The best impact drivers

Make quick work of inserting screws with these modified drills on steroids.

Best impact drivers

by Chris Williams |
Updated on

If you undertake a lot of screwdriving jobs at home, then an impact driver may be for you. These are tools that are dedicated to the job of driving screws into even the toughest of materials. Let us explain:

What is an impact driver?

Think of an impact driver as a kind of modified drill, so that it focuses solely on the job of driving screws. Like a track edition of a Ferrari, an impact driver becomes a more specific tool.

There are a number of ways in which an impact driver differs from a regular drill:

• Impact drivers are smaller and lighter than regular cordless drills, making them great for use in any space.

• Impact drivers have far more torque than cordless drills in order to drive screws into tough materials.

• Impact drivers aren’t designed for drilling.

• Rather than a chuck, impact drivers have hexagonal ¼-inch hex drive bit holders for gripping screwdriver bits.

Related: The best pressure washers

How do impact drivers work?

An impact driver rotates driver bits as a drill does, but when under load, rotates the bits in a two-steps-forward, one-back fashion. As well as applying torque to drive in a screw, an impact driver’s motor also applies an impact. So, when using an impact driver to drive in a screw, they often sound like a rattle gun.

In short, impact drivers are brilliant at driving even very large screws. They make very quick work of popping those 80mm coach screws into your new raised vegetable plots, for example. No pre-drilling needed.

When should I consider one?

As you can tell from the way they function, you will find value in an impact driver if you undertake projects where inserting lots of screws is required, such as building a deck or making a chunky bookshelf. If you aren’t doing this sort of thing, a regular, more versatile cordless drill will be up your street.

What is brushless?

This is an important factor for power tools. Whether a tool is brushless or not is in reference to the type of motor the tool has. It gets a little nerdy here, but we've kept it super simple.

A traditional brushed motor uses carbon blocks called 'brushes'. They conduct an electrical current between magnets and a rotor, which drives the tool. It works well, but the brushes wear out over time because of contact friction, and eventually, the brushes lose contact with the coil. It's not the end of the world, the brushes simply need to be replaced by a workshop.

As you would imagine, brushless motors do not have carbon brushes. Instead, they use electromagnets and an electric circuit. While brushless motors don't have any brushes to wear out, they are also far more efficient without the friction generated by the brushes. Brushless motors can therefore go at least 20 per cent longer on a battery (up to 50 per cent). They can also be more compact and lighter, yet produce the same amount or even more torque.

Related: The best cordless drills under £100

The best impact drivers

We’ve split this up into three sections for clarity. First up, a section for impact drivers designed for DIY-use only. Then, those that are more serious and useful for frequent users and bigger projects. And lastly, two-piece impact driver and drill sets for convenience.

DIY-level impact drivers

Best entry level

Bosch Green is one of the go-to DIY brands. What is priced here is the tool only - the PDR 18 LI runs off Bosch's PowerForAll 18V batteries. It's a very popular system and there's a fair chance you have batteries already. If you want a kit, check here where you can select from a range of kit options.

For casual DIY jobs, this is the tool for you. The motor, housed in a compact protective casing, produces 130Nm of torque - two or three times more than what you get from a cordless drill. Any screwdriving job around the house becomes a doddle. At 1.25kg with a battery, it's very light too.

Pros:

Price

Bosch build quality

Compact size and lightness

Cons:

Not as powerful as the other tools here

Brushed

Entry level's big brother
Ryobi R18IDBL-0 ONE+ 18V Brushless Impact Driver
Price: £120.00

www.diy.com

Ryobi gives you extra run time over brushed models with its brushless impact driver. And with 270Nm of torque, it's also very powerful. You get the LED lighting for illuminating dim areas, but also other focused features such as the DeckDrive mode - a setting that specifically optimises performance for driving decking screws.

It costs quite a lot more than the above Bosch, but if you plan on using it frequently, the efficiency, power, and reliability of this model give peace of mind and extra performance.

Pros:

Brushless motor

Ample power for even large coach screws

Three-year warranty

Cons:

Price jump

Relatively large

Great budget impact driver kit

For a pocket-friendly price, Draper Tools offers an impact driver kit that has all the features you want. The tool is brushless, which is great, and comes supplied with two 2.0Ah Li-ion batteries, a charger, and a case.

With 180Nm of torque, it isn't as powerful as the Ryobi, but there's still plenty of grunt to tackle most jobs except repetitively driving heavy coach screws.

Pros:

Full kit

Price

Brushless

Cons:

Not as powerful as competitors

Related: The best multitools for DIY

More serious impact drivers

Magnificent little beastie

The Milwaukee is the smallest impact driver here, but it packs a wallop and is packed full of ingenuity.

It's tiny, it'll fit within your outstretched hand, and weighs about a kilo with a battery. It's a 12V tool, unlike the larger 18V tools above. It's therefore ideal for jobs in tight corners or where you're holding the tool up for longer periods of time. Don't think because it's a 12V that the Milwaukee is anaemic. The maximum bold/screw diameter it can handle is a whopping M14 (14mm).

It has an ingenious hydraulic powertrain Milwaukee calls Fluid-Drive. In short, it makes this impact driver much quieter, smoother and more reliable by reducing metal to metal contact within the tool. The kit includes two 2.0Ah Li-ion batteries, a charger, and a hard case.

Pros:

Power-to-weight ratio

Lightness and smoothness

Milwaukee quality

Cons:

Not cheap

Still not as powerful as the bigger tools

Incredible value for trade-level quality

This is an extraordinary kit for this money. The DeWalt kit comes with a hard case, 4.0Ah battery, and charger. DeWalt's impact driver is very powerful, with 205Nm of torque on offer encased in a hardy black and yellow DeWalt skin.

