Best Right Angle Drill for Plumbing Rough-In (2026)

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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: For boring studs and joists on DeWalt batteries, the DeWalt DCD446B: rated for a 4-inch hole saw and a 2-9/16-inch self-feed bit, with an ANTI-ROTATION shutdown. On Bosch or Makita batteries, the Bosch GRD18V-127 or Makita XAD05Z, both rated for a 5-inch hole saw. For the biggest bits on house power, the corded DeWalt DWD450. Keep holes inside code limits: up to 60 percent of a stud (over 40 percent in an exterior or bearing wall means doubling the stud) and one-third of a joist.

Our pick for most plumbers: the DeWalt DCD446B 20V MAX XR compact stud and joist drill. Check the DeWalt DCD446B on Amazon

A right angle drill puts the chuck at 90 degrees to the motor, so it fits between studs and joists where a regular drill will not. For plumbers it is the rough-in tool: it bores the holes your drains, vents and supply lines run through. This page compares four 1/2-inch drills built for that job, plus a compact 3/8-inch drill/driver and three attachments, all sold by Amazon.com on October 4, 2026. Every spec comes from the makers’ own manuals and product pages.

Right Angle Drills Compared

Drill	Power	Chuck	Speeds (RPM)	Hole saw / self-feed (wood, maker)	Bind-up feature (maker)
DeWalt DCD446B	20V MAX battery	1/2 in. keyed	0 to 1,250	4 in. / 2-9/16 in.	ANTI-ROTATION shutdown
Bosch GRD18V-127	Bosch 18V battery	1/2 in. keyed (7/16 in. quick chuck version)	0 to 550 / 0 to 1,800	5 in. / 2-9/16 in.	Dual KickBack Control
Makita XAD05Z	Makita 18V LXT battery	1/2 in. keyed	0 to 450 / 0 to 1,400	5 in. / 2-9/16 in. in low speed (4 in. / 2 in. in high, per the manual)	None listed (electric brake)
DeWalt DWD450	Corded, 11 amp	1/2 in. keyed	0 to 330 / 0 to 1,300	6 in. / 4-5/8 in. (low speed)	Slip clutch in low speed
DeWalt DCD740B	20V MAX battery	3/8 in. ratcheting	0 to 650 / 0 to 2,000	Not listed	Not listed

Figures from the DeWalt DCD446, DWD450 and DCD740 manuals and product pages, Makita’s XAD05Z page and Bosch’s GRD18V-127 pages. Each linked drill was sold by Amazon.com and in stock on October 4, 2026.

What Size Holes Plumbing Needs

Start from the pipe, not the drill. Charlotte Pipe lists an average outside diameter of 1.900 inches for 1-1/2-inch Schedule 40 PVC DWV pipe, 2.375 inches for 2-inch and 3.500 inches for 3-inch. A 2-9/16-inch self-feed bit is 2.5625 inches, so it clears 2-inch PVC by under 0.2 inch (our arithmetic). That is tight, but it is the largest self-feed bit the cordless drills here are rated for. A 3-inch line needs a hole saw, and every 1/2-inch drill above is rated for at least a 4-inch one.

Self-feed bit or hole saw?

Plumber’s note: a self-feed bit pulls itself through the wood and bores fast, and it can bind hard when it catches. A hole saw cuts a ring and leaves a plug, and it handles the bigger sizes. The makers rate their drills for both, with larger maximum sizes for hole saws, so check the table against the biggest pipe you run.

Code Limits on Holes in Studs and Joists

The drill will bore a bigger hole than the framing can take. The City of Waterloo, Iowa building department’s handout on 2015 IRC sections R602.6 and R502.8 sums up the limits:

Studs: a bored hole can be up to 60 percent of the stud width, and it cannot sit in the same section as a cut or notch.
Exterior and bearing walls: a stud bored over 40 percent and up to 60 percent must be doubled, and no more than two successive doubled studs can be bored.
Sawn lumber joists: a hole cannot exceed one-third of the joist depth, and it cannot be closer than 2 inches to the top or bottom of the joist or to another hole.
Engineered wood: holes in trusses, I-joists and other engineered members are prohibited unless the maker’s recommendations allow them or a registered design professional has designed for them.
Top plates: if piping cuts or drills a top plate in an exterior or bearing wall by more than 50 percent of its width, a 16-gauge galvanized metal tie at least 1-1/2 inches wide goes across the opening.

