DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Drill/Impact 2-Tool Combo Kit

Why I reached for this combo

I put the DeWalt 20V combo through a month of mixed projects—hanging cabinets, building a backyard planter bench, and a handful of light electrical and plumbing installs. It’s a simple two-tool kit—1/2 in. drill/driver, 1/4 in. impact driver—plus two slim 1.3Ah batteries, a charger, and a soft bag. What stood out early was the size and balance. Both tools are compact and genuinely easy to maneuver in tight stud bays and under sink cabinets, yet they never felt toy-like. If you’re moving from older, heavier 18V gear, the weight savings are noticeable.

Build and ergonomics

DeWalt’s handle geometry continues to fit my hand well, with a rubber overmold that grips without feeling spongy. The triggers offer a smooth ramp from a crawl to full speed, which matters when you’re trying to start screws without cam-out or walking a drill bit on slick metal. The drill’s single-sleeve ratcheting chuck bites down confidently on round and hex-shank bits; I didn’t have any mid-hole loosening, even when pulling a 7/8 in. spade through pine.

Lighting is well thought out. The drill’s foot-mounted LED reduces the big, hard shadow you get with nose-mounted lights, and the impact driver’s 3-LED ring is even better—bright, even coverage with a handy delayed shutoff that gives you a moment to inspect your work without feathering the trigger.

The kit uses DeWalt’s 20V MAX slide batteries and, in this bundle, they’re the slim 1.3Ah packs. They keep the tools light and compact, which makes a difference when you’re working overhead or ladder-side. The soft contractor bag is basic but durable enough to toss in the truck; it’s sized right to carry both tools, the charger, and a small pouch of bits.

The drill/driver: controlled and capable for everyday work

The drill offers two mechanical speeds—0–450 RPM for control and torque, and 0–1500 RPM for faster drilling. That spread covers 90% of what I ask from a general-purpose drill. In low gear it drives big fasteners with intent; in high gear it chews through wood and sheet goods efficiently. DeWalt rates the motor at 300 UWO (their output power metric). You can’t directly compare UWO to torque specs from other brands, but in practice this drill handled:

• Pilot holes in framing lumber up to 3/8 in. without stalling
• Spade bits up to 1 in. in SPF studs (moderate pressure, low gear)
• Step-bit work in HVAC duct and junction boxes in high gear
• Hole saws up to 2-1/8 in. in MDF for cabinet grommets (best in low gear with a steady feed)

The clutch settings are consistent. I used mid-range settings for cabinet hardware and switch plate screws, then bumped up for pocket-hole assembly without stripping. Bit retention from the ratcheting chuck was excellent—no walking and no surprise loosening midway through a cut.

Where this drill shows its limits is sustained heavy boring in dense hardwoods or large hole saws in stacked material. It’ll do it, but you’ll be happier taking your time in low gear or stepping up to a beefier brushless model if that’s daily work.

The impact driver: compact muscle for fasteners

The impact driver is the star of this combo for me. The 1/4 in. hex chuck accepts one-handed bit changes, and the compact head gets into tight corners where a drill’s chuck doesn’t fit. It’s smooth at low speed—easy to feather in a screw precisely—and hits hard enough to seat 3 in. construction screws into pressure-treated lumber without pre-drilling in most cases.

In my testing, a single 1.3Ah battery drove roughly a hundred 3 in. decking screws into SPF framing before tapping out. For longer runs (deck boards, fence pickets), swapping between the two included packs kept me moving without waiting on the charger. For 5/16 in. lag bolts, a quick pilot hole plus the impact driver made short work of structural connections on the planter bench.

As with any impact driver, noise is significant. If you’re running lots of fasteners, hearing protection is smart. The 3-LED ring is terrific in cabinets and crawl spaces—no harsh shadows, and the 20-second delay is surprisingly useful for lining up the next screw.

Battery life and charging

The included 1.3Ah batteries are the slim, lightweight packs. They keep the tools nimble, but runtime is modest. For home renovation tasks and furniture builds, two packs were enough to rotate without meaningful downtime; the charger had a depleted 1.3Ah pack ready again in under an hour in my shop. On production days—decking, fence building, or repetitive fastening—stepping up to a 2.0Ah or 5.0Ah pack is the right call. The tools accept any DeWalt 20V MAX battery, and the extra capacity stretches runtime noticeably and adds a bit of counterbalance to the drill for larger bits.

Brushed motors: trade-offs explained

Both tools use brushed motors. In use, that means:

• Slightly lower efficiency and shorter runtime versus brushless equivalents
• A bit more heat and a characteristic brushed “whine” under load
• Simpler electronics and, typically, lower upfront cost

In practice, I didn’t hit thermal cutouts or performance drop-offs during normal DIY and light pro tasks. For a pro who lives on a drill or impact eight hours a day, brushless is worth the jump for durability and runtime. For most homeowners and remodelers, the brushed setup here is a sensible balance of cost and capability.

Reliability and maintenance

Fit and finish are tight. After a few accidental drops from bench height, both tools shrugged off scuffs without affecting operation. The chuck on the drill still runs true, and the impact’s quick-change mechanism hasn’t loosened up. As with any brushed tool, keep the vents clear of dust and avoid binding bits; these two habits extend motor life. DeWalt backs the kit with a 3-year limited warranty, which aligns with my expectations at this price point.

Usability details that matter

• LED implementation: The foot light on the drill and ring light on the impact are genuinely useful, not gimmicks. The delayed shutoff is great for inspection.
• Trigger feel: Both tools have an excellent variable-speed response; starting screws precisely is easy.
• Balance: With the slim pack, the drill is slightly nose-heavy with larger hole saws. A 2.0Ah or 5.0Ah pack evens it out.
• Chuck and bit changes: The drill’s ratcheting chuck holds tight; the impact’s one-handed insertion saves time when alternating between driver bits and nut setters.

Limitations and where it fits

This combo is not a heavy-construction, all-day framing setup. The 1.3Ah packs limit runtime, and brushed motors won’t match brushless peers for sustained, high-load work. The bag is a soft tote—not a molded case—so small accessories can get lost unless you add a pouch. There are no mode presets or smart electronics; everything is up to your trigger control and the clutch.

But as a core kit for a homeowner, serious DIYer, or as a jobsite backup/trim set for a pro, it hits the mark. The tools are compact, predictable, and compatible with the broader 20V MAX ecosystem, which makes upgrading batteries or adding specialty tools straightforward.

Who should buy it

• Great for: Homeowners, apartment dwellers, and DIYers tackling furniture builds, cabinetry, light framing, fence repairs, and general maintenance. Pros who need a lightweight secondary set for service calls or punch lists will also appreciate the size and reliability.
• Consider upgrading if: You need maximum runtime and power for daily production work, or you frequently drill large holes in hardwoods and metal. In that case, a brushless kit with higher-capacity batteries makes more sense.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt 20V combo for anyone who wants a compact, reliable, and affordable two-tool setup that covers the vast majority of drilling and driving tasks around a home or light jobsite. The drill is controlled and capable, the impact driver is a workhorse, and the two-battery setup keeps you moving. Its main compromises—brushed motors and slim 1.3Ah packs—are reasonable at this price, and both can be mitigated over time by adding higher-capacity batteries from the 20V MAX family. If you’re building out your first cordless kit or need a trustworthy everyday pair, this combo is an easy yes.