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The Spruce / Zackary Angeline
With a powerful torque capable of driving even large screws and other fasteners into hard materials quickly and easily, an impact driver is the go-to tool for building a deck, assembling a child's swing set, erecting a fence, or other projects that involve driving a lot of screws.
Coleman Cosby, a project manager and landscape design specialist at Yardzen, an online landscape and design company, recommends, "If you’ve been using a regular drill to drive screws, do yourself a favor and invest in an impact driver. These powerful tools save a lot of wear and tear on your hands and wrists and make it much faster to drive multiple screws. For most general purposes, a cordless impact driver with a 1/4-inch chuck will work great."
We researched the top impact drivers on the market, evaluating power, ease of use, weight, and overall value. Read on for our reviews of the best impact drivers.
Best Overall
DEWALT 20-Volt Max Variable Speed Impact Driver
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Amazon
Powerful performance
Fairly lightweight and compact
Long battery run-time and fairly quick recharge
Handful of complaints about battery life
The best impact driver does not need to be the most expensive or complicated. In fact, many top-tier options come with a no-frills approach since the driver and a battery is really all you need. The top pick for this list takes just that approach with the addition of a handy charging station to keep the driver going as long as you need it for any indoor or outdoor job you can imagine. This is the ideal tool for just about any fastening task you're likely to encounter around your home, yard, or garage.
The DEWALT DCF885C1 impact driver is a great option for anyone looking for a first-time or replacement power fastener. Coming with an independent charging station and the standard ¼-inch hex shank, this driver is small enough to fit into tight spaces without sacrificing on the power and torque—up to 1,400 inch-pounds—it can produce. The driver head also includes three LED lights for illuminating the space you are working on. Use it to drive fasteners into wood, metal, and even concrete; it won't shirk at the task.
Price at time of publish: $189
Power: 20 volt | Max. Torque: 1,400 inch-pounds | Max. Impacts per Minute: 3,200 ipm | Max. Speed: 2,800 rpm
Best Value
Milwaukee 12-Volt Impact Driver
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Milwaukee
Excellent performance
Fairly long battery run-time
Compact and easy to handle
Does not include battery, so you will need to purchase separately if you don't already own a compatible 12-volt battery
If you just need an impact driver for occasional small projects around the home, it's hard to go wrong with the very reasonably priced Milwaukee 2462-20. But don't worry that you are giving up quality just because this tool doesn't cost a lot; it still gets the job done effectively and quickly. It's a great choice for projects that require a good amount of torque but can do without the maximum amount possible (meaning the average DIYer).
The Milwaukee 2462-20 embodies the “small but mighty” adage with a 12-volt power supply and a maximum of 1,000 inch-pounds of torque and 2,500 rpm of speed. The small size of the driver makes it easy to carry it around on large job sites where the ambidextrous belt clip will keep the power tool close to you at all times. To monitor the power level of the driver, a handy LED power level meter is accessible on the side any time you want.
Price at time of publish: $99
Power: 12 volt | Max. Torque: 1,000 inch-pounds | Max. Impacts per Minute: 3,300 ipm | Max. Speed: 2,500 rpm
Best With Included Bits
Craftsman 20-Volt Impact Driver with 26-Piece Bit Set
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Amazon
Includes set of impact bits
LED work light
Battery charges quickly
Not as powerful as some others on the list
Many people forget that the impact driver is just a part of the equation. While many impact drivers and power drills can share different types of bits, having a dedicated set just for the impact driver can save time. This will allow you to find the bit you are looking for without having to rummage around a central supply or lose bits when using the same ones with a drill. And of course, while you can use your impact bits in your regular drill, you cannot use regular bits in an impact driver, as they may shatter under the high torque of this tool.
For anyone starting from scratch with a new impact driver, this set from Craftsman will give you everything you need to handle most fasteners. The 20-volt, variable-speed impact driver delivers up to 1,460 inch-pounds of torque and a top speed of 2,800 rpm and comes with one of Craftsman's interchangeable batteries and charging stations. But the real magic of this kit comes in the form of the 26-piece driver set that includes a variety of impact-rated bits for most types of fasteners.
Price at time of publish: $89
Power: 20 volt | Max. Torque: 1,460 inch-pounds | Max. Impacts per Minute: 3,100 ipm | Max. Speed: 2,800 rpm
Best Small
Milwaukee M12 12-Volt Impact Driver
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Courtesy of Home Depot
Designed for tasks in tight spots
Powerful enough for lightweight-to-medium projects around the house
Does not include battery, so you will need to purchase separately if you don't already own a compatible 12-volt battery
The one drawback of many more-powerful impact drivers is the size. Even though they can be smaller than a typical drill, many heavy-duty impact drivers are still tough to wield in cramped or tight spaces. Trading a little bit of power for a smaller footprint, however, makes most lower-powered impact drivers perfect for jobs where fasteners are placed in less-than-ideal spots. But the Milwaukee M12 impact driver goes a little further with a different approach than the rest.
