Right-Angle Drills & Right-Angle Drill Attachments Guide

Drills are a must have in every tool belt, whether you are a professional or hobbyist. However, they are also fairly large for what

Things to know before buying a Right-Angle Drills and Right-Angle Drill Attachments

Power

This is arguably one of the most important factors when choosing a drill – whether right angle or otherwise. In fact, this is generally one of, if not, the most important factor for all power tools. However, since a drill in general, and a right angle drill in particular, must deal with resistance while in use, this factor is even more important for this type of tool.

However, the power of a drill is not always the easiest to determine and will depend heavily on the power source. Right-angle drills are powered by one of two sources: a cord or a battery pack. Corded drills plug directly into an outlet, whether from an electrical grid or a generator, while cordless drills use replaceable battery packs.

Cordless drill power is gauged by the voltage the motor uses, while cordless drill power is determined by the amps used. Corded drills generally provide more power, but cordless drills are easier to maneuver and can be used on a wider variety of jobsites. Considering right-angle drills are for use in confined spaces, this is one of the few instances when a cordless model may be better than a corded model in most cases – despite giving up some power.

Variable Speed and Torque

These two qualities have an inverse relationship with one another. The more rpms, or speed, the lower the torque. Of course, most drills of any type have variable speed settings. This allows you to determine whether you require more torque or more rpms as the situation calls.

Torque will be most important when you are using the drill and expect resistance. Hard grades of wood and other dense materials will often call for more torque than speed. If you are using the drill for materials like concrete or other stonework, high torque is a must.

Higher rpms are generally better suited for driving screw or drilling into softer material that is not quite as dense or rocky. A softwood like pine would call for less rpms than, while a hardwood like Balsa would be better suited for more rpms.

Many drills will have some sort of switch, lever, or knob which allows you to divert the power more towards torque or rpms. However, even with these types of adjustments, the drill itself will also likely have a pressure sensitive trigger that applies more rpms depending on how hard you hold it down. If you hold the trigger down less, the drill will produce more torque.

What is the Best Right Angle Drill in December, 2024 ?

1.Makita AD02W Right Angle Drill – 12-Volt, Lightweight, Ergonomic (Editor’s Choice) Review

I’m gonna do a quick tool review of the Makita 12 AD02W, whatever you want to call it.

And if any of you guys have worked on cars in the last 25 plus years you know what this is.

Personal impressions

This is a new version of my original Makita Right Angle Drill that I’ve had since 1993. I still have it, it still works. I still use it.

Believe it or not, even the lithium-ion battery keeps a charge. That’s telling you something about the quality.

So, I just picked up a new Makita 12 Volt Right Angle Drill Driver a few days ago and I wanted to review it. Because it’s the newer version of this and some things have changed, some things have not.

If you look at the size of it, it’s relatively the same if we overlapped ’em side by side. They didn’t necessarily make this a lot smaller. I would think that in this day and age that they would but they didn’t.

Package Contents

It comes with two batteries, a charger, a blow molded plastic case.

And of course batteries are lithium-ion so it’s gonna be quicker to charge, it’s gonna hold a little bit more juice when you’re on the go.

My original one, the chuck is shot. Can’t get parts for these anymore but, these tools are indispensable for anyone that works on cars whether you’re a mechanic, whether you’re doing restoration work on vintage cars, whether you’re doing car audio or radar detector installs on any of these new cars, you need tools like this.

You need a right angle drill that you can put different bits whether it’s torqued, whether it’s Phillips, whether it’s a nut driver to disassemble these cars.

It just makes your life a lot easier from talking apart blow panels, complete dash assemblies, anything under the car.

Like if you’re gonna do an oil change in an exotic car, let’s say a Ferrari, the bottom of the car has oil torques bits, torques screws.

Power and speed

This one only goes up to about 800 RPMs so it’s very delicate. It’s not gonna over torque or break anything but this has actually enough juice, to drill aluminum, steel, wood, plastic with no problems.

You could also drill screws into solid woods as well without even pre-drilling. This has enough juice to do that. Another useful use for these tools is assembling things. Anything around your house.

