Dewalt’s new 20V Max compact cordless drill (DCD780C2) is powerful enough to tackle most common drilling and driving tasks without being weighty and tiring to use. Dewalt designed this bad boy to be compact and lightweight, and it looks like they’ve done a great job.
Features & Specifications
Full specs are listed in our Dewalt 20V Max drill comparison, but here they are again in summary: 1/2″ ratcheting chuck, 0-600/0-2000 RPM, 350 UWO torque, 3.4 lb weight, includes 1.5Ah batteries.
Advertisement
There are only 16 clutch settings – 15+1 – and they seem to match well with the drill’s torque delivery. 20-24 settings would offer finer control, but there’s no real need for it here. We were actually surprised as to how smooth the clutch adjustment turns. The knob has rounded detents, which make it as easy to grip with a gloved hand as the bumpy knob on the 12V DCD710S2 drill we reviewed last year.
The ratcheting chuck locks beautifully with a satisfying click-click-click, and doesn’t loosen up at all, even when holding thinner drill bits. We were slightly concerned about how much we’d like the speed selection switch, but it toggles easily with a thumb or 1-2 fingers.
Rubber bumpers protect your work surface should you place the drill on its side, and a removable belt hook and bit holder can be fixed to the drill just above the battery. Also, the LED work light stays on for about 20 seconds after you release the trigger. This isn’t an earth-shattering feature, but it’s a thoughtful tweak.
Ergonomics & Comfort
Advertisement
If you recall, we gushed about the ergonomics of Dewalt’s 12V Max tools. The pistol-grip on the 20V Max drill is ever so slightly scaled up and lengthened, but it more or less retains the same great grip profile. The pistol grip is pushed further back on the drill than we’re used to, but if anything this improved the grip’s comfort and balance even further.
The drill/driver is balanced just right when paired with a 1.5Ah compact battery. It does not quite approach the lightness of a 12V drill, but it’s as light as we could ask for.
Performance
This is a compact drill, not a heavy-duty powerhouse. As such, it runs into a little trouble drilling very large holes and driving large/long lag bolts. Overload-current protection does not seem to be as sensitive as with other brands’ compact offerings, allowing us to push it a little bit further.
One thing that we definitely appreciated was the higher 2000 RPM capabilities of the motor since we often work with smaller drill bits. This leads to better performance and drill bit longevity.
Conclusion
We can’t find anything to complain about – the DCD780C2 is just a phenomenal compact drill kit. If we had to sum it up, we’d say that the drill is powerful enough for most medium-duty tasks and comfortable enough to use all day.
The compact drill/driver is best suited for DIYers and Pros looking for a compact 18-20V that can deliver more power than 12V models. It is not optimized for those looking for a heavy-duty drill-through-anything and drive-any-bolt model.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
The DCD780C2 kit comes with the drill, 2x 1.5Ah batteries, a quick charger, and carrying case. You can also find the DCD780 drill bundled in a 2-tool combo kit with the new 20V Max impact driver.
Thank you to Dewalt for providing the sample for this review unconditionally. Review samples are typically returned, donated, or in some cases retained for further testing or comparison purposes.
Jason
I bought this drill paired with the impact driver in a combo before Christmas. Overall I would say I’m mostly satisfied. I like the feel of the drill in my hand and it runs for a long time on these lithium ion batteries. The one problem I have is that there seems to be quite a bit of wobble in the chuck. I’ve exchanged it three times and each has the same thing happening. The latest one I have, however, seems to have the least wobble of the four I’ve had. Anyone else experience this? I’ve tried other drills in the same class (Ridgid had the worst) and each has significant wobble. My father in law’s old corded cheapie 3/8″ Ryobi has no wobble whatsoever. What gives?
Andy Johnson
The electric brake stops to quick and unlocks the chuck and bit loosens or falls out…evidently the engineers at Dewalt have never used what they designed.I use Dewalt drills all day everyday..these are the worst yet…I have at least 12 in use daily and replace a few per year as they wear out..going to start looking at other brands
Andy Johnson
I rescind my complaint….new feature I guess…don’t hold chuck and pull trigger to tighten bit like we have always done…once bit is tight..turn collar and will ratchet and lock…
Chris
Just shredded my hands for the past hour doing the old way and watching the bit fall out over and over. Your comment allows me to retain my hand flesh and sanity.
Stuart
That’s one of the first things I usually check for, and I didn’t notice any wobbling. I’ll check again later tonight just to be sure. I haven’t seen mention of this elsewhere either, so it doesn’t seem to be a widespread issue.
What types of bits have you been using with it?
Jason
Dewalt cobalt pilot point bits, dewalt titanium pilot points, many types. It’s not the bits. The chuck wobbles with or without a bit in it.
Steve R.
