In this article, I provide an in-depth comparison of DeWalt vs. Ryobi drills. You’ll learn about each brand’s reputation, product offerings, performance, warranty, and price.
I also reveal the most common customer complaints about each brand, so you have a clear understanding of both the pros and cons.
By the end, you will know exactly what to look for in a drill and have all the facts you need to decide between Ryobi and Dewalt.
If you’re looking to quickly compare the price of Ryobi and DeWalt drills, both are available on Amazon at these links: DeWalt drills, Ryobi drills.
Let’s dive right in. Select a link to jump straight to a section:
- Ryobi vs. DeWalt: Quick Summary
- Side-By-Side Comparison Chart
- Brand Reputation
- Product Options
- Performance
- Speed/RPM
- Battery/Voltage
- Weight/Size
- Clutch and Torque
- Accessories
- Warranties
- Price
- Common Complaints
- The Verdict: Which Should You Buy?
Ryobi vs. DeWalt: Quick Summary
When I bought my first house a couple of years ago, I quickly realized that I needed a quality household drill to tackle projects such as hanging blinds, installing new door hinges, and putting together furniture.
After hours of research across several brands, I was able to narrow my options down to DeWalt and Ryobi. Both manufacturers have a long history and reputation for making high-quality power tools, including high performing yet affordable household drills.
So what makes them different?
Differences Between Ryobi and DeWalt
- Reputation: Ryobi is known for making professional quality tools at prices most homeowners can afford, while DeWalt is known as the premium power tool brand preferred by professionals.
- Number of Drills: DeWalt offers 77 different types of drills with unique features and varying levels of power compared to Ryobi’s selection of 27.
- Speed: DeWalt’s 12V drill can reach higher speeds with a maximum RPM of 1,500 compared to Ryobi’s 12V drill, which has a maximum RPM of 600.
- Torque Control: Despite lower max RPMs, Ryobi’s 12V drill has more torque control with a 22 position clutch compared to DeWalt’s 15 positions.
- Battery: While the battery performance is virtually the same, DeWalt’s drill comes with two batteries, you only get one with Ryobi.
- Warranty: Both brands offer a 3-year warranty, but DeWalt also includes one year of free service, and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
- Price: DeWalt drills are generally more expensive than Ryobi. You can compare their current prices on Amazon using the links below:
Ryobi vs. DeWalt: Comparison Chart
| Ryobi 12V Drill | DeWalt 12V Drill | |
|---|---|---|
| Reputation | Affordable power tools for personal use | Power tools for professionals |
| Products | Wide range of tools including drills, saws, lighting, sanders, nailers, inflators, and staplers. Fewer options compared to DeWalt. | Wide range of power tools: drills, saws, sanders, demolition hammers, grinders, air tools, nailers, dust management etc. |
| Number of Drills | 27 | 77 |
| Speed | One speed setting: 0 to 600 RPM | Two speed settings: 0-400 RPM, and 0-1,500 RPM |
| Battery | One 12-volt battery included | Two 12-volt batteries included |
| Weight/Size | 3.5 pounds, 7.1 inches long | 2.4 pounds, 7.5 inches long |
| Torque | 22 position clutch (more control than DeWalt) | 15 position clutch (less control than Ryobi) |
| Warranty | Three-year manufacturers warranty. View on Ryobi.com | Three-year limited warranty, one-year free service, and a 90-day money back guarantee View on DeWalt.com |
| Downsides | Battery does not last with heavy use. Chuck often becomes loose and bit falls out. | Battery does not last with heavy use. |
| Price | Varies by seller (Check Price on Amazon) | Varies by seller (Check Price on Amazon) |
So which drill did I buy, Ryobi or DeWalt? I’ll get to that at the end. The more important question is, which drill should you buy? Well, the short answer is, it depends. Read on to get more details about the similarities and differences between Ryobi and Dewalt so you can decide which brand is best for you.
Reputation
DeWalt makes high-quality power tools that are the choice of professionals.
Ryobi makes pro-quality tools at affordable prices geared toward homeowners.
DeWalt has a strong reputation for producing high-quality power tools. That reputation comes from a long history that started in 1923 when Raymond DeWalt founded the company in Leola, Pennsylvania. In 1949 DeWalt was bought by American Machine & Foundry Co., Inc. and in 1960 was sold to Black and Decker.
