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Impact drivers are designed to drive screws repeatedly. Unlike cordless drills, they have more power and torque, making them more effective at continuous use. Most of the impact drivers on the market look the same, but there are slight differences in power, speed, torque, battery life, and ergonomics.
To save you the time of researching all of these differences yourself and hoping you’ve chosen the best impact driver for your needs, our team conducted in-depth research and personally tested five of the most reputable impact driver models currently available. We also created a comprehensive tool buying guide for more important buying information.
In This Guide: Our Testing Experience | Top 5 | Buyer’s Guide | FAQs | How We Selected | Why Trust This Old House
Our Testing Experience
Our team rigorously tested each impact driver in our final lineup to recommend products that provide our readers with the best overall user experience in a fair, balanced, and transparent way. To accomplish this, we prioritized the following factors:
- Performance: The most crucial factor for an impact driver is how well it performs during use. To assess this, we looked at speed, torque, and battery voltage.
- Battery: Impact drivers are battery-operated, so a long-lasting battery that will let you finish what you need to work on was an important factor in our test. We also observed the amount of time it took for each battery to achieve a full charge.
- Price Point: We included products across a range of price points so that you can find the best model for your budget.
- User Experience: We evaluated each impact driver for how easy it was to set up and use. We also took notes on how comfortable and balanced each tool was to handle as well as how effective its LED light was in dark conditions.
- Noise Level: While we expect some noise when operating an impact driver, some models are quieter than others. This might be a consideration if you’re operating an impact driver for long periods. To assess noise level, our testing team used a decibel meter and scored each impact driver based on its operating volume at medium speed.
Overall, the winner for best impact driver was the DEWALT 20V Max Impact Driver, which stood out due to its overall performance, ease of use, and ergonomics.
Top 5 Impact Drivers
*Links open to product retail page.
- Best Overall: DEWALT DCF885 20V Max Impact Driver Kit
- Best Torque: DEWALT DCF887B 20V Max XR Impact Driver
- Best Handling: Makita XDT131 18V LXT Impact Driver Kit
- Best Value: BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C Impact Driver Kit
- Best Light-Duty: Milwaukee 2497-22 M12 12V Impact Driver
Best Overall
Performance: 5/5 | Battery: 5/5 | Price Point: 3/5 | User Experience: 5/5 | Noise Level: 2/5
DEWALT DCF885 20V Max Impact Driver Kit
- $149.65
- $179
- 16% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Our Testing Experience
Our testing team found that this 20-volt cordless impact driver from DEWALT was the most comfortable, efficient, and easy to throttle. Not only did the brushless motor succeed at driving and removing medium and small screws, but it also performed better than expected at driving wood screws longer than 2 inches into wood studs.
The only user experience drawback to this model is the noise level, which clocked around 88 decibels at medium speed—that’s about 8 decibels louder than the DEWALT Max XR.
Pros and Cons
✔ 20V brushless motor excelled at medium and heavy jobs
✔ Kit includes tool bag, battery, and charger
✔ Form factor is extremely comfortable
✘ 88-decibel noise level is louder than similar 20V models
✘ Kit does not include bits
What Customers Are Saying
Positive reviews highlighted how lightweight this DEWALT impact driver was and stated that it had a lot of torque despite its small size. In addition, the impact driver was praised for being a solid choice for everyday use around the home. Negative reviews pointed out that the battery was defective or had a poor runtime.
Best Torque
Performance: 5/5 | Battery: 4/5 | Price Point: 3/5 | User Experience: 4/5 | Noise Level: 3/5
DEWALT DCF887B 20V Max XR Impact Driver
- $139.98
- $159
- 12% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Our Testing Experience
During testing, our team found that the XR version of the DEWALT 20V brushless impact driver exceeded performance expectations and was quieter than expected—it reached only 80 decibels at medium speed. Unlike the 20V Max, the 20V Max XR includes a manual speed switch — a nice feature for those that dislike the gradual trigger speed control that most impact drivers offer.
Although the XR was fairly easy to handle, we found that it was less balanced and ergonomic than the DEWALT Max and Makita options.
Pros and Cons
✔ 3-speed manual switch is unique and convenient
✔ 20-volt brushless motor excels at medium and heavy jobs
✔ Noise level of 80 decibels is relatively quiet
✘ Balance of unit could use improvement
✘ Battery, charger, and accessories not included
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers said that this driver had a lightweight, compact build and an affordable price. Many also liked its durable brushless motor. Negative reviews noted that this impact driver couldn’t handle simple projects, lacked the expected power, and had charging issues.
Best Handling
Performance: 4/5 | Battery: 5/5 | Price Point: 4/5 | User Experience: 4/5 | Noise Level: 2/5
Makita XDT131 18V LXT Impact Driver
- $96
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Our Testing Experience
Our testers were particularly impressed with how comfortable and powerful this 18-volt brushless impact driver was. It did not excel at driving wood screws over 2 inches long but was extremely fast and easy to control when driving and removing smaller screws into wood studs. The team found the powerful lithium-ion battery to be long-lasting and especially liked that a fully discharged battery recharged in less than 2 hours.
Though very comfortable to handle during our in-lab tests, this model is somewhat heavy—a factor worth considering if you plan on using it for extended periods.
