Craftsman V20 1/2-In. Drill/Driver Kit CMCD700C1 Review
A decent drill for DIY projects that won't deplete your savings
The high and low operating modes are handy when drilling large holes or driving in big fasteners.
Credit: Laura Casner
By David Wise ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ February 14, 2022
Contributions From: Austin Palmer
RELATED: The Best Drills of 2026
Our Verdict
The Craftsman V20 1/2-In Drill/Driver Kit CMCD700C1 isn't the most powerful or high-performing cordless drill we have tested so far but we were pleasantly surprised with its performance given its much more affordable price tag when compared to the best drills. This drill has a decent amount of power, impressing us with its performance at driving in screws and drilling holes in a steel sheet. It is also fairly convenient and user-friendly to operate, though we did wish that it had a little bit longer battery life and included an additional battery.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Craftsman V20 1/2-In. Drill/Driver Kit CMCD700C1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Drill For Most People |  Best Budget Drill | |||
| Price | $99 List Check Price at Amazon | $120 List Check Price at Amazon | $119 List Check Price at Amazon | $125 List Check Price at Amazon | $47 List Check Amazon (on sale!) |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A great budget drill for a homeowners or DIYer and has more than enough power for moderate to light-duty tasks | This drill contains potent power in a compact package, especially for a 20-volt model | While being absolutely amazing at driving in fasteners, the below average battery life of the DCD771C2 precluded it from winning an award | Battery life and solid performance make this a good choice for average homeowner tasks | Inexpensive and only suitable for light duty jobs |
| Rating Categories | Craftsman V20 1/2-In... | Dewalt Atomic 20-Vol... | DeWalt 20V Max Compa... | Bosch 18V Compact Br... | Avid Power 20V Max A... |
| Drilling (30%) | |||||
| Driving (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Battery Life (5%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | Craftsman V20 1/2-In... | Dewalt Atomic 20-Vol... | DeWalt 20V Max Compa... | Bosch 18V Compact Br... | Avid Power 20V Max A... |
| Battery Voltage | 20V | 20V | 20V | 18V | 20V |
| Motor Type | Brushed | Brushless | Brushed | Brushless | Brushed |
| Measured Weight | 3.4 lb | 3.2 lb | 3.5 lb | 2.8 lb | 1.5 lb |
| Five Inch Hole Saw Test | 55 seconds | 21 seconds | 46 seconds | 56 seconds | 112 seconds |
| Lag Screw Test | 4.4 in | 4.8 in | 5.0 in | 3.4 in | 1.8 in |
| Max Chuck | 1/2 in | 1/2 in | 1/2 in | 1/2 in | 3/8 in |
| Included Battery Pack(s) | 1.3 Ah | 2.0 Ah | 1.3 Ah | 2.0 Ah | 2.0 Ah |
| Manufacturer Peak Torque | 280 in-lbs | 404 UWO | 300 in-lbs | 400 in-lbs | 280 in-lbs |
| Measured Charge Time | 58 min | 47 min | 58 min | 63 min | 185 min |
| Measured Length | 8.3 in | 5.9 in | 8.4 in | 6.3 in | 7.0 in |
| Clutch Settings | 23 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 15 |
| Manufacturer Stated RPM | Low: 0 - 450 High: 0 - 1500 |
Low: 0 - 450 High: 0 - 1650 |
Low: 0 - 450 High: 0 - 1800 |
Low: 0 - 500 High: 0 - 1900 |
0 - 550 |
| Drill Model Tested | CMCD700 | DCD794 | DCD771 | GSR18V-400 | ACD316 |
| Box Model (Kit) Tested | CMCD700C1 | DCD794D1 | DCD771C2 | GSR18V-400B12 | ACD316 |
| Battery Indicator Location | Battery | Battery | N/A | Battery | Battery |
| LED Location | Above the trigger | Above the battery | Above the trigger | Above the battery | Above the battery |
| Included Belt Clip | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The CMCD700C1 is a decent all-around drill that is a good budget option if you are just starting your tool collection. Credit: Laura Casner
Drilling
We were pretty impressed with the performance of the CMCD700C1 in our hole saw test - especially given its budget nature — powering through to drill a hole the full-depth of the bit in 50-60 seconds.
It started strong in its higher gear, but eventually started to catch and stall. These struggles went away when we shifted to a lower gear, but the air coming out of the vents on the side of the drill was warm enough to burn your hand by the end of the test.
