6 Best Budget Drill Presses of 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

The drill press allows you to make precise holes in various materials, including plastic, wood, and metal. In addition to drilling holes, the drill press comes in handy in processes such as countersinking, counterboring, tapping, and reaming. As a result, these versatile tools are a cornerstone of any workshop.

However, drill presses were only found in large workshops for a long time due to their prohibitive costs. Fortunately, there are affordable options out there today.

Nonetheless, some budget drill presses are cheap because they are of poor quality. Therefore, you must do your homework before you buy a budget drill. To save you the hassle, we compared the numerous products on the market to bring you these reviews on the best budget drill presses.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		WEN 4208 5-Speed Drill Press	Easy to operate making it ideal for beginners Sturdy base Durable cast iron construction	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		SKIL 3320-01 10-Inch Drill Press	5 speeds to enhance your versatility Bump-off switch for safety Easy to assemble	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		WEN 4210 Drill Press	Comes with a laser for enhanced precision Durable cast iron construction Large table with an adjustable bevel to accommodate different types of materials and projects	CHECK PRICE
		Generic Lukcase 9282615 Cheap Drill Press	Cheap Well built Allows for many adjustments	CHECK PRICE
		Genesis GDP1005A 5-Speed 4.1 Amp Drill Press	Ideal for heavy-duty projects	CHECK PRICE

The 6 Best Budget Drill Presses

1. WEN 4208 5-Speed Drill Press – Best Overall

The 4208 by WEN is a compact unit that offers excellent performance yet costs a fraction of the price of a high-end drill press. Its low cost is due to its simplicity rather than cheap quality. For starters, it comes with everything you need to get into heavy-duty drilling immediately.

This includes a ½-inch keyed chuck, a chuck key, 2-inch spindle travel with locking depth, an 8-inch swing, and a cast iron base. These features allow you to drill through material up to 2 inches thick and 8 inches in diameter.

It has a ⅓ HP induction motor that facilitates a 5-speed system with speed variations ranging from 740 RPM to 3,140 RPM. As a result, the WEN 4208 is versatile enough to meet the drilling requirements of various materials with varying thicknesses, including wood, metal, and plastic.

This unit also has a beveling worktable measuring 6½ x 6½ inches. The bevel allows for 45-degree adjustments in either direction. This allows you to cut angled holes with outstanding accuracy. It also allows you to work on variously sized or irregularly shaped materials since some materials are difficult to work on while on a flat and even surface.

To allow you to make repeatable same-sized holes, this drill press features locking depth adjustment knobs that maintain the travel of the spindle at a constant level. This also improves efficiency, as it prevents material waste from guesswork.

To ensure that you do not lose your chuck key, the WEN 4208 features onboard chuck key storage, which also ensures that you have the component nearby when needed. The chuck accepts drill bits up to ½-inch to allow you to work on a broader scope of projects.

Thanks to its sturdy cast iron construction, the WEN 4208 is stable during operation. This ensures that the quality of your work is not compromised by wobbling or vibrations. Moreover, cast iron is one of the most durable materials on the planet, hence assuring a unit you can rely on for a long time.

The only issue you might have with this drill press is that it might lack the power to handle some heavy-duty projects. Nonetheless, considering its quality and performance, you will be hard-pressed to find a better budget drill press, and we think it’s the best overall model.

2. SKIL 3320-01 10-Inch Drill Press – Best Value

If your project calls for precise holes, you are looking for a highly accurate drill, and the SKIL 3320 is just that. It uses a Beam Laser system and adjustable depth stops to provide accuracy levels typically only found in high-end drill presses. Here’s a breakdown of the SKIL 3320-01 drill press.

The unit utilizes laser technology to guide its 10-inch swing during drilling. As a result, you get to enjoy a fast, easy, and precise drilling process. In addition to boosting the drilling precision, the lasers are also remarkably helpful when working in low light conditions, as they enhance visibility. The swing is incredibly strong and stable, accommodating light and heavy-duty drilling.

The 3.2-amp motor with a 5-speed system lets you choose the most suitable speed for your project. The speeds range between 570 RPM and 3,050 RPM. This allows you to meet the needs of various types of projects. Changing speeds is also easy; you only need to put the belt on the preferred pulley.

The SKIL 3320 has a 7⅝-inch square table that can tilt 45 degrees left or right. This spacious table allows you to work on bigger projects, while the adjustable bevel makes working with irregular materials much easier.

Even though you have to assemble the drill press, you will appreciate the straightforward instructions that make the assembly process a breeze. This unit also features a bump-off switch for your safety when working.

The only issue with this machine is that the spindles for changing speed feature plastic construction, while other units in its price range have metal construction. Nonetheless, the precision and overall quality of the SKIL 3320-01 make it arguably the best budget drill press for the money.

3. WEN 4210 Drill Press – Premium Choice

The best description of the WEN 4210 is the WEN 4208 on steroids. The 4210 is larger and more precise, thanks to the additional features it comes with on top of what the 4208 has. It has a moderately powerful 3.2-amp motor with variable speed settings. It can operate at five speeds, ranging between 600 RPM and 3,100 RPM, to allow you to work with more materials and projects. The motor is also fitted with ball bearings for enhanced performance and longevity.

The WEN 4210 features a 7⅝-inch cast iron square beveling table. It can bevel 45 degrees to either side, allowing for a wider range of applications. The cast iron construction gives the drill press stability to ensure accuracy during drilling. To enhance your precision further, the 4210 is equipped with a laser light that forms an X spot on the exact location you want to drill.

You will also appreciate its ½-inch drill chuck that accommodates several types of drill bits. Consider the WEN 4210 if you want a larger, more robust, and more accurate press than the WEN 4208. Nonetheless, it costs almost twice as much.

