Most people buy the best cordless impact driver as their first power tool because of its versatility.
But a dedicated impact driver is great for many jobs, and it really makes a building or repairing work effortless.
They are ideal for screwing down plywood or other surfaces, setting up tile backer board, or for many different jobs that need to drive long screws.
For the Covid-19 situation, the impact driver’s market suffered a lot, just like many other markets worldwide. But now they are stirring up the market, taking a long break.
That prompts us to come up with the best cordless impact driver review.
Whether you want the best cordless impact driver for automotive purposes or other household works, we have covered all of them in this article.
We know you could be a mechanic or a DIYer who is looking for a cordless impact driver. We have reviewed both types of products so that you can choose one that is ideal for you.
We have tested all the impact drivers ourselves, along with other 20 cordless drill drivers. We have spent 100 hours reading users’ reviews.
7 Best Cordless Impact Drivers Reviews:
- DeWALT DCF887D2 20V MAX XR
- PORTER-CABLE PCCK647LB 20V MAX Impact Driver Kit
- Makita XDT131 18V LXT Brushless Cordless Impact Driver Kit
- DeWALT DCF887B 20V MAX XR
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel 1/4″ Hex Impact Driver Kit
- BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C 20V MAX Cordless Impact Driver Kit
- DEWALT DCF885C1 20V MAX Impact Driver Kit, 1/4-Inch.
1. DeWALT DCF887D2 20V MAX XR
DeWALT is a well-established name in the power tool industry. The company has been producing a wide range of powerful and innovative tools from its inception.
The DCF887D2 is another impressive tool from the company.
DeWALT DCF887D2 comes with a 1/4″ hex chuck for your driving applications. The cordless impact driver from DeWALT is powered by a brushless motor which means a more efficient and longer life span.
This a Lightweight tool weighing just 7 pounds, and more importantly, very strong. The impact driver shows no issues to drive the screws into wood.
Moreover, the adjustable settings make it very easy to use.
DeWALT DCF887D2 is equipped with three rings LED light system located on the driver’s front area. Many top brands set up the LED light on the diver’s base or just above the trigger.
Putting the LED lights there can deliver a shadow, or when you put your gloves on, you could be completely blacked out. But with this driver, you won’t have to face this kind of trouble.
Plus, the LEDs come with a 20-second delay feature after the trigger release.
The machine has a 3 speed setting for making different applications effortless. The speed selector mode is on the tool’s base, which is very convenient to operate.
The no-load speeds of this driver are 0-1000/ 2,800/ 3,250 RPM with 3,600 ipm.
The driver comes in a compact design; when in hands, the machine’s balance is just perfect.
The lightweight and perfect balance make it an ideal tool to work all day long without hurting your arm or wrist.
The power, compact design, and perfect balance make this one of the best cordless drill drivers in the market.
Key Specifications DCF887D2
- Dimension: 16.22 x 4.5 x 10.1 inches
- Weight: 7 pounds
- Motor: Brushless
- Max. Torque: 2000 Inch Pounds
- Voltage: 20V
- LED Lights: Yes (three)
- Speed Settings: Three
- Max Speed: 3,250 RPM
- Batteries: Not Included (Bare Tool)
- Warranty: 3 Years
2. PORTER-CABLE PCCK647LB 20V MAX Impact Driver Kit
Porter-Cable is not a famous brand like DeWALT, Milwaukee, or Makita.
But, if you are looking for an efficient drill, then the PORTER-CABLE PCCK647LB, one of the best cordless impact drivers is a better choice for you.
Top-class features and a 3-year warranty are definitely an impact driver you should consider.
This best cordless impact driver from Porter-Cable comes with a variable speed setting. Of course, for convenience this a feature that most driver comes with.
A specific variable speed trigger is mandatory for any user to work with ease.
You can control this device’s speed settings with the trigger while the speed can rise to 2,700 RPM. However, Porter-Cable PCCK647LB doesn’t provide IMP. Some other top brands do.