Kitchen cabinetry, anything from IKEA, any of the furniture systems that come shipped flat that have to be assembled, West Elm, Boat Concept, any of those manufacturers, grab a tool like this.

Especially because a lot of that stuff is particle board. You don’t want to use like a bigger, heavier duty tool. You want something low duty. But this is like a kind of like a mid-range duty and it’s really easy to use, really ergonomic, and like I said it’s 130 bucks. I mean you can’t beat it.

What could you buy today that’s gonna give you the drill, two batteries, a charger and a case? I mean it’s a total bargain. And you can’t beat it.

The chuck is, a keyless chuck, from Japan. Really good. Good quality. Good bearings.

And like I said it’s just a really good tool. So, I’ve been holdin’ off on upgrading this tool for a hell of a long time because it works.

I worked on hundreds of cars with this. And the old school one used to have a circuit breaker and I used to overload that a lot when I was drillin’ aluminum or metal or anything like that but this baby still works.

The only thing I’ve ever done on this tool, I just bought extra batteries over the years and a charger. I bought it in 1996 and it still works. Everything still works.

So I’m just gonna give you a quick overview of this tool. Anybody who’s worked on cars in the last 25 plus years you know this tool. You’ve had one.

The new version has a built in light which is great if you could see that here.

And keyless chuck. You got your forward and reverse levers right here. This one doesn’t have a circuit breaker like the old one. And this one also has air vents in the tool. Whereas this one has a very little vent here but like I said I used to overload this thing constantly.

It give you two lithium-ion batteries, a charger and gives you a really nice plastic case.

But before I do that I’m gonna weigh both of the tools just to show you how things haven’t progressed that much when it comes to certain things like this.

The original tool weighs, two pounds, 13 ounces. So it’s relatively light weight even for its time.

And then new one weighs, two pounds nine ounces. So there’s really not that much of a weight difference.

There’s not that much of a size difference between the tools but like I said, even the RPM is actually the same. So you would think that this day and age that they would actually change this stuff but they didn’t.

I suggest this tool for anybody whether you work on cars, you work around the house, you’re HVACE, a general contractor, whatever.

This is a tool that you just have to have just for its versatility of the right angle, the low profile, everything about it. And a good thing about this, like don’t go out and buy like those cordless screw drivers.

The ones where the body of the screw driver bends. They have no torque.

And like I said you can even drill with right angle drill, I mean this tool can drill a three quarter inch piece of build aluminum.

So, this little tool, it’s got a hell of a lot of power. Lot of juice and with the extra lithium-ion battery it’ll totally just make your life easier as far as not running out of charge and all of that.

Another thing you guys need with any kind of tool like this, and this is not an impact driver. That’s another set of tools all together.

I have the Makita Impact Driver and the drill set. The standard size. You guys got to get a lot of bits. If you’re gonna work on cars or do anything, you have security bits, you have torques bits, security torques bits, Allen head bits.

This is an indispensable tool.

The demographics that will find this Makita the best are those who require a greater degree of ergonomics. Generally, this rests primarily in the consumer grade market. However, due to the extreme focus Makita placed on ergonomics, this could find a spot for people who regularly need not only a small profile, but easier leverage.

In fact, only the following Makita offers a smaller profile or comparably light weight. Still, in an effort to make it easier to use, Makita put forth substandard power options.

2.DEWALT DCD740C1 20-Volt Option Right Angle Drill – Review

DEWALT DCD740C1 is one of the few brands that market their electric power tools as 20 volts – Porter Cable is the other well-known one.

However, this is a bit deceptive, as both 18 and 20-volt power tools provide the same amount of power when in use.

The 20-volt designation is the resting voltage. Still, the DeWalt does provide plenty of power, regardless of the measuring trickery.

What`s in the box?

It is a great tool to get in tight spaces drilled faster especially on studs and wall. It gives powerful cubes. In the set we have the DeWalt ccd seven-four-zero c1 a right angle drill. It comes with nice case with charger and 11.5 amp battery. If you needed more power, you can throw on a big fat pack. The chargers also charge the 12 volt line up.

Features

It has a good feature like front built-in LED light which great for tight little areas. It also has a deep fit for drill allowing you to hold even a small 2 inch drill bit.

