Are Harbor Freight Cordless Drills Worth Buying? Here's What Reviews Say

Most people setting up home either already own a cordless drill or are thinking about buying one. Not for nothing is this device top of the list of must-buy power tools for first-time homeowners. They drill holes and drive screws. Two tasks that crop up again and again and again.

The challenge for many is finding the right model, and Harbor Freight tries to appeal to the widest number of people possible by offering three different options: Warrior are the budget tools, Bauer are the mid-range choice, and Hercules are pitched at the full-on DIY enthusiast or professional.

As you would expect of Harbor Freight, prices are competitive. When we tried the cheapest cordless drill at Home Depot, it was a little under $60. By comparison, the similar 18V Warrior is just $29.99, and the 12V version is only $19.99. Okay, those prices are pretty remarkable, but what if the tools are junk? We need to find out whether Harbor Freight's cordless drills are actually worth buying or not. To do that, we took a look at what buyer reviews have to say.

Cordless drills have either a ⅜-inch or ½-inch chuck. The smaller size reflects less power and is what's fitted to the Warrior cordless drills. These tools are aimed at people looking for a cheap cordless drill for light-duty DIY jobs. Both the 12V and 18V Warrior get ratings of 4.6 stars from thousands of buyers. One happy owner summed up the thoughts of many by saying, "I needed a compact light-use drill for inside the home, this one is perfect."

More regular users should consider the Bauer range, which has a ½-inch chuck and more efficient brushless motors. Although there is no 12V model, there is a hammer drill for drilling brick and cinderblock, which you can't do with either Warrior. The 20V cordless drill driver with charger and battery is $54.99, and the hammer drill is just $10 more. Over 6,000 reviews (with 96% recommending it) show how popular the drill driver is. One said, "I have tried many, many brands, including DeWalt, and this has held up the best."

The Hercules range includes 12V, 20V, and hammer drills. The 20V model is a "professional drill driver," according to Harbor Freight, and costs $97.99 with battery and charger. Hundreds of reviews give it a 4.7-star rating. Many talk about high quality, and comments like, "I've used it for countless things and have zero complaints," are typical. Whichever Harbor Freight cordless drill you choose, the overwhelming majority of reviews are positive.

Bauer and Hercules offer larger-capacity batteries than those included for those looking for a spare with longer run times. There's only one size available for the Warrior, and it always comes with a charger, which seems unnecessary. Also, many of the Warrior tools are corded, so you can't build a collection of cordless tools based around the same platform.

While most seem happy with their Harbor Freight cordless drill, one- and two-star reviews reflect some disappointment with durability or power. Professionals are more likely to find what they need at DeWalt, Milwaukee, or some of the other best power tool brands. It may be unfair to make the comparison when those drills cost two or three times as much, but if you rely on a cordless drill for your living, it's likely you'll be prepared to make that investment.

Even if your cordless drill budget is limited, Harbor Freight has plenty of competitors. Apart from the Warrior models, which are hard to beat, you can find several low-cost alternatives to Bauer and Hercules at Amazon, for example. Some may be brands you have never heard of, but others, like Craftsman and Black+Decker, have equally high ratings.

Most reviews suggest that Harbor Freight's cordless drills are worth buying, but it's always nice to have plenty of choice. It's also worth considering how many other tools in the range run off the same batteries if you think you'll be adding to your collection in the future.