Best Cordless Impact Wrench (Review & Buying Guide) in 2018

Our first product on the list and we’re coming in hot with a model that’s an early contender for best cordless impact wrench. That statement may seem little over the top until you take a dive into the features and design points that have been packed into this tool.

First off we have a 20 Volt brushless motor. We go into why brushless motors are great further down in the buying guide section – for now just take it that it’s a great sign to see one installed here. In addition, this tool is packing a high quality ½ inch anvil which allows the wrench to generate up 700lb/ft of torque.

1900 RPM is also impressive, whilst the 3 speed selection allows for more delicate control than you would generally expect on these types of tools and a LED work light is a useful little extra.

All that and it’s tough as hell as hell too, built to the high standards you expect of DeWALT. It’s so tough in fact that DeWALT claims it can happily survive a 6-foot drop – a design feature we would recommend you don’t test out too regularly, no matter how tough this little puppy is.

With it’s red color scheme, little white lighting bolt and small size, this cordless impact wrench from Milwaukee kind of looks like a ray gun from a 50’s Sci-Fi flick. Beneath it’s cute exterior however beats the heart of a high quality tool from a manufacturer with a deserved reputation for quality.

The brushless motor inside can deliver up 1000lb/ft of torque at it’s highest setting, a remarkable level of power that will allow you to tackle the loosening/tightening of just about any bolt you come across. At the same time, a 4x speed control gives you ample control to tailor the power delivery to the level you need.

A rubberized overmold has been used to case the tool as well. This provides a protective layer against corrosion and impacts whilst making it comfortable to hold. Finally, built in anti burnout tech protects the motor and anti overload software protects the battery from damage.

Around 200 bucks for the tool alone makes it easily one of the more expensive on out list – but you are getting a heck of a lot of high quality wrench for your money.

Makita are another company with a well-earned rep for bringing high quality power tools to the market, often dripping with high-end features. The stand out design feature of this cordless impact driver model however is the fact that it is absolutely tiny.

A total length of barely 5 inches and a weight of less than 3 pounds means this tool is one of the few things around that is actually smaller than your Dad’s… ego. Jokes aside, if you need a tool to fit into tight spaces, this could be the one for you. It also boasts a comfortable ergonomic grip, a 3x speed power selector for effective control and the brushless engine we like to see.

The only downside is that to achieve that small size and weight, the motor is also small and a bit underpowered. It can generate up to 210lb/ft of torque that will be enough for many jobs – but it is packing less of a punch than the majority of the tools on this list.

Our next model comes from Porter-Cable, and this impact wrench is specially designed for use with cars. This is due to the rugged housing of the tool that is resistant to chemical erosion, making it perfect for working in, around and on cars and all the various chemicals they contain.

As a more basic model we do not have a brushless motor on board, however the motor inside is still pretty powerful, generating up to 310lb/ft of torque. Couple that with a RPM of 1650 maximum and you have a tool that packs a pretty useful punch.

At almost 10 inches in length and 5 pounds in weight, this is one of the bigger tools on the list. With a price tag of around 10 bucks though, whilst it may not be the most advanced model around it’s certainly very good value for money.

This model from Ryobi is small and compact, but packs a very useful 18volt motor. It can generate up to 300ft/lb of torque, which is a very useful amount of power indeed. Add to that the fact that it also boasts 3200 IPM (Impacts Per Minute) and this is a very strong tool indeed.

The benefit of buying Ryobi is that their power packs are interchangeable. If you already have some Ryobi brand tools in your tool chest already then you will be all set to go. If you don’t, Ryobi are bringing out new, stronger battery packs with up to 4amp hours. They could be a worthwhile investment to go alongside this tool.

With a price tag of around 150 bucks, this is a solid midrange tool with decent power and good Ryobi build construction. There’s nothing earth shattering here, just a very solid power tool.

