Cordless Drill Batteries

For cordless drills, power is measured in battery voltage.

Higher voltage means more torque-spinning strength to overcome resistance.

Over the last decade, top-end voltage has increased from 9.6 to 18V, but the range of models include 6, 7.2, 9.6, 12, 14.4 and 18V.

Today's higher-voltage drills have enough power to bore big holes in framing lumber and flooring.

The trade-off for power is weight. A typical 9.6V drill weighs 3 1/2 lbs., while an 18V model weighs up to 10 lbs.