Cordless Drill Vs Screwdriver

by Joost Nusselder | Updated on:  March 18, 2022
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Drills are mostly preferred by professionals and screwdrivers are mostly preferred by DIY lovers and homeowners. It does not mean that professionals don’t need screwdrivers and DIY lovers or homeowners don’t need drills.
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Well, both tools have diversity and are available in many models and brands. If I want to talk about every specification it will take a book. The battery-operated tools are getting popular day by day. So, today I have chosen to talk about only one specification and that is the difference between a cordless drill and a cordless screwdriver.

Cordless Drill

Having a cordless drill means you don’t have to limit your work close to the power source. Since cordless drills are equipped with rechargeable batteries you don’t have to spend a lot of money to buy battery after battery. At the end of the working day just recharge the battery and your device is ready for the work of the next schedule. The voltage of the battery generally ranges from 18V – 20V. A cordless drill can create enough torque with this kind of battery to go through any hard material that may not be possible with a screwdriver. The batteries of a cordless drill are generally attached to the handle and so the handles are quite big. If you have a smaller palm you gripping the handle may feel uncomfortable to you. If the working space is narrow then it may not possible to work with a cordless drill. In that case, you have to use a screwdriver. The increased size adds extra weight to the device. So, working with a cordless drill for a long time may make you tired quickly. If you need to work a lot the charge of the battery may get finished and you need to recharge it during work which will hamper the progress of your work. In that case, you may keep an extra battery. If the charge of one battery is finished you may use the extra battery and plug in the discharged battery to get recharged. If you need a neat finish in your work it is hard to achieve with a cordless drill. But to do heavy-duty jobs where a good finish is not the main concern a drill is an ideal tool. The cordless drills are expensive tools. And if you have to buy an extra battery it will increase your cost. So, you should have a good budget to afford a cordless drill.

Cordless Screwdriver

Cordless screwdrivers are lightweight and smaller in size. You can carry it anywhere easily and also working with a cordless screwdriver for a long time won’t tire your arm. Since it is small you can easily work in a tight space. Many models of cordless screwdrivers feature adjustable angled drive heads that ensure better maneuverability. Works that need good finish a cordless screwdriver is an ideal tool for those work. Since the cordless screwdriver operates through the power of the battery you won’t have to limit your work close to the power source. But it is not engineered to do heavy-duty jobs. Its battery is less powerful and cannot generate enough torque to do hard jobs. If you need a screwdriver mostly for tightening and loosening screws then a cordless screwdriver is a good choice. But besides tightening and loosening screws if you need to drill holes through hard surfaces then a screwdriver is not a good choice at all.

Final Words

The cordless drills are faster and stronger than the cordless screwdriver. On the other hand, the electric drill and screwdrivers are stronger than the cordless ones. If you talk about weight and maneuverability then a cordless screwdriver will give you more comfort than a drill. With both tools, you will enjoy some advantages and suffer some disadvantages. It is your choice which comfort you want to enjoy and which sufferings you want to accept.

I'm Joost Nusselder, the founder of Tools Doctor, content marketer, and dad. I love trying out new equipment, and together with my team I've been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with tools & crafting tips.