Pros and Cons
✔ Driver is extremely ergonomic
✔ Battery is long-lasting and charges quickly
✔ 18V brushless motor excels at medium-duty work
✘ Weight is somewhat heavy
✘ Kit does not include bits
What Customers Are Saying
Positive customer reviews noted that this impact driver had a long battery life and a lightweight, ergonomic design. Some unhappy customers said that they received used tools, while others stated that their driver overheated quickly.
Best Value
Performance: 3/5 | Battery: 5/5 | Price Point: 5/5 | User Experience: 3/5 | Noise Level: 3/5
BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C Impact Driver Kit
- $68.69
- $79.99
- 14% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Our Testing Experience
Our testing team found this brushed-motor impact driver excelled at medium-duty jobs such as driving screws smaller than 2 inches in length through hardwood. We also found that the battery included a handy LED indicator.
The unit felt slightly off balance with the battery attached, and this BLACK+DECKER model ranked on the upper end of noisy. Our testing measured it at 88 decibels at medium speed.
Pros and Cons
✔ Standard bit included
✔ Soft-grip handle is highly ergonomic
✔ 20V brushed motor offers speeds up to 3,000 RPM
✘ Struggled at driving wood screws over 2 inches
✘ Ergonomics could use improvement
What Customers Are Saying
Positive reviews said that this driver was useful and powerful enough for everyday home projects. However, unsatisfied customers stated that it wasn’t highly durable, as it broke after only a handful of uses.
Best Light-Duty
Performance: 2/5 | Battery: 4/5 | Price Point: 3/5 | User Experience: 2/5 | Noise Level: 5/5
Milwaukee 2497-22 M12 12V Impact Driver
- $175.48
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Our Testing Experience
In testing, we found that this 12-volt brushless impact driver from Milwaukee struggled to drive larger, thicker screws into wood studs. However, it performed as expected at driving smaller screws into 2×4 beams as well as extracting screws.
The battery charge time was faster than the other models we tested, the operating volume of just 70 decibels was relatively quiet, and a cordless drill was included. These factors made this kit stand out from similarly priced competitors.
Pros and Cons
✔ 70-decibel noise level is competitively quiet
✔ Kit includes matching hammer drill
✔ Battery achieves full charge in 30 minutes
✘ 12-volt motor is limited for lighter jobs
✘ Kit does not include bits
What Customers Are Saying
Positive reviews said that this driver was comfortable to use and powerful enough for everyday home projects. Unsatisfied customers stated that it struggled to bore into denser materials like drywall studs.
Buying Guide to the Best Impact Drivers
For the most effective tool possible, choose the impact driver with the highest power, torque, speed, and battery life. Keep reading to learn how to measure these factors.
Power
Power for impact drivers is measured in volts. You’ll commonly see three measurements for impact drivers: 12, 18, and 20.
Twelve and 18 volts describe the number of volts used while the tool is in use, which is called nominal voltage.
Twenty volts describes the number of volts used when the driver is first turned on, a number known as maximum voltage. Twenty volts of maximum voltage is equal to 18 volts of nominal voltage. If you’re looking for a more powerful impact driver, choose one that’s 18 or 20 volts instead of 12.
Torque
Torque measures the amount of twisting power the impact driver has. Twelve-volt drivers have about 1,000 inch-pounds, and 18- or 20-volt drivers can have upwards of 1,800 inch-pounds.
Speed
Speed is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). If your driver doesn’t list RPM, look for a driver with several speeds. This gives you more control over how fast the impact driver is going, minimizing the likelihood that you’ll strip the screwhead or drive it too far.
Battery
Amp hours (Ah) is used to measure how long an impact driver’s battery will last before needing a recharge. The higher the Ah rating, the longer the battery will last. In addition to battery life, consider an impact driver’s recharge time, and choose one that doesn’t require you to wait hours for your battery to recharge.
Handle
Since you’ll be holding the impact driver for hours at a time, you’ll want a handle that feels comfortable in your hand. The best handles are non-slip and small, allowing you to easily wrap your hand around the driver.
Impact Driver FAQs
Do corded impact drivers exist?
Yes. Corded impact drivers exist, but there are limited options on the market.
Is a brushed or brushless motor better?
Brushless motors in any power tool, including an impact driver, are better because they last longer, produce less noise, and have more power than their brushed counterparts. One of the reasons that brushed motors still exist is because they’re cheaper to make.
What types of bits do impact drivers use?
Impact drivers use quarter-inch hex-shank driver bits, as opposed to the rounded bits that go in a drill. They also use a collet instead of a chuck—you push a collet into the driver to insert or release the bit instead of twisting a chuck to fit around the bit.
Who This Guide Is For
Homeowners, handy people, and DIY-ers with projects that require more power than a standard cordless drill can provide will benefit from having an impact driver in their tool kit.
How We Selected Impact Drivers
To provide our readers with the best product recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of impact drivers with a strong number of verified-buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4-5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature-set and selecting the best-in-class options for a variety of buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
During testing, we evaluated each item for the following:
- Initial setup/installation
- Clarity of instructions from the manufacturer
- User-friendliness
- Overall performance
- Bonus features and components
- Areas for improvement and potential deal-breakers
Why You Can Trust Us
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.
The This Old House Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and dining room decor to circular saws and snow blowers.
Once we conclude the research and testing phases, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
Questions or Comments?
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.