Plumber’s note: check the hole against the framing before you bore (our arithmetic, using actual lumber sizes). Sixty percent of a 3-1/2-inch-wide 2×4 stud is 2.1 inches, so a 2-9/16-inch hole for a 2-inch drain does not fit a 2×4 wall. Sixty percent of a 5-1/2-inch 2×6 stud is 3.3 inches; a 2-9/16-inch hole there is over 40 percent, so in an exterior or bearing wall that stud must be doubled. One-third of a 9-1/4-inch-deep 2×10 joist is about 3.08 inches. Your local code may differ, so check with your inspector before you bore. The handout also points to the IRC’s plumbing rules on protecting pipe in bored holes and notches (P2603).

Best Cordless Stud and Joist Drill

DeWalt DCD446B 20V MAX XR Compact Stud and Joist Drill

20V MAX battery (tool only) · brushless · 1/2 in. keyed chuck · 0 to 1,250 RPM · up to 4 in. hole saw, 2-9/16 in. self-feed bit, 1-3/8 in. auger in wood · ANTI-ROTATION system · 3-year limited warranty

This is the cordless drill I would point a plumber to for rough-in boring on DeWalt batteries. DeWalt rates it for a 4-inch hole saw or a 2-9/16-inch self-feed bit in wood, which covers the holes most drain, vent and supply runs need through studs and joists. It has a 1/2-inch keyed chuck, so self-feed bits and hole saw arbors lock in and stay put, and DeWalt includes a chuck key that stores on the tool.

The safety feature that matters on a drill like this is the one DeWalt calls ANTI-ROTATION: DeWalt’s product page says it senses the rotational motion of the tool and shuts it down if the motion is excessive, and the manual says a red LED lights when it has engaged. DeWalt also warns that this is a high-torque drill to hold with both hands, and never to brace it against the battery pack. It is sold as a bare tool, so you need a DeWalt 20V MAX battery and charger. DeWalt’s product page lists its most powerful output with the larger DCB2108 battery.

4 in. hole saw and 2-9/16 in. self-feed capacity in wood, per DeWalt
ANTI-ROTATION shuts the drill down on excessive motion
1/2 in. keyed chuck with on-tool key storage
Runs on DeWalt 20V MAX packs

Smaller hole saw rating than the Makita, Bosch or corded DeWalt here
One speed range (0 to 1,250 RPM), per the manual
Bare tool: battery and charger sold separately

Verdict: The pick for plumbers already on DeWalt 20V batteries who want a cordless drill built for boring framing.

Check the DeWalt DCD446B on Amazon

Best for Bosch 18V Users

Bosch GRD18V-127 18V High Torque Right Angle Drill

Bosch 18V battery (bare tool) · brushless · 1/2 in. keyed chuck · two speeds, 0 to 550 and 0 to 1,800 RPM · 1,800 in.-lbs. of torque · up to 5 in. hole saw and 2-9/16 in. self-feed bit · Dual KickBack Control · 6.8 lb · 16.6 in. long

Bosch built this drill for rough-in work and says so: its product page names electricians and plumbers and lists holes up to 2-9/16 inches with self-feed bits and up to 5 inches with hole saws. It has two speed settings, 0 to 550 RPM for torque and 0 to 1,800 RPM for faster drilling, and Bosch lists 1,800 inch-pounds of torque.

Bosch’s Dual KickBack Control is meant to slow down or stop the tool in a bind-up, which is the moment a big self-feed bit catches a nail or a knot. Bosch lists it at 6.8 pounds. The Amazon listing and Bosch’s page both say Bosch covers its 18V cordless tools with a five-year limited warranty. If you change bits all day, Bosch also sells the same drill with a 7/16-inch quick chuck (GRD18V-127HXN).

5 in. hole saw and 2-9/16 in. self-feed capacity, per Bosch
Two speeds: 0 to 550 and 0 to 1,800 RPM
Dual KickBack Control for bind-ups
Quick chuck version available

Bare tool: needs a Bosch 18V battery and charger
High torque: Bosch’s manual says to use the auxiliary handle and brace the tool
Self-feed rating tops out at 2-9/16 in., like the other cordless picks

Verdict: Buy it if you run Bosch 18V tools, or if you want a 5-inch hole saw rating, the largest among the cordless drills here along with the Makita.

Check the Bosch GRD18V-127 on Amazon

Check the quick chuck GRD18V-127HXN

Best for Makita 18V Users

Makita XAD05Z 18V LXT Brushless 1/2 in. Right Angle Drill

Makita 18V LXT battery (tool only) · brushless · 1/2 in. keyed chuck · two speeds, 0 to 450 and 0 to 1,400 RPM · up to 5 in. hole saw and 2-9/16 in. self-feed bit in low speed (4 in. and 2 in. in high speed, per the manual), 1-1/2 in. ship auger · electric brake · XPT dust and water resistance · 7.6 lb with battery per Makita’s page (6.8 to 7.5 lb in the manual, depending on the battery) · 17-1/8 in. long · 3-year limited warranty

Makita rates the XAD05Z for the same 5-inch hole saw and 2-9/16-inch self-feed bit as the Bosch, plus a 1-1/2-inch ship auger. Makita’s manual gives those two maximums for low speed; in high speed it lists a 4-inch hole saw and a 2-inch self-feed bit. It also says that if the rotation speed drops significantly in high speed, stop the tool and change to low speed, because otherwise the motor may get overloaded and cause a malfunction or fire. It has two speeds, 0 to 450 and 0 to 1,400 RPM. Makita says it bores up to 105 holes of 1-1/2 inches in 2x SPF lumber on one 5.0Ah battery with a self-feed bit, and it lists an electric brake, dual LED lights and a metal gear housing.

