Quick verdict
The DCD800 and the DCD999 are at opposite ends of the XR range: the lightest drill driver and the heaviest hammer drill. Buy the DCD800 for a timber yard and light hands; buy the DCD999 for concrete, big bits and mixing. If the jobs are mixed, the DCD805 between them is the compromise.
DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill Driver
The DCD800 is the compact XR drill driver: brushless, two speeds, a half-inch ratcheting chuck and no hammer mode. It is the lightest serious drill DeWalt makes for deck screws, fence pilots, hardware and augers, and it runs on every 20V MAX pack.
DeWalt DCD800 compact drill driver versus DeWalt DCD999 heavy hammer drill: hammer mode, speeds, clutch, weight and the yard jobs each suits, compared from published specifications.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill Driver | Best Light Drill for Timber Yards | 8.6 | Check price |
| DeWalt DCD999 20V MAX XR FlexVolt Advantage Hammer Drill | Best Heavy Drill for Big Jobs | 8.9 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
DeWalt DCD800 20V MAX XR Drill Driver
The DCD800 is the compact XR drill driver: brushless, two speeds, a half-inch ratcheting chuck and no hammer mode. It is the lightest serious drill DeWalt makes for deck screws, fence pilots, hardware and augers, and it runs on every 20V MAX pack.
Reasons to buy
- Lightest XR drill for overhead and ladder work
- Two-speed brushless with ratcheting chuck
- Covers all timber and metal yard jobs
- Lowest price of the two
Reasons to avoid
- No hammer mode
- Strains on large augers and hole saws
- No anti-bind clutch
DeWalt DCD999 20V MAX XR FlexVolt Advantage Hammer Drill
The DCD999 is the heavy XR hammer drill with three speeds, an E-Clutch and FlexVolt Advantage power on a FlexVolt pack. It hammers concrete, drives big augers and hole saws and mixes post mix without strain, at a weight and price the DCD800 does not carry.
Reasons to buy
- Three speeds and a big motor for large bits
- Hammer mode for concrete and block
- E-Clutch anti-bind protection
- More power on FlexVolt packs
Reasons to avoid
- Heavy and long
- Costs much more
- More drill than most yard work needs
Where these two differ
The DCD800 is the lightest serious drill in the XR range and the DCD999 is the heaviest. One is a two-speed drill driver with no hammer mode; the other is a three-speed hammer drill with an electronic clutch and extra power on a FlexVolt battery. They share a platform and a chuck size and little else.
This comparison is based on the published specifications and manuals for both drills and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run either drill ourselves.
| Specification | DCD800 | DCD999 |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Compact drill driver | Heavy-duty hammer drill |
| Speeds | 2 | 3 |
| Hammer mode | No | Yes |
| Clutch | Mechanical | E-Clutch |
| FlexVolt Advantage | No | Yes |
| Weight | Light | Heavy |
The timber yard
A deck, a fence, a pergola, raised beds, a shed on timber bearers: every job is screws, pilots, hardware and the odd spade bit. The DCD800 does all of it and is the easiest drill to hold overhead for an afternoon. The DCD999 does it too, heavily.
The concrete and the big bits
A slab to anchor a shed to, a patio to fix a post base on, a two-inch auger through a 6×6, a hole saw for a dryer vent, a paddle in a bucket of post mix. The DCD800 either cannot do these or strains at them. The DCD999 was built for them: hammer mode for the concrete, a low gear for the auger, an E-Clutch that stops the drill when the hole saw catches.
Weight and price
The DCD999 is far heavier and longer, and costs a great deal more. For a household whose heaviest job is a deck screw, both are wasted. For one with a slab and a post hole, the weight is the price of getting the job done.
The middle ground
Most mixed yards are better served by the DCD805, which is the DCD800 with a hammer mode. It covers occasional anchors without the weight of the DCD999. This comparison is really about the two ends of the range.
Batteries and runtime
The DCD800 sips a 2 Ah compact pack through an afternoon of screws and pilots and stays light doing it. The DCD999 wants a 5 Ah or a FlexVolt pack to show its power and to last through a mixing or boring session, which adds weight to an already heavy drill. A household with small packs will find the DCD800 the more convenient tool; one with FlexVolt packs for a mower or blower already owns the battery the DCD999 was built for.
Common owner complaints
DCD800 owners mention wanting a hammer mode later. DCD999 owners mention the weight on overhead work and the clutch cutting out on dull bits. Neither has a reliability pattern.
Which one should you buy
Buy the DCD800 for a timber-only yard and for anyone who values a light drill. Buy the DCD999 for concrete, large bits and mixing, or for a FlexVolt owner who wants the most powerful drill on the platform. Consider the DCD805 if the honest answer is a bit of both.
Our verdict
The DCD800 is the drill most yards actually need and the better buy for them. The DCD999 is the better tool when the heavy jobs are real, and it is wasted when they are not.
How we research
This comparison is built from the published specifications, manuals and warranty terms of both products and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run either product ourselves; where the makers do not publish a figure we say so rather than guess.
What to look for
Masonry
The DCD800 has no hammer mode. Any concrete anchoring rules it out.
Bit size
Spades and small augers suit the DCD800. Large augers, hole saws and paddles suit the DCD999.
Weight
Overhead and ladder work favors the DCD800 by a wide margin.
Budget
The DCD999 costs a great deal more. Spend it only if the heavy jobs exist.
Our verdict
The DCD800 and the DCD999 are at opposite ends of the XR range: the lightest drill driver and the heaviest hammer drill. Buy the DCD800 for a timber yard and light hands; buy the DCD999 for concrete, big bits and mixing. If the jobs are mixed, the DCD805 between them is the compromise.
FAQs
A shallow hole in soft brick with a masonry bit, slowly. It is not a hammer drill.
Not too much, just heavy. It drives screws fine; an impact driver is the better tool for volume.
The DCD999 delivers more power when a FlexVolt battery is fitted, per DeWalt. It runs normally on 20V packs.
Yes, the DCD805: the DCD800 with a hammer mode. It covers most mixed yards.
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