Brushless or Brushed Drill? UK Guide 2026

Quick Comparison

Quick Comparison Table

What Is a Brushed Motor?

A brushed motor uses physical carbon brushes pressed against a spinning commutator to deliver electricity to the coils. It is the older, simpler design that has powered cordless drills since the 1990s. The brushes make constant contact with the commutator, creating friction that converts electrical energy into rotational force.

This friction has consequences. The brushes wear down over time, the commutator surface erodes, and a significant chunk of battery power is lost as heat. A typical brushed drill motor needs brush replacement every 50-100 hours of use, and the motor itself may burn out after a few thousand hours.

Brushed motors are straightforward to manufacture, which is why they remain the cheapest option. For occasional use, drilling pilot holes or assembling flat-pack furniture once a month, a brushed drill gets the job done without fuss.

What Is a Brushless Motor?

A brushless motor replaces the physical brushes with an electronic controller that switches the magnetic field digitally. There is no physical contact between moving parts, which means zero friction loss, far less heat, and dramatically better efficiency.

The electronic controller (called an ESC or Electronic Speed Controller) adjusts power delivery in real time. When the drill encounters resistance, the controller ramps up torque automatically. When the load drops, it conserves battery. A brushed motor cannot do this, it just pushes the same power regardless of resistance.

The result is a motor that produces more torque from the same battery, runs 25-50% longer per charge, and lasts 5-10 times longer before needing any attention. The trade-off is a higher upfront cost because the controller circuit adds complexity to manufacturing.

Performance: Where Brushless Pulls Ahead

The performance gap between brushless and brushed drills shows up in four areas that matter for real UK workshop projects.

1. Torque Output

Brushless motors produce higher torque at lower speeds because the electronic controller optimises power delivery for the load. The Makita DHP486Z delivers 70 Nm of maximum torque from its brushless motor, while most brushed 18V drills peak around 30-40 Nm. That extra torque means driving 75mm screws into hardwood without stalling, or drilling 20mm holes in oak without the motor groaning.

For torque explained in detail, the key point is that brushless motors deliver their torque across a wider range. A brushed drill feels strong at full speed but bogs down under heavy load. A brushless drill maintains consistent force from first rotation to last.

2. Battery Runtime

This is where brushless drills save real money over time. The electronic controller in a brushless motor wastes less energy as heat, so the same 18V 2.0Ah battery gives you 25-50% more drilling time. In practical terms, if a brushed drill gets 90 minutes of light use from a full charge, the brushless equivalent will deliver 110-135 minutes from the same battery.

Over a year of regular workshop use, that adds up to fewer charge cycles, less time waiting for batteries, and slower battery degradation. Our guide to drill battery care covers how charge cycle count affects long-term battery health.

3. Motor Longevity

Carbon brushes in a brushed motor are a consumable. They wear down, produce carbon dust, and eventually the motor stops working. A typical brushed drill motor lasts 1,000-3,000 hours depending on load. A brushless motor, with no physical contact parts, can run 10,000+ hours before anything mechanical wears out.

For a maker using their drill a few hours per week, a brushed motor might last 5-7 years. A brushless motor will likely outlast the drill body itself. The DeWalt DCD778 and Makita DHP486 are both built to survive a decade of regular workshop use.

4. Heat and Noise

Friction creates heat and noise. Brushed motors run hotter under sustained load, which can make the grip uncomfortable and reduce battery efficiency further. Brushless motors run noticeably cooler and quieter, especially during extended drilling sessions. If you spend hours in the workshop, the difference in comfort is real.

When a Brushed Drill Still Makes Sense

Brushless is not always the right answer. A brushed drill makes genuine sense in a few specific situations.

Budget is the primary constraint. If you need a cordless drill and the difference between £55 and £90 matters, a brushed model like the Black & Decker BCD700 will handle light household tasks without complaint. It drills pilot holes, drives screws into softwood, and assembles furniture. It just does it with less efficiency and a shorter lifespan.

You will use it rarely. If the drill comes out of the toolbox twice a year for hanging shelves or building a garden gate, the longevity advantage of brushless does not matter. The brushed motor will outlast your patience with the project long before it wears out.

You already own a brushed battery platform. If you have several 18V brushed batteries from an existing brand, switching to brushless within that same brand ecosystem is straightforward (same batteries work), but switching to a different brand means buying new batteries and chargers on top of the drill body.

Head-to-Head Verdict

For UK makers who use their drill regularly, brushless is the clear winner on every metric that matters beyond initial price. You get more torque, longer runtime, less heat, zero brush maintenance, and a motor that lasts years longer.

The Ryobi RPD18BL2 at under £100 removes the price objection entirely. It is a proper brushless combi drill with 50 Nm of torque, part of the Ryobi ONE+ ecosystem with 280+ compatible tools. For the price of a good brushed drill from a premium brand, you get a brushless motor that will outlast it by years.

For more demanding work, the DeWalt DCD778 and Makita DHP486 are both excellent brushless options that balance professional-grade performance with sensible UK pricing. The Makita edges ahead on torque (70 Nm vs 65 Nm), while the DeWalt includes two batteries in the kit at a similar price point.

A brushed drill is not a bad drill. It is a simpler tool that suits simpler needs. But if you are buying your first cordless drill or upgrading from an old model, the brushless premium pays for itself within a couple of years through better runtime, zero maintenance, and a motor that will still be working when the batteries eventually need replacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Products Mentioned in This Guide

• Ryobi RPD18BL2-0 ONE+ Brushless Combi Drill - Best value brushless entry point
• DeWalt DCD778S2T 18V XR Brushless Hammer Drill - All-round brushless pick
• Makita DHP486Z 18V LXT Brushless Combi Drill - Highest torque brushless
• Einhell TE-CD 18/40 Li-i Power X-Change Drill - Budget brushless option
• Black & Decker BCD700S1K-GB 18V Hammer Drill - Cheapest brushed option