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When you are renovating your home, your toolbox will become your best friend and your drill will without a doubt become one of the most important and useful tools you will own. Cordless drills are a game changer, and once you have used one you will never look back! They are just as powerful as a regular corded drill, with a rechargeable battery that packs a huge amount of power into a small cell.
When you are choosing your new drill, you need to know that the one you have chosen is reliable and right for the job. With a cordless drill, you have the convenience of not being tied to a power source, which makes it easy to move around and get the job done as quickly as possible. It’s also perfect if the home you are renovating doesn’t have electricity yet!
Dewalt DCD777C2 is always a great choice that offers high quality and high performance. It is one of our favorite drill drivers because of its lightweight, ergonomic and compact design that doesn't compromise on power and speed.
Main Differences Between Makita vs Dewalt Drill
The Main Differences Between Makita vs Dewalt Drill are:
- Makita weighs 3.8lbs, whereas Dewalt Drill weighs 2.6lbs
- Makita delivers 530 lbs of torque, whereas Dewalt Drill 500 lbs of torque
- Makita is cheaper, whereas Dewalt Drill comes with two batteries
- Makita is a Japanese company renowned for its high-quality power tools, founded in 1915, with factories based all around the world, including the USA, whereas Dewalt is a proud American brand founded in 1922 who create a range of “GUARANTEED TOUGH” tools.
We are going to be looking at two brands today, Makita vs Dewalt, to see which one makes better drills. Both of these brands are known for their high performance power tools.
We are going to look at two of the Makita and DeWalt’s most popular drill drivers to compare them both and see which brand is better. From Dewalt, we will be looking at the 20v Cordless drill, and from Makita, we will look at the 18v Cordless drill. Both of these are excellent drills, but there are a few differences that may make you choose one above the other.
Before we get started, let’s look at the different types of drills available, as each type has its own benefits depending on what you will be using it for.
Types of Drills Available
Drill Drivers
Drill drivers are a commonly used and versatile type of drill, that can drill holes, and can also act as a driver to tighten and loosen screws.
This type of drill is perfect for use around the house, such as drilling holes in walls and putting together furniture, as you can change the drill bits and screwdrivers easily, depending on what materials or you are working with.
Hammer Drill or Rotary Hammer Drill
Hammer drills work like a jackhammer, using short sharp punch motions to drill through very hard materials that a regular drill can’t manage, such as stone, concrete or metal.
There are also ‘Rotary Hammer’ drills, which use a rotary motion as well as the hammer function, making it a very versatile tool. You can see how powerful a hammer drill is by looking at the BPM (blows per minute) or IPM (impacts per minute).
Drill Press
This is the most powerful type of drill. A Drill Press is a stationary drill that is used to make multiple holes very quickly, and are commonly used in workshops and factories.
The great thing about these is that since they are stationary, it is very easy to create precise holes, exactly where you need them, and to tilt the drill to create holes at an angle if required.
Overall these two drills are very similar. The biggest difference is the weight, with the Makita being over a pound heavier than the DeWalt, however, it makes up for the extra weight with some extra torque.
The DeWalt is slightly more expensive, but it comes with an extra battery which is a bonus as it means no downtime while you are waiting for your battery to recharge.
Read our full guide on how to find the best Makita drill.
Makita vs Dewalt Drill Brand Comparison – Which Drill Brand is Better?
We are going to compare the Makita XFD061 18v drill and the DeWalt DCD777C2 20v drill, to see which brand is better. We have chosen these two drills because they are both great ‘all-rounder’ drill drivers, perfect for use when renovating your home. Both of these drills are cordless, running off powerful rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries.
Both the Makita XFD061 and the DeWalt DCD777C2 have brushless motors, which reduces the heat and energy used and extends the lifetime of the drill and the battery.
Because they are using less energy you will need to change the battery less often resulting in more work getting done before you have to switch batteries or stop and wait for it to charge!
The Makita and the DeWalt both feature ½ inch chunks, so they can handle drill bits and drivers of up to ½ inch in diameter, making them both ideal tools for professional jobs as well as smaller tasks.
Today we are going to weigh up the pros and cons of each of these drills, as well as taking a look at the features, price, weight, and ease of use, to give you an all-round view of which drill would be better for you.
Makita XFD061 18v Cordless Drill Driver Kit
The Makita 18v Drill is well known for being one of the best value cordless drills around. It’s great quality and powerful, with 530 pounds of torque behind it. Although the motor is very powerful, it’s relatively quiet to use, a bonus for those late-night DIY jobs.
The Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless ½” Driver-Drill Kit (XFD061) is an ideal drilling and driving solution for the user who wants a drill with superior power-to-weight ratio. The XFD061 combines 530 in.lbs. of Max Torque with an efficient brushless motor that delivers up 50% more work per charge, increased power and speed, and longer tool life. 
The kit includes:
- 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2″ Driver-Drill
- 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Charger (DC18SD)
- 18V LXT Lithium-Ion 3.0Ah Battery (BL1830B)
- Tool Bag
The 3Ah Lithium-Ion battery is a powerful 10-cell battery, which will work with other 18v Makita tools as you build up your collection. The battery has a handy power level indicator so you can see how much charge is left- this is a great feature if you end up with more Makita tools and batteries as you can see how much charge you have left.
The charging time for this battery is about an hour which is a little slower than other batteries, so it may be worth purchasing an extra battery if you are using a lot of Makita tools so you don’t have to wait an hour for it to charge. If you don’t want to purchase another battery then there is also the option to purchase the DC18RC Rapid charger, which can halve your charging time!
The tool bag is adequate, but not great quality. It is a canvas style bag with a zip, which could break easily, so I would probably upgrade to something a little more sturdy, but the bag shouldn’t really make or break this product, so let’s move on.
The Makita XFD061 weighs 2.5lbs without the battery, and just under 4lbs with the battery attached. The grip is comfortable, although the plastic chuck throws the weight off balance very slightly towards the battery.
This drill feels sturdy and easy to use, with useful features like a bright LED light under the chuck for drilling in the dark, and a recessed speed selector at the top of the drill.
Features of the Makita XFD061
- Mechanical 2-speed transmission
- Brushless motor delivers 530 lbs of torque
- Brushless motor gives 50% extra runtime per charge
- ½ inch chuck
- Weighs only 3.8lbs with battery
- Compact and Ergonomic design, length of 7 ¼ inches
- Soft grip rubberized handle for comfort
- Dual LED lights with afterglow
- Extreme Protection Technology (XPT) for protection against dust and water
- Metal Gears and Gear Housing
- LED battery charge level indicator
- 3-year warranty on the battery, charger, and tools
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|
Lightweight at 3.8lbs |
Plastic chuck instead of metal |
|
Compact |
The battery takes an hour to charge |
|
3-year warranty |
Comes with a bag instead of a hard case |
|
Water and dust resistant |
|
|
Cordless |
|
|
Long battery life per charge |
|
|
The battery has a level indicator |
|
|
Affordable price |
|
|
Powerful, yet quiet |
Customers’ Opinions on the Makita XFD061
We’ve been looking at the reviews to see what other customers have to say about the Makita XFD061.
- Excellent kit for an excellent price
- The battery level indicator is useful
- Even though the chuck is plastic, it’s extremely high quality and will last years
- Powerful, but still quiet
- Only comes with one battery
- Flimsy bag instead of a box
- Run time is very good
Overall, the reviews for the Makita XFD061 are excellent, with a total of 4.4 stars out of 5 on Amazon. There were a couple of reviews that said that the chuck was wobbly but it sounds like this was a fault on just a couple of drills as the other reviews are all so good with no mention of a wobble.
DeWalt DCD777C2 20v Drill Driver Kit
DeWalt is without a doubt one of the most well-known brands when it comes to tools. This proud American brand has built up a great reputation over the years, and more recently have become well known for their cordless drills.
The DeWalt DCD777C2 is their compact drill/driver, is a brushless and cordless model that was launched in 2016 and has been hugely popular amongst professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike.
Weighing in at just 2.6lbs, it is very easy and comfortable to use, with an ergonomic grip to ensure your hands and arms don’t get tired after a long days work.
It’s also pretty compact at 7.52 inches from front to back to help you get into those tight spaces, but despite its lightweight form and compact size, it delivers a whopping 500 lb of Torque!
Dewalt DCD777C2 is always a great choice that offers high quality and high performance. It is one of our favorite drill drivers because of its lightweight, ergonomic and compact design that doesn't compromise on power and speed.
The kit includes:
- DCD777 Compact Brushless Drill/Driver
- 2 x Lithium-Ion Batteries
- Charger
- Kitbag
The great thing about the DeWalt DCD777C2 is that is comes with two batteries, so you can leave one charging while you are working with the other. This means no downtime while you wait for a charge, and no need to go out and buy an extra battery yourself. The charge time is around 45 minutes for a full charge, which is not bad at all.
Like the Makita model, this DeWalt kit comes with a bag instead of a molded box, which again, is a slight disadvantage as it seems less organised keeping drill and its components loose in a bag instead of a box.
