Skil Brushless 20V 1/2 in. Drill Driver Kit

A compact 20V brushless drill that punches above its class

I’ve spent the last few weeks using Skil’s 20V brushless drill/driver for a mix of home renovation and shop work: assembling cabinets, drilling pocket holes, driving structural screws, and boring holes in studs for low-voltage runs. It’s a compact, lightweight package with a surprising amount of muscle, and it’s paired with a smart battery-and-charger system that genuinely reduces downtime.

Performance and control

The two-speed gearbox (0–480 and 0–1800 rpm) and a wide range of 17+1 clutch settings give the drill the control I want across light-duty and medium-duty tasks. In low gear, it handled 1-inch spade bits through pine and SPF studs with steady, predictable feed. In high gear, it flew through pilot holes and Forstner work in plywood without burning. The variable-speed trigger is nicely linear, making it easy to start a screw in fragile materials without cam-out, then ramp up as the fastener bites.

As a driver, it has enough torque in low to sink 3-inch decking screws into treated lumber without stalling, provided you let the tool work and keep the bit engaged. For heavier structural hardware, I still prefer an impact driver—less risk of stripping and less torque reaction in the wrist—but for general fastening, this drill holds its own.

Chuck and clutch behavior

The 1/2-inch single-sleeve metal chuck is a highlight. It’s easy to grip, it runs true enough for wood and general-purpose metal drilling, and it handles both round- and hex-shank bits securely. That said, I did notice a quirk: if the clutch is set light and the clutch kicks in abruptly, the chuck sleeve can occasionally back off a hair and loosen the bit. It’s not every time, and it never happened to me in drilling mode, but I saw it a few times while driving long screws at higher torque settings that still tripped the clutch. My workaround is simple—give the chuck a final firm hand snug after the ratchet clicks, and match the clutch to the task. If you’re regularly running long fasteners to depth, switching to drilling mode or using an impact driver is a better approach.

The clutch detents themselves are distinct, and the settings span a useful range. I could dial in for cabinet hinges without crushing fibers, then bump up a few clicks for pocket-hole screws. The mode selector ring is positive, and the gearbox selector stayed put during use.

Battery and charging: more useful than a spec sheet

Skil pairs this drill with a 2.0Ah 20V battery and its “PWR JUMP” charger. From empty, my pack reached full in just over half an hour; more notably, a quick five-minute top-up got me enough juice to finish a couple dozen hinge screws and a few small holes—exactly the sort of “I just need a little more” situation that stalls projects. Runtime is solid for a compact pack. On mixed drilling and driving, I could usually get through a small install without swapping batteries. If you’re tackling a full deck or a day of stud drilling, plan on either a second pack or parking the charger nearby—fast charging makes one-pack rotation viable.

The battery’s integrated USB port is not a gimmick. I used it to trickle charge my phone during an afternoon trim-out, and it saved a run to the truck. Skil also claims the cells have a cooling wrap to extend life and runtime. I can’t verify the chemistry, but the pack stayed cooler than I expected after repeated drilling in low gear, which is encouraging.

Ergonomics and lighting

Bare-tool weight is rated at 2.23 lbs; with the included 2.0Ah pack, it feels around the three-pound mark and well-balanced at the grip. The handle is moderately slim with a comfortable overmold. I didn’t get hotspots after extended overhead driving. The forward/reverse switch is firm, with a center lockout that prevents pocket-triggering when you clip it to a pocket or pouch.

Skil’s LED work light deserves mention. It has a pre-light and after-glow, meaning a gentle touch on the trigger turns it on before the chuck spins, and it stays on for a few beats after you release. That sounds minor, but in cabinets and under sinks, the light made alignment easier without juggling a headlamp. The beam is centered and wide enough to avoid harsh hotspots.

A belt clip is included and swaps sides. There’s no onboard bit storage, which I miss when moving between pilot and countersink bits. The kit includes a PH2 bit to get you started.

Build quality and feel

Overall fit and finish are better than I expect at this price tier. The chuck is metal, the gearbox selector and clutch ring have clean detents, and there’s no rattle in the housing. My sample had no trigger lag, and speed control at slow RPM was precise. Over two weeks of typical jobsite dust and a few drops onto plywood, it shrugged off abuse without new noises or play.

If I were nitpicking, the motor braking is on the assertive side in high gear, which occasionally nudged a countersink past flush if I wasn’t feathering the trigger. It’s easy to adapt, but worth noting if you’re particular about finish work.

What it isn’t

This isn’t a hammer drill, so if you plan to drill into masonry regularly, get a hammer-capable variant. It’s also not a replacement for an impact driver for lag bolts, ledger screws, or repetitive driving in dense materials. The included 2.0Ah battery keeps weight down, but if your day is all drilling in low gear or running hole saws, a larger-capacity pack would be a better partner.

There’s no hard case or bag in the kit. If you carry tools from site to site, budget for a small case or add this to a modular organizer.

Day-to-day usability

• Drilling: Clean, accurate holes in softwood and plywood. With sharp bits, it handled 3/8-inch holes in mild steel at low speed with cutting fluid without chatter.
• Driving: Confident with 1-5/8 to 3-inch screws. Clutch range covers cabinet hardware to light framing tasks.
• Bit changes: Fast and secure with the single-sleeve chuck. Keyless operation worked as expected; knurling provides good grip even with dusty gloves.
• Runtime: Good for a compact pack; excellent recovery with fast charging.
• Lighting: Genuinely useful pre-light and after-glow for tight spaces.

Wish list

• A molded case or small soft bag would make transport and storage easier.
• Optional kit with a second battery would better match the fast-charging advantage.
• A slight tweak to the chuck’s sleeve detent could help prevent loosening when the clutch engages abruptly.
• Onboard bit storage would reduce pocket shuffling.

The bottom line

The Skil 20V brushless drill hits a sweet spot for homeowners and serious DIYers, and it has enough performance to serve as a reliable backup or light-duty daily driver for pros. It’s compact, controllable, and stronger than its size suggests. The charging ecosystem is thoughtfully executed—fast, practical, and the USB “power bank” feature is legitimately useful on site. While I’d like a case in the box and I’d keep an eye on chuck tightness during clutch-limited driving, those are manageable trade-offs.

Recommendation: I recommend this drill for anyone who wants a capable, lightweight drill/driver with fast turnaround between charges and a metal 1/2-inch chuck, without paying a premium. It’s not a masonry specialist and it won’t replace an impact driver for heavy fastening, but as an everyday drill that drills cleanly, drives confidently, and gets back to work quickly when the battery is low, it’s an easy pick.