The IPM is enough to deal with almost any household driving application. Besides, the price is more affordable than many other cordless impact drivers from top brands.
Another crucial thing for the best cordless impact drivers is the motor. Thankfully the Porter-Cable comes with a brushless motor like some other top brands such as Milwaukee and Dewalt do.
The brushless motor delivers 50% more runtime than the brushed one. As a result, you can work long enough even with the 1.5AH batteries that come with the cordless impact driver kit.
The driver is compact and ergonomic in design. The tool is 14% shorter in length than the previous version, which makes it easily operatable by any user.
That is why many DIYers and professionals tend to go for the Porter-Cable PCC640B as it is more compact, pretty affordable, and comes with nearly the same features as the drivers from big brands do.
Another essential feature is the LED light which is conveniently placed. The LED light also comes with the feature of 20 seconds delay after the trigger release.
There are LED battery life gauges, a belt clip for easy carrying, and a ¼” quick one-handed bit change.
Key Specifications PORTER-CABLE PCCK647LB
- Dimensions: 11.4 x 3.7 x 9.5 in
- Weight: 2.9 Lbs
- Motor: Brushless
- Max. Torque: 1400 Inch Pounds
- Voltage: 20V
- LED Lights: Yes
- Speed Settings: Three
- Max Speed: 3,400 RPM
- Batteries: Included
- Warranty: 3 Years
3. Makita XDT131 18V LXT Brushless Cordless Impact Driver Kit
As a lithium-ion battery-powered best cordless impact driver, this Makita XDT131 can tackle the most challenging screw driving applications, thanks to its reasonable amount of torque.
The driver is equipped with a brushless motor which provides 50% more runtime over brushed motor and makes the machine more durable.
Makita XDT131 has a variable speed setting ranging up to 3,400 RPM and with an impact rate of up to 3,600 BPM.
Talking about the torque, the brushless motor produces up to 1,500 inch-pounds.
The tool is only 3.3 pounds, so the device is not so heavy or light, which is a perfect balance for convenience and power.
Makita offers a 1-year limited warranty for this tool which will be applied upon defects in workmanship and materials.
However, the manufacturer built this best cordless impact driver with impressive durability features.
So you don’t need to worry about the warranty feature.
The best cordless impact driver runs on BL brushless motor, which adds an extended lifespan to the tool and helps it run quietly.
Moreover, it reduces the requirement to replace carbon brushes constantly.
Besides, the best cordless impact driver comes with an all-aluminum gear housing that makes it perfect for job sites, no matter how challenging they may be.
The best cordless impact driver is a part of the LXT series, known for using Star Protection Computer Controls. The device has protection against overheating, overloading, and over-discharging its battery.
The Makita XDT131 comes with many usability functions worth mentioning. For example, it comes with a soft rubberized grip that allows reducing user fatigue.
In addition, it comes with a single-touch 1/4-inch hex chuck which makes it effortless to change the chuck with one hand.
Key Specifications Makita XDT131
- Dimension: 10.16 x 15.08 x 6.06 inches
- Weight: 7 pounds
- Motor: Brushless
- Max. Torque: 1500 Inch Pounds
- Voltage: 18V
- LED Lights: Yes
- Speed Settings: Two
- Max Speed: 3,400 RPM
- Batteries: Included
- Warranty: 1 Year
4. DeWALT DCF887B 20V MAX XR
This is our second addition from DeWALT as the DeWALT, best cordless impact drivers are certainly one of the most popular drivers in the market.
The DeWALT DCF887B is a popular and highly rated best cordless impact driver from DeWALT.
But how is the performance of this driver?
Certainly not the most important thing, but a vital feature of this impact driver is the three LED lights.
While working with an impact driver, you must have to go into tight spaces, and that’s where the lights will come in handy.
Moreover, the lights stay lit for at least 20 seconds after the trigger releases. So, you don’t have to go dark when working in tight spaces just after pulling the trigger off.
