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While it may look like a humble cordless drill, an impact driver provides much more torque as it's designed to turn difficult screws and bolts with ease. It gets its name from the fact that it doesn't just turn like an electric drill or screwdriver but also applies a spring-loaded, hammer-like force to aid the motor. If you've ever had difficulty screwing hardwood panels or stud walls with a drill, an impact driver makes those types of jobs trivial.
Whether you're looking for something simple to remove those rusted old screws from a piece of machinery or a heavy-duty option for a professional working environment, we've picked the best impact drivers available online on Amazon and Argos. Take a look at our picks from some of the top power tool brands like Bosch, DeWalt, and Makita, including drivers with both brushless and brushed motors and 18 v of power.
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Table of Contents
When it comes to portable power tools, knowing the voltage is important for two different reasons. The first is so you can supply it with the correct battery type to make sure it's running at its maximum capacity. Higher voltage tools often require larger and, therefore, heavier batteries to operate.
The second is that the amount of voltage often correlates to the amount of power a tool can generate. When it comes to impact drivers, however, the amount of torque can still vary between options with the same voltage. Most cordless impact drivers will use 18-volt batteries, which is suitable for both professional and DIY environments, while lower voltage options are best suited for use around the home.
Stay safe while working up high with a secure step ladder!
Torque is an often misunderstood thing for the layman when it comes to tools and mechanics, but it can be simply thought of as the force of something rotating. When it comes to things like drills, impact drivers, and the like, knowing the torque of your tool is very important.
It is measured in Newton-meters (Nm), and the higher the amount, the more turning force that is applied. While it can be preferable to have the highest amount possible, it's important not to apply too much as you can cause damage to equipment and potentially cause injury.
A drill has around 20 - 60 Nm of torque, whereas an impact driver is usually around 150 - 250 Nm and can be much higher. If you're working around the home, 100 Nm will suffice but if you're tackling some more heavy-duty DIY projects or working in a professional environment you should aim for over 200 Nm.
If you don't need quite so much torque, consider opting for a cordless drill instead!
Brushless motors are a more modern type of motor that uses simple electronics to run more efficiently. These also produce less heat than a traditional mechanical brushed motor. While undoubtedly a better-quality tool than their brushed counterparts, they are noticeably more expensive and may not justify the cost if you're only using your impact driver every now and then.
If you're planning on using your impact driver regularly, brushless motors make a great investment as they have a longer lifespan and require less maintenance. Additionally, they are lighter and more efficient, which can make all the difference when working portably.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | DeWalt Brushless Impact Driver|DCF887N | £68.70 Low Mid | An Affordable and Reliable Impact Driver From a World-Renowned Brand | ||
2 | Bosch H Cordless Impact Driver|GDS 18V-1050 | £233.95 High | Incredible Amounts of Torque from this Professional-Grade, Cordless Power Tool | ||
3 | Ryobi ONE + Cordless Brushless Impact Driver|R18IDBL-0 | £109.95 Mid | A Brushless Option With Incredible Torque, Suitable for Both Home and Professional Environments | ||
4 | Makita Cordless Impact Driver | £48.93 Low | The Best Budget Impact Driver for Beginners to Use Around the Home | ||
5 | Bosch C Professional Impact Driver|GDX 18V-200 | £153.99 High Mid | A High Performance Option With a Brushless Motor, Perfect for Industrial Working Environments | ||
6 | Bosch Easy Impact Drive 12 | £64.50 Low Mid | The Best Option for Those Who Have Difficulty Using Heavy Power Tools | ||
7 | Makita Brushless Impact Driver|DTD154Z | £94.95 Mid | A Brushless Option With a 3-Year Warranty That’s Worth Buying if You Own Other Makita Tools | ||
8 | Stanley Fatmax Brushed Impact Driver | £120.00 High Mid | Comes Complete With a Case, Battery, and Charger to Use Right Away | ||
9 | Ryobi ONE + Impact Driver|R18ID3-0 | £91.95 Mid | A Well-Built and Reliable Option That’s Worth Picking Up if You Own Other Ryobi Tools | ||
10 | WORX Cordless Impact Driver|WX291 | £93.99 Mid | An Affordable Impact Driver for Those Looking to Do Occasional Home Repairs |
Our pick for the number one spot is the DeWalt Brushless Impact Driver, as it offers the best price to power ratio on the market. It features a "Precision Drive" mode to give you extra control to prevent any accidental damage when performing activities that don't require a lot of torque.
