DeWalt 20V MAX XR Cordless Compact 1/2 in. Brushless Drill/Driver (Tool Only)

A compact body with full-size confidence

Compact drills have a habit of asking for forgiveness when the work gets heavy. The DCD800 doesn’t. After several weeks of framing punch-list tasks, kitchen cabinet installs, and a handful of metal jobs in my shop, this compact DeWALT drill proved it can live in the “everyday driver” slot without feeling like a compromise. It’s shorter, lighter, and easier to place than many 1/2-inch units I’ve used, yet it still pushes serious speed and torque when you lean on it.

Build and ergonomics

At 6.37 inches long and about 2.8 pounds bare, the DCD800 is noticeably trim. The shortened head helps in real-world ways: angling between studs, clearing a cabinet back to catch a face frame screw, or working around plumbing in a vanity. The grip is classic DeWALT—neutral wrist angle, grippy overmold, and a throat that doesn’t feel blocky, even if your hands skew smaller. Balance shifts depending on the battery you pick; a 2.0Ah pack makes it feel nimble, a 5.0Ah or FlexVolt pack gives it a more planted, pro-grade stance while adding fatigue over longer sessions.

Cooling is better thought out than older models I own. The vent placement doesn’t choke when you choke up on the tool. The included belt hook is stout and reversible. I do wish a bit holder came in the box; you’ll need to add one if you rely on onboard storage.

The chuck is the right kind for a drill that expects to work: 1/2-inch, metal ratcheting, keyless. The outer sleeve has a composite feel, but the mechanism underneath is metal. Bit retention is excellent. I didn’t have to re-snug on larger spade bits or when repeatedly setting 3-inch deck screws in PT lumber. Runout on my sample was minimal—fine for woodworking accuracy and typical construction tolerances.

Power, speed, and control

On paper, you get two mechanical speeds (0–650 and 0–2,000 RPM), a brushless motor, and 900 UWO. In the hand, that translates to a broad, controllable power band with enough headroom to keep from bogging under load.

• In low gear, I drove 3-1/8-inch structural screws into SPF without a pilot. The drill held pace and didn’t thermal out. Trigger modulation is smooth enough to ease the screw home without snapping heads or marring hardware.
• In high gear, 1-inch and 1-1/4-inch spade bits through studs were uneventful. For larger holes (1-1/2-inch and up), I flipped to low and let torque win over speed. Hole saws up to 2-1/8 inches in plywood were also fine; in dense hardwood, expect to step down a size or slow your feed.
• In metal, a set of step bits through 16-gauge steel electrical boxes was clean. The clutch and trigger give you the finesse to avoid skating, especially paired with the light.

There’s no electronic kickback control on this model, and there’s no side handle included. Respect it like any powerful compact drill—brace your wrist and pick the right gear. The adjustable clutch (15 positions plus drill mode) is consistent, which matters when you’re installing hardware or repetitive fasteners where you want uniform finish.

Battery choices and runtime

The drill is sold bare, so your experience will depend on the pack you clip in:

• 2.0Ah XR: Best for overhead work, cabinets, and any place fatigue matters. You’ll trade runtime, but the tool feels almost dainty and is easy to place accurately.
• 5.0Ah XR: The sweet spot for general carpentry and shop work. Runtime stretches noticeably, and the drill feels more anchored under heavy loads. Weight goes up, so plan breaks on long screw-driving sessions.
• POWERSTACK 1.7Ah/5.0Ah: DeWALT claims improved output with these. In use, I noticed snappier startup and a touch more sustain at the top of the trigger in high gear, particularly with the 5.0Ah POWERSTACK. It’s not night-and-day, but responsiveness is a tick better. The compact POWERSTACK keeps the package slim without the nose-heavy feel of a traditional 5.0Ah brick.

Thermals were a non-issue in normal ambient conditions. With aggressive hole-saw work, the housing warmed predictably but recovered quickly when I swapped batteries.

Lighting and visibility

DeWALT’s foot-mounted light is still one of the best implementations. Here you get three brightness levels up to a claimed 70 lumens, plus a 20-minute spotlight mode. The light is high and forward enough to avoid casting a long bit shadow, and the brighter setting truly helps when you’re measuring an interior hinge placement or reading a pilot mark in a dark cabinet. The mode selector is intuitive, though it’s easy to forget you left it on spotlight—useful, but mind your battery if you’re setting the tool down mid-task.

Working in tight spaces

The compact head length is the DCD800’s party trick. I could set drawer slides inside a narrow bank without swapping to a right-angle adapter. Between joists, I had the nose room to drive pocket screws squarely. The shorter body also makes the drill easier to cradle when you’re index-finger-drilling or feathering the trigger for delicate operations.

Durability and service

After drops onto subfloor and a couple of garage-concrete kisses, the housing shows scuffs but no play developed in the gearbox or chuck. The brushless motor stays cleaner and cooler than older brushed units, and the overall sealing feels adequate for typical jobsite dust. There’s a pocket for DeWALT’s Tool Connect chip if you’re tracking assets across a crew—nice to have in a compact drill geared toward daily carry.

Warranty coverage is in line with the category: 3-year limited, 1-year free service, and 90-day satisfaction period. That matters for a compact drill you might use as your primary driver.

Noise, vibration, and feel

Brushless whine aside, the DCD800 runs smooth. Gear changes are positive, the clutch ring turns with clear detents, and vibration is well controlled for its size. Under abrupt stalls, the lack of an electronic safety clutch means you’ll feel a jolt—another reason to stay in low gear for large holes or grab an impact driver when appropriate.

What I’d change

• Include a bit holder. The belt hook is great, but I miss a factory bit clip on a primary driver.
• Offer a kit option with a compact battery. Tool-only is fine for those already on 20V MAX, but a lightweight kit would make sense for cabinet and finish work.
• Consider an optional side handle or an accessory-ready collar. The drill has enough grunt to warrant one for larger hole saws.

None of these are dealbreakers; they’re quality-of-life tweaks that would round out a strong base tool.

Who it’s for

• Remodelers and carpenters who value compact size without giving up 1/2-inch capability.
• Cabinet installers and finish carpenters who run a lot of hardware and appreciate fine trigger control, a dependable clutch, and excellent lighting.
• Serious DIYers who want one drill that can comfortably handle wood and mild metal without getting in the way.

If you need to drill masonry regularly, look at the hammer version. If your work is almost exclusively lag screws and big hole saws, you might prefer a drill that ships with a side handle and adds kickback control. For everything else, this compact unit covers a lot of ground.

Recommendation

I recommend the DCD800 as a primary drill/driver for anyone already on—or considering—the 20V MAX platform who wants maximum capability in a compact footprint. It’s powerful for its size, genuinely compact where it counts, and easy to control. The metal ratcheting chuck holds fast, the 15-position clutch is consistent, and the three-mode light is more than a gimmick—it solves visibility in the places this drill is designed to fit. Pair it with the right battery for your work, and you get a comfortable, reliable driver that can shoulder daily tasks without feeling like a backup. The omissions (bit holder, side handle) are minor given the size and performance you’re getting, and the warranty coverage adds peace of mind.