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The 10 Best Cordless Impact Drivers
Ranked from live Amazon data — the tool that drives long screws and lag bolts a drill can't.
Ranked by ToolboxTop10 from Amazon data captured Nov 10, 2026. Rankings and prices are updated several times a week and can change as new data comes in. How we rank
An impact driver is the tool you reach for when a drill starts to stall: it adds rotational hammer blows to power long screws, deck fasteners, and lag bolts with almost no arm strain, all through a quick-change 1/4-inch hex. DEWALT dominates this category on Amazon, so the list leans that way, but there are strong value picks too. One thing to watch, and the biggest gotcha here: many impact drivers sell as a bare tool (no battery), which is great if you already own a battery platform and a trap if you don't. Each pick below says which it is.
Milwaukee 2953-20M18 owners who want 2,000 in-lbs and four drive modes.
CRAFTSMAN CMCF801D1A first impact driver with a battery and charger in the box for about $60.
Already own batteries?
Batteries only fit their own brand's platform, so the best tool for you is often the best
one that runs on the packs you already have. Here's our top-ranked pick on each platform on this page.
A tool-only model skips the cost of a battery and charger you don't need.
Tools sold as "compatible with" another brand's batteries aren't listed here. They're made by third parties, and the battery brand doesn't warrant them.
Where the deals are
The tools ranked here come from Milwaukee, DEWALT, GoYwato, AVID POWER, and CRAFTSMAN. Prices on these brands move week to
week on Amazon, and the deepest cuts usually land around Prime Day and Black Friday.
Every price button on this page opens the live listing, so you always see today's
number, not the one we captured on 2026-11-10. If your pick is over budget
right now, check back in a few days — Milwaukee and DEWALT rotate through sales and bundle
deals often.
The compact pick for Milwaukee M12 owners. A brushless 12V driver that still makes 1,500 in-lbs, with four drive modes including a dedicated self-tapping screw mode. Bare tool.
Best for: M12 owners who want a small, light driver for cabinets and overhead work.
Skip it if: You don't own M12 batteries; it's tool only.
Voltage
12V
Chuck
1/4 in hex
Max speed
3,600 rpm
Transmission
4-mode
Torque
1,500 in-lbs
Clutch
—
Battery
Tool only — battery sold separately
Weight
—
Pros
4.8 stars over 1,700+ reviews
Brushless, up to 3,600 rpm, three LED lights
4-mode drive control with a self-tapping screw mode
Cons
Tool only — no battery or charger
M12 batteries don't fit Milwaukee's M18 tools
$94 for the bare tool, more than the CRAFTSMAN CMCF801D1 kit with a battery ($59)
#2
DEWALT
DEWALT DCF845B 20V MAX XR 3-Speed Impact Driver (tool only)
4.73,279 reviews
Score 94/100
Why this score
Star rating 55% of score94/100 → 52 pts
Number of reviews 35% of score100/100 → 35 pts
Features 10% of score70/100 → 7 pts
Has: a brushless motor, a 2-speed gearbox, an LED work light. Missing: two batteries in the box, a complete kit (everything you need in the box).
The one to buy if you're starting fresh. Brushless DEWALT power, 4.8 stars, and it comes with a battery and charger so you can work the day it arrives.
Best for: Starting fresh: a brushless DEWALT driver with battery and charger.
Skip it if: You want speed settings for delicate screws; it has one speed.
Voltage
20V MAX
Chuck
1/4 in hex
Max speed
2,800 rpm
Transmission
1-speed
Torque
1,500 in-lbs
Clutch
—
Battery
1.3Ah + charger included
Weight
—
Pros
4.8 stars over 1,700+ reviews, tied for the top rating here
Brushless motor for longer runtime and tool life
Battery and charger included — ready to use out of the box
Cons
Single-speed (no precision modes)
Only one battery in the kit
Costs more than the bare-tool DEWALTs below
#4
GoYwato
GoYwato 21V Brushless 1/4 in Cordless Impact Driver Set, 2655 in-lbs, 2 x 4.0Ah Batteries, Charger, Sockets and Bits (CID-300-Y)
4.5334 reviews
Score 94/100
Why this score
Star rating 55% of score90/100 → 49 pts
Number of reviews (counted 1.9x, newer listing) 35% of score100/100 → 35 pts
Features 10% of score100/100 → 10 pts
Has every feature we score: a brushless motor, a 2-speed gearbox, an LED work light, two batteries in the box, a complete kit (everything you need in the box).
A brushless 21V kit with two 4.0Ah batteries, a charger, 14 sockets and 10 bits for under $70. The listing claims 2,655 in-lbs but gives only 1,400 rpm, so treat the torque figure as a sales number.
Best for: A cheap kit with two big batteries for occasional driving and light bolt work.
Skip it if: You want a battery that also runs a name-brand tool line.
