A right angle drill puts the chuck at 90 degrees to the handle, which cuts the tool’s front-to-back length down to roughly 3.5 or 4 inches. That short head is what lets you drive a screw straight into a corner, between two studs or inside a wall cabinet where a standard drill body simply will not go.
If you only need one, the DEWALT DCD740B is the pick: 4.0 inches front to back, a 3/8-inch ratcheting chuck with a deep hex pocket, and two speed ranges up to 2000 rpm. The Milwaukee M12 2415-20 is the lighter, cheaper option for anyone already invested in 12-volt packs, and the Bosch PS11-102 is the only drill here with a head that pivots away from 90 degrees when you want a straight approach.
Below, we compare eight right angle drills across two classes: compact cordless drivers that fit inside cabinets and between studs, and heavier pneumatic and stud-drilling tools for auto repair and rough-in work. Every spec in this guide comes from the manufacturer listing and owner reviews, and the 2026 picks reflect what buyers actually report after living with the tools.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Right Angle Drills for Tight Spaces in October 2026
DEWALT DCD740B 20V MAX
- 4.0 inch front-to-back length
- 3/8 inch ratcheting chuck with deep hex pocket
- 0-650 and 0-2000 rpm two-speed gearbox
- 3.3 pounds
Milwaukee M12 2415-20
- 100 in-lb of torque
- 2.3 pounds
- 11-setting electronic clutch plus drill mode
- LED light and onboard fuel gauge
Bosch PS11-102 12V Max
- 5-position pivoting head from 90 to 180 degrees
- 115 in-lb of torque at 1300 rpm
- Includes 2.0Ah battery and charger
All 8 Right Angle Drills Compared in October 2026
If you want the numbers side by side before reading the individual reviews, this is the short version. The three that matter most for most people are the DEWALT DCD740B for overall balance, the Milwaukee M12 2415-20 for weight, and the Ryobi ONE+ HP for pure torque in a brushless motor.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| DEWALT DCD740B 20V MAX Right Angle Drill |
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Check Latest Price |
| Milwaukee M12 2415-20 Right Angle Drill |
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| Bosch PS11-102 12V Max Right Angle Drill Kit |
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Check Latest Price |
 Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Right Angle Drill |
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 Makita XAD02Z 18V LXT Angle Drill |
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 Ingersoll Rand 7807R Air Angle Drill |
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 Milwaukee C18RAD-0 18V Right Angle Drill |
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Check Latest Price |
 RIDGID R87701 18V SubCompact Brushless Right Angle Drill |
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Check Latest Price |
1. DEWALT DCD740B 20V MAX: the best all-round right angle drill
DEWALT DCD740B 20-Volt MAX Li-Ion Right Angle Drill (Tool Only)
20V MAX brushless-class platform
4.0 in front-to-back
0-650 / 0-2000 rpm
300W, 3.3 lb
Pros
- Very short 4.0 inch front-to-back length
- Multi-grip paddle trigger works in awkward positions
- Deep-pocket 3/8 inch chuck takes full 2 inch hex bits
- Two speed ranges and an LED work light
Cons
- Battery and charger sold separately
- Brushed motor rather than brushless
- 3/8 inch chuck is smaller than a standard drill's
- Chuck is threaded 1/2-20 UNF and can be stubborn to remove
The DCD740B is the tool most people end up buying, and the reason is simple: at 4.0 inches front to back it clears the obstacles that force you to leave a standard drill in the truck. It is rated to 4.7 stars across more than 2900 reviews, and the compact head is the single feature owners mention most often.
The head sits directly above the grip and points straight in, so when you are installing a cabinet screw into a back corner you hold the tool the same way you always do and the body stays parallel to the cabinet face. That geometry is why it is the best right angle drill for tight spaces for cabinet and face-frame work rather than just a novelty.
Torque and speed are where it earns its place against the 12-volt competition. Two ranges, 0 to 650 rpm for driving and 0 to 2000 rpm for drilling, give you the low-speed control needed to start a long screw without stripping the head. Maximum torque lands in the same band as the other 20-volt and 18-volt units here, at 3.3 pounds with a pack.
The chuck deserves attention because it is unusual in a good way. It is a 3/8-inch ratcheting chuck with a deep hex pocket, so a 2-inch hex bit can be inserted far enough that the bit holder stops short of the body. On narrow cabinets that is the difference between reaching the screw and missing it.