The Milwaukee M12 has a unique design that makes it much easier to work in tight or awkward spaces. Using a right-angled head, rather than the typical straight-angled design, this impact driver allows you to get past obstacles and into cramped areas more readily than standard options. Other than the right-angle bend in the head, however, the power tool is a typical impact driver capable of delivering up to 600 inch-pounds of torque for secure fastening.
Price at time of publish: $99
Power: 12 volt | Max. Torque: 600 inch-pounds | Max. Impacts per Minute: 3,300 ipm | Max. Speed: 2,425 rpm
Best Multi-Tool
BLACK+DECKER BDCDMT120IA 20-Volt Max Drill/Impact Combo Driver
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BLACK+DECKER
Includes both impact driver and drill/driver attachments
Matrix system is compatible with several other BLACK+DECKER attachments
Reasonable price
Not high-powered, best for light projects
Any tool you can buy that will save you time and effort is a smart purchase. This is why multi-tools capable of handling different tasks are so popular. While most impact drivers tend to be single-use tools, BLACK+DECKER has taken the approach of offering more with its Matrix Quick Connect System. This next product is their platform for making one tool do several different things almost at once.
The BLACK+DECKER BDCDMT120IA multi-tool takes a different approach than typical combo kits. Instead of including a separate impact driver and drill, this power tool has a swappable attachment system that fits on the same base. The impact driver is capable of delivering 1,375 inch-pounds of torque and up to 800 rpm of speed. In addition to the driver and drill attachments, BLACK+DECKER also sells other attachments such as an orbital sander and jigsaw in its expansive Matrix Quick Connect System.
Price at time of publish: $143
Power: 20 volt | Max. Torque: 1,375 inch-pounds | Max. Impacts per Minute: 3,900 ipm | Max. Speed: 800 rpm
Best Combo Kit
BLACK+DECKER BD2KITCDDI 20-Volt Max Drill/Impact Combo Kit
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BLACK+DECKER
Two useful tools for the price of one
Perfect for light-to-medium tasks around the house
Not for heavy-duty projects
Since drills and impact drivers can go hand-in-hand on most projects, it makes sense to keep both around in a well-equipped tool box. Recognizing this, many manufacturers offer great combo kits that come with both a drill and impact driver. Often using the same battery and charging station, these kits are a great value purchase for anyone wanting to cover their fastening needs for any project.
The BLACK+DECKER Drill/Impact Combo Kit is not only a great combination kit that includes an impact driver and drill, it is also one of the most affordable options around. For the great price, you will get a 20-volt impact driver capable of delivering around 1,375 inch-pounds of torque.
Both the driver and the drill use the same BLACK+DECKER battery that is compatible with most other cordless power tools in the lineup.
Price at time of publish: $100
Power: 20 volt | Max. Torque: 1,375 inch-pounds | Max. Impacts per Minute: 3,900 ipm | Max. Speed: 3,000 rpm
Best for Big Jobs
Ryobi ONE+ 3-Speed Impact Driver
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Courtesy of Home Depot
Brushless motor for longer run-time
Powerful and fast
Reliable performance
Battery not included, so you will need to purchase separately if you don't already own a compatible 18-volt battery
Although it's not at the professional level, for a tool aimed at the DIY/handyman market, it's hard to beat the power and performance of the Ryobi ONE+ Impact Driver. This bad boy boasts up to 4,350 impacts per minute, adding a tremendous amount of extra power to your drilling efforts. It even has a brushless motor, which provides more power and a longer battery run-time; that means you can get your project completed on time.
Plus, the Ryobi ONE+ is no slouch when it comes to efficiency and speed. Using Ryobi’s popular 18-volt batteries that power the company's 80-plus power tool line, the impact driver can handle most fastening tasks with ease. It has a maximum of 2,000 inch-pounds of torque and top speed of 3,100 rpm. The 1/4-inch quick-connect hex shank holds most driver bits securely while a magnetic tray holder provides a space to keep spare bits when not in use.
Price at time of publish: $99
Power: 18 volt | Max. Torque: 2,000 inch-pounds | Max. Impacts per Minute: 4,350 ipm | Max. Speed: 3,100 rpm
Best for DIY/Home
DEWALT DCK240C2 20-Volt Max Combo Kit
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DEWALT
Two useful tools for light-to-medium tasks
Includes handy carrying/storage bag
Reliable performance
Compact size
Few complaints the bits come loose in the drill
Few complaints about battery life
The DEWALT DCK240C2 combo kit gives you the best of DEWALT’s power tool line. With a drill and impact driver, the kit will cover most fastening needs you may have around your house or yard. Both devices offer a comfortable grip due to the ergonomically designed handles and are compatible with most 1/4-inch hex shanks. The included charger will recharge the 20-volt battery in a couple hours as well.
Both tools are reasonably compact in size, making them perfect for situations where fasteners are difficult to reach or you don't have a lot of room to maneuver. The included impact driver provides up to 1,700 inch-pounds of torque and two speed settings. The set includes two 20-volt batteries, as well as a charger and handy carrying bag.
