The best pillar drills, compared.
Top pick: Bosch PBD 40 – Highest score in this set: stated 40 mm in wood and 13 mm in steel, electronic speed, 4.5 from 869, after chuck and run-out complaints. Best value: Einhell TC-BD 450 – Widest review sample on a belt-drive column drill here, about £123.93, 4.3 from 389, after corrupted spec cells and reports of belt slip. Updated October 2026.
A pillar drill, also called a bench drill or drill press, is a fixed machine with its own motor, a column and a quill that feeds the chuck straight down. In a UK workshop you buy one when a hole has to stay square and the depth has to repeat, in wood, light metal or small craft. The name covers a miniature craft press, a belt-drive bench drill that changes speed on pulleys, and an electronic bench drill. A stand that only holds a hand drill is a different tool. You tell a suitable pillar drill by the chuck, the stroke, a table you can clamp to, and a fused BS 1363 plug. A 13 mm chuck is the usual hobby bench size. A cell that repeats the chuck size for wood and metal is not a measured hole in steel. Steel wants a low speed. A chuck guard and a closed belt cover are the practical safety checks. Chuck, stroke and the plug are set out in the [pillar drill buying guide](/hub/drilling-and-accessories/pillar-drill/sub/pillar-drill-buying-guide).
A pillar drill, also called a bench drill or drill press, is a fixed machine with its own motor, a column and a quill that feeds the chuck straight down.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you making?
The Bosch PBD 40, model 0603B07070, is listed at £279.94. It is the top pick in this capture: 710 W, a 13 mm chuck, cells of 40 mm in wood and 13 mm in metal, a digital speed and depth display, and a quick clamp, at 11.2 kg. Bosch’s UK page states a 90 mm stroke and two gears, 200–850 rpm and 600–2,500 rpm. The star line is 4.5 from 869 reviews. Those texts also include seized chucks, run-out that rules it out for careful metalwork, and a display fault. The 650 Nm torque cell is not treated as a real figure. It is not a toolroom drill.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want one bench drill for wood and ordinary metal, with electronic speed, and you can return a bad chuck.
Less suitable: You need toolroom accuracy, or your budget stops at the Einhell.
Specifications
Common questions
What capacities does the listing state?
The cells say 40 mm in wood and 13 mm in metal, a 13 mm chuck, 710 W, and two speeds up to 2500 rpm. Bosch’s UK page adds a 90 mm stroke. The torque cell says 650 Nm, which is not on that Bosch table.
What do owners praise and complain about?
Praise centres on the slow start, the digital depth, and not having to change a belt. Complaints centre on chucks that stick or seize, run-out in metal, and some play of the head on the column.
Is a clamp included?
Yes. The included list is the drill, a parallel stop, and a quick-release clamp. Reviews use that clamp on round material.
The Einhell TC-BD 450, model 4520592, is listed at £123.93. The bullets give a 450 W bench drill, a 50 mm depth stop, and a table that tilts to 45 degrees. It weighs 13 kg. The star line is 4.3 from 389 reviews, which is the best value in this capture for a named column drill. The UK manual states a 1.5–13 mm keyed B16 chuck, 50 mm depth, five speeds from 600 to 2,650 rpm, duty S6 20%, and a 104 mm throat, for private use. The same amazon listing puts 50 mm in the chuck cell, 450 A in the amperage cell, and a grass-cutter bullet in the description. Review texts include praise for DIY use and reports of vibration, belt slip, and early failure.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a widely reviewed belt-drive bench drill for wood and light DIY, and you will not trust the 50 mm chuck cell.
Less suitable: You need a stated steel diameter, electronic speed, or a machine with a clean spec table.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the speed a dial or a belt?
The title says variable speed and the cell says five speeds up to 2650 rpm. The UK manual states five speeds from 600 to 2,650 rpm. Reviews describe opening the top cover to set the speed, and one latch fell apart when that cover was opened.
Can it drill 50 mm in steel?
