REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Weak
Minimal features
Black+Decker 20V Max Drill/Driver LDX120C Review
An okay drill for basic household tasks and assembly projects at a great price
The LDX120C making its way through 16 gauge steel.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
By David Wise ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ February 14, 2022
Contributions From: Austin Palmer
RELATED: The Best Drills of 2025
Our Verdict
The Black+Decker 20V Max Drill/Driver LDX120C is a great little drill if you don't expect too much and are trying to shop on the tightest budget possible. It is definitely not the best drill you can get — far from it — but it handles most light-duty jobs without too much fuss. It's not necessarily a great option for the enthusiastic DIYer and it definitely isn't a good choice for a pro, but if you only want a drill for hanging the occasional picture frame or aiding in furniture assembly, then this Black+Decker is a great choice. See it ranked against other top products in our review of drills.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The best drill on a tight budget, the Black+Decker LDX120C.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Drilling
The LDX120C didn't do all that well in our drilling tests. It struggled to drill through a 16-guage metal sheet with either a 1/2" or 1/4" inch bit, taking 12 seconds and 4 seconds, respectively.
The hole saw test really got this drill working hard.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The LDX120C did a bit better with the 5" hole saw in the solid door, drilling it to the full depth. However, it did take about 90 seconds to do this — the top tools only took 17 or so — and it protested and struggled the entire way. It started to smell quite horrific while drilling, and the air coming out of the exhaust vents was incredibly hot — hot enough to burn you. The entire drill body was also exceptionally warm afterward.
The LDX120C isn't our first choice for drilling through a thin sheet of steel, but in testing, it made it through.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Of our three drilling tests, the LDX120C had the hardest time with the 1" paddle bit.
This drill had some trouble during our 1" spade bit test.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
We were drilling holes in a 2x12, and the Black+Decker was not happy in the slightest. It took a long time to drill the holes compared to the rest and was a bit of an overall struggle fest with this drill.
The LDX120C drove wood screws in just fine during testing.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Driving
We tested out the LDX120C with both wood screws and lag screws, and again, it didn't do all that well compared to the burlier drills of the bunch.
This drill is better with the normal wood screws (3" long, #9 screws). It drives them into their full depth through a pair of stacked 2x12s and sets the countersunk heads flush with the surface of the wood without struggling all that much. However, it definitely isn't the fastest at this, taking quite a bit more time than the top products.
The lag screw proved to be too much for the LDX120C. Luckily, light users won't be trying to sink big lag screws like this.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The ½" lag screw proved to be a bit too much for the LDX120C. We drilled a pilot hole through a 2x4 and into a 4x4 to drive the 5" long screw into it, but the LDX120C couldn't sink it to its full depth — no matter what we tried.
Most modern drills have batteries that are easily removable with the press of a button.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Battery Life
The LDX120C delivered another mediocre battery life result. We used a 1.5 Ah battery to assess this tool's battery life. The Black+Decker didn't even make it through two rounds of alternating between drilling before the tool died. It made it through the first set, but in the second, it only made it through the screws and died midway through the drilling portion. For reference, the best drills made it through over ten cycles, sometimes lasting 5x as long.
The LDX120C's 1.5 Ah battery also has one of the longest recharge times of the entire group, taking about 3.5 hours with the included charger. However, you can buy a fast charger separately if you really want to speed this up. This Black+Decker drill only includes a single battery, but you can purchase extra batteries.
This drill doesn't come with a belt clip or adjustable torque settings.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Convenience
The LDX120C has some features that we were glad to have, but it still falls a bit behind other leading drills, and it's definitely not enough to make up for its poor performance everywhere else. It lacks a belt clip and only has a single operating speed. It also has one of the smaller maximum chuck sizes, only able to hold something up to ⅜" of an inch instead of the standard ½".
The LDX120C also lacks a battery status meter, but it is pretty easy to install or remove the battery. The locking mechanism is a good balance between holding the battery securely and allowing it to be easily released. This drill is also relatively lightweight, weighing a little more than 2.5 pounds. It also has an integrated work light, but it is a little on the dim side.
Having the light above the trigger casts a weird shadow in your work area making it difficult to see what you are doing.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Should You Buy the LDX120C?
If you want a bare-bones tool that can handle light to moderate DIY projects without spending a ton of cash, then the Black+Decker 20V Max Drill/Driver LDX120C is a good choice. However, it has plenty of flaws and pales compared to the top products for drilling or driving performance. It's definitely on the underpowered side for DIY enthusiasts or professionals but is usually more than enough for the casual user. If you are only doing light-duty tasks, then the LDX120C is an exceptional value. There's no reason to spend more on a drill if you don't need more performance.
What Other Drill Should You Consider?
If you have DIY projects on your mind and hope to use your drill for various adventures, then the Black+Decker is likely to be disappointing. For about $20 more, the Craftsman V20 1/2-In. Drill/Driver Kit CMCD700C1 is a better performer and less frustrating to use. With better performance in all metrics, we believe spending a little more to get a lot more is worthwhile. See the best drills review to compare with other top models.
—David Wise and Austin Palmer
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