A drill press does one thing that a handheld drill cannot: it drills a perfectly perpendicular hole, every single time. For woodworkers building furniture, cabinetry, or anything requiring precise, repeatable hole placement, a drill press transitions from luxury to necessity quickly. Mortise and tenon joinery, dowel alignment, forstner bit operations — all become dramatically more accurate and controlled on a good drill press.
This guide reviews five leading drill presses across different size categories and budgets, helping you find the right fit for your shop.
Table of Contents
- Benchtop vs Floor-Standing Drill Press
- Key Specs to Understand
- Top 5 Drill Presses Reviewed
- Essential Drill Press Bits for Woodworking
- Setting Up Your Drill Press for Wood
- Safety Rules
- Conclusion
Benchtop vs Floor-Standing Drill Press
The key practical decision is between a benchtop model (sits on your workbench, typically 10 or 12-inch swing) and a floor-standing model (freestanding, 15 to 17-inch swing and longer column for taller workpieces). For most hobby woodworking shops, a quality benchtop model handles every common task. Floor models make sense for deep mortises, tall cabinet door stiles, and production work requiring frequent table height changes.
Key Specs to Understand
- Swing: Twice the distance from the column centre to the spindle. A 10-inch swing can centre a hole in a 10-inch-wide board.
- Spindle travel: How far the chuck descends. 3 inches is adequate for most woodworking; 4 to 6 inches allows deep mortises.
- Speed range: More critical in woodworking than metalworking. Large forstner bits require slow speeds (250 to 500 RPM). Twist bits in softwood run well at 1,500 to 3,000 RPM. A broad, easily-changed speed range is essential.
- Table size and tilt: A wide table with a fence slot accommodates larger workpieces. Tiltable tables allow angled holes.
- Laser guide and LED light: Useful but secondary considerations. Both can be added aftermarket.
Top 5 Drill Presses Reviewed
1. JET JDP-17 — Best Floor-Standing Drill Press
JET’s 17-inch floor drill press is a professional-class machine built to last decades. It features a 3/4 HP motor, a 12-speed belt system from 200 to 3,630 RPM, a large 16.5 × 17.5 inch cast-iron table, and a rack-and-pinion table height adjustment that makes raising and lowering the work table effortless. Build quality and fit-and-finish are exceptional.
Best for: Serious hobbyists, semi-professional shops, frequent use with large forstner bits or mortising attachments.
Rating: 9.4/10
[AFFILIATE LINK: JET JDP-17 on Amazon]
2. WEN 4214 — Best Value Benchtop Drill Press
The WEN 4214 is a superb entry point for the woodworking shop. Its 12-inch swing, 5/8-inch spindle travel, and five-speed belt system cover the speed range needed for most woodworking applications. The cast-iron table accepts standard fences, and the digital readout displays RPM in real time. Exceptional value.
Best for: Beginners, tight budgets, occasional woodworkers.
Rating: 8.2/10
3. Powermatic 2800B — Best Premium Benchtop Option
Powermatic’s 2800B brings cabinet-shop quality to the benchtop. A 3/4 HP motor, digital depth stop, LED work light, and an integrated laser crosshair system make it the most refined benchtop drill press in the market. The cast-iron table is large, the speed selection (six speeds, 250 to 3,000 RPM) covers all woodworking applications, and the depth lock is silky smooth.
Best for: Craftsmen who demand professional results from a benchtop format.
Rating: 9.6/10
4. Delta 18-900L — Best Mid-Range Floor Drill Press
Delta’s 18-inch swing floor drill press hits the sweet spot between entry-level and professional pricing. The integrated LED work light, laser crosshair, and 16 speed settings (170 to 3,000 RPM) make it genuinely versatile. Its large cast-iron table is a strong feature, and the 3/4 HP motor handles large forstner bits and mortising attachments without straining.
Best for: Intermediate woodworkers who want a floor press without the premium price.
Rating: 8.9/10
5. SKIL 3320 — Best Budget Beginner Drill Press
Every list needs a rock-bottom entry, and the SKIL 3320 fills that role. Basic but functional, with five speeds and a 10-inch swing. Its table is steel rather than cast iron, which flex slightly under heavy bit pressure, and the build quality reflects its price. But for drilling straight holes in wood on a limited budget, it does the job.
Best for: Absolute beginners who need a starter press before upgrading.
Rating: 6.5/10
[AFFILIATE TABLE: Best Drill Presses Compared — insert Amazon product table here]
Essential Drill Press Bits for Woodworking
- Forstner bits: The woodworker’s primary drill press tool. Cuts flat-bottomed holes of precise diameter — essential for hinges, shelf pins, and decorative work. Buy a full set (1/4 to 2 inches).
- Brad point bits: Cleaner entry than twist bits in wood. The centre point prevents wandering at the start of the cut.
- Spade bits: Fast and aggressive for rough hole-cutting in construction lumber.
- Plug cutters: Cut round wood plugs to cover screw holes decoratively.
- Mortise chisel attachment: Converts the drill press into a hollow chisel mortiser for square mortises.
Setting Up Your Drill Press for Wood
- Set the depth stop before drilling — drill a test hole in scrap to verify depth.
- Clamp the workpiece to the table or use a fence. Never hold work by hand unless it cannot possibly rotate (small or irregularly shaped pieces can spin dangerously).
- Select the correct speed for your bit size — lower for large Forstner bits, higher for small twist bits.
- Advance the bit steadily, withdrawing periodically to clear chips and prevent burning (especially with end grain).
Conclusion
A drill press may seem like an intermediate tool investment, but once you have one in your shop, it becomes one of the most frequently-reached-for machines. Precise, perpendicular holes transform joinery quality and open up operations that handheld drills simply cannot replicate reliably.
Visit our Workshop Tips section for advice on outfitting your shop efficiently, or browse our Tool Reviews for more expert recommendations.