Chuck size

Still, the sizes of DEWALT DCD740C1 are less than ideal. First, the profile is only 4” which is not bad, but it is not good either. Furthermore, the ⅜” chuck is not suitable for all professional bits. Finally, its weight of 8.25 pounds with a battery is pretty heavy.

3. Bosch 1132VSR Review – Corded Right Angle Drill

It may come as a surprise, but Bosch did not put forth a professional right angle drill on our list – whether corded or cordless.

In fairness, they put out the best consumer grade right angle drill in both categories, but it is still shocking to see their absence in the professional grade category.

Both drills suffer from the same issue: a lack of power. Bosch 1132VSR, the corded one, only provides 3.8 amps.

Chuck size

Still, the ⅜” chuck is not at all impressive, nor is it worthy of a professional grade drill. Thankfully, the profile is decent, but it is not even in the top 3 on our list, so that is more of a wash.

Ergonomics

The ergonomics could be better. While 5 pounds is fairly good for a corded model, the trigger can be difficult to engage, even if its oversized panel makes it easier to hold down once you do.

Settings

This tool can drill half inch holes in aluminum a three-eighths inch hole in steel and one inch in wood. It has the paddle types for easy actuation and use. Also it has the variable speed ranges dial which lets you optimize the speed for more specific applications.

4. DEWALT DWD460K Review – Best Framing Option

If you are a professional framer who needs a massive amount of power to drill and drive into studs and joists, the DEWALT DWD460K is the best game in town.

With 11 ½ amps, this is easily the most powerful motor on our list.

Variable Speed settings

The DWD460 also has a mechanical clutch in low speed to protect the gears in heavy stall situation. Dewalt delivers an all-metal motor housing and gear case with larger heat treated steel cut gears for increased reliability in high load application.

Moreover, the DEWALT DWD460K features a decent 1300 maximum rpm with 2-speed settings depending on whether you need to drill or drive.

Control

The DWD460K is equipped with bind up control. This provides the high user control in bind up stall situation. This innovation features senses a stall during use and adjusts the motor tour to a manageable level. If necessary, the bind up indicator light on top of the tool will illuminate when engage.

Profile

There is no other drill on our list that comes even close to that. Moreover, that is not the only size limitation of the DeWalt. This drill also features the largest profile on our list at over 7”.

Comfort

For more comfort the DeWalt half-inch compact stud and joist drill is designed with an anti-slip soft grip on the gear casing in handle set. As well as a knuckle guard for added hand protection. The drill is also equipped with a multi position adjustable bail handle and a two position side handle for maximum leverage.

Price

Essentially, electricians, plumbers, and HVAC specialists need not apply. However, it does at least feature a professional grade ½” chuck. Of course, that professional quality will cost you as this is one of the more expensive drills on our list.

5. Bosch PS11-102 Review – Budget 12-Volt Option

Bosch once again surprises a bit with a tool that, while the best in its class, is not up to truly professional standards.

This time, Bosch slightly misses the mark in the cordless right angle drill market.

Specifically, the Bosch PS11-102 uses only a 12-volt motor rather than an 18-volt.

Chuck size

Unfortunately, this drill further removes itself from truly professional consideration with a smaller than preferred ⅜” chuck, limiting the drill bit options. Finally, at 6 pounds, this is a bit heavier than you would want from a cordless drill–though not egregiously so.

Features

The BOSCH PS11-102 has an articulated head. This means that the drill head has five variable positions. It allows you to turn it from rectangular to straight position. This is convenient when you need to get to hard-to-reach places.

It is got a built-in LED light for maximum visibility in the dark. Also it`s got three finger control by paddle switch. Due this you`ve got the forward and reverse button. Up front you`ve got an integrated fuel gauge. So you can tell exactly how much battery life is left.

Also it will work in pretty cold conditions down to negative four degrees. This means that you can work indoors or outdoors without worrying about lithium-ion battery failure.

It comes with two batteries and the 30-minute charger in a soft carrying case.

6. Ryobi P241 Review- Best Value Option

While the Ryobi P241 may be the budget drill on our list, it provides a surprising amount of value for that price.

