DEWALT DCD801B: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-17

Summary

The DCD801B is a compact 20V MAX XR brushless drill/driver (1050 MWO, 2.8 lbs bare, 6.5-in head) with no hammer function; the recurring cautions are its abrupt anti-rotation shutdown, the missing side handle, and the fact that the $179 bare price excludes the battery and charger. Yearly running cost is whatever 20V MAX battery and charger you must buy if you do not own them. Near $179 bare it makes sense for existing DEWALT 20V owners; without existing batteries the total climbs toward the $269 kit.

Common problems and fixes

Anti-Rotation System shuts the tool down abruptly — Perform & Protect senses excessive rotational motion and kills the motor rather than slipping like a clutch, lighting a red LED; owners unfamiliar with it may find the stop jarring. It is a safety feature, not a fault: respect bind-ups and keep bits sharp. [1][3]
Bare price excludes battery and charger — the drill ships with the tool and one belt hook only; buyers starting from nothing must add the cost of a 20V MAX battery and charger on top of the $179 list. [1][2]
Runtime claim needs a specific battery — the up-to-175-holes-per-charge figure assumes the DCB2104 battery (sold separately) and a 7/8-in auger in 1-1/2-in SPF; real results vary with bit size, material and technique. [1]
No hammer function — it can take a carbide-tipped masonry bit up to 1/4-in diameter, but it is not a hammer drill; for anything beyond light masonry step to the hammer-drill sibling. [4]

Parts and consumables

20V MAX battery — sold separately; any DEWALT 20V battery fits the platform, and the DCB2104 4.0 Ah PowerPack is the reference for the runtime claim. [1][3]
DCE042 TOOL CONNECT chip — sold separately; required for TOOL CONNECT pairing with the Site Manager app, which may involve subscription fees. [1]
Belt hook — included with the bare tool. [1]
DCD801QQ2 kit — two 4.0 Ah PowerPack batteries, charger and bag at $269 per ProToolReviews and a Home Depot price owners cite; the reference configuration if you need batteries. [2][5]

Yearly running cost

There are no consumables and no subscription unless you add the TOOL CONNECT chip and Site Manager app. [1][2]

When it is a good buy

$179 bare — the price at Pro Tool Reviews and Northern Tool; reasonable for existing DEWALT 20V owners who want a compact drill/driver that outpowers the previous-generation DCD996 (820 MWO). [2][4]
$269 for the DCD801QQ2 kit — the better buy if you do not own 20V MAX batteries. [2][5]

Named alternatives:

DCD806 — the hammer-drill sibling sharing the same motor and platform at $199; the better choice when you need hammer drilling. [2][3]
DCD1007 — the flagship hammer drill at $249 bare per Pro Tool Reviews; the better choice for maximum power. [2]
Milwaukee M18 2903-20 — DEWALT rates the DCD801 up to 25% more powerful on an MWO basis with the DCB2104 battery; compare it if you are not locked to one battery platform. [1]