Makita Cordless Drill Prices & Buyer's Guide

Tool Talk: Which Makita cordless drill should you buy?

Deciding which cordless Makita drill to buy is a tough decision. With eleven 18V models to choose from, researching which Makita cordless drill best suits your application can be a long process.

On that note, the buyer's guide below matches several popular cordless Makita drills to four typical buyers: 

• General homeowners
• DIY enthusiasts
• Hobbyists
• Professional contractors  

Simply pick the user profile that best describes you, and follow the product links for specs and prices.

The Homeowner

Although you may not identify as a DIY enthusiast, you’ve sworn to NEVER call a professional contractor to mount things like picture frames or soap dishes! It's a matter of pride.

That said, although DIY weekend work doesn't appeal to you, you recognise that a reliable, capable cordless drill is the one power tool no homeowner can live without.

In all likelihood, battery efficiency isn't a big concern as most of your drilling tasks aren't demanding enough for that to matter. Likewise, class-leading power and torque are low on your list of priorities. 

Your drilling needs are limited to occasional masonry work and light / medium duty drilling and screwing into chipboard, cupboards, decks and window / door frames. 

Recommended Makita cordless drill:

DHP482

The DIYER

You're pretty handy with a power tool and have a reputation for being a capable DIYer. The “downside” is that you often get roped into fixing friends- and family's homes. Truth is… you kind of enjoy it. 

Although you're not easily swayed by marketing hype and the need to own the latest and greatest power tool, you've worked with your hands long enough to know that the right tool for the job makes every task easier.

With that in mind, you appreciate a good quality tool and can immediately feel the difference between a budget buy and a premium purchase.

For you, the sweet spot is a midrange tool from a high-quality manufacturer that will last a long time.

Recommended Makita cordless drills:

DHP482

DHP485

The Hobbyist

While some of your mates spend absurd amounts of money on mountain bikes and golf clubs, you don't pass judgement because, well… your immaculate garage with dust extractor and 50 000 lumens of overhead lighting is chock full of power tools.

Some may say it's excessive to own four cordless drills to save time swapping drill bits, but you don't need that negativity in your life. You often wonder if you should cut out the naysayers, but one of them is your spouse. 

You have a love affair with tools. Some folks may view them as nothing more than appliances that go "rizzz rizzz rizzz", but to you, they're more than that. They're solutions to a timeless problem. An evolutionary milestone along mankind's quest to do work better, faster, and cleaner.

You want the best for your projects, and every time a new model claims to break that boundary, you unashamedly wish to own a part of that.

Recommended Makita cordless drills:

DHP458

DHP486

The Contractor

Tools may be a means-to-an-end for some people, but to you, they're the 'bottom line', the difference between getting the job done quickly versus losing profit.

From a business perspective, it doesn't matter if you're renovating bathrooms, fitting kitchens, chasing electrical conduit, or installing pipework; time is money, and tools save time. 

That said, you have no problem owning several single-purpose power tools. Versatility is okay as a backup solution, but you know that specialist tools do specialist work fastest.

Portability, size, battery efficiency and durability aren't nice-to-haves, they're priorities, and you don't feel a need to justify that. You want the best there is, and it must be able to handle the worst working conditions expected of a power tool. Breakdowns are a deal breaker.

Recommended Makita cordless drills:

DHP458

DHP486

More Info on each Makita Cordless Drill

Makita DHP482 Cordless Drill

Typical Buyers: General homeowners / DIY enthusiasts

Maximum torque: 62Nm

Applications: Light- to medium-duty masonry work as well as drilling and driving into chipboard, cupboards, decks and window / door frames. 

Notes: The DHP482 features a brushed motor with 62 Nm of torque. Although it’s perfectly suited for residential use, many contractors own the DHP482 as an additional low-cost cordless drill for light and medium-duty tasks. 

Price: Click here for an up-to-date price

Makita DHP485 Cordless Drill

Typical Buyers: DIY enthusiasts / Contractors

Maximum torque: 50Nm

Applications: Light- to medium-duty masonry work as well as drilling and driving into chipboard, cupboards, decks and window / door frames. 

Notes: The DHP485 features a similar application to the DHP482; however, the 485 boasts a brushless motor and an excellent power-to-weight ratio for its compact size. For the above reasons, the DHP485 is also bought by contractors who wish to own an efficient, compact cordless drill for medium to light-duty tasks.

Price: Click here for an up-to-date price

Makita DHP458 Combination Cordless Drill

Typical Buyers: Hobbyists / Commercial contractors 

Maximum torque: 91Nm

Applications: Heavy-duty masonry work, commercial use, and continuous drilling and driving into all forms of soft, medium and hardwoods. 

Notes: The DHP458 is Makita's top-selling combination cordless drill and has been a firm favourite amongst commercial users and contractors for several years. It features a steel chuck, metal gear housing and brushed motor that delivers 91 Nm of torque.

Price: Click here for an up-to-date price

MAakita DHP486 Cordless Drill

Typical Buyers: Hobbyists / Commercial contractors 

Maximum torque: 125Nm

Applications: Heavy-duty masonry work and hard-use commercial sites. Ideally suited for continuous drilling and driving into most forms of wood, masonry and steel.

Notes: The DHP486 is Makita's latest flagship cordless combination drill. Officially launched in January 2022, the DHP486 features an incredible 125 Nm of torque delivered through a brushless motor, metal gear housing, steel chuck, and a highly compact construction. The unit includes an extra-long torque handle that gives some idea of how much power and torque this cordless drill delivers. 

Price: Click here for an up-to-date price