10 Best Makita Drills of 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

There are several inferior tools on the market. If you’ve ever mistakenly purchased one, you know how frustrating it can be. Because of this, many professionals and hobbyists find a single brand they can trust and rely on for all their tool needs.

One company that many professionals use and believe in is Makita. Since 1915, Makita has been making tools that are consistently high quality and reliable. Their tools are on the cutting edge of technology, helping workers become more efficient and constantly innovating the marketplace.

But that doesn’t mean all Makita tools are created equal. Like any company, they have some markedly better products than others. So, when it was time to replace our drills, we tested to see which Makita drills came out on top. The following 10 reviews will share what we learned along the way.

A Quick Glance at our Favorites in 2024

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Hammer Drill		Makita XPH07Z Brushless Cordless Hammer Driver-Drill	Cordless freedom Creates 1 090 in-lb of maximum torque Brushless motors are more efficient and longer-lasting	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Makita 6407 Electric Drill	Relatively quiet at 79 dB Recessed lock-on button helps avoid hand fatigue Plenty of power from the 4.9-amp motor	CHECK PRICE
Best Mixing Drill		Makita DS4012 Spade Handle Drill	Tons of power from the 8.5-amp motor It’s surprisingly light at just 6.2 lb The handle rotates 360° to find the perfect position	CHECK PRICE
Best Impact Driver		Makita XDT16Z Brushless Cordless Quick-Shift Impact Driver	1 600 in-lb maximum torque Four power levels provide precise control Max speed of 3 600 RPM	CHECK PRICE
Best Cordless Kit		Makita XFD061 COMPACT Brushless Cordless Driver-Drill	2-speed transmission with a max speed of 1 550 RPM Ultra-lightweight – just 3.8 lb with the battery Equipped with efficient brushless motors	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Makita Drills Reviewed

1. Makita XPH07Z Cordless Hammer Driver-Drill – Best Hammer Drill

Combining power, control, and cutting-edge features, the Makita XPH07Z is our favorite Makita hammer drill and our pick for the best overall drill. It’s cordless and has a brushless motor that is more efficient and longer-lasting than traditional brushed motors.

But the motor is more than just efficient; it’s also very powerful. This drill creates a max of 1,090 inch-pounds (in-lb) of torque, which is impressive for a cordless tool. Helping control all that power is a 2-speed transmission with a variable-speed trigger allowing for speeds up to 2,100 RPM.

A built-in handle rotates to either side of the drill so you can find the perfect position for plenty of leverage. The all-metal chuck is ½-inch for fitting large bits. The only downside is that no battery is included, and the whole package is a bit pricey when you factor in the cost of the battery.

2. Makita 6407 Electric Drill – Best Value

Makita tools are known for their quality, but they’re not known for being particularly affordable. Luckily, the Makita 6407 Electric Drill is priced much lower than other tools, but it’s still one of the best Makita drills for the money.

This drill has a 4.9-amp motor that can turn up to 2,500 RPM. The variable trigger lets you control all that speed, and the recessed lock-on button helps prevent hand fatigue when drilling for an extended time.

We were surprised that such an affordable drill could be so quiet, but this one runs at just 79 decibels. On the downside, you’ll always be plugged into a power cord, but we can’t complain about the price.

3. Makita DS4012 Spade Handle Drill – Best Mixing Drill

Makita makes drills for many tasks, like the DS4012 Spade Handle Drill, which is perfect for mixing up various materials like thin-set, drywall mud, or concrete. It has a large D-handle on the back that spins 360°, allowing you to find the perfect placement for optimal leverage and comfort.

This is a pretty large tool, but at just 6.2 pounds, it’s lighter than you might think from looking at it. It’s equipped with an industrial ½-inch keyed chuck that provides a firm grip on any bit. You’ll need that firm grip since this drill is loaded with an 8.5-amp motor that helps it spin through thick materials like concrete.

Of course, this drill is good for more than just mixing. That might be where it performs best, but it’s still perfectly usable for standard drilling jobs. However, with a max speed of 600 RPM, it’s not the best choice for drilling most holes. It’s also always tied to a power cord, limiting your mobility. But if you tried mixing concrete with a regular hammer drill, you’d likely burn it up quickly. So, for mixing purposes, the DS4012 is the clear choice.

4. Makita XDT16Z Quick-Shift Impact Driver – Best Impact Driver

It’s compact and lightweight, and the Makita XDT16Z is our favorite impact driver. It’s the one we use for installing and removing screws and fasteners of all types. At just 3.4 pounds, you’ll hardly notice it clipped on your belt, and the tiny size helps it fit in tight spaces.

