A combi drill (short for combination drill) is a cordless power tool that combines three functions in one:

Drilling holes
Driving screws
Hammer drilling into masonry

This makes it one of the most versatile tools for home DIY and the reason it is often recommended as a first drill for beginners.

Most combi drills include adjustable speed settings, torque control, forward and reverse rotation, and a hammer mode for brick and concrete.

What Is a Combi Drill Used For?

A combi drill can be used for:

Drilling holes in wood, metal, plastic, brick, and block
Driving screws into timber and sheet materials
Light masonry drilling using hammer mode
General household DIY and maintenance

If you only want to own one drill, a cordless combi drill is usually the best all-round choice.

Combi Drill vs Impact Driver

Feature	Combi Drill	Impact Driver
Drills holes	Yes	No
Drives screws	Yes	Yes
Hammer action	Yes (most models)	Yes (impact mechanism)
Torque control	Yes	No
Best for	General DIY	Heavy screw driving
Chuck type	3-jaw chuck	Hex quick release

Simple rule:
If you want one drill, buy a combi drill.
If you do lots of screw driving, add an impact driver later.

Choosing your first power drill can be confusing, especially when you’re faced with terms like combi drill, drill driver, and impact driver. If you’re wondering what is a combi drill, what a combi drill is used for, or whether you should choose a cordless combi drill vs impact driver, this guide will walk you through everything in plain English.

This beginner-friendly guide explains exactly what a combi drill is, how to use a cordless combi drill safely, what the different settings and numbers mean, and when an impact driver is the better tool. Whether you have just bought your first home, want to start doing your own DIY, or simply want to understand your tools better, this article will help you choose the right drill and use it with confidence.

It’s good to understand the different types of drills out there, so before I go any further, here’s a list of possible drills to choose from and a little info about the best use for each:

Cordless screwdriver – This little drill is designed with one task in mind. Tightening and loosening screws. It’s only going to be suitable for this task and cannot be used as a drill. Best use: assembling flatpack furniture.
Cordless drill driver – A little more versatile than the screwdriver in that it has an adjustable chuck head that will allow both drill and screwdriver bits. This allows you to drill into wood, plasterboard and other softer materials. It will likely have two speed settings, one for driving screws and the other for drilling holes. Best use: drilling pilot holes and driving screws into wood.
Cordless combi drill – This drill is very much like the drill driver, but comes with the addition of a hammer action. This hammer action allows the drill to penetrate tougher materials such as concrete and brick (masonry). It’s a versatile tool, and a must-have for any home DIYer. Best use: drilling into multiple different materials and driving screws. A cordless combi drill is one of the main tools I relied on when completing my DIY kitchen renovation, from fitting cabinets to installing shelving.
Cordless impact drivers – These are heavy-duty cordless screwdrivers ideal for jobs that require repetitive driving of screws, such as laying decking or building a shed. They are available with different speeds and torques, which will allow for a higher pressure hit on each revolution. Lower torque drivers are fine for most DIY projects. Best use: larger jobs with repetitive screw driving.
Hammer drills and SDS hammer drills – A heavy-duty drill, most commonly corded, with a strong hammer action for drilling into solid, hard materials such as brick and concrete. These drills make tougher jobs much easier and quicker, but tend to be aimed at the professional market rather than the average DIYer. Best use: drilling accurate depths into brick and concrete.

The picture shows both a combo drill and an impact driver. The combi drill (on the left) has a much longer body than the impact driver and will have many more options and settings. The impact driver is designed with a shorter/smaller body so that it can reach into tighter spaces and is generally much lighter in weight.

How to Use a Combination (combi) Drill

Lots of different buttons and settings! So what do they all do? Combi drills all differ slightly between makes and models, but most will be very similar to this example.

The handle and trigger

The handle is designed for comfortable use in either your left or right hand. Your index finger should be used to pull and release the trigger. There are normally different speeds depending on how far you pull the trigger. Gently pull the trigger for a slow speed and pull all the way back for full speed. When tackling most jobs, it’s always best to start off slow and build up to full speed once you’ve found your centre point.

Selector switch

The selector switch will allow you to switch the rotation of the drill. This will allow you to insert and remove screws depending on which direction is selected. Just remember that the direction must always move clockwise when drilling holes in materials. (Clockwise when looking at the back of the drill as it touches the material)

LED light

As you can see in the above picture, this drill has a small LED light above the trigger and just below the chuck head. This helps illuminate the area in which you are working and helps you guide the head to its location more accurately.

Speed setting / Gear selector

You’ll need this to adjust the speed at which the drill spins. Use number 1 (slow) for inserting/removing screws and drilling large holes in metal. You’ll get more control over the screw and will avoid stripping the screw head. Whilst it is possible to control the speed with the trigger, this option adds extra protection should you get a little trigger happy! Number 2 is for drilling. It’s the fastest setting when the trigger is fully squeezed.

