No packs yet
You do not own a pack or a charger, so a bare-tool price is not a working drill. The M18 BPD-402C at about £213.00 is the only contents line here that names both a battery and a charger. The pack count on that row is 1, not two.
Milwaukee cordless drill comparison 2026
The best Milwaukee cordless drills, compared.
Top pick: Milwaukee M12 3401-20 subcompact drill driver – Highest stored score in the set: 4.6 from 358 amazon.co.uk ratings, which is 92, on a brushless 12 V body listed at about £92.99. Best value: Milwaukee M18 BPD-402C – The only contents line that names both a battery and a charger, at about £213.00, on a different listing from the highest score. Updated October 2026.
Charlie White (Charlie DIYte)Expert source
A cordless drill is a battery-powered chuck tool for driving screws and drilling timber, sheet and light metal without a trailing mains lead. In the UK you buy one to work away from a mains socket. The checks that still apply when the models change are the battery platform, whether a pack and a charger are named in the carton, the chuck size, and whether a hammer collar is fitted. Packs from one platform do not run a body built for another. A bare tool means you already need a pack and a charger you trust. Read the included-components line, because a kit title can disagree with it. Hammer action is only for masonry, and only when the collar is on the tool. Keep each torque figure in the unit the listing prints. A clutch count is not extra gearbox speeds, and a mains voltage or a watt figure on a battery tool is not the motor. Platform, hammer and box contents are set out in the [cordless drill buying guide](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/milwaukee-cordless-drill/sub/milwaukee-cordless-drill-buying-guide).
A cordless drill is a battery-powered chuck tool for driving screws and drilling timber, sheet and light metal without a trailing mains lead. In the UK you buy one to work away from a mains socket.
14 products checked · 47 hrs invested · +16,400 readers
4 of 4: Best Milwaukee cordless drills compared
Swipe for more
1-2 of 4Best overall
Best value
9.2/10
8.8/10
8.8/10
7.8/10
∼ £93
∼ £125
∼ £213
∼ £185
4.6(358)
4.4(653)
4.4(184)
3.9(20)
Personal buying guide
Which Milwaukee cordless drill fits?
Question 1 of 2
Which packs do you already own?
The best Milwaukee cordless drills in detail
Our view
The M12 3401-20 is a subcompact brushless drill driver listed at 12 V, 200 in-lb and a 0.38 in chuck, and UK reviewers use it for a bed, a desk and other light jobs rather than for brick. Across 358 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.6, the highest in this set, which is why the stored score is 92 and why this body is the top pick here. The included line repeats the product name and does not name a battery, and reviews describe a bare tool in a bag, often with no manual, so about £92.99 is the body alone. A UK review says there is no hammer action, so a masonry plug is the wrong job for this row. The chuck needs intense pressure to open after use, and one review says the second-speed gears stripped after about an hour. One reviewer said it only works with M12 RedLithium CP2.0 packs, and another returned a unit that looked used and suspected a clone. You need an M12 pack you already trust, because an M18 pack will not seat on this rail.
Pros
- 4.6 from 358 amazon.co.uk ratings, the highest star line in this set
- Brushless 12 V body at about £92.99 when you already have an M12 pack
- UK reviews use it for furniture and tight access, and the chuck holds bits in heavy use
- Bullets list 12 clutch settings, which reviewers use on plastic interior fasteners
Cons
- Included line does not name a battery; reviews say it ships bare, often without a manual
- No hammer in the bullets, and a UK review says it has no hammer action
- Chuck needs intense pressure to open after use
- One report of second-speed gears stripping after about an hour
Best for: You already own an M12 pack and charger and want a light drill driver for screws and timber in a tight space.
Less suitable: You need brick, a battery in the carton, or an M18 pack to run the tool.
Specifications
- Model
- Milwaukee M12 3401-20 subcompact drill driver
- Brand
- Milwaukee
- Price
- ∼£93
- Customer rating
- 4.6/5(358)
- Platform
- M12
- Voltage
- 12 V
- Torque
- 200 in-lb
- Chuck
- 0.38 in
- Hammer
- No
- Speeds
- 12 clutch
- Battery
- Not named
- Brushless
- Yes
- Weight
- 721 g
Common questions
Does the M12 3401-20 include a battery?
