Skil 20V Brushless Drill Driver & Impact Driver Combo Kit

Two cordless essentials in one bag cover most of what I do in a week of household and shop work. After several projects with the Skil 20V combo, I came away impressed by how much capability Skil packs into an approachable, budget-friendly kit—and also clear on where its limits are.

What’s in the kit

You get a brushless 1/2-inch drill driver, a brushless 1/4-inch hex impact driver, one 20V 2.0Ah battery, a standard charger, and a couple of PH2 bits. Both tools have variable-speed triggers, integrated LED worklights that pre-light and linger after you release the trigger, and quick-change chucks/collets. It’s a straightforward, no-frills setup focused on the essentials.

Build, ergonomics, and controls

Both tools are compact and well-balanced with a comfortable over-mold grip. The drill’s 1/2-inch keyless chuck tightens positively and releases cleanly; I didn’t experience any bit slip with twist bits or small spade bits. The 17-position clutch has clearly defined stops and a separate drill mode, and the selector ring moves with a positive click rather than a mushy glide.

The impact driver uses a 1/4-inch hex collet for fast bit swaps. The two-speed selector is simple—no extra modes or electronic assists—and the trigger modulation is smooth enough to feather in small fasteners without instant over-torque. Both tools feel sturdy for their class, with no odd rattles or play in the housings.

The integrated LEDs are better than average. The pre-light lets you aim before contact, and the afterglow is genuinely useful when you need to check a hole or fastener without keeping the trigger depressed.

Drill driver performance

Skil rates the drill at up to 400 in-lbs of torque. In practice, that’s enough for most wood and light metal tasks a homeowner will encounter. I used it to:

• Bore 1/2-inch pilot holes through SPF studs and plywood with standard twist bits.
• Drive pocket-hole screws with the clutch set low to avoid overdriving.
• Spin a 3/4-inch spade bit through 2x stock at low speed.

It handled those without complaint. Step up to more demanding tasks—hole saws in plywood, larger spade bits, or repetitive drilling in hardwood—and you’ll find the limits. The motor will slow and you’ll need to back off to avoid stalling. The housing warmed up after a sustained run of hole-saw cuts, not alarming, but noticeable. The clutch is consistent and saves you from torn-out screws when working in softer materials.

There’s no hammer mode, so masonry drilling is off the table beyond the occasional plastic anchor in drywall or very light tap-drilling in brick with the correct bit (and lots of patience). That’s typical for a compact drill driver, but it’s worth calling out if you need to hang fixtures in masonry regularly.

Impact driver performance

The impact driver is the standout of the pair. With up to 1,700 in-lbs and 3,500 IPM, it confidently drove 3-inch construction screws into treated lumber without predrilling and set 2-1/2-inch deck screws flush without cam-out. When I switched to small cabinet screws, dropping to the lower speed gave me the control I needed to avoid snapping or stripping. It’s not the absolute brute that higher-end three-speed impact drivers can be, but it hits above its price class.

Bit changes are quick and positive, the collet holds hex shanks firmly, and the tool’s compact head gets into tight corners inside cabinets. As with any impact driver, it’s louder than a drill driver—ear protection is a good idea during longer runs.

Battery and runtime

The included 2.0Ah battery keeps the kit light and nimble, which I appreciated on overhead work. Runtime depends heavily on the task:

• Light-to-moderate screw driving and general assembly: plenty for typical household projects.
• Repetitive drilling with larger bits or hole saws: the pack drains faster, and the drill warms up.

For uninterrupted work, I’d pair the kit with a second pack or a higher-capacity battery from Skil’s 20V line. The standard charger gets the battery ready in a reasonable window for a 2.0Ah pack, but it’s not a rapid charger. If you’re cycling the battery hard, the single-pack setup will slow you down.

Accuracy and control

The drill’s variable-speed trigger is easy to meter, and the clutch’s 17 settings provide useful granularity when you’re dialing in for different materials. I liked the predictable handoff between the clutch and drill mode—no soft engagement or surprise slips. The drill’s runout was minor enough not to affect clean hole starts with smaller bits.

The impact driver’s two-speed setup is simple but effective. The lower speed helps avoid overdrives on delicate hardware; the higher speed hammers through structural screws efficiently. There are no specialty modes (like self-tapping or screw removal), yet I never missed them on typical tasks.

Durability and heat

Brushless motors are a real upgrade in this price bracket. They run cooler and deliver power more efficiently than brushed designs. Under sustained load, the drill did build heat in the gearbox area, which is expected for a compact 400 in-lb model. I let it rest between batches of hole saw cuts and had no thermal shutdowns. The impact driver stayed cooler during high-torque driving, likely thanks to the intermittent nature of impact action.

Externally, both tools shrugged off the usual workshop bumps and bench drops. The plastics and over-mold show minimal scuffing, and the chuck and collet still operate smoothly.

Small quality-of-life touches

• LED pre-light and afterglow: surprisingly useful in cabinets and closets.
• 1/2-inch chuck: accommodates a wider range of accessory shanks without adapters.
• Included PH2 bits: basic, but handy to get started.
• Five-year limited warranty: strong coverage for the class.

I would have liked a second battery in the box, especially since the kit includes two tools. If you plan to use both back-to-back, battery swapping quickly becomes the bottleneck.

Where this combo fits

This Skil 20V combo is well-suited to:

• Homeowners and renters assembling furniture, hanging shelves, mounting hardware, and tackling light carpentry.
• DIYers building small projects in softwood or plywood and doing occasional deck or fence work.
• Maintenance tasks where compact size, decent power, and good control matter more than all-day endurance.

It’s less ideal for:

• Repeated heavy drilling in hardwoods with large bits or hole saws.
• Masonry anchoring (no hammer mode).
• Professional trades relying on all-day, high-volume fastening where larger batteries and higher-torque tools pay off.

Pros and cons

Pros
- Brushless motors in both tools improve efficiency and longevity
- Compact, well-balanced, and comfortable to use
- Impact driver has strong real-world driving power with two useful speeds
- Drill offers a smooth clutch and a 1/2-inch chuck for flexibility
- LED pre-light and afterglow are genuinely helpful
- Solid five-year limited warranty

Cons
- Only one 2.0Ah battery limits continuous work
- Drill’s 400 in-lbs is modest; it heats up under sustained heavy drilling
- No hammer mode for masonry
- Standard (not rapid) charger

The bottom line

I like this Skil 20V combo a lot for what it is: a compact, brushless pair that covers the majority of home and DIY tasks with minimal fuss. The drill is honest about its capabilities, the impact driver punches above its weight, and the overall user experience—trigger control, clutch behavior, LED timing—feels thoughtfully sorted. The single 2.0Ah battery is the kit’s biggest constraint, and the drill isn’t a heavy-hitter, but neither of those is surprising at this price and size.

Recommendation: I recommend this kit for homeowners and DIYers who want a reliable, easy-to-use drill and impact driver for light-to-medium duty work. Add a second battery if you’re planning longer sessions or bouncing between both tools. If your workload leans toward heavy drilling, masonry, or professional all-day use, step up to a higher-torque drill (preferably with hammer mode) and larger battery packs. For everyone else, this combo is a smart, capable foundation for a 20V setup.