Drills Price Comparison
Compare 277 drills from Bosch, Makita, DeWALT and more. Find the best price across top UK retailers — from budget cordless to professional SDS Max.
Drills price comparison UK
Bosch dominates this category with 89 products and an average price noticeably above the market median — a clear signal that the brand commands a premium buyers are largely willing to pay. But the real story in our catalogue is the spread: from 32 £ for a basic corded Draper impact drill to 775 £ for a professional-grade Bosch SDS Max rotary hammer, the range is vast enough to make "which drill?" a genuinely complex question.
Cordless 18V combi drills sit at the heart of the market, and for good reason. They handle the vast majority of DIY and light trade tasks — drilling into timber, masonry, and metal, plus driving screws — without the hassle of a trailing cable. Makita and Einhell offer solid brushless options well below the median price, while Bosch and DeWALT justify their higher price tags with superior build quality, longer battery ecosystems, and better resale value. If you're already invested in one brand's battery platform, sticking with it almost always makes financial sense.
Worth noting: a significant chunk of the catalogue sits between 64 £ and 90 £, which is where we'd point most buyers. That sweet spot covers capable 18V cordless drills with brushless motors, keyless chucks, and at least one battery included — everything a competent DIYer or occasional tradesperson actually needs. Spending more only makes sense if you're regularly drilling into reinforced concrete or need the endurance of a 5.0Ah battery pack for full working days on site.
For heavier masonry work, the category overlaps with rotary hammers, which use SDS Plus or SDS Max chuck systems and dedicated percussion mechanisms far more efficient than a standard combi drill's hammer mode. If your project involves a lot of concrete or blockwork, it's worth comparing both categories. Similarly, if fastening is your primary task rather than drilling, power screwdrivers and impact drivers often deliver better results at lower torque settings.
Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day consistently produce the sharpest discounts on Bosch and Makita cordless kits — we track price histories across all major UK retailers including Currys, Amazon.co.uk, and Screwfix, so it's straightforward to spot a genuine deal versus an inflated "was" price. With 277 products in this category alone, comparing before you buy takes minutes and can save you a meaningful amount.
How to Choose the Right Drill
With everything from a £30 corded impact drill to a £500+ professional SDS Max in this catalogue, picking the wrong drill is easier than it sounds. The key is matching the tool to your actual workload — not buying for the occasional worst-case scenario. Here's what genuinely matters.
Drill type for your primary task
This is the decision that matters most, and it's the one most buyers get wrong. A combi drill (drill-driver with hammer mode) handles 90% of home and light trade tasks: wood, metal, soft masonry, and screw driving. An impact driver is faster and more efficient for driving screws but poor at drilling. A rotary hammer with SDS Plus or SDS Max is the right tool for serious concrete and blockwork — its dedicated percussion mechanism is far more effective than the hammer mode on a standard combi drill. If you're regularly drilling into dense masonry, don't compromise: a dedicated rotary hammer will outperform any combi drill at that task.
Cordless voltage and battery ecosystem
12V drills are genuinely useful for light work and tight spaces — the Bosch GSR 12V-35 HX at just 570g is a good example — but 18V is the standard for anything more demanding. The critical consideration is battery compatibility: if you already own Makita, Bosch, or DeWALT 18V tools, buying within the same platform means sharing batteries and chargers. DeWALT's average price in this catalogue is the highest of any brand, partly because their batteries hold their value and their ecosystem is extensive. Don't buy a cheap drill from a brand whose battery system you'll never expand — the savings evaporate quickly.
Torque output relative to your materials
Torque (measured in Newton-metres) determines whether the drill can actually overcome resistance. For driving screws into softwood or drilling small holes in timber, 30–40 Nm is ample. For lag bolts, large-diameter holes in hardwood, or driving into dense materials, you want 60 Nm or more. The Bosch GSR 18V-150 C Professional, for instance, is positioned as a high-torque drill-driver — overkill for hanging a shelf, but genuinely useful on a building site. Check the spec sheet, not just the voltage.
Weight and balance for your working position
Compact drills under 1.5 kg (like the Makita DHP487Z at 1.4 kg) are noticeably less tiring for overhead work or extended use. Standard combi drills run 1.9–2.5 kg, which is manageable for most tasks. Heavy-duty SDS Max drills like the Bosch GBH 18V-36 C tip the scales at over 5 kg — fine on a scaffold, exhausting above shoulder height. If you're doing a lot of ceiling work or working in confined spaces, weight is not a spec to ignore.
Brushless motor: worth the premium?
Brushless motors run cooler, last longer, and extract more runtime from each battery charge compared to brushed equivalents. At the 64 £–90 £ price range, most decent 18V drills now include brushless motors as standard — Einhell's TP-CD range is a good example of brushless technology at accessible prices. Below 64 £, you're almost certainly getting a brushed motor, which is fine for occasional use but will wear faster under regular workloads. For trade use or frequent DIY, the brushless premium pays for itself.
What's actually in the box
A drill listed at a low price is often body-only — no battery, no charger. This is standard practice from Bosch Professional, Makita, and DeWALT, who assume buyers already own batteries. The Makita DHP487Z, for example, is listed at a very competitive price precisely because it's sold bare. Always check whether the price includes batteries and a charger before comparing models. A kit with two 2.0Ah batteries and a fast charger represents significantly better value than a bare unit, even if the headline price is higher.
- Entry-level and occasional use (From 32 £ to 64 £) : Corded impact drills and basic cordless models from Draper Tools, Einhell, and Yato. Brushed motors, plastic housings, and modest torque figures. Perfectly adequate for occasional DIY — hanging pictures, flat-pack assembly, light masonry. Don't expect longevity under regular workloads.