The DeWalt DCD777C2 features brushless technology which ensures optimum performance, improving efficiency to give you a longer battery life.
Brushless tools have also been shown to last longer than brushed motors, giving you more value for money in the long term, as it is less likely to wear out. The DCD777C2 also features an LED light with a 20 second trigger release delay, great for improving your accuracy in poor light.
Features of the DeWALT DCD777C2 Cordless Drill Driver Kit
- Brushless technology
- LED light
- Lightweight at just 2.6lbs
- Compact size at 7.52 inches from front to back
- Cordless
- 500lbs of Torque
- 1600 RPM
- 15 Clutch settings
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|
Lightweight at 2.6lbs |
Plastic chuck instead of metal |
|
Compact |
Fast battery consumption |
|
3 year warranty |
Comes with a bag instead of a hard case |
|
Comes with two batteries |
No battery level indicator |
|
Cordless |
|
|
Fast Battery charging |
|
|
Ergonomic design |
|
|
Reasonable price |
|
|
3-year warranty |
Customers’ Opinions on the DeWALT DCD777C2
We’ve been checking out reviews to see what other buyers have been saying about the DeWalt DCD777C2.
- Good mid-priced drill
- The handle is quite small if you have big hands
- Lots of power and speed
- Perfect drill for home renovations
- Has a receptive trigger for adjustable speed
- The battery lasts a long time
The majority of reviews for this drill are great, with a massive 4.6 stars out of 5 on Amazon from over 990 customer reviews, so it’s a clear favorite!
The Verdict
Both the Makita XFD061 and the DeWalt DCD777C2 are high quality, high performance drill drivers, and they are very similar in most aspects.
Either one would be a great choice for someone renovating their home, so it really comes down to personal preference, but after reviewing both of these drills, we have decided that the winner is the DeWalt DCD777C2, due to the fact that it is extremely lightweight (over a pound lighter than the Makita) and very compact, but doesn’t compromise on power and speed.
The DeWalt drill also comes with two batteries, and while this doesn’t affect the performance of the drill, it does win extra points for convenience, as it means less downtime as you don’t have to wait for a battery to recharge.
Frequently Asked Questions about Makita XFD061 and DeWalt DCD777C2
How durable is the DeWalt DCD777C2?
Although the body of this drill is built almost exclusively from plastic, this tool feels solid and very durable. We feel it would be suitable for most home renovation projects.
What is a drill driver?
A drill driver is designed to drill holes and also be used as a screwdriver. They have expandable chucks, so can take a wide variety of drill bits and other tools such as mixers, and screwdrivers.
Does the DCD777C2 come with any drill bits or driver inserts?
No, these are sold separately, we recommend purchasing a separate drill bit set and a screwdriving set for all your needs.
Can I use my Makita Drill with other Makita batteries?
Yes, it will work with any other 18v Makita Batteries.
Can I buy another battery for my Makita XFD061?
Yes, spare batteries and other charges, including a ‘fast charger’ can be purchased separately.
Final thoughts on the Makita XFD061 and the DeWalt DCD777C2
Both the Makita and DeWalt are excellent brands, and either of these drills would be a great choice for you if you are renovating your home.
We decided to choose DeWalt as the better brand, however, there really wasn’t much in it, and each model has its own pros and cons, so it would depend on which things are important to you personally and for the project you are working on.
Both of these drills come with a three year warranty, so you can rest assured that if anything does go wrong, either one will be replaced by the dealer you purchased it from.
Dewalt DCD777C2 is always a great choice that offers high quality and high performance. It is one of our favorite drill drivers because of its lightweight, ergonomic and compact design that doesn't compromise on power and speed.
Further read:
- Corded vs Cordless Drills – Which One Should You Buy?
- DeWalt vs Milwaukee Drills Comparison – Features, Pros and Cons
- Makita vs Ryobi Brand Comparison: Which is Better?
Recommended Drill Press:
For the weekend woodworker who wants greater precision than a handheld drill offers, the 3320 Skil 10-inch Drill Press with Laser is a solid choice. General purpose drill presses, bench drill press, drive type belt, swing 8 in, spindle taper 33jt, motor hp 1/3 hp, capacity steel 1/2 in, capacity cast iron. A great choice for professionals as well as for home woodworkers, the Jet 354170 JDP-20MF 20-inch floor drill press spins bits up to 3/4 of an inch with 12 speeds from 150 to 4,200 rpm. It's equipped with a built-in work lamp, adjustable tension spindle return spring, and hinged metal belt and pully cover.
