The 10 Best Drill Presses
Updated by · How we research
Ten benchtop and floor drill presses compared on speed control, quill travel, warranty and price. The WEN DP1263V wins for most home shops. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A drill press's size, called its swing, is twice the distance from the column to the center of the chuck, so a 12-inch machine can bore the middle of a 12-inch disc. Woodworkers and hobby metalworkers gain the most: straight, repeatable, depth-stopped holes a hand drill can't match. A bench model suits most garages, while floor models handle long or thick stock.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The WEN DP1263V now leads, since it puts a speed lever, a digital readout and a deep plunge on a bench machine at a home-shop price. The old list leaned on big shop tools and included two things that aren't drill presses at all: the DeWalt DWE1622K is a magnetic drill for steel beams, and the Dremel 220-01 is a stand for a rotary tool. Both are gone. So are the Shop Fox W1668, Wen 4214, Ryobi DP103L and Skil 3320-01, which have been discontinued or replaced, and the Grizzly Industrial G9969 radial press, a niche tool. The Nova 58000 Voyager moved to the special honors, since its maker still sells it directly.
The Jet JDP-20MF and Jet J-2530 stay for shops that need a heavy machine. New picks cover the budget end, a floor press under four figures and three 10-inch bench models. We worked from WEN's and JET's published speed ranges, quill travel and warranty terms, Fine Woodworking's minimums for a furniture-shop press, owner reports about tables, lasers and depth stops, and a Consumer Product Safety Commission search that turned up no drill press recalls from these brands.
November 06, 2020:
Often referred to as a drill machine or a pillar drill, a drill press is designed to ensure holes are aligned precisely, and at exact depths, in a variety of materials like wood, metal, and in some cases even glass. They utilize a solid worktable, to which materials can be clamped, and a variable speed drill head that moves up and down by means of a mechanical feed handle. They provide greater precision than a handheld drill, are much more powerful, and can be used with a variety of drill bits for boring, reaming, countersinking, counterboring, and tapping.
Choosing a suitable drill press will depend on your needs, the materials you work with, and how frequently you need to use it. In this most recent update, we have added several new models, suitable for occasional home use and small workshops, to powerful commercial-grade units for daily use. As a budget option, we previously recommended the Rikon 30-100, however, due to issues with accuracy and belt slippage, we replaced it with the Ryobi DP103L, which features a hard-wearing induction motor and uses a laser alignment system similar to that found on the Skil 3320-01 and the Wen 4214. The latter also features a digital speed readout allowing you to target the exact RPM for your project with the simple turn of a knob. We replaced the Grizzly G7943 with the slightly newer Grizzly Industrial G9969. This unit has a 1 horsepower motor, as opposed to the 3/4 horsepower of the previous model, and features a unique swivel post that allows the drill head to be positioned at almost any angle, making it a versatile option for those who need to work with bulky materials or awkward drilling angles. The Grizzly is a benchtop drill but boasts similar power to some of the floor-standing models such as the Shop Fox W1668 or the Jet JDP-20MF.
The Powermatic PM2800B was the most powerful drill in the ranking, and the most expensive, yet several reports of accuracy and quality issues made us believe that it's not worth this high price tag, therefore we have replaced it with the Nova 58000 Voyager. For a similar outlay, you get a state-of-the-art machine that uses smart technology to automate the speed, power, and depth, while its built-in sensors continually monitor and adjust the settings and can detect problems, giving it superior safety and functionality.
November 21, 2019:
Removed the Craftsman 10-inch because of availability concerns and the Wen 4208 because better models became available. Added the Shop Fox W1668 and the Powermatic PM2800B.
Woodworkers will be particularly drawn to the Shop Fox because of its spindle sander attachment. The drive mechanism itself has an oscillating function that makes sanding easier and it leaves less patterned abrasions on the material.
Using some types of drill bits on a drill press can be dangerous. Care should be taken to make sure the bits being used are approved to be used with a drill press. Working with wood creates fine particles that can be hazardous if inhaled for long periods of time. Always use breathing protection to avoid health complications.
Special Honors
NOVA Voyager DVR Teknatool's NOVA Voyager DVR is an 18-inch floor press with a direct-drive motor, so there are no belts or pulleys. Its maker lists speeds from 50 to 3,000 RPM, 6 inches of quill travel, and a 5-year warranty on parts with 2 years on the motor and controller. It costs far more than a home shop needs, but it suits serious woodworkers who change speeds constantly. teknatool.com
Swing, Quill Travel, And Bench Or Floor
It is twice the distance from the column to the center of the chuck, so a 12-inch press can drill the center of a 12-inch board.
