Thanks for taking your time to read our reviews on the best impact drivers that are currently available on the UK market.
These are great for those heavier duty screw driving tasks when you have to drive in longer screws, or drive screws into the harder woods like oak or mahogany.
Most users will use a drill/driver for this type of work, but an impact driver will give you a lot more power and save you a great deal of time.
They are the perfect choice for larger projects like fencing, laying floors or building a deck, to name but a few.
In a Hurry?
We provide a lot of information on this page, so if you want a quick answer, then the best impact driver is the Makita DTD152Z Impact Driver.
This is the best seller in the UK and in my opinion it is easily the best all round value.
"With over 4,000 online buyer reviews and a 96% buyer satisfaction rating, this is the most popular choice by UK buyers, based on our extensive research.
What is an Impact Driver Used For?
Before you part with any of your cash, it is worthwhile fully understanding what you are buying.
Impact drivers are fantastic at driving in screws at speed, for working on bigger projects like fencing, screwing down floors, or building a deck, and they are also useful for driving in bolts.
Impact drivers have high torques, and because of that you can quickly drive long, wide screws into the toughest of materials.
Most impact drivers have a 1/4” hex bit holder which grips small screwdriver bits, unlike a cordless drill which will have something like a 10 or 13 mm chuck that can hold various types of bits.
Most household jobs can be easily completed using a drill/driver. For the heavier projects, then you life becomes much easier with an impact driver.
Top Impact Drivers in the UK
1. Makita DTD152Z Impact Driver
- Measures 23.8 x 13.7 x 7.9 cm
- Weighs 1 Kg
- This is an 18V cordless impact driver
- Up to 165 Newton Meters of torque
- It has an electric brake for fast stopping
- Has a mechanical 2-speed control with a variable speed control trigger, and forward/reverse rotation
- It also has a twin LED job light
- It has a one touch bit installation
- Only compatible with 18v Makita Li-Ion batteries
This is not only the biggest selling impact driver on the UK market, but is also the one with the highest buyer ratings. It doesn't get any better than this for an impact driver.
2. Dewalt DCF887N XR 18V 3 Speed BL Impact Driver
- Measures 10 x 15.4 x 23.5 cm
- Weighs 1..24 Kg
- This is an 18V cordless impact driver
- It uses the latest brushless motor technology
- Up to 205 Newton Meters of torque
- It has 3 Halo style LED lights
- It has a no load speed - 0 - 3250 rpm Max.
- Bolt Diameter - M12Bit Holder - 1/4" (6. 35mm)
- Length - 135 mm
- Height - 196 mm
3. Dewalt DCF887D2 20V MAX XR 3-Speed Impact Driver
- Measures 41.2 x 11.4 x 25.7
- Weighs 3.18 Kg
- This is a 20V cordless impact driver
- Up to1825 in-lb of torque
- It has a brushless motor
- It comes with 2 batteries, a charger, belt clip and kit box
- Compact design
- Has a 1/4" Hex anvil quick release chuck
- 3 speed settings and no load speed of 0-1,000/ 2,800/ 3,250 RPM
The majority of buyers said this impact driver kit is awesome. It is compact, built well and packs a mighty punch for the size. In the trade this model is consistently rated as the best available.
4. Makita DTD153 BL LXT Impact Driver
- Measures 8.5 x 17 x 21 cm
- Weighs 1.0 Kg
- This is an 18V cordless impact driver
- Up to 170 Newton Meters of torque
- It has the latest brushless motor technology
- It has a one touch ¼” hex chuck for easy bit installation and removal
- It also has soft start and variable speed control by trigger
- It has twin LED lights
- Machine screw M4 to M8
- Standard bolt M5 to M16
- High strength bolt M5 to M14
- Coarse thread screw 22 to 125mm
This model has a no-load speed of 3,400 rpm, providing up to 3,600 impacts per minute. It will drive screws up to 30% faster than a conventional drill/driver. When using this model no pilot hole is needed, even into hardwood.
