Whether you are a lover of DIY projects or just someone who loves to maintain and build things, it’s likely that you’ve faced a few problems and delays when trying to drive multiple screws into hard and rough surfaces.
Who really has the time to manually drive a 14-inch screw into their house deck? And all those hours it takes to build the kids a treehouse? Well, not anymore.
A cordless impact driver is specifically designed and manufactured to help you drive long or short screws into different kinds of surfaces, including wood, metal, plastic, and more. This tool will make sure that driving and fastening screws is quick and effortless.
In this review, we discuss 6 of the best cordless impact drivers on the market to help you buy one for yourself!
1. GALAX PRO 20V Lithium-Ion 1/4″ Hex Cordless Impact Driver
Starting with its build quality and specifications, the ergonomic handle provides the user with an easy and enjoyable grip, and high standard rubber and plastic provide extreme durability.
It has an impact rate (IPM) of up to 3,000, which makes it popular and efficient in driving screws. It’s also capable of reaching up to 2,800 revolutions per minute (RPM), which exceeds the rate of many other cordless drivers. With this kind of RPM, you won’t be wasting extra time while driving screws.
While easy to use and change out bits, the driver’s included 1.3 Ah power battery might not be the strongest for your needs.
Specifications
- Impact rate: 0 – 3,000 IPM
- Revolutions per minute: 0 – 2,800 RPM
- Voltage: 20V
- Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.3 x 3 inches
- Weight: 2.3 pounds
- Function: Used for driving screws in and out of surfaces
- Brand: Galax Pro
Pros
- High durability
- Good IPM and RPM
- Comfortable design
- comes with a battery and charger
- Includes 6 bits
Cons
- Lacks high power torque
- Does not provide a high amperage battery
- Only compatible with hexagonal bits
- Requires more charge hours
2. MAKITA 18V LXT Brushless Cordless Impact Driver Kit
This beast provides you with an extreme power range of up to 3,600 IPM and 3,400 RPM, ensuring that screws reach their final destination, which may need to be pretty deep inside a surface. With this kind of energy and speed, you won’t need to apply even the tiniest bit of pressure, because this cordless impact driving monster also comes with a torque of 1,500 inch-pounds.
It has a built-in brushless motor that makes sure the engine doesn’t overheat, providing you with maximum safety and no delays. The motor also proves to be exceptional in power optimization – it makes sure that the battery has a 50% longer run time.
Specifications
- Impact rate: 0 – 3,600 IPM
- Revolutions per minute: 0 – 3,400 RPM
- Voltage: 18V
- Dimensions:10.16 x 15.08 x 6.06 inches
- Weight: 7 pounds
- Function: Used for driving screws in and out of surfaces
- Brand: Makita
Pros
- Extremely powerful RPM and IPM
- Offers good durability
- Maximizes charge and run times
- Uses low voltage but provides higher power
- Instilled with the latest motor technology
- Includes 3.0 Ah battery, charger, and tool bag
Cons
- Does not come with any bits
- More expensive than other drivers
- Only compatible with hexagonal bits
3. MAKITA 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Impact Driver, Tool Only
With a maximum RPM of 2,900 and a max IPM of 3,500, this product provides decent speed and power based on 18 volts, great for your DIY projects. It also uses a 4-pole motor, which is the latest in technology for producing better RPM without reducing the torque.
It comes in a sleek and beautifully built ergonomic design, which provides comfort, accessibility and durability. Also made with easy bit-changing in mind, this driver is another excellent option to consider.
Specifications
- Impact rate: 0 – 3,500 IPM
- Revolutions per minute: 0 – 2,900 RPM
- Voltage: 18V
- Dimensions: 3.62 x 6.18 x 8.82 inches
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
- Function: Used for driving screws in and out of surfaces
- Brand: Makita
Pros
- Highly durable
- Fair RPM and IPM
- Extremely lightweight
- Latest innovated motor
- Ergonomic design
Cons
- Does not include a battery, charger, or tool bag
- Only compatible with hexagonal bits
- Not the best choice for high-power driving
- Low voltage
4. MAKITA 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Sub-Compact Brushless Cordless Impact Driver
The compact and ergonomic design is built for use in compact spaces, with ease and comfort in mind. With variable speed ranging from 0 to 1,300 and 0 to 3,000 IPM, this driver will surely prove to be useful for many fastening purposes. The RPM also ranges from 0 to 1,600 and 0 to 3,900 according to your needs.
The assist mode feature helps to prevent common problems when fastening screws into a surface, like screw cam-out and cross-threading. All in all, this driver is another great option from Makita.
