You need a drill for a shelf, a curtain rod, a loose cabinet hinge. You don't need a whole workshop. You need something small enough to live in a kitchen drawer, cheap enough that you don't feel guilty, and simple enough that you can grab it, drive two screws, and get back to your day. That's the whole job.
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The catch is that most drill advice online is written for people building decks. This article is written for one person with one small project and almost no storage space. Every pick below was chosen with footprint first — how much room it eats on a shelf, in a drawer, or in the gap beside the fridge.
If this helped, you'll also want to read Best Cordless Drills Under $50 (Real Projects, Not Toy Drills), Best Budget Power Drills (Corded vs Cordless for Beginners) and How Much Does It Cost to Build a Basic Home Tool Kit?.
What actually matters
Before the picks, here's the short list of things that genuinely change your experience. Everything else is marketing.
- Footprint, not power. A compact 12V-class drill is typically 7 to 9 inches long and weighs around 2 pounds with the battery in. An 18V or 20V hammer drill is usually 9 to 11 inches long and closer to 3.5 pounds. For hanging pictures and assembling furniture, the small one wins every time.
- Battery platform. If you already own a tool from a brand, staying in that battery family saves you money later. If you own nothing, 12V-class is plenty for household work.
- Chuck size. Most compact drills use a 3/8-inch chuck, which takes the vast majority of household bits. Half-inch chucks are for bigger jobs and bigger drills.
- Clutch settings. A clutch lets you set how hard the drill drives before it stops spinning. This is what keeps you from stripping screw heads and cracking cheap furniture. More settings is better.
- Storage accessories. A hard case or a molded bag matters more than people admit. A drill with no home becomes clutter, and clutter gets lost.
- Price band. Budget cordless drills typically run $50 to $100. Mid-range kits usually land $100 to $180. Above that you're paying for power you probably don't need.
One note on this list: it's a tool roundup, so the products below include a drill-adjacent mix — bits, drivers, and small hand tools that make a single-person drill kit complete without adding bulk. Every claim comes from published specs and the pattern of verified owner reviews, not from a test bench.
Bosch Daredevil Set
Rough price band: usually $15 to $30.
This is a bit set, not a drill, and that's the point. A drill without bits does nothing. Owner reviews consistently mention that these bits hold up better than the generic set that comes in a bargain drill box, and the hex shank design means they lock into a quick-change holder without slipping.
The real downside is that it's a set of bits, so if you don't own a drill yet, this is step two, not step one. Some reviewers note the case is basic and the labeling wears off over time.
Who should buy it: anyone who bought a drill and is still using the three mystery bits that came with it.
DEWALT 27-Piece Hex Key Set
Rough price band: typically $15 to $25.
Flat-pack furniture is the single most common reason a parent reaches for a tool. Most of those bolts are hex heads, and the tiny L-key in the box strips out on the second use. This set covers the common sizes in a folding holder that takes up about as much drawer space as a TV remote.
Downsides: hex keys are hand tools, so there's no power assist, and the folding holder can feel stiff when new. Reviewers sometimes mention that the smallest sizes are easy to lose if you don't fold them back.
Who should buy it: anyone assembling IKEA-style furniture more than once a year.
DEWALT Black Oxide Set
Rough price band: usually $20 to $40.
Drill bits are consumables. They dull, they snap, they vanish. This set covers the standard twist-bit sizes you'll actually use for pilot holes in wood and light metal, and the black oxide coating is a reasonable middle ground between cheap bare steel and expensive cobalt.
The honest downside: black oxide is not the longest-lasting coating. If you're drilling into metal regularly, you'll want cobalt instead. For occasional wood and drywall work, this is fine.
Who should buy it: the person who needs one complete, organized bit set and doesn't want to think about it again.
IRWIN Cobalt Set
Rough price band: typically $30 to $60.
If your projects involve metal — brackets, hinges, a stripped screw you need to drill out — cobalt bits hold an edge noticeably longer than black oxide. Owner reviews often mention these surviving jobs that killed cheaper bits.
The trade-off is price and brittleness. Cobalt is harder, which also means it can snap under sideways pressure. Use a steady hand and let the bit do the work.
Who should buy it: someone who already has a general bit set and keeps hitting metal.
Neiko HSS Set
Rough price band: usually $15 to $35.
