10 Best Impact Drivers – Our Top Picks and Reviews

An impact driver is one of the essential tools you must have in your toolbox. When you go looking for the best impact drivers, you will see an overwhelming number of options. As with every other tool, the different options that you see are not equal. So, how do you choose an impact driver that suits your needs? You might want to check various products listed on the web and compare them to see which is the best.

However, doing this might consume a lot of time, and there is a possibility that you miss an amazing deal in the process. To ensure that you have a high-quality tool for the money you spend, we have featured some of the best impact drivers on the market. This article tells you about the top impact drills, their features, pros and cons, and why you should choose them.

10 Best Impact Drivers

• Best Overall: Dewalt DCF887B Impact Driver
  “Compact, durable, affordable, excellent performance”
• Best Battery Powered: Ryobi One+ P236 Impact Driver
  “Highly powerful, innovative technology, budget-friendly”
• Best Cordless: Milwaukee 2656-20 Impact Driver
  “Unique features, textured handle, ergonomic design”
• Best Corded: Makita 6952 Impact Driver
  “Sturdy build quality, impact-resistant, perfect for use”
• Best Lightweight: Hitachi WH18DGL Impact Driver
  “Variable speed trigger, reliable tools, and lightweight”
• Best Portable: Milwaukee 2462-20 Impact Driver
  “Portable, impressive performance, long lasting battery”
• Best Brushless: Bosch PS41-2A Impact Driver
  “Powerful performance, affordable and great for woodworking”
• Best Budget: BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C Impact Driver
  “Battery management, desirable impact tool, impressive performance”
• Best Design: PORTER-CABLE PCCK647LB Impact Driver
  “Extremely reliable, ergonomic design, budget-friendly”
• Best for Multi-Surface: GALAX PRO GP-95307 Impact Driver
  “Excellent performance, heavy-duty impact tool, multi-surface tool”

Best Impact Drivers

When purchasing an impact driver, you need to consider a few things before making a choice. Checking for important features of an impact driver such as Torque, BPM, battery backup, and attachments would help you make a better decision. As a result, I have added these details in my reviews to make this process a lot easier. Without further ado, here’s a detailed Impact Drivers review.

Going through this article would not only save the time that you would have spent looking for impact tools on various websites but also tell you how to choose the perfect impact drill for your needs. So, let’s go through my top picks for the best impact drivers out there

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1) Dewalt DCF887B

The first entry is from one of the best power tools brands, Dewalt. The Dewalt DCF8897B is an excellent tool if you need an affordable impact driver for your toolbox. I like this impact driver as it is lightweight, can go up to 3250 RPM, and can take various attachments.

Features and Benefits

The tool requires a 20V battery that can provide 20 Watts of energy. Dewalt DCF8897B also offers an adapter and battery for the tool if you are willing to pay extra. However, I would suggest you use the cheap third-party batteries. They cost a fraction of the original batteries and aren’t too far off in terms of performance.

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2) Ryobi One+ P236

I was looking for the best battery powered impact driver and found that the Ryobi One+ P236 is worthy of this title. I like the tool as you can use either an 18V lithium-ion or nickel-cadmium battery to power it. The Ryobi One+ P236 is compact, lightweight, and can deliver 1600 pound-lbs at 3200 RPM. It is an excellent tool for automotive use.

Features and Benefits

My experience with Ryobi One+ P236 is pretty decent. I have used it to tighten 12-inch log screws without facing any difficulties. The tool is not made for this type of usage, but it passed the test. In my opinion, if you want a budget impact driver, go with Ryobi One+ P236 without any second thoughts.

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3) Milwaukee 2656-20

If you ask me which is the best cordless impact driver, my answer would be the Milwaukee 2656-20. It is one of the best impact drivers that you can buy at the moment. The tool can deliver up to 1500 pound-lbs of torque and can go up to 2750 RPM. The impact feature of the tool delivers up to 3450 BPM.

Features and Benefits

My experience with Milwaukee 2656-20 includes loosening fasteners and even brake and suspension systems as it makes the process extremely easy and fast. I have been hooked onto this tool and would find it difficult to go back to the manual tools I used earlier.

I had heard a lot about the Milwaukee 18V line of tools and went with this product. This tool’s performance is impressive, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants an affordable and portable impact driver.

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4) Makita 6952

If I had to get the best-corded impact driver, then I would choose the Makita 6952. Since it is built to take a pounding thanks to the use of impact-resistant aluminum housing and dual ball bearings, it fits my needs perfectly. The tool can deliver up to 1062 inch-lbs torque and go up to 3200 RPM.

