I’ve researched and compared the best impact drivers on the UK market. My top recommendation is the DeWalt DCF887N 18v Li-Ion XR Brushless Cordless Impact Driver.
My Top Recommended Impact Drivers
1. Best for tight spaces - DeWalt DCF887N 18v Li-Ion XR Brushless Cordless Impact Driver[ SAVE 5% ]
2. Best starter kit with 2 batteries - INGCO 20 V Brushless Impact Driver Kit with Two Batteries
3. Best all round impact driver - Makita DTD153Z 18V Li-Ion LXT Brushless Impact Driver[ SAVE 7% ]
4. Best for number of torque settings - Milwaukee M18FID-0 M18 FID-0 18 Volt Fuel Impact Driver[ SAVE 60% ]
5. Best budget brushless option - WESCO Brushless Impact Driver Kit
6. Best impact driver starter kit - Ryobi 0 R18ID2-120SZ 18V ONE+ Cordless Impact Driver Starter Kit[ SAVE 9% ]
7. Best impact driver kit for beginners - WORX WX291 18V (20V Max) Cordless Impact Driver[ SAVE 41% ]
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My Product Reviews & Opinions
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US tool giants DeWalt have nearly a century of experience making all sorts of power tools for trade as well as DIY applications. The DeWalt DCF887N impact driver joins DeWalt’s XR family of powerful 18 Volt cordless tools. Finished in DeWalt’s iconic yellow and black, this is a rugged and capable piece of kit.
Surrounded by acres of thick rubberised plastic, the handle is comfortable to hang on to. It also feels like it’s built to withstand the expected knocks and drops that face a tool of this type. Despite its compact design the technical specification of this DeWalt impact driver is impressive. The high power brushless motor puts out 3,250 rpm, it produces 3,800 ipm at the business end, and has a maximum torque of 205 Nm.
Even though the stats on this DeWalt impact driver aren’t the highest, DeWalt’s solid build quality and range of tools make this one of the best impact guns on the market right now. Just don’t forget that this doesn’t come with batteries or a charger.
Best for tight spaces
Scores:
- Build Quality
- Performance
- Ease of Use
- Value for Money
- Overall
US tool giants DeWalt have nearly a century of experience making all sorts of power tools for trade as well as DIY applications. The DeWalt DCF887N impact driver joins DeWalt’s XR family of powerful 18 Volt cordless tools. Finished in DeWalt’s iconic yellow and black, this is a rugged and capable piece of kit.
Surrounded by acres of thick rubberised plastic, the handle is comfortable to hang on to. It also feels like it’s built to withstand the expected knocks and drops that face a tool of this type. Despite its compact design the technical specification of this DeWalt impact driver is impressive. The high power brushless motor puts out 3,250 rpm, it produces 3,800 ipm at the business end, and has a maximum torque of 205 Nm.
Even though the stats on this DeWalt impact driver aren’t the highest, DeWalt’s solid build quality and range of tools make this one of the best impact guns on the market right now. Just don’t forget that this doesn’t come with batteries or a charger.
Features:
- Power
- Battery - 18V
- Brushless Motor
- Yes
- Batteries Included
- 0
- Max Speed
- 3,250rpm
- Variable Speeds
- 1
- Max Impacts
- 3,800ipm
- Max Torque
- 205Nm
- Weight
- 1.0kg (excl battery)
Pros
- Weighing just 1 kg, this is an unbelievably lightweight impact driver. It means you can add a high capacity battery without making it too heavy to handle easily.
- Measuring just 134 mm from nose to tail, this gun is seriously stubby. It's compact design means it can get into the tight spaces between timbers and inside cupboards better than most other power tools on my list.
- DeWalt have included their “Drop and Load” bit holder type that allows for one handed accessory changing. Anything that leaves a hand free during a job is a good thing.
Cons
- Compared with the Milwaukee M18FID, this impact driver lacks a belt hanging hook. You won’t know how useful one is until you’re up a ladder with both your hands full!
