Brushless Vs Brushed Motor Drill Comparison

The DeWalt brushless kit is advertised as the upgrade over the older brushed version. The question I kept asking myself is whether the brushless motor actually survives the kind of work I do, or if it's just a fancier label on the same tool. I've lived with both for a while now, and the answer isn't what the marketing department wants you to hear.

I've been running my own contracting crew in Cleveland for 22 years. Decks, basements, kitchens, the whole rusty Midwest menu. The graveyard wall in my shop has 30-some dead tools on it, and every one of them died on a real job. That's the only review system I trust. If a drill makes it through a deck build without joining that wall, it's worth talking about. Most don't.

I don't track prices day to day, so I won't pretend to know what these kits will cost next month. The numbers below are what I'm seeing right now at the big orange website. That's the honest way to do this.

Quick picks before we get into it

Product	Price	Why it won	Why it lost
DEWALT 20V MAX brushless 2-tool combo	~$179	Brushless motor, dual batteries, the kit that replaced my older combo	Costs more than the brushed version, and the jump doesn't always justify itself for homeowners
DEWALT 20V MAX brushless drill driver	~$125.52	Brushless motor in a single-tool package, solid mid-range option	No impact driver in the box, you'll want one within a year
DEWALT 20V MAX drill driver combo	~$169	The brushed classic I've recommended for years, still totally dependable	Brushed motor doesn't love the mud and rain the way brushless does
DEWALT 20V MAX drill driver set	~$119	Cheapest real DeWalt kit, batteries that last	Brushed motor, no impact driver, you'll outgrow it
CRAFTSMAN V20 drill and impact set	~$79	Cheapest name-brand combo with two tools	Lighter build, not for daily jobsite abuse
AVID POWER 20V brushless drill set	~$52.99	Brushless motor at budget money, surprising for the price	Not a DeWalt, battery ecosystem is its own thing
AVID POWER 20V drill set	~$37.35	Cheapest drill on this list, fine for hanging pictures	Won't drive tap cons, won't last a season of real work

How I tested

Two-hundred-screw deck builds. Half-inch spade bits through wet lumber. Batteries charged and run down until the charger gives up. The same jobs I've been running for two decades. I drop tools off ladders. I leave them in the truck overnight in January. I run them through mud because mud is what happens on a real site. The brushless DeWalt and the brushed DeWalt both got the same workout, same lumber, same fasteners. My dog Rudy supervised most of it from his usual spot on my tool bag. He's got opinions about noise levels, mostly that drills should be quieter.

The question isn't whether brushless is "better." Of course it is, on paper. The question is whether the difference shows up at screw 200, not screw 5. And whether it's worth the money for the way you actually use a drill.

What's actually different between brushed and brushless

A brushed motor has little carbon blocks that physically rub against the spinning part of the motor to make it go. Over time, those brushes wear down, spark a little, and eventually the motor dies. I've got brushed drills on the graveyard wall that died exactly this way. Melted brushes, smoky smell, the works.

A brushless motor does the same job with electronics instead of physical contact. No brushes to wear out, less friction, less heat, more efficient use of the battery. The motor can also adjust its power draw based on what you're drilling, which is why brushless tools feel a little smarter when you bog them down.

In real life, that translates to a few things. Brushless motors run cooler, so they last longer under heavy load. They're more efficient, so you get more screws per charge. And they don't have brushes to replace, which means if nothing else breaks, the motor itself should outlast the brushed version by a wide margin.

The catch is price. Brushless costs more because the electronics cost more. Whether that premium pays off depends entirely on how much you use the tool.

DEWALT 20V MAX brushless 2-tool combo

This is the kit on my truck right now. The brushless drill and impact driver with two batteries, charger, and bag. I've had it for about 14 months now and it's handled everything from deck builds to basement framing to hanging kitchen cabinets.

The biggest issue with this kit is the price. ~$179 is real money for a homeowner who's only hanging pictures once a month. And the jump from the brushed combo at ~$169 is small enough that you'd think the brushless is the obvious buy. But that brushed combo has been around for years, it's proven, and the batteries are the same. So you're paying for the motor upgrade, not the platform.

Is the motor upgrade worth it? If you're using the drill daily, yes. The brushless drill doesn't get hot the way brushed motors do when you push them. I've run this one through 200-screw deck sessions and the motor housing is barely warm at the end. The brushed version in my older kit gets noticeably hotter doing the same work. Heat kills motors. Cooler is better.

The battery gauge on the batteries themselves is a feature I didn't know I needed until I had it. Four little bars that tell you exactly how much juice is left. No more guessing whether the battery will make it through the next 25 screws. That's the kind of thing that sounds small until you've been surprised by a dead battery halfway through a Friday afternoon, which is always when it happens.

