13 Best Impact Drivers [Tested and Reviewed]

The biggest advantage to battery powered models is their ease of use. With no cord to get in the way, you can get the job done even in high or hard-to-reach areas. While there is the added caveat that they need to be charged, the benefit of being able to work outside where there aren't any outlets can't be overstated.

Cordless impact drivers do cost more than corded ones, but the battery can be shared among other tools as long as they require the same voltage. So you could technically only buy one battery and then save on costs when buying other power tools, making up for the investment.

There can occasionally be differences in the shape or terminals on batteries for different tools, so it's best to check the serial number and model before you make any decisions.

Different batteries have different electric current and voltage standards, with current values falling between 1.5 and 6.0Ah, and voltage between 12 and 18V. Models with a higher current hold more electricity, and those with a higher voltage deliver more power.

During our tests on battery life, even the model with the lowest current of 1.5Ah was able to drive over 40 screws and 32 bolts. We can safely say that you won't have to worry about running out of juice if you're putting together a simple shelf or table, no matter what impact driver you choose.

If you'll be putting together relatively large structures like a wood deck or fence, choose a battery that holds a long charge. Batteries with a higher current last longer, so we recommend one with at least 4.0Ah.

In our tests, we found that Milwaukee's M18 FUEL 1/4-Inch Hex Impact Driver XC Kit 2853-22 had the longest battery life, driving 251 deck screws and 244 wheel lug nuts on a single charge. If a driver can handle over 350 screws and bolts, there's no need to worry about running out of battery in the middle of a big DIY project.

In addition, we calculated how many screws and bolts could be secured for each 1.0Ah of current. For those who plan on buying a battery separately, it's best to choose the one that can drive the most screws for each 1.0Ah.

If you're mainly dealing with one-inch-thick planks or plywood, any product on the market will provide you with enough power. Differences in torque and rotation speed won't make a difference when driving in short screws. Say you're driving one-and-a-quarter-inch-long screws. A difference in rotation speed would only save you 0.12 seconds. That isn't enough to affect your work performance.

For projects like wood decks and fences, every screw counts if you want to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time. We found that impact drivers with torque over 1,600 in-lbs. and rotation speeds over 3,200 rpm were generally able to drive three-and-a-half-inch screws within one and a half seconds.

Interestingly, we didn't notice any difference in performance related to voltage. As long as your impact driver has at least 18V you shouldn't have any problems.

While testing various products, we found that an impact driver that weighed three pounds or less including the battery didn't tire us out even when holding it with one hand.

Models over three pounds, however, were a burden if we weren't holding them with both hands. Since batteries with a higher current are heavier, people who don't want a workout while working should choose a battery with a current between 1.5 and 3.0Ah.

A compact tool is easier to work with, and the size of the head on an impact driver is a major factor. Models with shorter heads are easier to fit in between walls and other tight spaces.

Those with a head five and a quarter inches long or shorter allowed us to get into cramped spots and work uninhibited. Products with shorter heads also tend to have their weight distributed more evenly and allow you to look more closely at the screw you're working on, which makes the job that much easier.

The speed or mode setting will automatically control the torque. By default torque is controlled with the trigger on the body, but if you turn on the speed or mode setting it will handle how much torque is applied automatically.

If you're driving screws into delicate material like finished surfaces or plaster, you need to keep the torque in check so as to not damage the material. For those who aren't used to controlling it manually with the trigger, we recommend starting out with this feature turned on so that you don't accidentally tighten the screws too firmly or damage your material.

For models equipped with them, enabling self-tapping screw mode or quick-shift mode will also adjust the torque depending on the type of screw and material you're using. Look for one that offers speed and mode settings if you plan on working with a variety of material types.

A battery indicator is a light or screen showing how much charge is left on your battery. Cordless impact drivers won't perform as well when the battery starts to get low, so it's ideal to keep the charge high to bring out their true power.

People who use impact drivers on the job will often keep two batteries, so that when one starts to run low, the other is charged and ready to go. But you'll generally find that most sets only come with one battery.

Being able to see how much charge is left on a battery allows you to keep a full charge before starting a project. It would be inconvenient to start a job with only half a charge or less and then need to stop halfway through, so we definitely recommend choosing a model that has a battery indicator on the body.

Of the products we tested, the only two that came with both speed or mode settings and battery indicators were Milwaukee's M18 FUEL 2853-22 and Kobalt's 24-Volt Max KID 1324A-03. Both of these products cost over 100 dollars, but the multi-speed RYOBI Keyless Chuck Impact Driver P237 and Porter Cable's CABLE 20V MAX PCCK647LB with a battery indicator are both under 100 dollars.

We suggest you choose an impact driver with both a speed or mode setting and a battery indicator if you're willing to spend over 100 dollars.

Having an LED light on your impact driver is convenient for those times when your job goes into the night and you need to see what you're doing in the dark. Nearly all models are equipped with LED lights now, so all you need to do is choose one that's sufficiently bright.

While comparing products, we discovered that there is actually a significant difference between the brightness of LEDs on different models. Of course, brightness isn't the only spec you'll want to look at on an LED; there are also differences in the spread of light produced as well as its warmth. We found that lights with at least 600 lux were sufficiently bright. One lux is equal to one lumen per square meter.

Check the pictures we included in our ranking of each product being used in dark spots and compare them to the actual brightness specs given by the makers to help choose a product that works for you.

Choose a model with a belt hook if you plan on working on the roof or need to apply crown molding. You can keep your impact driver attached to your belt if it has a belt hook, so you can use both hands to safely climb stepladders. It's also helpful if you have other materials you need to carry around with both hands while working.

Make sure to check whether the product you plan to buy has a belt hook if you frequently work in high areas. If the impact driver you want doesn't have one, there's also the option of buying a separate holster.

Products with a quick-change hex allow for bits to be changed simply by sliding them onto the hex. This is different from standard impact drivers, which usually require that the hex be pulled forward to attach or remove the bit. By choosing a model with a quick-change hex, you can easily slide bits on and off without having to pull on the hex. If your project entails a wide variety of tasks, having an impact driver with a quick-change hex will make it that much easier to get the job done.

There are also some models that will push the bit off with a spring when you pull on the hex, so that you don't have to touch it with your hand. It's technically faster than models that require you to pull the bit off by hand, so look for one that allows for one-touch bit changing if possible.