Today, DeWalt remains a subsidiary of Black and Decker. Although an American brand, DeWalt produces most of its products overseas. Dewalt positions itself as the brand that provides professional-quality power tools that are built to last.
Ryobi is a Japanese company that was founded in 1943. Besides power tools, Ryobi also manufactures printing equipment and builders hardware. In the US, their power tools are sold exclusively at Home Depot or online.
Ryobi is known for high quality yet affordable tools. Their target market is homeowners and DIYers who don’t want to spend a fortune on tools they will only use once in a while. Even though their products are less expensive, the quality and performance are very similar to DeWalt.
Product Options
DeWalt and Ryobi offer a range of power tools, including drills, accessories, and equipment.
DeWalt has almost anything you can think of for a builder or contractor, including saws, sanders, air compressors, grinders, nailers, and staplers. You name a power tool; they make it.
Ryobi’s product portfolio is a bit more limited but still covers a gamut of tools and equipment like saws, surface prep, garage door openers, staplers, inflators, landscaping equipment, and much more.
They both make a wide range of drills that vary in power from small automatic screwdrivers up to 60-volt stud and joist drills.
Ryobi offers 27 different drills, while DeWalt has a whopping 77 on its website. Both brands have a drill for every possible project that requires a hole drilled, nail punched, or hardware fastening.
Ryobi and DeWalt’s most popular household drills are the cordless 12-volt (Links to check out on Amazon: Ryobi, DeWalt) and cordless 18-volt (Links to check out on Amazon: Ryobi, DeWalt).
The question remains, which one is best for you?
It all comes down to performance, warranty, and price. Let’s first look at performance.
Performance: Minor Differences in Speed, Weight, and Torque
When it comes to the performance of a household drill, there are several aspects to consider, such as speed/power, battery/voltage, size/weight, clutch/torque, and accessories.
To compare apples to apples, we are going to look at the 12V Cordless Drill/drivers from both Ryobi and DeWalt. These are the most common household drills used for standard projects around the house.
Speed/RPM: DeWalt Offers More Control and Higher Speeds
The speed of a drill is measured in RPMs or Rotations Per Minute. For a household drill, you want between 300 and 1,500 RPMs. Higher speeds are best for drilling holes, and lower speeds help avoid stripping screws.
The Ryobi 12V cordless drill can go from 0 to 600 RPM, which is a great range for all projects.
The DeWalt 12V cordless drill has 2-speed settings, which gives you better control. The low-speed setting goes from 0-400 RPM, and the high speed goes from 0-1,500 RPM.
With DeWalt, you get more control over the speed and a higher RPM, which can help with drilling holes into hard materials.
Battery/Voltage: Battery Power Is the Exact Same, DeWalt Comes With Two Batteries
Cordless drills typically run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, and this is true with Ryobi and DeWalt.
Voltage refers to the size and power of the battery. The higher the voltage, the more power. Drills with a voltage of 12 or 18 (or 20) are more than sufficient for most homeowners.
The DeWalt 12V cordless drill comes with two 12 volt lithium-ion batteries and a battery charger.
Battery life is highly variable based on what you are using the drill for, but on average, it will go for approximately 2 hours of continuous use and takes about an hour to recharge. The second battery ensures you never have to put a project on hold while your battery recharges.
The Ryobi 12V cordless drill comes with only one 12-volt lithium-ion battery. It charges in about 40 minutes and can hold a charge for two years. Battery life is very similar to DeWalt, about 2 hours, depending on the type of use.
In terms of the battery and voltage, DeWalt and Ryobi are virtually the same. The one significant difference is the fact that with DeWalt, you get two batteries. If you go with Ryobi, you can buy an extra battery from Home Depot or Amazon.
Weight/Size: DeWalt’s Drill Is a Pound Lighter Than Ryobi’s
One of the most significant factors, when I was determining which drill to buy, was the ease of use and handling.
When I use my drill, I’m usually standing on a ladder and bending in all sorts of directions. I needed a drill with enough power, but one that was also easy to maneuver in small areas and control with one hand.
The Ryobi and DeWalt 12V drills are both compact and built for small spaces. Ryobi’s weighs 3.5 pounds and is 7.1 inches long. DeWalt’s is a pound lighter at 2.4 pounds and 7.5 inches long.
Both are small, light, and easy to handle in tight spaces.
Clutch and Torque: Ryobi Provides Greater Torque Control (22 Position Clutch vs. 15 Positions)
First off, what is a clutch on a drill, and why should I care about torque?
