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Best drill press
A 12" benchtop drill press with 580 to 3,100 RPM variable speed, a digital readout and 3-1/8" of spindle travel.
A drill press drills holes a hand drill can’t: dead square to the face, to the same depth every time, with large Forstner bits and hole saws that would twist a hand drill out of your grip. The best drill press for most woodworkers is the WEN DP1263V, a 12″ benchtop press with variable speed from 580 to 3,100 RPM and 3-1/8″ of spindle travel. The JET JWDP-12 is the premium benchtop pick, the SKIL DP9505-00 is the best budget drill press and the JET J-2500 is the floor-standing pick for long parts and big bits.
Below are six drill presses, from an 8″ mini press to a 15″ floor model, a comparison table, short reviews from the makers’ specifications, a buying guide, a quick how-to and the accessories that make a drill press work for woodworking.
Best Drill Presses: Comparison
Specs come from the makers’ pages; where a maker publishes only its Amazon listing, they come from that listing. Swing is twice the distance from the column to the center of the chuck, so a 12″ press reaches the middle of a 12″ board. I don’t print prices: each review gives a market tier, and the Amazon buttons show the live price.
| Product | ⭐ WEN DP1263V 🏆 EDITOR’S CHOICE |
JET JWDP-12 | SKIL DP9505-00 | WEN DP1062V | WEN 4206T | JET J-2500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | |
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| Swing | 12″ | 12″ | 10″ | 10″ | 8″ | 15″ |
| Speed | 580-3,100 RPM, variable | 530-3,100 RPM, variable | 5 speeds, 610-2,800 RPM | 530-3,100 RPM, variable | 5 speeds, 750-3,200 RPM | 16 speeds, 200-3,630 RPM |
| Motor | 6.2 A induction | 1/2 HP induction | 6.2 A induction | 6.2 A induction | 2.3 A induction | 3/4 HP, 115/230 V |
| Chuck | 5/8″ keyed | 5/8″ | 1/2″ | 1/2″ keyed | 1/2″ keyed | Not listed |
| Spindle travel | 3-1/8″ | 3-1/8″+ | Not listed | 2″ | 2″ | 3-1/8″ |
| Extras | RPM readout, laser, roller | Depth scale, LED, laser | Laser, LED, tilting table | RPM readout, laser | Beveling table | Floor-standing, 4 bearings |
| Availability | Shop Now at Amazon | Shop Now at Amazon | Shop Now at Amazon | Shop Now at Amazon | Shop Now at Amazon | Shop Now at Amazon |
Best Drill Presses: Reviews
Every pick could be ordered on Amazon when I checked it. Nova, Laguna and Powermatic make excellent presses too, but at two to three times the price of the floor pick here, and the models I looked at overlapped with the JETs for most home shops.
Editor's Choice12" variable-speed benchtop drill press
WEN DP1263V
WEN DP1263V 12-Inch Variable Speed Benchtop Drill Press
Variable speed from 580 to 3,100 RPM, a 12" swing and 3-1/8" of travel: the best value benchtop press.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: WEN
Best for
Variable speed and a full 3-1/8" plunge on a benchtop budget.
- 580-3,100 RPM variable speed with readout
- 12" swing, 3-1/8" spindle travel
- 5/8" chuck, roller extension
Skip it if
You want the build and support of a premium brand: the JET JWDP-12 costs more but is built heavier.
- Small stock table for woodworking
- Two-year warranty, shorter than JET
Read full review
Best Drill Press Overall
The DP1263V gives a home shop the two things that matter most on a drill press, a big enough swing and speed you can change without moving belts, at a benchtop price. WEN lists a 6.2 A induction motor, a 12″ swing (so it reaches the center of a 12″ wide board) and 3-1/8″ of spindle travel, enough to bore through a 2×4 in one plunge. Speed is mechanically variable from 580 to 3,100 RPM: you turn a lever while the motor runs and a digital readout shows the RPM, which is how you set the slow speeds large Forstner bits and hole saws need. It has a 5/8″ keyed chuck, a 9-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ cast-iron table that bevels, a roller extension for long stock, a laser, an overhead light and an adjustable depth stop. It weighs 85 lb and carries WEN’s two-year warranty. The table is small for woodworking, so plan on adding an auxiliary table with a fence. Mid price tier.
