Two Speed Cordless Drills

The least expensive drills run at a single speed, but most have two fixed speeds: 300 rpm and 800 rpm.
A slide switch or trigger lets you select high or low speed. These drills are ideal for most light-duty operations.

The low speed is for driving screws, the high speed for drilling holes.

For more refined carpentry and repair tasks, choose a drill that has the same two-speed switch and a trigger with variable speed control that lets you vary the speed from 0 rpm to the top of each range.

If you do more hole drilling than screwdriving, look for more speed — 1,000 rpm or higher — at the top end.