The 9 Best Drill Presses
Find the Best Drill Press For Your Projects with These Excellent Benchtop and Standing Drills
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If you’re looking to find the best drill press, there are a number of different factors you’ll want to consider. Whether you’re a homeowner, a woodworker looking to set up a permanent fixture, or a contractor who needs to be able to take your tools along to a worksite, our reviews feature drill presses for every project and use.
Smaller models might be the best choice for a home workshop, depending on your budget and the size or scope of jobs you intend to do. But, if you’re hoping for a little more “oomph” and are in the market for a heavy-duty, premium product, we have recommendations to suit that, too.
We’ve taken the time to go over the differences between the speed, power, and features of each to find the best tools to stock your toolshed, shop, or home workspace. Read on for the best drill presses of 2022!
View the Best Drill Press for the Money, Below.
- WEN 4208 8-Inch Drill Press
- Powermatic PM2800B Drill Press
- SKIL 3320-01 10-Inch Drill Press
- WEN 4214 Variable Speed Drill Press
- Delta 18-900L Laser Drill Press
- Shop Fox W1668 13-Inch Bench-Top Drill
- Genesis GDP1005A Top Drill Press
- Grizzly G7943 12 Bench-Top Drill Press
- DRL-300.00 Small Bench top Drill Press
1. WEN 4208 8-Inch Drill Press
Best Benchtop Drill Press if You're Looking for Something Simple
WEN's 4208 Drill Press is a small and affordable but powerful drill. It's capable of boring holes in wood, metal, plastics, and other materials accurately and precisely. This benchtop drill is small enough to be a perfect fit for those looking for something to bring to job sites or move around their work area. The press stands at a manageable 2-foot height. Though it doesn't have advanced extras such as work lights, a laser, or a digital speed reader, this bare-bones machine is the best drill press for getting down to business around the home.
At the heart of this benchtop drill press is a durable 1/3 horsepower induction motor with ball-bearings that make for a smooth operating experience. Not only that, the drill press offers five different pulley speeds, between 740 and 3140 RPM. It has a spindle taper that accepts bits up to ½ inch in diameter, which means more versatility for projects. This benchtop drill press comes equipped with a depth adjustment gauge for even more flexibility. This means you can change the distance your spindle travels to suit your exact needs.
The 6 ½ by 6 ½ cast iron worktable can bevel up to 45 degrees - left and right. It's slotted, which allows mounting clasps and vises to hold your wood or other material in place. For added safety, pre-drilled holes in the base make for easy mounting to your bench or whatever surface you'll be working on. WEN's drill press also boasts onboard key storage for holding onto your drill bits. All in all, while other tools may feel more luxurious, the features on this press are all you really need to get drilling accuracy.
This small and simple tool is perfect for occasional use and bringing along to job sites. And, at under a hundred dollars, this is a great budget drill press too! Tackle your DIY projects without breaking the bank.
Check Price on Amazon ➞2. Powermatic PM2800B Drill Press
Best Premium Floor Drill Press for Serious Work
The Powermatic PM2800B Drill Press is exactly what you'd expect from a company that calls itself "Powermatic." This is one of the best floor-standing drill presses you can find. So if you're looking for a large piece of equipment that can fill a hole in your workshop, this machine is for you. Fitting this hulking 266-pound beast in your shop might feel like landing a jumbo jet in a hangar. And it may as well have a jet engine, with the 1 horsepower motor that you can easily adjust for spindle speeds between 25 and 300 RPM.
The 18-inch swing, 6-inch quill travel, and 20 by 14-inch surface mean you can handle large jobs with no problems. But that's not all this floor drill press offers. Bells and whistles abound on this luxury drill press! It boasts laser guides that provide an accurate indicator for drilling and two adjustable LED work-lights that eliminate shadows from your work surface.
Not only that - there are even reversible handles that you can mount on either side of the press. (Just a happy little shout out to all of you handy left-handers!) Other exciting components include a replaceable work table that can you can rotate to a full 90-degree position.
There's also a 5/8 inch keyless chuck for simple bit changes, and a digital RPM readout that allows you to track and optimize the spindle speed of your machine with no belt changes. If you need a premium floor drill press to fill a permanent place in your collection, The Powermatic PM2900B is one of the best drill presses for you.