Torque numbers, drill and hammer setting

When drilling wood or metal, you’ll need to select the drill setting on the collar. Should you be drilling masonry such as brick or concrete, you’ll need hammer selected. This will be very noisy so be prepared.

What Do the Numbers 1–15 Mean on a Dewalt Combi Drill?

On Dewalt combi drills, the numbers (usually 1 to 15) are torque settings.

Low numbers (1–5)
Light screw driving, small screws, soft materials
Medium numbers (6–10)
General screw driving
High numbers (11–15)
Larger screws, harder wood

When the clutch reaches the selected torque, the drill stops turning to prevent over-tightening.

For drilling holes, switch to the drill icon.
For brick or concrete, switch to the hammer icon.

This setting system is similar across most brands, not only Dewalt.

The final selections are numbered from 1 to 15 (normally) and will stop the drill when inserting screws into a material when there is enough resistance. The lower the number, the sooner the drill will stop. This setting is normally useful when fitting plasterboard. It takes a little trial and error to find the correct setting, but when you find it, you’ll see the repetitiveness of inserting hundreds of screws becomes a much easier task. I sometimes use these settings when working on electrical goods, which can prevent you from over-tightening or stripping screws.

The chuck

This part is going to hold your drill and screwdriver bits tight into the drill. It can be tightened and loosened by twisting the plastic section whilst holding the drill still. You will see three small clamps inside that open and close slowly as you turn them. When you’ve inserted a bit, ensure the chuck is nice and tight before using the drill. Some drills will have a clicking sound as they are tightened. This is completely normal and is known as a ratcheting chuck.

Carry hook

An easy-to-use hook that helps you easily hang the drill on your clothing or an object to free up that all-important extra hand. Here are some hidden features of common combi drills that most people don’t know about.

A cordless combi drill is one of the first tools every homeowner should own, and it features in my full list of must-have tools for homeowners.

What Is an Impact Driver Used For?

An impact driver is designed specifically for driving screws and bolts with high torque. It uses a hammering rotational action that delivers powerful bursts of force, making it ideal for long screws, structural fixings, and repetitive fastening jobs.

It is not designed for drilling holes.

The impact driver is much lighter in weight than the combi drill, is much easier to handle, but has far fewer settings. It’s simply a super-powerful screwdriver, not designed to drill at all. Whilst my Dewalt combi drill has 1500 rpm (revolutions per minute), the impact driver turns nearly double this speed at 2800 rpm. The impacting action takes away a lot of the work from you, relieves stress on your wrist and makes inserting/removing screws a much quicker task. When the drill reaches a certain level of resistance, the hammer action kicks in and adds extra force to push screws into position. It’s ideal for jobs that involve a high volume of screwing. You can view more about impact drivers in this YouTube video:

Dewalt Impact Driver

The impact driver has a trigger and a rotation switch button, but does not have any other switches or settings like the combi drill.

You’ll also notice that the chuck or head is very different. It is only designed to take screwdriver bits and has a quick-release slide mechanism to quickly change bits.

This one also has a magnetic bar which can be used to hold screws or space bits.

This particular model has three LED lights, which I find very useful when working in darker areas.

Notice the hook again here for easy carry when you don’t have a spare hand.

Selecting the Correct Drill Bits

What are all the different drill bits used for? Here is a quick breakdown to help you choose the right one for your job.

Screwdriver bits

It’s very important to make sure you use the correct bits when driving screws. Get it wrong, and you’re going to break both the screw and the bit. Here are the most common bits you will come across. Each is available in 4 sizes. (#0, #1, #2, #4)

If you are unsure of the correct size to use, test the screw head on each of the bits until you find the one with a nice, snug fit.

Drill Bits

Again, selecting the correct bit for the job is essential. It’ll prevent you from damaging the bits and material and will make the job easier, and the finish will be much nicer. When working with wood, metal and masonry, use the correct bit. Buying high-quality masonry drill bits is essential for the best results on tough surfaces.

Purchasing Guide

Picking the right tools for the job is important and can save you money in the long run. Buy the wrong tool, and you run the risk of having something that’s going to hinder your productivity. Get it right, and you’ll save time whilst getting the job done to a much higher standard.

I tend to stick with one brand as this allows me to interchange batteries between each tool in the range. My personal favourite is the Dewalt 18v XR range. I find the build quality to be high; they’re durable, long-lasting, generally feature-rich, and Dewalt has a very vast range of tools available, all taking the same battery. Many professionals use Dewalt tools, and you’ll find the drill sets to be very reasonably priced.

Another great brand to consider would be Makita LXT, which I’ve owned in the past and find to be equally on par with Dewalt.

Always avoid unbranded or very low-priced tools, as generally, you get what you pay for. These tools will let you down time and time again. They often break or fail quickly and easily, don’t provide accuracy and completely lack power. You might think you are getting a bargain, but you’ll end up replacing it within a year, and your jobs will take twice as long.

