A cordless drill is the battery-powered tool that drives screws and bores holes in wood, metal or masonry without a mains cable – and the best cordless drill in Australia for one household is often the wrong one for another, because voltage, hammer action and battery platform matter more here than brand name alone. It uses a keyless chuck to swap bits and an adjustable clutch to stop over-driving a screw once it is seated.
Cordless drills sold locally split into three real categories: standard drill drivers (drilling and screwdriving in wood, metal and light material), hammer drill drivers (an added hammer action for brick, block and concrete), and skin-only tools (bare units sold without a battery or charger, built for tradies who already own batteries on that brand’s platform). Voltage is the other split worth understanding – 12V suits light, occasional jobs, while 18V and 20V handle anything with real resistance behind it.
The spec that actually separates these eight is torque, measured in newton-metres: it runs from about 30 to 40Nm on the lighter starter kits here to 130Nm on the trade-grade brushless pick, and that gap is the difference between a tool that stalls on a long deck screw and one that drives it in a single pull. The number worth checking alongside torque is whether a battery and charger are even included – several of the trade-focused picks on this list are sold “skin only”, a real saving if you already own that brand’s battery platform and a costly surprise if you do not. CHOICE tests cordless drills by driving hundreds of screws and holes into treated pine, and rates drilling and screw-driving performance ahead of brand reputation – a useful sense-check against marketing claims.
Eight cordless drills make this list, priced from a budget starter kit up to a premium brushless trade tool, and between them they cover DIY beginners, masonry drilling and tradies already committed to a battery platform. Every pick here comes from the same marketplace – the reason why, and how the list was actually built, is covered in How We Picked below.
Best Cordless Drill in Australia Compared
| Product | Link | Type | Best For | Key Spec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makita DHP486Z 18V LXT Brushless Combi Drill Driver | Check price | Amazon | Trade Use | 18V brushless combi drill |
| MasterSpec 12V Cordless Drill Driver | Check price | Amazon | Budget Buy | 12V drill driver kit |
| Bosch 18V EasyDrill Cordless Drill Driver Kit | Check price | Amazon | Beginners | 18V drill driver kit |
| Bosch 18V UniversalImpact Brushless Hammer Drill Driver | Check price | Amazon | Hammer Drill for Masonry | 18V brushless hammer drill driver |
| DongCheng 20V Drill Driver Kit | Check price | Amazon | All-In-One Kit | 20V drill driver kit |
| DeWalt DCD1007N-XJ 18V XR Brushless Hammer Drill Driver | Check price | Amazon | Premium Pick | 18V XR brushless hammer drill driver |
| Stanley FATMAX V20 18V Cordless Drill and Flashlight Combo Kit | Check price | Amazon | Value Combo Kit | 18V cordless drill and flashlight combo kit |
| Black and Decker 18V 2-Speed Drill Driver Kit | Check price | Amazon | No Downtime | 18V 2-speed drill driver kit |
How We Picked
We checked the Australian retailers that stock power tools for a genuine cordless drill range, cross-referencing catalogue listings against live product pages and confirmed in-stock status rather than a category search alone. Every general dropship and homeware retailer we normally check for other tool categories came back empty for this one, so this list draws entirely from one marketplace with confirmed Australian stock and a local delivery estimate checked at the time of writing.
From there we weighed torque, included accessories (battery, charger, case) and Australian review volume against each other, instead of ranking on star rating alone – or more precisely, a 5.0-star tool with 20 reviews and a 4.4-star tool with 660 reviews carry different levels of proof, and both are flagged as such in their own entries.
1. Makita DHP486Z 18V LXT Brushless Combi Drill Driver – Best for Trade Use
This is the drill tradies already reach for, and it is sold as a bare tool here, not a starter kit – Makita calls it “skin only”, meaning no battery and no charger in the box. That only makes sense if you already own an 18V LXT battery from another Makita tool, in which case this is a straightforward way to add a second or third drill to the ute without paying for hardware you do not need.
The brushless motor and XPT water and dust sealing are the two features that separate this from a home-DIY drill: brushless means less heat and a longer motor life under constant use, and XPT keeps dust out on a renovation site or a wet Melbourne morning without a case around it. 130Nm of torque handles deck screws and coach bolts that would stall a lighter drill.
Nearly 660 Australian ratings sit at 4.4 stars, a strong result for a trade tool sold without the battery bundled in. Read the negative reviews before buying skin only, though – a handful of buyers clearly did not realise batteries were sold separately and left a one-star review for a tool that worked exactly as described.
