Having a reliable cordless power drill around is one of the best DIY decisions that you can ever make, and it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and leg. The drilling sector now has undergone an evolution over the past few decades and the result is countless tools including cordless power drills that go for less than $50. This is unlike a few decades ago where the corded drills were the available ones. Cordless drills are lightweight and portable with the right ergonomic design to reduce fatigue when using them. With this cordless drill under fifty dollars, you don’t have to part with a lot of versatility as it may sound. Since you’re not looking for an industrial-grade drill, it’s enough for woodworking and light repairs. Besides, they’re from some top reputable brands. We’ll also look at what makes them the best and what to look for when shopping for power drills.
Best Cordless Drill Under $50 – A Comparison Table
| Image | Model | Features | Check on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
 | BLACK+DECKER 20V LDX120C MAX Cordless Drill / Driver | It weighs 3.4 pounds It's powered by a 20V battery It comes with an 11-position clutch It has an inbuilt LED light It has a chuck size of 3/ inches It has a torque of 260 inches/pounds | Check On Amazon |
 | Hi-Spec 18V Pro Cordless Drill Driver | It uses an 18V battery It has a weight of 5.12 pounds It has a maximum speed of 550 RPM | Check On Amazon |
 | Stalwart 75-PT1004 20V Lithium-Ion 62 Pc Cordless Drill | The 20V battery has a recharge time of 3-5 hours It weighs 6.35 pounds It has a speed of 400, 1400 RPM | Check On Amazon |
 | Avid Power MW316 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Drill | It's powered by a 20-volt battery It has a 15+1 position clutch It weighs 2.2 pounds It comes with an LED light | Check On Amazon |
| TACKLIFE PCD01B 12V Cordless Drill | It weighs 4.15 pounds It's powered by a 12V battery that takes 1 hour to recharge It includes a 19+1 position clutch |
1 – BLACK+DECKER 20V LDX120C MAX Cordless Drill / Driver
BLACK+DECKER LDX120C Cordless Drill / Driver is our best choice for cordless drills under $50 and the ideal DIY drill that you might just be looking for. It is powered by a 20-volt lithium-ion battery with an average life of an hour and can deliver 115 inches/pounds of torque and a maximum variable speed drill speed of 650 RPM for countersinking into a material without damaging it. The 11-position clutch it comes with allows you total control over all screwdriver undertakings regardless of the material whether it’s plastic, wood, or metal. It’s compact and lightweight with a weight of 3.15lbs that allows you to drill or screw in tight spaces and prevents fatigue. It comes with an inbuilt LED light that you can activate by pressing the trigger when in dark areas. The metal chuck is ⅜ inches and comes with a 2-year warranty. You will not find anything under fifty dollars with some ease of use and portability than this.
Pros
- Its compact and lightweight preventing fatigue
- It has a long battery life of 18 months
- It comes with an LED light
- The 11-position clutch provides great control
Cons
- Its slow in recharging
- It only has a single speed
- It’s not ideal for more extensive projects
- The clutch slips sometimes
View price on Amazon
2 – Hi-Spec 18V Pro Cordless Drill Driver
When looking for a model that offers you a good balance between performance and value, look no further. The 18 V Pro Combo Cordless Drill Driver comes with a ton of accessories that will do almost any job a power drill can. For the price point, it comes with the biggest battery (1000 mAh). It uses this 18V battery to power its 17 torque positions with a maximum speed of 550 RPM and a torque of 18 inches/pound that provides you with the right power to rapidly screw or drill into materials such as wood and metal. For a bonus, it comes with a 30-piece accessory set that includes drill bits, 10 screwdriver bits, a countersink, and a durable case for portability and storage. It has a 3-year warranty.
Pros
- It offers great value for money
- It has a large battery capacity
Cons
- The drill bits are of poor quality
View price on Amazon
3 – Stalwart 75-PT1004 20V Lithium-Ion 62 Pc Cordless Drill
This drill is great if you are just starting your tool collection as the tons of bits and a great socket can be a great addition. The drill is powered by a 20-volt rechargeable battery with a recharge time of 3-5 hours, comes with 2 speeds of 400 and 1400 RPM that allow you optimization when dealing with tough tasks, and a torque of 34 inches/pounds for those tough tasks. It weighs 6.35 pounds and has an 18-setting clutch. includes a LED flashlight, a charger, and a magnetic bit holder. The accessory kit includes bits, drill bits, a socket set, and a T-handle driver.
Pros
- It’s easy to use
- It has a good clutch setting
- Its speed is powerful with 2-speeds
Cons
- It takes a long time to recharge
View price on Amazon
4 – Avid Power MW316 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Drill
This Avid power cordless drill may not have much value but it’s fair for that inexpensive price. It has an ergonomic design with a rubber-covered handle that gives you a comfortable grip that you can operate single-handedly. It uses a large 1.5Ah 20V lithium-ion battery that guarantees you a long time with a single charge and can be charged using a phone-compatible USB port with a real-time battery level indicator. It has a 15+1 position clutch setting for control precision when driving screws in and out of material with ease while preventing stripping. It has a torque of 260 pounds/inches and a variable speed of 550 RPM. It also comes with an inbuilt LED light that illuminates dark working areas. It also comes with 10 drill bits, 10 driver bits, a magnetic shaft flexible for hard-to-reach places, and an extension bar for sticking easily on the fastener.