When it comes to motors, DeWALT is one of the top brands in the market. Just like their other powerful power tools, this one comes with a brushless motor.
We assume you know what a brushless motor is. The brushless motor is 50% more efficient than brushed motors, and it makes the device more durable in the long run.
The best cordless impact driver is super easy to use. Weighing only around 2 pounds, and compact design helps you to work in comfort.
You can complete those overhead jobs and work in tight spaces with lots of ease if you have the DeWALT DCF887B driver in your hand.
A Brushless motor delivers efficiency. But, how much power does it bring? Can you do heavy-duty tasks with those brushless motors?
The device comes with a maximum torque of 2000 IN-LBS which is quite enough for any kind of light or heavy-duty driving applications.
In addition, the DeWALT DCF887B generates the highest speed of 3250 RPM.
Another important thing for modern impact drill drivers is the variable speed settings. This DeWALT DCF887B comes with a 3-speed setting which is very handy for precious task management.
With the 3 speed setting, you can go up to 3250, while you also can operate at 1000 and 2800 RPM. Besides, you can use the variable trigger to control the variable speed settings.
The only drawback we can recall about this best cordless impact driver is that it is a bare tool. You won’t get any battery or charger with this tool.
This is not a problem for those who already have other Dewalt products in their home.
However, this is not a very big issue because you can buy any DeWALT 18V battery to run this impact driver.
Key Specifications of DeWALT DCF887B
- Dimensions: 8 x 3 x 5.88 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds (approx.)
- Motor: Brushless
- Max. Torque: 2000 IN-LBS
- Voltage: 18V
- LED Lights: Yes (Three)
- Speed Settings: Three
- Max Speed: 3,250 RPM
- Batteries: Included
- Warranty: 3 Years
5. Milwaukee M12 Fuel 1/4″ Hex Impact Driver Kit
If you are looking for a compact best cordless impact driver kit, then Milwaukee M12 Fuel could be your best pick.
The driver is more compact than you can imagine, and this impact driver comes with all the right driving features.
The compact design of this driver will attract anybody. It comes with a 5 inches length that opens up the floor for doing any jobs in tight spaces.
And you must know with impact driver you have to do works in various challenging situations.
The incredible thing is the performance of this 12V impact driver Milwaukee. The tool looks small, but it is very tough when it comes to the Jobsite.
As you expect, the Milwaukee M12 Fuel driver is powered by a brushless motor which evidently takes the efficiency to the next level.
Moreover, the brushless motor increases the life span of a cordless impact driver. And then, it provides pretty exciting speed that’ll come in handy in a variety of tasks.
The Milwaukee M12 Fuel comes with 3 Speed settings, just like the DeWALT DCF887B. The 3-speed settings are 0-1300 RPM, 0-2400 RPM, and 0-3300 RPM.
To be honest, that is quite a speed for a tool of this length and weight! And you must know the different speed settings that help you to work on various projects effortlessly.
This driver comes with slightly less torque power than some other driver on your list. But, 1300 inch-pounds is enough to complete a wide range of applications, especially in your house.
Another important thing this driver has an additional self-tapping screw mode to reduce breaking or stripping the screws.
The kit comes with a convenient carrying bag, powerful 2.0 ah battery, and charger.
Key Specifications of Milwaukee M12 Fuel
- Dimension: 5 x 15 x 12 inches
- Weight: 1.76 pounds
- Motor: Brushless
- Max. Torque: 1300 Inch pounds
- Voltage: 12V
- LED Lights: Yes (One)
- Speed Settings: Three
- Max Speed: 3,300 RPM
- Batteries: Included
- Warranty: 3 Years upon Online registration.
6. BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C 20V MAX Cordless Impact Driver Kit
Are you on a tight budget and wondering how you are going to purchase a reasonable and compact best cordless impact driver with that? Don’t worry; we did not forget you.