No. The metal cell says 50 mm, and the chuck cell also says 50 mm. The bullets use 50 mm as the maximum drilling depth. The UK manual states a 1.5–13 mm chuck and 50 mm depth. Those amazon cells are not a steel-diameter test.
What do the reviews repeat?
DIY owners praise the size and the price. Complaints cluster on wobble, noise, a slipping belt, overheating, missing parts, and machines that stopped after a short time.
The KATSU 161212, listed at £104.99, is a 400 W bench drill with five speeds from 620 to 2620 rpm, a 16 mm chuck, a stated guard, a front emergency stop, and a 50 mm depth. It weighs 15 kg. The star line is 4.1 from 17 reviews. Seven texts are in the file: value and easy assembly sit beside a bent pillar, a failure to start, and missing instructions. The 16 mm wood and metal cells match the chuck, so they are not a measured steel capacity.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the cheapest full column drill in this capture and you will check that the pillar is square.
Less suitable: You need a long stroke, a documented steel capacity, or a large review sample.
Specifications
Common questions
How deep will it drill in one stroke?
The title and a review both put the maximum drilling depth at 50 mm. The review calls that stroke short.
Does 16 mm in metal mean a 16 mm hole in steel?
The wood cell and the metal cell both say 16 mm, which is also the chuck size. The file contains no separate steel capacity.
What did UK reviews complain about?
A bent column, a machine that would not start, missing assembly pages, and instructions that do not mention UK plug requirements. Other reviews call it good value.
The Buyfun digital press is listed at £129.99 with a claimed 710 W motor, an 800–3000 rpm display, a 1–13 mm chuck, and 12 cobalt bits up to 6.5 mm. The star line is 4.0 from 6 reviews. Weight is 5.4 kg, which is far below the KATSU and Einhell column drills. The size cell and the 488 mm height bullet conflict. A review says the chuck is not keyless and wobbles. Treat the 40 mm wood and 10 mm metal cells as claims, not as a test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are comparing claimed digital speed at this price and you can return it if the chuck wobbles.
Less suitable: You want a 13–20 kg column drill with a consistent spec table.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the chuck keyless?
The bullets say a 1–13 mm keyless chuck. The included list has a chuck key, and a UK review says it is not keyless.
How heavy is it?
The weight cell says 5.4 kg. The dimension cell says 9.9 x 23.4 x 16 cm, while a bullet says the height is 488 mm. Those figures do not describe the same object.
What do the six reviews say?
Some praise the motor for small metal work and the digital speed. One says the chuck wobbles, the gearbox had no grease, screws were missing, and it is a rebrand.
The Buyfun BG-5178, listed at £55.90, is a 100 W miniature press with a 6 mm chuck, one stated speed of 2800 rpm, and a weight of 2.89 kg. The star line is 3.9 from 12 reviews. Owners use it for small workshop holes. One review is titled as a dangerous mains lead, one motor died after about two minutes, and the battery is not in the box. The spec cell says corded electric and one speed; a review says the unit is 5 V through an adaptor.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 6 mm craft press and you will check the lead before you plug it in.
Less suitable: You want a guarded column drill, a depth stop, or holes larger than 6 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
How big is this Buyfun press?
The cell says 15.9 x 9.9 x 23.3 cm and 2.89 kg. Reviewers say the pictures do not prepare you for how small that is.
What can the chuck hold?
The chuck cell and the capacity cells say 6 mm. The bullets name a B10 chuck and a 0–6 mm drilling diameter.
Does it include a battery?
No. The bullets say the battery socket is empty and name a Makita pack. A review says there is a 240 V adaptor and a battery adapter, and that the instructions do not say which battery fits.
The Builrand press, listed at £66.49, is a 100 W miniature machine with a stated 6 mm B10 chuck, seven speeds, and a claimed 52-piece kit. The star line is 3.5 from 2 reviews. Both of those reviews are about an undersized plug with no fuse. The size bullet (230 x 160 x 100 mm) does not match the dimension cell. It is not a column drill for furniture.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You should not plan around this listing until the plug warning is resolved.
