Complete Guide to Drills | Different Types of Drills

Are you looking to grow your drill collection or find out more about the best drill for the job?

Our guide to the five types of drill will help you to understand which drill is best for you.

A Guide to The 5 Drill Types

Drills are a useful power tool specifically designed and used for making holes in various materials such as wood, metal and masonry.

Some models of drills have extra features such as the ability to fasten and loosen screws, or have a hammer and percussion mode which allows you to drill holes into harder masonry materials with the appropriate drill bit attached.Here our experts answer your common drill Q&As, and explore what types of drills and screwdrivers are best to buy for the job at hand.

These five types of drills cover a wide range of applications, from light-duty home use to professional, heavy-duty construction work. While there are various drills available on the market for a selection of jobs, the most common types of drills can be simplified into these five areas:

Drill Drivers
Combi Drills
Rotary Hammer Drills
Impact Drivers
Screwdrivers

Drill Driver

When it comes to handling small tasks around the house, a drill driver is a versatile choice. It's not just for drilling holes in wood and metal; it also functions as a screwdriver, allowing you to both tighten and loosen screws using various drill and screwdriver bits. This makes it perfect for tasks like putting up shelves, hanging pictures, and assembling flat pack furniture.

A cordless drill, such as the Ryobi ONE+ 18V One+ Cordless Drill Driver is powered by a rechargeable battery and is one of the most versatile tools for general drilling tasks. It’s lightweight, portable, and easy to use.

Best For: General-purpose drilling into wood, metal, plastic, and screw-driving.

Key Features:

13mm ratcheting chuck for improved bit gripping strength and durability
2 gears to control the max speed to match different materials and applications
24 torque settings help to drive screws flush every time
LED working light for improved visibility
Compact and easy to carry

Combi Drill

Combi drills, also known as combi or hammer drills, combine the functionalities of a drill driver with the added ability to deliver a hammering action. This special feature enables the drill to efficiently bore holes into tough materials like masonry and brick. The versatility of these 3-in-1 drills makes them an excellent choice for various tasks, as they can handle everyday drilling and tackle more demanding projects with ease. Whether you're working on wood, metal, or concrete, a combi drill is a valuable all-rounder to have in your toolkit.

A Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Combi drill is perfect combi drill for wood, steel and masonry drilling as well as screwdriving.

Best For: Use the hammer drill function for masonry, or switch to regular drilling for wood, metal, or plastic. You can also utilise the clutch settings for precise screwdriving.

Key Features:

13mm Ratcheting chuck provides improved bit gripping strength and durability
2 gears control the max speed to match different materials and applications
24-clutch settings help to drive screws flush every time
LED work light illuminates up your work area for better visibility
Variable Speed Trigger
Forward and reverse control for easy use

Hammer Drill

A hammer drill is a versatile tool that combines rotary drilling with a forward hammering action. It is specially designed for drilling into tough materials such as concrete, brick, and masonry. Also referred to as impact drills or percussion drills, these powerful tools are ideal for heavy-duty tasks around the home, such as installing shelves or securing gutters.

The Ryobi 18V ONE+™ Cordless 4-mode SDS+ Drill is a pneumatic hammer drill ideal for drilling holes in stone and concrete. The special SDS drill bit prevents slipping and withstands powerful hammer action, making chiselling and chasing jobs easier.

Best For: Drilling into concrete, brick, stone, or masonry.

Key Features:

Pneumatic hammer mechanism delivers 1.3J of impact energy making it easy to drill in hard materials like concrete
SDS+ chuck for fast drilling and easy accessory bit changes
4 modes for extra versatility (hammer drill, rotary drill, chisel, chisel alignment)
Chisel function ideal for applications such as light tile removal
LED lights up your work area for better visibility

Impact Driver

An impact driver is perfect for driving screws and bolts with its powerful rotational force and bursts of concussive impact. It provides more torque than a standard drill, making it ideal for heavy-duty fastening tasks. They are effective for tightening bolt heads and nuts and drilling into metal due to their high torque capacity. Impact drivers are slightly more compact and lightweight compared to drill drivers.

The Ryobi 18V ONE+™ HP Cordless Brushless Performance Impact Driver has 4-power settings for wide range of applications, from fitting door hinges to driving decking screws and coach bolts. It also features Ryobi's most advanced brushless technology to provide maximum tool performance; reducing friction and heat build-up, resulting in better torque control and faster speeds, to increase the lifespan of the motor.

Best For: Driving long screws, lag bolts, and fasteners into tough materials (like wood and metal).

Key Features:

Ryobi’s patented electronics and intelligent ONE+™ battery technology provides the brushless motor for optimum performance
4x the power of a drill: powerful impact mechanism delivers fastening torque up to 300Nm
Assist Mode for controlled and easy screw removal
Quick Release
Variable Speed Trigger
Bright LED light

Screwdrivers

These cordless screwdrivers are perfect for household screwdriving tasks. They are lightweight, convenient, and ideal for assembling furniture. While they can't drill holes, their forward and reverse settings make them easy to use.

The 4V USB Lithium Pivoting Screwdriver even has a pivoting mechanism allows for quick changes between straight and right-angle orientations for easier reach in confined areas.

Best For: Completing household screwdriving tasks like putting together flat-pack furniture, assembling kids' toys, or handling simple repair jobs.

