We tested drills from Kobalt and DeWalt to find out
Is it better to buy a drill that offers more bang for your buck or a drill that offers more power at a premium? Only you can decide, but we can give you some top candidates for either choice.
The BestReviews Testing Lab checked out drills from Kobalt, the line owned by home-improvement retailer Lowe’s, and DeWalt, the trusted century-old tool company. We found that when it comes to value, Kobalt clearly offers the better deal. The line features many excellent bundles, including the kit we tested that features a well-performing 24-volt cordless drill, two batteries (most sets only include one), charger and bag. Though the drill did struggle a little in our tests, it got the job done nonetheless.
DeWalt, on the other hand, provides better performance. Our tests found the DeWalt FlexVolt to be more powerful. It does everything the Kobalt we tested does and more, including hammer drilling for blasting through concrete and the ability to drill and drive faster with more stability. It doesn’t come with a battery or charger, however, so you’ll need to pay extra for those.
If you still can’t decide which to get, the following article can help you choose.
Kobalt vs. DeWalt: What they do well
Drills from both DeWalt and Kobalt are capable of handling any household task.
Both Kobalt and DeWalt drills bring plenty to the table, but here are some of their best aspects.
Kobalt benefits
- Value: While Kobalt offers individual tools, you get far more value for your money by snagging one of its excellent bundles. We recommend starting with a bundle and getting individual tools later if you need them.
- Durability: Kobalt’s products are well made. For instance, the Kobalt 24-Volt Drill is a mid-range model, but it still came away with fewer scratches than expected in our drop tests.
- Ergonomics: The Kobalt 24-Volt Drill was one of the more comfortable drills we tested, in part because of its grippy handle.
DeWalt benefits
- Versatility: Several of DeWalt’s tools, including the FlexVolt we tested, offer an extra feature or benefit that a standard drill doesn’t. The FlexVolt offers two: a three-setting LED work light and a third gear for hammer drilling.
- Innovation: DeWalt is constantly improving its products, especially batteries. For example, the battery we used was smaller and lighter than most others we’ve used.
- Material quality: DeWalt is a respected brand, partly because it uses top-notch materials, though our tests found that they aren’t impervious to damage.
What they could improve
Neither brand is without a few drawbacks.
Kobalt drawbacks
- Power: The Kobalt 24-Volt Drill offers higher voltage and wattage compared to the DeWalt FlexVolt, but we had to run it at maximum power to complete our tests.
- Chuck issues: We had a regularly occurring issue with the Kobalt’s chuck opening up mid-test, requiring us to fit the bit back in while it was still in the wood. This occurred once or twice in other drills, but not as often as with this Kobalt.
DeWalt drawbacks
- Durability: DeWalt uses the best materials, but its products aren’t immune to damage. In fact, the DeWalt FlexVolt was the only drill that suffered more than cosmetic damage in our drop test: its tip got dented. This didn’t affect its performance, but it’s worth noting.
- Branding: Because of DeWalt’s constant innovation, one issue that crops up is its products exist under different banners. This can make it confusing to match different batteries to the right tools, for example.
Top Kobalt models
Kobalt offers several high-value combo kits that are perfect for setting one drill up with plenty of accessories (our top pick) or starting a tool collection (our second pick).
Kobalt 24-Volt Cordless Drill Kit
The Kobalt 24-Volt Cordless Drill comes with a two-amp-hour battery and a four-amp-hour battery, while most drills only come with one or no battery.
Product Specifications
Maximum Rotational Speed: 2,000 rpm | Maximum Power: 800 W | Voltage: 24 | Gears: 2 | LED Work Light: Yes
This Kobalt’s drilling and driving performance in our tests was reasonable, though it did require max power to complete all the tests. For drilling, it took 10 seconds to punch through 16-gauge sheet metal with a quarter-inch bit while better drills took only five seconds or less. Its paddle bit performance through a two-by-four had some issues with catching on the wood and the chuck opening up because of it, but after an adjustment, it performed well.
Its hole saw test had no catching issues, but at 90 seconds it still took considerably longer to finish than did most drills. The driving test required pilot holes for 3-inch wood screws when most other drills we tested didn’t require one. With a pilot hole drilled, screws took three to four seconds to go in.
The battery efficiency is also reasonable, taking about 45 minutes to drain a two-amp-hour battery, with some power still available. Where this drill truly excels is in its durability and the included accessories. For a little more than the DeWalt FlexVolt alone, it comes with a two- and a four-amp-hour battery, charger, travel bag and belt loop. Regarding durability, it was among the best performing, coming away with fewer scratches and scrapes than we expected and no loss of functionality.
Kobalt 24-Volt Max 4-Tool Cordless Tool Combo Kit
Kobalt 24-Volt Max 4-Tool Cordless Combo Kit is a phenomenal value for the right person, but don’t get it if you aren’t sure you’ll use the tools often enough.
Product Specifications (Drill)
Maximum Rotational Speed: 2,000 rpm | Maximum Power: 800 W | Voltage: 24 | Gears: 2 | LED Work Light: Yes
This extra-large, multi-tool combo kit is exactly what the burgeoning home improvement star needs to maintain or improve a home. It’s also a great starter kit for a home workshop. It includes the same drill we tested, plus an impact driver for the toughest driving needs, a reciprocating saw for woodwork and a 200-lumen work light with a 135-degree rotating head. Even better, it comes with a battery, charger and case to hold everything. If you want to own a tool collection, this is a great way to begin one.
