Black & Decker 20V MAX POWERCONNECT Cordless Drill/Driver, 30-piece kit

Why I reached for the Black+Decker 20V drill

A Saturday of fix-it chores gave me a good read on the Black+Decker 20V drill. I used it to hang shelves, assemble a storage cabinet, and run a handful of pilot holes through studs and softwood. It’s clearly built for everyday home tasks, not construction sites, and that’s exactly where it shines: light, friendly, and straightforward, with enough control to protect hardware and finishes.

What you get in the kit

The kit is generous for a starter setup. In the box, I found the drill/driver, one 20V MAX 1.5 Ah battery, a wall‑mountable charging base, and a 30‑piece accessory assortment: six brad‑point drill bits for wood, a mix of 1-inch and 2-inch screwdriving bits, four nut drivers, and a magnetic bit holder. The assortment covers most common household fasteners right away. The bits are “starter grade,” but they’re fine for softwood, particleboard, and light-duty tasks. If you plan to drill into hardwoods or drive large structural screws frequently, you’ll want to upgrade your bits later.

I do wish the kit included a second battery or a small storage bag. As is, everything comes boxed, and the single 1.5 Ah pack means you’ll encounter downtime during charging on longer projects.

Design and ergonomics

The Black+Decker 20V drill is compact and pleasant in the hand. At about 4 pounds with battery, it balances well and doesn’t fatigue my wrist when working overhead. The soft-grip handle is nicely contoured and grippy without being sticky; I never felt like I was fighting the tool to keep a steady line.

Controls are straightforward: a trigger with variable speed, a forward/reverse slider, and a 24-position clutch with a dedicated “drill” mode. The 3/8-inch keyless chuck is easy to operate—one hand to hold, one hand to tighten—and it grips hex-shank accessories and standard round-shank bits securely. I didn’t experience any chuck loosening during normal use.

There’s no belt hook and no work light. Those omissions keep the design simple, but they’re worth noting if you’re used to more feature-rich drills. The motor is brushed, and you do hear that familiar whine under load, though vibration is modest and completely manageable for the class.

Speed, torque, and control

This is a single-speed drill topping out around 750 RPM. On paper, that’s modest. In practice, it’s well-matched to typical homeowner tasks where control matters more than sheer speed. Driving 1-1/4-inch screws into particleboard and 2-inch screws into pine felt confident and predictable. With 3-inch construction screws into stud material, I had better results with a quick pilot hole first; the tool will stall if you try to brute-force long fasteners into dense lumber, which isn’t surprising given the class.

The 24-position clutch is the standout feature. I like being able to fine-tune the clutch down low for delicate hardware and then step it up for longer screws without risking a blowout. The clutch transitions cleanly, and the “drill” mode bypasses it for hole-making. It’s a forgiving setup if you’re still learning how much torque different materials can take.

Drilling performance

• Wood: The included brad-point bits track straight and clean in softwoods. I bored clean pilot holes up to 3/8 inch without drama. In hardwoods like oak, stepping up bit sizes incrementally prevented bogging.
• Metal: Using a quality HSS bit (not included) and a touch of oil, I drilled 1/8-inch holes in mild steel angle at low speed with steady pressure. Patience helps—this is not a high-RPM metal driller, but it gets there.
• Masonry: There’s no hammer mode. You can nibble into brick with a carbide-tipped bit if you must, but it’s slow and not ideal. If masonry is on your list, a hammer drill is the right tool.

The single 3/8-inch chuck limits very large shanks, but that’s in line with the drill’s purpose. Hex-shank spade bits and countersinks work fine within reasonable sizes.

Battery, charging, and platform

The included 1.5 Ah pack is the right physical size for the tool—light and compact—though capacity is modest. For an afternoon of mixed drilling and driving with breaks between tasks, I got through without a recharge. On a longer project (think: building multiple shelves end to end), I exhausted the pack and had to stop to charge.

Charging is the compromise here. The wall‑mountable base is convenient, but a full charge takes on the order of several hours (the spec lists 225 minutes). For most homeowners, that’s acceptable because the drill isn’t in constant use; still, if you like to keep momentum, a second battery makes a noticeable difference.

The bigger advantage is the POWERCONNECT system. This battery will slot into other Black+Decker 20V tools—hand vacs, sanders, hedge trimmers, and more. If you’re building a budget-friendly, light-duty tool set for household maintenance and small projects, that compatibility adds real value.

Accessories and little touches

The included magnetic bit holder is genuinely useful—it’s an extension that accepts 1-inch bits and holds them securely, not a magnet on the tool body. The nut drivers turned out to be surprisingly handy when assembling furniture and working with small hex-head fasteners. The accessory pack gets you moving right away; just temper expectations on durability if you plan to push harder materials.

One small note: the absence of an LED light means you’ll want to ensure decent illumination when working inside cabinets or closets. I used a headlamp and had no issues.

Durability and warranty

This is a consumer-grade drill with a plastic housing and a brushed motor, but nothing about it feels flimsy. The clutch ring clicks positively, the chuck jaws seat evenly, and the gearbox sounded healthy throughout my testing. There’s a two-year limited warranty, which aligns with the intended use case: occasional home projects and repairs rather than daily professional duty.

Where it fits in the market

Against other entry-level 18/20V drills, the Black+Decker 20V drill stakes out a sensible middle ground. It’s lighter and more approachable than many pro-leaning models, but it’s not as fast or as torquey. For a homeowner who needs to hang blinds, assemble cabinets, install anchors, and tackle small woodworking projects, it offers a friendly learning curve and sufficient muscle. If you’re framing walls, driving large structural fasteners, or drilling big holes all day, you’ll outgrow it quickly and should look at higher-spec, two-speed models with larger chucks and faster chargers.

The limitations to know before you buy

• Single-speed motor maxes at about 750 RPM; drilling larger holes is slower
• No hammer mode for masonry
• 3/8-inch chuck limits large-shank bits
• No LED or belt hook
• Only one 1.5 Ah battery in the box, with a long recharge time

None of these are deal-breakers for the intended user, but they’re worth noting so you don’t expect pro-tier performance from a light-duty tool.

Recommendation

I recommend the Black+Decker 20V drill to homeowners and DIYers who want a straightforward, affordable drill/driver for light to medium tasks around the house. It’s comfortable, easy to control thanks to the 24-position clutch, and the POWERCONNECT battery ties into a useful ecosystem for other household tools. The included accessory set gets you started immediately.

I wouldn’t recommend it for heavy-duty use, frequent drilling in masonry, or projects that require fast, continuous work without breaks. The single-speed gearbox and slow charger make it a poor fit for production tasks. But as a reliable, approachable everyday driver for assembling furniture, hanging fixtures, and tackling small builds, it’s a solid pick that delivers good value.