- Don’t forget that this is a bare tool. That means that compared to the WESCO impact driver kit, you don’t get a battery, a charger, a bag, or any accessories at all.
- If you’ve got big hands, like I have, you might find the DeWalt grip is a bit on the narrow side. It is compared with the chunky grip on the Makita DTD153Z, anyway.
Tool manufacturer INGCO are responsible for all sorts of engineering and DIY kit. Selling everything from welding equipment to lawnmowers, they also make an excellent 18 volt impact driver starter pack. Featuring two 2.0 Ah batteries and charger, a carry case and five attachments, there’s everything you might need, right here, at a very reasonable price. In fact this is the best budget impact driver on my list.
Starting with the impact gun’s design, it’s compact and well-balanced. It has a decent grip with plenty of rubber on it to help keep vibrations down to a minimum. It comes with a bright LED work light and a useful belt hanging hook on the bottom as well.
The 20 Volt maximum battery system powers the brushless motor up to 3,300 ipm and puts out a reasonable 170 Nm of torque. The only slight letdown is the sluggish 2,100 rpm maximum speed. What makes up for this slight shortfall is the size of this kit. The two batteries mean you can reduce your downtime, and you get two driver bits and three nut drivers too.
Best starter kit with 2 batteries
Scores:
- Build Quality
- Performance
- Ease of Use
- Value for Money
- Overall
Tool manufacturer INGCO are responsible for all sorts of engineering and DIY kit. Selling everything from welding equipment to lawnmowers, they also make an excellent 18 volt impact driver starter pack. Featuring two 2.0 Ah batteries and charger, a carry case and five attachments, there’s everything you might need, right here, at a very reasonable price. In fact this is the best budget impact driver on my list.
Starting with the impact gun’s design, it’s compact and well-balanced. It has a decent grip with plenty of rubber on it to help keep vibrations down to a minimum. It comes with a bright LED work light and a useful belt hanging hook on the bottom as well.
The 20 Volt maximum battery system powers the brushless motor up to 3,300 ipm and puts out a reasonable 170 Nm of torque. The only slight letdown is the sluggish 2,100 rpm maximum speed. What makes up for this slight shortfall is the size of this kit. The two batteries mean you can reduce your downtime, and you get two driver bits and three nut drivers too.
Features:
- Power
- Battery - 18V (20V Max)
- Brushless Motor
- Yes
- Batteries Included
- 2 x 2Ah
- Max Speed
- 2,100rpm
- Variable Speeds
- 1
- Max Impacts
- 3,300ipm
- Max Torque
- 170Nm
- Weight
- unk
Pros
- This is a really affordable impact driver kit. If you’ve not already bought into a battery system from one of the big tool brands, this is a solid place to start.
- The three nut drivers included in the kit are 6, 8, and 10 mm ones. That’s three of the most popular sizes and means that you might not need to buy many more to start with.
- I like that this impact driver kit comes with its own tool bag. It’s made from decent heavy gauge nylon and has a sturdy zip. The handles are double stitched as well.
- The fact that this budget impact driver is a brushless model with all the features is impressive. Brushless motors are ideal for battery power tools as they’re more energy efficient.
Cons
- One of the big selling points of this driver is the 20 Volt battery system. It sounds like you get more battery life compared with an 18 Volt system, but they’re actually the same.
- Some users have had issues with the variable speed trigger on this driver. Compared with the Makita DTD153Z, the overall build quality is not quite as solid.
- Even though the INGCO battery system works with more than 120 different cordless power tools, you can’t get super high capacity batteries. Compared with Milwaukee’s 12.0 Ah batteries at least.
- At 150 mm long, without a bit in place, this is one of the longest cordless impact drivers on my list. Compared with the Ryobi R18ID2, it’s still much more compact though.
Japanese tool firms don’t get much bigger than this. Still an independent business, they put quality first and let the other brands make the throwaway stuff. One of the best impact drivers I’ve had a chance to use, the Makita DTD153Z is incredibly well made, powerful, and easy to use.