The chuck is fine. It's a DeWalt chuck, which means it's a bit better than the Milwaukee I've used on other people's jobsites. Like every cordless drill today, it's just okay. But DeWalt's is a step up from its biggest rival. The bits stay where you put them, even after hundreds of changes.

The drill itself is also lighter than the brushed version, which matters more than people think. My mom has arthritis, and most drills are too heavy for her. The brushless DeWalt isn't light enough for her to use comfortably, but it's noticeably easier on her hands than the older brushed combo. If you're an older DIYer or you've got hand strength issues from injury or arthritis, every ounce counts.

DEWALT 20V MAX brushless drill driver

This is the single-tool brushless option for people who already have a DeWalt impact driver or don't need one. ~$125.52 gets you the brushless drill with one battery and charger. Same motor tech as the combo kit, just no impact driver in the box.

The biggest issue is what happens six months in. You buy this drill, you use it for a while, and then you realize you actually need an impact driver. The impact driver is the tool that drives lag bolts without destroying your wrist, and once you've used one, you can't go back. So this kit saves you money now and costs you money later when you buy the impact driver separately.

That said, if you've already got an impact driver or you're trying to keep the budget tight, this is the smartest DeWalt buy. The brushless motor is the whole point, and you're not paying for a tool you don't need. The 1/2-inch chuck handles the bits that actually matter for real work.

I've seen brushless motors like this one run through wet 4x4s without bogging down. Shot 3-inch screws into pressure-treated lumber with the same drill, no pre-drilling, no stripped heads. That's the test, and the brushless passes it.

DEWALT 20V MAX drill and impact combo kit

This is the brushed combo I've recommended to anyone who asks for years. The DCK240C2 with the drill, impact driver, two batteries, charger, and bag. ~$169, and it's been that price forever. The price point is the thing people don't expect. You're getting two real tools, two batteries, and a charger for less than some single-tool brushless kits.

The biggest issue is the brushed motor. It works fine, but it doesn't love the elements. Mud, water, rain, outside use, those conditions kill brushed motors faster than brushless. I've seen it happen. If you're using this kit mostly in the garage or inside the house, you'll get years out of it. If you're on a deck build every weekend in October, the motor will show its age sooner.

But here's the thing. For 80 to 90 percent of what a homeowner actually does, the brushed version is plenty. Hanging pictures, assembling furniture, building a deck once, occasional DIY projects. The brushed motor handles all of it without complaint. The batteries are the same XR batteries that work in every other DeWalt 20V tool, which is the real reason to buy into this platform. Amazing battery that can be reused with other DW tools. Buy the drill now, buy the reciprocating saw later, same batteries.

The drill is dependable, built to last, and the batteries are still robust after days of use. That's the honest review. It won't run as cool as the brushless, and it won't last as long under heavy daily abuse. But it's a real DeWalt, and DeWalt has been good to me for decades.

I've seen one lemon. A woman I talked to bought this combo kit in October 2020, and the larger drill has never worked quite right. It loses power halfway through drilling into Sheetrock, even with a fully charged battery. The smaller impact driver works flawlessly. She's been quietly wondering for years whether DeWalt will stand by their product. I don't have a good answer for her, and that bothers me. That's the one tension I can't resolve. Does DeWalt stand by their products? I don't know.

DEWALT 20V MAX drill driver set

The cheapest real DeWalt kit on the list. ~$119 gets you the brushed drill, one battery, charger. No impact driver, no bag, no extras. Just the drill.

The biggest issue is no impact driver. If you're buying this as your first drill and you think it's the only drill you'll ever need, you're wrong. The impact driver is the better tool for driving screws, and you'll want one within a year. That said, ~$119 for an entry into the DeWalt 20V platform is hard to argue with.

The brushed motor is the same one in the more expensive combo, just without the second tool. It's dependable for home use, it'll handle the deck build you do once, and the battery is the same XR battery that works across the entire DeWalt 20V line. Buy this now, buy the impact driver later when you've got the money, and you're not wasting anything.

I paid $105 for the older version of this kit years ago. Two batteries, charger, bag. The price has crept up a bit, but it's still the deal in the DeWalt lineup for someone who's just starting out.

CRAFTSMAN V20 drill and impact combo

I've got a complicated relationship with Craftsman. I was one of those holdouts, used my Craftsman corded electric drill until about a year ago. Smartest move for me was switching to those 5.0 battery-operated DeWalt drills. I spent years tripping over cords and hunting for outlets for no reason. I can't imagine going back.

That said, the V20 combo at ~$79 is the cheapest name-brand two-tool kit on the list. Drill, impact driver, 2Ah battery, charger. For someone who's on a tight budget and just needs to get started, that's a real deal.

