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Black+Decker 20V Max Drill/Driver LDX120C Review

An okay drill for basic household tasks and assembly projects at a great price
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Black+Decker 20V Max Drill/Driver LDX120C Review (The LDX120C making its way through 16 gauge steel.)
The LDX120C making its way through 16 gauge steel.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Price:  $87 List
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Manufacturer:   Black+Decker
By David Wise and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Feb 14, 2022
35
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#19 of 23
  • Drilling - 35% 4.1
  • Driving - 35% 3.2
  • Battery Life - 20% 2.6
  • Convenience - 10% 4.6

Our Verdict

The Black+Decker 20V Max Drill/Driver LDX120C is a great little drill if you don't expect too much and are trying to shop on the tightest budget possible. It is definitely not the best drill you can get — far from it — but it handles most light-duty jobs without too much fuss. It's not necessarily a great option for the enthusiastic DIYer and it definitely isn't a good choice for a pro, but if you only want a drill for hanging the occasional picture frame or aiding in furniture assembly, then this Black+Decker is a great choice. See it ranked against other top products in our article on the best drills.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Weak
Minimal features
Editor's Note: This drill gear review received an update on February 14th, 2022, with new sections on our favorite drills.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Best Buy Award
A Great Drill for Tight Budgets
  Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Best Buy Award
Best 12 Volt Option a Budget
Price $87 List
$59.90 at Amazon
$99 List
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$79 List
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$139 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
35
84
76
60
48
Star Rating
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Bottom Line This drill isn't great, but can speed up driving screws through prefabricated furniture at a low priceThis model performs well across the board, and is especially worth the purchase if you already own the battery and chargerLimited driving performance kept this model from doing better overallA great budget drill for a homeowners or DIYer and has more than enough power for moderate to light-duty tasksOur favorite compact 12-volt drill when considering overall performance and price
Rating Categories Black+Decker 20V Ma... Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V B... Ridgid 18V Brushles... Craftsman V20 1/2-I... Bosch 12V Max Drill...
Drilling (35%)
4.1
9.3
8.9
6.6
5.8
Driving (35%)
3.2
8.8
5.6
6.2
4.5
Battery Life (20%)
2.6
6.8
9.2
4.4
3.2
Convenience (10%)
4.6
6.6
7.0
6.0
5.8
Specs Black+Decker 20V Ma... Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V B... Ridgid 18V Brushles... Craftsman V20 1/2-I... Bosch 12V Max Drill...
Five Inch Hole Saw Test 90 seconds 20 seconds 22 seconds 55 seconds 70 seconds
Lag Screw Test 3.19 in 4.75 in 4.25 in 4.37 in 3.87 in
Manufacturer Peak Torque Not Listed 750 in-lbs 400 in-lbs 280 in-lbs 256 in-lbs
Measured Charge Time 210 min 63 min 59 min 58 min 85 min
Measured Weight 2.68 lbs 3.77 lbs 2.97 lbs 3.44 lbs 2.17 lbs
Measured Length 7 in 7.1875 in 6.25 in 8.25 in 6.625 in
Measured Number of Settings 10 24 23 23 20
Manufacturer Stated RPM 0 - 650 Low: 0 - 500
High: 0 - 2100
Low: 0 - 400
High: 0 - 1750
Low: 0 - 450
High: 0 - 1500
Low: 0 - 350
High: 0 -1300
Included Battery Pack(s) 1.5 Ah 2.0 Ah Tested with 2.0 Ah 1.3 Ah 2.0 Ah
Max Chuck 3/8 in 1/2 in 1/2 in 1/2 in 3/8 in
Battery Voltage 20V 18V 18V 20V 12V
Drill Model Tested LDX120C PBLDD01 R8701 CMCD700 PS31
Box Model (Kit) Tested LDX120C PBLDD01K Tested tool-only, no kit CMCD700C1 PS31-2A
Battery Indicator Location N/A Battery Battery Battery Drill
LED Location Above the trigger Above the battery Above the battery Above the trigger Above the trigger
Included Belt Clip No No Yes No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


black+decker 20v max drill/driver ldx120c - the best drill on a tight budget, the black+decker ldx120c.
The best drill on a tight budget, the Black+Decker LDX120C.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Drilling


Starting, we tested and compared the drilling performance of each model, which is responsible for 35% of the LDX120C's and every other drill's total score. To do this, we drilled holes in wood boards with a 1" paddle bit, used a 5" hole saw in a solid core door, and drilled through a steel sheet with both ¼" and ½" twist drills. Regrettably, the LDX120C didn't do all that well.