The included-components line repeats the product name and does not name a battery. Reviews call it a bare tool. Compatible devices are Milwaukee M12.
Can the M12 3401-20 drill masonry?
The bullets do not mention hammer. A UK review says it has no hammer action. A masonry plug is the wrong job for this row.
Is the M12 3401-20 brushless?
Yes. The bullets and the special-features line say brushless. The model number is 3401-20.
Our view
The 2607-20 is listed as an 18-Volt bare hammer drill at about £124.95, with a 1/2 in chuck and bullets at 500 in-lb and 0–450 / 0–1,800 rpm, while the table also prints 525 in-lb and 120 V. Across 653 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.4, though many of those reviews are outside the UK, so the score of 88 is not a UK hammer test. Short UK reviews call it a good drill they would buy again, and buyers who already own M18 packs treat the bare tool as a replacement. One review describes drill, screw and hammer settings and a clean masonry hole, while repeated reviews from Mexico and the United States say the tool that arrived was a drill driver, not a hammer drill. The LED stays on while a pack is fitted and only goes off when the pack is removed. Reviews say it is not the FUEL or brushless tool some buyers expected, and the item type on the same ASIN says M18 CBLPD-0. There is no battery in the box.
Pros
- 4.4 from 653 ratings, the largest sample in this set
- Bare 1/2 in body at about £124.95 if you already own M18 packs and a charger
- Some reviewers report drill, screw and hammer settings and a masonry hole
- Compact, with a work LED and a single-sleeve keyless ratcheting chuck
Cons
- Repeated reviews say a drill driver arrived, not a hammer drill
- No battery; included components say Drill Attachment
- LED stays on until the pack is removed
- Not FUEL or brushless in the reviews, and the table prints 120 V beside an 18-Volt title
Best for: You already own M18 batteries and you will check the collar on arrival before you plan any brick.
Less suitable: You need a battery in the box, or you are buying this row because the table says hammer drill.
Specifications
- Model
- Milwaukee M18 2607-20 hammer drill, bare
- Brand
- Milwaukee
- Price
- ∼£125
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(653)
- Platform
- M18
- Voltage
- 18 V
- Torque
- 525 in-lb
- Chuck
- 0.5 in
- Hammer
- Disputed
- Speeds
- 2
- Battery
- No
- Brushless
- Not stated
- Weight
- 1120 g
Common questions
Does the 2607-20 include a battery?
No. The title says bare tool only, and included components are Drill Attachment. Compatible devices are Milwaukee M18 batteries.
Is the 2607-20 a hammer drill?
The table says hammer drill. Several reviews say the tool that arrived was a drill driver, not a hammer drill. Check the collar before you plan any brick.
Is the 2607-20 brushless?
The bullets do not say brushless. The item type name is M18 CBLPD-0. Reviews say it is not FUEL and not brushless.
Our view
Order 4933443520 is an M18 BPD-402C listing at about £213.00, with 18 V, 60 Nm, two speeds and a 13 mm chuck, and the included line names a battery and a charger. Across 184 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.4, the same stars as the bare 2607-20, which is why the score is 88 and why this row is the best value here: it is the only kept listing whose contents line names both a pack and a charger. Reviewers who received two 4 Ah packs describe them lasting through long jobs, and they use the 13 mm chuck in metal and in sheet up to about 10 mm with a sharp bit. The table’s pack count is 1, not two, and one delivery was a 4 Ah plus a 2 Ah instead of two 4 Ah packs, with a bag instead of the hard case in the pictures. The drill-type cell says Impact Driver, the bullets print an impact rate of 0–28,800, and one review says the drill arrived without percussion. A gearbox failed after four years of occasional use. It is heavy for furniture assembly, and 3,200 W on the table is not a figure to plan a job around.
Pros
- Included line names a battery and a charger, the only such line in this set
- 4.4 from 184 ratings, with 60 Nm and a 13 mm chuck
- Reviews cite power in metal and in sheet up to about 10 mm with a sharp bit
- Two speeds on the bullets, 0–450 rpm and 0–1,800 rpm
Cons
- Pack count is 1, and one delivery was 4 Ah plus 2 Ah rather than two 4 Ah packs
- A bag arrived instead of the hard case, and a battery was missing and sent later
- Table type says Impact Driver, and one review says the drill arrived without percussion
- Heavy for furniture, and one gearbox failed after four years of occasional use
Best for: You have no M18 pack yet and you want the row whose contents line names a battery and a charger.