All drills have a clutch that controls torque, which is twisting power.
The clutch is located directly behind the chuck (clamp that holds the drill bit) and has a series of numbers around it.
You can adjust the clutch to your desired torque; the higher the number, the more torque gets delivered. The whole point of the clutch and adjusting the torque is to achieve the proper depth when driving screws into wood or other materials. The clutch prevents you from over or under driving so you can avoid striped screws that are buried in the wood or screws that stick out above the surface.
In general, you want to go with higher positions for the most power and lower for more frangible jobs.
Ryobi provides more torque control with a 22 position clutch compared to 15 positions on the DeWalt drill.
Accessories: Both Drills Come With Standard Features Such as LED Lights and Belt Clips
Ryobi:
- LED light built into the base of the drill
- Belt clip
- One 12V battery
- Battery charger
- One double-ended bit
DeWalt:
- LED light mounted on the barrel
- Belt clip
- Two 12V batteries
- Battery charger
- Bag to carry the drill
Below is a side-by-side look at each drill’s belt clips and LED lights (Ryobi left, DeWalt right):
Warranties: DeWalt Provides Better Protection with a Money-Back Guarantee
The DeWalt drill comes with a three-year limited warranty, one-year free service, and a 90-day money-back guarantee. See the manufacturer’s site for more details.
The Ryobi drill comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty. See the manufacturer’s site for more details.
Price: DeWalt Power Tools are More Expensive Than Ryobi’s
In general, DeWalt products are significantly more expensive than the same type of products made by Ryobi.
As I mentioned before, DeWalt is considered the professional brand of tools, while Ryobi is geared more towards homeowners and professionals are more willing to pay more for higher quality and performance.
To get an accurate comparison of the current prices between Ryobi and DeWalt, use the links to Amazon in the chart below to compare drills and a few other products across each brand.
| Ryobi | DeWalt | |
|---|---|---|
| 12V Cordless Drill | Check Price | Check Price |
| 18V Cordless Drill | Check Price | Check Price |
| 18V Cordless Hammer Drill | Check Price | Check Price |
| Automatic Screwdriver | Check Price | Check Price |
| 18V Reciprocating Saw | Check Price | Check Price |
| 18V Cordless Circular Saw | Check Price | Check Price |
| 18V Cordless Jigsaw | Check Price | Check Price |
Most Common Complaint: Battery Life
Before deciding which drill to buy, it is important to know what consumers complain about the most. Despite having overwhelmingly positive customer reviews, no products are perfect, and DeWalt and Ryobi drills are no exception.
The biggest complaint with DeWalt is about the battery. Some heavy users say that after two years, the battery won’t hold a charge for more than a few minutes. A smaller percentage of customers report that the chuck malfunctions often. Lastly, a common theme is that the LED light built into the drill gets blocked by the chuck and, therefore, is useless.
Most of the Ryobi complaints are made by heavy users, which is not surprising since Ryobi is designed for lighter household use. Similar to DeWalt, a common complaint about Ryobi drills is that the battery dies after a year, and it won’t hold a charge. Others complain about the chuck loosening and causing drill bits to fall out during use. Lastly, some complain that the drill is not powerful enough for their needs.
All of these complaints are entirely valid; however, as I mentioned, I have not experienced these same issues with my drill.
Ryobi vs. DeWalt: Which Drill Should You Buy?
DeWalt and Ryobi are well-known, respected power tool brands. They both make high-quality drills that are affordable, simple to use, and will get most household projects done with ease. So which one should you buy?
With DeWalt, you get a brand that is trusted by the pros, two batteries, a generous warranty, a service contract, and a money-back guarantee.
Ryobi offers a more affordable drill that is comparable in terms of power and performance; however, it only comes with one battery and no service contract or money-back guarantee.
After all the expenses that come with buying a house and moving, I decided to go with the Ryobi drill. I use my drill primarily for small projects that don’t require professional-grade tools, so going with the less expensive option made the most sense for me.
If you are planning to use your drill for more heavy-duty projects and are willing to invest a little more, I would recommend DeWalt.
If you’re leaning towards DeWalt, I highly recommend checking out Milwaukee as well. Their drills are very similar to DeWalt in quality, performance, and price. Check out our recent comparison of Milwaukee vs. DeWalt to learn their similarities and differences and get all the details.
