Buy a 20V brushless drill/driver kit that includes at least one battery and a charger, then a driver bit set you can actually find a Phillips in. Wait on impact drivers, circular saws, and “complete workshop” cases until this drill has earned a second tool on the same battery platform.
Hanging and assembly live next to the stud finder and anchors guide. Paint-day mess is a different cart: paint supplies.
First drill vs later tools
| Buy | Get this | Wait if | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drill/driver kit | Brushless 20V, battery + charger, 1/2-inch chuck | You already own that battery line | View Drill/driver kit (affiliate) |
| Driver bit set | Phillips, square, slotted, and a magnetic guide | You are still using one worn bit | View Driver bit set (affiliate) |
| Impact driver | Same battery platform, after long screws pile up | You have not worn out the drill clutch yet | View Impact driver (affiliate) |
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What actually matters on the first drill
Battery platform first, then motor, then the bits. A bare tool with no pack looks cheaper until you buy the charger separately. A brushed drill will work; brushless is the one you will still want when the shelves are done and the next project shows up.
Two speeds are the useful feature. Low speed with the clutch set keeps you from snapping cabinet screws. High speed is for drilling. A light and a metal chuck are conveniences. A 40-piece “homeowner set” of random hex junk is not a plan.
The kit and the bits
After the first holes
That drill is the core of the workshop toolset under $350. The impact on this page stays off that cart and joins the toolset under $750. A first house that mostly hangs and reaches is the first-home tool kit. Dust belongs in a shop vac.