REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Extremely underpowered
Short battery life
Black+Decker 12V Max Drill/Driver BDCDD12C Review
If you only want to do basic tasks and want the cheapest drill possible, then the BDCDD12C is an alright option
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
RELATED: Best Drills of 2024
Our Verdict
Right off the bat, we are relatively reticent to recommend the Black+Decker 12V Max Drill/Driver BDCDD12C. This drill is exceptionally weak and severely struggled with any of the more difficult drilling or driving tasks. Its battery life is far from impressive and it is quite sparse on features. However, it is also the cheapest option included in our best drill review by a significant amount. The BDCDD12C is an ok option if you don't really plan on doing anything beyond hanging a photo, assembling some furniture, or doing anything beyond the most basic DIY home improvement project and want to spend the least amount of money possible. Otherwise, we would recommend saving and spending a bit more for a significantly better drill if you have more ambitious projects in mind for your cordless drill.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Black+Decker 12V Max Drill/Driver BDCDD12C | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Bang for Your Buck | Best 12 Volt Option a Budget | A Great Drill for Tight Budgets | ||
| Price | $40 List $36.45 at Amazon | $79 List $59.00 at Amazon | $139 List $104.91 at Amazon | $87 List $49.00 at Amazon | $50 List $43.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A low-powered option for those who only need to do light-duty tasks and want to spend the absolute minimum | A great budget drill for a homeowners or DIYer and has more than enough power for moderate to light-duty tasks | Our favorite compact 12-volt drill when considering overall performance and price | This drill isn't great, but can speed up driving screws through prefabricated furniture at a low price | Inexpensive and only suitable for light duty jobs |
| Rating Categories | Black+Decker 12V Ma... | Craftsman V20 1/2-I... | Bosch 12V Max Drill... | Black+Decker 20V Ma... | Avid Power 20V Max... |
| Drilling (35%) | |||||
| Driving (35%) | |||||
| Battery Life (20%) | |||||
| Convenience (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Black+Decker 12V Ma... | Craftsman V20 1/2-I... | Bosch 12V Max Drill... | Black+Decker 20V Ma... | Avid Power 20V Max... |
| Five Inch Hole Saw Test | 201 seconds | 55 seconds | 70 seconds | 90 seconds | 112 seconds |
| Lag Screw Test | 2.50 in | 4.37 in | 3.87 in | 3.19 in | 1.75 in |
| Manufacturer Peak Torque | Not Listed | 280 in-lbs | 256 in-lbs | Not Listed | 280 in-lbs |
| Measured Charge Time | 200 min | 58 min | 85 min | 210 min | 185 min |
| Measured Weight | 2.188 lbs | 3.44 lbs | 2.17 lbs | 2.68 lbs | 1.53 lbs |
| Measured Length | 7 in | 8.25 in | 6.625 in | 7 in | 7 in |
| Measured Number of Settings | 10 | 23 | 20 | 10 | 15 |
| Manufacturer Stated RPM | 0 - 550 | Low: 0 - 450 High: 0 - 1500 |
Low: 0 - 350 High: 0 -1300 |
0 - 650 | 0 - 550 |
| Included Battery Pack(s) | 1.5 Ah | 1.3 Ah | 2.0 Ah | 1.5 Ah | 2.0 Ah |
| Max Chuck | 3/8 in | 1/2 in | 3/8 in | 3/8 in | 3/8 in |
| Battery Voltage | 12V | 20V | 12V | 20V | 20V |
| Drill Model Tested | BDCDD12C | CMCD700 | PS31 | LDX120C | ACD316 |
| Box Model (Kit) Tested | BDCDD12C | CMCD700C1 | PS31-2A | LDX120C | ACD316 |
| Battery Indicator Location | N/A | Battery | Drill | N/A | Battery |
| LED Location | Above the battery | Above the trigger | Above the trigger | Above the trigger | Above the battery |
| Included Belt Clip | No | No | No | No | No |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
This compact drill is good for light-duty projects but that's about it.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Drilling
First off, we got to work testing and scored the performance of the BDCDD12C when it came to drilling holes, which is responsible for 35% of its final score. We used the BDCDD12C to try and drill some holes in a steel sheet with twist drills, a piece of 2x12 with a spade bit, and into a solid door with a large hole saw. It struggled in most of these tests mightily.