In fact, if you do not find yourself often needing the full range of options for all types of professional jobs, this may be the best value on our list.

Features

Profile

That being said, professionals should likely look elsewhere. For one, this drill features a profile over 5”. That is simply too large for many jobs. Moreover, the ⅜” chuck will limit the number of usable drill bits, while the maximum rpm of 1100 will make it less than ideal for drilling purposes.

7. Makita XAD01Z Review – Best for Tight Spaces

While the previous Makita 12 AD02W may have been made purposefully for ergonomics, this Makita XAD01Z was designed to fit into the tightest places any right angle drill and conceive of reaching.

In fact, with a profile of 2 ½”, no other drill on our list can come close to the tight squeezes this Makita can fit into.

When you couple that with a weight of only 3.2 pounds, this is likely the better Makita for more people. Plumbers and electricians should generally look this direction based on those two qualities. However, this Makita scores highest on another all-important factor as well.

Variable Speed Ranges

With 1800 maximum rpms and 121 maximum pounds of torque, the Makita can accomplish almost any standard task outside of framing that you might ask of it.

The only problem is that the variable speed control is determined exclusively by trigger pressure without a setting to force either drill or drive operation.

8. Milwaukee 2708-22 Review – Best 18-Volt Option

While this drill will not necessarily be the best suited for all situations, in the professional cordless right angle drill market, this is the best of the bunch.

With an 18 volt motor and a maximum rpm of 1200, Milwaukee 2708-22 has the power to accomplish all of your tasks.

However, it is the head which makes it the best 18 volt.

What`s in the box?

The  MILWAUKEE 2708-22 comes with two C4.0 batteries and charger. With a full charge of one battery, you can make more than 200 holes with a 7.8-inch drill. Also you get a large contractor bag with the carrying strap.

The grip on it is very similar to their standard drill grip. It also has a guard in front of it. So, whenever you`re drilling trough things you`re not going to able to bang your fingers. This is going to take the impact and not your hand.

The selector paddle switch is right above the grip. It will do loosen or tighten. In the center is going to be a trigger lock. It has a built-in LED light that`s going to light up what you`re drilling into. There is a quick change chuck is very easy to operate.

Also it has a handle on the top to give you a lot of extra control.  The black portion on the top is a rubber overmold. So when you set it down into something it`s not going to slide.

Profile and chuck size

The profile of the drill may not be the absolute smallest on our list, but it is pretty close. At 3 ⅔” inches, only the Makitas offer a smaller profile. However, at this profile range, only the Milwaukee provides a ½” chuck allowing you to use the full suite of professional bits.

Price

Finally, the Milwaukee is without question the most expensive product on our list–regardless the category. However, if you want a professional right angle drill in a cordless right angle drill, this is still worth the investment.

9. DEWALT DW120K Review – The Best for Electricians Review

If you need a professional right angle drill with the power only found in a corded model, DEWALT DW120K has you covered.

Still, this drill does have its limitations, especially if you need to drill holes. But if you are looking to drive screws and the previous DeWalt is too big, this is exactly what you are looking for.

Power

First, the DW120K features the most powerful corded motor with an adequate profile at 7 amps and 4 ½” respectively. This will provide the power you need while still being able to fit into those hard to reach spaces the other DeWalt is simply too large to get at.

Moreover, the drill setting for this product is supposed to be 600 rpms, something that will often not sufficient. Ultimately, this means that this drill is designed for torque more than anything else.

Chuck size

Still, it does feature a ½” chuck to fit any professional bit you throw at it. Though, it does weigh 15 pounds which makes the side handle more of a necessity than an additional feature.

Features

It has 3 variable speed ranges offer versatility for any application. Also you get die-cast metal gear housing. It provides the job-site durability and tool reliability.

It has a 5-position side handle. It will control and versatility in all drilling applications. Also it has triple gear reduction which provides increased torque and reduces gear stress

Guarantee

All DEWALT products comes with 3-Year Limited Warranty. In addition to the warranty, DEWALT tools are covered by One-Year Free Service Contract.

Also you get 90-Day Money Back Guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with the performance of your DEWALT tools or their parts, you can return it within 90 days from the date of purchase. However, you must provide a receipt confirming the purchase of the instrument.

