One of the most effective ways to make the switch from corded to cordless power tools is by purchasing a cordless combo kit. These kits will provide you with several batteries and power tools so you can get straight to work. Combo kits can come with a variety of different tools, some costing more than $2,000 and others considerably cheaper.
Most combo kits come in two or four tools, the latter being more popular, but the former being a great option for people looking to build up their collection of cordless power tools gradually.
Finding the Right Cordless Drill-Driver Combo Kit
There are hundreds of different cordless drill-driver combo kits available, choosing the right kit for you is that much more difficult. The following segment will focus on the most important specs and features to consider when shopping around for such a kit.
Number of Batteries
When searching for combo kits, ideally you’ll want to receive as many batteries as there are tools. Some cordless drill-driver combos might come with only one battery that’s compatible with both tools, but the best kits will give you a battery for each.
Carrying Case or Bag
Since you’re buying multiple tools, you’ll want to have a designated case or bag to place them in. We prefer hard carrying cases over bags since they work better at keeping your tools in place without bumping up against each other.
Drill and Driver Specs
Since you’re getting a cordless drill and impact driver, you’ll want them to work quickly and powerfully. The following specs are the most important to consider.
Motor
There are two types of motors generally used in power tools: brushed and brushless motors. The former is the classic type of motor that produces a lot of heat and requires constant maintenance in replacing the brushes, whereas the latter dissipates heat much more effectively but is the costlier option.
Brushless drill-driver combo kits are the better option, but brushed drills and drivers can be used in the same applications while producing identical results.
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Power Output
The rating used to describe the power capability of power drills and impact drivers is units-watts-out (UWO) which measures the combination of speed and torque. Quicker speed and more powerful torque are generally preferred over lower ratings, but for most home applications, virtually moderate speed and torque-power will do.
Comfort
Drills and impact drivers are used in both horizontal and vertical orientations, and many jobs call for drilling holes or driving screws overhead. Find a model that fits comfortably in your hand and won’t cause fatigue in your arms and shoulders with its weight. Most cordless power drills and impact drivers are light – around 4 to 7 pounds – so lightweight versions of these tools won’t be too difficult to find.
Battery Voltage
The voltage rating of a cordless tool’s battery determines how much power it delivers to the tool. A higher voltage means more power, making it more suitable for heavy-duty work such as in professional woodshops and auto shops. The most powerful cordless drills and drivers will come with batteries of up to 18 volts.
Top 5 Drill-Driver Combo Kits
The previous section focused on the various specs and features to consider when shopping for a drill-driver combo kit. Now that we understand what makes a good combo kit, the only thing left to do is find the right kit. To help you in your search, we’ve made a list of our picks of the best five drill-driver combo kits that work beautifully and have been highly praised by their customers.
5) DEWALT DCK290L2 Combo Kit
The first combo kit on our list is the DCK290L2 from DEWALT. This kit comes with a 3.0-amp power drill and impact driver that feature brushed motors. The kit includes 20V batteries, one for each of the tools. The drill has a large ½-inch chuck and 3-speed transmission with speeds of up to 2,000 RPM. The impact driver comes with a ¼-inch hex chuck.
The brushed motor generates up to 2,800 RPM and up to 3,200 IPM with 1,400-inch-pounds of torque. This combo kit would suit first-time buyers and hobbyist DIY-ers extremely well. The entire kit comes in a carry bag with several compartments to store the battery charger, tools, and batteries.
- DCD985 DEWALT 20V MAX* hammerdrill with 3-speed, all-metal transmission and 1/2-inch all metal ratcheting...
- DCF885 DEWALT 20V MAX* 1/4-inch impact driver in the cordless tools combo kit features 3 LED lights with...
- DEWALT 20V MAX* Lithium ion batteries offer longer tool run time and enhanced durability of the drill/ impact...
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
4) Milwaukee 2897-22 M18 Combo Kit
The next two-tool combo kit on our list is the infamous 2897-22 M18 from Milwaukee. This kit contains a hammer drill and an impact driver. The ½-inch hammer drill is especially impressive as it delivers up to 2,000 RPM and 1,200-inch-pounds of torque, while the 5.0-amp motor on the ¼-inch impact driver produces up to 3,700 IPM and 1,800-inch-pounds of torque.
The amazing thing about this kit is that the power of both tools is housed in compact cases – the hammer drill is 7.75 inches long, and the impact driver is only 5.25 inches. Their 18V REDLITHIUM batteries offer at least 30 minutes of run time before needing to be recharged.
- Hammer drill/driver's POWERSTATE Brushless Motor delivers 1200 in. lbs. of peak torque and up to 2000 RPM for...
