VEVOR ZT-40HA 1.6 in Mag Drill
A budget 1 5/8 in mag drill for bolt holes and brackets, with the same limits as the other VEVOR machines.
Amazon $182.90$182.90
A magnetic drill (mag drill) clamps to steel with an electromagnet and spins a hollow annular cutter, which cuts a clean hole through plate and beams far faster than a twist drill and without a drill press. These rankings compare what the makers publish on the same terms: how much cutter you get for the money, the largest hole it cuts, how much motor drives it, how hard the magnet holds and how much it weighs.
Magnet force is a claim, not a test. Budget makers print one headline figure such as 2,922 lbf (13,000 N). Hougen publishes dead lift on a 1 in plate, Milwaukee a holding figure, and several makers print nothing. These are not the same measurement, so magnet force carries only 15% of the score, and each product page says what the figure is and where it came from. Whatever the number, a mag drill holds only on clean, flat steel at least about 3/8 in thick.
Cutter size is the largest annular cutter the maker rates the machine for. Cutting depth, stroke, speed and whether it reverses (for tapping) are listed on each page but not scored.
Budget or brand. The $150 to $450 machines sold under VEVOR, ZELCAN and similar names cut as large a hole as a $2,000 machine on paper, and are fine for occasional jobs. Hougen, Milwaukee, DEWALT, Makita and Evolution cost more and publish warranties and support; the difference shows up in daily use, which a spec sheet does not capture.
Prices were last checked November 4, 2026. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon or the retailer's site at the time of purchase apply. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Top Picks
VEVOR MD-35D 1.5 in Mag Drill
The entry price for a magnetic drill, for light fabrication where a 1 1/2 in hole is the biggest you cut.
Amazon $153.90$153.90
Shop by Size
Up to 1 5/8 in
14 rankedCutters up to 1 5/8 in: structural steel, bolt holes and fabrication, in the lighter, lower-profile machines.
Top rated: VEVOR ZT-40HA 1.6 in Mag Drill $182.90
2 in and larger
14 rankedCutters of 2 in and up: plate, beams and heavy fabrication, in machines that weigh 30 lb or more.
Top rated: ZELCAN J1CD-35S 2 in Mag Drill $209.99
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Best Compact Magnetic Drills
- VEVOR ZT-40HA 1.6 in Mag Drill#1 of 14Full review
A budget 1 5/8 in mag drill for bolt holes and brackets, with the same limits as the other VEVOR machines.
Amazon $182.90$182.901.6 in2,810 lbf24.9 lb - VEVOR ZT-45H 1.6 in Mag Drill#2 of 14Full review
Fine for holes up to about 1 5/8 in. For $40 less the VEVOR 8850E cuts 2 in.
Amazon $229.90$229.901.6 in2,810 lbf26.5 lb - VEVOR 1300W 1.57 in Mag Drill#3 of 14Full review
A starter kit for bolt-size holes in structural steel. The 2 in VEVORs cost less and cut larger.
Amazon $249.90$249.901.6 in2,922 lbf28.2 lb - VEVOR MD-35D 1.5 in Mag Drill#4 of 14Full review
The entry price for a magnetic drill, for light fabrication where a 1 1/2 in hole is the biggest you cut.
Amazon $153.90$153.901 1/2 in2,248 lbf23.4 lb - VEVOR 8840E Low Profile Mag Drill#5 of 14Full review
A compact VEVOR for beam flanges and tight spots. Buy it for the low profile, not the price.
Amazon $318.91$318.911.4 in2,248 lbf23.1 lb
Best 2 Inch Magnetic Drills
- ZELCAN J1CD-35S 2 in Mag Drill#1 of 14Full review
The lightest 2 in budget mag drill here, with reverse. Sold in cutter-kit bundles at higher prices.
Amazon $209.99$209.992 in2,922 lbf23.8 lb - GarveeTech 1750W 2 in Mag Drill#2 of 14Full review
A cheap 2 in mag drill with a large motor rating, but without a published magnet figure it is a gamble on thin steel.
Amazon $184.99$184.992 in-26.5 lb - VEVOR 8880E 2 in Mag Drill#3 of 14Full review
A cheap 2 in mag drill for occasional shop and farm steel work. A name-brand machine is the pick if it will run all day on a jobsite.
Amazon $228.99$228.992 in2,922 lbf26.5 lb - VEVOR J1CD-60D 2.4 in Mag Drill#4 of 14Full review
For a shop that needs 2 1/4 in plus holes and tapping without a pro-grade price. Plan on a lift or a second person for overhead work.
Amazon $365.90$365.902.4 in2,922 lbf49.6 lb - VEVOR 8850E 2 in Mag Drill#5 of 14Full review
A good-value light 2 in mag drill for home and farm fabrication. Treat the magnet rating as the maker’s claim.
Amazon $188.90$188.902 in2,810 lbf25.1 lb
How We Rank
Each drill is ranked against others of a similar cutter size, and scored on its price per inch of cutter, its cutter size, motor power, stated magnet force and weight.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per inch of largest cutter | 30% |
| Cutter size | largest annular cutter diameter | 20% |
| Power | motor power | 20% |
| Magnet | stated magnet holding force | 15% |
| Weight | lighter is easier to carry up a beam | 15% |
How we rank explains each factor in full.