Rounding up impact drivers from most major manufacturers really highlights the recent improvement in brushless motors, battery performance, and overall thoughtful tool design. Which ones stand out the most though?
Impact drivers are a bit of an unsung hero in the tool world. If you’ve used a drill for driving screws, you know that it does an entirely adequate job. As soon as you try the same task in an impact driver, you’ll realize how much of a difference it makes though. We gathered nine different impact drivers from common manufacturers and put them to the test. All of impact drivers in this test use the latest brushless motors which allow for a smaller, more compact tool design. We drove lags all afternoon and sorted these from homeowner-grade to shop standouts and construction beasts. If the impact you’re eyeing isn’t the fastest or brawniest of the bunch, don’t worry, as the tool only needs to meet your personal needs. Often a great shop power tool isn’t the most powerful of the bunch, but stands out by being lightweight and having features that matter to you.
Testing Procedures
Included in the test are the mainstream ¼” impact drivers from major manufacturers. Tools were specifically selected for woodworking, where power often takes a back seat to a light weight and ergonomic design. There are certainly great tools that fall outside these criteria, and one that comes to mind is Makita’s 40v line. In the end, the field had to be narrowed somehow, so the focus was cast on these popular 18-20v offerings. Impact drivers drove 60 lag bolts to assess power and battery performance. Next, they underwent a speed test driving ¼” x 1-1/2” long lag bolts, with no pre-drilling except a ¼” deep hole to make the lags easier to get started. Three trials were performed with each impact driver, and averaged for test results. Any outlier time that varied greatly from the mean, was discarded and repeated. Our stopwatch operator was pleased she recorded identical numbers on two of the three trials, for multiple tools. Finally, the tools were used in the shop for 2 weeks performing everyday tasks to hone in on our favorites. When the dust settled, we had driven over 500 lags, and countless drywall and woodworking screws to assess function and overall usability of each model.
Hammer Drill vs. Impact Driver
Here’s a topic where a lot of confusion persists, so we should set the record straight. A hammer drill function, usually indicated by a small hammer icon, is designed for drilling masonry and cementitious material. Impact drivers have a quick-change hex socket and are used to drive screws or bolts into various materials. Now, both a hammer drill and impact driver use an anvil of sorts to create impacts or bursts of momentum to drive the spindle and attached chuck. The key difference between the two is this: a hammer drill creates longitudinal impact along the axis of the bit, while an impact driver creates a rotational impact. This makes an impact driver ideal for driving larger screws and lag bolts, while a hammer drill creates a chipping or pounding action for drilling concrete or bricks. For woodworkers, it may be difficult to know if you need a hammer drill function at all. The answer simply depends on whether you also want to occasionally work with concrete.
Impact Driver Test Results
All impact drivers managed the 60-lag test, regardless of battery size. That’s an impressive feat, considering they were driven consecutively, as fast as the tester could go. Three models topped the charts in the lag bolt speed driving test. The DeWalt DCF860 managed the quickest time at .61 seconds, with the Ryobi and Milwaukee right behind at .80 and .86 seconds respectively. Again, the fastest tools didn’t always make the winners circle due to other important factors, such as weight and special features.
The Milwaukee, both DeWalt models, and the larger Makita were standout performers in this category. If you’ve already committed to a battery platform, you won’t be disappointed with any of these, but if you’re starting from scratch the DCF860 is the fastest, and the DCF870 is the easiest to control.
Dewalt DCF860 Impact Driver An absolute banger in the group, the 860 managed the fastest lag driving speed test of just .61 seconds. Spinning 60 lags to full depth was child’s play for this brushless motor housed in a metal gearcase. With Dewalt’s 4Ah 20v Power Pack battery, it weighs 3lbs, 11oz, or can be trimmed to an impressive 3lbs, 2oz with the smaller 1.7Ah Power Stack battery pack. Three digital speed / torque settings are controlled with a button on the base of the tool, along with a 4-setting light switch allowing off, standard or extra bright settings as well as a 20-minute worklight mode. Pull the trigger and an array of 9 LED lights come on at the nose of the driver, eliminating any possibility of shadows. It’s “Tool Connect Ready” with optional chip sold separately, allows additional control with Site Manager mobile app. If brute strength and the fastest speed are your driving factors, the DCF860 is your best pick.
Dewalt DCF870 Quiet Hydraulic Impact Driver This ¼” premium 20v XR series impact driver is differentiated with black nose trim, and an ultra-compact stance. Click in the 1.7Ah Power Stack 20v battery and it weighs an incredible 2lbs, 14 oz. While it only measured only one dB quieter than similar impact drivers, this one excels in other areas. Testers repeatedly used the term “Smooth” to describe the efficient action of this nimble driver. Lags went in straighter and more consistently, with less effort than most tools. The 60-lag test was a walk in the park, and lag driving time trials recorded a solid average of just over 1 second per fastener. The brushless motor stayed cool, even after rapidly driving and removing large quantities of fasteners. Like the 860, the 870 lights up the night with a 9-LED array, recessed in the nose of the tool. A mechanical two-step speed / torque selector switch, plus 20-minute worklight mode are located at the base of the tool on this model. It’s “Tool Connect Chip-Ready” for inventory management and customization, with optional chip sold separately. Perhaps the new flagship impact driver at Dewalt, the DCF870 is truly confidence-inspiring in the shop or on the jobsite.