Sporting a hugely powerful brushless motor, this is a compact little driver that hides an enormous amount of raw power. Having all this power in your hand doesn’t mean you’re held back by cables though; this impact driver is driven by an 18 Volt battery.
The motor on board gives this driver an unbeatable maximum no-load speed of 3,400 revolutions per minute (rpm) and an impressive 3,600 impacts per minute (ipm). To drive home even the biggest screws, you get 170 Newton metres (Nm) of torque to play with as well.
Weighing in at 1.3 kg without the battery, it’s a well balanced and solid little machine. It’s much easier to handle than an ordinary cordless drill, and thanks to Makita’s TPE covered ergonomic handle, it’s comfortable too. Just remember this is a bare power tool that doesn’t come with batteries.
Best all round impact driver
Scores:
- Build Quality
- Performance
- Ease of Use
- Value for Money
- Overall
Japanese tool firms don’t get much bigger than this. Still an independent business, they put quality first and let the other brands make the throwaway stuff. One of the best impact drivers I’ve had a chance to use, the Makita DTD153Z is incredibly well made, powerful, and easy to use.
Sporting a hugely powerful brushless motor, this is a compact little driver that hides an enormous amount of raw power. Having all this power in your hand doesn’t mean you’re held back by cables though; this impact driver is driven by an 18 Volt battery.
The motor on board gives this driver an unbeatable maximum no-load speed of 3,400 revolutions per minute (rpm) and an impressive 3,600 impacts per minute (ipm). To drive home even the biggest screws, you get 170 Newton metres (Nm) of torque to play with as well.
Weighing in at 1.3 kg without the battery, it’s a well balanced and solid little machine. It’s much easier to handle than an ordinary cordless drill, and thanks to Makita’s TPE covered ergonomic handle, it’s comfortable too. Just remember this is a bare power tool that doesn’t come with batteries.
Features:
- Power
- Battery - 18V
- Brushless Motor
- Yes
- Batteries Included
- 0
- Max Speed
- 3,400rpm
- Variable Speeds
- 1
- Max Impacts
- 3,600ipm
- Max Torque
- 170Nm
- Weight
- 1.3kg (excl battery)
Pros
- Makita make quality kit. It’s why you find their tools on building sites as well as in DIYers workshops. The DTD153Z is built like a tank and should last for years of good service.
- The work light on this driver is powerful and comes from a pair of big LED lights. It stays on for a good few seconds after you release the trigger as well, which is really useful.
- Unlike some of the more basic cordless impact drivers around, the DTD153Z has a variable speed trigger. It makes handling much easier and you’re less likely to cam out when driving screws.
- Even though it’s not the shortest impact driver in the world, it’s only 142 mm from front to back. You can get this into tight spaces where a traditional drill just wouldn’t fit.
Cons
- If you’re expecting an 18 volt impact driver kit with everything you need to start work, this isn’t it. You don’t get a battery or a charger. Compared to the Ingco driver, it’s not for beginners.
- Just like most cordless impact drivers, this is a seriously noisy power tool to use. Rated at 107 dB for sound power, I wouldn’t use this without proper hearing protection.
- Compared with the Milwaukee M18FID, this 18 volt impact driver has a lot less torque. If you really need to drive the biggest screws and bolts, the Makita is left wanting.
- Even though this driver comes without a battery and charger, or even an impact bit, it’s pretty expensive. It’s fine if you already own the accessories but adding them will cost you.
One of the biggest power tool brands to come across the pond, Milwaukee has a long history and a huge reputation for making some of the best impact guns on the market. Decked out in Milwaukee’s recognisable red and silver colour scheme, the Milwaukee M18FID is a seriously powerful piece of kit, and what we consider to be the best cordless impact driver on the UK market.
