Using a standard 40V battery, it’s a highly capable drill that can handle most of the applications Pros might encounter. With 2,600 RPM on the top end, 39,000 BPM when you’re drilling in concrete, and a monster 1,250 in-lbs of torque, it’s easily the top-tier model that Makita hast to offer. It’s also one of the front runners on the performance side compared to other professional-grade drills.

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers? That’s not us. We won’t recommend anything unless we’d use it ourselves, and we don’t really care who the primary retailer is. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

As I mentioned before, this combo kit isn’t the highest performing duo, but for $309, it’s a heck of a deal. If your looking for a high-performance matchup, I suggest looking at the 40V XGT GT201M1D1 that includes Makita’s flagship hammer drill and impact driver.

On the performance side, the hammer drill has a top speed of 2,000 RPM, 30,000 BPM, and a max torque of 530 in-lbs, very similar to the XPH03. The impact driver’s speed tops out at 3,400 RPM, 3,600 IPM, and 1,500 in-lbs of torque.

When it comes to picking the best combo kit, it’s important to understand what I look for. Typically, if I’m shopping for a combo kit, my goal is to get the best value for my money. Often times, that means overlooking the highest performing model in order to make my dollar stretch a little further.

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You can’t use a drill without drill bits! However, making a recommendation on the best Makita drill bits depends a lot on your desired application.

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It’s still a great tool, though, and you should take a look at what all the 12V CXT system has to offer. If your work doesn’t require the absolute highest performance and you can lean on lighter, more compact tools, then the Makita 12V CXT hammer drill might just be right up your alley.

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At 7 inches long and 3.7 pounds bare, it’s right in line with what i expect from a pro-grade 18V drill. You can certainly go light and more compact, as I’ll discuss later on, but you will see a drop in performance when you prioritze size and weight.

When it comes to getting the best value from a Makita drill, I strongly recommend staying with the LXT lineup. The Makita 18V LXT XPH03 is a brushed model that provides an excellent balance between performance and price.

Premium 40V Max brushless hammer drill for those who freaquenly work in tight spaces or prefer a lighter weight drill for high-demand applications.

While the torque remains the same as the XGT model, there is a notable drop in RPMs and BPM. However, the top speed and blow rate are right in line with what we expect from Pro-grade hammer drills in this voltage class. The Makita XPH14 is great for tackling a wide range of wood, steel, and masonry drilling tasks around your home or jobsite.

Remember to look beyond just the drill you’re considering, though. Take a look at what other tools you can power using the same batteries. If you want something lightweight and buy Makita’s 12V CXT hammer drill only to discover the majority of the other tools you need are on the 20V LXT platform, it wasn’t a very good value for your situation.

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The ergonomics of a drill can make or break your experience. One that’s overweight, poorly balanced, or doesn’t feel right in your hand can make every day feel like Monday. As you’re shopping, see if you can pick up the drill you’re considering and see how it feels in your hand. Work the trigger and all the controls to make sure there’s nothing about the physical design that is a deal-breaker for you.

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Performance is our number one priority for good reason—if the drill can’t do the job, it’s worthless. Given the choice between two or more models, we’ll typically go with whichever one can do the job most effectively and efficiently.

Features that make the job more efficient, easier, or more convenient come into play as you work your way up the price scale. Not everyone needs all the bells and whistles, but if you can add some (or all) within your budget, you get a tool that you can genuinely enjoy using.

Get one convenient set of bits and sockets for drilling, driving and fastening in one convenient carrying case with the Makita 75-Piece Metric Drill and Screw Bit Set. The set includes bits for drilling into metal, wood, and masonry materials as well as insert and power bits for fastening applications. Fastening applications are covered with an assortment of Phillips, Pozidriv, Torx, slotted, and hex insert bits. The set also includes Titanium nitride coated high-speed steel (HSS-TIN) metal and wood drill bits, brad point wood drill bits, and masonry hammer drill bits with straight shank for use with most 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch drills. The kit also includes a center punch, 1/4-inch hex countersink, 1/4-inch hex nutdrivers, and a 1/4-inch hex magnetic bit holder.

