What Do Speed Settings 1 and 2 Mean on a Cordless Drill?

On a two-speed cordless drill, setting 1 is low gear. It runs slower and gives you more available torque. Setting 2 is high gear, which runs faster with less torque.

The numbered switch picks the drill's operating range. It is a different control from the numbered clutch ring, even though both use numbers. Exact RPM for each gear varies by model, so get those figures from your own drill's manual or spec sheet.

What Do Settings 1 and 2 Mean?

The selector shifts the drill's gearbox between two ranges, and each range trades speed against torque. Torque is the twisting force that turns a bit or drives a screw.

Per this speed vs. torque explanation, a drill gives you its most torque in its lowest gear when the motor gets full power. The higher gear produces less torque. On a 2-speed drill, that makes gear 1 (low) the choice when you need the most twisting force. Gear 2 (high) is the choice when you want more drilling speed and don't need the highest torque.

A bicycle is a handy comparison. Low gear makes a steep hill easier, but you pedal a lot to cover ground. High gear covers ground fast but takes more effort to push. Your drill's gearbox makes the same kind of trade, just with a motor doing the pedaling.

Keep in mind that the 1 and 2 are labels, not speeds. A "1" does not mean 1,000 RPM or any other fixed number. Each manufacturer rates its own gears, and those figures differ from model to model. If a spec says "no-load RPM," it describes the chuck spinning freely with nothing resisting it. Once the bit bites into wood or metal, the real speed can drop. Use the rating to compare the two gears on one drill, not as the speed you will see while drilling.

When Should You Use Gear 1 or Gear 2?

Pick gear 1 when the job needs twisting force. Pick gear 2 when you want speed and the bit isn't asking for maximum torque.

• Gear 1 (low): Big bits that resist turning. The same guide names large auger bits and larger hole saws as examples that may call for low speed and the extra torque that comes with it.
• Gear 2 (high): Faster drilling when the bit doesn't need the drill's highest torque.
• Signs you picked the wrong one: If the bit slows hard or stalls in gear 2, the job needs more torque than high gear provides. Shift to gear 1 using your model's shifting steps, then try again.

Here is an illustrative example, not a test result. Say you're cutting a cable pass-through in a cabinet back with a larger hole saw. Start in gear 1, because that bit is one of the cases that may need low speed. Later you drill a small pilot hole in a pine shelf board, where torque isn't the limit. Gear 2 finishes that hole faster.

Those examples are not a complete chart. No single rule assigns every bit, material, or screw to one gear. For driving screws, the clutch is the control that limits how much torque reaches the fastener, so the gear choice is only half of that setup. For small, light screws, an electric screwdriver is a separate tool category with its own controls. Our electric screwdriver usage tips cover how to handle that kind of work.

How Is the Gear Selector Different From the Clutch and Trigger?

They are three separate controls. The selector picks the range, the clutch caps torque while driving, and the trigger runs the motor.

The Gear Selector

Use the gear selector to set the operating range before the bit turns. It decides how the drill splits its output between speed and torque, which is why the two positions behave so differently under load. It does not set a torque limit for a screw, and it does not run the motor. Think of it as choosing which "gear" the drill works in, while the other two controls decide how hard and how fast it works within that gear.

The Clutch

A clutch limits torque for driving fasteners. It is not a speed control. According to this guide to how drill clutch settings work, the clutch engages when you switch to driving mode, and the setting you choose determines how much torque transfers through the bit. When the bit meets enough resistance, the mechanism slips, or "clutches out," so the drill stops delivering more torque.

So clutch number 1 is not the same thing as gear 1. If you also use an electric screwdriver for small fasteners, our guide to torque variance in electric drivers explains why driving results can differ from one screw to the next on those tools.

The Variable-Speed Trigger

Squeezing the trigger is what actually runs the motor, and it works apart from both the selector and the clutch. Moving the selector from 1 to 2 doesn't turn the trigger into a different control. It changes the range the drill works in when you squeeze it. The gear comparison above describes the drill at full motor power. For how your trigger responds to partial pressure, use your model's manual, since that behavior is specific to each drill.

FAQs

Are the speed selector numbers the same as the clutch numbers?

No. The selector's 1 and 2 choose a gear range. Clutch numbers set how much torque can reach the bit before the clutch slips, a behavior this drill clutch settings guide calls "clutching out." Changing one control leaves the other's setting as it was.

Does setting 2 mean more torque?

No, it works the other way. Setting 2 is the faster range. At full power, a drill's lowest gear gives the most torque, so gear 1 is where you get maximum twisting force. Real torque and RPM figures for either gear depend on the drill model.

Can I change gears while the drill is running?

No single rule covers every drill. Gear-change steps vary by model, so follow the shifting instructions in your drill's manual. If your manual says to stop the motor first, release the trigger and let the chuck come to a full stop before you move the selector.

Where can I find the RPM for each gear on my drill?

Use the manual or the manufacturer's spec sheet for your exact model. When a spec sheet lists an RPM figure for each gear, check whether it is labeled no-load. A no-load rating describes free spinning, not speed while the bit is cutting. Compare the gears on the same drill rather than borrowing numbers from another model.