Best Impact Driver 2026: 5 Cordless Picks Compared
WriterPickly Editorial
Updated 2026-10-05
An impact driver sinks a 3-inch deck screw that would stall a drill and twist your wrist. Which one to buy depends mostly on the batteries you already own, and on whether the price includes one.
Quick answer
The DEWALT DCF887B is the impact driver to buy for most homes: 1,825 in-lbs of rated torque, three speed settings, a 2 lb bare weight, and a tool-only price near $129 if you already own 20V MAX batteries. Makita's XDT14Z is the shortest-feeling alternative on 18V LXT, Milwaukee's 2953-20 is the strongest and most compact at a higher price, SKIL's ID6739B-10 is the cheapest complete kit, and CRAFTSMAN's CMCF810C1 is the simple hardware-store kit for occasional jobs.
We did not run our own testing on these impact drivers. A fair comparison needs a torque rig, a timed fastening test in consistent lumber and a sound meter, none of which we have. What we did instead: took torque, speed, impact rate, length, weight and kit contents from each manufacturer's product page, checked current prices at US retailers on October 4, 2026, and read owner reviews in volume. From those reviews we kept only complaints that repeat and are specific, such as collets that stop holding bits, triggers that fail and batteries that fade early. Torque figures are manufacturer claims and each brand measures them its own way.
🏆 Best overall: The DCF887B is the pick because it balances power, control and price better than the rest. DEWALT rates it at 1,825 in-lbs, 3,250 RPM and 3,600 impacts per minute, with three speeds, and the bare tool weighs 2 lbs.
Top picks ↓Related articles
1★ Best Pick🏆 Best overallDEWALT 20V MAX XR 1/4-inch 3-Speed Impact Driver (DCF887B, Tool Only)
The B suffix means tool only. DCF887D2 is the kit with two 2.0Ah batteries.
The DCF887B is the pick because it balances power, control and price better than the rest. DEWALT rates it at 1,825 in-lbs, 3,250 RPM and 3,600 impacts per minute, with three speeds, and the bare tool weighs 2 lbs. It was listed at $129 when we checked. It is an older design, so it is longer than the Milwaukee, and it arrives without a battery or charger.
Pros
- ✓1,825 in-lbs with three speed settings
- ✓2 lb bare weight
- ✓Large 20V MAX tool range
Cons
- ✗No battery or charger included
- ✗Longer body than newer compact models
DEWALT 20V MAX XR 1/4-inch 3-Speed Impact Driver (DCF887B, Tool Only)
2⭐ Best controlMakita 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 3-Speed Impact Driver (XDT14Z, Tool Only)
Z means tool only. Makita also sells this driver in a kit with two batteries.
The XDT14Z is rated at 1,550 in-lbs and 3,600 RPM, and Makita lists it at 4-5/8 inches long. Quick-Shift Mode lowers speed automatically as a screw seats, which helps on cabinet and trim work. It was listed at $169 as a bare tool. That is $40 more than the DEWALT for less rated torque, so it makes sense mainly if you already own 18V LXT batteries.
Pros
- ✓Quick-Shift Mode eases screws home
- ✓Short 4-5/8-inch body
- ✓Broad 18V LXT platform
Cons
- ✗Lowest torque per dollar here
- ✗Tool only; battery and charger extra
Makita 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 3-Speed Impact Driver (XDT14Z, Tool Only)
3💪 Most powerfulMilwaukee M18 FUEL 1/4-inch Hex Impact Driver (2953-20, Tool Only)
The -20 suffix is the bare tool. Kits with batteries carry a different suffix.
The 2953-20 has the highest ratings in this group: 2,000 in-lbs and 3,900 RPM, in a body Milwaukee measures at 4.47 inches. It has four drive modes and weighs 2.2 lbs bare. At $179 without a battery it is also the most expensive tool here, and M18 batteries are not cheap. For hanging shelves a few times a year, that power goes unused.
Pros
- ✓2,000 in-lbs and 3,900 RPM
- ✓Shortest body at 4.47 inches
- ✓Four drive modes
Cons
- ✗Highest price, with no battery
- ✗More tool than light home use needs
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/4-inch Hex Impact Driver (2953-20, Tool Only)
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4💰 Best value kitSKIL PWR CORE 20 Brushless 20V 1/4-inch Compact Impact Driver USB-C Kit (ID6739B-10)
Kit includes one 2.0Ah USB-C battery, a 45W charger, belt clip and one bit.
The ID6739B-10 costs $79.99 on SKIL's own site and includes a 2.0Ah battery and a 45W USB-C charger. SKIL rates the brushless motor at 1,800 in-lbs, and Control Mode slows the tool as a fastener tightens. The battery charges over USB-C and can also charge a phone. SKIL's 20V range is much smaller than DEWALT's or Milwaukee's, which limits what you can add later.
Pros
- ✓Complete kit for $79.99
- ✓1,800 in-lbs rated torque
- ✓Battery charges over USB-C
Cons
- ✗Small 20V tool range
- ✗Only one 2.0Ah battery
SKIL PWR CORE 20 Brushless 20V 1/4-inch Compact Impact Driver USB-C Kit (ID6739B-10)
5🔧 Simple starter kitCRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Brushless 1/4-inch Impact Driver Kit (CMCF810C1)
C1 is the kit with one 1.5Ah battery. Confirm the price on the listing; we could not verify it.