High-speed steel is the workhorse material for household drilling. This set gives you a wide size range in a metal index case, which is the storage-friendly part — the case is flat and about the size of a paperback, so it slides into a drawer or a toolbox lid without drama.
Downsides: HSS dulls faster than cobalt on metal, and the larger sizes in budget sets are where quality varies most. Reviewers sometimes note the case hinge is the weak point.
Who should buy it: the person who wants maximum size coverage for minimum money and space.
Neodymium Magnetic Wristband
Rough price band: typically $10 to $20.
This is the sleeper pick for anyone working alone. When you're on a step stool holding a shelf bracket with one hand, screws go on the floor. A magnetic wristband holds them on your arm instead. Owner reviews consistently describe it as the thing they didn't know they needed.
The downside is obvious once you think about it: it only holds ferrous metal, so it does nothing for aluminum or brass hardware. And a strong magnet near a phone or a watch is a bad idea.
Who should buy it: anyone who has ever dropped a screw behind a baseboard while working solo.
Milwaukee 16 oz Framing
Rough price band: usually $30 to $50.
Sometimes the fastest tool for a one-person job is a hammer. Tapping a shelf bracket flush, nudging a cabinet door, setting a nail — a 16 oz framing hammer does it in one motion. This one is built for real use, and owner reviews mention the grip holding up well over years.
Downsides: 16 oz is heavier than a finish hammer, and a framing-style head is overkill for hanging pictures. It also takes up real drawer space, so it's not a "fits anywhere" item.
Who should buy it: the household that wants one hammer that will outlast everything else in the drawer.
Vaughan 16 oz Curved Claw
Rough price band: typically $25 to $45.
The curved claw is the classic shape for pulling nails, which matters when a project goes sideways and you need to undo it. This is a lighter-feeling option than a framing hammer for detail work, and reviewers often note the hickory handle absorbing shock well.
Downsides: wood handles need occasional care and don't love being left in a damp garage. It's also a second hammer, not a replacement if you already own one.
Who should buy it: someone who pulls as many nails as they drive.
Comparison table
| Product | Price | Best For | Key Pros |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch Daredevil Set | $15–$30 | Bits that don't slip | Hex shank, durable tips |
| DEWALT 27-Piece Hex Key Set | $15–$25 | Flat-pack furniture | Compact folding holder |
| DEWALT Black Oxide Set | $20–$40 | All-purpose drilling | Complete size range |
| IRWIN Cobalt Set | $30–$60 | Metal drilling | Long edge life |
| Neiko HSS Set | $15–$35 | Max coverage, low cost | Flat metal index case |
| Neodymium Magnetic Wristband | $10–$20 | Working solo | Holds screws on your arm |
| Milwaukee 16 oz Framing | $30–$50 | One hammer, forever | Durable grip |
| Vaughan 16 oz Curved Claw | $25–$45 | Pulling nails | Shock-absorbing handle |
The bottom line
If you're buying one thing, buy the drill that fits your drawer and your budget — a compact 12V-class model is usually the right answer, and it'll handle nearly every household job. Then add the Bosch Daredevil Set so you have bits that actually work, and the Neodymium Magnetic Wristband so you stop crawling under furniture for dropped screws.
Everything else on this list is optional. The hex key set earns its place if you assemble furniture. The bit sets are consumables — buy the one that matches what you drill. The hammers are for people who want one good one instead of three bad ones.
Total for the core kit — drill, bits, wristband — typically lands somewhere around $80 to $130 depending on what you already own. That's the whole shopping trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I expect to spend on a cordless drill for one person?
Budget cordless drills typically run $50 to $100, and mid-range kits usually land between $100 and $180. For household jobs like shelves and furniture, the budget band is almost always enough.
What size drill is small enough to store in a drawer?
A compact 12V-class drill is typically 7 to 9 inches long and weighs around 2 pounds with the battery in, which fits most kitchen drawers. An 18V or 20V drill is usually 9 to 11 inches long and closer to 3.5 pounds, so it needs a shelf or a case instead.
Do I need a full bit set, or will the bits in the drill box work?
The bits that come in a bargain drill box are usually the first thing to fail. A set like the Bosch Daredevil Set, typically $15 to $30, gives you bits that hold up, and the Neiko HSS Set covers a wider size range in a flat case that stores easily.