Pros
- Brushless motor built for daily trade use, not occasional weekend jobs
- XPT sealing keeps dust and light rain out on-site
- 130Nm of torque handles deck screws and coach bolts without stalling
Cons
- Skin only – no battery or charger included, easy to miss on a quick skim of the listing
- Overkill for someone who only drills a few holes a year
- Sits at the top of this list on price once you add a compatible battery and charger
Key specs: 18V brushless combi drill, skin only (no battery), 130Nm torque, XPT water and dust protection.
CHECK ON AMAZON2. MasterSpec 12V Cordless Drill Driver – Best Budget Buy
MasterSpec undercuts almost everything else on this list and still ships with a battery, charger and a small bit set – the complete package a lot of the bigger brands charge noticeably more for on their own. It suits flat-pack furniture, curtain rods and picture hooks far more than it suits a deck build, and that is exactly the job most households actually need a drill for.
12V is the honest limit here: torque and battery life both trail the 18V and 20V picks further up this list, so do not expect it to sink a long screw into hardwood without a pilot hole first. Not this one’s job. At barely more than half a kilogram, it also sits noticeably lighter in the hand than the 18V kits above – the kind of difference you notice on the fiftieth overhead screw, not the first. Over 170 Australian ratings sit at 4.5 stars, which is a solid result for a tool at this price.
Pros
- Cheapest complete kit on this list, battery and charger included
- Light enough for one-handed overhead work, unlike the heavier 18V picks
- 4.5-star rating across more than 170 Australian reviews is a strong result at this price
Cons
- 12V torque trails every 18V and 20V pick on this list
- Struggles with hardwood or long screws without a pilot hole first
- Battery runtime is noticeably shorter than the 18V kits further up this list
Key specs: 12V drill driver kit, battery and charger included, compact and lightweight build.
CHECK ON AMAZON3. Bosch 18V EasyDrill Cordless Drill Driver Kit – Best for Beginners
Bosch built the EasyDrill for exactly what its name promises: a complete 18V kit – battery, charger and case included – with 20 torque settings and two speeds, aimed at someone who has never owned a cordless drill and does not want to think too hard about which one to buy. It is a distinctly different pitch to the trade-focused Makita and DeWalt picks on this list, which assume you already know what you are doing.
40Nm of torque and a 13mm chuck cover the vast majority of home jobs – shelving, curtain rods, deck furniture, the odd masonry job with the right bit – without the bulk or price of a hammer-drill kit. At 4.6 stars across 151 Australian ratings, it is one of the best-reviewed picks on this entire list.
Pros
- Complete kit – battery, charger and case included at a low price
- 20 torque settings make it hard to strip a screw head by accident
- 4.6-star rating across 151 Australian reviews, among the best on this list
Cons
- No hammer action, so masonry and brick work are off the table
- Torque tops out lower than the trade-grade picks further up this list
- Single battery in the box means a flat charge stops the job
Key specs: 18V drill driver kit, 2.0Ah battery, charger and case included, 40Nm torque, 13mm chuck.
CHECK ON AMAZON4. Bosch 18V UniversalImpact Brushless Hammer Drill Driver – Best Hammer Drill for Masonry
Add hammer action to the same Bosch 18V platform and 60Nm of torque, and this becomes the pick for anyone drilling into brick, block or old rendered walls – a job the EasyDrill above simply cannot do. A lot of Queensland brick veneer and older Melbourne double-brick homes need exactly this before a picture hook or a downlight goes in.
The brushless motor is the upgrade over Bosch’s older hammer drills: less heat buildup on a long job, and a longer working life before the motor needs replacing. At 4.4 stars across 79 Australian ratings, it is a newer listing than the EasyDrill above, so treat the review base as promising, not yet as deeply proven.
Pros
- Hammer action handles brick, block and rendered walls the standard drill above cannot
- Brushless motor runs cooler on long jobs and should outlast a brushed equivalent
- Comes as a complete kit with battery, charger and case, not sold bare
Cons
- Smaller review base than the EasyDrill above, a newer listing on this market
- Heavier in the hand than the plain drill driver, noticeable on overhead work
- Hammer mode is louder in use, worth a set of ear plugs indoors
Key specs: 18V brushless hammer drill driver, 2.5Ah battery, charger and case included, 60Nm torque, 13mm metal chuck.
CHECK ON AMAZON5. DongCheng 20V Drill Driver Kit – Best All-In-One Kit
DongCheng is a newer name on the Australian market, and this listing leans hard into first-drill buyers with an 87-piece kit built around a single drill: bits, a bit holder, a small hand tool and the drill itself, all in one case for less than most brands charge for the drill alone.