12" premium benchtop drill press
JET JWDP-12
JET JWDP-12 12-Inch Variable Speed Benchtop Drill Press
A premium 12" press with 530-3,100 RPM variable speed, an MT-2 spindle and a linear depth scale.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: JET listing on Amazon
Best for
A premium-brand benchtop press with variable speed.
- 530-3,100 RPM variable speed
- MT-2 spindle, 5/8" chuck
- Linear depth scale and stop
Skip it if
Price matters most: the WEN DP1263V has very similar specs for much less.
- Costs much more than similar specs
- Same 12" swing as cheaper presses
Read full review
Best Premium Benchtop Drill Press
The JWDP-12 is the benchtop press to buy if you’d rather pay once for a machine from an established woodworking brand. JET lists a 1/2 HP induction motor, a 12″ swing and variable speed from 530 to 3,100 RPM, so like the WEN above you dial the speed instead of moving belts, and it goes slightly slower at the bottom of the range for large bits. It has a 5/8″ chuck on an MT-2 spindle taper, more than 3-1/8″ of spindle travel, a linear depth scale with a depth stop, oversized knobs, an LED work light, JET’s X-shaped XACTA laser and a retractable roller extension. The 10″ x 16-1/8″ cast-iron base fits a crowded bench, and the machine weighs 85 lb. On paper it does what the DP1263V does; you pay for JET’s fit and finish and its dealer and parts network. Premium price tier.
10" 5-speed benchtop drill press
SKIL DP9505-00
SKIL DP9505-00 10-Inch 5-Speed Benchtop Drill Press
A 6.2 A, 10" press with 5 speeds, a tilting table, laser and LED light for a budget price.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: SKIL listing on Amazon
Best for
A first drill press for furniture, jigs and DIY on a budget.
- 6.2 A induction motor
- Table tilts 45 degrees both ways
- Laser, LED light, bump-off switch
Skip it if
You'll bore deep holes or use big Forstner bits often: variable speed and a known 3-1/8" stroke suit that better.
- Belt speed changes, 5 steps
- Spindle travel not listed
Read full review
Best Budget Drill Press
The DP9505-00 is the budget pick for someone buying a first drill press for furniture, shop jigs and general DIY. SKIL fits a 6.2 A induction motor, the same current rating as the variable-speed WENs, with 5 speeds from 610 to 2,800 RPM set by moving the belt. The 10″ swing reaches the center of a 10″ board, the 1/2″ chuck takes most drill bits and Forstner bits, and the work table tilts 0 to 45 degrees left and right for angled holes. It adds a Class II laser for lining up the bit, an LED work light, an adjustable depth stop, an adjustable table height and a bump-off switch you can hit with a knee. SKIL doesn’t publish spindle travel on its listing, so if you’ll drill deep holes, the DP1263V’s 3-1/8″ is the safer bet. Budget price tier.
10" variable-speed benchtop drill press
WEN DP1062V
WEN DP1062V 10-Inch Variable Speed Benchtop Drill Press
Variable speed from 530 to 3,100 RPM with a readout in a compact 10" press; travel is 2".
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: WEN
Best for
Variable speed in a compact benchtop press.
- 530-3,100 RPM variable speed
- Digital speed readout
- Smaller footprint than 12" presses
Skip it if
You need to drill deeper than 2" in one stroke: pick the 12" DP1263V.
- 2" spindle travel
- Small table for long boards
Read full review
Best 10-Inch Variable Speed Drill Press
The DP1062V puts the DP1263V’s variable-speed system in a smaller machine. WEN lists a 6.2 A induction motor, a 10″ swing and mechanical variable speed from 530 to 3,100 RPM with a digital readout, so you can slow down for a hole saw or speed up for a small brad-point bit without opening the belt cover. It has a 1/2″ keyed chuck with onboard key storage, an 8″ x 7-1/2″ beveling table, a laser and an adjustable depth stop, and it carries WEN’s two-year warranty. The trade-off for the smaller footprint is 2″ of spindle travel: enough for dowel holes, hinge cups and pocket-style joinery, not enough to bore through a 2×4 in one stroke. Choose it if bench space is tight and speed control matters more than depth. Budget-to-mid price tier.