The CMCD700C1 did manage to drill the hole saw to its full depth but the exhaust air coming out of the drill was hot enough to burn. Credit: Laura Casner
Unfortunately, the performance of this cordless drill dropped a little bit when we tried to use the paddle bit. We had a mixed performance when using the CMCD700C1 in its high gear setting, with it sometimes barely making it through and other times failing. It didn't have much of a problem when we shifted to the lower gear, making it through slowly but surely. This would be fine if you just needed it for the occasional heavy-duty task, but its lack of speed would become irritating quite quickly if you needed to drill lots of holes with a spade bit in quick succession.
We had to shift to the lower gear to successfully drill the 1" holes. Credit: Laura Casner
The CMCD700C1 score rebounded a bit when it came to drilling steel sheets, matching the performance of the top-tier drills with the ¼" bit. It quickly and easily drilled a hole through a 16-gauge steel sheet in about a second and a half.
We were impressed with how easily the CMCD700C1 went through the steel sheets. Credit: Laura Casner
It took slightly longer than the premium tools with the ½" twist bit, but still only took between 5-7 seconds for each hole. However, it would occasionally bind up right at the end as it punched through the sheet.
The CMCD700C1 offers plenty of control and can fully countersink most screws to the proper depth if they aren't too big. Credit: Laura Casner
Driving
The CMCD700C1 struggled a bit with the larger lag screw, delivering a so-so result overall. This drill couldn't fully drive in the screw, no matter what we tried.
It left about ⅝" of the screw above the surface of the wood and worked very hard to get it there. We called it quits there when the drill just kept clicking, as we didn't want to damage the tool completely.
The CMCD700C1 failed to drive in the larger lag screw all the way. Credit: Laura Casner
The Craftsman handled the smaller wood screw much better, offering plenty of control while countersinking its head. It has more than enough power to get the job done, even when driving the screw through tougher knots, but it is much slower than the top-tier tools.
The CMCD700C1 performed a little below average in our tests. Credit: Laura Casner
Battery Life
Unfortunately, the Craftsman failed to do impress in this portion of our assessment. We tested this model with a 1.3 Ah battery.
The CMCD700C1 only completed four of our testing cycles before calling it quits, though it was only one and a half holes short of finishing the fifth set. The best models completed over ten cycles before their battery was fully depleted.
The Craftsman drill did an alright job with the spade bits but struggled towards the end of each hole. Credit: Laura Casner
The 1.3 amp-hour battery does charge in less than an hour, which is faster than average, but we wish a second battery were included.
Ease of Use
The CMCD700C1 showed an above-average level of convenience. This drill weighs in at just shy of three and a half pounds, which is about average for the group.
It doesn't include a belt clip, but you can add one with the battery pack. The CMCD700C1 has both a high and low operating mode and can grab up to a ½" diameter bit when the chuck is fully extended.
The LED light built into the Craftsman isn't our favorite, as we found the light was blocked a bit by the chuck when trying to line it up a bit. It isn't the brightest we've seen, and generally, additional lighting is required when using this product in a dark space.
We weren't too impressed with the integrated work light of the CMCD700C1. Credit: Laura Casner
The battery slides in and out of the CMCD700C1 fairly easily, but the release mechanism can be pretty stiff. This battery does have a fuel indicator, so it earns a few points for that.
Should You Buy the Craftsman CMCD700C1?
This drill packs a surprising amount of power in an affordable package and is a good option if you are shopping on a budget and just planning on getting a drill rather than starting a tool collection. We have found that Craftsman doesn't seem to have as many tool options as other brands that use the same battery system. They aren't as highly rated or well-regarded, so we only recommend the Craftsman V20 1/2-In Drill/Driver Kit CMCD700C1 if you just plan to get a cordless drill, but not if you are looking to build an entire set of tools with a compatible battery system. Overall, the Craftsman CMCD700C1 is a great bargain buy, pairing a very reasonable price tag with a solid, all-around set of results for DIY projects.
What Other Drill Should You Consider?
If your budget is limited to this price range, it might be a struggle to find something better. However, the Dewalt Atomic 20-Volt Max Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Drill Driver DCD794B can be often be purchased on sale for just a bit more if you hit the sweet spot on seasonal sales.
—David Wise and Austin Palmer
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