The best cordless drills

The Black+Decker LDX120C Cordless Drill costs half the price of many cordless drills with similar capabilities, but it's still reasonably powerful.

The most affordable drill we recommend is the Black+Decker LDX120C Cordless Drill. Most cordless drills that cost less than this one are so cheap in quality that you'll either get a tool that's not suitable for the tasks at hand or that will break quickly. Or worse, it will be both underpowered and lacking in durability. While the Black + Decker drill we recommend is budget-friendly, it's not a cheap tool.

This drill/driver has an 11-position clutch, offering plenty of torque control for most applications. Its maximum RPM speed of 650 is notably lower than you get with many tools, but that's suitable rotation for most DIY projects. A built-in LED light helps to illuminate your working space whenever the trigger is depressed, while the drill's modest 3.25-pound weight minimizes strain and fatigue even if said workspace is overhead.

While it's probably not the right choice for the professional framer who needs to sink thousands of screws through 2 by 12s, this is definitely the right tool for a discerning but budget-conscious amateur carpenter or hobbyist.

A ToolAndGo article called this drill "powerful, compact, and lightweight" and suitable for drilling into most materials. A Reviews by Tiger video review said this drill is easy to use and effective for "light duty" projects.

Pros: Great low price, moderate weight and size, variable speed control

Cons: Underpowered for some materials

If you need to drill into stone, concrete, brick, or other masonry, the Makita XPH102 Hammer Driver-Drill is a commercial-grade powerhouse that comes at a great price.

Like all drill/drivers, a hammer drill is a tool that spins a bit around super fast, boring holes or sinking screws as needed. But unlike a standard drill, a hammer drill incorporates a rapid back and forth thrusting motion while its bit revolves. This hammering action helps to pulverize hard materials, like concrete, stone, brick, and mortar, so you can more quickly and easily drill into such surfaces.

First off, this is a reliable, durable tool that's yours for a more than fair price. It is rugged enough for professional use and is sealed to resist damage from dust and water, both common factors on a worksite.

The Makita XPH102 can whirl at up to 1,900 revolutions per minute, which is a great deal faster than most of the tools on our list. But perhaps even more impressive than the RPMs are the BPMs or blows per minute. This hammer drill can pound out an astonishing 28,500 small but effective taps per minute, greatly easing the process of drilling into literally rock solid materials.

And finally, while many 18-volt Lithium-Ion batteries take several hours to reach a full charge, the 3.0Ah battery you get with this drill charges to capacity in just 30 minutes, so you can spend more time working, less time waiting.

A Popular Mechanics review said the drill is "well-balanced" and it's comfortable to hold. In a review from DrillingBoss, the writer called it a "compact workhorse that provides proper torque and speed."

Pros: Makes short work of stone and concrete, high RPM and BPM, fast-charging battery

Cons: Occasional smoky smell from motor

The Bosch PS31-2A 12-Volt Drill/Driver weighs only 2.2 pounds, but it can handle just about every home drilling or driving project with ease.

The Bosch PS31-2A 12-Volt Drill/Driver weighs just 2.14 pounds. That's a full 33% less than the next lightest weight tool on our list. You can use this drill for hours on end, whether you're working overhead on the rafters or bent underneath the kitchen sink, and your arms and hands will never get tired. And thanks to its compact size, even when you are working in a cramped area like under the sink or in a crawlspace, you will be able to maneuver the drill about as needed.

With that small size does come some loss of power, of course. This drill's maximum RPM rating of 1,300 is lower than that of most drills, and its maximum torque output of 265 inch-pounds is on the lower side, too. But here's the thing: Most DIY repairs and projects don't need more speed or power than that.

For drilling into wood, drywall, thin sheet metal (like air ducts), or various composite materials, this tool is more than adequate. It's perfectly capable when it comes to sinking screws, too. Its 20 clutch settings help you avoid damaging hardware, while a bright light helps illuminate your work area. A power gauge on the side of the tool lets you know how much battery life you have left.

A write up from The Wirecutter calls this compact drill "the lightest, most compact drill" its testers had ever used, and "also among the strongest." A ToolGuyd.com review called it "ridiculously lightweight."

Pros: Compact and lightweight, long battery life, precise and reliable

Cons: Lower RPM than most cordless drills

The best saws to tackle projects at home

If you like to tackle DIY projects around the house, you're going to need a saw or two. We've rounded up the very best saws you can buy whether you need a jigsaw, chainsaw, circular saw, or table saw. In our guide, we've included picks for eight different kinds of saws:

• Best circular saw: Makita 5007MGA Circular Saw
• Best hand saw: Stanley 20-526 15-Inch Hand Saw
• Best Compound Miter Saw: DeWalt DWS780 12-Inch Compound Miter Saw
• Best hacksaw: Stanley 15-113 12-Inch High Tension Hacksaw
• Best reciprocating saw: Milwaukee M18 Cordless Reciprocating Saw
• Best jigsaw: Bosch JS470E 120-Volt Top-Handle Jigsaw
• Best table saw: DeWalt DW745 10-Inch Compact Job-Site Table Saw
• Best chainsaw: Husqvarna 460 Rancher 20-Inch Chain Saw

The best hammers

Sure, hammers have a pretty simple design, but that doesn't mean all hammers are created equal. Different designs work well for different jobs. Here are the best hammers you can buy:

• Best hammer overall: Stanley 20-Ounce FatMax Xtreme Claw Hammer
• Best soft-face hammer: Vaughan & Bushnell 12-Ounce Soft-Face Hammer
• Best titanium hammer: Stiletto TiBone 15-Ounce Titanium Milled-Face Hammer
• Best framing hammer: Estwing 25-Ounce Big Blue Framing Hammer
• Best ball pein hammer: Tekton Jacketed Fiberglass Ball Pein Hammer