1.3kg makes it noticeably lighter in the hand than the Bosch and Makita picks above, a real difference on an overhead job that runs longer than five minutes. 40Nm of torque puts it roughly level with the Bosch EasyDrill on paper, though with a smaller Australian review base (29 ratings at 4.4 stars) to judge long-term reliability against.
Pros
- 87-piece kit covers a drill, bits and basic hand tools in one case
- At 1.3kg, noticeably lighter than the Bosch and Makita picks on this list
- Torque and price sit in the same range as the Bosch EasyDrill above, for less outlay
Cons
- Thinner Australian review base than the established brands on this list
- No hammer action, same limitation as the EasyDrill above
- Bundled hand tools are a real bonus but not a substitute for a proper tool kit
Key specs: 20V drill driver kit, 2.0Ah battery included, 40Nm torque, 10mm keyless chuck, 1.3kg.
CHECK ON AMAZON6. DeWalt DCD1007N-XJ 18V XR Brushless Hammer Drill Driver – Best Premium Pick
DeWalt’s XR line sits at the premium end of this list, and this is the newest hammer drill in the range – brushless, sold skin only, and built for someone already on the DeWalt 18V XR battery platform, not someone buying their first drill. A perfect 5.0-star rating across 20 Australian reviews is a small sample, but it is a clean one, with no repeated complaint pattern to flag.
Where this earns its price over the Bosch hammer drill above is control: DeWalt’s clutch and speed settings are built for fine adjustment on finish work, not just brute torque, which matters more on cabinetry and fit-out jobs than it does on a rough framing site.
Pros
- Brushless XR platform built for daily professional use, not occasional jobs
- Fine clutch and speed control suits finish work and cabinetry, not just rough framing
- Perfect 5.0-star rating across its Australian reviews, with no repeated complaint
Cons
- Skin only – battery and charger sold separately, the most expensive way onto this list if you own no DeWalt gear yet
- Small review base of 20 ratings, promising but not deeply proven
- Overkill for anyone who only needs occasional home DIY drilling
Key specs: 18V XR brushless hammer drill driver, skin only (no battery), premium clutch and speed control.
CHECK ON AMAZON7. Stanley FATMAX V20 18V Cordless Drill and Flashlight Combo Kit – Best Value Combo Kit
FATMAX throws in a real bonus most of this list skips: an 18V flashlight that runs off the same battery as the drill, packaged as one kit at a price that undercuts the Bosch EasyDrill above. For a shed, a caravan or a first tool kit for a share house, that is one less separate purchase to make.
50Nm of torque and 1,500RPM put it mid-pack against the other 18V picks here, and a 4.9-star rating across 13 Australian reviews is the highest average score on this entire list – though from the smallest sample, so treat it as a promising early result, not yet a settled reputation.
Pros
- Bundled 18V flashlight runs off the same battery, a real two-for-one
- Highest average star rating of any pick on this list, 4.9 out of 5
- Undercuts the equivalent Bosch kit above on price for a similar spec
Cons
- Smallest review sample on this list at only 13 ratings
- No hammer action, ruled out for masonry work
- Single battery in the kit, same limitation as the cheaper picks here
Key specs: 18V cordless drill and flashlight combo kit, 2.0Ah battery included, 50Nm torque.
CHECK ON AMAZON8. Black and Decker 18V 2-Speed Drill Driver Kit – Best for No Downtime
The real point of difference here is two batteries in the box instead of one, which matters more than another 10Nm of torque on a job that runs all afternoon – swap the flat one for the charged spare and keep working instead of waiting by the charger.
Reviews are thin (9 Australian ratings at 4.3 stars), so weigh that against the two-battery value proposition instead of treating this as a deeply proven pick. Stock has run tight on this listing before, worth checking before you commit to it over a better-reviewed single-battery kit.
Pros
- Two batteries included, so a flat charge does not stop the job
- 2-speed gearbox covers both fast driving and slower, high-torque drilling
- Priced close to single-battery kits from other brands on this list
Cons
- Thin Australian review base of 9 ratings, one of the smaller samples here
- Stock on this specific listing has run tight before, check availability first
- No hammer action, same limitation as the other non-masonry picks on this list
Key specs: 18V 2-speed drill driver kit, 2x 1.5Ah batteries and charger included.
CHECK ON AMAZONHow to Choose a Cordless Drill in Australia
Work out whether you need a hammer drill or a standard drill driver. Timber framing, flat-pack furniture and general DIY only need a standard drill driver. Brick, block, concrete or old rendered walls need hammer action, full stop – the Bosch UniversalImpact and DeWalt picks above have it, the rest of this list does not.
