Drills are power tools used to make holes in materials, as well as loosening and tightening screws and bolts. The main consideration when selecting a drill is the material you will be working on, as harder materials will require higher power inputs and possibly additional features, such as hammer action.

At RS, we have a vast range of corded and cordless power drills available from a large selection of brands, including industry leaders like Bosch, DeWALT and Makita, as well as our own professional brand, RS PRO.

What type of drills are available?

Drill Drivers - Drill drivers combine two functionalities; the drilling of holes and the driving screws into the hole. Most quality drills are equipped with user-defined speeds and torque settings to adapt to any job in hand. Drill drivers offer a lower torque setting, providing a smooth screwing process.

Combi Drills - A combi drill is a multi-purpose tool, with most having a keyless chuck to hold any drill bits. It can be used at high speed for drilling applications into a variety of materials such as masonry, woods, metals and plastics, with the added functionality of hammer action. With the correct screw driving bit, you can drive screws in easily.

Impact Drills and Drivers - Offering similar characteristics to a drill driver however, it provides more torque and power for driving in screws and hex bolts. Impact drill/drivers typically only offer one gear, but great torque making it great if you need to drill through tough, knotty wood or metals.

Hammer Drills - Hammer drills increase the force applied to the bit when being drilled. Similar in principle to a jackhammer, this action provides a greater force to harder materials such as stone and masonry, driving the drill bit into the material.

SDS Drills - These are more powerful versions of a hammer drill and use a slotted drive system to increase the force for drilling and chiselling. Designed mainly to be used on hard materials such as concrete, stone and masonry and other heavy-duty applications. You can learn more in our complete guide to SDS drills.

Angle Drills - Angled drills have the functionality of a combi drill but with a 90 degree bent head. Seen to compliment the combi, angle drills are ideal for those hard to reach areas. The angled head allows for a smaller drill bit, making it easier to drive screws or drill materials in a confined space.

Magnetic Drills - Magnetic drills (also known as mag drills) are essentially a portable bench drill for drilling metals. The base of the drill uses magnets to lock itself to the material to prevent it moving during drilling. Magnetic drills are most often used with annular cutters for an accurate cut.