Skip to main content

Best small lightweight & compact cordless drill driver

 

Drills are a powerful tool that almost no do-it-yourselfer or professional craftsman can do without.

Drilling holes in walls, wood, or even metal is such an everyday task that one should never do without it. Full-size hammer drills are ideal for all kinds of work.

Compact cordless screwdriver Best Choice

Perfect Pick

DEWALT 20V MAX Right Angle Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

Among the best-evaluated products are the DCD740C1 from DeWalt due to its compact, dependable, and secure design. A fantastic choice for people who are not willing to invest a lot of money in a first-class choice, this 20V drill is a trusted choice.

 4,9 Rating

The battery can cope with intensive drilling for a whole day
Extreme functionality

3450

RPM at no load

2.1

Amp motor

16

lb.Lamp:120V, 40W

TOP compact cordless screwdrivers

Top pick

BLACK+DECKER 4V Cordless Screwdriver

4,8 Rating

Provides more control than a traditional drill

Ideal for use in studios and at home

View on Amazon

Perfect Pick

BOSCH IXO 3.6V Mini Cordless Electric Screwdriver Drill

BOSCH Mini Cordless Electric Screwdriver Drill

4,8 Rating

Voltage 3.6 volts

Weight 340 Grams

Maximum Chuck Size: 13 Millimeters

Maximum Power: ‎850 Watts

View on Amazon
Editor’s Pick
MIJIA Electric Screwdriver

Xiaomi Mijia Cordless Electric Power Screwdriver Kit

4,9 Rating

5N.m high torque, 12 x S2 steel bits

Built-in 2000mAh large capacity Li-ion battery

View on Amazon

Compact cordless drill driver review

Compact cordless drill driver Rankings

However, at times this greatness and strength may be rather annoying. Imagine you are trapped in a narrow room in the back of drywall or in a bathroom faucet. Perhaps you have plenty of holes to drill above your head, with your hands up for a very long period of time.

Full-sized drills and drivers are simply too cumbersome or heavy-weight for a lot of such applications. How will you manage? Well, the simplest solution is to find a lot of small, portable drills that will do all the work properly. These are not the most efficient. Also, the batteries do not hold for hours. Yet, with proper investigation, you will get just the right thing to do those challenging tasks.

1. DEWALT 20V MAX Right Angle Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

  • The battery can cope with intensive drilling for a whole day
  • Extreme functionality
  • Designed with two-speed settings (speed or torque)

2. BLACK+DECKER 4V Cordless Screwdriver

  • Provides more control than a traditional drill
  • Ideal for use in studios and at home
  • Ideal for cleaning brush attachments
BOSCH IXO 3.6V Mini Cordless Electric Screwdriver Drill

3. BOSCH Mini Cordless Electric Screwdriver Drill

  • It is a very light tool that comes in just under 10 ounces
  • It can be used as a manual screwdriver
  • Fast-charging capacity
MIJIA Electric Screwdriver

4. Xiaomi MiJia Electric Screwdriver

  • 5 N.m high torque, 12 x S2 steel bits
  • Built-in 2000mAh large capacity Li-ion battery

5. Ryobi One+ P236 18V Cordless Impact Driver

  • Three-beam LED lamp for a well-lit operating zone
  • Highly efficient 3,200 rpm and a torque of 1,600 lb-in
  • Supplied complete with a magnetic base to keep bits and fixings in place during operation

6. Bosch PS32-02 Cordless Drill Driver

  • Brushless engine
  • Two batteries enclosed
  • Two-speed gearbox

7. Ryobi HP54L 4V Compact Screwdriver

  • With a stable elastic strip above the gun handle
  • Illuminates the work area with the LEDs mounted on the chuck
  • The battery is compatible with other Ryobi 4V products

8. Dewalt DCF885BR 20V MAX Cordless Impact Driver

  • The small (5.55″ from nose to tail) size allows for easy access into narrow areas
  • Single hand operation 1/4″ hexagonal chuck accommodates 1″ bit tips

9. Milwaukee M4 4V Cordless Screwdriver Drill Kit

  • Featuring a 3/8″ single sleeve ratchet chuck
  • Multiple applications in a controlled way
  • Digital clutch with 11 adjustments

10. BLACK+DECKER Cordless Screwdriver

  • 220 rpm to allow fast driving
  • Lengthening shaft for wider range and easier accessibility to narrow spaces
  • Built-in LED lamp for illumination of badly illuminated working areas

Buyer’s Guide

If you want to make sure you get a model that you will enjoy using, be sure to check out our reviews of the best lightweight cordless drills. We go through the good and bad sides of each model so that you can find a model that suits your needs, while at the same time giving you advice on how to find a cheap model so that you can make the most of your money.