Specifications
- Impact rate: 0 – 1,300 and 0 – 3,000 IPM
- Revolutions per minute: 0 – 1,600 and 0 – 3,900 RPM
- Voltage: 18V
- Dimensions: 3.4 x 8.2 x 6.4 inches
- Weight: 2.15 pounds
- Function: Used for driving screws in and out of surfaces
- Brand: Makita
Pros
- Comes with variable speed and a range of IPM and RPM
- Compact and lightweight
- Sleek and ergonomic design
- Includes an assist mode to reduce errors
Cons
- Does not include a battery or charger
- Only compatible with hexagonal bits
- Does not come with any bits
- Might not provide the maximum power
5. SKIL 20V ¼-Inch Hex Cordless Impact Driver
The specifications of this product’s battery will ensure that you won’t have to worry about charging it over and over again, providing you with a longer and worry-free usage. Furthermore, the battery is instilled with an automatic cooling system, and the battery cells are wrapped in a cooling material to prevent any overheating that might delay your task.
This product comes with a fair amount of firepower, meaning it will easily penetrate any dense surfaces thanks to its torque power of 1,100 inch-pounds. Don’t count this product out!
Specifications
- Impact rate: 0 – 3,200 IPM
- Revolutions per minute: 0 – 2,500 RPM
- Voltage: 20 V
- Dimensions: 6.02 x 2.80 x 7.52 inches
- Weight: 4.14 pounds
- Function: Used for driving screws in and out of surfaces
- Brand: Skil
Pros
- Has a long battery life
- Uses the latest patented cooling system
- Good amount of IPM and RPM
- An easy to use and operate design
- In-built direction indicators
- 5-year limited warranty
Cons
- More expensive than other drivers
- Does not come with any bits
- Might not be the best product for heavy usage
6. SKIL PWRCore 12 Brushless ¼-Inch Hex Cordless Impact Driver
This product is available in 3 package options – a full kit with a PWR jump charger, a standard kit, and the impact driver tool on its own. For this review, will focus on the features of the full kit with the PWR jump charger.
The kit comes with 2 lithium-ion batteries of 2.0 Ah with 12 PW core technology, made to last longer and to provide an extremely fast full charge time of 45 minutes (charging 25% in only 5 minutes). The battery is also instilled with cooling technology and is USB chargeable.
The power specifications of this driver are pretty nice as well. With a torque of 1,100 inch-pounds and an RPM range of 0 to 1,600/2,600, this product is a fine choice for any project.
Specifications
- Impact rate: 0 – 2,500/3,000 IPM
- Revolutions per minute: 0 – 1,600/2,600 RPM
- Voltage: 20V
- Dimensions: 7.56 x 2.64 x 5.83 inches
- Weight: 4.52 pounds
- Function: Used for driving screws in and out of surfaces
- Brand: Skil
Pros
- Exceptional battery specifications
- Good RPM and IPM ranges
- USB chargeable device
- Controlled torque speed
- 5x brighter in-built light
- Compact and comfortable design
Cons
- Only compatible with hexagonal bits
- More expensive than other drivers
- Lower torque rate compared to competitors
Buying Guide for Cordless Impact Drivers
Still need some help choosing from the above products? Read on for a quick breakdown of our favorites from the bunch.
The Power House: Makita 18V LXT Brushless Cordless Impact Driver Kit
If you are looking to drive screws or fasten objects that require a lot of power and speed, this is the right product for you. Built for power driving, this product is a beast with its 1,500 inch-pounds torque pressure. It will make sure to successfully drive all your screws into any surface you want.
The Battery King: SKIL PWRCore Brushless Hex Cordless Impact Driver
Killing the battery game with its amazing features, this product is the right choice for you if you want fast charging, a long battery life, and a quality build, all in one product. It shoots up to 25% charged in just 5 minutes, and the latest 12 PWR core technology makes sure that the battery lasts longer than standard drivers.
The All-Around Best: MAKITA 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Impact Driver, Tool Only
This product is the best for all domestic users, aka the DIY lovers, as well as for people who are looking to get their hands on several different specifications all in one place. This product is built for easy and comfortable usage with its ergonomic design, and provides pretty decent power and RPM.
Conclusion
Cordless impact drivers have proved to be revolutionary products in the power tool industry, and you should get your hands on at least one of them. These products will not only save you quite a lot of time and money in the long run, but will also provide you great experiences on all of your projects.
We hope that you are now able to make a well-informed decision after analysing all the products on this list. Pick the best cordless impact driver for yourself and keep on driving those screws!