Voltage
21V
Chuck
1/4 in hex
Max speed
1,400 rpm
Transmission
2-speed
Torque
2,655 in-lbs (claimed)
Clutch
—
Battery
2 x 4.0Ah + charger
Weight
3.6 lb
Pros
Two 4.0Ah batteries and a charger for $68.99
Brushless motor, two speed modes
14 sockets and 10 bits included
300+ bought last month
Cons
Off-brand 21V battery fits no major tool line
Listed top speed of 1,400 rpm is low for an impact driver
2,655 in-lbs torque claim is unverified
#5
DEWALT
DEWALT ATOMIC DCF809B 20V MAX Brushless Impact Driver (tool only)
4.73,348 reviews
Score 92/100
Why this score
Star rating 55% of score94/100 → 52 pts
Number of reviews 35% of score100/100 → 35 pts
Features 10% of score50/100 → 5 pts
Has: a brushless motor, an LED work light. Missing: a 2-speed gearbox, two batteries in the box, a complete kit (everything you need in the box).
The compact favorite. ATOMIC is DEWALT's short, light brushless line — 1,700 in-lbs in a body that fits between studs. Bare tool for people already on the 20V platform.
Best for: Tight spaces between studs and joists, on DEWALT 20V MAX.
Skip it if: You want speed settings; it has none.
Voltage
20V MAX
Chuck
1/4 in hex
Max speed
—
Transmission
—
Torque
1,700 in-lbs
Clutch
—
Battery
Tool only — battery sold separately
Weight
—
Pros
Compact, light brushless design for tight spaces
1,700 in-lbs and 3,300+ reviews at 4.7 stars
Cheaper than the full-size DEWALTs
Cons
Tool only — no battery or charger
No multi-speed selector
Max speed not published by DEWALT for this model
#6
Best Budget
AVID POWER
AVID POWER 20V Brushless Impact Driver Kit
4.41,881 reviews
Score 92/100
Why this score
Star rating 55% of score88/100 → 48 pts
Number of reviews (counted 1.7x, newer listing) 35% of score100/100 → 35 pts
Features 10% of score85/100 → 9 pts
Has: a brushless motor, a 2-speed gearbox, an LED work light, a complete kit (everything you need in the box). Missing: two batteries in the box.
The value champ. A brushless, two-speed impact driver with the highest torque rating of the budget kits, a battery, charger, and sockets — all for around $40.
Best for: A brushless, two-speed kit for about $40 with sockets included.
Skip it if: You want batteries that fit other brands' tools.
Voltage
20V
Chuck
1/4 in hex
Max speed
2,600 rpm
Transmission
2-speed
Torque
2,220 in-lbs
Clutch
—
Battery
20V Li-ion + charger included
Weight
—
Pros
Brushless and two-speed at a budget price
2,220 in-lbs — more torque on paper than the name-brand picks
Complete kit: battery, charger, sockets, and bits
Cons
4.4-star rating trails the DEWALT and CRAFTSMAN picks
Locked to AVID POWER's own batteries
Off-brand support and durability record
#7
Money No Object
DEWALT
DEWALT DCF870B 20V MAX Hydraulic Impact Driver (tool only)
4.6909 reviews
Score 91/100
Why this score
Star rating 55% of score92/100 → 51 pts
Number of reviews (counted 1.1x, newer listing) 35% of score100/100 → 35 pts
Features 10% of score50/100 → 5 pts
Has: a brushless motor, an LED work light. Missing: a 2-speed gearbox, two batteries in the box, a complete kit (everything you need in the box).
The quiet one. A hydraulic impact driver trades the machine-gun rattle for a low hum — worth it if you drive fasteners indoors or near sleeping kids. Premium price, bare tool.
Best for: Indoor or late-night driving where noise matters.
Skip it if: You just want the most torque per dollar; it's the most expensive here.
Voltage
20V MAX
Chuck
1/4 in hex
Max speed
3,000 rpm
Transmission
—
Torque
—
Clutch
—
Battery
Tool only — battery sold separately
Weight
—
Pros
Hydraulic mechanism runs far quieter than a standard impact
Brushless with an LED halo ring for shadow-free light
4.6 stars — the specialist pros' pick
Cons
Most expensive on the list, and it's tool only
Overkill unless you specifically want the quiet operation
DEWALT doesn't publish a torque figure for this model
#8
CRAFTSMAN
CRAFTSMAN CMCF800C1 20V MAX Impact Driver Kit
4.72,382 reviews
Score 90/100
Why this score
Star rating 55% of score94/100 → 52 pts
Number of reviews 35% of score100/100 → 35 pts
Features 10% of score30/100 → 3 pts
Has: an LED work light, a complete kit (everything you need in the box). Missing: a brushless motor, a 2-speed gearbox, two batteries in the box.
A name-brand kit with a battery and charger in the box, for the weekend DIYer who doesn't already own a battery platform. The trade-off is a brushed motor and the lowest torque of the name-brand picks.
Best for: Weekend DIY on CRAFTSMAN V20 with the battery included.
Skip it if: You drive long lag screws often; it has the least torque of the brand-name picks.