But the most impressive aspect is the massive power it fits into such a small package. With 1,600 in-lb of torque, you’ll have a hard time finding any fasteners this driver can’t drive. With a 4-speed transmission and a variable trigger, you get precise control over the entire speed range up to 3,600 RPM.

To pack so much power into such a small tool, Makita opted for a brushless motor in the XDT16Z. This makes it more efficient and provides superior battery life over brushed models. There’s also an assist mode that helps prevent stripped screws and cross-threading.

But this driver isn’t cheap. On top of the price, you’ll also have to purchase the battery separately. But for us, this level of quality and reliability is absolutely worth the higher price.

5. Makita XFD061 COMPACT Cordless Driver-Drill – Best Cordless Kit

We’ve covered several types of drills on this list so far, including cordless options. Most drills don’t include batteries, a charger, or a carrying case. But the Makita XFD061 kit contains everything you need to start completing projects today.

The drill driver in this package is equipped with a brushless motor and a 2-speed transmission. It has a max speed of 1,550 RPM on high and a top speed of 400 RPM on low for precise control over the drill.

One nice feature is how light it is. At a mere 3.8 pounds with the battery installed, it’s one of the lighter models we tested, saving your arms throughout the day. But we did have a complaint with the poorly placed LED work light. It creates a shadow on your work, making it difficult to see what you’re doing in some situations.

6. Makita XPH12Z Cordless Hammer Driver-Drill

The Makita XPH12Z Brushless Cordless Hammer Driver-Drill didn’t impress us as much as other Makita hammer drills, though it’s still a solid tool overall. It’s made with a brushless motor that offer improved efficiency and lifespan over brushed motors. This drill can reach a max speed of 2,000 RPM, but with a max torque of just 530 inch-pounds, it’s not as powerful as others we’ve tested.

Still, we like the cordless freedom this drill provides, and it’s pretty lightweight at just 4.2 pounds with the battery installed. Unfortunately, the battery isn’t included, so you’ll have to factor that additional expense into an already pricey drill.

7. Makita XPH10Z Cordless Hammer Driver-Drill

There’s one thing we really liked about the Makita XPH10Z Cordless Hammer Driver-Drill—the price. It’s far more affordable than other cordless hammer drills from Makita, but don’t forget to factor in the battery cost because none are included with this drill.

However, the XPH10Z is still packed with great features. For instance, it’s equipped with dual LED lights to illuminate your workspace, and the Makita XPT technology protects the inner motor from water, dust, and debris.

Despite the decent features, we found this hammer drill lacking. Hammer drills are meant for drilling into tough materials like brick and concrete, so you need a lot of power. With just 480 in-lbs of torque, we wouldn’t say this drill has much power. It also has a max speed of just 900 RPM, so it’s much slower than other models.

8. Makita XFD12Z Brushless Cordless Driver-Drill

We like how small and compact the Makita XFD12Z Brushless Cordless Driver-Drill is. It weighs in at less than 4 pounds with a battery. Too bad no battery is included. And to be fair, most of the similar drills from Makita that we tested weigh close to this, with some coming in even lighter.

Still, this drill is equipped with a brushless motor and a 2-speed transmission capable of speeds up to 2,000 RPM. However, too many little flaws held this drill back in our eyes. First, the reverse switch is poorly placed, resulting in many accidental presses while working. Next, the built-in LEDs are terribly placed and don’t even illuminate the bit! Finally, the chuck tends to loosen up while you work, and eventually, the bit falls out. For the price, we were hoping for better quality.

9. Makita XFD11ZB Sub-Compact Cordless Driver Drill

The Makita XFD11ZB is a sub-compact drill driver that’s lighter than any of the others we tested at just 2.8 pounds with a battery installed. Of course, there’s no battery included, so you’ll need to purchase one separately.

Because it’s so small and light, it is easy to maneuver and will fit in the tightest of spaces. But there’s a major tradeoff here. It might be small and light, but we certainly wouldn’t classify this drill as powerful. With a max torque rating of just 350 in-lb and a top speed of 1,700 RPM, the XFD11ZB doesn’t perform on the same level as other Makita drills we tested.

10. Makita HP2050 Hammer Drill

We’re rarely disappointed with a Makita tool, but the HP2050 Hammer Drill is one that we’d never recommend. It’s not a complete failure, with a handle that swivels 360° for optimal placement and a recessed lock-on button for reduced fatigue when drilling deep holes. But overall, there were too many flaws to overlook.

