Our pick for a compact benchtop drill press: Ryobi 10 in. drill press with EXACTLINE laser

Ryobi 10 in. drill press with EXACTLINE laser

Model DP103L

Why we picked it

Our pick for a first drill press: a compact 10 in. benchtop machine with a laser crosshair and a work light, for straight, repeatable holes.

Bob Vila's tester named it the best 10-inch model in his hands-on test of seven models, including a mortiser and a rotary-tool stand. He liked the bright laser, the crank that raises the table and how easy it was to lift on and off the bench.

In Wood Magazine's test of eight benchtop drill presses, its depth stop was among the most reliable over 100 holes drilled to the same depth, and the testers liked its hard-wired laser.

In a 2020 hands-on review, Concord Carpenter measured less than 0.002 in. of runout at the chuck and found it bored a 1-3/8 in. Forstner hole through 2x stock quickly.

Specs (from the maker)

10 in. swing, 1/2 in. keyed chuck, 2 in. spindle travel

1/4 HP induction motor with five belt-changed speeds: 620 to 3,100 RPM in the manual (Ryobi's website lists 570 to 3,050)

7-5/8 x 6-1/2 in. table that raises and lowers, swivels 360° and tilts to 45°

Laser crosshair with a built-in work light, locking depth stop and on-board chuck key storage

62.02 lb; 29 in. tall; 3-year warranty

Keep in mind

Five Home Depot reviewers since September 2023, most recently in May 2026, say the table is stamped or bent sheet steel rather than cast iron, and three said theirs wasn't flat (as of Oct 22, 2026). Check yours when it arrives.

Where to buy

Before you use one

Read the manual first. Both makers’ manuals say to clamp the work to the table, or brace it against the column, so it can’t spin with the bit, and never to hold it by hand (Ryobi; Shop Fox). Tighten the table and head locks before you switch on (Ryobi; Shop Fox). Wear safety glasses and hearing protection; Shop Fox also calls for a face shield (Ryobi; Shop Fox). Skip gloves, loose sleeves and jewelry, and tie back long hair (Ryobi; Shop Fox). Take the chuck key out before you switch on, and unplug the drill press before changing bits, belts or speeds (Ryobi; Shop Fox). Use the speed the manual or the bit maker recommends for each bit; Shop Fox warns that the wrong speed can break a bit, and says not to clear chips by hand or with compressed air (Shop Fox). Our shop safety essentials cover the basics.

More on Ryobi 10 in. drill press with EXACTLINE laser

Keep in mind

Wood Magazine's testers found it stalled regularly as they moved up past 1 in. Forstner bits in oak and maple, though a light feed got it through.
Its slowest speed is about 600 RPM. Wood Magazine suggests going as low as 250 RPM for Forstner bits 1 in. and larger, so check your bit maker's speed chart before big holes.
Spindle travel is 2 in. (from the maker), so it can't drill deeper than that in one plunge.
Wood Magazine found the chuck hard to open and close by hand, so you'll use the key. Bob Vila's tester heard the motor fan chatter on his unit, and Concord Carpenter's table was slightly out of square side to side until he adjusted it.

What the sources found

Wood Magazine: Benchtop drill presses (external site, opens in a new tab) (independent test, Updated Sept 7, 2022; checked October 15, 2026): Tested eight benchtop drill presses. The DP103L stalled as bit sizes grew but got through with a light feed, held its depth stop well over 100 holes and had a laser the testers liked; its chuck was stiff by hand, it won't go below 600 RPM and its quill stroke is 2 in. We found no affiliate links in the article text (we read the Internet Archive's May 2025 copy because the live page blocks automated readers).
Bob Vila: The best benchtop drill presses, tested and reviewed (external site, opens in a new tab) (independent test, Updated Dec 20, 2024; checked October 22, 2026): One tester assembled and used seven models, including a mortiser and a rotary-tool stand, drilling steel and wet wood and changing speeds. He named the Ryobi 10-inch drill press with laser (linked to the DP103L) his best 10-inch pick for its bright laser, crank-raised table and light weight; his unit's motor fan chattered. The page uses Home Depot (Impact), Amazon Associates and Acme Tools affiliate links, including a Home Depot link to this drill press.
Concord Carpenter: Ryobi 10-inch benchtop drill press (external site, opens in a new tab) (independent review, Jul 14, 2020; checked October 22, 2026): A 2020 hands-on review of the DP103L: the reviewer measured under 0.002 in. of runout, found the table square front to back and slightly off side to side (easily adjusted), and drilled wood, aluminum and steel, including a 1-3/8 in. Forstner hole through 2x stock. The page doesn't say how he got the drill press; we found no affiliate links or sponsor note on it. He described the table as steel.
Tools In Action: Ryobi 10 in. drill press with laser DP103L (YouTube) (external site, opens in a new tab) (independent review, Apr 24, 2016; checked October 22, 2026): A 2016 video first look by two hosts who set up the DP103L: they found the laser accurate, liked the depth-stop collar, the light weight and the 3-year warranty, and noticed little chuck wobble. It shows features more than test results. The description carries Amazon Associates affiliate links. It opens on youtube.com, which uses its own cookies.
Ryobi: 10 in. drill press with EXACTLINE laser (DP103L) (external site, opens in a new tab) (maker spec page; checked October 22, 2026): Lists a 1/4 HP induction motor, five speeds, a locking depth stop, a 7-5/8 x 6-1/2 in. table that swivels 360° and tilts 45°, the laser and work light, chuck key storage, 62.02 lb and a 3-year warranty. Its spec table gives 570 to 3,050 RPM, while the operator's manual gives 620 to 3,100.
Ryobi: DP103L operator's manual (PDF hosted by Home Depot) (external site, opens in a new tab) (maker spec page; checked October 22, 2026): Specs: 10 in. swing, 1/2 in. chuck, 2 in. spindle travel, 620 to 3,100 RPM no-load, 29 in. tall. Safety rules include clamping the work or bracing it against the column, tightening the head and table locks before switching on, wearing eye and hearing protection, removing the chuck key before switching on, and unplugging before changing speeds.
Home Depot: customer reviews of the DP103L (table reports) (external site, opens in a new tab) (store reviews; checked October 22, 2026): Of about the 25 most recent reviews we read on Oct 22, 2026, five (Sep 2023 to May 2026) describe the table as stamped or sheet steel rather than cast iron, and three say theirs wasn't flat. One of the five was collected through a promotion. These are buyer reports, not tests, and don't count toward our source rule.

How we picked

We didn't hands-on test these. We picked them by reading independent tests and reviews (Wood Magazine, Fine Woodworking, Bob Vila, Concord Carpenter and Tools In Action), checking each maker's spec page and manual, and looking at review counts at Home Depot and Grizzly. We also read recent Home Depot customer reviews of the Ryobi, listed under its sources as store reviews; like maker pages, they don't count toward our source rule. Every pick has at least three independent sources from at least two different outlets, including at least one independent test or review. They're all linked with each pick, along with what each one found. Much of the hands-on testing is a few years old (Fine Woodworking's in 2007, Tools In Action's in 2016, Concord Carpenter's in 2020), so each summary gives its year. We looked at other benchtop drill presses too, including WEN's and Skil's, but the sources we found didn't name one exact model often enough to meet our bar, so we've left them out for now. Prices, review counts and links were last checked on October 22, 2026; prices and stock change, so check the store before you buy.

No paid links. Every link on this page is a plain link: no affiliate codes or tracking, and no company paid or asked to be listed (disclosure). Links open in a new tab.

Some outlets we cite get review samples from tool makers; we don't use pieces a maker paid for or sponsored.