What you should know before buying
You are buying a bare tool. No battery, no charger, and a belt hook plus a 2-inch Phillips bit are the only included items. Owners already on the DEWALT 20V MAX platform pay nothing extra for power; everyone else is starting a new battery ecosystem, which is the real cost of this pick.
The motor is brushed, and DEWALT does not currently offer a brushless right angle drill on this platform. In practice that means shorter runtime than the Ryobi or RIDGID brushless units, and a chuck that uses fine 1/2-20 UNF threads with thread lock, which some owners find hard to remove for a change.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you need 1/2-inch capacity. The 3/8-inch chuck here will not take a 1/2-inch shank, and that rules out the big spade bits and hole saws used for rough-in plumbing and electrical work. If your jobs are all screw driving and pilot holes in cabinetry, the smaller chuck is an advantage rather than a limitation.
Skip it too if you are starting from nothing and dislike brushed motors. The Ryobi ONE+ HP gives you brushless power at 350 in-lb for a similar weight, though the chuck grip is its own compromise.
2. Milwaukee M12 2415-20: the lightest pick for overhead and engine-bay work
Milwaukee 2415-20 M12 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Right Angle Drill, 3/8 In, Bare Tool, Medium
12V lithium-ion
100 in-lb torque
800 rpm max
2.3 lb bare tool
Pros
- Lightest cordless option here at 2.3 pounds
- 100 in-lb of torque for a 12-volt tool
- Extended paddle trigger for multiple grip positions
- LED light and onboard fuel gauge
- Ratcheting 3/8 inch chuck grips bits well
Cons
- Bare tool with no battery
- charger or case
- 800 rpm ceiling is slow for drilling
- Brushed motor shortens runtime
- Less comfortable for straight-down drilling
The 2415-20 is what most people picture when they say right angle drill, and it is the tool that shows up in the stories owners tell about exhaust manifold bolts and crank-pin drilling. At 2.3 pounds it is the lightest cordless drill in this group, and that weight is the deciding factor for anyone working overhead or reaching deep into an engine bay.
Reviewers treat it as a specialty problem-solver rather than a daily driver, and the 4.7-star average across more than 1800 reviews reflects that. It sits in the toolbox for the job that will not fit anything else, which is exactly how it earns its place.
Torque is the honest trade-off. The 100 in-lb figure is respectable for a 12-volt tool and will drive cabinet screws and face frames without drama, but it is roughly a fifth of what the Ryobi ONE+ HP delivers. Forum users regularly note that M12-class right angle drills stall on long screws driven into dense wood or into a stud, and the max speed of 800 rpm reinforces that ceiling.
The electronic clutch has 11 settings plus a drill mode, and because the clutch cuts motor power rather than mechanically slipping, some users describe the feedback as unusual compared with a mechanical clutch. It works well for serial screw driving, which matters when you are running a full cabinet face.
What you should know before buying
The package is a bare tool with only an instruction guide. It runs on M12 lithium-ion packs, and long-term owners on trade forums describe it as a tool that has never given them problems, but that reputation only helps if you already own the batteries or plan to buy into M12.
Speed is fixed rather than adjustable by range. You get the range through trigger pressure, up to 800 rpm, and drilling larger holes with a Forstner bit in hardwood will feel slow. The brushed motor is the other limit, and top speed cannot be traded for torque the way it can on a brushless machine.
Who should skip it
Skip it for overhead work only if you already run 18-volt or 20-volt packs, because a full-size pack on a 12-volt tool is not a real scenario. Skip it for heavy boring, long structural screws or anything over 1/2-inch, where the 800 rpm and 100 in-lb combination will have you reaching for a standard drill.
Also skip it if you dislike the straight-down orientation. Owners point out that your hand can contact the chuck when the tool is pointing straight down, which is a real issue when driving cabinet screws into a base cabinet from below.