8" 5-speed mini drill press
WEN 4206T
WEN 4206T 8-Inch 5-Speed Benchtop Drill Press
A compact 8" press with 5 speeds and a cast-iron base, for small bits and small parts.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: WEN
Best for
Small, accurate holes in crafts and small parts.
- Compact, about 32 lb
- Cast-iron base and head
- 5 speeds up to 3,200 RPM
Skip it if
You'll use Forstner bits over about 1" or hole saws: get a 6.2 A press.
- 2.3 A motor for small bits only
- 2" travel, 8" swing
Read full review
Best Small and Cheap Drill Press
The 4206T is a small, inexpensive drill press for crafts, model making, jewelry boxes and small parts, and it’s the one many people buy first. WEN fits a 2.3 A induction motor, an 8″ swing, 2″ of spindle travel and 5 speeds: 750, 1,100, 1,500, 2,100 and 3,200 RPM. The 1/2″ keyed chuck has onboard key storage, and the 6-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ table raises, lowers and bevels to 45 degrees each way. At 23″ tall on a 7″ x 11″ base and about 32 lb, it fits on a shelf and moves easily. Its limits are the limits of its size: the small motor and 750 RPM bottom speed aren’t made for large Forstner bits or hole saws in hardwood. For small, accurate holes it’s far better than a hand drill. Budget price tier.
15" floor drill press
JET J-2500
JET J-2500 15-Inch 16-Speed Floor Drill Press
A 15" floor press with 16 speeds from 200 RPM, a 3/4 HP dual-voltage motor and a 3-1/8" stroke.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: JET listing on Amazon
Best for
Long parts, large bits and metal in a shop with floor space.
- 15" floor press, 63" tall
- 16 speeds down to 200 RPM
- 3/4 HP, 115/230 V
Skip it if
Your shop is a bench in a garage: a 12" benchtop press does most woodworking.
- Belt speed changes
- Takes floor space, about 157 lb
Read full review
Best Floor Drill Press
A floor drill press earns its space when you drill into the ends of long parts, such as table legs, bed posts and lamp bases, or when you want more swing than a benchtop machine offers. The J-2500 is a 15″ drill press with a 3/4 HP motor prewired for 115 V and convertible to 230 V, and 16 speeds from 200 to 3,630 RPM, which reaches lower than any benchtop pick here: useful for big Forstner bits, hole saws and metal. The 1-7/8″ quill travels 3-1/8″, the head is cast iron, the column is ground steel, and the spindle runs on four permanently lubricated ball bearings. JET lists 125 in-lb of torque, a telescoping spindle guard and a net weight of about 157 lb at 63″ tall. Speeds are changed by moving belts, which takes longer than a variable-speed dial. Premium price tier.
How I Chose These Drill Presses
I started from what a woodworker uses a drill press for: dowel and shelf-pin holes, Forstner bits for hinge cups and recesses, mortising with a jig, plugs and the occasional metal part. That puts the weight on three specs: speed range (big bits need slow speeds), spindle travel (how deep one plunge goes) and swing. Then I looked at the drill presses sold on Amazon today from established brands and picked one for each kind of buyer: a variable-speed 12″ press, a premium version of it, a budget 10″, a compact variable-speed 10″, a mini press and a floor model. Within each group I favored the models more buyers have owned for longer. I compared the specs from the makers’ pages and listings and don’t show customer ratings or prices. For how I pick products across the site, see how I choose.
Best Benchtop Drill Press
For most home shops, a benchtop drill press is the right size. A 10″ or 12″ benchtop machine handles furniture, cabinet and jig work, sits on a bench or a rolling cart and plugs into a normal 120 V outlet. The WEN DP1263V and JET JWDP-12 are the two to compare: both 12″, both variable speed, both with 5/8″ chucks and more than 3″ of travel. If your budget stops lower, the SKIL DP9505-00 and WEN DP1062V are 10″ machines with 6.2 A motors; the SKIL changes speed with belts, the WEN with a lever.
Benchtop or Floor Drill Press?
A floor press gives you two things a benchtop can’t: height under the chuck, for drilling into the end of a table leg or post, and usually a lower bottom speed and more motor. It also takes a footprint of floor and weighs 150 lb or more. Buy a floor press like the JET J-2500 if you build furniture with long parts or drill metal often; otherwise, a 12″ benchtop on a sturdy stand does nearly everything.