Makita lists the weight at 7.6 pounds with a battery and the length at 17-1/8 inches, against 16.6 inches on Bosch’s spec table for the GRD18V-127. Makita’s XPT seals are meant to channel away dust and water. Makita’s page does not list a kickback or bind-up control. Its manual calls this a powerful tool that develops high torque and says it should be securely held and properly braced: grasp the handle with one hand and the front handle with the other.

5 in. hole saw and 2-9/16 in. self-feed capacity in low speed, plus a 1-1/2 in. ship auger, per Makita
Two speeds: 0 to 450 and 0 to 1,400 RPM
Electric brake and XPT dust and water resistance
Up to 105 holes of 1-1/2 in. per 5.0Ah charge, per Makita

No kickback control listed on Makita’s page
17-1/8 in. long, longer than the Bosch’s 16.6 in.
Tool only: battery and charger sold separately

Verdict: The pick if your crew already runs Makita 18V LXT batteries.

Check the Makita XAD05Z on Amazon

Best Corded: Largest Bits

DeWalt DWD450 1/2 in. VSR Stud and Joist Drill with Clutch

Corded, 11 amp motor · 1/2 in. keyed chuck · two speeds, 0 to 330 and 0 to 1,300 RPM · up to 6 in. hole saw and 4-5/8 in. self-feed bit in low speed · mechanical slip clutch in low speed · 2-position side handle · 3-year limited warranty

When the job is a whole house of rough-in, or the holes are big, the corded DWD450 carries the largest ratings on this page. DeWalt’s manual lists a 6-inch hole saw and a 4-5/8-inch self-feed bit in low speed, against 2-9/16 inches for self-feed bits in high speed. It runs on an 11 amp motor with two speeds, 0 to 330 and 0 to 1,300 RPM, so there is no battery to run down.

Its safety feature is mechanical. The manual says the slip clutch works only in low speed: when the bit bites, the clutch slips with a ratcheting sound, and you release the trigger. DeWalt says continued clutching shortens the life of the clutch. The clutch does not work in high speed. In either speed, the manual says to hold the drill with both hands and to brace the side handle or the tool body against a stud. You will need a cord rated for the tool; the manual has a cord-size chart.

6 in. hole saw and 4-5/8 in. self-feed capacity in low speed, per DeWalt
Slip clutch in low speed
No batteries to charge or run down
Two-position side handle

Clutch works only in low speed, per the manual
Needs an outlet and the right extension cord
Brushed motor, per DeWalt’s page

Verdict: Buy it for heavy boring with big self-feed bits and hole saws where power is available.

Check the DeWalt DWD450 on Amazon

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For Small Holes and Screws: DeWalt DCD740B

The DeWalt DCD740B 20V MAX 3/8 in. right angle drill/driver is a different tool from the drills above. DeWalt lists a 4-inch front-to-back length, two speeds of 0 to 650 and 0 to 2,000 RPM, and a 3/8-inch ratcheting chuck with a deep hex pocket that takes a 2-inch hex bit all the way in. DeWalt does not list a hole saw or self-feed rating for it. Use it for pilot holes, pipe strap screws and small supply-line holes in tight spots, not for boring drain holes.

For a regular drill/driver rather than a right-angle tool, our Plain Buy Guides compares cordless drill kits and their main caveats. Open a model’s guide to check which batteries and charger are included.

Right Angle Attachments

If you only need to drive a screw or drill a small hole in a tight spot, an attachment on the drill or impact driver you own may do. These were sold by Amazon.com on October 4, 2026:

DeWalt FLEXTORQ modular right angle system (DWAMRASETFT): DeWalt says it switches between a compact right angle, a standard right angle, a right angle flexible shaft and a straight flexible shaft, with a 1.5-inch head height, a magnet that holds the fastener and a metal gearcase rated for impact drivers.
DeWalt DWARAFS 12 in. right angle flex shaft: a 90-degree head on a 12-inch flexible shaft with a RapidLoad head for bit changes, a magnet for the fastener and a side handle, per DeWalt.
Milescraft 1304 Drill90PLUS: the Amazon listing describes a 3/8-inch chuck for drill accessories up to 3/8 inch, a 6-sided hex shank, steel gears and a 4-inch minimum reach.

