up some weight and footprint, but they've consistently shown us that their brushless lineup has the performance a Pro needs.
5. The final decision is still up to you!
We measure our results against what our professionals believe is most important. If money is the most important thing to you, your final ranking will be different than ours. We love different opinions, so tell us what you think is most important, and which model you think is the best 18V impact driver.
Remember, there are real people doing this work and contributing through their comments. I hate having to delete comments and ban people who act like middle schoolers, so keep it on topic and clean.