Our second tool from DeWALT to make the list and another from the smaller end of the spectrum, this impact wrench has a length of 5.75 inches and a weight of just 2.3 pounds. That makes it even smaller than the compact model we looked at before.

This model also suffers the same basic weakness as the other compact too – lack of power. Whilst DeWALT are clever and officially list the torque as a very impressive sounding 1,740 Inch/pounds, that actually only equates to about 145ft/lb of torque.

Whilst it is one of the weaker models on the list though it still has some useful stats and features. 2400 RPM and 2700 IPM makes for a pretty fast operating wrench action, whilst the construction is nice and tough with a comfortable, ergonomic handle.

This entry from the renowned power tool manufacturer ticks a lot of boxes for us – but it also has one significant drawback.

The main impressive feature is the price – around 200 bucks for an impact driver (of Bosch build construction don’t forget) complete with no less than 2 battery packs. The batteries themselves are 2.0ah, meaning they can deliver power for prolonged periods – and the fact you get a pair means one can charge as the other is used.

As far as other features, what can we say – it’s a Bosch! So it features a brushless engine (great to see), easy and intuitive power control for accurate operation and built in protection from overload – all the well thought out design points and features you expect.

Time to get to that drawback we mentioned though and it is this – this impact wrench is a little underpowered. It only generates 137.5ft/lb of torque, a bit less than we would have liked to see. Still, despite that it remains an excellent, well-built tool with a remarkably low price.

Our next product comes from Black & Decker, and has the distinction of having two stand out features – it is very versatile, and it is very cheap. To tackle the later, it has a price tag around 60 bucks but does include a battery for that price, easily making it the cheapest on the list.

The versatility element comes from the fact this is an impact driver, rather than a dedicated impact wrench. That means that the chuck (of ¼ inch size) can accommodate both wrench style sockets and also screwdriver bits. This means it can tackle stubborn bolts and screws, making it a very useful design.

It is a budget model so you are not going to get the bells and whistles that you would find on premium tools – no brushless motor, very basic speed control, no overload protection and a pretty weak 114ft/lb of torque.

It is though a very versatile tool with a price tag that won’t break the bank.

This bad boy from Craftsman is all about the power. It’s motor can kick out a max 3000 RPM & 3000 IPM for incredible fast action, whilst 300 ft/lb of torque makes this one of the strongest tools on the list.

You need a good a battery to power all though which is why Craftsman have bundled a top quality one in this impact wrench kit. It is a Lithium-Ion battery for superior performance (always good to see) and is rated at a phenomenal 4ah. That means it can deliver the juice to run the tool for hours on end – because what’s the point of having an outstanding tool like this if it is sat on the bench half the time waiting for a battery charge?

A comfortable ergonomic handle is designed to make the tool easy to hold whilst 3x built in LED lights illuminate the work area. A price tag of about 180 bucks makes this one of the more expensive items on the list, but if you’re looking for a complete kit that comes out the box with plenty of power you should take a look at this one.

By delivering an incredible 700lb/ft of torque, there is one thing this impact wrench from Milwaukee doesn’t actually need – you. Or rather it doesn’t need your weak-ass human arm holding it back because if this bad boy was truly let off the chain it would probably snap your arm clean off.

As it is, the tool has a very effective 2-position power button. In position 1, the power is limited to 100 lb/ft for when you need accuracy and a gentle touch. Setting 2 unleashes the dogs of war and allows you to crank out the full 700 lb/ft of torque for unrivalled power. There is no rusted or over-tightened bolt on earth that is going to be able to resist that level of power!

It’s not all about the power of course, with a comfortable ergonomic grip and intuitive speed-control trigger making it comfortable and easy to use, whilst built in LED lights illuminate the workspace.

Lets face it though, it is the power that’s the real selling point, and you’re going to have to dig deep into your bank account to gather up the 300 or so bucks this tool will set you back. If you do though, you are essentially buying the Thor’s Hammer of impact wrenches, and nuts and bolts will tremble at the mere mention of your name.