3. Bosch PS11-102: the only drill here with an adjustable head
BOSCH PS11-102 12V Max 3/8 In. Right Angle Drill/Driver Kit with 2.0Ah Lithium Ion Battery
12V Max with 2.0Ah battery
115 in-lb torque, 1300 rpm
Pivoting head 90 to 180 degrees
2.4 lb
Pros
- Only right angle drill in this group with a pivoting head from 90 to 180 degrees
- Usable out of the box with a 2.0Ah battery and charger
- 115 in-lb of torque for a 12-volt tool
- Motor brake for precise serial screw driving
- Tool-free 3/8 inch auto-lock chuck
Cons
- Single speed with no second gear
- 6 percent of ratings are 1 star on durability complaints
- Less torque than 18-volt right angle drills
- Older design than newer brushless models
The PS11-102 solves a problem none of the other seven drills here can. Its 5-position pivoting head articulates from 90 degrees to 180 degrees, so the same tool handles a straight-in corner and a conventional straight-ahead approach without swapping equipment.
That versatility is why it shows up in aviation and avionics work, where access angles change constantly. It is also the only kit in the group that arrives with a 2.0Ah battery in the box, so you can use it immediately without buying into a platform first.
On paper it is competitive for its class: 115 in-lb of torque at 1300 rpm, a 3/8-inch auto-lock chuck for tool-free bit changes, a variable-speed trigger and a motor brake that makes screw driving repeatable. The electronic cell protection is a sensible addition for anyone running the pack down regularly.
The rating tells the rest of the story. At 4.5 stars it is the second-lowest score in the group, and 6 percent of ratings are 1 star, which is well above what the other drills carry. Those reviews concentrate on motor and gearbox durability rather than on performance, and the design dates from an era before brushless motors became standard.
What you should know before buying
There is one speed. The trigger gives you variable control from zero up to 1300 rpm, but there is no second gear, so drilling larger holes takes longer than it would on the two-speed DEWALT or Ryobi. Bosch lists 3/8-inch chuck capacity, which covers cabinet screws, pilot holes and a 3/4-inch spade bit.
The 12V Max platform also caps torque. If you are starting fresh and expect to move into 18-volt or 20-volt tools later, the Bosch platform is a separate battery system from most of the others in this guide, so plan for a second set of packs.
Who should skip it
Skip it if longevity worries you most. The 1-star share on motor and gearbox failures is a real signal in the review data, and buying a second one in three years is worse value than starting with a brushless model that carries a longer expected service life.
Skip it if you need two-speed drilling or higher torque than 115 in-lb. For cabinet installation work that needs a lot of pilot holes, the fixed single speed becomes a productivity drag fairly quickly.
4. RYOBI ONE+ HP 18V: the most torque in a compact brushless body
RYOBI ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless Compact 3/8 in. Right Angle Drill (Tool Only)
18V ONE+ brushless
Up to 350 in-lb torque
0-450 and 0-1700 rpm
2.8 lb
Pros
- Highest rated torque in the group at up to 350 in-lb
- Brushless motor for runtime and motor life
- Two speed ranges
- Long handle improves grip under high torque
- Useful work light
Cons
- Chuck grip is a known weakness across RYOBI tools
- Tool only
- battery and charger sold separately
- Only a 30-day limited warranty
- 3/8 inch chuck is small for heavy boring
The ONE+ HP is the outlier on torque. At up to 350 in-lb from a 3/8-inch chuck it delivers more than three times what the Milwaukee M12 manages, and it does it with a brushless motor in a 2.8-pound body. That combination is unusual in a drill whose entire reason for existing is compactness.
Owners report more power than they expected for a tool this size, and 85 percent of ratings are 5 stars across 648 reviews. Several reviewers describe using it to extract a broken bolt inside an aluminum engine, which tells you where the extra torque actually goes.
The gearbox gives you 0 to 450 rpm and 0 to 1700 rpm, with speed and direction controls reachable from a normal grip. The long handle is not cosmetic: it gives you more leverage when you are putting 350 in-lb against a stubborn fastener, and it is the reason the tool stays controllable despite the high output.
The brushless motor is the practical differentiator for anyone working through a full install. Longer runtime and longer motor life than a brushed design of the same size, which matters when the same tool is used all day on a cabinet run.
What you should know before buying
The chuck is the recurring complaint. Across RYOBI tools, owners report that the chuck is difficult to tighten securely on bits, and on a right angle drill that problem is amplified because the chuck sits close to the body with limited room for your fingers. Plan on checking bit tightness rather than trusting it.
Also note the warranty. This tool carries a 30-day limited warranty, which is far shorter than the three-year cover on the DEWALT and Bosch products in this guide, and the battery and charger are sold separately.
