#1
WEN DP1263VWEN 12-Inch Benchtop Drill Press DP1263V
Ranks first with a 12 in swing, 3.125 in travel, variable speed, laser and tilting table.
- Swing
- 12.0 in
- Top speed
- 3,100 RPM
- Warranty
- 2 years
Drill Presses · 20 compared side by side
Best Benchtop Drill Presses in 2027
A benchtop drill press has to fit on a bench and still hold a hole straight in wood and metal. Three things matter most: motor power, spindle travel for hole depth, and the speed range. Slower speeds suit metal and larger bits. Faster speeds suit wood and small bits. We put 20 products on one spec sheet so you can compare swing, travel, speeds, weight and extras side by side.
Quick answer
- Best overall: WEN DP1263V (#1, Best Score 71; swing 12.0 in, top speed 3,100 RPM)
- Largest swing and travel: Garvee 01 (#3, Best Score 58; swing 13.0 in, top speed 3,084 RPM)
Ranked from 20 drill presses that met our standard, compared on motor power, spindle travel, and variable speed range.
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Top picks
#2
BACHIN BG-5156EBACHIN BG-5156E Mini Bench Drill Press
- Swing
- —
- Top speed
- 2,800 RPM
- Warranty
- —
#3
Garvee 01Garvee 13-inch Variable Speed Benchtop Drill Press
It has the highest swing at 13 in and the longest spindle travel at 3.2 in.
- Swing
- 13.0 in
- Top speed
- 3,084 RPM
- Warranty
- —
Comparison table
Swipe or scroll sideways to see every model.| Spec | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Scoreout of 100 | 71 | 59 | 58 | 56 | 55 | 53 | 51 | 51 | 48 | 47 |
| Swingin | 12.0 in | — | 13.0 in (best in row) | 12.0 in | 11.8 in | 10.0 in | 12.0 in | 10.0 in | — | — |
| Spindle travelin | 3.13 in | 2.36 in | 3.20 in (best in row) | 2.00 in | 3.16 in | — | — | — | 1.97 in | 3.13 in |
| Motor powerW | — | 710 W (best in row) | — | 560 W | 559 W | 600 W | — | — | 500 W | 559 W |
| Speed rangeRPM | 580–3,100 | 0–2,800 | 288–3,084 | 580–3,200 | 150–2,800 | 530–3,140 | 530–3,140 | 630–3,300 | 340–2,850 | 200–3,630 (best in row) |
| Variable speed | Yes (best in row) | Yes (best in row) | Yes (best in row) | Yes (best in row) | Yes (best in row) | Yes (best in row) | Yes (best in row) | — | Yes (best in row) | No |
| Chuck capacityin | 0.63 in (best in row) | 0.51 in | 0.63 in (best in row) | 0.63 in (best in row) | 0.63 in (best in row) | — | — | 0.50 in | 0.63 in (best in row) | 0.63 in (best in row) |
| Weightlb | 85 lb | 11 lb (best in row) | — | 87 lb | 110 lb | 56 lb | 84 lb | 49 lb | — | 157 lb |
| Warrantyyr | 2 years | — | — | — | 5 years (best in row) | — | — | 5 years (best in row) | — | 2 years |
| Laser guide | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| LED work light | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | — |
| Tilting table | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
Best in row— not published by the maker yet
How we chose
We reviewed 56 drill presses and kept only the 20 that pass every check below. Those are ranked by a Best Score built from spec fit for this job, sales rank.
- 4.0★ or higherAverage customer rating
- Proven demand25+ reviews or an Amazon sales rank
- In stockAvailable to order when checked
- 50%+ specs knownEnough data to compare fairly
In-depth reviews
These reviews are based on specifications and listing information, not hands-on use. We read each product's published numbers and explain what they mean for drilling wood and metal.
Best overall
WEN DP1263VWEN 12-Inch Benchtop Drill Press DP1263V
Top-ranked all-rounder with a wide feature set
- Weight
- 85 lb
- Chuck capacity
- 0.63 in (best of the reviewed tools)
- Top speed
- 3,100 RPM
- Warranty
- 2 years
The WEN DP1263V takes first place on our Best Score at 69. Spindle travel is 3.125 in, which sets the deepest hole you can drill in one pass.
Speed is variable from 580 to 3100 RPM, with a digital readout of the current RPM. Slower speeds suit metal and large bits. Faster speeds suit wood and small bits. The listing mentions a 6.2-amp induction motor, but the maker does not publish a wattage.
It has a laser guide, an overhead light, a depth stop and a table that tilts. The chuck is keyed and holds bits up to 0.625 in. It weighs 85 lb and measures 16.8 × 13.5 × 36.6 in. The warranty is 2 years, shorter than some rivals.
Pros
- Highest Best Score in the group
- Variable speed with digital readout
- Laser guide and tilting table
Cons
- Only a 2-year warranty
- Motor wattage not published
- Buy it if
- you want the best all-around spec sheet.
- Skip it if
- you want a warranty longer than 2 years.
VerdictThe WEN is the most complete package here and the safe pick for mixed wood and metal work.
