DEWALT DCD800 20V MAX XR Review: Best Overall Cordless Drill of 2026
The compact brushless drill that does almost everything well.
~$229 approx. street price · check retailer for current price
Check Price on AmazonBy the Best Electric Products editorial team · Last updated August 30, 2026
Anyone who wants one capable drill for household repairs, furniture, and workshop projects.
Full Review
The DCD800 is the drill we would hand to someone who wants to buy once. It replaced the long-serving DCD791 with a meaningful power increase — DEWALT quotes up to 40% more unit watts out — while getting shorter, which is the trade most compact drills fail to make.
In independent testing round-ups through 2026 it has consistently placed at or near the top for combined power, speed, and runtime, and the kit version was named best overall by HGTV's reviewers after a multi-hundred-hole test program. That matches the pattern we look for: strong lab numbers backed by sustained real-world use rather than a single impressive spec.
The honest limitation is that it is a drill/driver, not a hammer drill. If masonry is in your future, the otherwise-similar DCD805 is the better buy. For everyone else, this is the default recommendation and the one we would pick for general household and workshop use.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Roughly 800 in-lbs of torque in a compact body
- Head is about half an inch shorter than the DCD791 it replaced
- Three-position LED with a spotlight mode that stays lit
- Plugs into DEWALT's very deep 20V MAX lineup
Cons
- No hammer mode — step up to the DCD805 for masonry
- Kit pricing varies widely by battery configuration
Key Specs
| Motor | Brushless, 2-speed (0–650 / 0–2,000 rpm) |
|---|---|
| Max torque | ~800 in-lbs |
| Chuck | 1/2 in. metal ratcheting |
| Head length | ~6.4 in. |
| Platform | DEWALT 20V MAX |
Ready to buy the DEWALT DCD800 20V MAX XR?
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Compare With Our Other Cordless Drills Picks
- Milwaukee 2904-20 M18 FUEL — Best Heavy-Duty, ~$229
- RYOBI ONE+ HP PBLDD01 — Best Value, ~$99
- Makita XFD061 18V LXT — Best for Woodworking, ~$219
Or see the full ranking in our The Best Cordless Drills of 2026 guide.