Best compact cordless screwdriver

1. DEWALT 20V MAX Right Angle Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

View on Amazon
Product

Features:

  • The battery can cope with intensive drilling for a whole day
  • Extreme functionality
  • Designed with two-speed settings (speed or torque)

Among the best-evaluated products are the DCD740C1 from DeWalt due to its compact, dependable, and secure design. A fantastic choice for people who are not willing to invest a lot of money in a first-class choice, this 20V drill is a trusted choice.

With its clean lines and robust construction, it’s a perfect right angle drill. With a weight of 3.9 pounds, it may not be the lightest tool on the market, but it still provides the operator with the right level of strength and vibration to avoid arm exhaustion. The most important sales argument for this unit should be the battery, which lasts a whole day.

2. BLACK+DECKER 4V Cordless Screwdriver

View on Amazon
Product

Features:

  • Provides more control than a traditional drill
  • Ideal for use in studios and at home
  • Ideal for cleaning brush attachments

This is one of the versatile and functional tools that you can have in your toolbox, as it can be used as a rechargeable flashlight or as a screwdriver to perform various tasks in your home. With this tool, it would be quite easy for you to perform certain tasks such as assembling furniture, hanging decorations, and much more.

Its flashlight can be used as a spare light in areas with poor lighting conditions, while its three-stage swivel handle allows access for various applications. This tool has a long life span, as it comes with a two-year warranty and, thanks to its compact size, it is easy to store when not in use.

3. Xiaomi MiJia Electric Screwdriver

MIJIA Electric Screwdriver
View on Amazon
Product

Features:

  • 5N.m high torque
  • 12 x S2 steel bits
  • Built-in 2000mAh large capacity Li-ion battery

Xiaomi continues to produce unique products. Such is the case with the new Xiaomi Mijia Electric screwdriver. It looks like a screwdriver from the future. But is it worth its money or does it just have a nice look?

The screwdriver is very light and can be used with one hand. We tested the screwdriver on some screws, and it works very well, but we can’t test the strength on a professional level. The only thing we can say is that it is powerful enough to assemble furniture, replace a socket, and do other tasks for the home. The bit set has all the common bits you need.

4. Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Impact Driver

View on Amazon
Product

Features:

  • Three-beam LED lamp for a well-lit operating zone
  • Highly efficient 3,200 rpm and a torque of 1,600 lb-in
  • Supplied complete with a magnetic base to keep bits and fixings in place during operation

This Impact Driver is one of the most cost-effective options available, making it the perfect choice for anyone on a limited budget or just getting started.

The most remarkable features of this impact driver are its power and speed with an amazing 1,600 in pounds of torque and up to 3,200 rpm. This makes this impact driver perfect for driving almost any screw in your project.

This impact driver, in fact, contains a magnetic dish at the base of the device in which additional bits and fixings could be stored without you having to keep them in during work.

This is indeed the perfect impact driver for novice users because you can apply and remove the bits with just one swift movement. However, it also provides an amazing level of hold and traction, so you have no chance of this tool falling out from your grip in the rain or with sweaty hands.

5. Bosch PS32-02 Cordless Drill Driver

View on Amazon
Product

Features:

  • Brushless engine
  • Two batteries enclosed
  • Two-speed gearbox

The brushless drill/driver set PS32-02 from Bosch is probably among the finest light battery-powered drills available today. It is equipped with a brushless engine, meaning that it operates with greater efficiency and is virtually maintenance-free over its entire lifetime. It is supplied with two batteries for unlimited use. Simply place the depleted battery on the loader and it will be fully operational when you blow the other battery. It is as well equipped with a two-speed gearbox that enables you to increase torque for heavy work or boost speed for light work.

The unit is also supplied with a carrying bag so that you can store it safely in case you have to carry it when traveling. Weighing less than an lb, this is the ideal ultra-light drill for everyone who needs a high performance, yet extremely low weight drill bit. The one thing about this model is that the supplied LED light is badly mounted on the base. Occasionally it throws shade rather than lighting up the operating zone. Given the price and how well it performs in other respects, it is quite clear that this product offers high quality and is appreciated by most people.