Kreg KPTDV0250 Impact Driver A brand-new entry in the 20v Blue Ion line is the Kreg ¼” brushless ¼” impact driver. A digital speed / torque mode selector offers three distinct settings, plus an auto mode. Ergonomics and styling on this new line of cordless tools looks good, and the impact driver is no exception. The metal casing didn’t start to feel warm until after 90 lags had been driven or removed (long after the 60-lag test was complete) indicating good heat management for continual work. Some testers found the auto setting over-reaching how it limited torque output, so must users will prefer the manually selected 1-2-3 modes. Outfitted with a 4Ah battery (as tested) the driver weighs in at 3lbs, 10oz, or it can fight in the featherweight class at 3lbs flat with a 2Ah Blue Ion battery. It posted a respectable average lag driving time of 1.41 seconds, and has enough power for most common shop tasks. A single LED is placed just above the battery, and smartly angled forward. This projects a nicely dispersed light, making your work easy to see. While the Kreg drill or Rebel pocket hole machine may be your catalyst into the Blue Ion line, the ¼” impact driver is a natural next step.
Makita XDT18 Impact Driver Matched with a 2.0Ah 18v Li-Ion battery, this compact ¼” impact driver weighed in at an astonishing 2lbs, 10oz. It certainly felt and looked the smallest of the bunch, and was nimble and easy to control. The quick-release chuck needs to be retracted to insert a hex bit, which is a minor annoyance. The single LED light mounted high near the chuck can cast shadows, but only with short length bits. The Makita batteries are smooth and slick on the bottom, which might let them slide on uneven surfaces, but isn’t much of an issue in a shop setting. Even this little sprite will drive a lag bolt in just over 2 seconds, hinting at brawn beneath the demure appearance. The control panel on the Makita impact drivers are the least intuitive of the bunch, and require a thorough reading of the manual. A single button scrolls through “H” for hard (higher RPM and impacts per minute), “S” for soft (lower RPM and impacts per minute), auto regulating mode where the driver determines output based on current conditions. You can also long-press the same button to turn the LED light on or off. Once accustomed to the controls, testers universally liked this tool for light to medium duty work.
Makita XDT20 Impact Driver This full-sized brushless 18v driver has loads of power, and is easy to use. It’s ergonomic and feels great in the hand, even with a heavier 5Ah battery as tested. That combination weighs 3lbs, 4oz, or trim it to just 2lbs, 11oz with a smaller 2Ah battery. With either battery pack, the tool feels well balanced and ready to work. There’s a unique ring light that shines a well-dispersed and even light, without unwanted shadows. Testers remarked on the tools excellent power and speed throughout lag bolt speed and endurance trials. The rear control panel on the XDT20 is the most cryptic of the bunch. Luckily, most users will simply scroll through the four manually selected speed / torque settings as desired. There are also four auto settings for specialty applications to limit torque and avoid over-driving fasteners. Or long-press the control button for low-medium-high-off LED settings.
Milwaukee 2957 Impact Driver This ¼” brushless model packs a gut-punch of power, while still being easy to control. With the excellent CP2.0 Red Lithium battery, it sits at just 3lbs, 4oz. The overall dimensions feel quite compact for the 2957, especially when you consider the power it offers. Average lag time trial test was third best in this lofty group of performers, at just .86 seconds. The grip feels great, and it always felt well-balance whether setting screws or driving lag bolts. A 4-position digital speed / torque selector lets you dial in your preferred settings, or really customize things with One Key app. With every Milwaukee tool we tried, we appreciated the side-pinch battery release, which makes it easy to remove a battery with one hand. The LED is a 3-light affair, mounted at the nose of the tool, which provides adequate illumination. Whether you’re on the M18 platform or not, this all-star performer strikes a great balance between power and weight, and is definitely worth a close look.
Ridgid R862312 Impact Driver As tested with a 6Ah Max Output 18v Li-Ion battery, this one weighs in at 3lbs, 15oz, or you can trim the load to 3lbs, 5oz with a smaller 2Ah battery pack. It shares many attributes with its Ridgid drill brethren, like the gray stippled rubber grip, and effective single-source LED light. The ¼” quick release collet can be a little finicky, sometimes needing to be reset by putting it out manually. But otherwise, the system works well to retain hex bits, even during bouts of heavy driving. A metal gear case adds to the robust build quality, and expected lifespan of this tool. The Ridgid completed the lag time trial in a respectable 1.09 seconds, and had power to spare on the 60-lag marathon. A digital 4-way selector lets you optimize the speed and torque required for the job. Equally comfortable in a home shop or construction site, the Ridgid impact driver is a solid performer if you don’t mind the extra weight compared to smaller models.
Ryobi PBLID04 Impact Driver Dressed with a 4Ah High Performance Li-Ion battery as tested, this one weighs 3lbs, 14oz. Or it can lighten up to 3lbs, 3oz with a 1.5Ah Ryobi 18v battery. A single mode button lets you select 1-2-3 or Auto mode for the speed / torque setting you need. Ryobi drills offer a larger than normal LED with a nicely dispersed light, and this impact driver is no exception. Not unlike the Ridgid impact driver, the ¼” hex style quick release chuck on the Ryobi was finicky at times, but never dropped a bit. This big driver yawned at our 60-lag bolt test, and posted a truly impressive .80 second lag time trial. The Ryobi does feel a little heavy next to other models, but it brings power in spades. If that’s a defining factor for you, make your next impact driver a Ryobi.