Check whether the battery and charger are actually in the box. Ever bought a tool only to find the battery is sold separately? A “skin only” listing like the Makita or DeWalt picks above can be the cheaper option overall if you already own a compatible battery, and the more expensive one if you do not. Read the listing twice before assuming a low headline price includes everything you need to start drilling.
Match voltage and torque to the job, not the other way around. A 12V drill is honestly enough for picture hooks, curtain rods and flat-pack furniture. Deck screws, fence palings and anything into hardwood want at least 40Nm from an 18V or 20V tool, or you will be leaning on the drill and stripping screw heads.
Think about where the tool actually lives. A shed in Darwin or Cairns runs hot and humid most of the year, which is hard on battery packs left on a shelf at full charge – store the battery partially charged if the tool will sit unused over a wet-season summer. A garage in a southern city has the opposite problem: cold mornings measurably slow a lithium battery until it warms up.
Factor in battery life for anything longer than an afternoon job. A single battery is fine for an hour of odd jobs. A full day of decking, fencing or renovation work goes faster with two, which is the entire selling point of the Black and Decker kit above – and cheaper than buying a spare battery separately later.
Read the safety basics before you charge anything. Every drill on this list runs on a lithium-ion battery, and the ACCC’s lithium-ion battery guide is worth five minutes, particularly the advice on not leaving a battery charging unattended overnight and letting it cool before recharging after heavy use. If a drill is one part of a wider tool kit, our guide to the best impact driver in Australia covers the tool most people buy right after their first drill – built for driving fasteners fast, not for boring holes.
You’ll Also Want
None of these drills do their best work straight out of the box – the accessories matter almost as much as the tool.
A proper driver bit set earns its keep faster than almost any other accessory here – a stripped screw head from the wrong bit is behind more one-star reviews across this list than any fault in the drills themselves.
A spare 18V battery is worth buying alongside either of the skin-only picks above (the Makita or DeWalt), since a second battery is what actually turns a trade tool into an all-day tool.
A masonry drill bit set is the one thing the Bosch or DeWalt hammer drills above cannot do their job without – a standard wood bit will not survive more than a few holes in brick or concrete. And once the drill is sorted, a dedicated case keeps bits and batteries from disappearing into a shed – our guide to the best tool boxes in Australia covers exactly that.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cordless drill in Australia for a first-time DIY buyer?
For a first drill, prioritise a complete kit over raw torque – one that includes a battery, charger and case, with enough torque settings to avoid stripping screw heads while you learn. The Bosch EasyDrill and Stanley FATMAX picks in this guide are both made for exactly this brief, and neither requires buying a battery separately to get started.
Do I need a hammer drill or will a standard cordless drill do the job?
A standard drill driver handles timber, flat-pack furniture and most household DIY without issue. You need hammer action specifically for brick, block, concrete or old rendered walls, which is common on older Australian homes with masonry construction. Check the product listing for “hammer drill” or “impact hammer” in the name before buying if you are not certain what your walls are made of.
Is it worth buying a cordless drill sold without a battery?
Only if you already own a compatible battery from the same brand’s platform. A “skin only” listing, like the Makita and DeWalt picks in this guide, is cheaper if you are adding a second tool to an existing battery system, and a false economy if you have to buy a battery and charger separately on top of the listed price.
How much torque does a cordless drill actually need for deck screws?
Most decking and fencing work wants at least 40 to 50Nm of torque from an 18V or 20V drill to drive a long screw without stalling or needing a pilot hole first. Lighter 12V drills, like the MasterSpec pick above, can manage it with a pilot hole but will work noticeably harder and drain the battery faster doing it.
How long should a cordless drill battery last before it needs replacing?
A lithium-ion drill battery typically holds a useful charge for 2 to 4 years of regular use before capacity drops noticeably, though heat and full-charge storage both shorten that. The ACCC recommends storing a battery partially charged, not full, if a tool will sit unused for an extended period, which matters in a hot Australian shed over summer.
Can I use a battery from one brand of cordless drill in a different brand?
No. Battery platforms are brand-specific and mechanically incompatible between manufacturers, which is exactly why “skin only” tools like several picks in this guide only make sense if you are already invested in that brand’s battery system. Switching brands part-way through a tool collection means buying a second battery platform from scratch.
Verdict
Across eight cordless drills sourced through one Australian retailer, the split that matters most is trade versus home use: the Makita and DeWalt picks reward someone already on that brand’s battery platform, while the Bosch EasyDrill and Stanley FATMAX give a first-time buyer everything they need in one box at a fraction of the price. If your walls are brick or concrete, skip straight to the Bosch UniversalImpact hammer drill above – a standard drill driver simply will not do that job, no matter how good the rest of its reviews look.
