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Cordless drill for flat pack furniture

Updated: 22 October 2026

The cam turns, the chipboard lifts, and the Allen bolt is now a stripped hole. A cordless drill for flat pack furniture fails that way when the clutch is on the drill symbol, not because 12V is the wrong voltage. Use the lowest number that turns the screw, and finish the last quarter-turn by hand. A 3.6V screwdriver is often gentler than any drill in our comparison. This page is not the full ranking on the [12V cordless drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/12v-cordless-drill). Products Compared used IKEA's UK tool pages and the review notes, not a lab, on 19 October 2026. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The cam turns, the chipboard lifts, and the Allen bolt is now a stripped hole. A cordless drill for flat pack furniture fails that way when the clutch is on the drill symbol, not because 12V is the wrong voltage.

Our top picks

FADAKWALT FADAKWALT 12V cordless drill, green

Best overall

FADAKWALT FADAKWALT 12V cordless drill, green
8.6/10about £24.99
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VOERJIA VOERJIA 12V cordless drill, two batteries

Best value

VOERJIA VOERJIA 12V cordless drill, two batteries
7.5/10about £29.99
View offer
DEKOPRO DEKOPRO 12V cordless drill

Alternative

DEKOPRO DEKOPRO 12V cordless drill
7.8/10about £23.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Flat-pack needs control, not peak torque
  2. 2.Screwdriver or 12V drill
  3. 3.How the drills in this set behave
  4. 4.When you still need a drill

Flat-pack needs control, not peak torque

A confirmat screw or a cam bolt in chipboard needs enough torque to pull the panel and no more. Past that point the cam spins and the board flakes. The gap is the clutch. The 12V versus 18V cordless drill page is for brick and larger holes, not for a Kallax. The numbered collar is not a newton-metre scale. 5 on one drill is not 5 Nm, and it is not 5 on the next brand. Start on a low torque, work up, and do not over-drive Allen fittings. Allen fittings need the key from the box. A Phillips bit in a Pozidriv screw looks like a torque problem.

Screwdriver or 12V drill

IKEA's TRIXIG 3.6V screwdriver is £13, with 5 Nm and 200 rpm, and the USB-C charger is sold separately. The TRIXIG 12V is £29, with 16 Nm and a chuck of 0.8-10 mm. Those are ikea.com/gb prices, not amazon.co.uk. The 5 Nm stick driver seats cams with less chance of a stripped hole. The 16 Nm tool is the one with a chuck for a pilot bit. Where these drills state torque, it is above 5 Nm, so any of them can overshoot a cam on the drill symbol. A 3.6V screwdriver is the better only tool when wardrobes are the whole job. The chuck and clutch click are on the how to use a cordless drill page.
FADAKWALT FADAKWALT 12V cordless drill, green

Testsieger

FADAKWALT FADAKWALT 12V cordless drill, green
8.6/10about £24.99
View offer

How the drills in this set behave

The DEKOPRO at £23.99 is the lowest stated torque, 12 Nm and one speed. Reviews call the bits easy to break, and battery capacity is not stated. Fit a PZ2 bit and start at the lowest number that turns the screw. The green FADAKWALT at £24.99 states 20 Nm and one 1.3Ah pack. On a cam that is still too much on the drill symbol. The VOERJIA at £29.99 states 35 Nm and two 2000 mAh packs, so a wardrobe need not pause to charge. Finish Allen bolts by hand. The Durofix at 50 Nm, and the Dremel which wants hex bits, are the wrong first tools for cams.

When you still need a drill

You still need the drill function for a pilot hole the instructions ask for, and for fixing a tall unit to a wall. A pilot in chipboard is a small sharp bit, the drill symbol, and a depth you can see. Clamp the panel so it cannot spin. A wall strap is a different job from the cams. In plasterboard you need a fixing for that board. In brick you need a masonry bit and a drill that can make the hole. Electrical Safety First says to look for cables, treat a detector as a help rather than a guarantee, and switch the power off near electrics. A 12V combi that states no masonry diameter will not grow one because the instructions say to attach the wardrobe to the wall. If a cam already spins, back the bolt out. The hand key from the pack does the last fraction of the turn.

Common questions

Is a 12V drill too strong for IKEA furniture?
The drill is too strong if the clutch is off. IKEA's 3.6V TRIXIG states 5 Nm. The 12V drills here state 12 Nm, 20 Nm or 35 Nm where they state torque, and any of those will strip a cam on the drill symbol. On a low clutch number, with the last turn by hand, a 12V drill is usable.
Should I buy a 3.6V screwdriver instead?
Buy the 3.6V screwdriver if wardrobes are the only job, and 5 Nm is enough. IKEA lists the TRIXIG 3.6V at £13 with the USB-C charger sold separately. Buy a 12V drill if you also need a chuck for a pilot bit. The TRIXIG 12V is £29, and its charger is separate too. Check the carton on an amazon.co.uk kit, because a listed charger does not always arrive.
Which bit, Pozidriv or Phillips?
Use the bit that matches the screw head. A lot of UK cabinet screws are Pozidriv, commonly PZ2, and a Phillips bit will cam out and chew the recess. Allen fittings need the key supplied with the furniture. If the bit does not fill the recess, change it.
Can I drill a pilot hole with the same tool?
Yes, if the instructions call for one. Use a small sharp bit, the drill symbol so the clutch is out of the way, and a depth you can see. Hold the panel so it cannot spin. Do not use hammer, and do not use a flexible shaft for a hole that needs to be straight.
How do I fix a tall unit to a wall?
Follow the strap in the pack, and treat the wall as a separate job from the cams. In plasterboard you need a fixing for that board. In brick you need a masonry bit and a drill that can make the hole. Look for cables first. Electrical Safety First says a detector helps and does not guarantee a clear wall. If the 12V drill will not advance in brick, stop.

Related pages

12V cordless drill buying guide

12V cordless drill

Best 12V cordless drill for light home screwdriving

How to use a cordless drill: charge, clutch, cables

12V vs 18V cordless drill: furniture, brick, or SDS

Sources

Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 19 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the product display for this comparison.

  1. Bosch Professional: changeover from 10.8V to 12V (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. BSI: BS EN 62841-2-1, hand-held drills and impact drills (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. HSE: PUWER overview (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. Electrical Safety First: drills (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. Electrical Safety First: DIY and cables (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. GOV.UK: Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. GOV.UK: recycling batteries and electrical waste (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. Screwfix: best drills guide (retrieved 19 October 2026)