Built with professional tradespeople in mind, this driver makes up part of Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel range. Their tough and feature-packed battery power tools are there to help get the job done. With a maximum 3,000 rpm, massive 3,700 ipm, and class-leading 203 Nm torque, this is an awesome tool to put in your hand.
Featuring a potent Powerstate brushless motor, this driver is the only one on my list that boasts four different torque levels for ultimate control, whatever the task is in front of you. It can be hard to control some impact guns, so this is a welcome feature.
Best for number of torque settings
Scores:
- Build Quality
- Performance
- Ease of Use
- Value for Money
- Overall
One of the biggest power tool brands to come across the pond, Milwaukee has a long history and a huge reputation for making some of the best impact guns on the market. Decked out in Milwaukee’s recognisable red and silver colour scheme, the Milwaukee M18FID is a seriously powerful piece of kit, and what we consider to be the best cordless impact driver on the UK market.
Built with professional tradespeople in mind, this driver makes up part of Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel range. Their tough and feature-packed battery power tools are there to help get the job done. With a maximum 3,000 rpm, massive 3,700 ipm, and class-leading 203 Nm torque, this is an awesome tool to put in your hand.
Featuring a potent Powerstate brushless motor, this driver is the only one on my list that boasts four different torque levels for ultimate control, whatever the task is in front of you. It can be hard to control some impact guns, so this is a welcome feature.
Features:
- Power
- Battery - 18V
- Brushless Motor
- Yes
- Batteries Included
- 0
- Max Speed
- 3,000rpm
- Variable Speeds
- 3
- Max Impacts
- 3,700ipm
- Max Torque
- 203Nm
- Weight
- 1.0kg (excl battery)
Pros
- This impact gun features more torque than all the others on my list of impact driver reviews. Having 203 Nm to play with makes tackling the biggest screws and bolts an easy task. It’s a beast.
- Just because this is a hugely powerful impact gun doesn’t mean it’s a heavyweight. This lightweight impact driver weighs less than 1 kg without a battery attached, so the power to weight ratio is astonishing.
- Anyone who’s used an impact driver knows that they can almost be too powerful. Avoid driving screws deep into timber by using the correct torque setting for the job at hand.
- Having an onboard battery level gauge is really handy for professionals as well as DIYers. If you keep an eye on your levels, you can avoid annoying downtime from flat batteries.
Cons
- Compared with the huge kit supplied with the INGCO impact driver, you don’t get a lot for your money here. This is a bare tool, sold without a battery or charger.
- Even the keenest DIYers will need to dig deep in their wallets for this impact driver. It’s the most expensive driver on my list, and you don’t even get a battery.
- This impact driver has an incredible amount of torque at its disposal and a fast impact rate. Unless you really need the absolute best performance, you could save some money.
Dependable budget tool brand WESCO make a whole range of decent DIY level tools that deliver plenty of power without breaking the bank. This WESCO impact driver kit comes with a whole range of useful bits and nut drivers, as well as a kit bag, charger, and 18 Volt battery.
The first thing you’ll notice about this impact driver is the excellent grip shape and generous amounts of rubberised plastic on the driver body. It should be easy to hang on to and protected against rough handling.
The high power brushless motor puts out an impressive 3,200 rpm and makes 3,600 ipm as well. Not bad for an inexpensive tool like this. The 180 Nm of torque isn’t class-leading, but it’s plenty for most DIYers and even pro’s. What makes this one of the best impact driver kits though is the generous helping of bits and nut drivers included. There’s enough there to get on with most jobs around the home or garden.
Best budget brushless option
Scores:
- Build Quality
- Performance
- Ease of Use
- Value for Money
- Overall
Dependable budget tool brand WESCO make a whole range of decent DIY level tools that deliver plenty of power without breaking the bank. This WESCO impact driver kit comes with a whole range of useful bits and nut drivers, as well as a kit bag, charger, and 18 Volt battery.
The first thing you’ll notice about this impact driver is the excellent grip shape and generous amounts of rubberised plastic on the driver body. It should be easy to hang on to and protected against rough handling.