Less suitable: You only need a light drill for flat-pack, or you need two 4.0 Ah packs guaranteed by the pack-count cell.
Specifications
- Model
- Milwaukee M18 BPD-402C
- Brand
- Milwaukee
- Price
- ∼£213
- Customer rating
- 4.4/5(184)
- Platform
- M18
- Voltage
- 18 V
- Torque
- 60 Nm
- Chuck
- 13 mm
- Hammer
- Disputed
- Speeds
- 2
- Battery
- 1 pack + charger
- Brushless
- Not stated
- Weight
- 2990 g
Common questions
Does the M18 BPD-402C include a battery and a charger?
Included components name a battery and a battery charger. Battery capacity is 4 Ah and the number of packs is 1. Compatible devices are Milwaukee M18 tools and batteries.
Does the M18 BPD-402C listing show hammer action?
The bullets state a maximum impact rate of 0–28,800 per minute. The drill type in the table is Impact Driver. One review says the drill arrived without percussion.
How many speeds does the M18 BPD-402C list?
Two. Idle speeds are 0–450 rpm and 0–1,800 rpm. Torque is 60 Nm and the chuck is 13 mm.
Our view
The title at about £184.99 says an M18BPD-0 combi with two 4.0 Ah packs, a charger and a case, while the model field says M18BPD-402C and the included line says Battery Charger only. The table prints 18 V and 60 Nm, with wood at 32 mm and metal at 13 mm, and the chuck cell says 13 centimetres. Across 20 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 3.9, and only seven review texts are in the file, all from the United Kingdom, which is why the score is 78 and why this is not the top pick. Two UK reviews call it a good drill at a good price, and one says it works well. The same small set includes a tool that stopped after two light holes in plaster, a burning smell from the brushes after a month, and a body that burnt out after three holes in 2 inch wood. One reviewer said Milwaukee told them it was not the drill on the receipt, and the seller was hard to deal with. Brushless is not stated. Treat the contents row as the parcel, not the two-pack title.
Pros
- Table shows 18 V and 60 Nm, with 32 mm in wood and 13 mm in metal
- About £184.99 sits below the £213 row if the carton actually matches the two-pack title
- Two UK reviews call the drill good at the price
- Pack count is 2 and the item count is 3, which is closer to a kit than a bare body
Cons
- Included components say Battery Charger only, against a title that claims two 4.0 Ah packs
- 3.9 from 20 ratings, with failures after light plaster and after three holes in timber
- Chuck listed as 13 centimetres
- Brushless is not stated, and a UK review mentions a burning smell from the brushes
Best for: You can check the parcel against the receipt and you want the 60 Nm M18 class only if the packs are actually in the box.
Less suitable: You need a review sample larger than 20, or you will trust the title without reading the contents line.
Specifications
- Model
- Milwaukee M18BPD combi drill
- Brand
- Milwaukee
- Price
- ∼£185
- Customer rating
- 3.9/5(20)
- Platform
- M18
- Voltage
- 18 V
- Torque
- 60 Nm
- Hammer
- Combi listed
- Battery
- Charger only
- Brushless
- Not stated
- Weight
- 1100 g
Common questions
Does the M18BPD listing include two batteries?
The title says 2 x 4.0 Ah batteries, a charger and a case. Included components say Battery Charger only. Number of packs is 2 and number of items is 3. Treat the contents line as the parcel.
What chuck size is listed for the M18BPD?
The table says 13 centimetres, which is not a credible chuck size. Wood capacity is 32 mm and metal capacity is 13 mm. The chuck cell is left blank in the comparison table.
Is the M18BPD motor brushless?
Brushless is not stated. A UK review mentions a burning smell from the brushes.
How we compared
Four amazon.co.uk listings were scored on 22 October 2026. The stored score is the star line times 20, so 4.6 is 92 and 4.4 is 88. That star line is the whole score. Sample size, listing conflicts and box contents are written in the assessment. They are not added again. The top pick is the highest stored score. The best value is a different listing: the only contents line that names both a battery and a charger. There was no laboratory test.
