Power tools · owner-verdict comparison

DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill: 89% of 56 owners recommend it, vs 54% of 56 for the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill

89%of 56 owners recommend
89% recommend · 6% neutral · 5% don't
Owners praise
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Powerful for its small size
  • Tough, solid, well-balanced build
Owners complain about
  • Triggers and switches can feel cheap
  • No kickback/anti-rotation protection
Full owner report →

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904

54%of 56 owners recommend
54% recommend · 37% neutral · 9% don't
Owners praise
  • Massive power for heavy-duty work, owners reach for the M18 specifically for concrete, tapcons, framing headers, and big fence/deck jobs, often describing it as a 'beast' with roughly 3x the power of the M12
  • Do-it-all versatility, if you only buy one Milwaukee drill, owners say the M18 covers everything from home repairs to daily contractor use
  • Auto-stop/kickback protection on the hammer drill shuts the tool off before it wrenches your wrist, which owners repeatedly call out as a standout safety feature
Owners complain about
  • Heavy and bulky compared to the M12, many owners who have both say the M18 sits unused in the truck 90% of the time and they default to the lighter, more ergonomic M12 for daily tasks
  • Chuck and trigger reliability complaints, particularly on the hammer drill, reports of chucks coming loose and triggers/hammer mode intermittently failing to engage
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill if
  • ✓Homeowners and DIYers wanting a capable everyday drill
  • ✓Tradespeople needing compact power in tight spaces
  • ✓Owners upgrading from older or entry DeWalt drills
Skip it if
  • Buyers who need a hammer-drill function (get the 805)
  • Anyone wanting built-in kickback protection
Get the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904 if
  • ✓Contractors drilling concrete, thick steel, or large holes daily
  • ✓Framers and deck builders driving thousands of screws or lags
  • ✓Anyone who wants one heavy-duty system to cover both home and jobsite work
  • ✓Users who value the auto-stop safety feature when hammer drilling or driving lags
Skip it if
  • Buyers wanting a light, everyday-carry drill (M12 owners say it stays in the truck)
  • Occasional DIYers who rarely need extra power and prioritize weight over torque

What DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill owners say

“For the money I would say that this is a great setup for Professionals and DIY/Weekend warriors.”
— @morinbaptiste636 on YouTube
“The DCD800 is the latest and greatest drill and the DCF850 is the newest impact driver.”
— Cyral on Reddit
“definitely not worth the upgrade to the newer ones”
— @jncn1490 on YouTube

What Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904 owners say

“The best use i had for the autostop was driving 5/16 lags. It would just touch when they snugged down and shut the drill down. No broken anything or wrists”
— DiarrheaXplosion on Reddit
“My son has the M18 Fuel drill and driver set. Those are beasts.”
— NYOB4321 on Reddit
“So much so that my rotary hammer drill will only work every 2/3 depressions. Very frustrating.”
— thatsmejp on Reddit

DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904: frequently asked questions

Is the DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill or the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904 better?

Real owners lean toward the DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill: 89% of 56 owners recommend it, vs 54% of 56 for the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904.

Who should get the DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill?

Owners point the DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill at homeowners and DIYers wanting a capable everyday drill, and tradespeople needing compact power in tight spaces.

Who should get the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904?

Owners point the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904 at contractors drilling concrete, thick steel, or large holes daily, and framers and deck builders driving thousands of screws or lags.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill is triggers and switches can feel cheap. For the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904, it's heavy and bulky compared to the M12, many owners who have both say the M18 sits unused in the truck 90% of the time and they default to the lighter, more ergonomic M12 for daily tasks.