The high power brushless motor puts out an impressive 3,200 rpm and makes 3,600 ipm as well. Not bad for an inexpensive tool like this. The 180 Nm of torque isn’t class-leading, but it’s plenty for most DIYers and even pro’s. What makes this one of the best impact driver kits though is the generous helping of bits and nut drivers included. There’s enough there to get on with most jobs around the home or garden.
Features:
- Power
- Battery - 18V
- Brushless Motor
- Yes
- Batteries Included
- 1 x 2Ah
- Max Speed
- 3,200rpm
- Variable Speeds
- 1
- Max Impacts
- 3,600ipm
- Max Torque
- 180Nm
- Weight
- 1.1kg (excl Battery)
Pros
- Supplied with 20 different bits and nut drivers, this is the most comprehensive accessory kit on my list. For casual DIYers, it’s nice to know you won’t need to buy extras to start with.
- The handy tool bag that comes with the kit is an ideal place to store the driver and accessories. It’s made from heavy gauge nylon and should last for a long time.
- Even though this isn’t an expensive impact driver, compared with the Milwaukee M18FID, it’s still a sturdy piece of kit. It doesn’t look like it will fall apart after one job!
- Weighing just 1.1 kg, this is a nice and light tool to have in your arsenal. If you’re planning on doing a big job, light weight is key to avoid tiring yourself out quickly.
Cons
- The LED work light is bright, but it’s positioned on the bottom of the grip section. This means that if you stick the business end into a tight spot, the led work light won’t be much use.
- Several users have mentioned that the variable speed control trigger is too sensitive. If you’ve used these tools before, you know how easy it is to drive screws too far by accident.
- Compared with the excellent fast charger you get with the Ryobi R18ID2, the one on the WESCO is basic. The cord is quite fragile as well, so it might not last for as long as you want.
- Although this impact driver kit includes 20 different bits and nut drivers, they’re not the best quality. Impact bits are subjected to extreme forces, I don’t know how long these ones will last.
Another big Japanese tool firm, Ryobi make a huge range of clever battery-powered tools and accessories. Famous for their ONE+ system, the same battery will power tools as diverse as lawnmowers and jigsaws. The Ryobi R18ID2 impact driver starter kit provides you with everything you need to get the job done.
The first thing to note about this starter kit is that you get a 2.0 Ah battery, a fast charger, and even a carry case alongside the Ryobi impact driver itself. The driver is decked out in Ryobi’s recognisable bright green and features their patented GripZone handle. It’s incredibly comfortable to handle and it feels well balanced too.
The 18 Volt impact driver puts out a maximum no load speed of 3,200 rpm and creates 3,600 ipm. As for torque, this big impact driver creates an incredibly 200 Nm of torque. It’s a real beast. This is one of the best impact driver kits available for DIYers right now.
Best impact driver starter kit
Scores:
- Build Quality
- Performance
- Ease of Use
- Value for Money
- Overall
Another big Japanese tool firm, Ryobi make a huge range of clever battery-powered tools and accessories. Famous for their ONE+ system, the same battery will power tools as diverse as lawnmowers and jigsaws. The Ryobi R18ID2 impact driver starter kit provides you with everything you need to get the job done.
The first thing to note about this starter kit is that you get a 2.0 Ah battery, a fast charger, and even a carry case alongside the Ryobi impact driver itself. The driver is decked out in Ryobi’s recognisable bright green and features their patented GripZone handle. It’s incredibly comfortable to handle and it feels well balanced too.
The 18 Volt impact driver puts out a maximum no load speed of 3,200 rpm and creates 3,600 ipm. As for torque, this big impact driver creates an incredibly 200 Nm of torque. It’s a real beast. This is one of the best impact driver kits available for DIYers right now.
