Best Cordless Drills for Tight Spaces & Light Weight
We rank rated drills by how many Reddit owner comments praise their compact & lightweight, then by total mentions and overall score. Only models with manufacturer specs and owner comments qualify.
Ranked by how often owners bring up compact & lightweight across 423 Reddit mentions. 24 models qualify.
#1 Milwaukee 2505 4.1
Why it ranks here: 17 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (18 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“Both are in HEAVY use for hours every day at work and installation drill works just fine with wire brush.”
5/5 Compact & LightweightBattery & Runtime“Makita is my big, heavy duty common stuff, and for when I need a large job with lots of run time, and the m12 is the perfect compliment for smaller and more niche tools.”
#2 Bosch GSR12V-140FC 3.6
Why it ranks here: 10 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (10 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Compact & LightweightBattery & Runtime“The drill is pretty good.”
5/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“I love Makita but use my Bosch 12v flexiclick drill for everything except big stuff.”
#3 DeWalt DCD800 3.1
Why it ranks here: 7 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (7 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“I have used the 45 for years now and its powerful enough for most electrician sized tasks.”
5/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“I have the 800 (same drill but without the wrist protection) and I love it.”
#4 DeWalt DCD801 3.2
Why it ranks here: 6 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (6 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
5/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“My favorite drill- I use it and love the anti kick back.”
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“I just tested the 801 and it's such a great upgrade.”
#5 DeWalt DCD1007 3.4
Why it ranks here: 5 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (8 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
5/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“If I need power, I'll grab one of the first 3 as they are the most powerful.”
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“The hole saw bound, and the (huge, 120v ac) drill I was using damn near ripped off my hand even with a good grip & obviously the 2nd hand bar.”
#6 DeWalt DCD996 3.5
Why it ranks here: 5 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (5 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“Never going to deny that it's been a damn good drill!!”
5/5 Compact & LightweightBattery & Runtime“It's a great spotlight in its own right.”
#7 DeWalt DCD806 2.9
Why it ranks here: 4 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (5 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“Often, buying a kit is obviously the best in terms of savings.”
4/5 Compact & LightweightBattery & Runtime“The 4 ah pp fits like a dream on it too and its nice for longer projects.”
#8 DeWalt DCD805 3.1
Why it ranks here: 3 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (3 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Compact & LightweightBattery & Runtime“DCD805 Drill - a few years old now, but a lot of people still like this drill a lot.”
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“Nice pickup!”
#9 Milwaukee 2904 3.4
Why it ranks here: 2 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (3 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Compact & LightweightDurability“I've got a 2904-20 that's been through hell for 3+ years.”
5/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“Replaced it last week with the M18 Fuel 1/2" hammer drill #2904-20 and that thing is a torque monster.”
#10 DeWalt DCD799 2.9
Why it ranks here: 2 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (3 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
5/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“My 791 and 801 are perfect for most inside projects at home.”
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“I have an atomic line compact hammer drill DCD799D1 which has been great very powerful got it for $148 cad including a 2AH battery and charger.”
#11 Makita GPH01 3.4
Why it ranks here: 2 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (2 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“(GPH01 US is what I have, I don’t think we have a non-hammer version).”
4/5 Compact & Lightweight“Don’t doubt it I use a sub compact drill to mix drywall mud straight out the box sometimes with no issues”
#12 DeWalt DCD794 3.4
Why it ranks here: 2 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (2 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“I have a DCD794 that sometimes has the reverse issue where pulling the trigger is goes forward, then reverse, then forward, etc.”
4/5 Compact & LightweightBattery & Runtime“Legitimately a good quality drill, but lighter weight than a lot of other entry level drills.”
#13 Milwaukee 2606 3.1
Why it ranks here: 2 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (2 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
5/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“When I first got my M18 1/2 driver I was shocked how much more powerful it was than the old black and decker NiCAD drivers.”
4/5 Compact & LightweightValue“Milwaukee M18 18V Lithium-Ion 1/2 Inch Cordless Drill Driver Compact Kit 2606-21CT.”
#14 Makita XPH14 3.3
Why it ranks here: 1 owner comment praise its compact & lightweight (4 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
5/5 Compact & Lightweight“I have the Makita XDT19Z Impact and the Makita XPH14Z Drill.”
#15 DeWalt DCD999 3.5
Why it ranks here: 1 owner comment praise its compact & lightweight (2 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Compact & LightweightValue“Haven’t seen anyone bad mouth the set up, I’ve been using it about 7 years on my DCD999, it works great.”
#16 Bosch PS31 3.0
Why it ranks here: 1 owner comment praise its compact & lightweight (2 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Compact & Lightweight“I’m going to recommend the basic 2401-20, screw-gun as well..”
#17 Milwaukee 3404 2.6
Why it ranks here: 1 owner comment praise its compact & lightweight (2 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“3/8 stubby is great, I've got one of the smallest non-fuel 3/8 ratchets as well - 2457-20 ...size matters, LOL.”
#18 DeWalt DCD701 2.6
Why it ranks here: 1 owner comment praise its compact & lightweight (2 mentions in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“I have had my 12v xtreme tools since they launched in 2019 and they are still going strong.”
#19 DeWalt DCD777 3.3
Why it ranks here: 1 owner comment praise its compact & lightweight (1 mention in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Compact & LightweightBattery & Runtime“Also, the light control feature is always nice to have.”
#20 Milwaukee 3602 3.3
Why it ranks here: 1 owner comment praise its compact & lightweight (1 mention in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“The [m18 compact brushless](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-Compact-Hammer-Drill-Impact-Combo-Kit-2-Tool-with-2-Batteries-Bag-3693-22CX/326204135) set has almost the same ”
#21 Makita XPH16 3.2
Why it ranks here: 1 owner comment praise its compact & lightweight (1 mention in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“I’ve not had any issues with my Milwaukee or Makita LXT 18/36V tools.”
#22 Milwaukee 3401 3.2
Why it ranks here: 1 owner comment praise its compact & lightweight (1 mention in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
4/5 Compact & LightweightBattery & Runtime“I have the impact, which is a nice size, but I can’t use it for much, to be honest.”
#23 DeWalt DCD796 2.7
Why it ranks here: 0 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (1 mention in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
#24 Milwaukee 2607 2.5
Why it ranks here: 0 owner comments praise its compact & lightweight (1 mention in total). Price varies — check Amazon.
What to look for
5/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“If I need power, I'll grab one of the first 3 as they are the most powerful.”
4/5 Power & TorqueCompact & Lightweight“Both are in HEAVY use for hours every day at work and installation drill works just fine with wire brush.”
5/5 Compact & LightweightBattery & Runtime“Makita is my big, heavy duty common stuff, and for when I need a large job with lots of run time, and the m12 is the perfect compliment for smaller and more niche tools.”
Read the guide: Drill Weight and Size →