10 Best Benchtop Drill Presses – Reviews & Buying Guide
Although floor-standing drill presses are often considered the standard by most wood and metal-workers, the truth remains that a table within 4 inches of the chuck is often enough for most drilling jobs.
Since benchtop drill presses cost less than floor models, while offering almost the same power and other features, this means that buying a benchtop drill press is really a smart thing to do and people are taking note as well.
This benchtop press review takes a look at the top models in the market and shows you as well, what to look out for to make the right buying decisions.
Product Name | Power | RPM | Chuck Size | Weight | Rating | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Skil 3320-01 Benchtop Drill Press | 3.0 Amps | 3050 | 1/2 in | 52 lbs | 4.2 | |
2. Dremel 220-01 Workstation for Rotary Tools | N/A | N/A | N/A | 4.8 lbs | 4.4 | |
3. Wen 4214 Variable Speed Benchtop Drill Press | 5.0 Amps | 3200 | 5/8 in | 89 lbs | 4.3 | |
4. Craftsman 10-Inch Benchtop Drill Press | 6.0 Amps | 3100 | 1/2 in | 61 lbs | 4.2 | |
5. Shop Fox W1668 Oscillating Benchtop Drill Press | 0.7 HP | 3050 | 5/8 in | 63 lbs | 4.0 | |
6. Genesis GDP1005A Benchtop Drill Press | 4.1 Amps | 3070 | 5/8 in | 52 lbs | 4.0 | |
7. Rikon 30-140 Radial Benchtop Drill Press | 0.3 HP | 3100 | 5/8 in | 84 lbs | 3.9 | |
8. Jet JWDP-12 Benchtop Drill Press | 5.0 Amps | 3100 | 5/8 in | 68 lbs | 3.9 | |
9. Grizzly G7943 Heavy-Duty Benchtop Drill Press | 9.0 Amps | 3050 | 5/8 in | 148 lbs | 3.8 | |
10. Euro Tool DRL-300 Small-Sized Drill Press | 1.0 Amp | 8500 | 1/4 in | 13 lbs | 3.9 |
You can also read other drill press reviews such as floor drill press, mini drill press, radial drill press. If you look for benchtop drill presses in detail, here are some reviews that I recommend for you to read like Wen 4210, Wen 4212, Wen 4214, Craftsman 8-inch, Craftsman 10-inch, Shop Fox W1668.
10 Best Benchtop Drill Presses - Reviews
#1. Skil 3320-01 Benchtop Drill Press
Editor's Rating: 
(4.2 / 5)
- Power: 3.2 Amps
- Speed: 570-3,050 RPM
- Chuck size: 1/2 inch
- Weight: 52 lbs
Featuring a 5-speed system, this Skil 3320-01 benchtop drill press allows you to switch it between 570 and 3,050 RPM, which makes it easy to work on a range of materials, including plastic, wood, and metal.
This drill press is very precise and it includes a laser cross-hair to guide you to the exact spot with pinpoint accuracy. You can tilt the table up to 45 degrees on each side, enabling you to carry out more complicated drill jobs.
It uses a 1/2 inch chuck and gets its power from a 3.2-Amp motor to produce 0.5 HP. The table measures 7.6 inches on each side and has a throat depth of 10 inches.
The Skil 3320-01 is the best overall benchtop drill press on this list for all its impressive features, accompanied by its affordable price.
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#2. Dremel 220-01 Workstation for Rotary Tools
Editor's Rating: 
(4.4 / 5)
- Power: N/A
- Speed: N/A
- Chuck size: N/A
- Weight: 4.8 lbs
Dremel makes many rotary tools and they are so versatile that one can use them in a lot of ways. In order to offer a complete workstation for its many rotary tools, Dremel presents this 220-01 workstation.
It's a mini drill press, with a stand that allows telescopic adjustment of its height between 6 and 29 inches. This also allows you to drill angled holes in 15-degree increments, up to 90 degrees.
It doesn't end there because this tool holder can stably hold your rotary tool at a 90-degree angle for certain jobs like polishing or sanding of whatever you're working on.
You get onboard storage of your drill bits and wrenches, clips to manage your rotary tool cords, and depth stop markings, which all combine to make this the best mini benchtop drill press.
In summary, it's a 3-in-1 workstation that serves as a drill press, a flex-shaft tool stand, and a rotary tool holder. The only downside to it is that it only works with Dremel rotary tools.
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#3. Wen 4214 Variable Speed Benchtop Drill Press
Editor's Rating: 
(4.3 / 5)
- Power: 5 Amps
- Speed: 580 to 3,200 RPM
- Chuck size: 5/8 inch
- Weight: 89 lbs
Wen offers the Wen 4214 for those who want the finest benchtop drill press in their shop. It offers you everything you need in a press, from a digital speed readout to a cast iron base, which is very sturdy and includes bolt holes for mounting it.