Check Price on Amazon ➞3. SKIL 3320-01 10-Inch Drill Press
Best Drill Press for Getting Perfectly Angled Holes
This is an ideal drill for a homeowner looking for the best tool to use on occasional household drilling projects. With simple features and a battery-powered motor (that runs on the same two AAs as your TV remote), this little drill is sure to impress. The SKIL 3320 offers all the helpful standard components that you would hope for from a drill of its class. It features a motor and spindle system capable of running five-speed options ranging from 540 to 3050 RPM. As a result, you'll be boring cleanly through any wood, metal, or whatever other materials you're working with.
The 10-inch swing and an adjustable surface make this an easy product to tinker with. Plus, the ½ inch keyed chuck accepts larger diameter bits for woodworking and cutting. This means even more options are available to you. On top of that, it also features an X2 2-Beam Laser system that helps you get perfectly aligned holes.
It's also another reasonably inexpensive model. So if you don't necessarily want the extra power of a larger tool to carry out your drilling needs, this is one of the best drill presses for you.
Check Price on Amazon ➞4. WEN 4214 Variable Speed Drill Press
Best Variable Speed Drill Press to See you Through Any Project
If you need a little more power or just like a few extra features tacked onto your tools, then this model might just be the drill you're looking for. Two drills up from the 4208 on the WEN drill press depth chart, the 4214 gives you a bit more range of use, whatever the project. This press offers a full foot of swing distance to handle larger tasks. Thanks to WEN's mechanical variable speed system, you can easily adjust the drill's spindle speed to absolutely any rate between 580 and 3200 RPMs. An LED readout display also makes fine-tuning those adjustments as simple as it gets.
The spindle travels up to 3 1/8 inches, and a depth adjustment gauge with an easy-to-read depth stop makes this piece of machinery adjustable to whatever distance your project requires. It's a great drill press in terms of features. The Wen 4214 comes equipped with a 9 ½ by 9 ½ cast iron work table. It also features rack and pinion height adjustment and can bevel 45 degrees left and right. It also includes a roller extension that can increase surface support to up 17 inches, so you don't have to worry about how you're going to balance cumbersomely long cuts of wood.
Other features include a work light on the machine that helps illuminate your work surface and an onboard laser light that keeps your drilling precise and consistent. A durable cast-iron base is heavy enough to prevent walking and wobbling but also comes with bolt holes so you can mount the drill press to your workbench or table. If you like the WEN 4208, just wait till you see the 4214. Tackle all your woodworking projects with precision drilling.
Check Price on Amazon ➞5. Delta 18-900L Laser Drill Press
One of the Best Floor Drills for Complete Accuracy
Floor drill presses are perfect for heavy-duty needs, and this one is no exception. The Delta 18-900L Laser Drill Press is another heavy-duty, jumbo jet of a machine. It's chock full of features to improve the quality of work on a wide range of projects. This drill provides 16 variable speeds between 170 and 3000 RPM. It offers a full 6-inch quill stroke distance, so the depth you can drill into your wood or other materials is class-leading.
The Delta Laser Drill features an auto-tensioning belt drive system that commands a more efficient drilling performance by ensuring fast, easy speed changes while maintaining consistent belt tension and motor alignment. The 18-900L's oversized table is highly adjustable and can be beveled at any angle between 0 and 90 degrees, left or right. You can easily lower or raise it to any desired height.
This drill press includes other features that are standard in higher-end models, such as dual laser sights (called TWINLASERS on this machine) and LED lights for illuminating your workstation. These features make for an overall user-friendly drilling experience.
Add to that an enormous 18-inch swing, and you'll be ready to tackle your biggest projects. The Delta product's weight clocks in at over 250 pounds, but you don't have to worry about tipping. (Although, we still recommend affixing the machine in your shop as per manufacturer instructions). This drill is big, powerful, and ready to handle the large number of jobs you need to throw its way.
Check Price on Amazon ➞6. Shop Fox W1668 13-Inch Bench-Top Drill
One of the Best Benchtop Drill Presses for Sanding
This Shop Fox drill press is a compact bench-top drill cleverly built with efficiency and the ability to handle multiple aspects of your project. Featuring an oscillating sander that can be used for contour sanding, an incorporated clearance hole in the table, and a dust collection port to keep your space clean, this bench top drill press is more than just a drill.
That being said, drilling is, of course, this Shop Fox product's primary function. This machine is huge for a benchtop model and makes an excellent drill for bigger projects. It offers a ¾ HP, 110-Volt motor with 12-speed options between 250 and 3050 RPM. The 5/8 inch drill chuck makes for more drilling options as well.
