The M12 FUEL combo punches well above its weight, community members report building decks with it and using it daily for professional carpentry. At under $150 on sale, it's the best compact kit for tight-space work.
I built a deck with this little guy. It did start to overheat in 95 degree weather when I was fastening deck boards down (lot of repetitive motion) but it had plenty of power. Nice and light too, if you're using it overhead.
Don't let the 12-volt battery fool you. During testing, we found that the Milwaukee Fuel 3403-22 is 'a beast in disguise.' We were impressed by how fast and securely this compact drill drove screws.
The drill/driver combo is super versatile and surprisingly powerful for a 12v tool. I also have a M18 fuel hammer drill and M18 Surge driver.. Truth be told, I reach for the M12 far more often.
I've had a brushless M18 non-fuel drill and impact driver for probably 10-ish years, and they've been great.
The most consistently recommended 2-tool combo kit across deal communities, with a brushless motor, compact 6.38-inch head length, and 1,700 in-lb of torque. Hits the sweet spot of performance and value at $169 from Lowe's.
Milwaukee's M18 FUEL combo is the go-to for tradespeople who need all-day durability and access to 250+ compatible tools. REDLINK Intelligence and all-metal construction set it apart from budget options.
With 4.7 stars from 59,000+ Amazon reviews, this is the most-reviewed drill/impact combo kit on the market. It's not brushless, but at $139 it's the easiest entry point into the DEWALT 20V ecosystem.
At under $70, the SKIL PWRCore 12V is the only brushless combo kit that won't break the bank for light DIY use. The patented PWRCore battery tech delivers 25% longer runtime than standard 12V batteries.