This Black+Decker drilled a few holes in the steel sheet but it wasn't happy about it.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
This power tool gave an almost pitiful performance with the 5" hole saw. It only made it about 1" in depth before overheating and struggling the entire time.
This 12-volt drill definitely lacks the power for a hole saw of this size.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
It didn't do any better with the 1" spade bit. It struggled terribly throughout and couldn't really drill a single hole with it. The BDCDD12C got almost too hot to touch, and we definitely wouldn't recommend using this drill for tasks like this if you want to prolong the longevity of this tool.
We had to abandon the 1" spade bit and downgrade to a 1/2" twist drill.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The BDCDD12C also had an exceptionally difficult time drilling through the 16 gauge sheet of steel with the ¼" and ½" drill bit. It eventually made it through with the smaller drill but did struggle quite a bit. It stalled out with the larger bit, only making it about halfway through. It also took about four times as long as the other drills just to make it halfway in the time it took them to drill all the way through.
This drill didn't do much better in our driving tests.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Driving
The BDCDD12C did a tiny bit better in our driving test, though not by much. This category is also responsible for 35% of the total score and is based on the BDCDD12C's performance at driving in standard screws and a giant lag screw.
The BDCDD12C did manage to drive in the 3" long, #9 screws that we used to their full depth, even setting the countersunk head flush in the dimensional boards. It wasn't very easy for this drill, and it protested the entire time, but it could effectively complete this task.
We were able to set the countersunk heads with the BDCDD12C but it wasn't happy about it.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The same couldn't be said for the 5" long lag screw. We drilled the correct size pilot hole, but the BDCDD12C couldn't drive the screw deeper than 2.5", stalling out and unable to drive it any further.
This Black+Decker drill did well below average in our battery tests and takes a long time to recharge.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Battery Life
The performance of the BDCDD12C dropped in this next test with poor results in our battery life and charge time tests. Altogether, these battery assessments account for 20% of the total score. We tested this model with a 1.5 Ah battery.
Our battery life test consists of using each drill to alternate between drilling three holes with 1" spade bits and driving in 16 screws — both into 2x12 boards — awarding points proportional to the number of cycles completed. However, the BDCDD12C can't really use the 1" spade bit, so we downgraded it to a ½" twist drill. Even so, this drill only made it through two sets before dying — pretty much the worst in the entire group.
This drill takes absolutely forever to charge its 1.5 Ah battery with the included charger — around 200 minutes.
The BDCDD12C is lightweight and compact.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Convenience
The BDCDD12C did a bit better in our convenience metric, which is responsible for the residual tenth of its final score. However, this drill still did below average compared to the rest of the group regarding its features and functions.
The drill is exceptionally light, weighing just over two pounds, but it is relatively sparse for convenient features. It only has a single operating speed and lacks a belt clip. The chuck also can't open as large as the other drills, maxing out at ⅜".
It does have a built-in work light, but it isn't particularly bright and doesn't stay on unless you are holding the trigger.
The integrated light on this B+D drill isn't the best.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The battery can be a bit of a hassle to install or remove, with the locking mechanism requiring a bit of force to engage or disengage. It also lacks a battery charge level indicator.
Should You Buy the Black+Decker 12V Max Drill/Driver?
Finishing in the lower half of the group overall, we don't necessarily recommend the Black+Decker 12V Max Drill/Driver BDCDD12C for most people. It's weak and struggles with most drilling and driving tasks, with unimpressive battery life. However, this lightweight drill can handle the occasional light-duty task without issue and is one of the cheapest options you can get, making it a good choice for someone who cares about spending the least amount of money possible and isn't going to expect too much. The performance on this drill is well below average, and it is not a product we consider to be a good value. It is only a good option if you want to spend the absolute bare minimum and only have minimal tasks to tackle.
What Other Drill Should You Consider?
If your budget is tight, we prefer the Craftsman V20 1/2-In. Drill/Driver Kit CMCD700C1 for a slight bump in the price of about $20. We think you'll have less frustration and be able to do more with your drill for the money. The Craftsman provides significantly better performance for drilling and driving, and it is more convenient to use with longer battery life. While we understand when wallet contents are sparse, we think most users will prefer the Crafstman and find the extra dollars worth it in the long run.
—
David Wise and Austin Palmer
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