Best Right Angle Drill Attachment

When looking for a good attachment, it can get overwhelming with so many brands and models out there claiming to be the best option over others. With so many options to sift through, it can feel like there is no way to find an option that is right for you.

Well, we took a look at some of the best options on the market to decide which one is the best of the best. This can help you narrow your options to some of the greatest options for you, and help you find the one that will be the best option for your drill.

1. Milwaukee 49-22-8510 Right Angle Drill Attachment – Best Attachment Kit Review

Milwaukee 49-22-8510 attachment kit has many features that make this drill attachment a great option.

With its easy to use build and durable materials making it long-lasting, this is one of the best options for a reason.

Compact

This right-angle attachment is compact and only two inches wide for working in tight spots. This is ideal for areas that are difficult to work within and you can’t get larger tools into the space. This also allows for easy storage.

Lots of Torque

Right Angle Attachment

This attachment kit is a ¼ inch hex with driver attachment that accepts standard ¼ inch hex shank bits. This allows you to use this attachment with any hex shank bits that are of that same size without issue.

Durable Materials

This right-angle drill attachment is durably built so that you can use it for years without fear of breaking. This product has an all-metal housing and gears that are made from steel so that you are getting the most durable product.

5-Year Warranty

This drill attachment comes with a 5-year warranty for added insurance that allows you to feel more secure with your purchase, knowing that you will get a replacement if anything were to happen to this product.

Main Features

• Compact Design only 2 inches Wide
• Durable All Metal Housing
• Steel Gears & Ball Bearing Construction
• Rated up to 235 in-lbs of Torque
• Offset Angle 90°
• Input Drive 1/4″ Power Groove
• Standard 1/4″ hex Shank Bits
• Ideal for cordless 2.4V – 18V drills
• 5-year Warranty

2. DEWALT DWARA50 Right Angle Drill Attachment – Best Drill Adapter Review

DEWALT DWARA50 adapter is one of the best because it allows you to get into tight spaces without issue.

This adapter is easy to use and attaches right to the chuck, which makes this option ideal for any user.

Easy to Install

This adapter allows you to hook the attachment directly into the chuck of the drill and tighten to install. This easy process allows for quick changes, and it can be used for both corded and cordless right angle drill .

Long life

This drill adapter is built to last longer than any other option. This drill is said to last up to two times longer than the competition’s model and can hold power even until the end of its lifespan, allowing for greater power for a longer time.

Right Angle Attachment

Multiple Compatibilities

This product is usable with multiple drills because of its universal compatibility. This product can be used with most drill brands and models without issue and can be used on different drills with just tightening it into the chuck.

Lightweight Option

This product is a lightweight option that doesn’t add very much weight to the total weight of the drill when attached. This product weighs 5.6 ounces and makes for a great lightweight option for tight spots that don’t allow for a great grip.

Main Features

• Tigheter Access With Your Current Drill/Driver
• 2X Longer Life Than The Competition
• Accepts Any 1/4″ Hex Shank Accessory
• For use with both Corded and Cordless drills

3. ARES 70790 – Best Quick Release Right-Angle Drill Attachment Review

ARES 70790 drill attachment has many features that make this one of the best of its kind.

With the 18 volts of power and quick release feature, this option is on this list for good reason.

Impact-Grade Applications

This product is a heavy-duty option that is made to be able to handle any job thrown at it. This drill attachment is made for impact-grade applications that other options might not be able to handle.

So, you can use this powerful attachment for any type of project you are working on without fear of breaking.

Lots of Torque

This right-angle drill driver is meant for power and has a maximum torque of 504-inch to pounds. This extra power will allow you to drill into any kind of material with ease and allows you to work faster than ever before.

Quick Release Function

Right-Angle Attachment

This attachment is made at a right angle so that it can fit into tight spaces that other attachments can’t. The right-angle allows you to use the drill at odd angles to get into hard to reach places and makes any job easier to finish.

3-Year Warranty

This product is backed by a 3-year warranty that allows you to have added insurance when using this attachment. If you have any questions or concerns, then you can contact the ARES customer service support to take care of any inquiries, replacements, or refunds.