6. Ryobi HP54L 4V Compact Screwdriver

View on Amazon
Product

Features:

  • This device has a stable elastic strip above the gun handle. This will assist you in holding the unit in even the slickest circumstances
  • It allows you to leave your work area illuminated as you drive in fixings by using the LEDs mounted on the chuck
  • This battery is compatible with other Ryobi 4V products

You do not need a large, heavy-weight drill/driver to change a light sensor panel. Use a cordless screwdriver for simple, easy mounting projects. For this purpose, we recommend the Ryobi HP54L. Combining the portability of a handheld screwdriver with the performance of a drill/driver in a compact, convenient kit, this portable unit has many features. It is equipped with a 2-speed transmission that varies from 200 to 600 rpm and is activated by an extra-large shutter release to give you the ultimate control. Further control is provided by the grooved rubber overgrip. With the 1/4-inch hexagonal shaft into which you only need to insert it to get started, small changes are easy to make. And don’t worry about having to purchase additional batteries, since it includes a 4V lithium-ion battery and charger! These batteries can be used for Ryobi’s 4V range of equipment. For do-it-yourselfers who want to make small home improvements, we recommend buying one of these excellent drivers from Ryobi.

7. Dewalt 20V MAX Cordless Impact Driver

View on Amazon
Product

Features:

  • Small (5.55″ from nose to tail) size allows for easy access into narrow areas
  • Single hand operation 1/4″ hexagonal chuck accommodates 1″ bit tips
  • 3 LED lamps with a 20-second time lag after the shutter is released, ensuring the full vision and shadow-free operation

This driver is among the shortest 18V drivers currently available, and although it is not a key selling point, its enhanced chuck is definitely one. There are few impact drivers with 1/4-inch chucks capable of handling a 1-inch bit as good as the DCF885, and you need to acknowledge where it belongs.

A torque of 1,400 lb-in is nothing to cry over, and with a stroke rate of 3,200 IPM (strokes per minute), the DCF885 will not fail you when it’s time to do the job.

Altogether, this is an inexpensive and extremely well-rounded power device with some additional features keeping the unit’s price reasonable.

8. Milwaukee 2101-21 M4 4V Cordless Screwdriver Drill Kit

View on Amazon
Product

Features:

  • 2-speed transmission: 200/600 rpm
  • 44 inch-pound tightening torque
  • 21-position coupling setting with automatic stop

Featuring a maximum torque of 44 in-lbs and a 21-position clutch with automatic stop, the new screwdriver provides enhanced tightening control for repeated use. Two speeds, 200 and 600 rpm provide operators with enhanced control for accurate jobs. At just 244 millimeters long and less than one pound, the M4 screwdriver is simple to operate with just one hand and comes with a ¼” quick-change chuck for single-handed drill change. With more than 200 holes per charge, the M4 screwdriver is the industry’s first screwdriver to be powered by Milwaukee’s RED LITHIUM 2.0 battery on the new M4™ platform, providing up to 50% longer running time. Milwaukee continues to deliver innovative solutions in performance, efficiency, and wearability.

9. BLACK+DECKER Cordless Screwdriver

View on Amazon
Product

Features:

  • 220 rpm to allow fast driving
  • Lengthening shaft for wider range and easier accessibility to narrow spaces
  • Built-in LED lamp for illumination of badly illuminated working areas

The BLACK+DECKER BCF601AA 6V alkaline driver BCF601AA provides a quick and efficient alternative to manual mounting. The speed of 220 rpm rapidly tightens screws on different surfaces. An extra lengthening shaft enables a wider range and better reach in tight spaces. A built-in LED lamp provides light to highlight badly lighted areas and stretches through the lengthening shaft.

Best small lightweight & compact cordless drill driver

Which functions should you concentrate on

If you are looking to find the most suitable compact drill, there are several aspects that you really have to focus on. In the marketing terminology of various companies, the same functionality is referred to in various ways, which complicates things a bit. Here we are going to tell you exactly where to focus on making the best decision to meet your requirements.

Power

Drill and driver usually refer to two different values. Speeds per minute and torque. For a drill, the speed of rotation is more important, as it indicates how fast the drill rotates. The faster this is the case, the faster you will get the job done.

For the functionality of a drill, you should focus on torque, as this indicates how much the drill can turn a screw or bolt. Most compact devices have fairly low torque, so they are only suitable for smaller jobs.