Voltage
20V MAX
Chuck
1/4 in hex
Max speed
2,800 rpm
Transmission
1-speed
Torque
1,460 in-lbs
Clutch
—
Battery
1.3Ah + charger included
Weight
—
Pros
Battery and charger included at a mid-range price
CRAFTSMAN V20 platform, 2,800 rpm, LED
4.7 stars over 2,300 reviews
Cons
Brushed motor — shorter life than brushless
Lowest torque of the name-brand picks (1,460 in-lbs)
CRAFTSMAN's newer V20 impact driver kit, now ranked #3 in Amazon's impact driver results. It ships with a 2Ah battery and charger and is rated to 1,800 in-lbs, more than the CMCF800C1 also on this list.
Best for: A first impact driver with a battery and charger in the box for about $60.
Skip it if: You want a brushless motor or a second battery.
Voltage
20V (CRAFTSMAN V20)
Chuck
1/4 in hex
Max speed
2,900 rpm
Transmission
Variable trigger
Torque
1,800 in-lbs
Clutch
—
Battery
2Ah + charger included
Weight
—
Pros
$59 with a 2Ah battery and charger
1,800 in-lbs max torque
One-handed quick-release chuck and LED
600+ bought last month
Cons
Brushless motor not listed
Single battery
Weight not listed
How we rank
Every tool gets one score from 0 to 100, weighted
55% on its star rating,
35% on how many people have reviewed it (more reviews = more
confidence the rating is real), and 10% on the features that
matter for the job. The list is ordered by that score. Best Overall is the top-scoring
pick with at least 4.0 stars and 30 reviews (a ready-to-use kit wins a close call);
Best Budget is the top score at or under $60 that costs less than
Best Overall; and Money No Object is the one to buy if price is no object.
The features score is built from a brushless motor (35%), a 2-speed gearbox (20%), an LED work light (15%), two batteries in the box (15%), a complete kit (15%), capped at 100. The review-count score is on a log scale, so each tenfold jump in reviews adds the same amount, and 200 or more reviews gets full marks. A listing under two years old with at least 30 reviews has its count scaled up for the shorter time it has had to collect them, never more than double. Open Why this score on any tool to see its numbers.
What changed
We re-check every listing on this page on a rotation. The most recent changes:
Replaced the RYOBI PCL235B and Milwaukee 2656-20, which dropped out of Amazon's top impact driver results, with the CRAFTSMAN CMCF801D1 kit and the GoYwato CID-300-Y kit. New avoid pick: the LAZYLAND 17V, a screwdriver listed as an impact driver; the GEVEELIFE 450N is no longer sold.
Prices, ratings and review counts re-checked on 10 of 11 listings. Biggest price moves: the RYOBI PCL235B dropped from $58.99 to $53.99.
Prices, ratings and review counts re-checked on every listing. Biggest price moves: the CRAFTSMAN CMCF800C1 dropped from $96.87 to $59; the DEWALT DCF787D1 dropped from $148.76 to $99; the DEWALT DCF809B dropped from $101.28 to $89.99.
Buyer's guide
Impact driver vs drill — which do I need?
A drill bores holes and drives small screws with steady torque and a keyed or keyless chuck. An impact driver adds rotational hammer blows to drive long screws, deck fasteners, and lag bolts without stalling or twisting your wrist, using a quick-change 1/4-inch hex. Most people eventually want both; if you only drive fasteners, an impact driver is the one.
Tool only or kit?
This is the biggest trap in impact-driver listings. A 'bare tool' or 'tool only' unit ships with no battery or charger — a bargain if you already own that brand's batteries, and useless out of the box if you don't. A 'kit' includes a battery and charger. Every pick above says which it is.
How much torque do I need?
Impact drivers are rated in inch-pounds. Around 1,400 to 1,800 in-lbs handles nearly all home work: decking, framing screws, and lag bolts. Over 1,800 in-lbs is pro territory for heavy or repetitive driving. All the picks here clear the home-use bar.
Brushless or brushed?
Brushless motors run cooler, last longer, and squeeze more drives out of a charge. They cost more. For occasional projects a brushed unit is fine; if you'll use it weekly, pay up for brushless.
Will my drill's batteries fit?
Only within the same brand and platform. A DEWALT 20V MAX battery fits DEWALT 20V tools, a RYOBI ONE+ battery fits RYOBI ONE+ tools, and so on. Buying an impact driver on the same platform as a drill you already own means one battery lineup for both — a real reason to stay in one brand.
Tools to avoid
Not everything in the search results deserves your money.
This one would rank dead last on our scale — here's the listing to walk past, and exactly why.
✕ Avoid
LAZYLAND
LAZYLAND 17V Brushless Screwdriver, 140Nm Cordless Impact Driver Set with 3 Adjustable Speeds, 2 Batteries and LED Work Light
4.6289 reviews$49.99
The title says impact driver, but the listing's own item type is "17V Brushless Screwdriver" and nothing on the page describes an impact mechanism. If you're shopping for an impact driver, this isn't one.
Why we'd skip it
Amazon's item type for this listing is "17V Brushless Screwdriver", and the bullets call it a screwdriver throughout.
No impacts-per-minute rating anywhere on the listing. Every real impact driver on this list publishes one, because the hammering action is what makes it an impact driver.
The 17V battery is a one-off pack that fits no other tool line, so you can't share it with drills or saws.
The 1,500 mAh batteries are small next to the 2Ah and 4Ah packs in the kits ranked above.