Stuart–Actually, I’ve read several comments to the effect that some wobble is “normal” with the DCD785C2 (which I have), for the reason that some slop is built into the mechanism for the hammering function. That way, it doesn’t beat itself to death over time. The DCD780 wouldn’t be expected to have the play or wobble in it, as it doesn’t have the hammer drill capability. However, tolerances are probably not as good as they used to be; there’s a price point that they’re built to; they’re made in China and/or it could be a bad run of chucks on the units Jason got hold of . He should also factor in that a hand drill (corded or cordless) is portable, lightweight and not designed for precision; you drill a hole or drive a screw in your project and move on to the next one. If you have a project that demands precision, you would use a drill press. Drill presses are generally not portable and can’t be used everywhere because of their size and power requirements, so there are trade-offs involved. All this is a long-winded way of saying we have to adjust our expectations to the job at hand.
Harold
Steve R., I completely agree with your comment that we need to “adjust our expectations to the job at hand”. Some people get upset because they purchase, for example, a Chevy and want it to perform like a Cadillac. There really isn’t anything wrong with the Chevy, but it was never designed to be a Cadillac in the first place, and was hopefully priced accordingly.
From a design and engineering standpoint, there are always trade offs. The best manufacturers figure out a way to maximize key features while limiting the “downside”, and I think this compact drill is a great example.
fred
Harold
You’re absolutely right. What irks folks is when they pay Cadillac prices for Yugo quality – and while a Chevy may be a serviceable and cost-effective option in most situations – from what I heard the late – and not much lamented Yugo automobile was not.
Jason
Harold,
So what your saying then is that my expectation that a product perform as specified, marketed, and designed is unrealistic? I know it’s a Dewalt, not a Hilti. I bought a Chevy expecting a Chevy. But I guess that’s too much to ask for.
fred
Jason
So maybe this re-calibrates your expectations of China-made tools and possibly the Dewalt brand (which built its reputation as a premier USA manufacturer of big radial arm saws – many of which are still in use after 60 years of service) and their current QA program
Ian
I have one of these at home, and we now have two at work, and all three of them run dead true. It’s the best compact cordless drill I’ve ever had the pleasure of using, period. I use it for anything from light construction, to drilling and tapping thick steel plate. Yesterday at work I sunk 8x 1/2″-20 holes through 3/4″ plate, and used the drill to do the chamfer and tapping, too. No sweat. 😀
Stuart
Update: there is some slight wobble at lower speeds, but an almost immeasurable degree of bit deflection. The minor wobble seems to correct itself at slow speeds, and the tip of a 6-inch bit didn’t seem to stray at all.
I drilled another series of holes and drove about a dozen 1-1/2″ screws to see if the wobble affected accuracy or precision, and it did not. The chuck’s certainly not sloppy or anything like that, and the very slight wobble doesn’t seem to affect the accuracy of the drill in any way.
It looks to me is that the chuck sleeve is ever so slightly non-symmetrical. Perhaps this is a result of the ratcheting lock? In any case, the chuck jaws and bits themselves seem to spin nearly perfectly true, nothing like the wobble in cheap cordless drills or observed with 1/4″ hex chucks. (Check out ~2:18 of this video demo.)
Ken
Question – Am I correct in assuming that a 20V 3.0Ah battery will work on a tool that came with a 20V 1.5Ah battery?
Stuart
Yes, that is correct.
Bob Lindsay
DeWalt Mod. DCD780 20VMAX Cordless Drill
Serial# 012518
Chuck loosens when I release the trigger, causing the drill bit/ect. to fall out.
Robert V Lindsay
Problem resolved………
Stuart
Glad to hear it!
pete
I just bought the dcd790 and the chuck looses due to the fast and harsh break. What did you do to remedy this? Its going back if I can’t fix this cause the drill is useless if my bits keep falling off.
Andy Johnson
You are absolutely correct….the brake is to harsh…and the bits fall out…every hole I drill…which is at least 200 1/8 holes per day..This drill is useless to me
Steve
I know nothing about cordless drills but need to purchase a new tool this month. I want to get a cordless drill that will enable me to easily bore 8-10″ deep holes in the dirt surrounding my 10 Queen Palm trees. Each time I fertilize, I need to make 70 holes for the fertilizer spikes.
Is there a cordless drill that you might recommend for me to purchase to do this primary task? I rather spend a few extra dollars than be disappointed with a drill that is not up to this strange task.
Thank you
Stuart
You might want to check out our “Best Cordless Drills 2013” roundup post, which ranks Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel drill as a top cordless drill contender. If that drill can’t handle 70x 8-10″ holes into dirt, none of the 18V/20V Max level will do any better.
The brushless motor in the Milwaukee M18 Fuel drill should give you great runtime.
If the soil is relatively soft and with few buried roots or branches, than a compact and lower powered drill like this Dewalt should suffice.
Steve
Stuart
Thanks for the input. I will check it out.
Steve
Jim Parise
I did not see a response to Bob Lindsay’s April 2013 question about the Dewalt DCD780 dropping bits when the brake engages. If the problem has been resolved I would love to know how, my 780 looses bits all of the time, and it is frustrating!