Construction of the motor

Ideally, you want to look for a brushless motor here. These usually last much longer because they generate much less friction. However, they are more expensive, so you may need to increase your budget.

Also, pay attention to the number of clutch positions. This shows how smoothly the clutch works through the different speeds. And finally, you should pay close attention to how many gears it has. With a 2-speed gearbox, you can work much more precisely, especially at low speeds.

LED lamps

These are normally mounted on the front of the drill and must be designed so that they shine to the end of the drill. Note it is a wonderful characteristic that should be taken into account. When you are in a tiny, low-light location, the struggle with a drill and flashlight may be very painful.

Characteristics to be taken into account when purchasing a light drill

Weight

This has been the key point of this article, as many users have reported complaints about heavy drills that exclude them from overhead drilling. Putting extra weight on a cordless drill will require you to work a little harder except if it has a high torque that gets the job done faster. It’s essential to balance each additional pound on the drill to ensure you work smarter, not tougher. We’ve concentrated on drills with the lowest weight-to-torque ratio to make sure every drill provides up to 300 pounds of torque over the 2.5-pound threshold, so you can work faster and with less fatigue.

Torque

This is the power you get at each revolution of the drill bit. Large drills have a higher torque due to the motor, but there are now light drills on the market with very high torque, as you can see in our recommendations. It is always advisable to choose the highest torque that can handle your projects. Do-it-yourself projects at home may not require more than 300 pounds of torque, so our 12V recommendations are the best home drills available.

However, drills with higher torque are useful because they perform better on harder surfaces, so we recommend lightweight drills with the highest torque and an ergonomic design that allows you to drill and drive with ease.

Chuck

The chuck is the end of your drill that grips the bits, and it is the most important part of any drill that determines how accurately and comfortably you can drill. All modern drills come with a metal ratchet chuck, although some manufacturers do not use a solid material, which leads to quick chipping and a loose grip after some work. You must insist on a strong chuck to avoid inconvenience. The chuck also helps to select the right torque for each job and to switch to drilling mode.

Voltage and batteries

The ability of your drill to deliver sufficient power and runtime depends on the type of battery you have on board. It is important to adhere to the battery voltage specified by the manufacturer to avoid burning your drill. Packaged batteries, however, tend to be weaker, usually 1.5ah and 2ah batteries, which may not provide enough torque for difficult projects in all-day drilling. We recommend purchasing a 4ah battery, especially a 20-volt one, to get the most out of your drill.

Conclusion

Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer, woodworker, or even a professional, you need a cordless screwdriver, and the products listed in this report are certainly the best you can find.

These screwdrivers are powerful, reliable, have a great design and you can use them as a gift. We urge you to carefully examine each one of them so that you can find the one that best suits your needs.

FAQ

⁉️ How can I extend the life of my batteries?

Lithium batteries can last up to 3 years if you care for them properly. It is not really difficult to extend the life of batteries. Just keep the drill clean and blow it out to reduce resistance from rust and dust in the engine, which eats up more battery power and weakens it more quickly. You should also avoid completely draining the battery before storing it. Batteries should be stored in a cool, dry place to avoid interference from elements that could destroy the poles or cause an internal reaction.

⁉️ What is a combi-drill and what is it used for?

This has become a very common term on the market to describe a rechargeable hammer drill. It is always better to have a drill that can perform this function because it is more versatile in coping with more difficult jobs and drills faster. These drills also tend to attract a higher price, but in our guide above you will find the DEWALT combi-drill, which is the one most recommended by our professional advisers.

⁉️ How long do cordless drills last?

The main reason for the short life of cordless drills is a motor blown up by rust and dust, which is a direct result of poor maintenance. The life of a cordless drill always depends on how often you use it, what you use it for and how well you maintain it. The most important thing to look for in a cordless drill is a high-quality material finish, which we have insisted on in our recommendations.

The warranty available for the drill will also help you understand your confidence in the material, we insisted on 2 years or more. Our consultants have agreed on an average of 4 years for a properly maintained drill for everyday use, but yours can last longer if you use it for the recommended tasks and keep it clean and dry at all times.

Best small lightweight & compact cordless drill driver Video

Max Welder

Max Welder

Hi! I'm Max Welder (toolsproper.com). I always wanted to work with my own hands, repair something, do things. Now I combine my knowledge with computers and my own knowledge in the field of mechanics in order to understand which tools I like the most. I hope to convey some knowledge and experience.

Leave a Reply