Brushless vs Brushed Cordless Drills: Is Brushless Worth It?
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Prices were listed by the retailer as of Oct 30, 2026 and can change. Confirm the current price and availability on the retailer's page before you buy.
You need a new cordless drill or driver, you open the catalog, and the word brushless appears on well over half the results. The most common wrong turn is to treat that one word as the whole decision. A buyer picks the cheapest brushless model, only to find it is a bare tool on a battery platform they do not own, or skips a brushless model and ends up with a kit that fits a different job. The motor type matters, but it sits alongside the battery platform, the configuration and the price tier.
Here is how the catalog splits. 104 cordless drill and driver models state a brushless motor in the listing. They range from $206 to $6,199, with a median of $319. Another 33 models do not state a brushless motor, ranging from $209 to $3,169, with a median of $294. That second group is not confirmed to be brushed; the listing simply does not say, so read it as no brushless motor stated. By tool type, the brushless side has 65 drill/drivers, 28 impact drivers and 11 hammer drills, while the other side has 25 drill/drivers, 6 impact drivers and 2 hammer drills.
Platforms differ too. On the brushless side the largest groups are M12 (35 models), M18 (21), LXT 18V (12) and NURON 22V (9). On the other side the largest are M4 (9), LXT 18V (5), M12 (5) and NURON 22V (2). A battery platform is the family of batteries and chargers a tool accepts, so it decides what you can share with tools you already own. In general, a brushless motor is one that drives the tool without carbon brushes rubbing on the motor; that is what the term means, and this page makes no claim that any particular model performs better because of it. Compare the stated voltage, torque, speed and what is in the box, and keep in mind that listings are not all filled in equally.
Configuration is the other half of the picture. 71 brushless models are listed as kits, 29 as bare tools and 4 do not state it. On the other side, 25 are kits, 7 are bare tools and 1 does not state it. Check the in-the-box line on each listing before you compare prices.
At a glance
| Brushless (stated) | No brushless motor stated | |
|---|---|---|
| Models listed | 104 | 33 |
| Price range | $206 to $6,199 | $209 to $3,169 |
| Median price | $319 | $294 |
| Battery platforms named in listings | M12 (35), M18 (21), LXT 18V (12) | M4 (9), LXT 18V (5), M12 (5) |
| Cordless models stating a brushless motor | 100% of 104 | 0% of 33 |
| Most common configuration | kit (71), bare tool (29) | kit (25), bare tool (7) |
| Listings stating batteries, charger or case | 40% | 64% |
| Tool types covered | Drill/driver (65), Impact driver (28), Hammer drill (11) | Drill/driver (25), Impact driver (6), Hammer drill (2) |
Kit listings
Kit listings bundle the tool with batteries and usually a charger, so the price covers more than the tool. In the examples, the Ridgid 18V NUKE SubCompact brushless drill/driver kit is listed at $208.00 and states 2 batteries and a charger, with a stated 750 in-lbs of max torque. A Milwaukee M18 FUEL brushless hammer drill kit runs from $329 to $482 and states a charger. On the other side, a Milwaukee M4 screwdriver kit is listed at $215 to $300 with 2 batteries, and a Makita 18V kit at $279.14 lists 2 batteries, a charger and a case. Neither of those states a brushless motor.
Brushless (stated)
Ridgid 18V NUKE SubCompact Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver Kit w/ 2Ah MAX Battery, Charger & 18V 4.0 Ah EXP Battery
$208.00 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: 18V · Size / capacity: 1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 4 Ah
Ridgid 18V NUKE SubCompact Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver Kit with 2.0 Ah MAX with 4.0 Ah MAX Lithium-Ion Battery
$268.00 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: 18V · Size / capacity: 1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 4 Ah
Ridgid 18V NUKE SubCompact Brushless 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver Kit w/ 2Ah MAX Battery, Charger & 18V 4.0 Ah EXP Battery
$208.00 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: 18V · Size / capacity: 1/4 in. · Battery capacity: 4 Ah
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Hammer Drill/Driver w/ Carbide Hole Cutter Kit (4-Piece)
$329 to $482 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 8 Ah
No brushless motor stated
Milwaukee M4 4-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/4 in. Hex Screwdriver 2-Battery Kit5 Piece Hex Bit Holder with Carabiner
$215 to $300 · Kit · Voltage: 4 V · Battery platform: M4 · Size / capacity: 1/4 in.
