The six best cordless drills to buy online now

Want a one-size-fits-all kind of tool? Look no further than the Bosch Universal Impact. This 18-volt drill is versatile and can handle screwing and drilling into various materials thanks to its 20 torque settings. No idea what torque is? Don’t worry about it, just know that the harder the surface, the more torque you’ll need to get through it. This Bosch has a max torque of 34nm, which is enough to get you into brick, but nothing tougher. It also comes with two batteries and a charger, so you can stay on the job for as long as you need.

Surely an all-rounder is a combi, right? Wrong. A combi drill is much tougher, especially this Worx WX354 Slammer, which can hammer into reinforced concrete. Where the Bosch is useful around the house, the Worx is useful around a building site. For starters, it has a higher voltage and max torque at 20v and 60nm. It has a brushless motor, which is more durable than the standard. It also has all-metal gears to ensure a long life. Also, rather handily, all Worx tools share the same batteries, so if you already own something by the brand, you’re quids in.

If the jobs you need to do involve lots of metal and masonry or chiselling plaster and render, then the 18v DeWalt DCH253N-XJ is the one for you. It’s mainly designed for hammer drilling, which is the tough kind that’ll get through brick and concrete. It has a multi-position side handle, so you can get a good, firm grip on the thing while it’s vibrating away, and a built-in LED light so you can clearly see what you’re doing. Switch into rotation stop mode when you need to chisel something off and impact stop mode for rotary only drilling in wood and metal.

This Black+Decker 2-Gear Combi is very much the DIY enthusiast’s starter drill, but that’s not to say it won’t still pack a punch. It costs less than £50, is lightweight and can tackle loads of useful jobs – even more with the optional extras, such as the sanding attachment. It’s ideal for screwing together or unscrewing furniture, but with ten torque settings, it can also handle a spot of masonry drilling, so putting up curtain rails or wall brackets directly into brick shouldn’t be a problem. The 18v battery also fits other Black+Decker power and garden tools, which is a major plus.

Do your DIY plans mostly involve beautifying the external areas of your house, like replacing fencing, installing decking and a spot of roofing? Because an impact driver will make light work of these big jobs. When it comes to larger fixings or long bolts and screws, you need a tool that can deliver high torque without ‘reacting’, which is when the drill bit gets stuck and twists your arm instead. The Ryobi 18v ONE+ Impact Driver Starter Kit will get you ticking off all those chores. It comes with a battery, charger, two screwdriving bits, a 1/3" socket adaptor and a kit bag.

When it comes to professional tools, you’ll notice that workman often have either DeWalt or Makita products. Both have relatively high price points and perform well, so ultimately it’s down to preference, but we’re particularly fond of this Makita Impact Driver Drill Kit. Not only does it come with two batteries, a charger and 104 drill bits, but also a lovely turquoise toolbox to carry it all in. Ahem. Naturally it has the power and versatility to deliver the goods, plus a keyless chuck to enable quick-load of all those different drill bits and comfortable, soft grip handle that’ll allow you to work longer.