Pros
- It has a large battery capacity
- It comes with a great 16-position clutch
- It includes a lot of add on
Cons
- It suffers from quality-control problems
View price on Amazon
5 –
This model from TACKLIFE uses a 12V lithium-ion battery with a large 2000mAh capacity that can be recharged in 1 hour to power the 20-position clutch that produces higher torque adjustment accuracy, a 240 inches/pounds maximum torque to drill nice holes into metal, wood, and the two variable speeds of up to 350 and 1300 RPM. It is compact and lightweight with a weight of 2.28 pounds and an ergonomic design to relieve you of any fatigue while granting you maximum comfort with less vibration. It also has an all-metal ⅜-inch keyless chuck to provide an automatic spindle lock and great compatibility with the bits. It comes with a fast charger that takes an hour to fully charge the battery, 1 Drive Shaft, 1 extension bit holder, 16 driver bits, a carrying case, and a User Manual.
Pros
- It comes with drill bits and a case
- It has a battery and a fast charger
- The speeds are great
Cons
- The drill bits are weak
What to Consider When Buying Guide for the Best Cordless Drill Under $50
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Compactness
Power drills vary in sizes and weights, and a consideration of the weight and balances too is key. A drill with around 3 pounds is good since its light and saves you from fatigue. Also, the position like horizontal and vertical when using the drill determine how convenient the drill feels in compact spaces.
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Comfort
Comfort is also important since you might have to work for long sessions or in compact positions. An emphasis on ergonomics should guide you to a drill with rubber cushioned grip and contours which cushion your hands even when applying palm pressure directly.
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Weight
Watch the weight since it’s a key determinant of how long you will be able to hold or carry the drill without getting tired. Get a power drill that’s lightweight and comfortable to lift when working on areas above your height. This will give you more tolerance allowing you to do more while staring at a less accident chance of happening. Get a drill with around three pounds.
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Power
A drill’s power is measured in RPM and torque. With RPM (revolutions per minute) used to measure the pace at which the drill can go when drilling or screwing while Torque measures how powerful a drill is. More drill power means faster and easier drilling even through the toughest of materials.
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Speed
Speed and speed setting form an important part of a power drill. It gives you the power to drill into a material with a higher speed meaning that you can drill into a material faster regardless of how hard the material may be. It’s measured in RPM and speed settings coming in a variety to allow you to screw and unscrew drill bits and nuts precisely without damage.
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Battery life
A cordless drill uses a lithium-ion battery that has to be recharged. These batteries can see you through a duration of at least an hour of endless driving/drilling with the ideal voltage being 12-20 volts. Also, some drills include a charger and an extra battery for recharging and replacement. You will notice that some power drills are inclusive of these batteries & their chargers while others require you to buy them separately. Make sure to get a drill with short recharge duration and a longer lifespan.
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Chuck
Cordless drills come with a chuck varying in sizes between ¼ and ½ inches and two types – keyless and keyed chucks. Keyed chucks mostly found on older corded power drills will require you to unlock them using a key to tighten or loosen the drill bits. With a keyless one, you can do so without a key. There’s a ⅜ inch in between with the former two as the most commonly used chucks. A ¼-inch chuck is not as sturdy and cannot be used for drilling/driving on tough materials. Bigger chuck sizes increase your drill’s power. Also, a tiger chuck will be able to hold your drill bits in place better than a loose one.
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Lights
Lights are important on a drill when working in dark or poorly lit spaces. Some drills have LED lights on them to provide you with visibility for precision. Find a drill with an LED light if you find yourself operating in dark areas or if you work at night since you can use it without having to use another spotlight.
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Warranty
Most products besides power drills come with a warranty that guarantees you the product’s durability and performance. It depends on the manufacturer and varies from one manufacturer to another too. A drill under 50 dollars with a warranty of around 2 years is great.
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Accessories
Some power drills include a set with extra tools like extra drill bits and a carrying case that’s a great addition to your collection. Look for a drill with tools that you deem necessary for your work.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a ½ and ⅜ inch drill?
Power drills use a chuck to hold drill bits in place and rotate them. Power drills come in ¼, ½, or ⅜ inch chuck size. A ½ – inch drill can handle heavier tasks while a ⅜ offers versatility because it can accept a wide range of drill bits and is good for common tasks around the house.
Can I use a ⅜ drill bit on a ½ – inch drill?
Yes. Drills are named and rated often by their maximum chuck capacity. Drills can take drill bits up to their chuck capacity. For example, a ½ inch drill can take drill bits of up to ½ meaning anything less than a ½ an inch can fit. Similarly, a ⅜ – inch drill can take a ½ inch drill bit as well as ⅜ drill bits.
Conclusion
A cordless drill is an essential tool to have in your house and you don’t have to spend a lot to get it. In this article, we’ve highlighted not only drills under fifty dollars but drills that will offer you the desired performance despite their low cost.