The biggest issue is the build. It's lighter than the DeWalt, which sounds like a positive until you realize lighter usually means thinner plastic and less metal where it counts. It's not for day-to-day construction work. It's perfect for home use, and it's not honest to pretend otherwise. Hanging pictures, assembling furniture, the occasional repair project. It'll do all of that without complaint.

The 2Ah battery is smaller than the XR batteries on the DeWalt kits. It'll run out faster under load. For light home use, that's fine. For deck builds, you'll want more battery.

AVID POWER 20V brushless drill set

This one surprised me. A brushless drill for ~$52.99. That's not a typo. AVID POWER isn't DeWalt, the battery ecosystem is its own thing, and you're not getting the same build quality. But you're getting a brushless motor at budget money, which used to be impossible.

The biggest issue is the brand. AVID POWER doesn't have DeWalt's reputation or DeWalt's service network. If the drill fails, you're dealing with a smaller company. That matters if you're using the tool every day. For occasional home use, it's a calculated risk.

The 40Nm of torque and the 3/8-inch metal chuck are real specs, not marketing fluff. The metal chuck is the standout feature at this price point. Most budget drills ship with plastic chucks that slip under load. A metal chuck holds. That's the difference between a budget drill that works and a budget drill that frustrates you every time you push it.

If you want to try brushless without committing to a DeWalt-priced kit, this is where I'd start. Just know what you're getting. You're not getting a DeWalt. You're getting a budget brushless drill that will handle home projects and may or may not last five years.

AVID POWER 20V cordless drill set

The cheapest drill on this list at ~$37.35. Lightweight, includes bits, ready to go out of the box. For someone who needs to hang pictures and assemble IKEA furniture, this is the buy.

The biggest issue is what it can't do. It won't drive tap cons. It won't handle framing. It won't survive a season of real work. I've seen these things survive abuse that should have killed them. One guy dropped his off a 6-foot ladder onto cement twice, didn't break, worked fine. But that's not the same as surviving daily jobsite use.

There's also the rattling. These AVID POWER drills make a rattling sound when you shake them fast. Sounds broken. It's the design. I've seen a guy buy a second one just to confirm the first wasn't defective. That's a terrible first impression, but it's not a defect.

For the price, it's hard to complain. You're not paying for a DeWalt, you're not getting a DeWalt, and you know that going in. If you need a drill for one project and don't want to spend real money, this works.

AwxryoX brushless compact drill set

This is a wildcard. A 60N.m brushless drill at ~$47.49, comes in a toolbox. The torque spec is higher than most budget drills, and the brushless motor is the real draw.

The biggest issue is I don't know this brand. AwxryoX isn't a name I've seen on jobsites. The battery ecosystem is its own thing. If the tool fails in two years, will you still be able to buy replacement batteries? I can't promise you will. That's the question I always ask: can I still buy batteries and parts for it in five years?

For someone who wants to test brushless technology without spending DeWalt money, this is interesting. For someone who wants a drill that will still be supported in 2030, this is a gamble.

Brushless third-party drills for DeWalt 20V batteries (B0FPRNCF72, B0DCNBF1DZ)

Check Price on Amazon →

These are the odd ducks. Brushless drill bodies that work with your existing DeWalt 20V batteries. No battery included, which is why the prices are low (~$35.99 and ~$42.99). They're made by third parties, not by DeWalt.

The appeal is obvious. You've already got DeWalt batteries. You've already invested in the platform. Buying a brushless drill body for ~$40 instead of $125 lets you add a tool to your collection without buying a whole new kit.

The risk is also obvious. These aren't DeWalt. The build quality, the motor tuning, the warranty, none of it is DeWalt. If the chuck fails or the motor burns out, you're dealing with a third-party manufacturer. I've read enough owner reviews to know some of these work great and some don't last a season. The reviews are mixed in a way DeWalt reviews aren't.

For someone who already has DeWalt batteries and wants to experiment cheaply, these are worth a look. For someone buying their first drill, skip them. Buy the real DeWalt.

DRILL/DRIVER COMPACT 20V

A compact 20V drill/driver at ~$98.99. The "compact" designation usually means shorter overall length, which matters when you're drilling in tight spaces like between joists or inside cabinets.

I don't have enough personal time with this specific model to give you a confident review. What I can tell you is that compact drills from real brands tend to be solid for their size. They lose torque compared to full-size drills, but they gain access to tight spots. For cabinet work, electrical rough-in, or anywhere you're fighting for clearance, compact makes sense.

For general purpose work, full-size drills are better. This is a specialty tool, not a daily driver.

So which one should you actually buy

Here's how I'd think about it. If you're using a drill daily, on jobsites, for real work, buy the brushless DeWalt combo. The brushless motor lasts longer, runs cooler, and the kit at ~$179 is the best value for daily users. That's the kit on my truck