DeWalt
DeWalt DCD805 20V Max XR Compact Hammer Drill
Launched in April 2022 as the hammer-drill twin of the DCD800, the DCD805 is the compact XR that DeWalt actually sells by the pallet - it packs 850 UWO and 796 in-lbs into a 7-inch, 2.95 lb body, up 40% on the DCD796 it replaced. It sits one tier below the flagship DCD999/DCD1007, trading their anti-kickback E-Clutch and top-end torque for a smaller, lighter package that handles 90% of the same work. The adjustable 3-position, 70-lumen spotlight LED is the party trick no other brand's compact matches.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓796 in-lbs and 850 UWO is genuinely mid-flagship power - Pro Tool Reviews measured 40% more output than the DCD796 predecessor in a body a half-inch shorter.
- ✓At 7 inches long and 2.95 lbs bare it works between studs and overhead all day without the flagship's wrist fatigue.
- ✓The 3-position, 3-mode LED with 70-lumen spotlight setting is repeatedly singled out by owners as the best work light on any compact drill.
- ✓34,000 BPM hammer mode covers Tapcon and occasional masonry work the cheaper non-hammer DCD800 can't touch.
- ✓Constantly discounted: Home Depot ran the $179 bare tool at $99.50 in May 2026 and clearance units have hit $81-90 - it may be the best deal-watch tool in the lineup.
- ✓All-metal ratcheting chuck and optional Tool Connect chip compatibility carry over from the premium XR drills.
- ✓Strong retailer scores across the board: 4.8/5 at Toolup, 94% at Tool Nut, and a 4.6-star average at Home Depot.
- ✓Buys you into the massive DeWalt 20V Max ecosystem (250+ tools), and pairs with compact PowerStack batteries for an even smaller package.
Cons
- ✗Chuck issues are the recurring owner gripe - bit slip/loosening under load and runout (wobble) complaints show up across DeWalt owner-feedback roundups, even on newer units.
- ✗No anti-kickback protection - DeWalt reserves the E-Clutch bind-up sensor for the flagship DCD999/DCD1007, so a jammed hole saw will twist your wrist.
- ✗2,000 RPM top speed trails the 2,250 RPM of premium flagships, costing drilling speed with small bits.
- ✗No auxiliary side handle in the box, despite enough torque to genuinely need one in bind-ups.
- ✗796 in-lbs still gives up real ground to the flagship on big self-feed bits, long augers, and large hole saws.
- ✗Bare tool ships with just a belt hook - and DeWalt 20V batteries cost more per amp-hour than Ridgid or Ryobi promos.
- ✗Hammer mode is a convenience, not a rotary-hammer replacement - owners report slow going in cured concrete past Tapcon-sized holes.
- ✗List price of $179 bare is poor value versus its own frequent promos - patient buyers routinely pay 45% less, which stings if you don't wait.
Compare the DeWalt DCD805 20V Max XR Compact Hammer Drill
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