You've got one job. Put up a shelf, build the flat-pack wardrobe, hang a heavy mirror, assemble the trampoline before the kids notice. You need a drill for an afternoon — not for the rest of your life.
So what's the cheapest way to actually get one? Here are your real options for the UK in 2026, cheapest to most expensive, with honest prices.
The short answer
If it's genuinely a one-off, the cheapest options are borrowing for free or renting a drill locally for around £5–£10 for the weekend. Buying only makes sense if you'll keep using it.
| Option | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow from a friend | Free | A single quick job |
| Rent locally (peer-to-peer) | £5–£10 / weekend | One-off jobs, good drill |
| Hire from a tool-hire chain | £15–£25 / day | When you need it now |
| Buy budget corded drill | £25–£45 | Frequent small jobs |
| Buy decent cordless drill | £80–£150 | Regular DIY |
Walking through the options
1. Borrow it (free)
The obvious one. Most streets have at least one person with a cordless drill gathering dust in the shed. Ask. The catch is you're relying on someone being free, having the right bits, and you remembering to give it back in one piece.
2. Rent one locally (£5–£10 a weekend)
If you don't have a friend with a drill, the next cheapest route is renting one from someone nearby. Peer-to-peer rental usually costs a few pounds a day — far less than a tool-hire depot, and you often get a better cordless drill than you'd buy on a budget.
This is exactly what Rentify is for: search "drill" in your area, book it for the weekend, pick it up locally. No depot, no van rental, no opening-hours stress — and payment is handled in-app so there's no awkwardness with the owner.
3. Hire from a national chain (£15–£25 a day)
Tool-hire shops are reliable and have everything, but you're paying commercial day rates and you have to collect and return during opening hours. Worth it for big or specialist tools — overkill for a drill you need for two hours.
4. Buy a budget drill (£25–£45)
A cheap corded drill is fine for occasional shelf-and-flat-pack duty. If you can already see yourself doing little jobs every few weeks, owning one is reasonable. Just be honest about whether it'll get used — most "I'll definitely use it again" drills live in the cupboard.
5. Buy a decent cordless (£80–£150)
The right buy if you're a regular DIYer. Cordless, good battery, proper torque. But for a single weekend job, you'd be spending £100+ to avoid a £10 rental. The maths only works if you'll keep using it.
So which should you pick?
A simple rule:
If you'll use it more than a handful of times a year, buy. If it's a one-off, borrow or rent.
For one weekend job, spending £100 on a drill that then sits unused for two years is the expensive choice — even though it feels like "owning it." We ran the same logic on a more expensive tool in our rent vs buy a pressure washer guide, and the break-even maths is the same: occasional use almost always favours renting. You can see it across dozens of items in our full rent vs buy breakdown.
And if you do own a good drill that mostly sits idle? You can flip the whole thing around and earn money renting it out to the neighbour doing their flat-pack next weekend.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest way to get a power drill for one job?
Borrowing from a friend is free; if that's not an option, renting a drill locally for around £5–£10 for the weekend is the cheapest paid route. Both beat buying a drill you'll rarely use again.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy a power drill?
For a one-off job, renting is far cheaper — a few pounds versus £25–£150 to buy. Buying only becomes the cheaper option if you use a drill regularly, roughly more than a handful of times a year.
How much does it cost to hire a drill in the UK?
National tool-hire chains typically charge £15–£25 per day. Renting locally from someone nearby is usually cheaper, often £5–£10 for a weekend, and saves the trip to a hire depot.
Do I need a cordless or corded drill for basic DIY?
For shelves, flat-pack furniture and hanging things, either works. Cordless is more convenient with no trailing lead; corded is cheaper to buy and never runs out of charge. When you rent, you can simply pick whichever the owner has — both handle everyday jobs fine.
Where can I rent a drill near me?
You can hire from tool-hire chains, or rent one locally from people nearby. To rent locally, browse drills and other tools to rent on Rentify, book for the dates you need, and collect it close to home.