None of these makers lists a self-feed bit or hole saw rating, so they do not replace a stud and joist drill for drain and vent holes.

What About Milwaukee?

I run Milwaukee M18 drills on my jobs, and Milwaukee makes right angle and stud and joist drills too. We do not link them, because the Amazon listings we found for the M12 right angle drill, the M18 FUEL Hole Hawg and the corded Super Hawg were from third-party sellers. If you are already on Milwaukee batteries, buy from a dealer you trust and read Milwaukee’s own specs.

Before You Buy

Match your batteries. The cordless drills here are sold as bare tools. Buy the one that runs on the packs you already own.
Size it to your biggest hole. Check the hole saw and self-feed ratings in the table against the pipe you run.
Look for a bind-up feature. DeWalt’s ANTI-ROTATION, Bosch’s Dual KickBack Control and the DWD450’s low-speed clutch are each meant to help when a bit catches.
Keyed chuck for big bits. All four main picks have 1/2-inch keyed chucks. Bosch also sells a 7/16-inch quick chuck version for fast bit changes.
Corded for all-day boring. The DWD450 has the largest ratings here and no battery to run down.

Safety: Holding a High-Torque Drill

DeWalt’s manuals for the DCD446 and DWD450 both call them high-torque drills and say to hold them firmly with both hands. DeWalt says never to brace the DCD446 against its battery pack, and to brace the DWD450’s side handle or body against a stud. Bosch’s manual says to use the auxiliary handle and to brace the tool properly before use, because it produces a high output torque and loss of control may occur without proper bracing. Makita’s manual says its drill should be securely held and properly braced, with one hand on the handle and the other on the front handle. If a DeWalt drill stalls, the DCD446 manual says to release the trigger at once and not to click the trigger on and off to restart it. Clamp or anchor the work, use sharp bits, and ease off as the bit breaks through.

FAQ

What is the difference between a right angle drill and a stud and joist drill?

Mostly the name. DeWalt sells its 1/2-inch, high-torque DCD446 and DWD450 as stud and joist drills, rated for self-feed bits and hole saws, while Bosch and Makita call their 1/2-inch models right angle drills. DeWalt’s DCD740 is a compact right angle drill/driver with a 3/8-inch chuck and no hole saw or self-feed rating.

What size hole can a cordless right angle drill bore?

Per the makers: the DeWalt DCD446 is rated for a 4-inch hole saw and a 2-9/16-inch self-feed bit in wood, and the Bosch GRD18V-127 and Makita XAD05Z for a 5-inch hole saw and a 2-9/16-inch self-feed bit. The corded DeWalt DWD450 is rated for a 6-inch hole saw and a 4-5/8-inch self-feed bit in low speed. The Makita manual gives its 5-inch and 2-9/16-inch ratings for low speed as well; in high speed it lists a 4-inch hole saw and a 2-inch self-feed bit.

How big a hole can I drill in a stud or joist?

Under the 2015 IRC sections summarized by the City of Waterloo, Iowa, a hole in a stud can be up to 60 percent of the stud width. In exterior or bearing walls, a stud bored over 40 percent must be doubled, with no more than two successive doubled studs bored. In sawn lumber joists, a hole cannot exceed one-third of the joist depth or sit closer than 2 inches to the top or bottom. Check your local code.

Can I drill holes in I-joists or trusses?

Not without the maker’s say-so. The same IRC summary says cuts, notches and holes in trusses, I-joists and other engineered wood are prohibited unless the manufacturer’s recommendations allow them or a registered design professional has designed for them.

Will a right angle drill attachment work instead?

For screws and small holes in tight spots, yes. DeWalt sells its FLEXTORQ and 12-inch flex shaft attachments as magnetic bit holders for impact drivers and drills. They are not a substitute for a 1/2-inch stud and joist drill with a self-feed bit; none of the three attachments on this page lists a self-feed or hole saw rating.

Why Trust Plumbing Picks

Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. Every spec here comes from the maker documents linked below, or from the Amazon listings we link; nothing comes from hands-on testing. On October 4, 2026, every linked listing was in stock and sold by Amazon.com. If you buy through a link we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be included here. More on who writes this and how we pick.

Sources

Bottom Line

Buy the drill that runs on the batteries you already own: the DeWalt DCD446B, the Bosch GRD18V-127 or the Makita XAD05Z. Buy the corded DeWalt DWD450 for the biggest self-feed bits and hole saws. Whichever you choose, size it to your largest pipe, hold it with both hands, and keep every hole inside the code limits for studs and joists.