Less suitable: You need a fused UK plug as supplied, or any hole bigger than 6 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the plug a normal UK plug?
Both UK reviews say the power-supply plug is too small and has no fuse, and they call it a shock or fire hazard. The listing itself does not state a BS 1363 plug.
What chuck size is listed?
The chuck cell says 6 mm. The bullets name a B10 chuck and a 0–6 mm drilling diameter. Wood and metal cells also say 6 mm.
Are batteries included?
No. The bullets say a 100–240 V adapter is included and that Makita batteries are optional and not in the box.
The LengSuaa press, listed at £54.99, is a 2.8 kg miniature machine with a claimed UK plug charger, a claimed 1400–2800 rpm band, and 48 accessories. The star line is 3.1 from 4 reviews. One review says it is not a 7-speed drill. The wood cell says 25.4 mm, which fights the 16 x 10 x 23 cm size. Watts are not in the file. Model BG-5178 is the same code as the Buyfun miniature.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a tiny craft press for jewellery-scale holes and can check the plug before you use it.
Less suitable: You need a 13 mm column drill, a depth stop, or a review sample larger than four.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a full-size pillar drill?
The listing is a miniature bench press at 2.8 kg and 16 x 10 x 23 cm. A reviewer uses it for cabochons and calls it a hobby drill.
Does it have seven speeds?
The title and the speed cell say seven speeds, 1400–2800 rpm. One of the three UK reviews says it is not seven speeds and only runs at low revs.
What hole size is stated?
The wood cell says 25.4 mm. There is no chuck size in the spec table. The same model code on the Buyfun listing states a 6 mm chuck.
The KATSU 100221, listed at £149.99, is a 550 W bench drill with 12 stated speeds from 250 to 2400 rpm, a 16 mm chuck, a claimed guard, a 60 mm depth, and a weight of 20.1 kg. The saved listing has no star line and no reviews. The 16 mm wood and metal cells repeat the chuck size. It is the heaviest machine in this capture and the one with no owner evidence here.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the stated 12-speed, 550 W spec and you accept a listing with no reviews.
Less suitable: You want owner evidence before you spend more than the Einhell.
Specifications
Common questions
Are there UK reviews?
The saved listing has no star line and no review texts.
What stroke and speeds are stated?
Twelve speeds from 250 to 2400 rpm, a 16 mm chuck, and a 60 mm maximum drilling depth. The table is described as fully adjustable.
Does 16 mm in the metal cell mean 16 mm in steel?
The wood cell and the metal cell both say 16 mm, matching the chuck. The file does not add a separate steel test.
Eight pillar drills on amazon.co.uk are ordered by the scores already on the product rows. Those scores come from listing cells and review notes. They are not a lab test. The checks below are the buying order in the research digest, weighted so this block sums to 100. They explain what was read. They are not a second score. A chuck-sized capacity cell is not treated as a hole in steel. The Einhell amazon cells that put 50 mm in the chuck cell are not used as measurements. The Bosch torque cell of 650 Nm is not used. Each star line stays the amazon.co.uk figure.
Type and stated capacity
25%A column drill with its own motor is the category. A 100 W miniature press is a craft tool. A stated wood or steel diameter counts only when it is not a copy of the chuck size or the stroke.
Chuck and speed
20%A 13 mm chuck is the hobby bench norm. Steel wants a low step. Belt-drive machines change pulleys with the plug out. Electronic speed is a separate control, not a belt.
Stroke, table and holding
20%Stated strokes in this capture are 50 mm, 60 mm and 90 mm. A table you can clamp to, a depth stop and a vice or guide in the box matter more than an accessory count.
Plug, guard and duty
15%A domestic lead needs a correctly fitted BS 1363 plug. A chuck guard and a closed belt cover are the practical safety features. A watt number is not a continuous metal rating.
Review evidence
20%Stars and review counts stay the amazon.co.uk figures. A large count still includes the complaints in that set. No star line stays an empty sample. A star line is not a lab test.
Start with the type, then the chuck, then the stroke. Speed, the plug and the guard come after those three. The notes below follow that order for these eight amazon.co.uk listings. None of the scores is a drilling test.