You can tackle a variety of drill-based jobs on the W1668. This benchtop drill press boasts a ¾ inch steel drilling capacity and a swing of 13 ¼ inches. The table can tilt 90 degrees left and right, and you can easily adjust it for height. You can even remove it altogether so that you can accommodate larger pieces of wood or whatever material you're working with.
Now, for the sanding. The Shop Fox drill press's sanding capabilities are quite impressive. The dust collection and clearance hole mentioned above help with sanding, but they're far from the most important features. The W1668 can be converted into a sander within seconds with only a few tool-free steps. The 3-piece oscillating spindle sander drum is designed to reduce heat build-up during sanding, so it leaves you with a smooth finish. Not bad for a drill!
Check Price on Amazon ➞7. Genesis GDP1005A Top Drill Press
Best 5 Speed Drill Press for Smaller Jobs
The Genesis GDP1005A Top Drill Press is another highly affordable option included in our reviews. This benchtop drill press is primarily built to take on smaller drilling jobs, but it handles them admirably. Genesis may still be a relatively new manufacturer in a fairly crowded market, but they make up for their greenness by putting out great little machines.
This drill press offers an adjustable 5-speed belt-driven spindle that can run between 620 and 3070 RPM. It also comes equipped with a durable 2/5 horse power induction motor to give you as much torque as you need for small jobs.
The 2 inches of spindle travel and adjustable stop positions make it easy to create precise, efficient, repeatable holes. The drill's 7-1/4" x 7-1/4 cast iron table rotates 45 degrees left or right. The 10-inch swing mean that this tool is best for working on smaller-scale jobs that come up around your home. The table is also built to be compatible with Genesis branded 4 and 5-inch vises to offer increased stability.
This may be a smaller scale model, but this 5-speed drill press is perfectly suited for handling a variety of tasks within that range. Don't let its size fool you, the Genesis GDP1005A is one of the best in its class.
Check Price on Amazon ➞8. Grizzly G7943 12 Bench-Top Drill Press
Best Drill Press for Tackling Home Projects
Similar to the Shop Fox W1668, this is a heavy-duty benchtop drill press that has capability far beyond its class. The Grizzly brings professional-grade power and many of the same elements that come standard with more industrial drill presses to your home shop so that you can tackle the biggest jobs as they come up around your house. Standing over three feet tall and weighing in at around 150 pounds, this is a large piece of machinery, especially for a benchtop model. The G7943 offers a 14-inch swing and 3 ¼ inch spindle travel.
Not only is it large, but this Grizzly press is also highly adjustable – its table is capable of swinging a full 360 degrees and beveling 90 degrees left and right so you can easily fit your working material to the drill. Adjustable speeds also help this a more variable model.
You can adjust the spindle spin speed between 12 rates that fall in between 140 RPM to 3050. The Grizzly model also comes equipped with an integrated light that helps to provide maximum efficiency and accuracy in drilling holes. If you want a heavy-duty drill press to add to your collection of woodworking tools, this is the best drill press for you.
Check Price on Amazon ➞9. DRL-300.00 Small Bench top Drill Press
One of the Best Drill Presses for Smaller, Simpler Tasks
Another small and affordable bench top model, the DRL 300 is perhaps the smallest included in our reviews. Weighing under 13 pounds and standing only a foot tall, this is not nearly as burly a drill press as the Delta or the Shop Fox models we've looked at. But that doesn't mean it's any less ideal for the right customer. A homeowner looking for something that's incredibly compact and easy to store between projects will find this drill press the perfect solution.
They can keep it around for smaller tasks they might need to accomplish. The small size also makes it a great portable drill press. Despite its small size, this drill is still capable of drilling holes in a variety of materials such as wood, metal, and plastics. The DRL 300 can spin at speeds of up to 8500 RPM thanks to the power supplied through its 110-volt electric motor.
While this won't be able to tackle larger jobs, it's powerful enough to perform any task you can fit into it. If you need to drill some holes here and there and don't want to break the bank on a professional-grade product, this is a drill you'll want to look into. There may not be a fancy adjustable table or an abundance of excess space, but do you need to drill a few simple holes? If so, this might be the best little drill for you.
Check Price on Amazon ➞Buyers Guide Questions
What Are Drill Presses?
Although many drill presses can perform other functions (and do so admirably) they, first and formally, are made for drilling. These tools are basically power drills mounted within a larger machine to ensure accurate and consistent drilling with greater speed and power. They’ll help you drill precise holes for any project.
Most drill presses feature a stable surface, column, and pulley system that operates the drill’s vertical movement. Thanks to a stronger motor and additional power through leverage, drill presses offer the option of drilling large holes quickly and without the fatigue associated with punching large holes into thick materials.