Who should skip it
Skip it if bit security is critical. When you are driving hundreds of face-frame screws, a chuck that will not hold firmly is a distraction, and the 3/8-inch capacity still limits you on larger spade bits and hole saws for rough-in work.
Skip it if you do not already use ONE+ packs. Starting a new platform for one tool is hard to justify when the lighter Milwaukee M12 and the two-speed DEWALT sit in the same class of problem.
5. Makita XAD02Z 18V LXT: the best fit for millwork and sliding shelves
Makita XAD02Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 3/8″ Angle Drill, Tool Only
18V LXT
121 in-lb max torque
3-1/2 inch head height
0-1800 rpm, 3 lb
Pros
- Very compact 3-1/2 inch angle head height
- 121 in-lb of torque from a 4-pole motor
- 0-1800 rpm variable speed
- Keyless chuck for tool-free bit changes
- Well-regarded build quality
Cons
- Battery and charger not included
- Not brushless despite being an 18V LXT tool
- Chuck sits very close to the body
- Single-speed design
The XAD02Z wins on head height. At 3-1/2 inches it is the shortest angle head in this group, and head height is the dimension that matters when you are reaching into the back of an upper cabinet or a narrow wall cavity where the ceiling drops down behind the opening.
It is the drill millwork and furniture people tend to describe as the most powerful right angle drill they have used, which fits the 121 in-lb figure from the Makita-built 4-pole motor. Long-time owners on trade forums report it has never given them problems, including drilling holes up to 3-1/2 inches.
Speed runs from 0 to 1800 rpm on a variable trigger, which is the highest top speed among the cordless drills here and gives you more options on pilot holes in dense material. The 3/8-inch keyless chuck changes bits without a key, and the whole tool is listed at 12-3/8 inches long and 3 pounds.
Owners also mention using it with attachments such as wire brushes for metal cleanup, which is a reminder that a right angle drill is a general rotary tool, not just a screw gun. Several units are stamped Made in Japan, and reviewers single out the fit and finish.
What you should know before buying
It is not brushless, even though it sits on the 18V LXT platform where brushless machines are now common. Torque is still class-leading for the size, but you should not expect the runtime profile of a brushless tool on the same battery.
The chuck sits very close to the body, which is the flip side of the short head. Reviewers describe installing bits as awkward by hand, and in a confined cavity that is exactly where your hand has the least room to work.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you need a second gear. The single-speed variable trigger tops out at 1800 rpm, which is fine for driving and pilot drilling but leaves you without the low-speed, high-torque combination that a two-speed drill gives you for starting long screws.
Skip it if you are on a different platform. The battery and charger are not included, and the LXT ecosystem is its own, so a Makita pack does nothing for a DEWALT or Milwaukee user.
6. Ingersoll Rand 7807R: the pneumatic pick for engine bays and service work
Ingersoll Rand 7807R 3/8″ Reversible Air Angle Drill
Pneumatic reversible angle drill
1800 rpm free speed
3/8 inch Jacobs chuck
2.5 lb, needs compressor
Pros
- Consistent stall-resistant torque on seized or hardened bolts
- Compact low-profile head for engine bays
- Metal construction with a durable movement
- Jacobs multi-craft chuck holds bits securely
- Reversible with a lever throttle
- Grease plug for maintenance
Cons
- Requires an air compressor and hose that are not included
- Very loud even for a pneumatic tool
- Throttle lever is easy to bump accidentally
- Speed is on and off rather than truly variable
The 7807R is the only pneumatic drill in this guide, and that changes the decision entirely. Pneumatic power stays consistent under load, which is why professional tradespeople use it to extract exhaust manifold bolts and drill out broken fasteners in machinery. Nothing in the cordless group holds torque the same way when a bolt is truly seized.
At 4.7 stars across 482 reviews with only 1 percent 1-star ratings, it carries the cleanest rating distribution of any cordless tool here as well. The construction is stainless steel with a Jacobs multi-craft chuck, and the grease plug supports straightforward preventive maintenance.
There is no battery platform to buy into, which flips the usual objection on its head. If you already run a compressor, the objections here are about noise and hose management rather than about ecosystem lock-in.
What you should know before buying
You need a compressor and a hose, and neither is included. Speed is effectively on and off rather than continuously variable, so you are picking a speed setting rather than feathering the throttle the way you would with a cordless drill. The 1800 rpm free speed is set by the regulator.