- Impact driver's POWERSTATE Brushless Motor delivers 1800 in. lbs. of fastening torque for faster driving...
- REDLITHIUM XC 5.0Ah batteries provide powerful performance.
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3) Makita CT226 Combo Kit
Makita’s two-tool combo kit – the CT226 – contains a 3/8-inch drill driver and ¼-inch impact driver. They both run off of 12V 2.0-amp batteries.
From their chuck sizes and battery capacities, it’s fair to say that these tools are designed for light- to medium-duty applications. The drill has a two-speed transmission that can spin up to 1,700 RPM while generating around 250-inch-pounds of torque.
The impact driver delivers up to 970-inch-pounds of torque while hammering out 3,500 IPM. These are two extremely lightweight tools that weigh less than 2 pounds each, basically eliminating the risk of fatigue. The kit comes with two 12V batteries, a charger, and a handy carrying case.
- 3/8" Driver-Drill with 2-speeds (0-450 & 0-1,700 RPM) delivers up to 250 in.lbs. of Max Torque
- 3/8" Driver-Drill features a compact design at only 7-7/16" long and weighs only 2.4 lbs. with battery for...
- Impact Driver with variable speed (0-2,600 RPM & 0-3,500 IPM) delivers up to 970 in.lbs. of Max Torque
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
2) Bosch CLPK22-120 Combo Kit
The CLPK22-120 combo kit from Bosch contains a 3/8-inch drill driver and a ¼-inch hex impact driver. They are both powered by 12V batteries, making them suitable for general house renovation and minor auto maintenance applications. The drill has a two-speed transmission that reaches speeds of up to 350 RPM and 1,350 RPM with a maximum torque of 256-inch-pounds.
The motor in the driver can deliver up to 2,600 RPM with 3,100 IPM at a maximum torque of 930-inch-pounds. The 12V batteries require 60 minutes of charging before reaching full capacity. A single charge can provide power to each tool for about 30 minutes. The entire kit comes in a handy carrying case in which the tools often scrape up against each other.
- POWER: includes a powerful PS31 12V drill driver with up to 1,300 RPM and a PS41 12V impact driver with up to...
- COMPACT: the lightweight design of the PS31 drill driver is ideal for easy handling in overhead operations and...
- CONTROL AND VISIBILITY: PS31 drill is easy to handle in tight, narrow spaces, and three integrated LED lights...
Last update on 2023-03-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
DEWALT DCK240C2 vs Bosch CLPK22-120: Combo Kit Comparison
1) DEWALT DCK240C2 Combo Kit
The final item on the list of our top five best drill-driver combo kits is the DCK240C2 from DEWALT.
This combo kit contains the DCD771 ½-inch drill driver with the two-speed transmission (450 RPM and 1,500 RPM maximum speeds) and the DCF88C2 ¼-inch impact driver (2,800 RPM max speed at 1,400-inch-pounds of torque).
Both of these tools are powered by super-beefy 20V batteries that provide power for up to 45 minutes on a single charge. It takes about 1 hour of charging time for the batteries to reach 100%. The kit comes with a carrying bag with separate compartments for each tool, charger, and battery. This kit is designed for heavy-duty house renovation and car maintenance applications.
- DCD985 DEWALT 20V MAX* hammerdrill with 3-speed, all-metal transmission and 1/2-inch all metal ratcheting...
- DCF885 DEWALT 20V MAX* 1/4-inch impact driver in the cordless tools combo kit features 3 LED lights with...
- DEWALT 20V MAX* Lithium ion batteries offer longer tool run time and enhanced durability of the drill/ impact...
Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Final Remarks
If you’re looking to switch from corded to cordless, then there’s no better way than going with a combo kit.
Some of the most comprehensive cordless combo kits will set you back thousands of dollars, but if you want to make gradually build your toolset, then you’ll want to find a kit with only the most crucial tools. Some of the most vital tools you’ll need are a power drill and an impact driver that have several applications in the home, in woodshops, and auto shops.
There are literally hundreds of different drill-driver combo sets available, so it’s important to do a bit of research before purchasing a kit. There are several important specs and features to consider, such as the number of batteries included in the set, what type of case it comes in, and how well the tools actually perform.
If you can find a kit that comes with one battery per tool, a good hard or soft carrying case, and high-speed and –torque drills and drivers, then you’re good to go.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of our picks of the best five cordless drill-driver combo kits out there. Generally speaking, brand-name companies such as DEWALT, Milwaukee, Makita, and Bosch won’t disappoint.
However, if you’re looking for the absolute best two-tool combo kit, we highly recommend going with the DEWALT DCK240C2. This kit is built for heavy-duty applications both in and outside the home. They are having long-lasting batteries and a quick charge, so there’s very little downtime in between charges.
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