1
Amazon star rating
100%The stored score equals the amazon.co.uk star rating times 20. A 4.6 is 92 and a 3.9 is 78. Review counts, listing conflicts and what the carton names are recorded beside the score. They are not a second weight.
Independent review
Last updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Milwaukee cordless drill buying guide
Choose the battery platform before the price. M12 and M18 packs do not interchange. Then read whether the carton names a battery and a charger, and whether a hammer collar is actually on the tool. Torque stays in the unit that row prints. Mains voltage and watt figures on these battery listings are not the motor.
What is a Milwaukee cordless drill?
A cordless drill in this category is a chuck tool that runs from a removable battery pack, sold in the UK for screws and for holes in timber, sheet and light metal. Milwaukee’s version sits on one of two platforms. M12 is 12 V. M18 is 18 V. The packs do not seat on each other. FUEL names the brushless tier on a platform you already own. It is not a third battery system. A charger marked for both platforms can charge either pack. It does not let you clip the wrong pack onto the drill.
Best for
- You have no packs yet and need a contents line that names a battery and a charger
- You already own M12 packs and only drill timber and drive screws in a tight space
- You already own M18 packs and will check the collar before any brick
Not ideal for
- Brick with the 12 V drill driver, which has no hammer action
- Trusting a two-pack title when the included line names a charger only
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Buying the compact body for brick
The M12 bullets do not mention hammer, and a UK review says it has none. A masonry plug is the wrong job. An M18 pack will not run that body either.
- 2
Reading mains cells as the motor
120 V, 3,200 W and a chuck printed as 13 centimetres are scraped fields. They are not the battery voltage, the output or a 13 mm chuck. Keep each torque figure in the unit that row prints.
- 3
Trusting the title over the contents line
One title prints a bare-tool code and two 4.0 Ah packs together. The included line on that row says a charger only. A -0 or a US -20 suffix means the price is the body alone.
What to weigh up
Platform and what is in the carton
HighThe first check is the platform. M18 packs run the BPD-class bodies and the 2607-20 row. M12 packs run the 3401-20. Fitting one platform’s pack to the other body does not work. FUEL is the brushless tier on a platform, not a separate battery, and a charger that accepts both platforms still will not seat the wrong pack. The second check is the carton, and it outranks the title. A -0 code or a US -20 suffix means a bare tool, so the price is the body alone.
Hammer, torque and conflicting cells
HighBuy hammer action only if the collar is on the tool. The M12 bullets do not mention hammer, and a UK review says there is none, so a masonry plug is the wrong job for that row. The 2607-20 table says hammer drill, and reviews disagree about what arrived: some describe drill, screw and hammer settings, and repeated reviews say a drill driver came instead. On that model’s manual, hammer mode is for masonry with a carbide bit and no water on the bit.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You already own M18 packs
You can look at a BPD-class body or the bare 2607-20. The bare row is about £124.95 and does not include a battery. Confirm a hammer collar before the first brick plug, because reviews on that listing disagree about what arrived.
Timber and screws in a tight space
You already own an M12 pack, or you only drill timber and drive screws where a compact body helps. UK reviews call the 3401-20 light and say it has no hammer action. An M18 pack will not seat on this rail.
Common questions about Milwaukee cordless drills
Which Milwaukee cordless drill is the top pick in this set?
The top pick is the Milwaukee M12 3401-20 subcompact drill driver, about £92.99. Across 358 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 4.6, the highest here, so the stored score is 92. It is listed as a brushless 12 V body with a 0.38 in chuck. The included line does not name a battery, and reviews describe a bare tool. A UK review says it has no hammer action, so it is for screws and timber when you already own an M12 pack.
How much does a Milwaukee cordless drill cost on amazon.co.uk?
In October 2026 the four shelf prices are about £92.99, £124.95, £184.99 and £213.00. The £92.99 and £124.95 rows are bare tools: the included lines do not name a battery. The £213.00 row is the only contents line that names both a battery and a charger, and its pack count is 1. The £184.99 title claims two 4.0 Ah packs, but the included line says a charger only. These are shelf prices, not a market survey.
What should you check before you buy a Milwaukee cordless drill?