Noise is the other real drawback. Owners consistently flag it as very loud even by pneumatic standards, so hearing protection is not optional. The lever throttle is also easy to bump, which adds to the footprint in a crowded engine bay.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you do not own a compressor. The added cost of a small compressor and hose can exceed what you would spend on a cordless right angle drill, and the noise makes it a poor fit for occupied interiors or cabinet installation in a client’s home. If you already run a compressor for metal fabrication, our guide to the best angle rolls for fabrication covers the forming side of the same shop setup.
Skip it for driving screws. There is no clutch to speak of and no electronic settings, so this is a drilling and fastener-extraction tool, not a driver. If your work is screws, a cordless right angle drill is the correct purchase.
7. Milwaukee C18RAD-0 18V: the pick for rough-in electrical between studs
Milwaukee M18 18V Cordless Right Angle Drill Driver, Compact Design with Variable Speed, Tool Only
18V cordless
125 in-lb torque
1500 rpm max
Multi-position handle switch
Pros
- Multi-position handle switch for several grip orientations
- 125 in-lb of torque on the 18V platform
- Electronic clutch with an indicator light
- Compact enough to fit between studs
- Popular with electricians on wood-stud work
Cons
- Battery and charger sold separately
- Several buyers received units with no retail packaging
- Listed item weight of 1 g is clearly inaccurate
- Older brushed design with a single speed
The C18RAD-0 is the one electricians in the review data single out by name. Electricians and remodelers rate it highly for reaching between studs in residential wood framing, and the reason is the multi-position handle switch, which lets you re-grip the tool without losing the bit alignment you are working to hold.
Torque of 125 in-lb on the 18V platform puts it a step above the 12-volt options, which is what you want when you are boring through a stud face or driving structural screws into framing. Maximum speed is 1500 rpm, and the electronic clutch has an indicator light so you can see the setting.
What you should know before buying
Packaging is the consistent complaint in the reviews. Several buyers describe receiving the drill with no retail packaging, and one says the listing did not disclose the unit as refurbished. If condition matters to you, check what arrives carefully before you rely on it for a job.
The published weight is wrong. The listing states 1 g, which is obviously an error, so use the physical dimensions instead: 4.88 inches long, 1.95 inches wide and 5.81 inches high. That 1.95-inch width is the number that matters between 16-inch-on-centre studs.
Who should skip it
Skip it if the listing condition makes you uneasy, and skip it if you want a modern motor. This is a brushed-generation design with a single speed, so it delivers less than the Ryobi or RIDGID brushless tools at similar weight while costing more to run on a per-minute basis.
Skip it if you are on M12. The battery ecosystems are entirely separate, and the M12 2415-20 is a better fit for anyone who wants the same brand on a smaller pack.
8. RIDGID R87701 18V SubCompact: the newest brushless design, still unproven
18V SUBCOMPACT BRUSHLESS Cordless 3/8 in. Right Angle Drill Tool ONLY
18V SubCompact brushless
3/8 inch chuck
2.5 pounds
Two speeds, tool only
Pros
- Brushless motor with good torque for its size
- Two speed settings with a variable speed trigger
- Very compact for millwork and small cabinets
- Lightweight at 2.5 pounds
- Includes a drilling bit
- bit holder and belt hook
Cons
- Lowest rated score in the group at 4.2
- 12 percent of ratings are 1 star
- Runs slow even on its high setting
- Battery and charger sold separately
- Not eligible for the Lifetime Service Agreement
The R87701 is the newest and least-reviewed tool in the group, and that is the honest headline. It carries 57 reviews and a 4.2-star average, with 12 percent of ratings at 1 star, which is a much thinner record than anything else here. Buy it for the design on paper and accept that you are an early adopter.
What it does well is compact brushless work. At 2.5 pounds with a 3/8-inch chuck and two speed settings on a variable trigger, owners like it for millwork and installing small cabinets, where the motor size and weight both matter.
What you should know before buying
There is no published torque or speed figure, and no dimensions. That is unusual for a listing and it means you cannot compare the numbers against the other seven drills in this guide. What we can say from reviews is that torque is adequate for its size and the speed is criticised as slow even on high.
The Lifetime Service Agreement is the bigger issue for anyone who owns RIDGID tools. This one is not eligible, and warranty registration requires a Home Depot receipt, which Amazon purchases will not have. Some buyers also reported units arriving with a defective clutch, though that is a minority of a small sample.
