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Workpro 20V Drill Driver Set Review

While this drill isn't very expensive, there are better options if you are on a tight budget
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Workpro 20V Drill Driver Set Review
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Price:  $60 List
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Manufacturer:   WORKPRO
By David Wise and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Feb 14, 2022
34
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#20 of 23
  • Drilling - 35% 3.5
  • Driving - 35% 3.2
  • Battery Life - 20% 2.6
  • Convenience - 10% 5.7

Our Verdict

Earning one of the lowest scores we have seen to date, the Workpro 20V Drill Driver Set is --needless to say — not the best drill, and is not one that we would readily recommend. It's solidly underpowered, performing very poorly in our drilling and driving tests. It also has a very lackluster battery life. However, it is one of the least expensive drills of the group, but we still wouldn't recommend it even for those shopping on the tightest of budgets, as there are better drills that cost about the same or significantly cheaper options if you are simply looking for the cheapest drill out there to finish an occasional DIY project.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Underpowered
Poor battery life
Editor's Note: We updated this review on February 14th, 2022, with additional sections to help you find the right drill for you.

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
Awards  Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Best Buy Award
Best 12 Volt Option a Budget
Best Buy Award
A Great Drill for Tight Budgets
 
Price $60 List
$55.99 at Amazon		$79 List
$59.00 at Amazon		$139 List
$104.91 at Amazon		$87 List
$49.00 at Amazon		$40 List
$36.45 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
34
60
48
35
17
Star Rating
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Bottom Line While it is one of the least expensive drills we have tested, it wouldn't be our first choice for a budget-conscious optionA great budget drill for a homeowners or DIYer and has more than enough power for moderate to light-duty tasksOur favorite compact 12-volt drill when considering overall performance and priceThis drill isn't great, but can speed up driving screws through prefabricated furniture at a low priceA low-powered option for those who only need to do light-duty tasks and want to spend the absolute minimum
Rating Categories Workpro 20V Drill D... Craftsman V20 1/2-I... Bosch 12V Max Drill... Black+Decker 20V Ma... Black+Decker 12V Ma...
Drilling (35%)
3.5
6.6
5.8
4.1
1
Driving (35%)
3.2
6.2
4.5
3.2
1.8
Battery Life (20%)
2.6
4.4
3.2
2.6
1
Convenience (10%)
5.7
6.0
5.8
4.6
4.8
Specs Workpro 20V Drill D... Craftsman V20 1/2-I... Bosch 12V Max Drill... Black+Decker 20V Ma... Black+Decker 12V Ma...
Five Inch Hole Saw Test 80 seconds 55 seconds 70 seconds 90 seconds 201 seconds
Lag Screw Test 3.94 in 4.37 in 3.87 in 3.19 in 2.50 in
Manufacturer Peak Torque 142 in-lbs 280 in-lbs 256 in-lbs Not Listed Not Listed
Measured Charge Time 230 min 58 min 85 min 210 min 200 min
Measured Weight 2.82 lbs 3.44 lbs 2.17 lbs 2.68 lbs 2.188 lbs
Measured Length 7.25 in 8.25 in 6.625 in 7 in 7 in
Measured Number of Settings 21 23 20 10 10
Manufacturer Stated RPM Low: 0 - 400
High: 0 - 1500		 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 1.5 Ah
Max Chuck 3/8 in 1/2 in 3/8 in 3/8 in 3/8 in
Battery Voltage 20V 20V 12V 20V 12V
Drill Model Tested W004532A CMCD700 PS31 LDX120C BDCDD12C
Box Model (Kit) Tested X001TOJ70B CMCD700C1 PS31-2A LDX120C BDCDD12C
Battery Indicator Location Drill Battery Drill N/A N/A
LED Location Above the trigger Above the trigger Above the trigger Above the trigger Above the battery
Included Belt Clip Yes No No No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

The WorkPro scored just a few points worse than the Black+Decker LDX120C and ahead of the Black+Decker BDCDD12C. The LDX120C and the WorkPro are about the same in terms of driving, but the Black+Decker does have a slight edge when drilling. These drills both have an equally disappointing battery life, though the WorkPro is slightly more convenient to use with its dual operating modes, belt clip, and battery indicator. However, the Black+Decker retails for a bit less, making it a better bargain option if you are on a tight budget. The WorkPro is quite a bit better than the BDCDD12C. Still, the BDCDD12C retails for about half the price and has enough power for simple tasks, making it a better option if you want the cheapest drill possible just to make it easier to hang a picture or assemble some furniture.