Main Features

• 1/4-inch Drive
• Impact-grade
• True 90-degree Head
• Maximum Torque of 504 in/lbs
• Quick Release for easy Bit Changes
• Adjustable Support handle for added stability and versatility
• Handle End Unscrews for Convenient Bit Storage
• For use with Drills up to 18 Volts or 2000 RPM

4. Milescraft 1303 Drive90PLUS – Best Impact Ready Attachment Review

Milescraft 1303 Drive90PLUS right-angle attachment is a great option for those looking for a strong, durable option.

This attachment is impact-ready for bigger jobs and has gear support for longer durability.

With these great features, it is easy to see why this is considered one of the best.

Impact Ready

This right-angle attachment is an ideal option for those who are looking to use it for tougher jobs. Other models may not be able to withstand impact without breaking, but this model is impact-ready and allows you to use it for even the toughest jobs and projects.

Improved Gears

Far Reach

For a compact and tight spot ready tool, this attachment has a far reach that allows you to use it for a multitude of different jobs. This attachment has a reach of 1.5 inches, which makes it farther reaching than the competition.

Compatibility

This attachment accepts most hex ¼ ich accessories and has the compatibility to be used with most drill models and brands. This allows you to attach to whatever drill you have, instead of having to buy or rent a drill that will work with this attachment.

Finger Grip

This right-angle attachment comes with a comfortable and useful finger grip that allows you to have better control of the drill angle while in use.

The finger grips also make using the drill, with this attachment, much more comfortable so that you don’t have to take long breaks while doing a job. This allows you to work faster, and more efficiently.

Right-Angle

This attachment is made at a right angle so that it can fit into tight workspaces nicely. This allows you to fit the drill into tight spaces that a normal drill wouldn’t be able to work with.

Main Features

• Impact ready right angle drill adaptor
• Minimum reach of 1.5″
• Magnetic 0.25″ hex socket
• New, improved gears with integrated gear support for longer life and durability
• Finger grip handle for maximum comfort and control when drilling
• Flat back handle gets into tight spaces
• Accepts most 1/4” hex accessories and includes a Phillips driver bit

Buyer’s Guide

Chuck Size

The size of the chuck, the part which holds the bit in place, generally comes in ⅜”. This is the standard for about 80 percent of all drills. Keep in mind, a ⅜” chuck will generally fasten a much larger bit depending on the size of its shank. In fact, a ⅜” chuck can often hold up to a ¾” bit.

However, the larger the bit, the more torque your drill will need. This additional torque will actually be required at higher rpms than is generally required.

For more professional jobs, a chuck of up to ½” may be required. Again, like the ⅜” chuck, the ½” chuck can generally fasten a bit much larger than its gauged size, though it too will require more torque to drive a larger classed bit.

Profile

This is arguably the most important factor that will have literally no impact on how well the tool itself functions. However, the profile of the right angle drill will heavily impact how versatile it is and where you can use it.

Keep in mind though, as you begin to miniaturize the components of any power tool, you have to juggle a loss of power and durability. As such, getting the absolute smallest right angle drill may not always be the best option.

Moreover, some right angle drills are not actually designed to fit into extremely small areas. For instance, stud and joist right angle drills are used for framing where the obstructions are far fewer and the drill simply provides more leverage and power.

Clutch

This component is an adjustable dial. It sits at the end of your drill, just before the chuck, and will have a ring of numbers. These settings determine how much resistance the drill will accept before disengaging. This will help keep the motor in good working order as well as prevent you from stripping the screw if properly adjusted.

The clutch is a component designed to assist you in drilling to the point that you need and no further. However, if you are a skilled enough user – especially if you are a professional – chances are you already know how to gauge the proper pressure and depth of the drill on your own.

Honestly, even if you are a weekend warrior, after enough uses, you will begin to familiarize yourself with the feel of the drill – through trial and error if nothing else. As such, the clutch can easily be seen as a convenient, though rarely necessary, secondary consideration.

Lights

For most power tools, this is a secondary or even tertiary consideration. However, due to the nature of a right angle drill, this is a top tier secondary or even a primary consideration. The reason is fairly straight-forward.

