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Makita DF033 hex or keyless chuck

Updated: 2026-10-23

The amazon.co.uk title says drill, and the bit in your hand is a round twist bit from the last drill you owned. The DF033 and the DF032 take 1/4 inch hex bits. The DF333DWAE and the HP332 take a 10 mm keyless chuck. By the end you should know which of the five kept listings matches the shank you already own, and which shop figures to ignore. The [Makita cordless drill 12V comparison](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/makita-cordless-drill-12v) is the full table. We used the amazon.co.uk bullets and Makita UK's DF033D and DF333D pages on 21 October 2026.

The amazon.co.uk title says drill, and the bit in your hand is a round twist bit from the last drill you owned. The DF033 and the DF032 take 1/4 inch hex bits. The DF333DWAE and the HP332 take a 10 mm keyless chuck.

Our top picks

Makita Makita DF333DWAE

Best overall

Makita Makita DF333DWAE
7.1/10about £112.69
View offer
Makita Makita DF032DZ

Best value

Makita Makita DF032DZ
6.7/10about £98
View offer
Makita Makita DF033DWAE

Alternative

Makita Makita DF033DWAE
6.2/10about £128.98
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.What each head holds
  2. 2.The two hex listings
  3. 3.The keyless listings
  4. 4.Figures that disagree

What each head holds

A 1/4 inch hex collet holds screwdriver bits, nutsetters and hex-shank drill bits. A round-shank twist bit does not seat. A 10 mm keyless chuck holds a round shank up to that capacity, and it will also grip a hex-shank bit if you tighten the jaws on the hex. The hex driver cannot borrow the round bits. Makita UK's DF033D page lists a 1/4 inch driving shank, 21 mm in wood, 10 mm in steel, and 30/14 Nm in the specification table. Length is about 149 mm. The same page's introductory sentence says 35/21 Nm. Use the specification table, not that introductory line.

The two hex listings

The DF033DWAE at £128.98 is the hex kit. The bullets say a 1/4 inch hex chuck. One United Kingdom buyer expected a drill chuck and did not get one. The box row lists two 2.0 Ah batteries, a 12 V Max charger, a carry case and a screwdriver bit. The DF032DZ at £98.00 is the hex body. The title says brushless and no batteries. The bullets say a 1/4 inch hex drive and a length of 124 mm, plus an LED and an electric brake. The best Makita 12V cordless drill page weighs that body against the kits.
Makita Makita DF333DWAE

Testsieger

Makita Makita DF333DWAE
7.1/10about £112.69
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The keyless listings

The DF333DWAE at £112.69 is the keyless kit. The bullets say a 10 mm keyless chuck, and the box row names two 2.0 Ah batteries, a charger and a carry case. Open it if the twist bits on the bench are round. The HP332DSAJ at £144.73 is the other keyless head, and the only one with a hammer. The bullets state a 10 mm keyless chuck and 8 mm in masonry. Buy it when the round bit is a masonry bit for a plug. The Makita 12V cordless drill buying guide covers whether you need the hammer. The DF333DSAE at £204.99 prints a 10 mm chuck. The attributes do not confirm keyless. Makita UK's 0.8–10 mm figure is for the DF333D family, not a line we can paste onto this listing's attributes.

Figures that disagree

Howe Tools' page for a DF033DZ has mixed the heads. The title says 1/4 inch hex, and a specification block has copied 10 mm keyless, a 3/8 inch shank and 179 mm, which are DF333 figures. Lawson HIS has listed the DF033DZ as 1/4 inch hex and 149 mm, which matches Makita UK's length for the hex model. Makita UK's DF333D page also prints a driving shank of 3/8 inch. That cell is the spindle thread, not a hex collet. The chuck capacity on the same page is 0.8–10 mm. Trust the Makita UK 1/4 inch line on the DF033, then the amazon.co.uk bullet on the exact listing. The how to use a Makita 12V drill page covers the clutch after the bit is in the tool. A qualifying purchase through our amazon.co.uk links can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

Common questions

Can I use my existing round-shank drill bits in the DF033?
No. The DF033DWAE bullets say a 1/4 inch hex drive, and Makita UK lists a quick mount for a 1/4 inch screwdriver. A round twist bit will not lock. One United Kingdom buyer expected a chuck and did not get one. Use a hex-shank bit, or buy the DF333DWAE if the bits you own are round.
What bits fit the DF032DZ?
Hex bits in a 1/4 inch shank: screwdriver bits, nutsetters and hex-shank drills. The amazon.co.uk bullets say 1/4 inch hex, and the stated length in those bullets is 124 mm. The title includes no batteries. A round-shank bit does not seat. One United Kingdom reviewer found the collar releases the opposite way to a one-handed pull, so check the arrow before you force it.
Which kept listing has a 10 mm keyless chuck and batteries?
The DF333DWAE at £112.69. The bullets say a 10 mm keyless chuck, and the included-components row names two 2.0 Ah batteries, a charger and a carry case. The HP332DSAJ at £144.73 also has a 10 mm keyless chuck in the bullets, plus hammer mode, two batteries and a Makpac. Choose the HP332 only if you need the 8 mm masonry figure.
Is the DF033 an impact driver?
No. It is a drill driver with a clutch. The bullets describe a 1/4 inch hex drive, torque settings and drill mode, not an impact anvil. The hex collet is what it shares with an impact driver. You still set a number on the ring so a small screw can slip before the head sinks.
Will a hex-shank bit also fit the keyless chuck?
Yes. Close the 10 mm jaws on the hex shank and the bit will drive, on the DF333DWAE or the HP332DSAJ. You do not need a separate hex tool if you already own the keyless drill and only a few screwdriver bits. You do need the hex tool if you want the shorter body and you never use round shanks.
If I only drive screws, is the shorter hex tool enough?
Often, yes. The DF033 is about 149 mm on Makita UK and the DF032 bullet length is 124 mm, against about 179 mm for the DF333. United Kingdom reviews use the hex kit for rails, doors and plasterboard. It is not enough when the next task is a round twist bit or an 8 mm masonry plug.

Related pages

Makita 12V vs 18V drill

Makita cordless drill 12V

Best Makita 12V cordless drill for your stated job

Makita 12V cordless drill buying guide: head and kit

How to use a Makita 12V drill: charge, clutch, stop

Sources

Public sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the product display for this comparison.

  1. Makita UK: DF333D drill driver (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  2. Makita UK: DF033D drill driver (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  3. Makita UK: DF032D drill driver (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  4. Makita UK: HP332D combi drill (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  5. Makita: DF032D instruction manual (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  6. Makita UK: BL1021B 12V 2.0Ah battery (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  7. HSE: Control of Vibration at Work Regulations (retrieved 22 October 2026)
  8. Screwfix: Makita DF333DWAE 12V CXT drill driver (retrieved 22 October 2026)