4. Generic Lukcase 9282615 Cheap Drill Press

The portability of handheld drills is what makes them extremely popular. However, they lack the precision of drill presses. If you already have a power drill but budget restrictions are limiting you from purchasing a high-quality drill press, consider the Generic Lukcase 928615.

This unit does not come with a drill. Instead, it features a rotating clamp with a base. Simply secure your drill into the clamp and enjoy the precision and stability of a drill press. Moreover, the clamp can rotate up to 90 degrees for enhanced versatility.

5. Genesis 5-Speed 4.1 Amp Drill Press

This drill press by Genesis is an excellent budget option for heavy-duty projects, thanks to its power and versatility. The Genesis GDP1005A comes with a 4.1-amp motor with a 5-speed gearbox, a large workspace measuring 23 x 10.5 x 17 inches, and a ⅝-inch chuck to easily handle large workpieces.

It is remarkably user-friendly too. The table can tilt 45 degrees on either side while rotating up to 360 degrees to enhance usability and versatility. The table is also fitted with a lamp to allow you to work in low light conditions and enhance your accuracy. The drill press’s puller housing is easy to access, allowing you to make speed changes without hassle.

You will also appreciate the 2-year warranty it comes with. Nonetheless, the build quality is not as durable as one would hope for in a drill press. Moreover, its switches can be difficult to operate.

6.  Shop Fox Bench-Top Oscillating Drill Press

A high-performance drill press might be overkill if you are a weekend warrior. However, you still need a reliable press. The Shop Fox W1667 gives you the precision of a good drill press but without the high speed or torque. It comes with a ½-HP motor suitable for drilling wood and soft metals. It also features a depth stop to set the target depth.

You will also appreciate that this unit also doubles as a drum sander. As you can tell, this drill press is not designed for professionals or heavy-duty applications. However, it is an excellent choice for beginners or hobbyists working on small-scale projects.

Buyer’s Guide – How to Buy the Best Budget Drill Press

Even if you have a standard drill, chances are you also need a drill press. The drill press allows you the following benefits:

Creating More Accurate Holes

A drill press has features and mechanisms to allow you to make the necessary adjustments to facilitate precision. For example, some drill presses come with depth stops, allowing you to halt the process when you achieve the desired depth automatically.

Drill Through a Wide Variety of Materials

Thanks to their robust nature, drill presses can bore holes through almost any type of material, including hard plastics, wood, and metal. Some presses can even drill through gemstones, concrete, and pebbles.

Superior to hand drills

Despite their convenience and affordability, handheld drills are terrible at making precise cuts due to their jerky movements. A drill press, however, is remarkably accurate thanks to its sturdy column shaft that eliminates any movement.

Nonetheless, drill presses are not built equally; some are superior to others in design and construction quality. These differences are more apparent in budget drill presses since a lower cost usually means a compromise in quality.

As a result, finding a reliable budget drill press that offers you excellent performance will take some digging. Consider the following factors when looking for a drill press.

Type of Drill Press

Drill presses can be categorized into these three main types:

Benchtop and Tabletop Presses

Benchtop drill presses give the best value for money if you want one to use in your shop since they do not take up a lot of space. They create straight and precise holes across a wide range of materials, thanks to their ability to allow for vertical and horizontal measurement adjustments. However, these units might not be able to handle larger workpieces.

Floor Drill Presses

Floor drill presses are excellent for heavy-duty projects. They come with a larger platform to accommodate larger workpieces. They also come with more features and are a lot more powerful than other drill presses. As a result, they are the most expensive type. As expected, they are ideal for professionals and DIYers involved in heavy-duty projects.

Portable Drill Presses

You might want to consider a portable drill press if you do not have a workshop or designated workstation. They usually come with mounting mechanisms to allow you to attach them to any workbench. They are the least powerful and least expensive type of drill press.

Budget

Budget drill presses can vary significantly in price. Their price points range between $50 and $500. As such, you must consider the amount you are willing to spend. Typically, the more, the better. That is because power, performance, and quality improve with a price increase. Nonetheless, you can still get something functional for just $200.

Power

The motor output of a drill press is what determines its power, and it is measured in horsepower. As you would expect, a drill press with more horsepower is better, and it can handle a wider array of projects. Moreover, you can tune it to a low-power setting for light-duty tasks.

Drills with less powerful motors are limited in the types of projects that they can take on. A drill press with a 1HP motor or more is considered powerful. Nonetheless, these units usually use up more electricity.

Variable Speeds

When looking for a budget drill press, ensure it comes with a variable-speed motor. Variable speed control is essential, as different materials require different drilling speeds for the best outcome.

The best drill presses have wider variations in their variable speeds and numerous speeds. This allows them to tackle a wider array of materials efficiently.

Chuck Size

The size of your chuck determines the size of your drilling bits. Therefore, it is important to ensure that it can support the bits ideal for your project. Chuck sizes range from ½ inch to ⅝ inch.

Compatibility

Various accessories, such as a laser for more precise cuts, make working with a drill press a lot easier.

Safety

Considering that the job of a drill press is to pierce holes into rigid materials at high speeds using steel bits, safety is a critical concern. Therefore, ensure the drill press has safety features such as a keyed safety switch that prevents it from starting accidentally.

In Conclusion

The best drill press for you is the one that can tackle all of your projects and is reliable. As a result, the cost should be the last consideration when looking for a power tool since lower prices equal lower quality.

Fortunately, you can obtain decent drill presses on a budget; it just takes research. We found the WEN 4208 drill press to be the best among budget presses. It features unbelievable performance and reliability for such a low-priced unit.

If you are looking for a budget drill press with several features, consider the SKIL 3320-01. It is incredibly precise, thanks to its laser-guided system, which is a feature that is usually found in high-end tools. We hope this information will help you find the best drill press for your needs.