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

Why I reached for the Skil 20V brushless drill

I spent a few weekends with Skil’s 20V brushless drill on a mix of jobs—hanging cabinets, drilling pilot holes for deck repairs, and assembling a workbench. It’s a compact, straightforward drill that does the day-to-day work without fuss. The kit arrives ready to go with a 2.0Ah PWRCORE 20 battery, charger, and a double-ended PH2 bit. No shopping for extras on day one, which I appreciate.

This model sits in the “everyday driver” slot of a cordless lineup: a brushless motor for efficiency and longevity, up to 400 in-lbs of torque, a 1/2-inch chuck, and two mechanical speeds. It’s not trying to be a heavy-duty hogger; it’s built for clean drilling and controlled fastening, and it largely succeeds.

Size, balance, and controls

Ergonomics are a strong suit. Bare tool weight is about 1.8 pounds and still feels light with the included 2.0Ah battery attached. The soft-grip handle is contoured without being squishy, and the balance point sits comfortably over your index finger. Working overhead or inside cabinets, I didn’t notice the hand fatigue that can show up with chunkier drills.

The control layout is familiar and well executed:
- One-finger variable-speed trigger with a responsive curve
- Forward/reverse selector that’s easy to toggle one-handed
- A lock-off you can set for transport or when you don’t want an accidental trigger pull
- 17 clutch positions plus a dedicated drill mode
- Two gear ranges: 0–450 RPM (low) and 0–1,700 RPM (high)

The electric brake is crisp. As soon as I released the trigger, the chuck stopped—handy when you’re easing a screw down flush or moving quickly between holes without the bit freewheeling.

Power and gearing for real-world tasks

Skil rates this drill at up to 400 in-lbs of torque. In practical terms, it drove #8 and #10 screws cleanly in low gear without drama. I was able to sink 3-inch construction screws into pine studs with the clutch set appropriately; when I switched to high gear for speed, the drill still kept up as long as I let the clutch and trigger do their job.

Drilling performance lines up with the numbers. Low gear is the right place for larger spade bits and hole saws; high gear handles twist bits through wood and thinner metals. I bored 7/8-inch holes in studs with a spade bit in low gear without stalling, and ran step bits through 18-gauge steel with a controlled trigger finger. If your work leans toward big auger bits, mixing mortar, or running long lags all day, you’ll want a higher-torque drill or an impact driver. For typical carpentry, repairs, and shop projects, this Skil is squarely in its comfort zone.

The brushless motor contributes to smooth, consistent power delivery. Under moderate load there’s less of the choppy surge you feel with some brushed designs, and it seems to stretch the runtime of the 2.0Ah pack respectably.

Chuck, clutch, and bit changes

The 1/2-inch single-sleeve keyless chuck is a welcome find at this price tier. It opens wide for larger shank bits, and I didn’t encounter slipping when tightening it properly. The spindle lock makes single-handed bit changes possible; I often held a handful of screws in one hand and swapped from a pilot bit to a PH2 driver with the other.

The clutch ring clicks through 17 settings with clear detents, and the spread is sensible. On cabinet hinges and pocket-hole screws, it was easy to dial out overdriving without constantly bumping into too weak/too strong. Drill mode bypasses the clutch completely when you need full power.

Runout at the bit was in the “nothing unusual” range for a compact homeowner/prosumer drill. For woodworking and general maintenance, it’s plenty precise.

Lighting and visibility

The LED worklight is better implemented than most. Pre-light comes on before the chuck spins, so you can aim and see your mark, and afterglow lingers for a moment when you release the trigger. That’s genuinely useful. Working inside a pantry cabinet, the light eliminated the need to hold a headlamp at awkward angles. It’s not a floodlight, but the coverage is even and avoids harsh shadows close to the chuck.

Battery, charger, and runtime

The included 2.0Ah PWRCORE 20 battery is a sensible match for the drill’s footprint. On a typical Saturday project—drill pilot holes, drive a few dozen screws, switch to drilling hardware holes—I made it through most of the afternoon before needing a charge. If you’re doing sustained fastening or a lot of large-diameter drilling, you’ll drain a 2.0Ah pack faster; a higher-capacity battery would extend runtime and improve balance for heavier tasks. The bundled charger topped the pack off in a reasonable break window, so the one-battery configuration didn’t slow me down on lighter work.

If you’re already in Skil’s PWRCORE 20 ecosystem, this drill drops right into your battery stable; if you’re starting fresh, consider adding a second pack if you anticipate back-to-back tasks.

Durability and day-to-day resilience

Fit and finish are tidy. The housing feels solid with no flex in the head, and the overmold is positioned where you actually grip and where the tool touches down on a benchtop. My drill survived a few toppled landings off a sawhorse onto plywood without complaint. Dust exposure from sanding and drilling didn’t interfere with the trigger or mode switches. I wouldn’t treat it like a jobsite hammer, and it’s not rated for wet conditions, but for shop and home use it held up well.

What could be better

• Torque headroom: At 400 in-lbs, this is a light-to-mid-duty drill. It does a lot, but it’s not a substitute for a higher-torque drill/driver or an impact when you’re driving structural screws or boring big holes in dense lumber.
• Battery capacity: The 2.0Ah pack keeps weight and cost down, but a second battery or a 4.0Ah option would make full-day projects more convenient.
• Onboard storage: There’s no built-in bit holder. I missed having a place to stash a driver bit when switching between drilling and driving.

None of these are dealbreakers given the drill’s target user, but they’re worth knowing before you buy.

Where it shines

• Cabinet installs, shelving, and hardware mounting where control and a reliable clutch matter
• Pilot holes and repetitive drilling in softwoods and construction lumber
• Electrical and plumbing rough-ins using step bits and smaller hole saws
• Furniture assembly and shop projects where a light, nimble drill is a plus

The trigger modulation is especially good for tasks where finesse counts. Between the smooth brushless motor, the quick-acting brake, and the broad clutch range, I had no problem running screws flush without chewing up heads or surfacing.

The bottom line

Skil’s 20V brushless drill is a compact, capable everyday driver that focuses on the fundamentals: a smooth brushless motor, sensible gearing, a 1/2-inch chuck, and a clutch that’s easy to trust. The LED with pre-light/afterglow and the crisp electric brake are small touches that improve daily use. It won’t replace a high-torque drill or impact driver for heavy structural work, and the single 2.0Ah battery in the kit means power users will want a second pack. But as a general-purpose drill for the shop and around the house, it’s comfortable, reliable, and easy to recommend.

Recommendation: I recommend this drill for homeowners, DIYers, and pros who need a light, reliable driver for finish work and general tasks. You get a brushless motor, a 1/2-inch chuck, solid control, and a complete starter kit. If your workload involves frequent heavy fastening or large-diameter drilling in dense materials, pair it with an impact driver or look for a higher-torque drill; otherwise, this Skil covers the bulk of everyday drilling and driving with confidence.