Best Drill Press for Metal Work (2026): 4 Compared

Compare the picks

Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 20 October 2026. “Not stated” means the listing does not give the figure.

How we scored them

Each press is scored on performance, build, value, safety and warranty. The SKIL and Bucktool state safety switches, so they earn safety points; the VEVOR and WEN state no safety switches and score zero there. The SKIL is the only listing with a warranty term, so it is the only one that scores on warranty.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score.

What the listings tell you

We read four benchtop drill press listings, all 120V corded presses. Two state a 12-inch swing, one a 10-inch swing and one an 8-inch swing. Three state variable or stepped speed control reaching 3,200 RPM with low ends from 580 to 750 RPM; the SKIL lists five speeds from 610 to 2,800 RPM. Three state a laser alignment aid and a work light. Stated metal drilling capacities run 0.5 in on the WEN and SKIL, 0.6 in on the VEVOR and 0.63 in on the Bucktool. Motors run 2.3A and 253 watts on the WEN, 5A on the VEVOR and 6.2A and 744 watts on the SKIL and Bucktool, all 120V. The SKIL includes a hex wrench and chuck key; the VEVOR lists feed handles, a table crank handle, chuck arbor, wrenches and bolts; the WEN has onboard chuck key storage.

Buying guide: best drill press for metal work

Swing and footprint

Swing decides the widest workpiece the press centers: 12 inches on the Bucktool and VEVOR, 10 inches on the SKIL and 8 inches on the WEN. The bigger presses need the bench: the Bucktool stands 39 in tall at 86.5 lb and the VEVOR 37.5 in tall at 76 lb, both on cast iron bases, while the WEN is 23 in tall at 32 lb on a 7 by 11-inch base. Match the press to the bench before the steel.

Speed control for metal

Metal wants low speeds the listings state clearly. The Bucktool and VEVOR state 580 to 3,200 RPM variable speed, the Bucktool with a digital speed readout and the VEVOR with an LED digital screen. The SKIL lists five speeds from 610 to 2,800 RPM and the WEN five fixed speeds at 750, 1,100, 1,500, 2,100 or 3,200 RPM. For larger bits in steel, the low end matters more than the top speed.

Chuck and spindle travel

The Bucktool states the widest chuck here at 1/32 to 5/8 in; the VEVOR states 0.63 in maximum; the WEN and SKIL state 1/2 in. Spindle travel is 2 inches on both the WEN and the Bucktool; the SKIL and VEVOR state no travel figure. A deeper travel means fewer repositionings on thick stock.

Tables

All four tables tilt for angled holes: the WEN bevels up to 45 degrees in each direction on a 6.5 by 6.5-inch height-adjustable table, the SKIL tilts 0 to 45 degrees left and right, the VEVOR tilts 0 to 45 degrees, and the Bucktool table rotates a full 360 degrees and bevels 45 degrees left or right. The SKIL adds an adjustable depth stop for repeatable hole depths.

Lasers, lights and switches

Three listings state a laser alignment aid: Class II on the SKIL and Class IIIA 2.5mW on the Bucktool and VEVOR, each with a work light. The safety hardware differs: the Bucktool states an emergency stop switch and a no-voltage-release switch, and the SKIL states a bump-off switch. The VEVOR and WEN state no safety switches.

Motors and power

Amperage splits the four: 2.3A and 253 watts on the WEN, 5A on the VEVOR and 6.2A on the SKIL and Bucktool, the latter two at 744 watts. All four are 120V corded presses. For steel, the 6.2A pair states the most power; the 2.3A WEN is the light-duty option of the four.

Spindle travel and depth control

Spindle travel is stated at 2 inches on the WEN and the Bucktool; the SKIL and VEVOR state no travel figure. For repeatable depths, the SKIL states an adjustable depth stop, and the VEVOR lists a table crank handle among its included parts. The WEN keeps its chuck key in onboard storage so it is there when the bit needs changing.

Warranty

The SKIL states a 3-year limited warranty, the only warranty term here. The Bucktool, VEVOR and WEN state no warranty term.

Matching the press to the metal job

For general steel brackets and plates, every listing here drills metal: the Bucktool states drilling needs from wood to all kinds of metal, the VEVOR states metal and wood, the SKIL states wood, metal and other materials, and the WEN states a 0.5-inch metal drilling capacity. For the thickest stated capacity, the Bucktool lists 0.63 in in metal with its 5/8-inch chuck; for angled holes in metal, all four tables tilt to 45 degrees. For a small bench doing light metal work, the 32 lb WEN keeps the footprint small.

Speed, chuck and table: what the listings state

Low speed matters for metal

The low end of the speed range is what metal work needs. The Bucktool states 580 to 3,200 RPM continuously variable with a digital readout; the VEVOR states the same 580 to 3,200 RPM range. The WEN lists five fixed speeds from 750 to 3,200 RPM, and the SKIL lists five from 610 to 2,800 RPM. All four reach 2,800 RPM or above at the top, but only the Bucktool and VEVOR state the lowest bottom ends of the four, which suits larger bits in metal.

Chuck capacity and spindle travel

Chuck capacity runs 1/2 in on the WEN and SKIL against 5/8 in (0.63 in) on the Bucktool and VEVOR. The stated metal drilling capacity follows the same split: 0.5 in on the WEN and SKIL, 0.63 in on the Bucktool and 0.6 in on the VEVOR. Spindle travel is 2 in on all four listings that state it, and swing runs 8, 10 and 12 in: the 12 in swing on the Bucktool and VEVOR means 6 in of reach from chuck to column. Note the VEVOR spec table states 14.4 N m torque against a 0.07 N m figure elsewhere and lists both 5 speeds and variable speed; the bullets’ variable-speed claim wins.

Safety extras on the listings

The Bucktool states an emergency stop switch and a no voltage release switch, the only two safety extras of the four. The SKIL states a bump-off switch and an adjustable depth stop for repeatable hole depth. The SKIL is also the only pick with a stated warranty: 3 years limited. The other three state no warranty term.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which drill press has the biggest swing?

The Bucktool and VEVOR at a stated 12 inches, against 10 inches on the SKIL and 8 inches on the WEN.

Which is best for metal specifically?

The Bucktool states the highest metal drilling capacity at 0.63 in with a 1/32 to 5/8 in chuck and 580 to 3,200 RPM variable speed. The SKIL pairs a 6.2A motor with the only stated warranty at 3 years limited.

Do any have a laser guide?

Three do: the SKIL with a Class II laser, and the Bucktool and VEVOR with Class IIIA 2.5mW lasers. The WEN states none.

Which states a warranty?

The SKIL at 3 years limited. The Bucktool, VEVOR and WEN state no warranty term.

Which is the heaviest?

The Bucktool at a stated 86.5 lb, then the VEVOR at 76 lb and the WEN at 32 lb. The SKIL states no weight.

Which is the most compact?

The WEN at 8 inches of swing, 23 in tall and 32 lb, on a 7 by 11-inch base.

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