Cordless Impact Drivers 2022, Buying Guide and Recommended Models
The cordless impact driver is a real “jack of all trades” tool that any homeowner or hobbyist should certainly have in the tool box. The impact is great for everything; automotive, working in wood or metal, repairing household items, and more. check out the rest of the article to ensure that you’ll get an impact driver that will handle whatever you need it for.
Build quality
Not all tool brands are created equal, injection quality on plastic parts, switch and metal component quality, and general durability vary wildly from brand to brand. As it stands today Milwaukee, Makita and Dewalt all deliver excellent quality in most respects. There are other brands that deliver a more premium product, but the price relegates them to niche professional use only.
Power
The power an impact driver can produce varies almost as much as the build quality. Cordless impacts work by using a rotating hammer mechanism that strikes an “anvil” part inside of the drive mechanism on the tool. This anvil is in turn connected to the hex chuck of the tool to hold an assortment of bits. Variables like the size of the hammer, number of contact points between it and the anvil, and the motor’s RPM and power all affect the impact’s ability to drive a fastener.
Battery
Battery size is measured in Amp hours (or aH). The voltage of the system I measured in Volts and is usually printed on the side of the battery. A 1.5aH or 2aH battery is plenty of juice for home repair and most DIY projects. 3aH and higher batteries are heavier, but have the required power for more industrial or professional applications.
Accessories, Battery System
The last consideration we’ll outline when looking into purchasing an impact driver is the available range of tools that share a battery with the impact driver. Most of the major brands have a wide range of tools for their 18 or 20 volt systems. From caulk guns to lawn mowers and everything in between, the batteries that come with your impact driver will power a lot of tools if you decide to purchase them down the line. Smaller voltage systems tend to have a smaller range of tools they can power, but some like Milwaukee’s 12v FUEL system has an absurd number of tools in the line.
Since the impact driver or drill are often the first tools many buy when starting a collection of cordless tools, it’s important to look into the capabilities of the system you buy into and be sure it will provide the power and variability you’ll need in the future.
Now that we know what to look for in a cordless impact, here’s our recommendations.
Makita’s full size impact driver is a real workhorse of a tool. These are built very well and are honestly hard to kill. Trust me, I’ve tried. Dropped off a roof, fell from a moving truck, and generally used and abused. These just keep going. This particular kit comes with two 4aH batteries and a handy carrying case. Makita also has one of the largest systems of tools for their 18v platform, so you’ve got plenty of room to expand.
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Here we have the Bosch Impact in the 18v line. These impacts have great build quality and features, I especially like the trigger switch, it has a great action and provides fine control. with an extra battery and case, this is a very capable set.
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The Metabo impact is a great entry level option for someone who still wants the full size form factor. At close to half the brice of the Makita, this set still possess adequate power and the ability to change the power of the impacts, which is a nice feature. You do lose some of the build quality you’ll find in more expensive models, but in all honesty this one will be more than serviceable for the weekend warrior or occasional DIY’r.
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This 12v system impact from Milwaukee is a great compact option. With power comparable to some full size drivers, what this driver lacks in size it makes up for in power. for some jobs (like automotive or cabinetry work) the small size can actually be very nice. As was mentioned in the buying guide above, this M12 system from Milwaukee has a wild number of tools in it, so you’ll have plenty of room to grow.
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This Dewalt set is a great option for the homeowner, and would make a great gift. the impact itself is more than capable of doing everything you’d need around the house, and also has a more compact battery making it lighter and more maneuverable in tight spaces. it also comes with a 40 piece bit set, so it has everything you need to get started right away, making gifting easy.
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By far my #1 recommendation for cordless impacts is the last on our list today. This is Makita’s sub compact model impact driver. Where other small impacts fall short is on power, this driver still uses Makita’s 18v system while maintaining a super compact form factor. This makes it nearly as powerful as their full size model, while being super easy to use in small spaces. In addition to the power, the 18v system gives you a wide range of other tools that you can use your batteries with. a built in light and impact power controls round out this package.