The main feature which sets it apart from other drill presses though is its mechanical variable speed system, which provides a speed regulation between 580 and 3,200 RPM, from the simple turn of a lever.
In addition to that, this press offers you a spacious 12-inch swing and a 3.1-inch stroke, which enable you to work with more flexibility. There is also a 5/8-inch keyed chuck and a laser guidance system to help maximize your drilling precision.
This top-rated benchtop drill press offers a lot but its single issue is the steady torque delivery at all speeds, which makes it impractical for drilling metals at low speeds because of the lack of a compensating higher torque.
You also get an onboard work light, a table extension, depth adjustment gauge, a 45-degree beveling work table, and a 2-year warranty from Wen.
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#4. Craftsman 10-Inch Benchtop Drill Press
Editor's Rating: (4.2 / 5)
- Power: 6 Amps
- Speed: 620-3,100 RPM
- Chuck size: 1/2 inch
- Weight: 61 lbs
Next tool on this benchtop drill press list is this Craftsman 10-inch press, complete with an onboard light, a laser guide for higher accuracy, and a sturdy design for a long life.
It features a 6-Amp motor, which produces just 0.5 HP and is somewhat low efficient. Still, this power can easily get directed using the spindles and belt system, to produce the right amount of torque and speed for any job.
The table includes a steel fence with a scale to simplify the aligning of work-pieces on the 10-inch swing working surface. You can also tilt it up to 45 degrees.
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#5. Shop Fox W1668 Oscillating Benchtop Drill Press
Editor's Rating: 
(4 / 5)
- Power: 0.75 HP
- Speed: 1,725 RPM
- Chuck size: 5/8 inch
- Weight: N/A
Shop Fox presents this heavy-duty benchtop drill press for all those who need a compact but powerful drill press for their shop. It delivers 0.75 HP and comes fitted with a 5/8-inch chuck.
You get a well-machined benchtop press, which includes a 13.2-inch swing and offers a 3.2-inch spindle travel. There are 12 selectable speeds available and these range from 250 to 3,050 RPM.
Another nice feature is the dust port that keeps the working area neat. The table can tilt up to 90 degrees on either side and swing up to 360 degrees horizontally.
Although Shop Fox W1668 doesn't include an onboard light in the package, it does include a sanding drum set, plus the oscillating spindle, which makes this one of the best benchtop drill presses for the money.
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#6. Genesis GDP1005A 4.1-Amp Benchtop Drill Press
Editor's Rating: (4 / 5)
- Power: 4.1 Amps
- Speed: 620 - 3,070 RPM
- Chuck size: 5/8 inch
- Weight: 52 lbs
If you like small and efficient, then you should like this good benchtop drill press from Genesis. Offering a 10-inch long swing, plus a 5-speed system, you can rest assured that you'll easily take care of all kinds of jobs.
It's powered by a 4.1-Amp motor, which might not be the most powerful, but it definitely offers enough power to complete most tasks.
You get an onboard work light, a 5/8-inch chuck to handle large bits and a table that both rotates 360 degrees horizontally and tilts up to 45 degrees on either side.
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#7. Rikon 30-140 Radial Benchtop Drill Press
Editor's Rating: 
(3.9 / 5)
- Power: 0.3 HP
- Speed: 620 - 3,100 RPM
- Chuck size: 5/8 inch
- Weight: 84 lbs
The goal of a radial drill press is the ability to move the entire press in any direction you want and be able to drill all kinds of unconventional holes.
With the Rikon 30-140, you get to do nearly everything. You can push the head back and forth, allowing you to work on boards of different lengths and widths.
You can also tilt the head 45 degrees to the right and up to 90 degrees to the left for some unconventional holes. It's powered by a 0.3 HP motor, features five spindle speeds up to 3,100 RPM, and it comes backed by a 2-year warranty.
On the downside though, it lacks both an onboard light and a laser guide for precision drilling.
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#8. Jet JWDP-12 Benchtop Drill Press
Editor's Rating: (3.9 / 5)
- Power: 5 Amps (0.5 HP)
- Speed: 530 - 3,100 RPM
- Chuck size: 5/8 inch
- Weight: 68 lbs
Here we have a compact benchtop drill press with all the bells and whistles you can wish for, and it's powered by a 5-Amp motor which delivers 0.5 HP through its 5/8-inch drill chuck.
Jet added an ergonomic design to this press, including over-sized knobs for easier control. You also get a large paddle switch for quick and easy shut-offs of the drill for safety.
Next features include an LED work light, Jet's X-shaped XACTA laser for accuracy, a digital spindle speed display, and a depth stop linear scale.
Jet backs this benchtop drill press with its 5-year warranty, which is a very strong statement and makes its rather high price seem worth it.
