Buying cordless power tools can mean choosing between a ready-to-use two-tool setup and a single drill/driver for an existing battery platform. In this group, the DEWALT options pair a drill with an impact driver, while the Milwaukee 3601-20 is a standalone M18 drill/driver. The key distinctions are motor type, battery inclusion, the kind of work you expect to tackle, and the sizeable difference between the lowest and highest listed prices.
Quick take
- Pick the DEWALT DCK240C2 20V MAX Cordless Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit 1.3Ah New when a new, two-tool DEWALT kit with batteries, charger, and contractor bag suits the job.
- Pick the DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless 2-Tool Combo Kit Drill Impact Driver 1.3Ah NWT when you want a closely priced DEWALT drill-and-impact-driver pairing and its compact-tool description appeals to your workspace.
- Pick the DEWALT DCK277D2 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit New when brushless motors and the stated higher impact-driver torque are the priority.
- Pick the Milwaukee 3601-20 M18 Brushless 1/2-inch Drill/ Driver Tool Only when you want the lowest listed price and specifically need only a brushless drill/driver.
Listed price comparison
The prices span from $68.99 to $136.51. That makes the lowest-priced Milwaukee 49% below the highest-priced DEWALT. The two brushed DEWALT combo kits sit almost level with each other, separated by four cents.
| Power tool | Listed price | Relative price |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 3601-20 M18 Brushless 1/2-inch Drill/ Driver Tool Only | USD 68.99 | |
| DEWALT DCK240C2 20V MAX Cordless Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit 1.3Ah New | USD 119.91 | |
| DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless 2-Tool Combo Kit Drill Impact Driver 1.3Ah NWT | USD 119.95 | |
| DEWALT DCK277D2 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit New | USD 136.51 |
Decision matrix
Choose by tool format first. The three DEWALT names are drill-and-impact-driver combo kits, making them a natural fit for projects that alternate between drilling holes and driving screws or fasteners. The Milwaukee is a 1/2-inch drill/driver alone, so it is the more focused choice when an impact driver is not part of the immediate need.
Then decide between brushed and brushless. Both DCK240C2 DEWALT versions are identified as brushed. The DEWALT DCK277D2 and Milwaukee 3601-20 are identified as brushless. For a shopper who has already narrowed the search to a brushless motor, the decision becomes a two-tool 20V MAX kit versus an 18V, tool-only drill/driver.
Account for included power components. The DCK240C2 and DCK277D2 descriptions specify batteries and a charger, plus a contractor bag. The Milwaukee title clearly says tool only, and its attributes say no battery is included. That difference matters as much as the lower starting price: the Milwaukee makes the most sense for a tool-only purchase, while the specified DEWALT kits are positioned as complete sets.
Use the near-tie carefully. At just four cents apart, the two brushed DEWALT selections should be separated by the details you care about rather than price. The named DCK240C2 describes a two-speed drill/driver, a 1/2-inch chuck, and a 1,400 in-lb impact driver. The other DEWALT combo kit description emphasizes a compact impact driver, a three-LED work light ring, and a 20-second delay.
Concise product notes
DEWALT DCK240C2 20V MAX Cordless Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit 1.3Ah New
This is the straightforward complete-kit pick for someone starting with a drill and impact driver at the same time. Its description names the DCD771 drill and DCF885 impact driver, two compact 1.3Ah lithium-ion batteries, a charger, and a contractor bag. The drill's two-speed gearbox, with stated 0-450 and 0-1,500 RPM ranges, adds a useful distinction for drilling versus driving tasks. Its limitation is the brushed motor designation. Shoppers specifically concentrating on a brushless setup have a better match in the DCK277D2 or Milwaukee 3601-20. It also uses 1.3Ah compact batteries rather than the 2.0Ah batteries described with the DCK277D2.
DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless 2-Tool Combo Kit Drill Impact Driver 1.3Ah NWT
The appeal here is a DEWALT 20V MAX drill-and-impact-driver combination at essentially the same listed price as the DCK240C2. The description calls out a compact impact-driver layout under 5.5 inches long, which is relevant for cabinet frames and tight stud bays, along with a three-LED light ring with a 20-second delay. It also states up to 300 unit watts out for the drill and up to 1,400 in-lbs for the impact driver. The limitation is a conflicting setup picture: its attributes say battery included is no, despite the combo-kit name and battery references in the description. The DCK240C2 is the clearer choice when battery inclusion is central to the decision.
DEWALT DCK277D2 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit New
Choose this DEWALT set when the main reason for moving above the brushed combo kits is its brushless motor architecture. The description also specifies two 2.0Ah compact lithium-ion batteries, a charger, a contractor bag, and an impact driver rated up to 1,700 in-lbs. That combination makes it the broadest-equipped two-tool option in this comparison for shoppers who want drilling and heavy fastening roles covered together. Its limitation is simple: it carries the highest listed price in the group. If brushless operation and the stated 1,700 in-lb figure are not priorities, the DCK240C2 offers a new two-tool DEWALT arrangement for less.
Milwaukee 3601-20 M18 Brushless 1/2-inch Drill/ Driver Tool Only
The Milwaukee 3601-20 is the focused pick for a shopper who needs a brushless 18V drill/driver rather than a bundled impact-driver kit. At the lowest listed price, it is also the clearest choice for keeping the initial tool purchase lower. The 1/2-inch drill/driver format gives it a different role from the DEWALT two-tool sets, and the open-box condition distinguishes it from the new DEWALT options. Its key limitation is explicit in the title: it is tool only. No battery is included, and no impact driver is part of the package. Choose it for a single M18 brushless drill/driver need, not for an all-in-one drill-and-driver pairing.
Final recommendation
For most shoppers seeking a complete cordless drill and impact driver combination, the DEWALT DCK240C2 20V MAX Cordless Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit 1.3Ah New is the balanced starting point because it pairs two named tools with two batteries, a charger, and a contractor bag. Move to the DEWALT DCK277D2 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit New when a brushless two-tool configuration and the stated 1,700 in-lb impact-driver rating justify the top price. Choose the Milwaukee 3601-20 M18 Brushless 1/2-inch Drill/ Driver Tool Only only when a standalone, tool-only brushless drill/driver is exactly the goal; its $68.99 entry point is far below the combo-kit range, but it deliberately leaves out batteries, charger, and impact driver.