Performance Comparison


workpro 20v drill driver set - we found the 12-volt workpro to be severely lacking power.
We found the 12-volt WorkPro to be severely lacking power.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Drilling


The WorkPro got off to a bit of a rough start in our first metric, which is responsible for 35% of its total score. It did poorly in our trio of drilling tests.

workpro 20v drill driver set - some companies target specific audiences with their colors.
Some companies target specific audiences with their colors.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

For the first test, the WorkPro didn't seem like it was going to do all that bad, drilling through a 16 gauge steel sheet with a ¼" drill in about 2.5 seconds. It didn't struggle or bind up at all. It did a little worse when we moved up to a ½" twist drill, but it still drilled the hole in about 10 seconds with just the tiniest bit of a struggle.

workpro 20v drill driver set - the workpro did surprisingly well with the smaller drill bits at...
The WorkPro did surprisingly well with the smaller drill bits at drilling through the steel sheets.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Next, we attempted to drill a 1" hole through a 2x12 with a spade bit. This did not happen, with the drill only making it about ⅛" into the wood before stalling in the higher speed, but it did eventually make it through when we shifted into the lower gear. Even more disturbing, the air coming from the drill was hot enough, almost to burn you.

workpro 20v drill driver set - this drill got almost too hot to hold on to when drilling through...
This drill got almost too hot to hold on to when drilling through the boards with the larger bits.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

While we didn't expect much after this drill's performance with the paddle bit, we decided to forge ahead and try the WorkPro with our most challenging drilling task: using a 5" hole saw to bore into a solid door. Surprisingly, it made it to the full depth in about 80 seconds. However, this drill started to smell terrible and began to smoke right as it finished the test — enough to the point that we threw the drill down and started looking for a fire extinguisher. Thankfully, it didn't fully ignite, but needless to say, we wouldn't recommend using this large of a bit in this drill.

workpro 20v drill driver set - the giant lag screw was too much for the workpro to handle.
The giant lag screw was too much for the WorkPro to handle.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Driving


After the drilling tests, we tentatively evaluated the driving performance of the WorkPro, which is also responsible for 35% of its total point score. This metric consists of two tests: driving in #9 countersunk wood screws and driving in a ½" diameter, ½" long wood screw.

The WorkPro pretty much consistently struggled with the last inch of the 3" wood screws. It could barely get the countersunk screw heads flush with the surface of the board, and we needed to shift to a lower gear unless we had just taken a battery off the charger.

workpro 20v drill driver set - the workpro was just barely able to set the heads of these screws...
The WorkPro was just barely able to set the heads of these screws flush with the surface.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

We were pretty cautious about using the WorkPro to drive in the ½" lag screw after the smoke in the last test, but, thankfully, it was a lot less eventful. We started by drilling the correct size pilot hole through the boards, then setting the WorkPro to work. It did pretty well at first, driving in the first part of the screw but stalled out with a little over an inch remaining and couldn't drive the screw in any further.

workpro 20v drill driver set - the workpro has a relatively limited battery life compared to the...
The WorkPro has a relatively limited battery life compared to the top-tier products.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Battery Life


Our third metric focused on the battery life of the WorkPro, which accounts for one-fifth of its overall score. It again did quite poorly. We used the 1.5 Ah battery in our tests.

To score the battery life of the WorkPro, we alternated between driving in 16 of the standard #9 wood screws and drilling three holes with the 1" spade bit. We repeated this until the drill died. The WorkPro made it through 3.5 cycles of this before the battery died, which is quite a bit worse than the best drills, which made it through 10 or more.

The WorkPro includes a single 1.5 Ah battery that takes an absurdly long time to charge — almost four hours. This is far longer than almost every other drill we have tested to date.

workpro 20v drill driver set - the workpro can't hold anything larger than 3/8" in diameter.
The WorkPro can't hold anything larger than 3/8" in diameter.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Convenience


This cordless drill is decently lightweight, weighing in at just under 3 pounds. The WorkPro has a belt clip and two operating speeds, but the chuck only opens enough to hold a bit with a ⅜" shaft or smaller. The WorkPro has a built-in work light above the trigger, but we didn't find it all that helpful. It creates a ton of shadow over what you are trying to drill.

workpro 20v drill driver set - the light on the workpro actually provides a decent amount of...
The light on the WorkPro actually provides a decent amount of illumination.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Finally, this drill does have a battery indicator, but we don't think it is very good. However, it is relatively easy to remove or install the battery, with a locking mechanism release button that is very easy to press.

Should You Buy the Workpro 20V?


While the Workpro 20V Drill Driver Set stood out from the rest of the pack due to its bright pink case, there isn't really a reason that we would recommend it unless you are dead set on getting a pink cordless drill and value color above everything else. This drill is inexpensive, but it isn't a great value. There are comparably priced drills that are better or less expensive options if you are looking for a cheap drill. We also don't expect much long-term use from this model.

What Other Drill Should You Consider?


If you are on the highest budget and the top performers are outside of your budget, the Craftsman V20 1/2-In. Drill/Driver Kit CMCD700C1 is a better choice than the Workpro. While it isn't the absolute best at anything, it does offer stronger performance in our tests for drilling and driving. It has better battery life and is easier to use. While it will cost almost twenty dollars more than the Workpro, we believe the better performance and less frustration is worth the extra money and encourage readers to save up if necessary.

— David Wise and Austin Palmer
 
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