12V vs 18V/20V Drills: Which Battery Platform Should You Pick?

• 7 rated models are 12V class, 25 are 18V/20V, 2 are higher-voltage.

Rules of thumb

• 12V drills are lighter and smaller; 18V/20V drills have more power and runtime.
• Stay on one platform so batteries are shared across your tools.

Next steps

See drills sorted by rating

Best cordless drills for battery platform fit →

More guides

• How to Choose a Cordless Drill
• Drill Torque Explained
• Drill Speed (RPM) Explained
• Hammer Drill vs Drill/Driver
• Drill Weight and Size
• Brushless vs Brushed Drills
• Chucks and Clutch Settings