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20V MAX is 18 volts, and the power numbers do not compare
Cordless drill listings lead with volts and a power number. Both mislead. DEWALT's own pages say a 20V MAX battery is 18 volts nominal. And across the seven kits here, power is given in inch-pounds on some listings, newton meters on one, and unit watts out on others. What you can compare is what is in the box: from 27 to 54 watt-hours of battery, a 3/8 or 1/2 inch chuck, and the type of tool.
Drill kit checker
Torque unit converter
Rules of thumb, not engineering advice. Watt-hours use nominal volts: 18 V for 20V MAX and 18 V packs, 10.8 V for 12V MAX packs.
Match a kit to your jobs See the 7 picks
Guides
Start here
- The 7 best cordless drill kits for homeowners, by what is in the box
Seven cordless drill kits from DEWALT, Makita, BOSCH, BLACK+DECKER and CRAFTSMAN, compared by nominal volts, watt-hours in the box, chuck size and tool type.
- Which cordless drill kit fits the jobs you do?
Pick the jobs you do and get the tool type, voltage class and minimum battery watt-hours to look for, plus a torque converter for N m, in-lb and UWO.
Numbers on the listing
- Is a 20V MAX drill stronger than an 18V drill?
DEWALT and CRAFTSMAN state that 20V MAX batteries are 18 volts nominal, and 12V MAX is 10.8. What the label means and what to compare instead.
- in-lbs, N m and UWO: which drill power numbers can you compare?
Drill listings give power in inch-pounds, newton meters or unit watts out. Which ones convert, the exact factor, and why UWO cannot be compared to torque.
Pick the right tool
- Drill/driver, hammer drill or impact driver: which one do you need?
A drill/driver covers most home jobs. A hammer drill adds a mode for brick and concrete. An impact driver is for long screws. Which to buy for which job.
- Kit or bare tool: read what is in the box before you buy
A bare tool has no battery or charger. How to read kit contents, work out watt-hours in the box, and why your first kit locks you into one battery family.
- Chuck size, clutch, brushless and weight: the smaller specs that matter
3/8 vs 1/2 inch chuck, what clutch numbers do, brushed vs brushless, and why the item weight on a drill listing is often the whole kit, not the tool.
Living with one
- Cordless drill battery safety: charging, storage, disposal and recalls
How to charge, store and retire drill batteries, what to do with a damaged pack, where to recycle it, how to check recalls, and why to wear eye protection.