So you want to do a quick DIY project in your apartment and you’re looking for a good quality cordless drill. As it turns out, there are lots of cordless drills that are great for apartments. Continue reading to discover the perfect cordless drill to use in your apartment.
I was struggling with the decision to buy a cordless drill, and after hours of research, I finally managed to narrow down my choices to a handful of products.
Here is a list of all the products mentioned below (click for quick navigation):
- 🏆 Black+Decker 20V MAX Cordless Drill [Top Choice]
- 💎 Milwaukee 2607-21CT ½” 18V Cordless Hammer Drill [Premium Choice]
- 💰 CRAFTSMAN CMCD700C1 V20 Cordless Drill [Best Overall]
- 💵 Black+Decker 8V Cordless Drill with Bit Set [Budget Choice]
- Milwaukee 2615-21 Cordless M18 Right Angle Drill [Best for Tight Spaces]
Cordless drills are much more practical than their counterparts because they’re portable, lightweight, and the batteries are rechargeable.
They can be used in a wide variety of DIY projects, whether indoors or outdoors, and are generally easier to use in close quarters.
Before we continue, as with any DIY project, it’s important to plan ahead and make sure you have all the necessary measurements and tools ready. It’s recommended to draw or at least mark an outline of where you need to drill prior to taking any action.
5 Cordless Drills for Apartment DIY Projects
Without further delay, here’s my list of best cordless drills that you can use on small DIY projects in your apartment.
#1 Black+Decker 20V MAX Cordless Drill
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
Weight: 3.15 Pounds | Battery Type: Lithium Ion | Voltage: 20 volts
Black+Decker is a reputable brand in the household and tool industries, they have a wide range of products from power tools to coffee machines.
The Black+Decker 20V Max cordless drill is a very high-quality handheld cordless drill that is great for apartment use and other small DIY projects.
It’s got 11 clutch settings (torque settings) and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can hold a steady charge for a long time.
Compact and lightweight, the Black+Decker wireless drill is ideal for men and women alike. As a matter of fact, many women like this drill saying it’s perfect because it’s has a smaller grip size and not too heavy. The total weight comes to near 3.15 pounds.
While the torque isn’t the strongest, it’s a very affordable, lightweight, and a small-size cordless drill.
The drill is great for woodworking and other non-intensive drilling projects.
P.S. You might also like this Black+Decker cordless drill two-in-one bundle. (Amazon affiliate link)
#2 Milwaukee 2607-21CT ½” 18V Cordless Hammer Drill
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
Weight: 4.4 Pounds | Battery Type: Lithium Ion | Voltage: 18 volts
Here we have a stylish red and black handheld cordless hammer drill by Milwaukee, a reputable power tool brand. While this drill is relatively small and light, it packs a punch.
With three drilling modes and an 18-position clutch, the Milwaukee 2607 can drill holes into almost any material.
Under the clutch, it has LED lighting so you can see your work area with no shadows. While a little pricier than the other cordless drills in this article, this one makes up for it in quality materials, a combination of metal and strong plastic.
The drill is powered by a 1.5Ah rechargeable battery and it has a max of 1800 RPM, making it suitable for all kinds of heavy-duty work.
Overall, if you’re looking for a solid, high-quality cordless hammer drill, then the Milwaukee 2607-21CT is worth checking out.
On that note, if you’re looking to drill into concrete in your apartment, then this one should do the trick.
#3 CRAFTSMAN CMCD700C1 V20 Cordless Drill
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
Weight: 5.2 Pounds | Battery Type: Lithium Ion | Voltage: 20 volts
The Craftsman cordless drill is another power tool that’s great for apartment use. It’s handheld, relatively lightweight, and offers decent performance.
A cool feature about this model is it comes with a LED light for dark work areas. It also has a battery level indicator on the bottom of the drill, making it easy to tell when you need to charge it.
As for performance, the CMCD700C1 has two gears with an RPM of 400 and 1,500 respectively. It’s powerful enough to drill through most materials with no problems.
The battery life varies depending on the work being done, but it tends to last for a decent amount of time.
Most people who bought this tool say it’s met all their expectations and more. Overall, a nice and durable portable cordless drill for apartments.
#4 Black+Decker 8V Cordless Drill with Bit Set
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
Weight: 1.32 pounds | Battery Type: Lithium Ion | Voltage: 8 volts
It seems like Black+Decker has a drill for every situation and need. To cut to the chase, this Black+Decker drill (BDCD8C) is not heavy duty but it is very lightweight and budget-friendly with enough performance for simple projections.
When it comes to apartments, you want something that’s not too loud, that’s where this drill comes into the picture. You could also use it as a power screwdriver to assemble furniture and other decorations. It won’t drill holes into concrete.
The maximum RPM is 400 and the chuck size is ⅜.(read more here to learn what chuck size means on a drill).
The good news is the battery is built-in and rechargeable. It also comes with a USB charger.
So if you’re looking for something cheap and good enough for really simple projects, then this drill could be what you need.
#5 Milwaukee 2615-21 Cordless M18 Right Angle Drill
(*Amazon Affiliate Link)
Weight: 8.16 pounds | Battery Type: Lithium Ion | Voltage: 18 volts
Once again we have another drill from Milwaukee, a company that makes a wide range of power tools and products.
The style of this drill is a little different than the previous models because it’s a right angle drill. Right angle drills are great for really tight spaces, such as inserting screws into tight furniture corners or air ducts and whatnot.
This particular model (2615-21) is a mid-range right angle drill. The materials used are primarily steel and it’s compatible with M18 batteries from other Milwaukee power tools. At 18 volts, it can crank out 500 RPMS, which is impressive for its size.
I wouldn’t recommend this tool for heavy-duty work, it’s more for small DIY projects, furniture, and the like. Overall, it’s a really nice right angle drill, and it weighs 8.16 pounds.
How To Pick A Drill for Apartment Concrete Walls?
There are many factors that determine if a cordless drill can go through concrete, such as torque, drill bit used, the pressure applied, and whatnot.
Generally, if a cordless drill has sufficient RPM and you use the correct drill bit, then it can definitely go through concrete.
What you want to look for is a cordless hammer drill, as those work best with concrete and other hard materials. You’ll also want to check the RPM, in most cases, over 1,000 RPM is needed for concrete.
The cordless drill mentioned earlier, Milwaukee 2607, should have enough power to create holes in your concrete walls. The other drill probably don’t, although you’re free to test them.
Remember, if you’re a renter, make sure to get your landlord’s permission before you start drilling holes into the walls. As long as you promise to fill in the holes when you move out, most landlords will give you the green light. But it’s always best to ask!
Conclusion
So hopefully now you know what are some of the best cordless drills for apartment use.
The drills mentioned above all serve a different purpose, so make sure to check out their listings before you make a purchase.
Cheers, tools owners!