Who should skip it
Skip it if warranty coverage or the service agreement matters to you, because this tool is excluded from the agreement that RIDGID owners rely on most. If you already have RIDGID packs and value the brand support, that exclusion is hard to justify.
Skip it if you need a second gear or know you will be drilling large holes. With no published speed figures and a review base that describes it as slow, the two-speed DEWALT is the safer purchase for the same general job.
Right Angle Drill vs Right Angle Driver vs Installation Driver vs Attachment
A right angle drill and a right angle driver are the same tool with a clutch. A right angle impact driver has a hammer mechanism instead, and an installation driver is a third category entirely. Confusing them is the most common buyer mistake in this category, so here is the decision framework directly.
Right angle drill/driver: clutch-controlled torque, adjustable speed settings, keyless chuck. This is the only category that can drill a pilot hole and drive a screw with the same tool, which is why it is the default answer for cabinet installation where you are both screwing and boring access holes.
Right angle impact driver: no clutch, no chuck, hex collet only, and it uses impact energy to drive long screws into dense material or stripped-out screw holes. It cannot drill a clean hole in wood without splitting it. Buy one if your problem is a screw that will not go in, not a hole you cannot reach.
Installation driver: a compact, gearless, one-handed tool designed to drive fasteners between studs where nothing else fits. The Reddit consensus for tight-corner fastening leans heavily toward 12-volt installation drivers from Milwaukee, Bosch and DEWALT rather than a right angle drill. They are lighter and faster than any drill in this guide, and they cannot drill.
Right angle attachment: a short adapter that turns your existing drill or impact driver into a right angle tool. The honest rule from trade forums is that attachments are genuinely enough for occasional jobs and are widely trusted for repeated cabinet work once you are used to them, but they deliver lower torque than a dedicated tool and add length to a body you already own.
Between DEWALT and Milwaukee attachments specifically, the practical difference is your existing ecosystem rather than the adapter. Both are well-regarded, and the correct answer for most people is to buy the one that matches the drill and battery platform already in their truck.
How to Drill at 90 Degrees Without Snapping Bits
Bit walk is the number one complaint about 90-degree drilling, and it is a technique problem more than a tool problem. Three steps fix it on almost any material.
1. Start with a center punch. Mark the exact point with a center punch or a firm awl impression before the bit touches the surface. On a right angle head the bit meets the material at an angle, so without a pilot point the first contact is a glancing blow that pushes the bit off target.
2. Keep the head square. Your hand is on the handle, and the head points wherever the tool points, so the head position depends entirely on your wrist. Rest the body against a flat surface, or brace the head against the work, and start the bit before applying any forward pressure.
3. Apply axial pressure, not lateral force. Push straight into the material along the bit’s axis rather than leaning on the handle sideways. If you feel the bit fighting, back off, clear the chips, and re-centre on your mark rather than forcing through.
In MDF or dense hardwood, drop to a lower speed range and take smaller passes. Most snapped right angle bits break on the withdrawal stroke when the bit is already wedged, so backing the bit out rather than pulling it sideways is the habit that prevents most of them.
What to Consider Before Buying a Right Angle Drill
Head length and head height. Two different numbers decide whether a tool fits. Front-to-back length, which is 4.0 inches on the DEWALT DCD740B, tells you whether the body clears the obstacle. Head height, which is 3-1/2 inches on the Makita XAD02Z, tells you whether it fits under a cabinet ceiling. Measure the actual cavity, not the opening.
Chuck size and what it means. A 1/4-inch hex collet takes driver bits only. A 3/8-inch chuck accepts drill bits and short hex bits. A 1/2-inch chuck is what you need for large spade bits, hole saws and self-feeders used on rough-in plumbing and electrical. Every drill in this guide has a 3/8-inch chuck, which is why none of them is the right tool for a 4-inch hole through a joist. For that class, a stud-and-joist or Hole Hawg drill is a separate tool.
Battery platform and total cost. A bare tool is cheaper than a kit, but it is only cheaper if you already own the batteries and charger. Buying into a new ecosystem means two batteries and a charger before your first screw, and forum users consistently note that this can cost more than the tool. If you already have DEWALT 20V MAX, M12, 18V LXT, Bosch 12V or ONE+ packs, stay on that platform.