Top DeWalt models
The DeWalt FlexVolt is a powerful tool that can handle many tasks a standard drill can’t because of its hammer drill setting. However, it can have a little too much power if you only plan on using it for home maintenance or putting together flat-pack furniture. For those tasks, you’d be better served by the DeWalt Xtreme.
DeWalt FlexVolt Advantage 20-Volt Max Hammer Drill
Just because the DeWalt FlexVolt Advantage 20-Volt Max Hammer Drill can hammer drill doesn’t mean you should hammer drill unless absolutely necessary. This avoids the risk of damage to objects and yourself.
Product Specifications
Maximum Rotational Speed: 2,250 rpm | Maximum Power: 300 W | Voltage: 20 | Gears: 3 | LED Work Light: Yes
The FlexVolt’s drilling and driving performance wasn’t the very best, but it was a close competitor. In the hole saw test, it took only 15 seconds to get through a two-by-four, while in the 16-gauge sheet metal tests, it took only four seconds for a quarter-inch bit and six seconds for a half-inch bit.
It did struggle in the paddle bit test, catching considerably, with the chuck opening up once, but when it wasn’t catching, it only took about five seconds to go through a two-by-four. Hammer drilling took only three seconds to punch through a cinder block. In the driving test, it took five to six seconds to get a three-inch wood screw into a four-by-four, but it didn’t require a pilot hole like the Kobalt drill did.
It has strong battery efficiency with the three-amp-hour battery we bought for testing, taking about 50 minutes to drain completely. This drill’s durability is slightly suspect thanks to a dented tip from our drop tests, but that’s easy to forgive due to its other strong benefits. These include a three-setting LED work light that offers dim, bright and always-on spotlight settings, plus an extra handle to help you hammer drill with more stability.
DeWalt Xtreme 12-Volt Max Drill
The smaller size of the DeWalt Xtreme 12-Volt Max Drill makes it easier to use in tight spaces, but it’s still a powerful tool.
Product Specifications
Maximum Rotational Speed: 1,500 rpm | Maximum Power: 300 W | Voltage: 12 | Gears: 2 | LED Work Light: Yes
This smaller, lower-power drill is a great alternative to the FlexVolt for people who know they’ll only break it out to assemble a prefabricated chair or fix something minor around the home. It can also be a great companion to the FlexVolt for situations like working under the kitchen sink, where the FlexVolt would be too unwieldy. The bright LED work light is a great help in that situation, too. A small bonus is that it has 15 clutch settings compared to the FlexVolt’s 11, making it a little easier to adjust to particular tasks.
Kobalt 24-Volt Cordless Drill Kit vs. DeWalt FlexVolt Advantage 20-Volt Max Hammer Drill
These tools are similar in their high voltages and max rotational speeds. However, even though the Kobalt offers more than double the wattage of the DeWalt, the DeWalt still performed noticeably better. The Kobalt comes with multiple accessories, including two batteries, for only $20 more than the DeWalt, which only comes with an extra handle and a belt loop. Either would make a good addition to your home tool collection, but the Kobalt is a better value, while the DeWalt performs better.
Kobalt 24-Volt Max 4-Tool Cordless Combo Kit vs. DeWalt Xtreme 12-Volt Max Drill
These products are polar opposites. The Kobalt kit is designed for people whose idea of a relaxing weekend is building something in a workshop or working on home renovations. The DeWalt Xtreme is designed for someone who wants to move more quickly and comfortably when completing common maintenance tasks around the house. Either is a more than worthwhile investment, but make sure you’re clear about your needs before buying one.
Kobalt vs. DeWalt functionality
As with most drills, Kobalt and DeWalt share the same functions. Differences boil down mainly to power settings, built-in LED light (if there is one) and any included accessories.
Power settings comparison
Power settings are mostly a combination of available gears and clutch settings.
- Gears: The DeWalt FlexVolt has a total of three gears, including an extra gear for hammer drilling that most drills don’t have. The Kobalt 24-Volt has two gears.
- Clutch: The Kobalt has 22 clutch settings, double the FlexVolt’s 11, making it easier to adjust to a particular task.
LED work light comparison
The LED work light on the Kobalt 24-Volt is placed on the foot of the drill at an angle. This points the light up at the tip of the drill instead of the light being under the drill shaft pointing straight ahead. It still works as usual with a good amount of brightness.
The DeWalt FlexVolt’s LED is typically placed and has three settings. It turns on when the trigger is pressed and can be dim or bright. The third setting is a spotlight that enables you to see your task without pulling the trigger.
Accessories comparison
Kobalt has DeWalt beat by a wide margin when it comes to included accessories. The DeWalt FlexVolt only comes with an extra handle and a belt clip. Most DeWalt combos include those plus a battery, charger and bag.
The Kobalt 24-Volt Drill kit we tested came with two batteries (which is unusual) and a charger, bag and belt clip but no handle. The four-tool kit we didn’t test costs a little less than a two-tool kit from DeWalt.
Pricing
Kobalt drills without any extras typically cost $80 to $200, while DeWalt drills without extras cost $60 to $150. Both brands’ combos typically cost $150 to $300, though DeWalt combos can cost up to $400. Kobalt combos include more items on average, such as extra tools and batteries.
The drills in this article cost the following:
Bottom line
In the end, both DeWalt and Kobalt drills are likely more than strong enough to handle your tasks. However, if you only want one or two tools, we’d suggest a DeWalt because DeWalt drills usually perform a little better. If you prefer to start a bigger tool collection and have the money, we’d suggest DeWalt tools. If you want to stretch your dollar further, then a Kobalt combo is an excellent way to get started.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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