Category
Drills & Drivers
The first power tool most people buy, and the one they reach for most.
Reviews
Impact Driver
Milwaukee M18FID3 Impact Driver
The most compact full-power impact driver going, with four drive modes and the pro-grade M18 range and warranty behind it.
Impact Driver
DeWalt DCF860N Impact Driver
A brushless 18V impact driver with 282Nm and three torque modes — the strongest, most controllable driver of its size, for heavy fastening on DeWalt XR.
Impact Driver
Makita DTD153 Impact Driver
A light, compact brushless impact driver with 170Nm of grunt — the everyday screw-driver for most DIYers on the Makita platform.
Hammer Drill
Makita DHP484 Hammer Drill
The brushless 18V drill tradies reach for, with the grunt and clutch a home job needs — the smartest first buy on the Makita platform.
Impact Driver
Ozito PXC 18V Impact Driver
The cheapest impact driver in the aisle, with 150Nm and a five-year warranty — plenty of tool for occasional weekend jobs on a budget.
Hammer Drill
Ryobi R18PD3 Percussion Drill
A compact percussion drill that drives, bores and hammers into brick — most of the benchmark Makita for half the money, on Ryobi ONE+.
Head to head
Drill Bit Sets
The best all-round drill bit sets for Australian homes
We rank three sets that can cover a whole house: a 70-piece Bosch box, DeWalt's 100-piece kit, and seven multi-material bits for brick, tile and metal.
Wood Drill Bits
The best wood drill bits for Aussie DIY: brad point, spade and auger
Three wood drill bit sets ranked for the shed — brad-point bits for clean holes, a spade set for fast wide bores, and an auger set for going deep in timber.
Forstner Bit Sets
The best Forstner bit sets for woodworking in Australia
Sinking hinge cups, dowels or screw plugs means drilling flat-bottomed holes — the job a Forstner bit is built for. We weigh three sets on value, sharpness and sizing.
Hole Saw Sets
The best bi-metal hole saw sets for Australian DIYers
Three bi-metal hole saw sets ranked best buy first — a trade-grade Milwaukee Hole Dozer, a quick-changing Bosch and a budget M42 set for occasional holes.
Step Drill Bits
The best step drill bits for sheet metal in Australia
A cone-shaped bit that drills a range of hole sizes in sheet metal from one tool — three ranked best buy first, from a value set to a trade-tough single.
Masonry Drill Bits
The best masonry drill bit sets for a DIY hammer drill
Three carbide masonry sets ranked for a hammer drill — a cheap everyday set for brick and block, a tough percussion set for concrete, and one bit that drills mixed materials.
Metal Drill Bits
The best metal drill bit sets for Australian DIYers
Three metal drill bit sets ranked best buy first — a value DeWalt cobalt set, Milwaukee's premium RED HELIX and a budget Bosch for the odd steel job.
Impact Bit Sets
The best impact driver bit sets for Australian DIYers
Three impact-rated bit sets that survive an impact driver's hammer blows — ranked from a value 40-piece all-rounder to a 54-piece trade kit.
Cordless Drills
The best cordless drill for Australian DIYers
Three cordless drills, three ways to buy — and why the cheapest skin on the shelf is rarely the cheapest drill once the battery's on.
Impact Drivers
Makita DTD153 vs DeWalt DCF860N: which 18V impact driver should you buy?
Two premium 18V impact drivers, Makita's 170Nm against DeWalt's 282Nm — and why the right pick comes down to the battery you're already on.
Guides
Drills & Drivers
How to choose the right impact driver in Australia
How to pick an impact driver — how much torque you really need, drive modes, skin versus kit, and the head length for tight spots.
Read the guide →Drills & Drivers
Drill or impact driver — which one do you need?
Drill or impact driver? What each one is built for, how they drive a screw differently, and which to buy first if you get only one.
Read the guide →Drills & Drivers
Drill bits explained: HSS, cobalt and masonry
HSS, cobalt, masonry and the rest — which drill bit to use for each material, and why the wrong one wrecks the hole and the bit.
Read the guide →What to look for in a drill or driver
Torque
Twisting force, in Nm. Around 40Nm handles most home jobs; 50Nm and up drives long screws into hardwood without stalling.
Brushless or brushed
Brushless motors run longer on a charge and last longer, for more money. Worth it if the tool gets regular use rather than the odd weekend.
The chuck
The part that grips the bit. A metal keyless chuck holds bits tighter and wears better than the plastic ones on cheaper drills.
Battery platform
You're buying into an ecosystem, not just a tool. Pick the platform first, because every future tool shares its battery.