Toolbox Consensus

Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We don’t accept payment for rankings.

Shopping for the best drill and impact driver combo kit? A two-tool kit is the smartest way to start a cordless collection: you get a drill for making holes, an impact driver for sinking screws, and batteries that fit every other tool in the brand’s lineup, usually for less than buying the pieces separately. We read the hands-on reviews from Pro Tool Reviews, Men’s Journal, TechGearLab and Consumer Reports, checked what’s actually on the shelf at Home Depot, Lowe’s and Amazon, and sorted out which kit fits which kind of buyer.

Quick picks

Award	Combo kit	Where to buy
Best overall	Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2-Tool Kit 3697-22	Home Depot · Amazon
Best lightweight 20V kit	DeWalt Atomic 20V Max DCK254E2	Home Depot · Amazon
Best value at Lowe’s	Kobalt Next-Gen 24V KLC 2324A-03	Lowe’s
Best budget brushless kit	Ryobi ONE+ HP Compact PSBCK102K2	Home Depot
Best for tight spaces	Milwaukee M12 Subcompact 3494-22	Home Depot · Amazon

How we built this list

Combo kits are reviewed far less often than the tools inside them, so we looked at two layers. First, expert reviews of each kit by its kit number. Second, lab and hands-on results for the exact drill and impact driver that come in the box, many of which we covered in our cordless drill and impact driver guides. Every kit here is a current model we found on a store’s website this week; we skipped older kits that stores no longer stock. We don’t test tools ourselves, and we credit every result to the reviewer who measured it.

1. Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2-Tool Kit 3697-22 — Best combo kit overall

Why reviewers love it: This is the kit pros reach for when they want one purchase to handle everything from cabinet screws to lag bolts. Pro Tool Reviews named it the best drill and impact driver kit overall. Inside is the M18 Fuel 2904 hammer drill, one of Pro Tool Reviews’ top-rated drills, with 1,400 in-lb of torque and an Auto-Stop feature that cuts power if the bit binds so the drill doesn’t wrench your wrist. The M18 Fuel 2953 impact driver is the same one that scored 85/100 and an Editors’ Choice at TechGearLab, as we covered in our impact driver guide. You also get two 5.0Ah batteries, which is generous for a two-tool kit.

• Drill: M18 Fuel 2904 1/2 in. hammer drill, 1,400 in-lb, up to 2,100 RPM
• Impact driver: M18 Fuel 2953, 2,000 in-lb, up to 4,400 IPM
• In the box: two 5.0Ah batteries, M12/M18 charger, hard case
• Typical price: Home Depot listed it at $349 on October 1, 2026

What to watch for: It’s the most expensive kit here, and the 5.0Ah batteries make both tools heavier than compact kits. DIY Gear Reviews called the 2953’s battery runtime a letdown in its testing. If you only hang shelves and build flat-pack furniture, this is more power than you’ll use. Milwaukee isn’t sold at Lowe’s.

2. DeWalt Atomic 20V Max DCK254E2 — Best lightweight 20V kit

Why reviewers love it: Pro Tool Reviews picked this as the best lightweight drill and impact driver kit, mostly because of the impact driver inside. The DCF850 Atomic is under 4 inches long, small enough to slip between studs and inside cabinets, yet TechGearLab still scored it 83/100 and Pro Tool Reviews called it seriously compact with plenty of speed and muscle. The kit pairs it with the Atomic DCD709 hammer drill and two PowerStack batteries, DeWalt’s slim stacked-cell packs that keep both tools light. Everything works with the huge DeWalt 20V Max lineup.

• Drill: Atomic DCD709 1/2 in. hammer drill, up to 1,650 RPM, 340 unit watts out
• Impact driver: Atomic DCF850, 1,825 in-lb, up to 3,250 RPM
• In the box: two 1.7Ah PowerStack batteries, charger, bag
• Typical price: Home Depot listed it at $279 on October 1, 2026

What to watch for: Small batteries mean shorter runtime; DIY Gear Reviews found the DCF850’s runtime a letdown, and Pro Tool Reviews noted the bigger DeWalt DCF887 holds up better during long stretches of max-torque driving. The DCD709 is a compact drill, not a heavy-duty one, so big hole saws will be slow. Lowe’s sells a different DeWalt kit (DCK227D2) rather than this one.

