Are you in the market for a high-quality power impact driver, but you don’t want to spend hours searching through Amazon or walking around your local hardware store?
Well then, today is your lucky day because you have found our best impact driver review list.
In this article we will be reviewing five really good impact drivers, you just have to pick which one you like best. If we had to recommend one, we would recommend picking the SKIL PWRCore 12 Brushless 12V 1/4 Inch Hex Cordless Impact Driver.
Some of The Best Impact Driver in 2019
Best Impact Driver Reviews:
Bosch IDH182B Bare-Tool Brushless Socket- Ready Impact Driver
To properly start off our best impact driver review list, we want to review the Bosch IDH182B Bare-Tool Brushless Socket- Ready Impact Driver. Bosch always makes amazing power tools, and this impact driver is definitely no exception to that trend. It is an extremely useful and well-made tool that will be at home in the tool sheds of both amateurs and professionals alike.
Bosch tools are known for having very high-quality components, such as reliable motors, and the IDH182B is a great example of this. The impact driver is equipped with a brushless motor. The brushless motor on this impact driver is great for a few reasons.
Firstly, brushless motors provide the absolute best performance. Secondly, brushless motors last a lot longer than regular motors. In fact, a brushless motor will almost always last twice as long as a regular motor. Finally, brushless motors require far less maintenance than regular motors.
The result of having this high-quality motor is a very high torque output. Now, we will talk more about torque output and why it is important later on in our buying guide, but needless to say, it is very important. The torque output of the Bosch is around 1650 inches per pound (often written as in/lbs.). That makes it one of the more powerful impact drivers on the market today.
Finally, it is also a very easy impact driver to use. The handle is small and ergonomic, which makes it a lot easier to use. Likewise, there are three different speed settings and three different torque settings to make use of as well. So, not only is it an extremely easy impact driver to use, but it is also a very versatile one to boot.
Really the only annoying thing about this Bosch impact driver that we would mention is that it doesn’t come with a battery. This isn’t a huge deal, but it is a bit annoying as it means that you have to pay extra for a battery (which can be pricey) and it means you also have to find a battery on its own, which isn’t always the easiest thing to do.
- Great power output.
- Ergonomic handle.
- Very well-made.
- Long battery life.
- Comes with lots of different speed and torque settings.
- Doesn’t come with a battery.
SKIL PWRCore 12 Brushless 12V 1/4 Inch Hex Cordless Impact Driver
Next up on the best impact driver list, we are going to be reviewing an impact driver from SKIL. Now, SKIL isn’t anywhere near as famous as Bosch, DeWalt, Black+Decker, or other famous tool brands, but it is still a very well-respected brand that makes some pretty good power tools.
The SKIL PWRCore 12 Brushless 12V 1/4 Inch Hex Cordless Impact Driver is overall a really good tool and if you are in the market for an impact driver, you should give this a try.
Probably one of the best aspects of this impact driver, if not the best aspect, is the battery. First off, it has an extremely long run time, so you won’t have to be constantly charging the tool. Secondly, and more importantly, is the ability of the battery to be quickly charged.
Let’s say the battery is completely dead and you plug it in to charge, within 5-minutes, it will be at 25% power. This is great if you need to quickly make a few adjustments and you don’t feel like waiting an hour for the battery to charge. Furthermore, in just 45-minutes, the battery will be completely charged, which is very helpful.
In terms of power output, the SKIL isn’t the strongest impact driver around, nor is it a slouch either. It has a power output of around 1100 in/lbs. That makes it capable of doing a wide variety of jobs. So, even if it isn’t the most powerful impact driver around, it can still be used by both professionals and amateurs alike.
Like many of the other high-quality impact drivers that we have reviewed and will review on this best impact driver list, the SKIL comes with multiple different torque and speed settings. This is essential as it allows for more versatility and more control when doing jobs.
To be more specific, the SKIL comes with two different torque settings. The first setting is slower and lets you be more accurate when using the tool. The second setting is fast, and it lets you quickly get a bunch of nails into place.
Finally, we should also mention that it comes with a halo light. Basically, this is a circular LED light at the end of the tool that makes it a great option to have in low-light conditions.
- Decent power output.
- Battery can be charged quickly.
- Long-lasting battery.
- Halo light for working in darker areas.
- Different speed options.
- Exterior feels a bit on the flimsy side, avoid dropping it.
DEWALT DCF887B 20V MAX XR Li-Ion Brushless 0.25″ 3-Speed Impact Driver
It wouldn’t be a list looking at the best power tools without at least one entry from DeWalt. They are a famous brand for a reason. The DEWALT DCF887B 20V MAX XR Li-Ion Brushless 0.25″ 3-Speed Impact Driver is a great example of the sort of high-quality tools one expects from them.
For starters, this is by far the most powerful impact driver that has been featured on this best impact driver list yet. It has a power output of 2000 in/lbs. The previously most powerful entry on this list had a power output of 1650 in/lbs.
So, the DEWALT represents an increase of 350 lbs. If you have a large job coming up or a job that is going to require a lot of power, then you absolutely owe it to yourself to give the DEWALT a try, it can handle anything that you throw at it.
Likewise, the motor on the DEWALT is extremely well-made. It is a brushless motor, which means that it works twice as hard as a regular motor and that it requires very little to no maintenance.
Another very useful feature is the variable speed trigger.
A lot of the entries on our best impact driver list come with torque options. However, with this impact driver, you just use the trigger. The harder you pull the trigger; the more torque is applied. It does have some speed options like other impact drivers. You can pick from one of three different speed options.
Finally, we also have to mention the helpful LED lights attached to the DEWALT. They operate on a 20-second timer, so you just activate them, and you can work for 20-seconds with bright light illuminating your workspace.