Best Drill Press for Woodworking: What to Look For
Speed Range
Wood bits work best at different speeds: small twist and brad-point bits like high RPM, while a 2″ Forstner bit or a hole saw should run around 250 to 500 RPM or it burns the wood and dulls the bit. Check the lowest speed before you buy. Variable-speed presses let you set the speed with a lever and a readout; belt presses make you open the cover and move the belt between pulleys, which works fine but takes a minute.
Spindle Travel (Quill Stroke)
Travel is how deep the bit goes in one pull of the handle. With 3″ or more you can bore through a 2×4 (1-1/2″ thick) or a stack of parts without raising the table mid-hole. Mini presses often have 2″, which is fine for shelf pins and dowels but not for deep holes.
Swing and Table
Swing sets the widest board you can drill to the center. A 10″ press reaches 5″ in from the edge, a 12″ press 6″. Woodworkers outgrow small metalworking tables quickly, so plan on an auxiliary wood table with a fence and stop block; it supports long parts and repeats hole positions.
Chuck, Runout and Motor
A 5/8″ chuck takes larger bits than a 1/2″ chuck. Low runout (wobble at the bit) matters more than motor size for clean holes; induction motors, used on every pick here, run quietly and last. 6.2 A or 1/2 HP is enough for Forstner bits in hardwood when the speed is right.
How to Use a Drill Press
- Unplug the press, fit the bit deep in the chuck and tighten it with the key in each of the holes. Remove the key.
- Set the speed for the bit and the material: slow for large bits, hardwood and metal; faster for small bits in softwood.
- Set the depth stop by lowering the bit to the depth you want, or to just above the table for through holes, with a scrap board under the work to stop tear-out.
- Clamp the work to the table or a fence. A drill press vise holds small parts; long boards rest against a fence.
- Mark the center with an awl so the bit starts on the mark, then lower it slowly. Raise the bit often on deep holes to clear chips.
Keep loose sleeves and gloves away from the spindle, wear eye protection, and never hold small parts by hand: if a big bit catches, it spins the part.
💡 Pro Tip: Drill a Test Hole First
Before drilling a good part, drill the same hole in scrap of the same thickness. It checks the depth stop, shows whether the speed burns the wood, and tells you if the exit side tears out. A sacrificial board under the work fixes most tear-out.
Drill Press Accessories Worth Buying
A small vise and a set of Forstner bits are the two accessories that change what a drill press can do. A cast-iron drill press vise like the WEN DPA424 4″ drill press vise bolts to the table and holds small parts, dowels and metal safely. A Forstner set such as the IRWIN Marples Forstner bit set bores clean, flat-bottomed holes for hinges, recesses and plugs. Add a wood auxiliary table with a fence, and the press handles nearly every repeat-hole job in a furniture project.
Sanding on a Drill Press
With a sanding drum chucked in, a drill press becomes a basic spindle sander for curves. It works for occasional jobs at a low speed, but the drum doesn’t oscillate, so it can leave lines, and the side load is hard on the quill bearings. My guide to drill sanding attachments covers the drum kits; if you sand curves every week, a dedicated oscillating spindle sander does it better and saves the press.
🏆 The Verdict
The best drill press for most woodworkers is the WEN DP1263V: a 12″ swing, variable speed from 580 to 3,100 RPM and 3-1/8″ of travel. The JET JWDP-12 offers the same features with premium build, the SKIL DP9505-00 is the budget 10″, the WEN DP1062V brings variable speed to a compact press, the WEN 4206T suits small parts, and the JET J-2500 is the floor press for long parts and big bits.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best drill press for woodworking?+
What is the best value-for-money bench drill press?+
What are drill presses good for?+
Do I need special drill bits for a drill press?+
Do you have to use a clamp with a drill press?+
Are Harbor Freight drill presses any good?+
Conclusion
Pick a drill press by the holes you drill. For furniture, cabinets and jigs, a 12″ benchtop press with variable speed and a 3″ stroke covers almost everything, and the WEN DP1263V is the one to start with. Add a fence, a vise and a set of Forstner bits, run big bits slowly, and clamp the work. Questions about your setup? Ask in the comments.
