Hitachi Battery Powered Belt-Hook Cordless Drill

Last updated: October 18, 2022


The Hitachi Cordless Drill is a solid all-around model for home use. Built for longevity, it features a long-lasting battery and a durable brushless motor. We found it helpful that it came with additional features like an onboard battery life indicator and LED work lights.

We looked at the top Cordless Drills and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Cordless Drill you should buy.

Product Details

Key Takeaway: Long-lasting battery and durable brushless motor. Has a helpful onboard battery life indicator and LED work lights.

In our analysis of 62 expert reviews, the Hitachi Battery Powered Belt-Hook Cordless Drill placed 7th when we looked at the top 13 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

Covered by Hitachi’s Lifetime Lithium Ion tool warranty, the DS18DBFL2 Driver Drill features Hitachi’s Brushless motor technology that delivers more power to the motor by minimizing unnecessary energy loss through friction and heat. Managed by a micro-processor chip that efficiently delivers current flow to the motor, Brushless tools experience longer run time between charges, increased power, and extended durability with essentially no maintenance. Hitachi’s signature ergonomic design for the tool body makes it extremely well-balanced and comfortable for extended use. It is an ideal driver drill for drilling into wood, plastic, mild steel and aluminum, plus its 22+1 stage clutch with 22 torque settings and a drill mode allow for precision and control based on the application.

Expert Reviews


What reviewers liked

Best blend of all-around performance. Scores well in every category. Very well-liked by buyers. Option of drill bit kit add-on
Compact cordless drill and driver set up. LED lighting system is fantastic. 22 Different driver settings available. 24 month lithium-ion battery warranty is second to none.
The DS18DBFL2 is a cordless brushless drill. It has a longer runtime than brushed tools. It has longer battery life and performs more efficiently.
Powerful. Quieter than most. Short recharge time. Fast at drilling holes and driving screws. Has a 1/2-inch chuck. Has an LED work light. Has a battery charge indicator. Has a case or bag for storage. Has a belt hook. Ratcheting chuck. Has a battery charge indicator
Managed by a micro-processor chip that efficiently delivers current flow to the motor, Brushless tools experience longer run time between charges, increased power, and extended durability with essentially no maintenance. Hitachi's signature ergonomic design for the tool body makes it extremely well-balanced and comfortable for extended use. It is an ideal driver drill for drilling into wood, plastic, mild steel and aluminum, plus its 22+1 stage clutch with 22 torque settings and a drill mode allow for precision and control based on the application.
The Hitachi DS18DBFL2 takes advantage of a brushless motor’s more efficient, cooler running benefits.
The most famous feature of this Hitachi cordless power tool is the impressive lifetime warranty. This power tool is equipped with a brushless motor. Brushless motors have more power since there are no brushes to create friction and heat that result in a loss of power. A brushless motor also means that the tool will run longer between charges. This Hitachi drill features an ergonomic tool body and grip design, making a better balanced power tool.
It has an optical trigger switch that allows variable speed operation. It also comes with a built-in LED light, an on-tool battery indicator, and a metal belt hook to keep the drill close by.
Another neat factor is that it has an onboard battery indicator so you can plan your jobs accordingly. It wouldn’t do much good if you ignored the low battery symbol in the middle of a job. Altogether the drill has a very popular fanbase for its power and reliability.
The impressive and best feature of this cordless drill machine is On-tool battery indicator which displays the amount of power remaining in the battery pack to avoid downtime.

What reviewers didn't like

Slightly slower top speed when drilling.
Two speed gearbox is a little bit underwhelming. Not the best looking drill on the market today.
Bits may wobble so ensure that it is tightened. Clips on the battery break easily when it falls. Replacing the batteries can be very expensive
Limited run time per battery charge. Cannot store a bit on drill
One of the areas that Hitachi is still behind on is with their battery indicators. They aren’t showing up on the battery pack itself (not yet, anyway) and the 2-LED on-tool indicator isn’t terribly helpful.
The batteries are expensive to replace. The on board fuel gauge is difficult to read to let you know when the battery is getting low.
Its slide-type batteries are not compatible with other Hitachi products.. It’s double the price of other brushless drills. A bit storage would have been greatly appreciated.
View our Cordless Drill buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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