- The sweet spot for most buyers (From 64 £ to 90 £) : Where the catalogue gets genuinely interesting. Brushless 18V cordless drills from Einhell and entry-level Bosch and Makita models. Keyless chucks, variable speed, and enough torque for real-world tasks. The Bosch UniversalImpact 18 and Einhell TP-CD range live here. Strong value, especially when bought as a kit with batteries.
- Capable trade tools (From 90 £ to 167 £) : Bosch Professional and Makita mid-range models dominate. Expect higher torque, better build quality, metal gearboxes, and compatibility with serious battery ecosystems. The Bosch GSR 18V-90 C and GSB 18V-110 C sit in this bracket. A sensible investment for tradespeople or serious DIYers who use their drill weekly.
- Professional and heavy-duty (Over 167 £) : DeWALT, Metabo, and Bosch Professional flagship models, including SDS Max rotary hammers. Built for daily site use, with premium brushless motors, high-capacity batteries, and robust warranties. The Bosch GBH 18V-36 C Professional is the standout in this tier. Hard to justify for home use — but if you're on site every day, the reliability difference is real.
Top products
- Bosch GSR 18V-150 C Professional 2200 RPM Keyless 2.1 kg Black, Blue, Red (Bosch) : The most-listed drill in the catalogue and a genuine workhorse — high torque, brushless motor, and Bosch Professional build quality. Overkill for casual DIY, but if you're on site regularly, it earns its price.
- Bosch GSR 18V-90 C Professional (Bosch) : A more sensibly sized Bosch Professional drill-driver that hits the sweet spot between capability and price. Better balanced than the 150 C for overhead work. Our pick for tradespeople who don't need maximum torque all day.
- Makita DHP487Z drill 1700 RPM Keyless 1.4 kg Black, Blue (Makita) : Sold body-only, which explains the sharp price — but at 1.4 kg it's one of the lightest 18V combi drills in the catalogue. Excellent if you already own Makita batteries. Don't buy it expecting batteries in the box.
- Einhell TP-CD 18/120 Li-i BL 2100 RPM 1.71 kg Black, Red (Einhell) : The strongest case for Einhell in this catalogue — brushless motor, 120 Nm torque, and a price well below comparable Bosch models. Not a professional tool, but genuinely impressive value for serious DIY use.
- Draper Tools 56360 drill 3000 RPM Key 1.8 kg Black, Blue (Draper Tools) : The budget option in the top 15, and it shows — corded, keyed chuck, basic spec. Fine for very occasional light tasks, but we'd steer most buyers towards a brushless cordless model instead. Only consider this if budget is the absolute priority.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a combi drill and an impact driver?
A combi drill combines rotary drilling with a hammer mode and variable torque for driving screws, making it the more versatile of the two. An impact driver uses a rotational hammering mechanism specifically optimised for driving fasteners — it's faster and more efficient at that task but poor at drilling holes cleanly. For most buyers, a combi drill is the right choice. If you're driving hundreds of screws regularly, an impact driver from our power screwdrivers and impact drivers category is worth considering alongside it.
Is an 18V cordless drill powerful enough for masonry?
For light masonry — drilling into brick or block for wall plugs — yes, an 18V combi drill with hammer mode is sufficient. For dense concrete, reinforced walls, or larger-diameter holes, it will struggle and wear quickly. In those situations, a dedicated rotary hammer with an SDS chuck is the correct tool. Using a combi drill's hammer mode as a substitute for a rotary hammer on heavy masonry is one of the most common ways to burn out a drill prematurely.
Should I buy a drill body-only or as a kit with batteries?
If you already own batteries from the same brand's 18V platform, body-only is excellent value — the Makita DHP487Z is a prime example of a capable drill sold bare at a very competitive price. If you're starting from scratch, a kit with two batteries and a charger is almost always better value than buying components separately. Two batteries matters: one charges while you work with the other, eliminating downtime on longer jobs.
Are cheap drills from brands like Einhell or Draper worth buying?
Einhell, yes — their TP-CD brushless range offers genuine performance at prices well below Bosch and Makita, and they're a legitimate choice for regular DIY use. Draper Tools are more of a budget option: fine for very occasional use, but the build quality reflects the price. We'd be cautious about Draper for anything beyond light-duty tasks. The Draper 56360 at under 64 £ is a corded drill for simple jobs — don't expect it to perform like an 18V brushless model.
What does 'brushless motor' actually mean in practice?
A brushless motor has no carbon brushes making physical contact with the rotor, which means less friction, less heat, and less wear over time. In practice, you get longer runtime per battery charge (typically 20–30% more than a brushed equivalent), a longer motor lifespan, and better performance under sustained load. For occasional DIY, a brushed motor is fine. For regular or trade use, brushless is worth the extra cost — and at the 64 £ to 90 £ price range, it's increasingly standard.
Which drill brands have the best after-sales support in the UK?
Bosch Professional and DeWALT have the strongest service networks in the UK, with authorised repair centres widely available and multi-year warranties on professional tools. Makita is also well-supported. For brands like Einhell, warranty claims typically go through the retailer rather than a dedicated service network, which can be slower. If you're buying for trade use and downtime is costly, sticking with Bosch, DeWALT, or Makita is the lower-risk choice.
What are the most common mistakes when buying a drill in 2026?
The most common mistake is buying more drill than you need — a £300+ SDS Max for someone who drills a few holes a year is simply wasted money. Close behind that: buying a body-only drill without realising it, then discovering the battery costs nearly as much as the drill itself. A third pitfall is ignoring weight — a 3 kg drill feels fine in a shop but becomes genuinely tiring after 20 minutes overhead. Match the tool to the task, check what's in the box, and always compare prices across retailers before buying.