DeWalt DCD800B vs DCD805 vs DCD791 vs DCD999: which 20V drill should you buy?
Four DeWalt 20V MAX drills, four different jobs. We break down the DCD800B, DCD805 hammer drill, lightweight DCD791, and heavy-duty DCD999 so you pick the right one.
DeWalt’s 20V MAX lineup has four drills that get cross-shopped constantly — the DCD800B, DCD805, DCD791, and DCD999 — and on a shelf they look nearly identical. They aren’t. Each is tuned for a different job, and buying the wrong one means either overpaying for power you won’t use or under-buying for the work you actually do. Here’s how they split up.
DCD800B — the compact all-rounder
The DCD800B is the drill most people should buy. It’s a brushless, two-speed drill/driver with a compact 6.9-inch head and a 1/2-inch chuck, light at around 3.4 pounds, with the nice touch of an LED that stays lit briefly after you release the trigger.
- Best for: DIYers and pros who want one versatile drill for everyday drilling and driving in tight spaces.
- Skip it if: you regularly drill masonry (you want the DCD805) or push heavy-duty holes all day (DCD999).
DCD805 — add hammer drilling
The DCD805 is essentially the DCD800B’s story plus a hammer-drill mode. It runs the 20V MAX XR brushless motor up to around 2,000 RPM with a high blow rate for masonry, adds a third speed, and keeps the 1/2-inch chuck and adjustable clutch.
- Best for: anyone drilling into brick, block, or concrete as well as wood and metal — one tool that both drills and hammers.
- Skip it if: you never touch masonry; the hammer function is weight and cost you won’t use.
DCD791 — lightweight with better lighting
The DCD791 is the compact, lightweight brushless option with a standout three-mode LED that includes a spotlight setting — genuinely useful in dark cabinets and crawl spaces. It has a 1/2-inch ratcheting chuck and a high-speed transmission for general work.
- Best for: users who prioritize low weight and visibility for general drilling and driving across many applications.
- Skip it if: you need masonry hammering or maximum torque for heavy holes.
DCD999 — heavy-duty muscle
The DCD999 is the powerhouse. Its brushless motor pushes up to roughly 1,200 in-lbs of torque with a three-speed transmission and a side handle for control when it grabs. This is the drill for demanding, high-torque work in concrete, masonry, metal, and thick wood.
- Best for: professionals running large bits, hole saws, and mixing paddles, or drilling tough material all day.
- Skip it if: your work is light — it’s more drill (and more weight and money) than most people need.
The short version
- Most people: DCD800B — compact, capable, right price.
- Also drill masonry: DCD805 — the DCD800B plus hammer mode.
- Want it light with great lighting: DCD791.
- Heavy, high-torque work all day: DCD999.
All four share the same 20V MAX battery platform, so whichever you pick, your batteries carry across the rest of DeWalt’s enormous lineup. Match the drill to your hardest regular job, not the hardest job you can imagine, and you’ll spend the right amount.