Considering getting a DeWALT drill but aren’t sure if it’s a better choice over the Ryobi? It’s definitely a tough pick between the two, but not an impossible one.
Truth is, both these tools have certain things they’re good at. So, I tested them both out in various situations and made this DeWALT vs Ryobi drill comparison so you can choose which is better for you!
DeWALT vs Ryobi Drill Comparison – What Should You Choose?
To compare these tools, I did a few experiments with both of them to see how they do against each other. These experiments were just things related to everyday use.
For context, both tools were set to drill mode during these tests. Along with that, both were set to speed 2 as well. I also tested them on the exact same surfaces, and made sure everything was fair for both sides.
With all that out of the way, let me share how those experiments of mine went!
- Drilling A Long Star Head Screw into Wood
The first test I did was with a long star head screw. I tried seeing how both tools did when driving it into a sturdy wooden panel. Unsurprisingly, neither of them was that great at it.
Don’t get me wrong, both tools were able to do the job, as you can see in the image below. However, they clearly struggled with it. There was notable resistance with both of them.
I did notice that the Ryobi drill got the star head screw inside all the way much quicker than the DeWALT. But, I still wouldn’t recommend either of these for the purpose of driving screws into things.
Even though the Ryobi did better at pushing it compared to the DeWALT, there was damage to the screw head. Both tools stripped the screw head during operation, which is never good.
- Drilling Through Wooden Plate
Time to see how both of these machines do when it comes to drilling, which is their main purpose. I started off with the easiest job, which was simple wood.
As I expected, both of them did a good job. Wood is the bare minimum that good drills should be able to easily drill through. You can see both of them in the picture down here, going at it:
I did notice something that I expected; the DeWALT drill was a lot more stable and smooth during operation. It drilled through the wood much quicker and without as much force needed.
That’s not to say that the Ryobi drill was much worse. It still did a good job. But, if I had to choose a winner, I’d say the DeWALT did a better job between the two when drilling through a wooden plate.
- Drilling Metal With A Step Drill Bit
Trying something a little different, I tried to see how they did with a step bit. I drilled through a metal pipe with both drills while they had a step bit on, and both did pretty nice yet again.
The pipe was sturdy, and you can see me drilling through it below. Both drills did their thing without any extra effort. It was like cutting through butter with a knife.
Between the two, I think DeWALT did a better job yet again. While the difference wasn’t notable, I think the DeWALT just has more of a kick to it, and that’s why it drills through smoother.
Still, the Ryobi held its own very well in comparison. I’d be hard-pressed to say that either of the two is very good compared to the other.
- Drilling Concrete
At the end, it’s time for the real test, which is drilling through concrete. I think using a drill on concrete is the best way to tell just how good it is because weaker drills will have a hard time with it.
So, after all my other experiments, you can see in the image down here how I used them on concrete. To my surprise, both were pretty equal even during this test.
I expected that the DeWALT would do a lot better during this experiment. But, the Ryobi was just as good and comfortable to use. At the end of the day, I have to say they’re both great drills.
So, What’s The Verdict?
Honestly, I think the choice between DeWALT and Ryobi drills comes down to how you want to use them. If you just want a power drill for your house to use when necessary, the Ryobi isn’t a bad choice at all.
My reason for this is… the Ryobi drill is considerably cheaper and does the job just as well as DeWALT drills for everyday use.
People who use their tools regularly should consider splashing the extra cash on a DeWalt, however. The small difference will be notable for those that use tools frequently and have experience with drills.