There is the best cordless impact driver for you provided by the renowned power tools brand, BLACK + DECKER. We have got the Black & Decker BDCI20C, our best budget impact driver for you.
This affordable impact driver comes with a price tag lower than many other budget impact drivers In the market.
But still, it has the feature and power that many other impact driver does not possess.
The B&D BDCI20C comes with the compactness you would look for in most DIY works. From the comfortable grip, easy-to-use handle to the lightweight and even compact measurement.
Doing those overhead installations or repairing tasks and going into a tight space, everything is simple when you have Black and Decker BDCI20C 20V max in your hand.
The driver has enough speed for some heavy-duty jobs, which are rare for impact drivers with this price range.
The highest rate of 3000 RPM of this driver is more than sufficient and beats many of its counterparts in the market by quite a margin.
We would have loved it if the driver came with a brushless motor, which certainly increases the best cordless impact driver’s efficiency.
B&D, unfortunately, does not come with such an efficient motor, but the brushed motor of this driver also potent.
So, you would be happy to hear that this driver still provides high performance even without a brushless motor’s efficiency.
It has a torque rating of 1375 inch-pounds, ensuring easy driving through any material.
The Black and Decker BDCI20C comes with one 20v Max Battery and a Charger along with a Screw-driving bit.
For a price like that, this is the most functional best cordless impact driver we have seen so far in the market.
Key Specifications of Black+Decker BDCI20C
- Dimensions: 7.88 x 3 x 9 inches
- Weight: 3.45 pounds
- Motor: Brushed
- Max. Torque: 1375 Inch pounds
- Voltage: 20V
- LED Lights: Yes (One)
- Speed Settings: None
- Max Speed: 3,000 RPM
- Batteries: Included
- Warranty: 2 Years
7. DEWALT DCF885C1 20V MAX Impact Driver Kit, 1/4-Inch.
DeWALT DCF885c1 20v max ¼-inch cordless impact driver is a top-rated driver on the market and obviously one of the best cordless impact drivers within the budget.
This is another piece of gem from the brand we all power tools lovers love.
DeWALT DCF8885C1 is not as compact as some other budget impact drivers. The tool still delivers the compactness you will need for completing those challenging tasks in tight spaces.
The driver is only 5.5 inches and weighing 2.8 lbs. With those measurements, we can say with no doubt that with this drill doing any kind of challenging task is possible effortlessly.
Unlike DeWALT DCF887B, this kit comes with a battery and charger. The battery life of a 1.5AH battery is perfect performs excellently.
Moreover, you’ll love the fast charger that comes with this DeWALT DCF885C1 as it charges the battery in no time.
DeWALT DCF885C1’s speed and torque power are slightly less. But, the speed of 2800 RPM and up to 1400 inch-pounds torque power is not that less, we guess, and you can do most of your household works with that speed and torque.
It comes with LED lights that work similarly to the ones on the DeWALT DCF887B. The light keeps the working area illuminated for 20 seconds after you release the trigger.
This feature is handy when you are working in a low-light situation.
The grip is comfortable, and you won’t hurt your hand using it for a long time. DeWALT also offers a 3-year warranty for this device.
If you are on a budget and looking for the best cordless impact driver for your household works, we definitely recommend this tool from one of the leaders in the power tools industry, DeWALT.
Key Specifications
- Dimensions: 5.55 x 9 x 3 inches
- Weight: 2.8 pounds
- Motor: Brushed
- Max. Torque: 1400 Inch pounds
- Voltage: 20V
- LED Lights: Three (One)
- Speed Settings: None
- Max Speed: 2,800 RPM
- Batteries: Included
- Warranty: 3 Years
Buying Guide for Best Cordless Impact Driver.
Are you still confused? Let us help you a little more. Purchasing the best cordless impact driver for the first time can be overwhelming. That’s why we prepared a buying guide for you.
After reading this guide, you will be able to learn what things you should look for when you are buying the best cordless impact driver.
Torque
The torque rating tells you for which purpose you can use an impact driver.