3. Kobalt Next-Gen 24V KLC 2324A-03 — Best value at Lowe’s

Why reviewers love it: This kit bundles two tools that reviewers liked on their own. The drill is the Kobalt Next-Gen KDD 2024A-03, the value pick in our cordless drill guide, with a Jacobs metal ratcheting chuck and up to 850 in-lb of torque. The impact driver is the Next-Gen model Pro Tool Reviews tested as the bare tool KID 124B-03: it drove 8-inch structural screws in 8.8 seconds on average, within half a second of the DeWalt DCF887 and Makita XDT16, and its Finish and Self-Tap modes worked as promised. Pro Tool Reviews recommended it for serious DIYers and value-minded pros.

• Drill: KDD 2024A-03, up to 850 in-lb, up to 2,000 RPM
• Impact driver: Next-Gen 24V, up to 2,000 in-lb, 3,800 IPM, Finish and Self-Tap modes
• Warranty: 5 years on the tools, 3 years on the battery
• Typical price: Lowe’s listed it at $149 on sale (regularly $229) on October 1, 2026; the sale runs through October 21

What to watch for: It comes with just one battery, so you’ll swap packs between tools or buy a second. No expert has reviewed the kit as a whole yet. Kobalt is sold only at Lowe’s, and its 24V lineup is smaller than DeWalt’s, Milwaukee’s or Ryobi’s.

4. Ryobi ONE+ HP Compact PSBCK102K2 — Best budget brushless kit

Why reviewers love it: It’s the cheapest way into brushless tools at Home Depot, and it plugs you into Ryobi ONE+, the biggest budget platform around. The second-generation compact impact driver inside (PSBID02) impressed Pro Tool Reviews: 1,900 in-lb of torque, an average of 27 seconds to sink 8-inch structural screws, a light 2.8 lb with battery, and “excellent” value. Consumer Reports found the matching PSBDD02 drill fast at drilling and driving. Both tools are small enough to keep in a kitchen drawer.

• Drill: PSBDD02 compact 1/2 in. drill/driver
• Impact driver: PSBID02, 1,900 in-lb, 3,000 RPM, 3,900 IPM
• In the box: two compact batteries, charger, bag
• Typical price: Home Depot listed it at $154 on October 1, 2026

What to watch for: These are compact tools with compact batteries. Consumer Reports rated the drill less powerful than full-size drills (best for smaller screws) with moderate runtime, and the impact driver has only one speed, so you control it with the trigger. Pro Tool Reviews treats 8-inch screws as its upper limit. Want more muscle? Step up to Ryobi’s full-size HP brushless kits. Sold only at Home Depot.

5. Milwaukee M12 Subcompact 3494-22 — Best for tight spaces

Why reviewers love it: Men’s Journal named this little kit its best power tool of 2026, and Pro Tool Reviews listed “no significant drawbacks” in its hands-on review. The drill is about 2 lb with its battery and the impact driver 1.7 lb and 4.3 inches long, so overhead work like ceiling fans and light fixtures doesn’t wear out your arms. Pro Tool Reviews pushed a 2-inch hole saw through a pine 2×4 (slowly, in about a minute) and drove 3-inch deck screws with no trouble. It’s the kit we’d hand to a first-time homeowner or keep as a second set in the house.

• Drill: 3401 subcompact 3/8 in. drill/driver, 350 in-lb, 0–450 / 0–1,550 RPM
• Impact driver: 3450 subcompact, 1,100 in-lb, 3,000 RPM
• In the box: two M12 CP2.0 batteries, charger, bag
• Typical price: Home Depot listed it at $174 on October 1, 2026

What to watch for: It’s a 12V kit built for light-duty work. The drill has a 3/8-inch chuck, and Pro Tool Reviews suggests an M12 Fuel or M18 Fuel kit if your jobs lean toward bigger bits and fasteners. M12 batteries don’t fit Milwaukee’s M18 tools.