Thanks,
Jim
Stuart
This might be worth a call to Dewalt tech support, customer service, or a service center. If it’s a common issue, they should be able to help you. I haven’t encountered this problem myself, and Bob never mentioned how he resolved the problem with his drill.
Jim Parise
oops, never mind!
Generally when i change a bit in any of my keyless chuck cordless drills, i grasp the chuck sleeve, and either run the drill in reverse or froward to loosen or tighten the chuck. Although the manual does not reference this practice, they do say to grasp the sleeve and manually turn it to open or close the chuck. when i did this to tighten the chuck I noticed a ratcheting sound at the end of the chuck travel, this i assume is the “automatic lock”n that they mentioned. problem solved, had i not read Bobs problem solved comment and read the manual 10 more times, i would still be loosing bits.
Thanks for the help
Jim
tim
I have a Dewalt dcd 771 and can’t figure how to lock the chuck key on the drill motor. It came seperate in the bag and fits well on the drill motor but when you tip it down it falls out. Can anybody give me some clues as what to move to lock the chuck onto the motor.
Stuart
There is no chuck key. The DCD771 has a ratcheting keyless chuck.
If the chuck is detached from the drill, it’s probably damaged and should be exchanged for a replacement drill.
tim
I have a Dewalt dcd 771 and can’t figure how to lock the chuck key on the drill motor. It came seperate in the bag and fits well on the drill motor but when you tip it down it falls out. Can anybody give me some clues as what to move to lock the chuck onto the motor.
Hmm. The chuck parts seperates from the ratchet part. If it was on the drill would not fit in the dewalt bag it came with but by taking it off and putting it alongside it fits real nice. You mean it shoudl be all one piece..chuch and motor?
Stuart
The drill above is the DCD780, but the DCD771 should look similar – it should be a complete drill right out of the box.
Can you send a picture of what it looks like? Maybe I’m misunderstanding you.
sunilkumar.T
Please sent me the user manual on Drill model 14.4V N219412
Dave
Mine drops bits. Not sure how to fix this problem. Everything else seems to work fine.
Andy Johnson
Turn the collar…it will ratchet and lock bit in…I had the same frustrating problem till I learned this
C. Tansley
Are drill bits universal for Dewalt compact cordless ?
Todd Perry
TERRIBLE DRILL !
–Had mine two weeks. I would not give you $20 for a new one of these drills.
This has go to be one of the worst drills I have ever used. Black and Decker is better then this.
The brake stops to quickly and the chuck ALWAYS loosens making EVERY bit I use fall out.
I would NOT recommend this drill for anyone. Do yourself a favor and get a Makita , Black and Decker or a Ryobi .
–I will be returning mine to where I bought mine first thing Monday morning.
Dave
I had the same problem with mine. However, I tightened the chuck and got two clicks. When I tightened a bit further I got a much louder click and now it does not drop bits. Three clicks and the chuck should not drop the bits. Still, it was very frustrating until I fugue red that out! Good luck!
firesurfer
I noticed that bits loosened up when I first got it, but after a month or so it seemed to hold better. I think they put a touch too much grease in the chuck. It seemed to bed in after a while. Like a car, it works better when being used.
Robbie
Looking to replace my seldom used but now DOA 11 year old nicad drill, I saw this 780 at Home Depot in a kit with two batteries selling for $179. Great reviews from you and others, including customers still buying it 8 years after it’s introduction. I don’t understand it’s position being sold along side the 791 (also with 2 batteries) for only $20 more. On paper, the 791 appears to leave the 780 for dead – brushless, higher torque, better batteries, hard case. Who wouldn’t pay just a bit more for a tool that appears to be much better in many ways?
So my question… Is the 780 better than the 791 in some intangible way? Is brushless not the big advantage that it’s cracked up to be? Is the difference in torque insignificant? Is the 780 overpriced? Is the 791 underpriced?
And lastly, is it all overkill for an occasional home repair, or will I appreciate the precision and power on the rare occasions that I need it? Would I be just as happy with a $99 Dewalt or $79 Ryobi?
Stuart
On a tight budget and for seldom use, the DCD777 or new Atomic drills are okay, at $99 for each kit seasonally.
If you’re open to the price of the DCD791, that’s Dewalt’s best compact cordless drill. DCD791 is far better than the DCD780. The DCD780 is still a good model, but it doesn’t compare to the their more recent offerings.
The $99 kit offerings have some shortcomings when it comes to specs and the included batteries. If money isn’t a top concern, the DCD791 is simply the best compact Dewalt option.
Jacob
Every brand no matter what there is always bad mouthing people which in most cases don’t know how to Properly operate the drill I wouldn’t take Anything for my dcd780 and yes I’m in Commercial construction it gets its ass worked hard every day 630 to 5 mine has never disappointed me or had a hard time completing any thing threw its way great work DeWalt!!!!!!!!