Features:
- Power
- Battery - 18V
- Brushless Motor
- No
- Batteries Included
- 1 x 2Ah
- Max Speed
- 3,200rpm
- Variable Speeds
- 1
- Max Impacts
- 3,600ipm
- Max Torque
- 200Nm
- Weight
- 1.2kg (excl battery)
Pros
- This 18 volt impact driver can put out an almost unbelievable amount of torque. For a DIY-focussed brand, Ryobi have given this gun a professional level of grunt. 200 Nm is really impressive.
- I like that Ryobi have included a pair of impact bits with this starter kit. Seeing as impact drivers require specialist bits, it’s good to have more than one to start with.
- There’s a bit holder located on the bottom of the Ryobi impact driver. It’s a really handy little feature to have and means you can carry a spare on you at all times.
- As well as a pair of impact bits, you also get a 3/8” socket adaptor included with the kit. This means you can attach all sorts of nut drivers to the driver as well.
Cons
- Compared with the DeWalt DCF887N, this impact driver is quite cumbersome. At 180 mm, it’s nearly 50 mm longer, meaning it can’t get into the same tight spaces.
- As well as being longer than other drivers in my list of impact driver reviews, the ONE+ batteries are big as well. The bottom of the driver is huge compared to other models.
- I’m not a fan of led lights that are positioned underneath the hand grip. It might just be my personal choice, but I prefer an LED work light that’s above the trigger. It’s easier to handle.
- Once you’ve added the 2.0 Ah battery, this driver weighs in at 1.7 kg. That’s quite heavy for a DIY level impact driver.
One of the better known DIY brands out there, WORX make a wide range of tools and accessories for the home as well as the garden. The WX291 cordless impact driver makes the most of its 18 Volt battery system to drive long screws and bolts into all sorts of materials.
Built with a comfortable TPE grip and weighing just over 1 kg, this is a chunky but sturdy impact gun. The brushed motor spins this driver up to a reasonable maximum 2,600 rpm and can put out 3,300 ipm. You only get 170 Nm of torque, but it’s plenty strong enough for light DIY work.
Something I really like about the WORX brand of power tools is the 20 Volt Power Share battery system. Like Ryobi, they’ve made sure that all of their tools can run on the same battery platform, which should save you money down the line.
Best impact driver kit for beginners
Scores:
- Build Quality
- Performance
- Ease of Use
- Value for Money
- Overall
One of the better known DIY brands out there, WORX make a wide range of tools and accessories for the home as well as the garden. The WX291 cordless impact driver makes the most of its 18 Volt battery system to drive long screws and bolts into all sorts of materials.
Built with a comfortable TPE grip and weighing just over 1 kg, this is a chunky but sturdy impact gun. The brushed motor spins this driver up to a reasonable maximum 2,600 rpm and can put out 3,300 ipm. You only get 170 Nm of torque, but it’s plenty strong enough for light DIY work.
Something I really like about the WORX brand of power tools is the 20 Volt Power Share battery system. Like Ryobi, they’ve made sure that all of their tools can run on the same battery platform, which should save you money down the line.
Features:
- Power
- Battery - 18V (20V Max)
- Brushless Motor
- No
- Batteries Included
- 1 x 2Ah
- Max Speed
- 2,600rpm
- Variable Speeds
- 2
- Max Impacts
- 3,300ipm
- Max Torque
- 170Nm
- Weight
- unk
Pros
- The hard plastic carry case is an improvement compared with the WESCO driver’s tool bag. It will keep the power tool protected against impacts, knocks, and drops.
- WORX have included an impact bit with the driver. It’s not much compared with the huge accessory kit that comes with the WESCO gun, but it’s a start!
Cons
- Measuring close to 150 mm long, this is one of the least compact drivers on my list. Compared with the tiny Milwaukee M18FID, you won’t get this into tight spots.
- The motor on this impact driver isn’t brushless. It’s not a complete game changer, but brushed motors are a bit more power hungry and less efficient.
- Compared with the INGCO impact driver, you only get the one 2.0 Ah battery. If you’ve got a big task in front of you, don’t let the battery run dry!