Combo kit buying guide

You’re really buying a battery platform

Your first kit decides which batteries you’ll own for years, and every future tool will need to match. Milwaukee M18 and DeWalt 20V Max have the deepest pro lineups and are sold widely. Ryobi ONE+ (Home Depot only) has the most budget-friendly tools, and Kobalt 24V (Lowe’s only) is the value pick if Lowe’s is your store. If you already own batteries from one brand, a kit from that brand gives you extra packs too.

Count the batteries and check their size

Two batteries let you charge one while you work; one battery means waiting. Battery size (Ah) matters too: big 5.0Ah packs run much longer but add weight, while compact 1.5–2.0Ah packs keep tools light but drain faster. A cheap kit with one small battery can cost more in the end once you buy a second pack.

Brushless, compact or full-size?

Every kit on this list is brushless, which runs cooler and gets more work from each charge. The bigger choice is size. Full-size kits (Milwaukee M18 Fuel, Kobalt) handle decks, lag screws and big hole saws. Compact and 12V kits (DeWalt Atomic, Ryobi Compact, Milwaukee M12) are lighter and easier in tight spots but slow down on heavy jobs.

Hammer drill or drill/driver?

A hammer drill adds a pounding mode for brick and concrete. If you’ll ever mount a TV bracket on a masonry wall or anchor a shelf in a basement, a kit with a hammer drill (Milwaukee 3697-22, DeWalt DCK254E2) saves you a separate tool. For wood and drywall only, a regular drill/driver is lighter.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need both a drill and an impact driver?

Not at first, but the pair saves a lot of time. Keep a drill bit in the drill and a driver bit in the impact driver, and you can drill pilot holes and drive screws without swapping bits. An impact driver also sinks long screws much more easily than a drill.

Is a combo kit cheaper than buying the tools separately?

Usually, yes. Batteries and chargers are the expensive part, and kits bundle them at a discount. Kits also go on sale often around holidays, so it’s worth watching prices.

Is 12V enough for a homeowner?

For furniture, shelves, light fixtures and most repairs, yes. Reviewers found the Milwaukee M12 Subcompact kit handled 3-inch deck screws easily. For decks, fences or lots of large holes, choose an 18V/20V kit.

Which is the best combo kit for a beginner?

The Ryobi ONE+ HP Compact kit (Home Depot) or the Kobalt Next-Gen kit (Lowe’s) give you brushless tools for a modest price. If light weight matters most, the Milwaukee M12 Subcompact kit is the easiest to handle.

The bottom line

Get the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 3697-22 if you want a kit that won’t run out of power on any job. Choose the DeWalt Atomic DCK254E2 for light, compact 20V tools, or save money with the Kobalt Next-Gen at Lowe’s or the Ryobi ONE+ HP Compact at Home Depot. For a light, easy kit around the house, the Milwaukee M12 Subcompact is the reviewers’ favorite. See which tools have the strongest expert agreement on our Top Rated Tools leaderboard.

Sources: Pro Tool Reviews (best drill and impact driver kit), Pro Tool Reviews (Milwaukee M12 Subcompact), Men’s Journal, Pro Tool Reviews (Kobalt Next-Gen impact driver), Pro Tool Reviews (Ryobi PSBID02), Consumer Reports (Ryobi PSBDD02), TechGearLab (impact drivers), Pro Tool Reviews (DeWalt DCF850), DIY Gear Reviews (DeWalt DCF850), DIY Gear Reviews (Milwaukee 2953), ToolGuyd (Kobalt Next-Gen kit contents), Outdoor Life, and product pages at Home Depot, Lowe’s and Amazon. Specs and prices were accurate as of October 1, 2026; check the retailer for current pricing.

Header photo: Annie Spratt on Unsplash.