Makita 18V Lithium-Ion 1/2 in. Compact Cordless Hammer Driver Drill Kit with two Batteries (2.0 Ah), Charger and Hard Case
$279.14 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Battery platform: LXT 18V · Size / capacity: 1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 2 Ah · Max speed: 1,900 RPM
Ridgid 18V Cordless 1/4 in. Impact Driver with Lithium-Ion 2.0 Ah Battery and Charger
$218.00 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Battery platform: 18V · Size / capacity: 1/4 in. · Battery capacity: 2 Ah · Max speed: 2,800 RPM
Milwaukee M18 Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/2 in. Hammer Drill Driver Kit with(2) 1.5Ah Batteries, Charger and Hard Case
$249.00 · Kit · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 1.5 Ah · Max torque: 500 in-lbs · Max speed: 1,800 RPM
Bare tool listings (tool only)
Bare tool listings are the tool only, with no battery or charger stated. The brushless examples include a Hilti NURON 22V hammer drill driver at $206.00, and Makita XGT 40V models at $209 to $449 and $259.00, with stated max torque of 585 and 1,590 in-lbs. A Makita 18V right angle drill is listed at $374.00. Among models with no brushless motor stated, the examples are Makita LXT 18V angle drills and an angle impact driver at $244 to $293. One Milwaukee M12 listing is labelled bare tool but states 2 batteries, so read its contents line closely.
Brushless (stated)
Hilti 22-Volt NURON SF 4H ATC Lithium-Ion 1/2 in. Cordless Brushless Hammer Drill Driver (Tool Only)
$206.00 · · Voltage: 22 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: NURON 22V · Size / capacity: 1/2 in.
Makita 40V Max XGT Compact Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Hammer Driver-Drill, Tool Only
$209 to $449 · · Voltage: 40 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: XGT 40V · Size / capacity: 1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 2.5 Ah
Makita 40V max XGT Brushless Cordless 3 Speed 1/2 in. Hammer Driver-Drill, Tool Only
$259.00 · · Voltage: 40 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: XGT 40V · Size / capacity: 1/2 in. · Max torque: 1,590 in-lbs
Makita 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Right Angle Drill (Tool-Only)
$374.00 · · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: LXT 18V · Size / capacity: 1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 5 Ah
No brushless motor stated
Milwaukee M12 12-Volt Electric Portable Inflator (Tool-Only) and M12 12V 1/4 in. Hex Screwdriver Kit with 2 1.5Ah Batteries
$209.00 · · Voltage: 12 V · Battery platform: M12 · Size / capacity: 1/4 in. · Battery capacity: 1.5 Ah
Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion 3/8 in. Cordless Angle Drill (Tool-Only)
$244.00 · · Voltage: 18 V · Battery platform: LXT 18V · Size / capacity: 3/8 in. · Max torque: 121 in-lbs · Max speed: 1,800 RPM
Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion 3/8 in. Cordless Angle Drill (Tool-Only)
$249 to $293 · · Voltage: 18 V · Battery platform: LXT 18V · Size / capacity: 3/8 in. · Battery capacity: 2 Ah · Weight: 4 lb
Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Angle Impact Driver (Tool-Only)
$244.00 · · Voltage: 18 V · Battery platform: LXT 18V · Weight: 3.9 lb
Which one fits you
Choose Brushless (stated) if...
- You want the wider choice of tools: 104 models against 33 on the other side, across drill/drivers, impact drivers and hammer drills.
- You want an ecosystem with many options, since M12 has 35 models and M18 has 21 among brushless listings.
- You are comfortable at a median price of $319 and a range that starts at $206.
- You like to see the motor type confirmed in the listing, since every model in this group states it, and kits make up 71 of the 104.
Choose No brushless motor stated if...
- You are working to a slightly lower median price, $294, and the lowest-priced models start at $209.
- You want a smaller tool such as the M4 screwdriver line, which appears 9 times on this side and not at all among brushless listings.
- You prefer kits: 64% of these listings state a kit against 40% on the brushless side.
- You are fine with a listing that does not state the motor type, and will check the specs you care about yourself.
Ready to line up two specific models?
Frequently asked questions
Does the catalog list every brushless drill as a kit?
No. Of the 104 models that state a brushless motor, 71 are kits, 29 are bare tools and 4 do not state a configuration. Only 40% of the brushless listings state a kit, so check each listing's in-the-box line before assuming a battery or charger comes with it.
Is a drill without a brushless motor stated definitely brushed?
Not necessarily. The 33 models on that side simply do not state a brushless motor in the listing. Treat it as unknown and look at the full specs or listing text. The catalog does not say what motor those tools use.
How different are the prices?
The brushless group has a median of $319 and runs from $206 to $6,199. The group with no brushless motor stated has a median of $294 and runs from $209 to $3,169. The gap in medians is $25, and the ranges overlap heavily.
Which battery platforms show up most?
Among brushless models, M12 leads with 35, then M18 with 21, LXT 18V with 12 and NURON 22V with 9. On the other side, M4 leads with 9, then LXT 18V and M12 with 5 each. Match the platform to batteries you already own.