To start, this drill is pretty underpowered compared to other Makita hammer drills. The 6.6-amp motor isn’t as powerful as the motors in other hammer drills, and it feels weak when you use it. Despite that, it’s big and heavy at nearly 15 inches long and weighs just shy of 6 pounds.

But it gets worse because the real failure is the chuck. It was advertised as having a ¾-inch chuck, but when it arrived, it was a ½-inch chuck instead. Even when we wrenched it down with the key, the chuck never stayed tight and continuously dropped our bits. With so many glaring flaws, we can’t recommend this hammer drill.

Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose the Best Makita Drill

As you can see, there are many Makita drills to choose from in various shapes and sizes with drastically different abilities. How are you supposed to pick just one? Well, in many cases, one isn’t enough. A lot of it comes down to the type of work you plan to perform with your drill. Are you just drilling holes and installing screws and bolts, or are you doing both? Are you going to be mixing up concrete and thin sets? Do you need extra power to drill through concrete and masonry?

If this sounds confusing, don’t worry; this buyer’s guide is for you. We’ll discuss the types of drills and which tasks you can perform with them.

Different Drills for Different Jobs

The reason there are so many types of drills is that they’re all meant to perform specific functions. While some of them can perform various functions, they’re usually best at specific tasks. Let’s take a look at the types of drills and what they’re used for.

Drill Drivers

This is the most basic and versatile drill, and it’s probably the one that pops into your head when you think of a drill. They’re great for drilling holes and installing fasteners in various materials. However, they’re not the most powerful of drills, and they have a hard time sinking fasteners into hard materials when they strip out the heads.

Drill drivers are the most common types, and they’re generally the most affordable. Depending on your preferences, you can get a drill driver in a cordless or corded setup.

Hammer Drills

These drills are heavier and larger than regular drill drivers and usually have a handle to give you extra leverage. But hammer drills aren’t just bigger, they’re also more powerful. They’re made for making holes in hard materials like brick, concrete, and masonry, so they’re loaded with impressive torque specs.

Spade Handle Drill

Spade handle drills are giant, and they’re usually pretty hefty. They’re bigger than hammer drills overall, though they’re not usually quite as long. These drills feature a handle like hammer drills, but this time it’s a big D-handle on the rear of the drill.

Spade handle drills usually have the biggest, most powerful motors and are designed for mixing up thick materials like concrete, drywall mud, and thin-set for tiles. To prevent all that material from being thrown out of your bucket, they’re generally limited in speed and top out around 600 RPM. You can still use a spade handle for making holes, but it will be slow going, and the extra bulk and size of a spade handle drill will weigh you down.

Impact Driver

Impact drivers are relatively new compared to the other drills we’ve covered. These are very compact and lightweight, making them ideal for working in tight spaces. They’re also incredibly powerful, despite their small size. Many of these tools produce upwards of 1,000 in-lb of torque.

The reason an impact driver needs so much power is that they’re meant for driving fasteners. But instead of constantly turning as you get with a drill, an impact driver makes hundreds of tiny impacts per minute, which can power the fastener through materials that a standard drill wouldn’t handle. The impacts also make it less likely to strip out the head of the screw—a problem that’s too commonplace when driving fasteners with a standard drill.

On the other hand, they are some of the least-versatile drills. They’re not great for drilling holes since they don’t turn smoothly like a drill bit requires. Moreover, they generally have ¼-inch chucks that won’t accept standard drill bits anyway.

In Conclusion

One thing’s for sure; there’s no shortage of Makita drills for you to pick from. While writing these reviews, we tested many drills and finally settled on a few that we feel confident recommending. For our money, the best hammer drill is the Makita XPH07Z. It’s cordless and built with a brushless motor that creates 1,090 in-lb of max torque with a two-speed transmission and variable trigger for complete control.

If you’re looking for the best value, we suggest the Makita 6407 Electric Drill with a 4.9-amp motor that spins up to 2,500 RPM and operates at just 79 decibels. The Makita DS4012 Spade Handle Drill is the drill we’d choose for mixing up materials like drywall mud and concrete. It has an impressive 8.5-amp motor with a D-handle that rotates 360° for optimal leverage and comfort.

When installing or removing fasteners, our top pick is the Makita XDT16Z impact driver with 1,600 in-lb of max torque and a top speed of 3,600 RPM. Finally, our favorite cordless kit with everything you need to get drilling is the Makita XFD061 with a drill driver, battery, charger, and convenient carrying bag.

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