For a longer screw, you would need more torque power. Various Impact drivers have different torque ratings from below 1000 inch-pounds up to a massive 2000 inch-pounds.
Which torque is best for you mainly depends on the work you will perform with the driver.
If you are planning on performing simple tasks with the impact driver, you should not go for 2000 inch pounds. It would be like bringing a gun to kill an insect.
Motor
Do you want your driver to run longer? Don’t wanna spend time with a maintenance job? Don’t want the pain of overheating? Then you should go for a brushless motor.
Most of our picks are powered by a brushless motor, making the tool a little expensive but offers the best performance. A Brushless motor provides 50% more efficiency than a brushed one.
Moreover, brushless motors increase the lifespan of the driver. Extended life span, more efficiency, and literally zero maintenance are what a brushless motor offers you.
So, we highly recommend you purchase the best cordless impact driver with a brushless motor if you are not on a tight budget.
Voltage
If you want to distinguish the impact driver’s power from different drivers, voltage is the best way to do that.
The process is straightforward. The higher the voltage, the most powerful your impact driver is.
But the question should be, how many volts do you really need?
Most of you are not going to perform heavy-duty applications with your impact driver, right?
A simple 12V impact driver like Milwaukee M12 Fuel can easily tackle most medium-duty screw driving tasks.
But, 18 volts will undoubtedly generate more power. And, if you are planning on some heavy-duty task, you can go for an 18V impact driver.
Speed
We all love speed, and while working on a project, we want to finish that as quickly as possible. But for the best cordless impact driver, we will not look for speed only.
We will also look for the speed settings.
There’s no alternative to a variable speed setting with a variable speed trigger. This triggers different speeds you’d need to complete multiple types of work.
Because you will never need the highest rate for every task you are undertaking.
A speed trigger allows you to drive screws quickly in different materials, from softwood to hard metal.
Impact driver comes with different types of various speed settings. There are 2-speed settings and 3-speed settings. You can select any of them as per your demand.
Compact Design
With a cordless impact driver, you will definitely have to reach tight spaces and work in different kinds of challenging situations. That is why you should confirm that you are buying the most compact impact driver.
Luckily for you, most cordless impact drivers do come in a compact size. Most of them are small in size, lightweight and comfortable to work with.
Another suggestion, look for a rubberized soft handle. This increases comfort, and you will be able to work without feeling any anxiety or fatigue after working for a long time.
Battery
Ah, or Amp per hour tells you how much energy a battery can hold.
But if you are thinking, how do I know which tool has the most battery life, there is no straightforward answer for that.
The fact that the best cordless impact driver batteries depend on the type of work you are performing with the device.
If you are performing heavy-duty tasks, the battery life will be less, and if you are doing a light-duty DIY job, you will get extended battery life.
Many impact drivers come with a locking control and forward-reverse option. The feature helps you to stop the battery from draining charge after you push the trigger accidentally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I Do About the Noise?
Unfortunately, nothing. You should wear heavy earmuffs to protect your air.
Can I use My Impact Driver as a Substitute For A Hammer Drill?
Even though impact drivers can generate tremendous power, the power is never enough to perform a hammer drill.
What are ½ and ¼ impact drivers?
½ impact drivers are ideal for doing wheels. But, the ¼ is the most common and useful for most DIY works.
Do All Best Cordless Impact Drivers Come With Different Speed Settings?
The Best Cordless Impact Drivers come in a wide range of various speed settings. But not all impact drivers come with the feature.
Conclusion
The best cordless impact drivers are handy for DIY tasks and professionals. These tools are versatile and can perform so many jobs from home and outside.
We hope the list we provided will help you to find the best cordless impact driver for your DIY or professional projects.
Those who plan to purchase an impact driver for the first time can read our FAQ guide to clear his/her concept on impact drivers.
We will bring more power tool reviews in the future. Until then, goodbye. Happy driving with your new best cordless impact driver.