Largest swing and travel
Garvee 01Garvee 13-inch Variable Speed Benchtop Drill Press
Biggest swing and longest travel of the group
- Weight
- —
- Chuck capacity
- 0.63 in (best of the reviewed tools)
- Top speed
- 3,084 RPM
- Warranty
- —
The Garvee leads the whole page on two numbers. Its 13 in swing is the highest of any product listing it, and its 3.2 in spindle travel is the longest. That means wider workpieces and deeper holes.
Its listing gives a 7.5A induction motor but no wattage. Variable speed runs from 288 to 3084 RPM. The low end of 288 RPM is useful for metal, where slower speeds keep bits from overheating. Chuck capacity is 0.625 in.
The tilting table is listed, but the maker does not publish weight, warranty, laser or LED light details in the specs. The listing gives a 3 in column and a 10 × 10 in table. It ranks third at 59, tied with the Jet.
Pros
- 13 in swing, highest listed
- 3.2 in spindle travel, longest
- Low 288 RPM start
Cons
- No warranty published
- No laser or LED listed
- Buy it if
- you need the most reach and depth.
- Skip it if
- you want a laser guide and a published warranty.
VerdictThe Garvee is the pick for sheer capacity when extras matter less.
560 W motor, 12 in swing
Bucktool DP12VLBucktool 12-inch Variable Speed Benchtop Drill Press
Stronger motor, but shallow spindle travel
- Weight
- 87 lb
- Chuck capacity
- 0.63 in (best of the reviewed tools)
- Top speed
- 3,200 RPM (best of the reviewed tools)
- Warranty
- —
The Bucktool DP12VL lists a 560 W motor, described as 6.2A. That is more than the Jet's 373 W among models listing wattage. It ranks fifth at 56.
Spindle travel is only 2 in, versus 3.125 in on the WEN and Jet. That limits hole depth in one pass. Swing is 12 in and the keyed chuck holds bits up to 0.625 in.
Speed is variable from 580 to 3200 RPM with a digital readout. The table rotates 360° and bevels 45° left or right. It has a laser, work light and emergency stop. At 86.86 lb it is the heaviest of the five reviewed. No warranty is published.
Pros
- 560 W motor
- Top speed of 3200 RPM
- Laser, work light, emergency stop
Cons
- Only 2 in spindle travel
- No warranty published
- Buy it if
- you want more motor and shallow holes are fine.
- Skip it if
- you drill deep holes in thick stock.
VerdictThe Bucktool gives good power and safety features, but travel limits depth.
12 in swing with LED
VEVOR 1216BVSVEVOR 12in Benchtop Drill Press
A 12 in press with laser and LED light
- Weight
- 84 lb (best of the reviewed tools)
- Chuck capacity
- —
- Top speed
- 3,140 RPM
- Warranty
- —
The VEVOR 1216BVS has a 12 in swing and a listed 1.0 HP motor. The maker does not publish wattage in the specs, and it does not list spindle travel or chuck capacity. Check those before buying if hole depth matters.
Speed is variable from 530 to 3140 RPM with a digital readout. That covers slower metal work and faster wood drilling. The table tilts 45° left or right and can change height.
It adds an X-laser and an LED light. Weight is 84.3 lb, close to the WEN and Jet. It ranks fourth at 57. The missing travel figure is the main gap against higher-ranked models.
Pros
- Laser and LED light
- Variable speed with readout
- Tilting, height-adjustable table
Cons
- Spindle travel not published
- Chuck capacity not published
- Buy it if
- you want lighting and a laser on a 12 in press.
- Skip it if
- you need to know exact hole depth first.
VerdictThe VEVOR offers a good feature list, but depth capacity is left unclear.
Best among the reviewed tools
Buying guide
Check motor power first
Motor power decides how well a press handles steel and large bits. Among the eight products that list wattage, figures run from 373 W to 710 W. If a maker gives only amps or horsepower, treat it as less certain.
Match spindle travel to depth
Spindle travel is how far the bit can move down in one pass. Listed values run from 1.97 in to 3.2 in. Longer travel suits thick stock. Shorter travel means more repositioning on deep holes.
Read the speed range
Slow speeds suit metal and large bits. Fast speeds suit wood and small bits. Variable speed lets you set it without moving a belt. Fixed-speed models need belt changes, so check the lowest and highest RPM.
Weigh size against stability
Weight ranges from 10.6 lb to 157 lb among models that list it. Heavier presses resist vibration but are harder to move. Check the base size and bolt the press to your bench.
FAQ
What swing do I need on a benchtop drill press?
Swing is twice the distance from the column to the bit. A 12 in swing reaches the center of a 12 in wide board from the column edge. Most top-ranked models here list 12 in or 13 in.
Can a benchtop drill press drill metal?
Yes, with the right speed. Metal needs lower RPM. Models here list low ends from 150 RPM to 580 RPM. Check motor power too, since larger bits in steel need more.
Is variable speed better than belt speeds?
Variable speed lets you change RPM with a lever or dial. Belt models need you to move a belt between pulleys. Among these, the JET J-2530 uses 16 stepped speeds and is not variable speed.
Does a laser guide improve accuracy?
A laser shows where the bit will land, which helps with alignment. It does not replace a clamped workpiece or a sharp bit. Several models here list a laser, including the WEN, Jet 716000 and VEVOR.
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