For its size, it packs a pretty solid punch with 205 Nm of torque, and its three LED "Halo" lighting ring gives great workplace visibility. Whether you're working in a small environment or with plenty of space, this lightweight and compact option is a fantastic choice!
If you're looking for the most torque available in a portable impact driver, then the H Cordless from Bosch is definitely the way to go, as it offers an almost unbelievable 1050 Nm of force. Thanks to the three variable speed settings, you won't have to worry about losing control either.
It can easily take wheel nuts off a car, drive screws into the hardest woods, and is even suitable for M10-M24 metal applications. All this is possible, thanks to Bosch's high-performance batteries than can achieve all this on 18 v.
The Ryobi ONE + impact driver offers the most torque possible if you're not looking to break the bank. Suitable for both home and professional environments, the brushless motor can deliver an impressive 270 Nm of torque.
It features four pre-set speed and power levels as well as soft start and auto speed reduction functions. It also makes an especially good choice if you already own other Ryobi ONE + tools, as you can share the battery packs and chargers with ease.
With a variable speed control trigger, mechanical two-speed control, and an electric brake, the Makita Cordless Impact Driver is easy to use, making it an excellent choice for beginners. The slightly lower 165 Nm of torque also means you won't worry about losing control while working with stubborn materials.
If you're planning any home repairs or upgrades for the first time, such as installing some decking or stud walls, then this is well worth the relatively small investment. It's also a great entry point into Makita's great ecosystem of portable power tools.
There's a lot to like about the C Professional Impact Driver from Bosch, especially the reliable brushless motor, the short head length, and high-performance batteries (sold separately). It's clear that everything has been designed with an industrial working environment in mind.
If you own other tools in Bosch's professional range, this becomes an even better prospect even though it stands on its own two feet. It even comes with a workplace suitable L-BOXX hard carry case to keep everything protected while you're on the move.
As the only 12 v option on our list, the Bosch Easy Impact Drive 12 is one of the better options for those looking for a less-powerful and more manageable tool. This lightweight tool only weighs 1 kg with the battery attached.
The 100 Nm of torque will suffice for those times when an electric drill or screwdriver can't quite do the job - plus, it does so without too much kickback or vibration. If you're looking for something a bit more robust, however, this isn't quite up to tackling tougher tasks.
Makita's Brushless Impact Driver carries the same high standards as one would expect from any Japanese company, offering a three-year manufacturer warranty. If reliability is important to you, the peace of mind here is well worth the investment.
Compared to similar brushless options from Ryobi and DeWalt, the lower torque is the only thing holding it back, but that's still enough to cause it to miss out on our top 5. However, like many other options, if you own other Makita tools and have compatible batteries and chargers, this is well worth picking up.
If you're looking for an all-in-one option complete with battery, case, and charger, you may want to consider the Stanly Fatmax Brushed Impact Driver. It's perfect for door frames and decking as well as assembling furniture or putting up shelves.
While it's great if you want something you can use right away, it is a little expensive for a brushed impact driver. Still, Stanly Fatmax has a solid reputation for quality products which the one-year guarantee reflects.
Although it's towards the bottom of our list, the Ryobi ONE + Impact Driver is still a fantastic tool which features an impressive 220 Nm of torque, and a tri-Beam LED light. This well-built and reliable option is well worth picking up if you own other Ryobi portable power tools.
The main issue is that it is very similar in price to the far superior and more powerful, brushless models. However, you won't be disappointed if you decide to pick this up as it'll handle difficult jobs with ease.
When looking at power tools, it's common practice for the items to be sold as "body-only", meaning you have to invest in additional batteries and chargers if you don't own them already. However, this offering from WORX comes with a battery, charger, and case.
Unfortunately, there are a few customers who aren't happy with the reliability and overall quality of the product. If your expectations are measured, and you only have some light home repairs in mind, though, you may find some value here.
No. 1: DeWalt|Brushless Impact Driver|DCF887N
No. 2: Bosch|H Cordless Impact Driver|GDS 18V-1050
No. 3: Ryobi|ONE + Cordless Brushless Impact Driver|R18IDBL-0
No. 4: Makita|Cordless Impact Driver
No. 5: Bosch|C Professional Impact Driver|GDX 18V-200
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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