Drill presses are preferable when drilling holes into metal or working on other tough projects. They’ll create precise, straight holes. Many can also be adjusted to drill at an angle in case the need arises.
A hand drill (also known as a handheld drill) can offer great flexibility of use, but a drill press is the best tool when the job needs to be perfect. Other possible uses include tapping, reaming, counterboring, and countersinking.
Drill Press Types
There are two types of drill presses: floor-standing presses and bench presses. While standing presses offer more power and can often be the best option in a spacious workshop, bench presses are more portable and can be affixed temporarily to a shop table or other work surface. Standing drill presses are generally best suited to those looking to handle many larger heavy-duty projects; benchtop presses are often better for smaller projects and occasional use.
Bench drill presses are the best solution if you occasionally want the power of a drill press but don’t have space or need to dedicate an entire section of your workshop to it. While they don’t pack quite the same power or spin speed as floor-standing drill presses, bench models are best for the homeowner with only a little bit of space or the contractor who is constantly on the go.
How Does a Bench Drill Press Work?
You may want to figure out exactly how to use a bench drill press so that you can be sure that it is, in fact, the machine you need. A bench drill press works in essentially the same way that a floor-standing press does, with the major difference being the fact that you must mount it to a workbench or table before using it. While controls and speed settings vary between presses, the basic elements of operation are consistent across the board.
Make sure to carefully go over the specific instructions that come with your new drill before using it. (If you’re looking for a handheld corded drill instead, click here). A bench drill press consists of a few basic pieces: a head, which houses the motor, a series of gears and pulleys that adjust the speed settings, a spindle and a chuck that holds the bit and spin together, and an arm that raises and lowers the chuck and bit.
It also features a table, a base or a foot that can be affixed to a workbench, and a column. This support pole runs from the base to the head and holds the table in place. Before operating your drill press, you must make sure that you’re wearing proper protection and clothing.
It’s always best to wear safety glasses when working with power tools. You’ll want to avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing and any jewelry that might get caught in the press. Long hair should also be tied back or tucked away before use to not get caught up in the spindle.
When you have mounted your drill press and are ready to use it, adjust the spindle’s speed by changing the pulleys in the head. When you have selected the proper speed for your intended use, the next step is setting up the drill bit and adjusting the table.
The spindle is the piece of the drill press that spins to boreholes. Drill bits are either placed directly into the spindle if tapered. They can also be placed in a keyed or non-keyed chuck and then into the spindle. The table holds the material in place. Depending on the intended use, you can move the table up and down and usually rotate as required.
Turn on the drill press and place the material onto the drill press’s table. Then, use the arm to move the drill down and through the wood, metal, or whatever other types of material you may be working with. Remember not to force the drill – especially if you’re working with a more delicate type of material or are running the drill at a low spin speed. Instead of pushing it, you should let the drill press do most of the work and let it “press” its way through.
How to Mount a Bench Drill Press
Once you’ve selected a place in your shop or work area with enough lighting and space, it’s time to mount your bench drill press. Most bench drill presses feature a heavy-duty base that will stop wobbling while you drill, but it’s still important to mount the base to a table or bench in your shop to maximize safety. The motor in almost all drill presses is stored in the drill press head, making them more top-heavy.
To mount the press, clamp or bolt the base directly to the surface using bolt vises. You may also choose to affix the base to a piece of plywood or another piece of wood you have around the shop and then bolt the wood to your table or bench. Vice grips or clamps can hold the extended base in place.
Drill Press Features
Although all models offer precise drilling, different drill presses come with different features. Most will drill metal, but it’s always worth checking what other materials your drill press can handle. The right drill press for you will come with features that enhance the drilling process.
For example, most drill presses will have a different maximum cutting depth and variable speed control. The best drill pressures will feature a range of speed settings. Some come with additional safety features, such as a dust port, and others will be able to tackle angled holes.
You can find models with a quick change chuck system and a digital speed readout. You can also get a magnetic drill press and even a mini drill press, which is perfect if you’re always on the go. Study all these different features if you want to find the best drill press for you.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve read our reviews and buyer’s guide, you’re ready to decide on a drill press. While we may have missed some classic manufacturers like B+D or JET, we hope you’ll agree the products in our reviews are fantastic.
Keep in mind that our picks are just our picks, and what’s important is that you choose a piece of equipment you’re comfortable using. The best drill press for you will be able to tackle the jobs you need it for. We hope that our reviews have helped you find the best drill press for your home or garage.