Compare Product Features Here
Use the dropdown to sort the table by the feature that's most important to you.
- Our score
- Power
- Brushless Motor
- Batteries Included
- Max Speed
- Variable Speeds
- Max Impacts
- Max Torque
- Weight
-
- PowerBattery - 18V
- Brushless MotorYes
- Batteries Included0
- Max Speed3,250rpm
- Variable Speeds1
- Max Impacts3,800ipm
- Max Torque205Nm
- Weight1.0kg (excl battery)
-
- PowerBattery - 18V (20V Max)
- Brushless MotorYes
- Batteries Included2 x 2Ah
- Max Speed2,100rpm
- Variable Speeds1
- Max Impacts3,300ipm
- Max Torque170Nm
- Weightunk
-
- PowerBattery - 18V
- Brushless MotorYes
- Batteries Included0
- Max Speed3,400rpm
- Variable Speeds1
- Max Impacts3,600ipm
- Max Torque170Nm
- Weight1.3kg (excl battery)
-
- PowerBattery - 18V
- Brushless MotorYes
- Batteries Included0
- Max Speed3,000rpm
- Variable Speeds3
- Max Impacts3,700ipm
- Max Torque203Nm
- Weight1.0kg (excl battery)
-
- PowerBattery - 18V
- Brushless MotorYes
- Batteries Included1 x 2Ah
- Max Speed3,200rpm
- Variable Speeds1
- Max Impacts3,600ipm
- Max Torque180Nm
- Weight1.1kg (excl Battery)
-
- PowerBattery - 18V
- Brushless MotorNo
- Batteries Included1 x 2Ah
- Max Speed3,200rpm
- Variable Speeds1
- Max Impacts3,600ipm
- Max Torque200Nm
- Weight1.2kg (excl battery)
-
- PowerBattery - 18V (20V Max)
- Brushless MotorNo
- Batteries Included1 x 2Ah
- Max Speed2,600rpm
- Variable Speeds2
- Max Impacts3,300ipm
- Max Torque170Nm
- Weightunk
Tips For Buying an Impact Driver
- The impact driver is one of the most powerful tools available for overcoming resistance when driving screws or bolts into hard materials or for tightening or loosening rusted bolts. It uses clever onboard technology that can sense resistance, and then apply rotational force and hammer action to get the job done.
- Most impact drivers are cordless, but there are corded impact drivers and pneumatic versions too. The best cordless impact drivers have brushless motors, but having a brushless motor is in no way essential.
- Impact drivers are relatively lightweight, weighing around 1kg, have a ¼” collet, and can deliver well over 3,000 ipm (impacts/beats per minute).
- Maximum torque ratings can be over 200Nm, around 3 times that of a drill driver or combi drill.
- Although there are no torque settings, some impact drivers come with an integrated clutch. This is useful because it can be engaged if you think you are going to over-tighten a screw, on account of more torque being delivered.
- More expensive models may have more than one gear.
- LED lights are also very handy.
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How to Choose The Best Impact Driver
The impact driver is a very popular and versatile tool, not dissimilar to the general-purpose drill driver. However, the impact driver can generate significantly more torque, in fact nearly 3 times as much!
Impact drivers are specifically designed to automatically overcome resistance encountered when driving screws. The user no longer has to apply extra force, as would be the case with a regular power drill.
An impact driver is used where outright power is more important than precision. It is great for driving larger screws and fasteners into harder wood, masonry and even sheetrock, and some of the best impact drivers are used for automotive repair work. It is also perfect for tightening or loosening rusted bolts.
Impact Driver Main Features
Most impact drivers are cordless, but there are corded and pneumatic versions too.
The best impact drivers are all relatively lightweight, have a ¼” collet, and can deliver around 3,000 bpm (beats /impacts per minute).
No-load speed is around 3,000 rpm and max torque ratings can be over 200Nm, around 3 times that of a drill driver.