Now you know what to look for in a household drill and have all the information you need to make the best decision for your needs. You can read dozens of reviews and check the current prices on Amazon at the links below:
Thank You for Reading Our Comparison of Ryobi vs. DeWalt!
We hope our review of these popular household drills helps you make the best decision for your needs.
Have you had a different experience with Ryobi or DeWalt drills? Do you agree or disagree with our review? Are there any other power tool brands that you think are better than these? Please let us know in the comments section or contact us directly; we would love to hear your feedback.
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I think that Ryobi is similar in quality and performance to lots of the cheap supermarket own brand drills. Most of these machines are fine for occasional diy work. Having had Ryobi I have upgraded to dewalt as much faster chuck speeds equal getting most jobs done speedily and now I’m doing much more work I’ve had my Ryobi drills fail both with batteries that I’ve replaced and the chucks then getting wobbly which is not surprising for the amount of use I’ve given a cheap drill. As for the dewalt drills they’re much more powerful and so far not had any problems during the last 4 years which has with being busy with work seen them get a lot more use than I had out of the ryobi machines before they failed.
In my opinion getting the more expensive dewalt machines is a no brainer if working with them to earn a living because higher performance means that the extra initial cost will be quickly recouped in saved time.
John H
I would like to see a side by side test lets say drilling holes until both die. I have Ryobi and Dewalt. Neither have died on me, so I can’t figure out the value of Dewalt over Ryobi. For the average homeowner like myself Ryobi is perfectly fine. I don’t need a sledge hammer to hammer a finish nail. I need just the right tool for just the right job. I guess If I used the drill 250 days a year I would justify higher end tools. But even then I would like to see a pro using Ryobi just to test it’s limits. One person said you can get parts for Dewalt. Why do you need parts if it is so good? That means your replacing broke pieces. I might as well go buy a brand new cheaper Ryobi.
Hi Noah – I agree 100%. For most household tasks, a Ryobi drill is more than sufficient and the extra cost for DeWalt is not worth it.
I had a Chicago Electric drill from Harbor Freight for a couple of years. That was my first cordless drill. It only lasted a couple of years.
My second drill is a Ryobi and I’ve had it about 10 years. With it, I’ve put up a couple of decks, studdded a few walls, installed a few doors. In short, I probably do more than your average home owner. It is one heckuva drill.
Ryobi, cheap throw away junk? Not in my experience. Great Value.
Hi Steven – Thanks for sharing your experience with Ryobi drills. I totally agree; Ryobi is a great value!
What a knee jerk biased comment above. I have all Ryobi power tools and they all work flawlessly for me still after years of use. Even the batteries. I invested in a full set of their latest One+ line a little over a year ago and love them even more than my older Ryobi models that still function perfectly! I use them all of them hard and not a single issue with any of them.
Ryobi is cheap throwaway junk. The entire line. Henry Homeowner Junk. Larry Lunchmeat.
Some will always cheap out and buy crap rather than a quality product due to focus on price or limited use. Therefore there are companies that cater to the cheap who cant seem to commit to their own home and well being. Tis better to get half a loaf than nothing at all. Ryobi is one of those companies. DeWalt, Porter Cable, Makita, Ridgid and Bosch sell quality products.
DeWalt will last a life time if cared for. Ryobi will fall apart even if cared for. You cant get parts for a ryopi product. DeWalt has parts for all their products.
You can buy extra batteries for either. The reason Ryobi comes with only 1 battery is again PRICE. More batteries = more money. They are shooting to put a cheap pice of crap on the market to interest the cheap minded person that has a 20 to 30 dollar range but probably has millions in the bank.
Hi M.S.
Thanks for your comment.
Although I disagree with your “Henry Homeowner Junk” comment, I agree that DeWalt drills are better suited for heavy-duty use and you’ll likely never see a pro using a Ryobi drill.
But, for simple household tasks, Ryobi drills are more than adequate and, I believe, the better option (espeically since they are significantly less expensive).
I appreciate you sharing your opinion!
Andrew
I really get wound up about people refering to Ryobi power tools as ‘supermarket junk’. Have used their upper range corded and cordless tools for years and they have given excellent service. Bang for buck is great. If you require require a tool for heavy duty contractor work look elsewhere and pay the price. If I drop or ding my Ryobi tool I don’t feel half as bad as doing the same to my Bosch.
Hi Alan – totally agree!