Impact drivers are built for efficiency, delivering the power and torque needed to drive screws quickly and repeatedly. While they may look similar to cordless drills, they excel at handling tough jobs without wearing out the user or the tool. These tools come in corded and cordless models, with brushless motors offering greater efficiency and longevity.
With so many models on the market, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. That’s why our team researched and personally tested five of the top-rated impact drivers to find the best options. Plus, we put together a detailed tool buying guide to help you make an informed decision.
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
- DEWALT DCF885 20V Max Impact Driver Kit: Best Overall
- DEWALT DCF887B 20V Max XR Impact Driver: Best Torque
- Makita XDT131 18V LXT Impact Driver: Best Handling
- BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C Impact Driver Kit: Best Value
- Milwaukee 2497-22 M12 12V Impact Driver: Best Light-Duty
Best Overall
DEWALT DCF885 20V Max Impact Driver Kit
This high-powered impact driver has three LED lights on its tip, In addition to its 1.5-Amp-hour (Ah) battery, fabric carrying bag, and battery charger, this impact driver can also be purchased in bundles with other tool accessories, such as screwdriver bits and
Pros and Cons of DEWALT DCF885 20V Max Impact Driver Kit
- 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 People Are Saying About The DEWALT DCF885 20V Max Impact Driver Kit
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
DEWALT DCF887B 20V Max XR Impact Driver
At 2,000 inch-pounds, the DEWALT 20V Max XR impact driver has the highest torque in this review. It also comes with three manual speed settings, LED lights, and belt clip. This specific model is a “bare tool”, so you’ll need to order the battery and charger separately.
Pros and Cons of DEWALT DCF887B 20V Max XR Impact Driver
- 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 People Are Saying About The DEWALT DCF887B 20V Max XR Impact Driver
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
Makita XDT131 18V LXT Impact Driver
This impact driver comes with a lithium-ion battery, battery charger, and carrying bag, providing you with all of the accessories necessary to use and transport the tool. The charger has indicators on one side to give you updates on the battery’s charging progress.
Pros and Cons of Makita XDT131 18V LXT Impact Driver
- 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 People Are Saying About The Makita XDT131 18V LXT Impact Driver
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
BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C Impact Driver Kit
This 20V impact driver is compact and easy to use, operates at speeds up to 3,000 RPM, and comes with a tool case, battery, charger, and standard magnetic bit. It also features a soft-grip handle.
Pros and Cons of BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C Impact Driver Kit
- 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 People Are Saying About The BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C Impact Driver Kit
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
Milwaukee 2497-22 M12 12V Impact Driver
This compact impact driver has a unique, ergonomic shape that’s great for working odd angles. Although not as powerful as 18- and 20-volt models, it’s a great choice for light, around-the-house jobs. Plus, the kit includes a matching hammer drill.
Pros and Cons of Milwaukee 2497-22 M12 12V Impact Driver
- 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 People Are Saying About The Milwaukee 2497-22 M12 12V Impact Driver
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.