Features and Benefits

I have used several Makita tools, and they are quite well-known for their performance. The Makita 6952 is one such tool, and I have been using it in my garage. It holds up well when it comes to hammering holes through hard surfaces, and on the click of a switch, I can turn it into a screwdriver.

I don’t usually go with a corded driver as they need an electric outlet, but the small size and lightweight design, coupled with the price, made it an excellent choice. If you own a workshop and don’t want to bother yourself with a dead battery, go with the Makita 6952.

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5) Hitachi WH18DGL

The next entry on this list is the Hitachi WH18DGL 18V impact driver. This impact driver can deliver up to 3200 BPM and reach speeds up to 2400 RPM. With a torque up to 1280 in/lbs, you will find that you can use it to drill holes in various surfaces without difficulty.

Features and Benefits

I believe that any person who likes DIY stuff should own this impact driver. I have used Hitachi WH18DGL to do some plumbing work as well as electrical fitting with relative ease. It is lightweight, comes with 18V lithium-ion batteries, and is one of the most reliable tools that I have used.

In my opinion, if you require an impact driver that works every time you press the trigger, this would be an excellent tool to buy.

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6) Milwaukee 2462-20

In my opinion, the Milwaukee 2462-20 is one of the most powerful 12V impact drivers on the market. Milwaukee has designed it to give the best user experience that you might want. The LED light equipped with the impact driver help you use the tool in not so well-lit areas. It also features a battery level indicator so that you can recharge the impact driver before bringing it to the job site.

Features and Benefits

This impact driver offers 1000 inch-lbs of torque that lets you tighten the screws or drill holes in no time at all. I have used this impact driver for quite some time, and I am impressed with its performance. Milwaukee 2462-20 goes up to 2500 RPM, which helps me a lot with small projects in the home.

I needed a lightweight tool that is perfect for occasional use, and if you buy a good quality battery for Milwaukee 2462, you probably have the best 12V impact driver in your toolbox.

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7) Bosch PS41-2A

Bosch is one of the most popular tool manufacturing companies around the world. The PS41-2A from Bosch is the best tool for woodworking tasks. It’s lightweight and ergonomic design help reduce the fatigue caused by extended use of tools.

Features and Benefits

Bosch PS41-2A is a mini version of the higher performance impact drivers from the manufacturer. As a result, it only offers 930 lbs-inch of torque. I like this impact driver as Bosch PS41-2A comes with a complete kit that includes two lithium-ion batteries, a BC330 charger, two screwdriver bits, and a carrying bag.

I have been using this tool to drive screws while sheetrocking and building a while and have faced no issues until this date. It is designed to last long, and I know people who have been using it for almost a decade. If you are a woodworker and need an excellent tool for the job, opt for the Bosch PS41-2A, you won’t regret the decision.

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8) BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C

If you want an affordable impact driver, then this tool from Black+decker is the best product to buy for the money you spend. It has an excellent transmission that can deliver up to 1375 in-lbs of max torque and features a 1/4-inch quick release hex chuck. I like this impact driver because it comes with a 20V battery, a charger, and a screwing bit at no extra cost.

Features and Benefits

I prefer its lightweight and compact design, and its ability to reach 3000 RPM and 3200 BPM makes it one of the most desirable impact tools in the market.

Till now, I have used BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C to work on bicycles, motorcycles, or smaller parts of a car or truck, and I am impressed with the performance. It is not as powerful as you might think. So, it is an excellent idea to use it for light work only.

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9) PORTER-CABLE PCCK647LB

If your budget permits, you can go with the Porter-Cable impact driver kit. It is one of the best impact drivers on the market. It features a brushless motor that makes it low maintenance and extremely reliable. The impact driver is lightweight, and its ergonomic design makes it easy to handle.

Features and Benefits

This impact driver delivers 1400 lbs-inch of torque and can rotate at RPMs up to 2700. PORTER-CABLE PCCK647LB impact action produces 3100 BPM. What I like about this product is that it offers a complete set at a reasonable price.

I have used Porter-Cable tools for a long time, and they make one of the best impact drivers out there. As a construction worker, I need reliable tools, and it hasn’t disappointed me till this day. It has excellent battery backup and performance for the price. If you ask me to get a new impact driver, I will opt for the PORTER-CABLE 20V MAX Impact Driver Kit without any second thoughts.

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10) GALAX PRO GP-95307

If you are a professional and require a heavy-duty impact driver for commercial use, go with the Galax Pro GP-95307. It is the best impact driver that you can at the moment.

Features and Benefits

It is robust, inexpensive, and has cheap accessories, making it perfect for the construction firm. It goes up to 2800 RPM and can deliver up to 3000 BPM. The 1/4-inch hex-shaped chuck of GALAX PRO GP-95307 can handle a variety of attachments and deliver excellent results.

