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Apr 29, 2023

13 Best Nail Drills to Shop in 2023 for Pro

Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. We may earn

Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

High-powered salon tools for next-level precision.

For moments when using a trusty nail file on rough calluses or stubborn gel polish isn't quite enough, the best nail drills can come in handy to take your hand and foot maintenance game up a level. "I used to be a little nervous about using these high-powered tools at home, but a little practice and a few viral TikTok videos later, I'm almost a pro," associate beauty commerce editor Tiffany Dodson says of the coveted devices. Electric, salon-quality drills—or electric nail files—are a jack-of-all-trades tools, featuring a range of interchangeable heads designed to file, buff, and polish your natural or acrylic nails.

Many of these professional-level tools are also ergonomically designed, making drills easy to manage—even for beginners—to achieve expert nail precision from the comfort of home. Since these drills pack a lot of power and intensity depending on your chosen device, manicure bit, and speed setting, we recommend proceeding with caution to avoid injury if you're not experienced (think: low and slow). To help round out your list of nail routine favorites and test the following for yourself, we've pulled together some of the best nail drills beauty shoppers across the internet are giving their top marks.

Related: The Best UV Lamps for Nails on Amazon That Dry Polish in Minutes

This LCD machine is especially ideal for shaping acrylics, and features a built-in file, 13 drill bits, and 30 sanding bands to give your nails a salon-worthy look.

Verified customer review

"I love this drill! It is actually really affordable for how amazing it is. What first caught my eye is that the pen part is thinner than most making it much easier to hold! It does not get hot and is very quiet! You can change both its speed and direction. And the best thing is that the drill doesn't have to be plugged into the wall when you're using it! Best nail purchase i've made in a while." —Riley P.

This stylish nail drill has a nearly perfect customer rating on Amazon, and lasts for up to eight hours per charge with six bit options for a smooth, even manicure.

Verified customer review

"I love this nail drill! It's super easy to use, and has a good amount of power! I bought the Makartt sanding bands to go with it and it works perfectly with my shellac polish and polygel!" —Amanda

Amazon shoppers are raving about this versatile nail device, which has over 17,000 customer reviews and nearly a five-star rating. In addition to its 10 attachments, this tool for manicures and pedicures rotates both clockwise and counterclockwise.

Verified customer review

"I spent a great deal of time researching portable electric nail files. I wanted one that was simple to control during the filing process. After reading many reviews, I decided to purchase Beurer MP-62 filing machine. I am glad that I did. It's very easy to control when filing down very thick toenails, which is the reason I needed an electric nail file. Its light weight makes the filing process very comfortable. I strongly recommend the MP-62 for anyone without a lot of nail filing experience." —Natasha

This compact tool isn't just nice to look at: it's also ideal for shaping uneven nails, smoothing rough cuticles, or removing hard gel and acrylics, since it includes a range of speeds and stainless steel bit options that make it totally customizable.

Verified customer review

"I really like this drill! I do my own nails at home and the drill I had previous to this wasn't powerful enough to remove my acrylics. I have no issues with this one, gets the job done quickly and efficiently and looks nice too!" —Grace R.

You'll get six metal manicure bits and a bevy of sanding bands with this precision nail kit, which features a single button for adjustable speed control button. As an added bonus, you can use it to buff and file acrylics, natural nails, or gel polish to perfection.

Verified customer review

"I loved this nail drill! I'm an amateur trying to learn to do my nails with polygel at home and this drill was the difference between love and hate with my end results. Unfortunately I forgot to take after photos. I had heard MelodySusie mentioned positively in a few polygel tutorials I watched which is why I purchased it. And so happy I did. Way better the old drills I've had." —JessicaRN

Here's a best-selling, ergonomic device from Finishing Touch that's equipped with a built-in LED light and six attachments to remove cuticles, enhance nail shine, and more.

Verified customer review

"Removed six week-old gel polish without damaging my toes. I absolutely love this device and highly recommend. It requires low maintenance, and I have charged it one time since purchasing about six months ago! Such an awesome gadget, must-have and it will blow your mind with its accuracy...especially if you know how to do nails. I don't know how I've been living without this prior to buying!" —Ashlee

This pocket-friendly machine is the perfect size to keep in your carry-on, and features a battery level display that lets you know how much power is left (although it features up to 480 hours of runtime per charge).

Verified customer review

"It only took me a couple of attempts to learn how to use this. Now I'm doing my own nails instead of paying a salon. Works great!" —SmileyMom

Snag a rare 44 percent off on this cordless drill set at Amazon. It includes a built-in stand that nicely doubles as a UV dryer to cut down on polish drying time.

Verified customer review

"This is everything I need to prepare my nails for polishing. I use it to take off the old polish, break off gel, acrylic nails, file and shape my nails, and sand off excess cuticles. Anyone who likes to do their nails regularly should definitely invest in and become familiar with a professional nail drill. I don't have to use harsh chemicals that can ultimately damage and dry out my skin to remove polish—this just takes care of everything!" —Danielle S.

This popular, rechargable drill includes a mini UV light nail dryer and handy storage stand that makes it a breeze to keep track of its shaping bits, and nicely happens to be 33 percent off right now.

Verified customer review

"Giving myself a manicure is no problem—but pedicures are harder for me. This electric mani/pedi set is great. It makes it easier to do a pedicure on myself (and husband too)." —Liz

This budget-friendly drill comes with two shaping bits, a cuticle pusher, plus buffing and emery attachments for a flawless manicure. And as an added bonus, its stand features a built-in LED light to help cure your polish in a flash once you're done filing.

Verified customer review

"This is really awesome for the price and the fact that it has a built in LED light for spot curing gel nails is amazing. Bought it and brought it home today, used it, loved it. I love that you can store the tips in little hidden slots on the underside! You do have to push the tips firmly into place or else they'll fall out, but it's not a big deal. This works really well and nicely shaped and buffed my tips. You really can't beat it for the price. It's worth having!" —Nichole

All you'll need is a little cuticle oil and a few coats of polish after using this beloved cordless tool on your hands and feet. Plus, in addition to five attachment options, this easy drill also features five different speed settings for you to choose from, and even a grinder for especially thick nails.

Verified customer review

"I purchased for my mother who is in her mid-80s and has some arthritis. I wanted to test it out first before I gave it as a gift so I bought two: one to test for myself first. It works great on nails and calluses. Easy to operate and a good value." —Kathy

Since this lightweight drill doesn't vibrate uncontrollably, you can file your natural or acrylic nails with an artist's precision, and seamlessly control the speed of the device.

Verified customer review

"Great for doing your own nails at home. Easy to use and speedy." —Lena S.

If you often misplace your beauty essentials, this nail kit makes it simple to keep everything in one place, since it conveniently features a magnetic storage case to neatly hold it all together. Plus, its drill can rotate both clock- and counterclockwise depending on your needs. And did we mention the top-rated set is under $20?

Verified customer review

"This is a great little tool for at home manicures. I use it mostly to take off the initial layer of my gel polish and then soak my fingers. It saves me a lot of time. I also use it to shape my cuticle area when I do polygel. It works like a charm." —Adriana P.

For more than 150 years, Harper's BAZAAR has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what's new and what's next in beauty by working with the world's leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.

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