The Best Cordless Impact Driver In 2021

Our Take

The DEWALT DCF885C1 is a hugely popular driver with buyers and glancing down the specifications, it’s easy to understand why. While this machine might not come with all the bells and whistles, it does the basics very well and is available at a great value price point.

Looking at the key numbers, this is a 2800RPM driver with 1400in-lbs of torque delivered from the 20V lithium-ion battery. That’s plenty of power and speed on tap, so for all your impact driving applications, this machine is going to be just fine. While it has no speed modes per se, you can control the speed by how far you depress the trigger. For most applications that’s perfectly fine if you’re careful, particularly when starting or finishing your fastening.

This unit is equipped with a work light, which is a handy addition to help you work in tight spaces. Speaking of which, this – like the Makita – is a small machine and works well in awkward spots. Weight-wise, this is also a very light driver, coming in at only 2.8lbs.

One final consideration is around battery interchangeability. Obviously DEWALT has a huge range of largely excellent tools, so it’s worth considering what other tools you’ll be buying and what battery “family” you’re moving in with.

All in all, this is an excellent cordless impact driver, and while it’s not the top performer in any one area, it’s a great unit and great value for money.

Our Take

The XDT16 drivers from Makita have long been considered the best cordless impact drivers on the market. Makita has managed to combine solid reliability and power with some clever innovations to make using this machine that much better.

Considering the basics first, the XDT16 is an 18V driver powered by a brushless motor which can deliver 3600 RPM of screwing speed and 1600in-pounds of torque. That’s among the most powerful cordless impact drivers out there when it comes to raw speed and horsepower.

Makita have also included a number of helpful innovations into this device. First off, it features 4 speeds as well as an Assist mode and two tightening modes. The speeds are obvious, but buyers love the two tightening modes which control motor torque to prevent cross threating and damaging screws. In addition, you’ve also got an LED work light, auto stop mode to prevent lost screws when loosening, and a one-handed bit removal chuck.

This really is a market leader in every sense, and when it comes to finding the ultimate driver, you should be looking no further than this tool.

Our Take

Diving into another affordable option, this time from BLACK DECKER, in the shape of the BDCI20C. A 20V lithium powered unit like others in the test, this is a basic level tool aimed at the DIY and home user.

Delivering 1375in-lbs of torque at up to 3000RPM, this driver is actually quite fast although not hugely powerful. That could be fine if you’re largely doing timber frame construction or something similar where speed will be a priority over torqueing power. The transmission on this unit is of the single-speed type, so you’d find fancy modes to toggle between. Speed is controlled via depressing the trigger as you would with a cordless drill or other types of basic impact driver.

Sold as a kit with a charger and battery, this machine will have you up and running quickly rather than having to find compatible batteries as you sometimes do with more premium models. The chuck is a modern-style one-handed design, allowing fast and easy one-handed bit changes. Buyers appear to be largely very happy with this driver for home use – with any reporting great value for money and good experiences. Offered at such a great price point – it’s hard to see why they wouldn’t be.

Tying it all together, this is a great DIY tool and excellent value for the level of performance. For home use and DIY driver, this will be one of the best choices out there.

Our Take

When it comes to al out power, you don’t need to look much further than the Milwaukee 2853. In line with the other tools in Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel line up, this is a no-holds-barred high-performance machine, which leads the category.

With up to 2000in-lbs of torque, this machine can challenge a cheap impact wrench (next tool category up), and combined with 3600 RPM of speed, you can’t ask for anymore. All that power is delivered from the 18V brushless motor through their M18 lithium-ion battery system.

This unit isn’t short on innovation either. The 2853 features 4 speed and torqueing modes for different applications, and a self-tapping mode to help you avoid stripping fasteners. There’s a small LED work light integrated as well, so you can keep track of work in tight spaces.

It’s also worth discussing the form and feel of this machine. The rubberized exterior helps protect it in work environments, and much of Milwaukee’s technology has actually been funneled into squeezing all that power into what is a very small unit indeed. In fact, weighing in at just 2.2lbs tool only, this is a very light and compact impact driver.

If you need all outperformance, you should look no further than the 2853. Both this and the Makita are exceptional machines, and perhaps one could argue that the Makita is a bit more “techie” while this is a bit more powerful.

Our Take

Next up we have an 18V offering from German tool giant Bosch – the catchy-named GDR18V-1400B12. This is another professional grade cordless impact driver, which will be more than capable for the majority of applications.

With this unit, we’re looking at a 2800 RPMs and 1400in-lbs – so respectable from a power and speed perspective but by no means a standout on either. It’s worth noting that this is another variable speed tool, operated via the depression of the trigger. There are no fancy speed modes or tightening modes, so if you’re in a commercial setting and working through a lot of fastenings, that could be a consideration.

From a size a feel perspective, this is a good-quality tool made by a well-respected manufacturer. Weighing in at 2.3lbs tool only, this is in in line with other machines in the category, but is very slightly larger. The driver features an LED work light integrated into the grip, which is good but perhaps not as effective as the light ring you’ll find on other machines like the DEWALT.

Supplied with a charger and a battery, this is the full package at a pretty reasonable price point, so certainly worth some consideration. We’d class it as a solid low-end commercial option or a medium level DIY option, probably best compared to the DEWALT discussed earlier.

Our Take

A solid contender for the DIY market, Craftsman’s CMCF810C1 is a 20V impact driver that packs a lot of punch for a reasonable price point. This machine is certainly no slouch, and only gets more attractive as you comb through the details.