With its stubby 135mm length (not height), it's compact enough for tight and awkward places. There's little more to say other than this is a seriously capable, heavy-duty impact driver kit for an incredible value.

Pros:

DeWalt-level spec

Compact and powerful

Value

Cons:

One battery only

Two-piece drill and impact driver sets

For your convenience, we've also included kits that have drills and impact drivers. These are the most popular power tool kits around, they save you a fair amount of money if you don't yet have a drill, and wish to get one.

Kits like these are great because they set you up with a base for other cordless gear you may wish to invest in later.

Best kit for DIY users

A quality kit aimed at DIY users. You get the impact driver we looked at first (RID1801M) plus the Ryobi combi/hammer drill. As we know, the impact driver is a punchy piece of kit, and the drill gives you versatility. It has up to 50Nm of torque, and with its hammer function, is able to drill into masonry as well as wood and steel.

Other pieces included are the two 1.5Ah Li-ion batteries, a charger, and a tool bag. It's a great starter kit for a great price.

Pros:

Quality pair of tools

Bag included

Price

Cons:

Not brushless

1.5Ah batteries don't give long run time

Powerful 12V set

Metabo is an established, respected trade brand, and like Milwaukee, produces a terrific 12V range suitable for everyone who values well-made power tools. This Metabo set gives you everything you require. The drill is nearly as powerful as the 18V Ryobi drill above, and the impact driver has a punchy 140Nm of torque.

Both are beautifully light and easy to handle, and the 2.0Ah batteries give plenty of run-time paired to the brushless motors. The included hard case is always a nice thing to have.

Pros:

Light and powerful

Great price

Brushless

Cons:

Metabo 12V range not extensive like Ryobi ONE+ 18V range

Drill not a combi drill

18V two-piece sets

It is unlikely you will need the 18V trade-level gear for round the house jobs. However, if you do want to go the whole hog, all the trade brands - Makita, Milwaukee, Metabo, Bosch Blue, DeWalt, to name a few - do top-notch brushless sets with high capacity batteries. They're going to cost you, though.

Related: The best compost bins

Bit sets for impact drivers

Quality bits are just as important as getting a quality tool. Because impact driver bits are subject to so much torque, they need to be made to take it. Don't be tempted to buy cheap ones, even though they look similar to the ones from a brand you know. You really do get what you pay for. Paying a little more upfront for a quality bit set is guaranteed to save you money down the line.

Best budget option

Here, you get all the bits you need at a good price without compromising on quality. Contents: 60mm Magnetic Bit Holder 65mm quarter-inch hex; quarter-inch square dive adaptor 7 x 25mm screwdriver bits; Plain Slot - 5, 6mm, Cross Slot - No.1, No.2, TX Star - T20, T25, Square - S1 11 x 50mm Screwdriver bits; Plain Slot - 6mm, Cross Slot - No.1, No.2, PZ Type - No.1, No.2, No.3, TX Star - T20, T25, Square - 2 x S2, S3 75mm screwdriver bits; Cross Slot - 3 x No.2, PZ Type - 2 x No.2 3 x Magnetic nutdrivers; 6, 8, 10mm

Irwin tools and accessories are very high quality and will give you longevity even with frequent use. Contents: 7 x 25mm Phillips Bits: PH1, PH2(x5) and PH3. 7 x 25mm Pozi Bits: PZ1, PZ2(x5) and PZ3. 4 x 25mm TORX Bits: TX20, TX25, TX30 and TX40. 3 x 25mm Slotted Bits: 8, 10 and 12mm. 1 x 50mm Phillips Bit: PH2. 3 x 50mm Pozi Bits: PZ1 and PZ2(x2). 4 x Nut Setters: 6, 7, 8 and 10mm. 1 x Magnetic Torsion Bit Holder.

Related: The best fire pits for every budget

How to use an impact driver

Ryobi RID1801M 18V ONE+ Cordless Impact Driver
Ryobi RID1801M 18V ONE+ Cordless Impact Driver ©Ryobi

It is a very similar experience to using a cordless drill. But when it comes to fitting the bit, you simply insert it into the quick-release chuck rather than tightening it as you do with a drill.

When using an impact driver:

• Having fitted the correct bit, make sure the rotation selector is set to the correct position.

• Holding the impact driver in one hand, connect the bit with the screw head.

• Begin with a slow rotation for better control, before increasing the speed. As the screw is driven in, the tool will begin impacting.

• Then, you simply release the trigger once the screw is inserted to the desired depth.

Safety Tips

• Know what you’re driving a screw into (free from live wires etc)

• When using an impact driver under load, hold it by the handle only – do not press and cover the rear air outlet with your other hand. This happens frequently (even professionals are guilty) and causes overheating and tool damage.

• Use protective gear (eyewear, gloves, ear coverings, a mask if needed).

This combo is made up of comfortable glasses with polycarbonate, UVA/UVB lenses and work gloves with rubber grips and Velcro straps. Also available to buy as glasses only.

Simple and comfortable. This reduces the noise level by up to 27dB and can be used in noise level range of 87-98 dB.

Other tips

Be nice to your impact driver – don't drop it or expose it to moisture. They’re tough, but they aren’t idiot-proof.

Store your impact driver in its case, with the battery removed. Tools left with batteries attached will slowly run flat, even when not in use. This can leave you rather annoyed when you next come you use it.

Keep the tool clean from muck and dust. Take care of the tool, it’ll serve you well.

Enjoy it! Impact drivers are brilliantly satisfying to use.

WHAT TO READ NEXT:

The best socket sets

The best drill bit sets for DIY

The best ratcheting screwdrivers

The best tools for DIY

Chris Williams is a contributor to What's The Best. He also writes for CAR and Parkers.

Subscribe to the What’s The Best Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews and recommendations from the What’s The Best team.

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us