DEWALT DCD740B 20V MAX 3/8-in Right-Angle Drill/Driver (Tool Only) review

The DEWALT DCD740B is a dedicated, fixed right-angle drill/driver rather than a standard drill with a separate adapter. Its defining question is not whether an angled body looks compact in a product photo, but whether the integrated head and trigger arrangement help you reach a particular work area without asking the tool to do a job its documentation does not support. This is a research-based assessment of the exact US DCD740B package from DEWALT's product page and Type 1 manual; it is not based on hands-on use or performance testing.

A specialized shape, not a general fit guarantee

DEWALT lists a 4.0-inch front-to-back length and a multi-grip trigger. Those are useful clues for an electrician, cabinet installer or repairer looking at a restricted approach, but they are not a measurement of the complete working envelope. The product page does not identify that 4.0-inch figure as tool-head length. Add the actual battery, bit, hand position, angle of approach, neighboring obstructions and workpiece before deciding whether the drill can be positioned safely. A short published body dimension cannot account for the room needed to grasp the tool or keep the bit square.

The right-angle layout is built into the DCD740 itself. That makes it a different proposition from the brushless DCD803B multi-head drill/driver, which is supplied with several detachable heads. The DCD740's manual discusses drilling and screwdriving with the right-angle machine as a whole; it should not be assumed to share the mode limits of an attachment fitted to another platform. Neither design eliminates the need to secure the work and control the tool if a bit binds.

Two ranges and a 3/8-inch chuck

The manufacturer specifies two speed ranges, 0–650 and 0–2,000 rpm, with a variable-speed paddle switch. The Type 1 manual says to choose the gear range for the operation and explains that paddle pressure varies speed. It describes lower speed for starting holes, metal or plastic drilling, screwdriving and some other tasks, with higher speed for wood and wood composites. These are operating instructions, not a claim that the drill holds a particular speed under load. No independent torque, hole-size, runtime or loaded-speed figure is established here.

The product page calls the chuck 3/8 inch and ratcheting; the manual refers to a keyless chuck. Its deep hex pocket runs through and behind the chuck, allowing a 2-inch (51 mm) or longer 1/4-inch hex shank to sit farther into the body. That arrangement can reduce how far a compatible bit protrudes from the tool in a close-up task, but it does not turn the chuck into a 1/2-inch model. Chuck capacity describes bit-shank fit, not the diameter of a hole this drill can safely make in any material. DEWALT does not provide a general DCD740 capacity table on the sources reviewed for this assessment, so the shank rating is not converted into an invented drilling limit.

What the exact B package supplies

The DCD740B page lists the drill, a belt hook and a 2-inch Phillips tip bit. It calls the model tool-only, states that battery and charger are sold separately, and identifies no case. It is specified as a brushed 20V MAX cordless tool. DEWALT says it works with 20V MAX batteries and chargers; still check the exact pack and charger instructions before buying or putting together an older set of equipment. The three included items do not make this a ready-to-run kit if you do not already own compatible power equipment.

Package suffix matters. A seller listing the DCD740B beside a battery, charger or bag may be offering an added bundle, but that should not be confused with the manufacturer's bare-tool contents. Check the SKU printed on the tool and seller's written list. The DCD740 appears on DEWALT's US right-angle-drill category page captured on October 29, 2026; that observation establishes a manufacturer catalogue listing, not retailer stock, condition or price.

Limitations and safe-work checks

This is not the choice to make when a 1/2-inch chuck or hammer-drilling mode is essential: the DCD740B page specifies a 3/8-inch chuck, and its manual covers drilling and screwdriving rather than hammer drilling. A dedicated angle may help with access, but it does not establish the amount of clearance around the battery, hands or material. Nor does the word “right-angle” promise that the tool fits behind every pipe or inside every cabinet. Measure the real setup and select a bit with the required shank and working length.

The manual warns that overload can stall the drill and cause sudden twist, and directs users to hold it firmly with both hands, support the workpiece and release the paddle if a bit stalls rather than repeatedly switching it on. The forward/reverse control also locks the tool when centered; follow the manual's instructions during bit changes and transport. Those cautions matter in close quarters, where a compact outline can invite awkward one-handed use. Do not trade stable positioning or grip for a theoretical clearance advantage.

Who should shortlist it

Consider the DCD740B when you already have, or deliberately plan to buy, compatible DEWALT 20V MAX batteries and need the integrated right-angle format with a 3/8-inch chuck and deep hex pocket. It is less suitable if you need a larger shank opening, hammer mode, a battery-and-charger kit, a documented head-length limit or a measured hole-capacity guarantee. Compare it with ordinary drill/drivers only after defining the access problem: the angled body is its central distinction, while the missing kit power equipment and narrower chuck are concrete compromises.

Before choosing one, compare the exact DCD740B label, package contents, battery and charger compatibility, bit shank, material, hole specification and work area against the current manual. The 4-inch front-to-back claim and 2-inch deep-pocket feature are useful reference points, not a substitute for that check.

DEWALT DCD740B product page · DCD740 Type 1 instruction manual.