Let’s start with the key numbers for this machine, before we get into the niceties. This is a 1500in-lb driver with 2800 RPMs on tap, so certainly well-equipped when you consider it’s aimed at the DIY market. That power comes by way of a brushless motor and a Lithium battery, which features a very respectable 1-hour charge time.

Getting into more details, although this is not a multi-mode machine, it does feature variable speeds via a trigger which is what we’d expect for a driver in this class. The ¼” hex chuck is well thought out, and features a one-handed bit change design. On the bit-ejection side of things, there is a spring-loaded system to make bit ejection that bit easier.

Looking at ergonomics and feel, this is a light driver, weighing just over two pounds without the battery. An LED work light is included in the just under the chuck, to help you in less illuminated spaces.

Wrapping up, this is a very solid DIY offering, and will be a great fit for most homeowner buyers. Pricing is very reasonable, and you’ll be able to pick up the whole unit with a battery and charger included.

Our Take

The R86037 from Ridgid is another powerful little package that will be well suited to high-end residential users and light commercial use. Equipped with Ridgid’s 18V lithium-ion battery pack, this little powerhouse will pop out some impressive numbers.

With a brushless motor, this machine was never going to be a couch-potato, but with 2250in-lbs of torque on tap and a max speed of 2750 RPM, she’s certainly a powerful one. Speed and power are controlled via three-speed modes, allowing you to select an RPM and torque package appropriate for the job in hand.

Ridgid has clearly thought through the user experience with this machine, as it features a very easy to use chuck. The system allows you to change bits with one hand, like most leading impact drivers, and eject them quickly by pulling back on the collet.

It’s worth noting that during our research we did encounter some owners complaining about long term battery performance and their experiences making claims under the warranty. We weren’t able to substantiate them, but they are out there and given you’ll find yourself buying into a family of cordless tools, it is worth consideration.

All in all, a respectable impact driver and a good fit for light commercial and demanding DIY uses. With so many incredible drivers out there, we are very spoilt for choice, and despite some great features this machine doesn’t quite manage to compete with the Milwaukee or the Makitas.

Our Take

Porter-Cable is another great DIY and light consumer offering, based around their 20V power system. Although not perhaps one of the best-known brands out there, Porter Cable nonetheless have a slid range of power tools based this platform. As we’ve discussed, sometimes it can be helpful to take a look at other tools in the family when making a buying decision.

Digging down into the details, this machine is a great mid-market offering, and certainly attractive for the price. The 20V Brushless motor delivers some 1400in-lbs of torque, with 2700 RPMs available for fast fastening. This is a simple single-mode machine, offering variable speed control via depressing the trigger rather than job-specific modes. As we’ve mentioned though, this will be perfectly adequate in the vast majority of settings, and mode switches really are the icing on the cake!

Porter Cable put a great deal of work into making this machine smaller than its predecessor, and managed a 15% reduction in overall length. That puts this impact driver into the similar sizes and shape range of the leaders in the category and is especially nice to see. Equipped with a quick-change chuck, the only feature this unit is missing is the LED work light we find commonly on other units.

All things considered, this is a solid cordless impact driver in all the ways that matter, and comes equipped with a charger and battery so you can get right to work.

Our Take

Another cordless impact driver aimed squarely at the DIY market segment is the Ryobi P235. Building off their popular ONE range of devices powered by their Lithium-ion batteries, Ryobi has added a solid impact driver at a reasonable price point. Also worth noting is the fact this driver will work with older Ni-Cad batteries, which is a nice feature for owners of older Ryobi cordless products.

Getting into it, this is a moderately powerful driver, with 1600in-lbs of torqueing power and 2600RPMs worth of turning speed. That’s a respectable pairing for a machine in this category and puts it in firm competition with the Craftsman, which is another performer in this category. This driver does use an older style brushed motor, which limits its top-end power somewhat and battery efficiency compared to the more modern brushless devices.

Although there isn’t an LED light on this impact driver, there is a clever organization tray to store bits and fasteners on. This tray is fitted with a magnet to prevent things from falling out – and nice little feature. The chuck on this driver is a ¼” hex type, with a one-hand release system for fast and easy bit changes.

Putting it all together, with the P235 you’re looking at a very solid DIY level driver, at a very reasonable price point. It’s a very close competition between this and the Craftsman offering. Both will be great for this type of buyer.

Our Take

Another candidate in the affordable-to-mid range cordless impact wrench category, the Kobalt driver is a compelling option. Not as inexpensive as the BLACK DECKER, this machine incorporates some of the features you’ll find in more expensive drivers at a lower price point.

As always, we’ll start by looking at the basics: it’s ability to get those fastenings in and out. Torque-wise you’ll get 1800in-lbs and 2700 RPMs, which is plenty for a DIY and homeowner type of application. This machine is equipped with 3 speed settings depending on the task you’re working on. That is particularly useful if you anticipate using this for both wood fastenings where you might go faster, and metal bolts where slower speeds are required.

Moving on, this driver has a standard 1/4” hex drive chuck like the others in this review, and a quick release collet for easy bit changes. Not the smallest unit, this device is nonetheless reasonably sized, if a little on the heavy side. Given it’s not targeted at commercial applications, we think that’s probably ok.

In summary, this is a step up from the BLACK DECKER to a slightly more expensive but more powerful tool. If that’s you requirement then we heartily recommend it, and you might also give a little thought to taking the next step up to the DEWALT which is not a great deal pricier.