It is one of the best value for money tools on the market. The package is excellent with accompanying drill bits and batteries that give decent performance. It can drill holes in half-inch concrete in seconds. If you want a tool to arm your workers’ team, I would tell you to get the GALAX PRO GP-95307. You won’t regret this decision.

If you would like to get reviews of other power tools, kindly visit our Guide page.

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How Impact Driver Works?

You have seen my picks for the top 10 impact driver and might be excited to get one yourself. But do you need an impact driver? Let’s find out how an impact driver works and its usage to help you understand if you need it or not.

If you check for videos on an impact driver’s working, you will notice that an internal hammer in the tool compresses a spring for every half a turn of the drill. This spring, when released, pushes the hammer down as the motor rotates the hammer. The tat-tat-tat sound you hear while using an impact driver is the sound of that hammer going up and down and turning simultaneously.

This concussive force differentiates an impact driver from a regular driver or drill where you need to apply the downward force. New technological advancements use an oil chamber around the hammer to reduce the noise caused by the hammer’s motion.

Are you Using an Impact Driver as a Wrench?

It depends on the types of bolts you will be working on. If you are going to tighten or loosen bolts in small equipment, an impact driver can do the job fairly well. However, if you are dealing with bolts that require more than 1320 inch-lbs, you would need an impact wrench that can deliver torques up to 8400 inch-lbs

Impact drivers can also be used to tighten or remove screws. They effectively drive long-neck screws into wooden posts or fasten concrete screw anchors into block walls. It is used to drive screws into metal studs. However, you need to be careful while tightening the screws. Impact drivers don’t have a clutch, as a measure to reduce weight, and might damage a screw while over-tightening it.

How to Use an Impact Driver?

If you look at it, an impact driver looks a lot similar to a regular drill. They are designed to help you tighten screws that would be difficult to deal with using conventional screwdrivers. In addition to putting and removing screws, the tool can double as a drill thanks to the ability to take multiple attachments.

However, these tools are not meant for heavy-duty drilling and are not a replacement for the drill present in your toolbox. These tools come with a switch that lets you choose between screwdriver and drill function.

Difference Between Drill Driver and Impact Driver

You might also want to know the differences between a drill driver and an impact driver. A drill driver is one of those tools you would often use when working around your home or any other construction site. An impact driver might look similar to a drill, but it plays a much broader role. The drills provide a lot more power than the impact driver making them more suitable for penetrating hard surfaces such as concrete.

An impact driver can tighten or loosen bolts and screws, but a regular drill might not allow you to do so. People often ask if I can use a drill as an impact driver; the answer is no. An impact driver combines a drill and a screwdriver, whereas a regular drill is made exclusively for penetrating hard surfaces.

Impact Driver Buying Guide

If you are convinced that you require an impact driver for your job or home toolbox, you should emphasize the below pointers.

RPM

The first and the most crucial thing in an impact driver is the RPM. You want a drill that offers high RPM as it translates into a smoother job. When choosing a high RPM drill, opt for the products that have protection against wear and tear and don’t overheat.

Torque

Torque or the turning force that the tool applies on the fastener or the surface is crucial. You don’t want a tool that applies a high torque and ends up damaging the screw. Simultaneously, you don’t want an impact driver that rotates with insufficient force and takes ages to penetrate a surface.

The best impact drill is the one that allows you to change the torque by flicking a switch and by applying different amounts of pressure on the trigger.

Design

An impact driver is a tool that you would hold for extended periods. As a result, you would want a tool that is easy to hold and not too heavy. Thankfully, most modern impact drivers are made to be lightweight and easy to use.
Attachments

An impact driver is not just a drill or a screwdriver; you can use them for different purposes with various attachments. It would be great if you pick an impact drill that can handle different kinds of attachments.

Size

Many people ask, what size impact driver do I need? The answer depends on the needs. If you want to do some DIY stuff, a small 12V tool would be enough. On the other hand, if you need a tool for use at a construction site or in a garage, you might want to pick an 18V or even a 20V impact driver.

Additional Features

Features such as lights, battery indicators, brushless motors, keyless chucks, and battery capacity are things you need to take note of while choosing the best impact driver. They are the quality of life features that can significantly affect your experience with the tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an Impact Driver Worth It?

At last, you might want to know if the money you spend on an impact driver is money well spent or not. The answer to this question is, if you need a versatile tool that doubles as a drill and an automatic screwdriver for home or commercial use, an impact driver is a great choice.Don’t forget to consider the things mentioned in this article to choose the perfect impact driver that fits your needs.