Choose the battery platform first. M12 packs run the 3401-20. M18 packs run the other three bodies. They do not seat on each other. Then read the included-components line, not only the title. A -0 or a US -20 suffix means a bare tool. On the BPD sheet, -402C means two 4.0 Ah packs and a charger, but one title prints both a bare-tool code and a two-pack claim. Keep torque in the unit printed. Ignore 120 V and 3,200 W on these battery tools.
Do M12 and M18 batteries fit the same Milwaukee drill?
No. M12 packs stay on M12 bodies, and M18 packs stay on M18 bodies. The manufacturer states that each platform’s packs stay on that platform. A charger marked for both platforms can charge either pack. It does not let you fit an M18 pack to the 3401-20, or an M12 pack to an M18 body. If you have no packs yet, buy a row whose contents line names a battery and a charger. None of these rows states a BS 1363 plug, so check the charger plug yourself.
Can these Milwaukee cordless drills drill brick?
Only if a hammer collar is on the tool you receive. The M12 3401-20 bullets do not mention hammer, and a UK review says it has none. The 2607-20 table says hammer drill, and reviews disagree about whether a drill driver arrived instead. On that manual, hammer mode is for masonry with a carbide bit and no water on the bit. For repeated concrete, or where you cannot trace cables and pipes, use a professional. See the cordless combi drill comparison.
Is the score on this page a lab test?
No. The stored score is the amazon.co.uk star line times 20. A 4.6 becomes 92 and a 4.4 becomes 88. Sample size, listing conflicts and box contents are written in the assessment. They are not added on top of that score. The best value is not the highest score. It is the only listing whose included-components line names both a battery and a charger. There is no laboratory ranking, and UKCA is not claimed, because the source files do not show that mark.
What guarantee applies to a Milwaukee tool in the UK?
Milwaukee’s UK conditions are one year, and eligible tools can go to three years if you register within 30 days of purchase from an authorised distributor. A US five-year line is not that registration. Register from the UK conditions, not from a marketplace screenshot. If the title claims two batteries and the contents line names a charger only, that mismatch is a description problem under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, separate from the manufacturer registration.
Why do some figures look like mains-tool data?
A few cells print 120 V, 18 A or 3,200 W beside an 18 V battery title, and one chuck cell says 13 centimetres. Treat those as scraped mains fields, not as the motor or the chuck. The manufacturer page for the 3401-20 states 350 in-lb and 0–1,550 rpm. The amazon.co.uk row prints 200 in-lb and 1,550 rps. Keep the amazon figure and the manufacturer figure apart. About 59 Nm from 525 in-lb is not the same claim as the BPD row’s printed 60 Nm.
Our verdict
The top pick is the Milwaukee M12 3401-20 subcompact drill driver at about £92.99. It has the highest stored score, 92, from 4.6 across 358 amazon.co.uk ratings. The included line does not name a battery, and a UK review says it has no hammer action. The best value is the Milwaukee M18 BPD-402C at about £213.00. It is not the highest score. It is the only contents line that names both a battery and a charger. None of these scores is a lab test.
Best overallView offer
Milwaukee M12 3401-20 subcompact drill driver
Highest stored score in the set: 4.6 from 358 amazon.co.uk ratings, which is 92, on a brushless 12 V body listed at about £92.99.
Best value
View offer
Milwaukee M18 BPD-402C
The only contents line that names both a battery and a charger, at about £213.00, on a different listing from the highest score.
Editorial
Editor
Cordless drillsDrillingamazon.co.uk listings
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Updated: October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to Milwaukee cordless drills
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Buying guidePlatform, hammer collar and carton before you sort by price.Best picksWhich listing fits flat-pack, brick or packs you already own.How to useCollar, gear and clutch, then charge the platform the body uses.M18 or M12The 60 Nm combi class against the compact drill driver.Body only or kitBare-tool suffixes against the included-components line.
Related comparisons
Sources
Sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026.
- Milwaukee UK, M18 system (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Milwaukee Europe, choosing between M12 and M18 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Milwaukee, batteries and chargers (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Milwaukee manual, 2607-20 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Milwaukee, 3401-20 subcompact drill driver (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Toolnation, Milwaukee 4933443520 M18 BPD-402C (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Milwaukee guarantee conditions (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- HSE, hand-arm vibration regulations (retrieved 22 October 2026)
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This article contains affiliate links. A qualifying purchase through those links can earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are amazon.co.uk listing lines. This is not a laboratory test.