The LDX120C did moderately well with the 5" hole saw in the solid door, drilling it to the full depth. However, it did take about 90 seconds to do this — the top tools only took 17 or so — and it protested and struggled the entire way. It started to smell quite horrific while drilling, and the air coming out of the exhaust vents was incredibly hot — hot enough to burn you. The entire drill body was also exceptionally warm afterward.

black+decker 20v max drill/driver ldx120c - the hole saw test really got this drill working hard.
The hole saw test really got this drill working hard.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

The LDX120C struggled to drill through the steel sheets. It made it through the 16 gauge sheet with the ¼" drill bit in about 4 seconds, though it struggled a bit. It struggled substantially with the ½" bit, but it eventually punched through the steel sheet after 12 seconds of drilling. However, it did protest and struggle quite a bit throughout.

black+decker 20v max drill/driver ldx120c - the ldx120c isn't our first choice for drilling through a thin sheet...
The LDX120C isn't our first choice for drilling through a thin sheet of steel, but in testing, it made it through.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Of our three drilling tests, the LDX120C had the hardest time with the 1" paddle bit.

black+decker 20v max drill/driver ldx120c - this drill had some trouble during our 1" spade bit test.
This drill had some trouble during our 1" spade bit test.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

We were drilling holes in a 2x12, and the Black+Decker was not happy in the slightest. It took a long time to drill the holes compared to the rest and was a bit of an overall struggle fest with this drill.

black+decker 20v max drill/driver ldx120c - the ldx120c drove wood screws in just fine during testing.
The LDX120C drove wood screws in just fine during testing.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Driving


Our second set of evaluations is designed to test the driving performance of each drill when it came to installing fasteners, with this metric also accounting for 35% of the final score for each drill. We tested out the LDX120C with both wood screws and lag screws, awarding scores based on how quickly and easily it drove in these fasteners, as well as if it could set the heads properly. It again didn't do all that well compared to the burlier drills of the bunch.


This drill didn't do too bad with the normal wood screws — we used 3" long, #9 screws for this test to attach a pair of stacked 2x12s. It drives them into their full depth and sets the countersunk heads flush with the surface of the wood without struggling all that much. However, it definitely isn't the fastest at this, taking quite a bit more time than the top products.

black+decker 20v max drill/driver ldx120c - the lag screw proved to be too much for the ldx120c. luckily, light...
The lag screw proved to be too much for the LDX120C. Luckily, light users won't be trying to sink big lag screws like this.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Unfortunately, the ½" lag screw proved to be a bit too much for the LDX120C. We drilled a pilot hole through a 2x4 and into a 4x4 to drive the 5" long screw into it, but the LDX120C couldn't sink it to its full depth — no matter what we tried.

black+decker 20v max drill/driver ldx120c - the ldx120c is simple to remove with the press of a button.
The LDX120C is simple to remove with the press of a button.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Battery Life


Moving beyond the drilling and driving performance of the Black+Decker LDX120C, we next rated and scored the battery life of this drill, as well as the time it takes to recharge. Additionally, we awarded some bonus points if there were extra batteries included. Altogether, these account for 20% of the Black+Decker's final score. The LDX120C delivered another somewhat poor set of results. We used a 1.5 Ah battery when assessing the battery life of this tool.


To test out the battery life of each drill, we started each one with a full battery, then alternated between drilling three 1" diameter holes with the spade bit and driving in 16 of the #9 screws until the tool died. The best drills made it through over ten cycles, while the Black+Decker didn't even make it through two. It made it through the first set but only drove in all the screws and drilled two holes in the second set before dying.

The LDX120C's 1.5 Ah battery also has one of the longest recharge times of the entire group, taking about 3.5 hours with the included charger. However, you can buy a fast charger separately if you really want to speed this up. This Black+Decker drill only includes a single battery, but you can purchase extra batteries.

black+decker 20v max drill/driver ldx120c - this drill doesn't come with a belt clip or adjustable torque...
This drill doesn't come with a belt clip or adjustable torque settings.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Convenience


For the last 10% of the total score for each tool, we looked at all the little things that make them more convenient and easier to operate. In particular, we looked at the maximum bit size that the chuck could accept if there were different gears to maximize speed or torque, and how much each drill weighed, as well as if there is a belt clip, built-in light, battery indicator, and how easy it is to swap the batteries. The LDX120C did a bit better here, but it still wasn't awesome.


This drill lacks a belt clip and only has a single operating speed. It also has one of the smaller maximum chuck sizes, only able to hold something up to ⅜" of an inch instead of the standard ½".

The LDX120C also lacks a battery status meter, but it is pretty easy to install or remove the battery. The locking mechanism is a good balance between holding the battery securely and allowing it to be easily released. This drill also is relatively lightweight, weighing a little more than 2.5 pounds. It also does have an integrated work light, but it is a little on the dim side.

black+decker 20v max drill/driver ldx120c - having the light above the trigger casts a weird shadow in your work...
Having the light above the trigger casts a weird shadow in your work area making it difficult to see what you are doing.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Should You Buy the LDX120C?


If you want a bare-bones tool that can handle light to moderate DIY projects without spending a ton of cash, then the Black+Decker 20V Max Drill/Driver LDX120C is a good choice. However, it has plenty of flaws and pales compared to the top products for drilling or driving performance. It's definitely on the underpowered side for DIY enthusiasts or professionals but is usually more than enough for the casual user. If you are only doing light-duty tasks, then the LDX120C is an exceptional value. There's no reason to spend more on a drill if you don't need more performance.

What Other Drill Should You Consider?


If you have DIY projects on your mind and hope to use your drill for various adventures, then the Black+Decker is likely to be disappointing. For about $20 more, the Craftsman V20 1/2-In. Drill/Driver Kit CMCD700C1 is a better performer and less frustrating to use. With better performance in all metrics, we believe spending a little more to get a lot more is worthwhile. See the best drills review to compare with other top models.

David Wise and Austin Palmer