It’s tough to find too many 12V models that include a comprehensive feature set. As a compact supplement to more powerful 18V models, many manufacturers are more interested in keeping the cost down. It’s not too often that you’ll find a 12V drill with smart controls, smart tracking, specialized modes, or the suite of accessories that premium flagship models have. Such is the case with this Makita 12V PH05 hammer drill.

For performance, its 2000 RPM top speed and 30,000 BPM put it right on par, or slightly below, what we see from the brushless models. Where I see the biggest difference is the drilling power. Its 750 in-lbs are enough to maintain the same drilling capacities of the 18V XPH14, but you may spend a little more time drilling when using larger bits.

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Having worked in various trades spanning the automotive, cilvil engineering, concrete, and metalworking trades, Josh brings a practical, deep, and diverse knowledge of tools to Pro Tool Reviews. His experiences range from core drilling commercial properties for purposes of surveying to diagnosing and repairing luxury consumer vehicles.

When I consider what the best drill is in any lineup, I immediately gravitate toward the highest performing. For this reason, the best Makita 40V cordless drill is the XGT GPH01 hammer drill.

DeWalt fans have watched competing brands push higher impact driver performance while wondering when it would their turn to cheer. […]

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Not surprisingly, the major trade-off for the higher performance is a larger, heavier tool. It’s especially noticeable when trying to access tight spaces or after a long day on the jobsite. It’s also on the expensive side of Makita’s lineup, though the pricing is in line with what we expect from top models from other Pro brands.

For size, the XPH03 is almost a full two inches longer than the XPH14, but that’s expected when it comes to brushed tools. It measures 8-7/8 inches from tip to tail and weighs in at 5.1 pounds with a 5.0Ah battery. If size is a non-issue, then this is a great option. However, if you’re freaquenly working in tight spaces, I’d recommend going with one of the smaller brushless models.

We’ve tested dozens of drills in our search for the best cordless drill. There’s no doubt that Makita is one of the more popular brands among pros, so we’re highlighting the best Makita drills we think you should consider.

Moving over to the LXT lineup, we have the XPH14 hammer drill. In spite of the smaller battery platform, this drill is nearly identical in size and weight to the 40V GPH01. Where you’ll see the differences show are on the performance side.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites. We consult with them extensively on testing methods, categories, and practical applications. Our site will provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers. That includes objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

Keep in mind—these careful picks come after hours and hours of testing and real-world use. We know the best Makita drill may not be the same for everyone. Rather than recommend a single tool for everyone, we recommend several different models that provide the perfect blend of performance, features, ergonomics, and value for different types of users.

Even when you can’t pick up a drill before buying, compare the weight to other models you’re considering. If the work or projects you have planned are space-limited, be sure to check the head length as well.

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In the case of the best Makita drill combo, I have to go with the 18V LXT XT269T hammer drill/impact driver combo kit. This kit includes the XPH12 brushless hammer drill, XDT13 brushless impact driver, two 5.0Ah batteries, a charger, and a storage bag.

This compact hammer drill has a top speed of 1,500 RPM with 22,500 BPM and 280 in-lbs of torque. That’s noticably slower and less powerful than the 18V LXT XPH14, but it also clocks in at nearly half the weight.

Pro Tool Reviews is a successful online publication that has been providing tool reviews and industry news since 2008. In today’s world of Internet news and online content, we found that more and more professionals researched a large majority of their major power tool purchases online. That piqued our interest.

While the drills I recommended above are the best in my opinion, it’s no guarantee that one of them is the perfect fit for you. If that’s the case, here are some other models that we recommend.

Most people have a budget they’d like to stay in when they’re buying a drill. As I’m shopping, I first consider the performance followed by features and ergonomics. I’m a value guy, so I’m always looking for the best balance of everything (plus a sale price if I’m lucky). However, your priorities may be different—that’s why we offered so many recommendations and information to help you compare.