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#9. Grizzly G7943 Heavy-Duty Benchtop Drill Press
Editor's Rating: 
(3.8 / 5)
- Power: 9 Amps (0.75 HP)
- Speed: 3,050 RPM
- Chuck size: 3/64 - 5/8 inch
- Weight: 148 lbs
The Grizzly G7943 combines all the features of an industrial-grade drill press with a low price. What you get is a well-machined press, featuring a cast-iron table and other parts, plus a 0.75 HP motor.
There are 12 speeds available to regulate between 140 and 3,050 RPM. The spindle travel is 3.2 inches and the drill chuck ranges from 3/64 to 5/8 inch.
You don't get any onboard work light or laser guide, but the table does swing 360 degrees horizontally and up to 90 degrees vertically on either side.
Because this drill features so much cast iron, it's about twice as heavy as a comparable model. It also features a sturdy base, safety switch, depth stop, and large lever knobs.
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#10. Euro Tool DRL-300 Small-Sized Drill Press
Editor's Rating: (3.9 / 5)
- Power: 1 Amp
- Speed: 0-8,500 RPM
- Chuck size: 1/4 inch
- Weight: 13 lbs
Are you looking for the best affordable benchtop drill press that doesn't need an extra rotary tool to work? Take a look at this offer from Euro Tool, a trusted tool brand since 1979.
It's not built for heavy-duty jobs though, but it'll easily handle most jobs drilling wood, soft metal, and circuit boards. For heavier metals, the speed is just too high and the power too low.
On the plus side, it's the lightest-weight drill on this list, with a small and compact size that makes it very portable, including its variable speed selection up to 8,500 RPM.
Its platform measures just 6.7 x 6.7 inches and it's backed by a 1-year manufacturer warranty. If you're looking for an affordable drill press for light jobs, then you've got it here.
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How to Buy the Best Benchtop Drill Presses
Choosing the right press from the above list might not come easy for you, especially if it's your first time. This makes it necessary for you to learn and understand the important features to look out for in a benchtop drill press.
They are as follows:
#1. A Good Table
Buying a benchtop drill press with a good table is very important, and so the question becomes how to spot a good table. A good table should be spacious, first. This provides you with enough space to do your job.
A good table should also offer you an opportunity of tilting left and right, either up to 45 degrees or a full 90 degrees. Another important table feature is how far away from the chuck it can go, and this also determines how versatile the press is.
#2. Versatility
A drill's versatility is an important aspect because it determines how valuable the press actually is. Versatility here refers to how many features it has, which allows you the operator, to do more with it.
Such features include a tilting table, how easily the drill press converts to a sander, its speed settings and lots more. A more versatile drill press is practically more valuable.
#3. Power & Horsepower
Different manufacturers will fit their drill presses with different-sized motors, resulting in different drilling strengths. This power gets measured in horsepower or HP, and anything above 0.3 HP is okay for most shop jobs.
A drill's power determines how quickly it can drill into any material. The more powerful it is, the faster you can drill wider and longer holes with it, as opposed to low-powered models.
#4. Speed & Torque
There are two products of any rotary power tool and they are speed and torque. The total power output usually gets divided between speed and torque, so that less speed means more torque and more speed means less torque.
What you should always look out for is the number of speed levels, which can get anywhere between 2 and 16, or even more. This allows you to select higher speeds for drilling small holes in wood and lower speeds with more power for drilling into metal.
#5. Ease of Use
The easier it is to use a drill press, the more valuable it is. Such features that'll increase the ease of use include a long handle for more leverage, the ease of servicing the press, and how easy it is to understand its features.
#6. Safety Features
Safety features are important as well because every power tool poses a safety risk. Important safety features to look out for on a drill press include overload protection and a strategically positioned OFF switch, which is important in emergencies.
#7. Extra Features
The type and number of extra features added to a drill press also reflect on its value. Two very helpful extra features, for instance, are the drill depth stop and the laser guide.
With a depth stop, you can set a maximum depth to make all your subsequent drilling of equal length. A laser guide, however, uses a cross-hair to show you exactly where the drill will bore into the wood, thus increasing your precision.
#8. Warranty
A manufacturer who believes in its product's high quality usually offers a longer warranty on it. On the downside, such a product usually costs more than comparable products.
The drill press with the longer warranty will always get more points, but it's left for you to decide on how much extra you're willing to pay for higher quality and a longer warranty.
Conclusion
We've reached the end of this review and you've seen the different offers, from small to heavy-duty, and with all their different accessories, including lasers and LEDs.
The turn is now yours to reach a decision and to make your choice. While all the drill presses above are the best in their own ways, it's only you that knows exactly what you like and what you need it for. So, the final choice is yours to make.
Last Updated on August 7, 2020 by