Key Features:

A pivoting mechanism allows for quick changes between straight and right-angle
The brushed motor delivers 200 RPM and 5 Nm allowing for easy screwdriving without the worry of damaging the material
A two finger trigger and ergonomic handle adds comfort and control

Which drill is best: Corded or cordless?

Cordless drills offer several advantages that make them a popular choice for both DIY enthusiasts and professionals. Here are 10 key advantages of cordless drills:

Portability: Cordless drills run on batteries, making them easy to move around and great for outdoor or hard-to-reach areas.
Versatility: They can handle drilling, driving screws, and even mixing, with adjustable speeds and torque, and are compatible with many attachments.
Safety: No cords mean less chance of tripping, and features like automatic braking add extra protection.
Mobility: Without a power cord, you can move freely from one place to another.
Ease of Use: Cordless drills are lighter and more compact, making them comfortable to use, even in tight spots.
No Power Issues: As long as the battery is charged, you don’t need to worry about power outages or cords.
Low Maintenance: They need less maintenance than corded drills, especially with brushless motors that last longer.
Quiet Operation: Cordless drills are quieter than gas or some corded tools, making them ideal for home use.
Interchangeable Batteries: Many cordless models use the same batteries across different tools, saving you money and space.
Improved Power: Modern lithium-ion batteries give cordless drills more power and longer runtime, allowing them to handle tough jobs.

These benefits make cordless drills highly versatile, convenient, and suitable for a wide range of tasks, whether you’re working on light-duty home projects or heavy-duty jobs.

Ryobi Cordless Drill Technology

Ryobi's One+ battery system is designed to power multiple tools within the same range, making it a convenient and cost-effective solution for DIY enthusiasts. Once you have invested in the battery and charger, you can easily expand your collection of power tools.

Use existing Ryobi ONE+™ battery packs across multiple devices.
Save money on additional batteries and chargers
Reduces clutter and the need for multiple power sources.

The practicality of Ryobi's ONE+™ battery system makes it an ideal option for individuals seeking to consolidate their tool collection and get the most out of their investment.

Types of Drill FAQs

Here our experts answer your common drill questions, and explore what types of drills and screwdrivers are best to buy for the job at hand.

What is the best drill to buy?

Deciding what is the best drill to buy, will depend entirely on what you need to drill (or screw-drive) and how often you will use it.

For example, the Ryobi cordless compact combi drill starter kit is ideal for beginners and experienced DIYers alike, who need to use a drill every few weeks or months. This features models to drill and turn screws into multiple materials such as wood, metal, plastic and masonry.

But for heavier DIY users, the Ryobi RPD18X-0 18V ONE+ HP cordless performance brushless combi drill is the best and most powerful drill Ryobi currently produces.

Can you use an impact driver as a regular drill?

While you can use an impact driver as a regular drill, for example by using an impact rated drill bit with 1/4" hex shank - an impact drivers won’t be as efficient at drilling holes as a regular drill and isn’t advised for this purpose.

Impact drivers can drill holes in wood and metal up to 10mm in diameter, but any larger and it will struggle to be accurate. Also, note that impact drivers also can't be used to drill masonry materials.

A drill vs impact driver

A drill can… be used to drill holes and fasten screws into several materials such as wood, plastic, metal and sometimes masonry. Drills typically feature an adjustable chuck that can be tightened around various types and sizes of the accessory such as drill bits and screwdriver bits.

Impact drivers… are very powerful screwdrivers with a fixed 1/4" chuck. Their mechanism can produce up to 4X the power of a conventional drill and therefore requires specially hardened accessories such as impact-rated screwdriver bits. Impact drivers are typically more compact than drills and are used for large and repetitive screw-driving tasks such as roofing, fencing and decking.

What is a Combi drill good for?

A combi drill is typically a compact handheld cordless drill that allows you to drill and drive screws into various materials such as wood, metal, plastic and masonry.

It is the best all-rounder type of drill for typical DIY tasks around the home and features an adjustable chuck to accommodate different sizes of drill bits as well as standard 1/4" hex screwdriver bits.

Can a hammer drill be used as a regular drill?

Hammer drills are typically used only for drilling holes into masonry. Some models feature a percussion action and adjustable chuck allowing for most masonry drill bits up to 13mm in diameter.

The vast majority of hammer drills feature an SDS+ or SDS Max chuck which uses specific masonry drill bits which lock into the chuck. Hammer drills are more commonly known as Rotary Hammer Drills or SDS Drills.

What is a hammer drill best used for?

A hammer drill is best used to drill holes in masonry materials such as brick, stone and concrete. A suitable masonry drill bit will need to be used but typical DIY tasks around the home will involve drilling 6, 8 or 10mm holes to accept Rawl Plugs before fastening an item to the wall with a screw such as a shelf bracket or TV bracket.

Some hammer drills also feature a rotation lock which allows the user to attach a chisel bit that can be used to remove the old floor and wall tiles from a kitchen or bathroom.

What is a hammer drill vs a regular drill?

A typical drill driver can drill and screw-drive into multiple materials such as wood, plastic, metal and plasterboard. A hammer drill (or rotary hammer) is used primarily to drill holes into masonry materials such as brick, concrete and stone. Both drill types use different accessories and hammer drills typically can't be used for screw-driving functions.

Browse Ryobi’s range of power tool drills and screwdrivers.