You use a right angle drill to get to hard-to-reach/tight spaces. Quite often, if a space is hard to reach, it is because there is something larger that cannot be moved obstructed the location. While whatever obstruction that cannot be moved makes it difficult to fit a full-sized drill, it will also often block out natural or even artificial lights – depending on how cramped the quarters.

In this instance, an onboard light provides you with illumination to see what you are doing when you cannot otherwise get light to reach your workspace. This is especially relevant if you work in electrical or HVAC where many of the jobs require you to work in an attic or basement with little room and less natural lighting.

Chuck Type

Chuck’s coms in 4 general types: hex, SDS, keyed, and keyless. However, keyless is by far the most common type of chuck for modern drills of most types.

SDS chucks are designed more for hammer drills and will rarely be found in more traditional drill types – including right angle drills.

Hex drills are also far less common because they can only hold screwdriver bits. This means a hex chuck cannot drill holes with a drill bit.

Keyed and keyless chucks both allow you to drive screws or drill holes. However, the keyed chuck requires you to tighten the chuck with a key. Changing the bits with a keyed chuck may take a bit longer, but they are fastened tighter and generally more durable.

Keyless chucks are far more convenient and allow a rapid change of different bits sizes and types. Moreover, you simply hold the housing of the chuck – the part that does not move – and can use the trigger to tighten or loosen the chuck and change the bit. However, this type of chuck does not get as firm a grip and will wear out quicker over time.

Ergonomics

The ergonomics of a right angle drill will generally be determined by 3 factors: the grip, the weight, and the handle design–with the handle being the most important. The grip relates to how hard the handle is. Many drills provide some type of soft grip to make using the drill for longer periods of time easier.

Sidewinders are a bit like a hybrid of a D-handle, with the trigger at the base of the tool, and a barrel grip, a handle type more common in other types of drills. Sidewinders also feature a handle near the head for additional stability, though this reduces the number of tight spaces they can fit into–especially if space is closed off on 5 sides.

Barrel grips are the most common type of handle for right-angle drills, but they are also the least comfortable to use over long periods of time. Still, for general purposes, they allow you to generate more leverage and can fit into tighter spaces.

Extra Features

Bit holders, levels, depth gauge, belt clips, and cases are the most common extra features you will find on a right angle drill. However, few of these features even rise above the tertiary level of consideration.

Bit holders and belt clips are never a factor that should sway your decision unless the difference between 2 drills is razor thin. Cases are a necessity, but they are cheap enough when purchased separately that they too should not sway your decision all that much.

Depth gauges can be useful when you are a novice. However, after using a drill of any kind for long enough, you begin to intuitively know how deep you have drilled or driven. In fairness, the only extra feature on this list that is useful no matter what is the level.

The level will be a small, fluid-filled cavity located somewhere on the drill with a bubble in it. When the drill is level, the bubble will fall between two marked lines on a transparent lens. While you will develop the skill to naturally level for most types of drills over time, due to the nature of a right angle drill’s use and positioning, this feature can still be plenty useful even to grizzled old veteran professionals.

Conclusion

The best right angle drill is the one that suits your specific needs. Oddly, this one of the few power tool categories that sees the cordless models outperforming the corded ones. Of course, unless you are framing.

In that case, there is nowhere else to turn except the DEWALT DWD460K. With the most power, it puts framing jobs to bed with ease. However, if you still need a powerful professional performance with a smaller profile than a framing drill, DeWalt’s DW120K also takes that top spot.

Still, the show belongs to the cordless drills where Makita makes a strong showing for both the best all-around cordless and the most ergonomic right angle drill. If you are a weekend warrior, Bosch offers a decent consumer grade corded right angle drill, while the Ryobi is our pick for the best budget option.

Guarantee

When buying a power tool, also ask about the warranty. Different manufacturers give different warranty period. Some of them, for example, DEWOLT give a 3-year limited warranty and a 1-year service contract.

Others give a guarantee on the tool, but it does not apply to the battery or accessories if you have a wireless device. For example, the brand Ryobi offers a guarantee from 1 to 5 years for different parts and tools.

Also, make sure the manufacturer gives you the possibility of a 90-Day Money Back Guarantee if your instrument is faulty.