The biggest issue with the DEWALT is cost. Not only is the base impact driver pricey, but it doesn’t come with a battery or charger, so buying those only adds to the overall costs.
- Extremely powerful.
- LED lights.
- Variable speed trigger.
- Three speed settings.
- Very expensive.
- Doesn’t come with a battery or charger.
PORTER-CABLE PCCK647LB 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Impact Driver
The next entry on our list is going to be the PORTER-CABLE PCCK647LB 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Impact Driver. This is a high-quality, compact impact driver that is good for use in tight spaces.
As we said in the introduction, the main attraction of this impact driver is its very small size.
The PORTER-CABLE is roughly 15% smaller than many other leading impact drivers. This brings quite a few advantages to the table.
First off, it is a lot easier to handle. A smaller size means a lower weight, which means less strength is required to hold it. Secondly, the smaller size means that it is ideal for use in very tight or enclosed spaces.
Despite the small size, it still packs quite a punch. It has a power output of 1400 in/lbs. That isn’t the most power that we have seen on the best impact driver list, but it also isn’t the weakest either.
When it comes to power, the PORTER-CABLE is firmly in the middle of the road. Still, despite not being the most powerful option, it still has enough power to accomplish most jobs. Likewise, it is equipped with a great brushless motor, so you know that it will last you for a long time.
You also get really good value for your money when you buy this impact driver. In addition to the tool itself, you also get the charger, two batteries, and a specialty bit. All in all, given the price, that is a fantastic deal.
- Good power output.
- Very light.
- Comes with extra batteries, charger, and bit.
- Very small, good for tight spaces.
- Low battery life.
- No LED light.
BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C 20V MAX Lithium Impact Driver
To end off our best impact driver review list, we have decided to look at a nice, affordable impact driver. BLACK+DECKER tends to make some pretty affordable power tools, and this impact driver shows that.
By far the biggest reason to get this impact driver is the price. It is significantly cheaper than any other impact driver that we have reviewed. In fact, its price is even more impressive when you consider that it also comes with a battery and a charger. However, it does have some other positives that are worth considering.
Despite being so cheap, it is actually surprisingly powerful. It delivers a respectable 1375 in/lbs. This makes it fairly powerful when compared to quite a few other impact drivers. Given the low price, having this much power is even more impressive. Another great aspect of this impact driver is that it is very lightweight and easy to hold.
- Surprisingly powerful.
- Very cheap.
- Light and easy to hold.
- Comes with battery and charger.
- Not very durable.
Impact Driver Buying Guide
For the second part of this article, we want to walk you through the process of buying an impact driver. More specifically, we want to explain how you can go about picking out the sort of high-quality impact drivers that you saw on our best impact driver review list.
We are going to state what criteria are the most important to look for and what aren’t as important.
Power
With almost any electric power tool, the most important quality to consider when buying the tool is how powerful it is. This is doubly true when dealing with impact drivers because the purpose of the tool is to drive screws and nails into tough surfaces.
With the right impact driver that has the right power levels behind it, you can drive nails into hard surfaces like concrete and hardwood with ease. So, power is important, to say the least.
On our best impact driver review list, we always made sure to discuss exactly what the power output of each impact driver was. Thankfully, when shopping on your own, the power output should be easy to find since it is so important. Power output on impact drivers is measured in terms of pounds per inch, which is written as “in/lbs.”
Power output can vary wildly from impact driver to impact driver. Some impact drivers have power outputs that exceed 2000 in/lbs., while others just barely exceed 1000 in/lbs. There is no ideal power level, it depends entirely on what you plan on doing with the impact driver.
If you are a professional or you plan on using your impact driver a lot, then going for a more powerful one that can handle a wider variety of jobs is obviously the best idea. If you are just looking for an impact driver for casual use around the house, then a weaker model that is on the cheaper side might be better for you.
Motor Quality And Longevity
Nothing is worse than buying a power tool and then having it stop working after just a few uses. When you invest a lot of money into a power tool, you want it to last you for a while, regardless of what sorts of jobs you use it for.
When it comes to impact drivers, one of the major reasons that many of them die early is because of the motor. Impact drivers are responsible for driving things like screws into difficult material, which puts a serious strain on even the highest-quality motor.
So, you should make sure that the impact driver that you do end up buying has a really solid, high-quality motor that can stand up to the strain that you put on it. The best thing to look for are “brushless motors.”
These are the highest quality motor that you can get. As we mentioned in one of the reviews on our best impact driver list, brushless motors last the longest, require less maintenance (no maintenance in some cases), and deliver more power.
Battery Quality
It is very annoying to have your battery run out in the middle of a job. Not only does it cause you to lose up to an hour (if not longer) of valuable working time, but it is just plain annoying. This is why you want to pay special attention to the battery that comes with your impact driver. There are a few different features to consider on this front.
First off, you want to get a rough estimate of how long the battery will last. This isn’t always going to be precise, but you should be able to get a rough estimate in hours either from the product description or from reviews.
Secondly, you want to figure out how long it takes for the battery to charge. Having a battery with a fast charging time is almost as important as having a long battery life. Some batteries even come with a “quick charge” function, which lets you charge a part of the battery in just a few minutes.
A good example of this from our best impact driver review list would be the SKIL PWRCore 12 Brushless 12V 1/4 Inch Hex Cordless Impact Driver.
Finally, any impact driver that you buy should have a second battery. It isn’t crucial, but when you are doing a long project, you will be thankful that there is no lost time due to your only battery running out of juice.
Conclusion
If you want to get some extra questions answered or if you have an opinion on our best impact driver article that you want to share, we recommend making use of our comment section and leaving us a comment.