Ryobi Drill and Impact Driver Kits: A Starter Guide

Ryobi

RYOBI Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit 18V ONE+ Cordless 2-Tool Set with Batteries Charger Tool Bag + Gloves

8.2/10Our score, based on listed specifications and buyer feedback

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Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.

RYOBI Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit

Best for: First-time DIYers wanting both tools

Pros

• Drill plus impact driver
• Two 1.5 Ah batteries, charger
• Tool bag and gloves

Cons

• Brushed motors per listing
• Small 1.5 Ah batteries

The RYOBI Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit is the classic two-tool starter set. It includes the PCL206 1/2 in. drill/driver, the PCL235 1/4 in. impact driver, two 1.5 Ah lithium-ion batteries, an 18V charger, a tool bag and, according to the title, a pair of gloves.

A quick explanation of the two tools helps here. A drill/driver has a chuck, the jaws that grip round drill bits, and a clutch that stops turning once a screw is snug. This drill offers up to 515 in-lbs of torque (twisting force), a 2-speed gearbox with 0-450 and 0-1,750 RPM, a 24-position clutch, a 1/2 in. keyless ratcheting chuck and an LED worklight. An impact driver adds rapid hammering blows while it turns, which helps drive long screws without your wrist doing the work. This one gives up to 1,800 in-lbs of torque, 3,400 impacts per minute (IPM), up to 2,700 RPM and a 1/4 in. quick-connect collet for hex bits. The listing does not say whether the motors are brushed or brushless.

This is the most straightforward gift for a first-time DIYer who wants to hang shelves, build furniture and drive deck screws. Someone who works overhead or in cramped cabinets may prefer the compact brushless kit below.

High score Our score: 9.8/10

Ryobi

RYOBI Drilling and Driving Kit (106-Piece) Set with Case

9.8/10Our score, based on listed specifications and buyer feedback

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Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.

RYOBI Drilling and Driving Kit

Best for: Adding bits to any drill kit

Pros

• 106 pieces in a case
• Wood, metal and masonry bits
• Magnetic bit holder

Cons

• No tool or battery
• Bits only up to 1 inch

The RYOBI Drilling and Driving Kit is not a tool but a 106-piece accessory set in a case, and it pairs well with any kit here. The listing says it works with drills and impact drivers and covers wood, metal, plastic and masonry.

Inside you get black oxide drill bits for longer life, spade bits up to 1 in., brad-point bits that resist “walking” across the surface, masonry bits for block, brick, concrete and mortar, nut drivers for hex fasteners, and 1 in. driving bits that fit the included magnetic bit holder. The listing mentions precision-milled bit tips for a better fit with common fasteners. It weighs 3.3 pounds.

Add this set when the recipient’s kit comes with few or no bits. It is not a replacement for a tool, so buy it alongside one of the kits.

Ryobi

Ryobi ONE+ 18V Drill/Driver Kit with Battery, Charger. Bits, & Holster

8.8/10Our score, based on listed specifications and buyer feedback

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Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.

ONE+ 18V Drill Driver Kit

Best for: Light home repairs on one tool

Pros

• Battery and charger bundled
• 20-piece bit kit
• Holster included

Cons

• No impact driver despite description
• Smaller 3/8 inch chuck

The ONE+ 18V Drill Driver Kit is a bundle built around a Ryobi 18V cordless 3/8 in. drill driver, with one 18V battery, a charger, a 20-piece drill and drive set and a holster. The listing names the holster brand as Buho, so it is an add-on from another maker rather than a Ryobi accessory.

Be careful with this listing. The description talks about a “drill and impact driver combo kit,” but the bundle list includes only the drill driver, no impact driver. The included components field also says “Bare-Tool,” which conflicts with the battery and charger in the bundle list. The chuck is 3/8 in., smaller than the 1/2 in. chucks on the other drills. The listing does not specify torque, speed or battery capacity.

This suits someone who only needs a drill for occasional furniture assembly and small fixes. Anyone who wants a true drill and impact driver set should choose the combo kit above or the compact brushless kit below.

Best for: Masonry drilling and heavier projects

Pros

• Hammer drill for concrete
• 4-mode impact driver
• Brushless 2-tool kit

Cons

• Renewed, not new
• Listing leaves out many specs

Best for: Adding a compact impact driver

Pros

• Brushless, 1,700 in-lbs torque
• Up to 3,800 IPM
• Two batteries included

Cons

• No drill in the kit
• Single tool only

Ryobi

Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless Compact 1/2 in. Drill and Impact Driver Kit with (2) 1.5 Ah Batteries, Charger and Bag

8.6/10Our score, based on listed specifications and buyer feedback

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Price and specifications are read from the Amazon product page and can change.

Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless

Best for: Compact brushless kit for tight spaces

Pros

• Brushless drill and impact driver
• 30% more compact, 23% lighter
• Two batteries, charger, bag

Cons

• Drill torque 400 in-lbs
• Small 1.5 Ah batteries

The Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless compact kit, model PSBCK01K, is the brushless version of the two-tool combo. “Brushless” means the motor has no small carbon brushes rubbing inside, which generally makes a motor more efficient. “HP” is Ryobi’s label for its higher-performance brushless line.

It includes a compact 1/2 in. drill/driver, a compact impact driver, two 1.5 Ah batteries, a charger and a tool bag. The listing gives up to 400 in-lbs of torque on the drill and up to 1,700 in-lbs on the impact driver, and says the tools are 30% more compact and 23% lighter; the drill is only 6.4 in. long. Those torque numbers are a bit lower than the standard combo kit, so the trade is size and weight for a little less force.

This is the best pick for people who work overhead, inside cabinets or who simply want a lighter tool. You can compare more options in our guide to the Ryobi brushless drill driver.

The RYOBI ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless impact driver kit, model PSBID01K, gives you just the compact brushless 1/4 in. impact driver with two 1.5 Ah batteries, a charger and a tool bag. The feature list only mentions the charger and batteries, while the description adds the bag.

It delivers up to 1,700 in-lbs of torque, up to 3,800 IPM and 2,900 RPM with variable speed. At 5.3 in. long, the listing says it is 26% more compact and over 23% lighter than the brushed version.

Choose this if the recipient already owns a drill and wants to add an impact driver. It is not a combo kit, so someone starting from scratch should pick one of the two-tool kits.

The RYOBI ONE+ HP PBLCK02K 18V Brushless kit is sold as Amazon Renewed, which means a used or returned product that has been inspected and restored rather than new. It includes a 1/2 in. hammer drill, a 4-mode 1/4 in. impact driver, two 18V high-performance batteries, a charger and a bag.

A hammer drill adds a pounding action for drilling into concrete, brick and block. The description lists 0-31,000 BPM (blows per minute), up to 750 in-lbs of torque on the drill, a two-speed gearbox of 0-500 and 0-2,100 RPM, and a 24-position clutch, and says it drills up to 29% faster in hammer mode. The specs list 2,200 in-lbs of torque, likely the impact driver, though the listing does not say which tool that number belongs to, and it does not specify battery capacity.

This is for someone planning heavier jobs like anchoring into masonry. Buyers who prefer new tools with full retail packaging should stay with the new kits above.