Torque against the job. Cabinet screws and face frames sit comfortably in the 100 to 125 in-lb range. Dense hardwood, long screws into studs and extraction work on seized fasteners need considerably more, which is where the 350 in-lb brushless output of the Ryobi ONE+ HP earns its place.
Speed control. A two-speed gearbox gives you high speed for drilling and low speed for driving. Single-speed tools rely on the trigger for the same effect, which works but is less precise, and 800 rpm on the Milwaukee M12 is a genuine ceiling for larger holes.
Chuck type and bit retention. A ratcheting chuck with a deep hex pocket accepts 2-inch hex bits, which is a genuine advantage in a narrow cabinet. A keyless auto-lock chuck changes bits fastest. A keyless chuck that grips poorly is a recurring complaint, so check bit tightness after every change rather than assuming it is secure.
Ergonomics in your actual working position. The multi-grip trigger on the DEWALT and the extended paddle switch on the Milwaukee M12 both exist for the same reason: overhead, sideways and straight-down work each need a different hand position. A tool you cannot grip in the position you need it is the wrong tool, however good the specs are.
What these tools cannot do. A right angle drill has no hammer action. It is not a rotary hammer, and it is not for chiseling, concrete, brick or any masonry work. Right angle attachments for impact drivers take hex collets only and cannot be used in a keyed chuck. None of the tools here is a substitute for an impact driver when a long screw has to go into hardwood or a stripped hole.
If you are still building a general-purpose kit, our guide to the best cordless drills for home projects covers the full-size tools these compact drills sit beside, and the best angle grinders for metalworking picks cover the cleanup and fitting work that usually follows a drilling job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a right angle drill worth it?
For most homeowners and cabinet installers, yes. If you regularly drive screws inside upper cabinets, into back corners or between studs, a standard drill forces you into an awkward angle that strips screw heads and skews holes. A right angle drill gives you a square 90-degree approach. If you already own a good drill and impact driver and do that work only occasionally, a right angle attachment covers most of the need for far less money.
Why use a right angle drill?
Because the chuck sits at 90 degrees to the handle, the tool’s long axis runs parallel to the surface you are working on instead of perpendicular to it. The body stays clear of the wall, cabinet face or stud you are working around, and the bit points straight in or straight down. That geometry is what makes a square hole and a properly started screw possible in a confined space.
Which drill is best for drilling holes in tight spaces?
For a compact cordless drill, the DEWALT DCD740B is the strongest all-round answer, with a 4.0 inch front-to-back length, a 3/8 inch ratcheting chuck and two speed ranges up to 2000 rpm. If weight matters most, the 2.3-pound Milwaukee M12 2415-20 is the lightest option. If you need more torque than either, the Ryobi ONE+ HP delivers up to 350 in-lb from a brushless motor.
How do you drill a right angle?
Center punch the spot first so the bit has a pilot point instead of a glancing blow. Then keep the head square by resting the tool against a flat surface or bracing the head, and start the bit before applying pressure. Push along the bit’s axis rather than leaning sideways, and back the bit out to clear chips instead of forcing it. That sequence eliminates most bit walk and snapped bits.
Which right angle drill attachment is better, DEWALT or Milwaukee?
The better attachment is whichever matches the drill and battery platform you already own, because the adapter itself is not the deciding factor. Both are well-regarded and neither is dramatically stronger than the other. Attachments deliver lower torque than a dedicated right angle drill, so if your work is repeated cabinet installation, a dedicated tool is the better long-term purchase.
Conclusion
The DEWALT DCD740B is our pick for the best right angle drills for tight spaces in 2026, because its 4.0-inch body, deep-pocket ratcheting chuck and two-speed gearbox handle both drilling and driving in confined spaces better than anything else at this size. Its 4.7-star rating across 2937 reviews is the strongest combination of satisfaction and volume in the group.
Pick the Milwaukee M12 2415-20 if you want the lightest cordless option and already own M12 packs. Pick the Ryobi ONE+ HP if torque is the deciding factor and you can live with its chuck grip. Pick the Bosch PS11-102 if the adjustable head earns its keep in your work, and the Ingersoll Rand 7807R if you run a compressor and work on vehicles.
Whichever you settle on, match it to the battery platform you already run and check the head dimensions against the tightest cavity you work in. Those two decisions resolve most of the buying problems people report with this category.