The CMCF810C1 is a plain brushless kit with a 1.5Ah battery, a charger and a storage bag. CRAFTSMAN rates it at 1,500 in-lbs, 2,800 RPM and 3,500 impacts per minute, and lists the tool at 2.05 lbs. It has the lowest speed and the longest body in this group at 5-1/2 inches, and the 1.5Ah pack runs down quickly on a long job. We could not confirm a current price.
Pros
- ✓Battery, charger and bag included
- ✓Light at 2.05 lbs bare
- ✓V20 tools are easy to find in stores
Cons
- ✗Slowest here at 2,800 RPM
- ✗Small 1.5Ah battery
- ✗5-1/2-inch body is long
CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Brushless 1/4-inch Impact Driver Kit (CMCF810C1)
Product details →What an impact driver does that a drill cannot
A drill turns with steady force. An impact driver adds thousands of small rotational hammer blows per minute once the screw resists. Those blows drive long screws and lag bolts without the tool twisting in your hand, which is why deck builders reach for one first.
The trade-offs are real. There is no clutch, so small brass screws and soft pine are easy to overdrive. The collet takes 1/4-inch hex-shank bits only. And the hammering is loud enough that hearing protection is sensible for more than a few screws.
If you own no cordless tools yet, buy a drill/driver first and add an impact driver on the same batteries later. If you already have a drill, the impact driver is the tool that makes fence, deck and framing jobs quick.
Tool-only or kit: where the real cost sits
Three of the five models here are sold bare, with no battery and no charger. That is cheap only if you already own that brand's packs. A starter battery and charger often cost as much as the tool, so a $129 bare driver can become a $250 purchase.
The SKIL and CRAFTSMAN come as kits with one battery, a charger and little else to buy. For a first cordless tool on a budget, that makes them cheaper in practice than any of the three bare tools.
The table lists what each maker states. Prices are US retailer listings checked on October 4, 2026 and will move; where we could not confirm a current price, the cell says so.
| Model | Rated torque | Sold as | Price seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEWALT DCF887B | 1,825 in-lbs | Tool only | $129 |
| Makita XDT14Z | 1,550 in-lbs | Tool only | $169 |
| Milwaukee 2953-20 | 2,000 in-lbs | Tool only | $179 |
| SKIL ID6739B-10 | 1,800 in-lbs | Kit, one 2.0Ah battery | $79.99 |
| CRAFTSMAN CMCF810C1 | 1,500 in-lbs | Kit, one 1.5Ah battery | Not confirmed |
Read the torque column as a rough guide, not a ranking. All five figures are far beyond what a 3-inch wood screw needs, and brands do not share one test method.
Torque numbers matter less than speed control
For household work, the useful difference is how well the tool goes slowly. A driver with only one full-power setting will snap small screws and strip cabinet hardware. Multiple speed settings fix that.
The DEWALT has three speeds. The Makita has three plus Quick-Shift Mode, which lets the electronics back off speed as the screw seats. The Milwaukee has four drive modes. The SKIL has a Control Mode that senses the fastener tightening and slows to reduce cam-out. CRAFTSMAN lists no mode selector for the CMCF810, so control comes from the trigger alone.
Top speed ranges from 2,800 RPM on the CRAFTSMAN to 3,900 RPM on the Milwaukee. You will notice that gap when driving a few hundred deck screws, and hardly at all on a shelf bracket.
Size, weight and what tends to fail
Short tools fit between studs and inside cabinets. Milwaukee states 4.47 inches front to back for the 2953-20, and Makita states 4-5/8 inches for the XDT14Z. CRAFTSMAN lists 5-1/2 inches for the CMCF810, which is long by current standards.
Bare weights are close: DEWALT lists 2 lbs, CRAFTSMAN 2.05 lbs and Milwaukee 2.2 lbs. The battery changes the feel more than the tool does. A compact 2.0Ah pack keeps any of these easy to hold overhead; a 5.0Ah pack adds roughly a pound.
In owner reviews across brands, the repeated failures are the same three. Collets wear and stop gripping bits, triggers lose their variable range, and small kit batteries lose capacity within a couple of years. Check what the warranty covers for the battery separately, because it is usually shorter than the tool's.
How these picks were chosen
We limited the list to brushless 18V and 20V models that are widely sold online in the US. Ryobi and RIDGID are left out because their tools are sold mainly through one retail chain.
Recommendations are editorial. No brand paid for placement, and the links on this page are affiliate links that may earn Pickly a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can an impact driver replace a drill?▼
Is 1,500 in-lbs enough for deck screws and lag bolts?▼
Do I need impact-rated bits?▼
How loud is an impact driver?▼
Will a DEWALT battery fit the CRAFTSMAN?▼
Is a brushless motor worth paying for?▼
Why is the Makita XDT16 not on the list?▼
Check the details of the products in this article
- DEWALT 20V MAX XR 1/4-inch 3-Speed Impact Driver (DCF887B, Tool Only)$129Reference price
- Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/4-inch Hex Impact Driver (2953-20, Tool Only)$179Reference price
- SKIL PWR CORE 20 Brushless 20V 1/4-inch Compact Impact Driver USB-C Kit (ID6739B-10)$79.99Reference price
Prices change. Check the retailer for the current price.
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