Price at time of publish: $219
Power: 20 volt | Max. Torque: 1,400 inch-pounds | Max. Impacts per Minute: 3,200 ipm | Max. Speed: 2,800 rpm
The DEWALT DCF885C1 impact driver wins top marks thanks to its compact design that makes it easy to maneuver in even tight spots, its independent charging station for quick recharges whenever necessary, the three built-in LED worklights, and the reliable power and torque. But if budget is a concern, you’ll find that the Milwaukee 2462-20 has enough power to get most simple DIY tasks done, and comes at a very reasonable price.
What to Look for in an Impact Driver
Battery Power
While there are corded impact drivers, they are rarely used in the DIY setting. Being free of a cord means you can easily work your way down a row of screws while tackling a large project, such as erecting a fence or building a deck. Cordless impact drivers run off batteries—usually lithium-ion—and the three common power capacities are 12-volt, 18-volt, and 20-volt.
Twelve-volt impact drivers are compact and lightweight, making them easy to tote along while you work. They have enough power to drive average-sized screws into soft to mid-weight wood, making them a fine choice if you only expect to use the tool for small projects around the house, such as putting together a swing set.
Eighteen-volt impact drivers are a little larger and heavier, but also have more power, making them the better choice for projects that require large screws or involve hard wood. If you take DIY seriously, you’ll find an 18-volt impact driver is the most versatile choice.
Twenty-volt impact drivers are the big boys; these heavy-duty tools don’t hesitate at driving even oversize screws into the hardest wood over and over again. While it’s most often contractors that choose these powerful—and more expensive—impact drivers, they might be the right choice for a DIYer tackling a very large project, such as adding a room to the home or building a large deck.
Torque and Impact
Impact drivers are all about torque, which is a measurement—usually stated in inch-pounds—of the tool’s turning power. As a general rule, the more battery power, the more torque, which is why 18- or 20-volt tools handle harder wood much more easily than a 12-volt impact driver.
A lightweight 12-volt impact driver might deliver as little as 800 inch-pounds of torque, while a 20-volt beast might have a top capacity of more than 2,000 inch-pounds of torque. For most typical DIY tasks, however, the lower-to-midpoint of that range is sufficient.
Another important number is the rate at which the impact driver delivers an extra “blow” of power during use. This is measured in impacts per minute (ipm). Note that the manufacturer’s stated ipm is the tool’s “no load” ipm, meaning what it delivers when run in the air, not actually driving a screw. Lower-powered impact drivers generally deliver around 2,000 ipm, while more powerful tools might boast as much as 3,700 ipm.
Speed
Another important measurement is the impact driver’s rpm, or rotations per minute, referring to the speed at which the bit turns. Obviously, the faster the rpm, the quicker you’ll get the job done, but keep in mind that going too fast can strip screws or damage the wood. You’ll also find that as torque increases, speed decreases. Still, as a general rule, most higher-end impact drivers today have multiple settings for rpm; usually the lowest setting delivers 600 to 800 rpm, the middle setting up to 1,800 to 2,000 rpm, and the highest setting up to 3,000 or more rpm. Note that this number is usually the tool’s “no load” capacity, meaning the maximum it can deliver when running in the air, not actually driving a screw.
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What are impact drivers used for?
Use an impact driver to easily and efficiently drive in long screws or bolts into wood. They come in handy when doing things like building a deck or putting up a fence.
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How does an impact driver work?
Unlike drill/drivers, which apply torque at a steady rate, impact drivers provide extremely rapid bursts of impact—something like a hammer blow—to their torque, creating a very powerful turning force far beyond what a regular drill is capable of. To achieve this, an impact driver contains a spring, a “hammer,” and an anvil. As the motor spins the shaft, the spring compresses and then releases with great force—imagine using your hands to squeeze a large spring together and then abruptly letting it go—striking the hammer which then strikes the anvil. This happens very quickly, typically more than 50 times per second, adding bursts of impact to the torque.
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Do impact drivers require special bits?
While bits for impact drivers resemble the bits used in a regular power drill, they are not the same. And although it is safe to use an impact-driver bit in your handheld drill, it is NOT safe to use your regular drill bits in your impact driver.
Impact-driver bits have to withstand the tremendous torque of the tool. Because of this, they are made of metal with a bit more flexibility than regular bits, which are prone to shattering if used in an impact driver. Impact-driver bits also have a slightly narrower shaft than regular bits, and the end of an impact-driver bit is hexagonal in shape, unlike the rounded end of most regular bits.
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Do impact drivers have torque settings?
You might be surprised to learn that a tool that’s all about torque doesn’t actually have a setting allowing you to adjust the torque level, but that’s the reality of impact drivers. Unlike many drill/drivers, which often do have torque settings, impact drivers are mostly an all-or-nothing tool. That’s why they are best saved for projects requiring considerable force to drive screws through hard materials, or for jobs where the high speed of these powerful tools will come in handy.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs.
For this roundup, she considered dozens of impact drivers, evaluating each for basic features, extras, and customer evaluation. Coleman Cosby, a project manager and landscape design specialist at Yardzen, an online landscape and design company, contributed further input. Additional research for this article was provided by Lauren Murphy, a long-time writer and editor who specializes in DIYs, home upgrades, and other topics related to the home.
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