Stationary Drill Presses

About Stationary Drill Presses

A stationary drill press locks the spindle to a rigid column so every hole is square, perpendicular, and repeatable without manual correction on each pass. Floor models offer deeper throat clearance than benchtop units, handle taller workpieces, and let you apply more downward feed force without tipping the machine. The seven models listed here span 15 to 22 inches of swing capacity and a price range from $949 to $3,035, covering most shop budgets from the serious hobbyist to the professional fabrication bench. Motor power in this group runs from 3/4 HP on the Powermatic 15-Inch Floor Drill Press up to 1-1/2 HP on the JET 22-Inch Floor Drill Press. Speed systems split between fixed multi-speed belt drives, such as the 12-speed arrangement on the JET 22-Inch, and variable-speed electronic drives on the Powermatic 15-Inch and the JET 20-Inch Smart Drill Press. That distinction matters: a fixed-step drive is mechanically simpler and fully adequate for single-material shops, while a variable-speed drive lets you dial the exact RPM for each material and bit combination without reconfiguring belt grooves. Narrowing the field comes down to three questions: what is the largest workpiece diameter you need to center-drill, what materials do you work most often, and what is your budget? A 15-inch swing handles most furniture woodworking and light metalwork. A 20-inch or 22-inch swing is necessary for large steel plates or wide cabinet panels. The Grizzly Industrial G7946 at $949 is the practical entry point, offering a radial-arm design at the lowest price in this group. The SHOP FOX W1680 at $1,225 covers the mid-range home-shop tier and carries 44 verified buyer ratings, more collective feedback than any other machine here. At the top, the JET 22-Inch at $2,991 serves professional shops that need the full combination of swing, power, and a 4.5-star owner consensus.