A pillar drill, also called a bench drill or drill press, is a fixed machine with its own motor, a column and a quill that feeds the chuck straight down. On amazon.co.uk the same name covers three tools. A miniature craft press in this capture weighs about 2.5–2.9 kg. The 100 W machines state a 6 mm chuck. One listing does not state watts at all. A belt-drive bench drill uses stepped pulleys, a mechanical depth stop, and a table that rises and often tilts.
The miniature presses weigh about 2.5–2.9 kg and state a 6 mm chuck, or a wood cell that fights the body size. They suit jewellery and small craft. They do not describe a chuck guard. Furniture holes need a column drill and a depth stop.
A 16 mm cell that matches the chuck is not 16 mm in mild steel. A 50 mm cell that matches the depth is not 50 mm in steel. The Einhell amazon chuck cell, the 450 amp cell and the grass-cutter bullet are listing errors. The UK manual states a 1.5–13 mm chuck and 50 mm depth.
Belt-drive machines change pulleys with the plug out. Leave the depth stop so the quill can still move. If the column is bent, the chuck runs out, or the motor or plug runs hot, return the machine or call a professional. These benches are not production drills.
Type decides the job. A miniature craft press at about 2.5–2.9 kg, with a 6 mm chuck on the 100 W machines, is for jewellery, circuit boards and small craft. The LengSuaa listing is that class at 2.8 kg. Its wood cell says 25.4 mm, which fights a body of 16 x 10 x 23 cm, and the file has no watt figure. The Buyfun digital press claims 710 W and a 13 mm chuck at 5.4 kg. Its size cell fights a 488 mm height bullet, so treat it as a compact claim, not as a heavy column.
Steel wants the low step. The KATSU rows and the Einhell change pulleys with the plug out. The Bosch uses two gears, 200–850 rpm and 600–2,500 rpm, plus electronic speed, so you do not open a belt cover. The Buyfun digital listing claims 800–3,000 rpm on buttons. The miniature Buyfun cell states one speed, 2,800 rpm. The LengSuaa title claims seven speeds from 1,400 to 2,800 rpm, and one UK review says it is not seven speeds.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want holes around 6 mm for jewellery, circuit boards or small craft, and you will check the lead before you plug in. The Buyfun mini bench drill states 100 W, a 6 mm chuck and 2.89 kg, about £55.90, with 3.9 from 12 reviews. One review titles the mains lead dangerous.
You want a belt-drive column with a depth stop and you can live with a 50 mm stroke. The Einhell TC-BD 450 is about £123.93, with 4.3 from 389 reviews. The UK manual states a 1.5–13 mm B16 chuck and five speeds. The amazon spec cells on that listing are not usable.
You want a stated size in steel and electronic speed, and you can return a chuck that will not run true. The Bosch PBD 40 is about £279.94, with 4.5 from 869 reviews. Bosch states 13 mm in steel and 40 mm in wood. Reviews also report run-out and seized chucks.
In this set of eight amazon.co.uk listings, the top pick is the Bosch PBD 40, about £279.94, with 4.5 from 869 reviews. Bosch states 710 W, a 13 mm chuck, 40 mm in wood, 13 mm in steel, a 90 mm stroke and 11.2 kg. Reviews also report seized chucks and run-out. The best value is the Einhell TC-BD 450, about £123.93, with 4.3 from 389 reviews. The UK manual states a 1.5–13 mm B16 chuck, 50 mm depth and five speeds. The amazon spec cells on that listing are not usable. Neither score is a lab test.
Bosch PBD 40
Highest score in this set: stated 40 mm in wood and 13 mm in steel, electronic speed, 4.5 from 869, after chuck and run-out complaints.
Einhell TC-BD 450
Widest review sample on a belt-drive column drill here, about £123.93, 4.3 from 389, after corrupted spec cells and reports of belt slip.
Editorial
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.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in that digest.
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 page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the UK listings used for this comparison. We did not lab-test these pillar drills.
