Skil Brushless 12V Drill Driver & Impact Driver Kit

A compact combo that punches above its voltage

I’ve spent the past few weeks using the Skil 12V kit—a brushless drill/driver paired with a brushless impact driver—and it has steadily become the set I grab first for everyday tasks. It’s compact, thoughtfully equipped, and surprisingly capable for its size. While it doesn’t replace a 20V/18V setup for the heaviest jobs, it handles a broad slice of drilling and fastening with a confidence that belies the 12V label.

What’s in the box

The kit includes:
- Brushless 12V drill/driver with a 1/2-inch keyless single-sleeve chuck
- Brushless 12V impact driver with a one-handed 1/4-inch collet and three speed settings
- One 12V 2.0Ah USB-C battery
- A 20W USB-C PD charger and a 3A USB-C to USB-C cable
- Two PH2 bits and a belt clip

A quick note: the kit ships with one battery and one belt clip for two tools. That’s workable for intermittent use, but it’s the first thing I’d upgrade if you plan to run both tools regularly.

Design and ergonomics

Both tools are compact and light (about 1.9–2.0 pounds bare), and the balance is excellent with the 2.0Ah pack. The grip profile is neutral and secure, the triggers offer good modulation, and the forward/reverse selectors are positive without being stiff.

Two lighting approaches stand out:
- The drill’s LED has a pre-light and after-glow, which is surprisingly useful when you’re lining up a pilot hole in a dim cabinet corner.
- The impact driver’s halo light is one of the better implementations I’ve used; it illuminates a wide area evenly without harsh hotspots.

The build feels tidy: minimal panel gaps, a sturdy chuck sleeve on the drill, and a collet on the impact that genuinely supports one-handed bit changes. Nothing creaked or rattled under load.

Drill/driver performance

The drill/driver runs two mechanical speeds (0–450 and 0–1,700 RPM) with 17 clutch settings plus drill mode. Skil rates the torque at 350 in-lbs, which, in practice, is enough for most day-to-day carpentry and light mechanical tasks.

In use:
- Cabinet and hardware work: The clutch steps feel consistent and did a good job preventing overdriving #6 and #8 screws in melamine and hardwood face frames. The variable trigger makes it easy to “feather” starts to avoid chatter.
- Wood drilling: In SPF studs, 1-inch spade bits and 1-1/8-inch self-feed bits are doable in low gear with steady feed pressure. For Forstners, I stayed at 1 inch and under to keep RPM and chip evacuation in a happy place.
- Metal: With sharp bits, the drill handled 1/4-inch holes in 16-gauge steel plate in low gear without drama. The slower start, aided by the pre-light, helps with precise pilot holes.
- Runout and chuck: The single-sleeve chuck grips well and didn’t loosen under repeated forward/reverse cycles. I didn’t measure runout, but visually it was minimal and never impacted hole quality.

The 1/2-inch chuck is a meaningful perk in a 12V class tool. It opens the door to larger shank accessories you’d normally reserve for higher-voltage drills, and it reduces the times you have to reach for a bigger driver.

Impact driver performance

On paper, the impact driver offers up to 1,500 in-lbs of torque, three speed settings (1,450 / 2,100 / 2,900 RPM), and impact rates up to 3,600 IPM. In the hand, it feels lively and well-controlled.

Highlights from the field:
- Structural screws: Driving 3-1/8-inch construction screws into SPF and LVL headers was squarely in its wheelhouse. In speed 3, it brings them home quickly without wandering. For more delicate materials, speed 1 keeps things civilized.
- Small fasteners: The control mode helps reduce cam-out on drywall screws and sheet-metal screws. It won’t replace a dedicated drywall nosecone driver, but it saved me from burying heads in softer woods and kept thread starts cleaner in steel studs.
- Lag bolts: With a proper pilot, 1/4 x 3-inch lags went in cleanly. Anything beyond that is possible but begins to bump against the platform’s comfort zone; this is where a 20V tool makes more sense.
- Bit changes: The one-handed collet is genuinely one-handed; bits click in and release with a tug on the sleeve, and retention felt secure even on shorter impact-rated bits.

Noise is typical for a compact impact—sharp under load, but vibration is well-controlled. The halo light, again, is excellent in dark corners and helps with alignment on hidden clip systems and cabinet hardware.

Battery and charging: USB-C done right

This kit’s battery system is unusually thoughtful. The 12V 2.0Ah pack charges over USB-C and can also power external devices through its USB-C port. Key points:
- The battery can output up to 60W over USB-C to charge devices like phones, tablets, and many laptops.
- The included 20W USB-C PD charger recharges the battery and doubles as a general USB-C charger for your gear.
- Two-way USB-C means you can top the battery off from a wall wart, a vehicle outlet, or a power bank—no cradle required.

On a workday, I used the pack to top off a phone and Bluetooth ear protection between tasks, then recharged the pack over lunch. For light-to-medium cycles, one 2.0Ah battery can make it through, but for consistent impact driving or hole drilling, a second battery is a must. I’d also add a higher-capacity pack if you plan to lean on the impact driver regularly.

Build quality and durability

After drilling metal, decking, and cabinet installs, the tools still feel tight. The housings handle occasional bumps, and the rubber overmold offers grip without becoming a dust magnet. The triggers haven’t developed any play, and both lights still behave as expected. The overall impression is of a well-executed compact platform designed for daily use—not a “budget-only” feel.

Usability details that matter

A few smaller touches add up:
- Trigger response is smooth at low RPM, helping with delicate starts in tile backer and thin metals.
- The clutch ring and gear selector have clear detents and haven’t slipped under torque.
- The drill’s after-glow gives you a few beats to inspect a hole or fastener without re-tapping the trigger.
- The impact’s speed 1 is gentle enough for cabinet hardware and pocket-hole screws, with speed 3 available for framing connectors and structural screws.

Trade-offs and limitations

No tool is perfect, and a couple of choices here impact day-to-day convenience:
- Only one battery in the kit. For a two-tool combo, a second pack would make the kit feel complete.
- One belt clip. If you use both tools interchangeably, you’ll either swap the clip or do without on one tool.
- No case or bag included. Plan on supplying your own storage.
- It’s still a 12V system. For large-diameter hole boring in dense lumber or repeated long structural fasteners, you’ll reach for a higher-voltage setup.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re worth budgeting for if you intend to make this a primary kit.

Who it’s for

• Pros who value a compact setup for finish work, service calls, cabinet installs, electricians’ punch-list work, HVAC panels, and light carpentry.
• Serious DIYers who want one small kit that covers the bulk of home projects without the bulk and weight of 20V tools.
• Anyone who appreciates the flexibility of USB-C charging in the field—charging the battery from common PD chargers and using the battery to power devices.

The bottom line

The Skil 12V kit does the fundamentals extremely well: strong performance for its class, excellent ergonomics, smart lighting, and a forward-thinking battery/charging setup. The 1/2-inch chuck on a 12V drill is a standout feature, and the impact driver’s control options make it versatile from delicate tasks to structural screws. The main compromises are kit completeness (one battery, one belt clip, no case) rather than the tools themselves.

Recommendation: I recommend this kit to pros and DIYers who want a compact, capable combo that’s easy to keep charged and ready, especially if you value USB-C flexibility. Add a second battery, and you’ll have a small-footprint setup that covers a surprising range of work without weighing you down.