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Drill in tight spaces

Updated: 23 October 2026

The straight drill is longer than the cupboard, the sink void or the gap beside the seat rail, and you need to know whether a compact angle drill actually gets in. Drill in tight spaces, with the four cordless tools in our [cordless angle drill comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/cordless-angle-drill), means screws and small holes in furniture and vehicles. It does not mean service holes through joists, and it does not mean brick. The amazon.co.uk listings and Bosch’s UK page for the GWB 12V-10 were read on 19 October 2026. We did not run a lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

The straight drill is longer than the cupboard, the sink void or the gap beside the seat rail, and you need to know whether a compact angle drill actually gets in.

Our top picks

Einhell Einhell TE-AD 18 Li Solo

Best overall

Einhell Einhell TE-AD 18 Li Solo
8.7/10about £49.99
View offer
Milwaukee Milwaukee C12 RAD-0

Alternative

Milwaukee Milwaukee C12 RAD-0
6.8/10about £99.99
View offer
XIIW XIIW 12 V right-angle drill

Best value

XIIW XIIW 12 V right-angle drill
5.7/10about £47.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Cupboards and carcasses
  2. 2.Cars and vans
  3. 3.Joists are a different drill
  4. 4.When the gap is not the only risk

Cupboards and carcasses

A wall cabinet, a drawer slide and an airing cupboard are the jobs these tools are shaped for. The chuck sits at about 90 degrees, so the motor lies along the carcass. Bosch’s UK page for the GWB 12V-10 states 10 mm in wood and a 6 mm screw. Fit the battery, then look. One UK review of the Milwaukee C12 RAD-0 says the tool is about 13 inches long with a pack on. The Einhell’s rotating slot turns the pack clear of a return. The Bosch head pivots through five positions, and reviews still call the body rather long. The sequence for the trigger is on how to use a right angle drill. Under a sink, know where the pipes and the waste are before the bit goes through the back of the unit.

Cars and vans

A vehicle bay is the other place these reviews actually go. One UK Einhell review describes drilling out a broken alternator bolt. XIIW reviews mention the space under a dashboard. Rotate the Einhell pack, or accept the Milwaukee’s longer working length, before you are leant across the wing. Treat about 10 mm as the jaw. A 19 mm spade bit in a XIIW review wobbled, and that review says the chuck does not lock internally. The Einhell listing still states 10 mm in metal. None of these tools is an impact driver. Which body matches the packs already in the van is on the best cordless angle drill UK page.
Einhell Einhell TE-AD 18 Li Solo

Testsieger

Einhell Einhell TE-AD 18 Li Solo
8.7/10about £49.99
View offer

Joists are a different drill

Between joists, the bay is narrow and the hole is usually the problem. The Einhell states 10 mm and 45 Nm, and one UK review called it underpowered for a 23 mm hole through a joist. The Bosch states 11 Nm and 10 mm. The Milwaukee states 22 mm in wood and 10 mm in metal. The XIIW states 18 Nm and does not state a wood capacity. A heavy right-angle drill is a different object. Howe Tools’ note on a Milwaukee joist drill describes a head around 97 mm and a mass around 4 kg without a battery. That is not the C12 RAD-0 at £99.99, and it is not the Einhell body at 1.22 kg. A hole saw in a joist is outside what the listings and the failed review support.

When the gap is not the only risk

A gap you can enter is not a gap you should drill. If you cannot see the far side, stop. At home, a compact angle drill is suitable for a screw you can hold, and unsuitable for a structural hole you are hoping will be fine. A right-angle body that binds will roll. On a ladder, that roll is a fall. Stay with the compact drill if the job is a screw or a small hole and you can hold the tool with two hands. Change tool if the wall is brick, because none of these listings has hammer mode. Call a competent person if the member is structural or the services are unknown.

Common questions

Will a compact angle drill fit inside a wall cabinet?
Often, for a hinge or a bracket, if the bit is short and the battery clears the back. Reviewers use these tools in cabinets and airing cupboards. The Milwaukee can be about 13 inches with a pack fitted, so measure with the battery on. The Bosch head can pivot. It does not make a long body short.
How long is the tool once the battery is on?
Longer than the bare photo. One UK review of the Milwaukee C12 RAD-0 says about 13 inches with a battery fitted. The Einhell’s rotating slot turns the pack out of the way. It does not make the pack disappear. Fit the pack you will use, then measure the cupboard.
Can I use it under a sink or in an airing cupboard?
Yes, for screws and small holes, which is what Einhell reviewers describe in an airing cupboard. Look for the waste and the feeds before you drill the back of the unit. The LED on the Einhell and the XIIW helps in a dark cupboard. It does not show you a pipe on the far side of the panel.
Is it the right tool for holes through joists?
Not for a service hole. A UK review found the Einhell underpowered for 23 mm through a joist, despite 45 Nm and a stated 10 mm capacity. The other three are not stronger joist drills. Small pilots and clips in a bay are in range. A hole saw is not.
Can I reach a bolt in a van engine bay?
Sometimes. An Einhell reviewer drilled out a broken alternator bolt, and XIIW reviews mention dashboards. Keep the bit in the stated chuck size, get a second hand on the tool, and stop if it twists toward a loom or a fuel line. A seized bolt the impact can reach is still an impact job.
What about brick behind a kitchen unit?
Leave it. None of these listings has hammer mode. A masonry bit will rub. Moving the unit, or using a combi or an SDS hammer where you can see the wall and the cables, is the honest method. A tight gap does not turn a compact angle drill into a hammer.

Related pages

Cordless angle drill buying guide

Cordless angle drill

Best cordless angle drill for packs you already own

How to use a right angle drill: short bit, slow start

Right angle drill vs attachment: when the stack fits

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 display file.

  1. HSE, Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. HSE, Select equipment for reduced vibration exposure (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. HSE RR1182 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. Bosch Professional, GWB 12V-10 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. Toolpicker, Einhell TE-AD 18 Li (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. Screwfix, 12 V cordless angle drills (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. PUWER 1998 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. Consumer Rights Act 2015 (retrieved 19 October 2026)