Quick verdict
The DCD999 is the more powerful drill with better gearing and a bind sensor; the 2804-20 is the one you can hold all day. For sustained heavy drilling on FlexVolt packs, the DeWalt; for a homeowner who occasionally bores a post, the Milwaukee compact is the drill to live with.
Milwaukee 2804-20 M18 FUEL Hammer Drill
The 2804-20 is the compact M18 FUEL hammer drill with 1,200 inch-pounds in a 6.9 inch body and a metal chuck. It does most of what the DeWalt does in a tool that lives on a belt, without the three-speed gearbox or a bind sensor.
DeWalt DCD999 heavy-duty hammer drill versus Milwaukee 2804-20 compact hammer drill: speeds, torque, E-Clutch, weight and platform compared from published specifications for yard and deck work.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 2804-20 M18 FUEL Hammer Drill | Best Everyday Compact Power | 8.8 | Check price |
| DeWalt DCD999 20V MAX XR FlexVolt Advantage Hammer Drill | Best for Sustained Heavy Drilling | 8.9 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Milwaukee 2804-20 M18 FUEL Hammer Drill
The 2804-20 is the compact M18 FUEL hammer drill with 1,200 inch-pounds in a 6.9 inch body and a metal chuck. It does most of what the DeWalt does in a tool that lives on a belt, without the three-speed gearbox or a bind sensor.
Reasons to buy
- 1,200 in-lbs in a compact body
- Metal chuck
- Easy to use all day
- M18 platform
Reasons to avoid
- Two speeds
- No bind protection
- Less power than the DeWalt on a FlexVolt pack
DeWalt DCD999 20V MAX XR FlexVolt Advantage Hammer Drill
The DCD999 is the heavy XR hammer drill: three speeds, an E-Clutch and a FlexVolt Advantage power boost. It is built for mixing, large hole saws and deep concrete and it weighs and costs like it.
Reasons to buy
- Three speeds with a low range for big bits
- E-Clutch bind protection
- FlexVolt Advantage power
- Built for sustained work
Reasons to avoid
- Heavy and long
- Expensive
- Too much for everyday jobs
Where these two differ
The DCD999 is DeWalt’s heavy hammer drill with three speeds, an electronic clutch and a power boost on FlexVolt batteries. The 2804-20 is Milwaukee’s compact hammer drill with 1,200 inch-pounds in a body that fits a belt. One is built for sustained heavy drilling; the other for everything a homeowner does most days.
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 | DCD999 | 2804-20 |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Heavy-duty | Compact |
| Speeds | 3 | 2 |
| Bind control | E-Clutch | None |
| Torque | FlexVolt Advantage boost | 1,200 in-lbs peak |
| Weight | Heavy | Light for its power |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
Power and gearing
The DeWalt low gear is made for two-inch augers and mixing paddles and the FlexVolt boost gives it the most power DeWalt puts in a drill. The Milwaukee two-speed gearbox and 1,200 inch-pounds pull the same bits for the length of a homeowner job. On a long day of boring posts the DeWalt runs cooler and steadier; on a single post, the Milwaukee is done just as fast.
Bind protection
The E-Clutch stops the DCD999 when a bit catches. The 2804 has only a mechanical clutch and wants a braced hand with big bits; the newer Milwaukee 2904 adds AUTOSTOP for anyone who wants both compactness and a bind sensor.
Daily use
The Milwaukee goes up ladders, works between joists and hangs on a belt all day. The DeWalt stays on the bench until the hole that needs it. For most households that is the deciding fact.
Yard jobs this decides
A season of fence posts set in concrete, with every post bored for bolts, is DCD999 work. A deck, a shed base and the odd anchor are 2804 work. The platform then decides the mower; FlexVolt owners have the big packs the DCD999 wants, and M18 owners have the packs the 2804 shares with their blower.
Batteries and runtime
The DCD999 wants a FlexVolt or large 20V pack to deliver and to last. The 2804 runs an afternoon on a compact pack and a heavy session on a 5 Ah pack. Neither is short of runtime for a yard.
Setup tips
Give the DCD999 a FlexVolt pack to see its rated power and expect the weight. Use its low gear for augers and let the E-Clutch do its job. Keep the Milwaukee in low gear for the same bits and brace a hand, since it has no bind sensor.
Common owner complaints
DCD999 owners mention weight and the E-Clutch tripping on dull bits. 2804 owners mention no bind protection and price. Both are durable.
Which one should you buy
Buy the DCD999 if you drill heavily and own FlexVolt packs. Buy the 2804-20 for everything else, or the 2904 if you want a bind sensor in a compact body.
Our verdict
The Milwaukee 2804-20 takes this comparison for homeowners because compact power is used more than heavy power. The DeWalt DCD999 is the stronger drill and the right one for sustained heavy work.
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
Heavy or occasional
Sustained mixing and boring favor the DCD999. Occasional heavy jobs are fine on the 2804.
Weight
The Milwaukee is far easier overhead and on ladders.
Bind protection
Only the DeWalt stops itself. The Milwaukee 2904 adds it on M18.
Platform
FlexVolt owners get the DCD999 at its best; M18 owners get the 2804.
Our verdict
The DCD999 is the more powerful drill with better gearing and a bind sensor; the 2804-20 is the one you can hold all day. For sustained heavy drilling on FlexVolt packs, the DeWalt; for a homeowner who occasionally bores a post, the Milwaukee compact is the drill to live with.
FAQs
The DCD999 on a FlexVolt pack by DeWalt rating. On a standard pack the gap narrows and the Milwaukee is far lighter.
With big bits, yes. It stops the drill when a bind would wrench the wrist. The 2804 relies on a braced hand.
The 2804-20 for most, or the 2904 for bind protection. The DCD999 is for heavy work.
A low gear for big bits, a middle for general work and a high for small holes. Two speeds cover a yard.
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