Other brands worth considering:

Bosch
Milwaukee
Erbauer
Ryobi

Accessories Required for Your Drill

When purchasing a new drill, you’ll need to consider some of the following, depending on whether your drill comes with them.

Batteries and Chargers

Most drills are available with a battery and charger included as a set, but you may find that some manufacturers sell drills on their own, known as ‘body only’ purchases. Just make sure you know what the set includes before handing over your money. Buying a set that includes both a combi drill and an impact driver is a sensible choice, as you’ll get a reasonable discount compared to buying them separately.

If you’re taking on a larger job, such as building a decking area, then you’ll need to think about how long your drill is going to last. Most drills come with a standard 1.5Ah battery that will likely last a couple of hours with regular use. These batteries can be charged up quite quickly, about 30 minutes, but this can be very disruptive, so it’s worth investing in spare batteries or a higher Ah, such as the 4 or 5Ah. This is going to last 3 or 4 times longer than the 1.5Ah battery, but bear in mind they also take a lot longer to charge.

My recommendation for a cost-effective battery lineup to accompany a combi drill and impact driver set would be two standard 1.5Ah batteries and one 4 (or 5) Ah battery. I’ve never been short on power in my jobs.

When it comes to chargers, I find that one is enough. If you’re a little more than a DIYer, then a second charger or a dual charger might be worth investing in.

When it comes to brands, it’s generally best to stick with one, as all the batteries tend to be universal across the entire range per brand. I purchase Dewalt tools from their XR range so that I can use the same batteries in their drills, sanders, saws and many others.

You can buy battery converters that allow other manufacturers’ batteries to fit, but this can add weight to the tool and is a little cumbersome.

Drill Bit Sets

To be able to use your drill effectively, you’re going to need some bits. The larger sets are going to provide a lot more versatility with jobs around the home, but prices can get quite high. Cheap bit sets generally don’t last as long, so it’s worth investing in something branded for longevity.

I tend to use the same bits over and over in my current job, so I use a medium-sized set and purchased a couple of extra bits that I added in afterwards. Most DIYers will manage with something like this Bosch 70-piece set with a reasonable price tag of £24. If something is missing that you require, consider a larger branded set or purchase pieces separately.

Carry Case

Most drills come with a plastic carry case, which can help protect your drills when in transit. However, most DIYers won’t be carrying their tools away from home, so it’s questionable whether these are required or not. If you don’t want yours, don’t just throw it away, as someone will want it. Try selling it on Facebook Marketplace or eBay.

If you have a number of drills, batteries, chargers and bits, it can become difficult carrying them around your property, so it’s worth investing in a tool carry bag like this one. It will allow you to keep all your parts together and help you take everything you need from job to job easily.

Recommended Purchases

With all of the above in mind here are a few of my recommendations for the following categories:

Thanks for reading, I hope you found it useful.

Combi Drill and Impact Driver FAQs

What is a combi drill?

A combi drill is a combination drill that can drill holes, drive screws, and drill into masonry using a hammer mode. It is one of the most versatile drills for home DIY.

What is a combi drill used for?

A combi drill is used for drilling holes in wood, metal, and plastic, driving screws into timber and sheet materials, and drilling into brick or block using hammer mode.

What are combi drills and why are they popular for DIY?

Combi drills are cordless drills that combine drilling, screw driving, and hammer drilling in one tool. They are popular because they handle most everyday household jobs without needing multiple drills.

What do the numbers 1 to 15 mean on a DeWalt combi drill?

The numbers are torque or clutch settings. Lower numbers apply less turning force and help prevent over tightening small screws. Higher numbers apply more force for larger screws and harder materials. For drilling holes, switch to the drill icon. For brick or concrete, switch to the hammer icon.

Combi drill vs impact driver, what is the difference?

A combi drill is designed for drilling holes and driving screws, and it often includes a hammer mode for masonry. An impact driver is designed mainly for driving screws and bolts with high torque and is great for repetitive screw driving, but it is not intended for drilling holes.

What is an impact driver used for?

An impact driver is used for driving long screws, structural fixings, and bolts, especially in timber. The impacting action reduces wrist strain and makes tough screw driving faster and easier.

Do I need a combi drill or a drill driver?

If you want one drill for most jobs, a cordless combi drill is usually the better choice because it does everything a drill driver does plus hammer drilling for brick and block. A drill driver is fine if you only need to drill wood and drive screws.

Is a cordless combi drill enough for most home DIY?

Yes. A cordless combi drill is enough for most home DIY tasks such as fitting shelves, assembling furniture, drilling pilot holes, and light masonry drilling. For lots of long screws or heavy fastening jobs, an impact driver is a useful upgrade.

Take a look at some of my other posts:

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What Is a Combi Drill? How to Use a Cordless Combi Drill and Impact Driver (Beginner Guide)

What Is a Combi Drill Used For?

Combi Drill vs Impact Driver