Swing is the size in a drill press name. It is twice the distance from the column to the center of the chuck, so a 12-inch press can drill the center of a 12-inch board. Bench presses run from 8 to 15 inches; floor presses start around 15 and go to 20 or more (Wikipedia).
Quill travel matters more than most buyers expect. It's how far the bit plunges in one stroke, and it limits how deep a hole you can drill without raising the table. Small 8- and 10-inch machines such as the WEN 4206T and WEN DP1062V travel about 2 inches. The 12-inch WEN DP1263V and JET 716000 reach 3-1/8 inches, and the WEN 4227T floor press reaches 4-3/4 inches, enough to pass through a 4x4 in one stroke. When Fine Woodworking compared benchtop presses, it set 3 inches of travel and a 1/3 HP motor as the floor for furniture work (Fine Woodworking).
A bench press needs a solid bench and should be bolted down. A floor press costs more and weighs 200 pounds or more, but its column is tall enough to drill the end of a long board and its table is far larger. WEN's lineup shows the spread, from a compact 8-inch to a 17-inch floor model (WEN).
Belt Speeds Or A Speed Lever
Speed is the setting that most affects the hole and the bit. Small bits and soft wood want high speed; big bits, hole saws, Forstner bits and steel want slow speed. Running too fast burns wood and dulls bits in metal (Wikipedia).
Most presses change speed by moving a belt between stepped pulleys. You stop the machine, open the lid, loosen the motor and shift the belt. The SKIL DP9505-00 and WEN 4206T have five steps; the JET J-2530 has 16 and the WEN 4227T has 12, which reach down to 150 to 200 RPM for large cutters.
Variable-speed models such as the WEN DP1263V, WEN DP1062V and JET 716000 use a lever that changes speed while the motor runs, with a digital readout. That saves time when one job needs several bits. Motor amps on these machines aren't a fair power comparison between brands; the slow end of the speed range tells you more about drilling steel. At the top end, the NOVA Voyager DVR uses a direct-drive motor with no belts at all (Teknatool).
Setup And Safe Use
Check a new press before trusting it. Put a square on the table to confirm it sits at 90 degrees to the bit, and if you have a dial indicator, check the chuck for wobble. Benchtop tables often can't be adjusted front to back, so a flat auxiliary table with a fence is a common first project (Fine Woodworking). Treat a laser guide as a pointer, not a measuring tool, and adjust it when the machine is new. Lasers on these machines are Class II or IIIA, so don't look into the beam.
Clamp the work or hold it in a vise. A loose part, especially metal, can grab the bit and spin. Skip gloves, roll up sleeves, tie back long hair, wear eye protection, and take the key out of the chuck before you switch on (Wikipedia). A drill press isn't a milling machine: side loads loosen the chuck and wear the bearings. Our search of the Consumer Product Safety Commission's database found no drill press recalls for any brand on this list (SaferProducts.gov).
How we researched this
We compared 21 drill presses, from 8-inch bench models to a 20-inch floor press, read the makers' published speed ranges, quill travel and warranty terms, used Fine Woodworking's benchtop test criteria and standard drill press safety guidance, analyzed owner feedback patterns, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Frequently asked questions
Is a drill press worth it over a hand drill?
Yes, if you need straight, repeatable holes. A press drills square to the table every time, a depth stop repeats the same depth, and a tilting table handles angled holes. For a few holes a year, a hand drill and a guide block are enough.
Should I get a 10-inch or a 12-inch drill press?
A 12-inch press usually adds quill travel and a bigger table. The 12-inch models here plunge about 3 inches per stroke, while most 10-inch models plunge about 2. If you drill table legs or thick stock, the 12-inch is worth it.
Is variable speed worth paying for?
If you switch bits often, yes. A speed lever changes speed in seconds while the motor runs. Belt models do the same job, but you stop the machine and move the belt each time.
Who makes the best drill press?
For home shops, WEN offers the most features for the money, and JET is the premium pick with longer warranties on its bench models. SKIL gives a three-year warranty on a budget 10-inch. Nova and Powermatic make high-end floor models.
Can I use a drill press as a milling machine?
No. A drill press is built for downward force. Side loads from milling can loosen the chuck and wear out the spindle bearings.
Have any drill presses been recalled?
We found no Consumer Product Safety Commission recalls of drill presses from WEN, JET, SKIL, Ryobi, Grizzly or Delta. The only drill press recall we found was a 2010 recall of another brand.