More expensive models may have more than one gear. The best impact drivers have brushless motors, but having a brushless motor is in no way essential.
Although there are no torque settings, some impact drivers come with an integrated clutch. This is useful because it can be engaged if you think you are going to over-tighten a screw, on account of more torque being delivered.
You should be aware that impact drivers are quite noisy tools so make sure you have ear protection to hand when you use an impact driver.
Impact Driver FAQs
What Is An Impact Driver?
Impact drivers look like drill drivers but they’re smaller and have a more compact profile.
Their main feature is a shorter nose – this is due to the fact they don’t have a standard keyed or keyless chuck. Instead, they have a ¼” quick-release locking collet into which you simply slot a hexagonal shank bit after pushing down on the collet ring.
Impact drivers don’t have a torque control ring. Their motors are smaller than regular power drill motors because more power is generated by the impact motion itself. So cordless impact drivers run on smaller batteries.
The compact profile, stubby nose, and lack of torque control ring on the impact driver make it quite distinct from a drill driver.
What Is An Impact Driver Used For?
Impact drivers are not only smaller and lighter than drill drivers but they are also much more powerful. They are commonly used in the construction industry and the automotive trade.
They are great when you want to drive screws, fasteners, and bolts into less forgiving materials like harder wood, masonry and stone.
These tasks would flatten your battery in minutes if you were using a plain drill driver!
So if you are building a deck or doing stud work, securing a timber frame, screwing down plywood or floorboard, hanging cabinets, or driving into masonry, then having an impact driver in your tool collection to drive screws is a great choice.
It is also great for tightening or loosening rusted bolts, lug nuts or screws in wood or metal.
But make sure you use specialist impact driver bits for these tasks since standard bits will quickly fail with the increased levels of impact applied.
Although not specifically designed for drilling holes, you can increase the impact driver’s versatility by adding a drill chuck adaptor.
This is a separate chuck with a spindle converted into a hexagonal shank that slots into the impact driver collet. It allows the impact driver to use standard bits and any other accessory with a round shank. A good example is using a spade bit for drilling large holes in lumber.
When should I not use an Impact Driver?
The impact driver is a powerful tool and should not be used for delicate tasks, primarily because you cannot control exactly when the torque surges kick in.
So don’t use it for self-assembly furniture, tightening smaller screws into metal or anywhere you want to drill precise holes. You may not get the clean finish you desire, so use a drill driver instead!
Neither should an impact driver be used as a hammer drill. The percussion action on a hammer drill is applied vertically and constantly with added force by the user, whilst impact driver action is applied sideways, irregularly (when extra resistance is met) and automatically.
How Does An Impact Driver Work?
The key feature of an impact driver is its ability when driving to detect resistance and automatically apply an extra proportional level of impact (hence its name) or torque to overcome it.
The user has no control over when this extra force is applied, and therefore there are no torque settings.
When resistance is detected the motor engages a hammer which in turn strikes an anvil in the same direction the motor is turning.
These hammer blows or impulses are delivered at lightning speed, up to 3,000 beats per minute, in order to apply the extra force or torque required to overcome the resistance.
When there is no more resistance the hammer anvil action stops, but the cycle will restart if further resistance is encountered.
The other great feature of this mechanism is that you don’t get kickback. When regular drills encounter resistance the drill bit can sometimes get stuck. When this happens the rotational force can be transferred from the drill bit back to the drill itself. If the drill bit is still tight in the chuck, the unwanted force can trigger back to the user, causing the whole drill to spin and possible injury to wrists and hands.
What is the difference between an Impact Driver and an Impact Wrench?
Impact wrenches are similar to impact drivers. They too are designed to overcome resistance but an impact wrench is designed to work in a twisting or horizontal mode, as opposed to an impact driver that applies force vertically. Therefore impact wrenches are ideal for tightening and loosening bolts.
Impact drivers come with a ¼” female hexagonal drive, but impact wrenches come with a ⅜” or ½” square drive.
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