5. Ryobi One+ Impact Driver
- Measures 0.5 x 190 x 80
- Weighs 1.62 lbs
- This is an 18V cordless impact driver
- Up to 220 Newton Meters of torque
- Can be bought as tool only or with a battery and charger
- It has a keyless hex drive
- It also has variable speed, reverse and brake
- Has the useful on-board bit storage for added convenience
This is a high-powered impact driver ideal for screwing and loosening larger bolts. It has 3 LED lights illuminate the work area. It comes with a keyless 6.35mm (1/4") hex drive for easy bit changes. This impact driver also comes with a 1/3" socket adaptor for use on applications more suitable with an impact wrench.
6. Tacklife 18V Cordless Impact Driver
88% buyer satisfaction based on 200+ online buyer reviews.
- Measures 29 x 26 x 12.6 cm
- Weighs 3.4 Kg
- This is an 18V cordless impact driver
- Up to 180 Newton Meters of torque
- Comes with a battery and charger
- Also comes with a 60 piece driver bit set
- It has variable speed control
- Has a 1/4" all-metal Hex chuck
- It also has twin LED lights
This is without doubt the best value for money option as it comes with a battery, charger and accessories. It isn't as powerful as many others but still has enough punch to complete most tasks.
7. Milwaukee 2853-20 M18 FUEL 1/4" Hex impact Driver
- Measures 23.37 x 11.94 x 17.02 cm
- Weighs 1.4 Kg
- This is an 18V cordless impact driver
- Up to 2000in-lb of torque
- It has variable speed control
- Has a 1/4" all-metal Hex chuck
- It also has LED lights
This is without doubt the best performing compact impact driver you can buy. It's actually my favourite but I had to mark it down a bit as it is so expensive. Check out other Milwaukee Impact Drivers by clicking on the link.
Impact Driver Buying Tips
We would recommend going with a Makita or Dewalt if you want your impact driver to last for a few years. Both these brands make very good tools and have excellent warranties. The downside is of course that initial expense.
If you just want an impact driver for a specific job, or for occasional use, then one like the Tacklife model is extremely good value for money. I would also recommend buying a good set of bits for your driver. One of my favourites it the Dewalt DWA2T40IR and you can just click on it to see a full review.
18V vs 12V Option?
There is really not that big a difference in power between a 12 Volt model and an 18 Volt model, though worth mentioning that the 18 Volt is more popular.
The 12V will be a more compact and lighter option and that suits many people. The 18V is more popular as more people tend to already own a branded 18V battery and charger.
What is Good Torque for an Impact Driver?
The ideal torque for impact drivers is anything between 160-2000 Newton metres.
Torque is measured in Newton Metres (Nm), and is the force that causes an object to rotate. This shows how powerful an impact driver is and the higher the number in newton metres the more twisting force it will deliver.
Cordless drills on the other hand will have torques of anything between 4-35Nm+ From this you can see that impact drivers are designed for longer screws where more torque is required.
Impact Driver vs Impact Wrench?
We are often asked the difference between an impact driver and an impact wrench, so we have explained this just below.
Impact Driver
Mainly used for driving longer screws into wood
For working on heavier projects like fencing, decking and major construction
Impact Wrench
Mainly used with bolts such as on car wheels
Mainly used by mechanics as high torque spanners
Impact Driver vs Drill?
We are often asked the difference between an impact driver and a standard drill/driver
Impact Driver
Mainly used for driving longer screws into wood
For working on heavier projects like fencing, decking and major construction
Drill
Mainly used for drilling holes
A drill/driver is good for smaller screws up to around 2"
Impact Driver vs Hammer Drill?
We are often asked the difference between an impact driver and a Hammer drill
Impact Driver
Mainly used for driving longer screws into wood
For working on heavier projects like fencing, decking and major construction
Hammer Drill
Mainly used for drilling holes into masonry such as concrete, brick and block
Most hammer drills can also be used as a drill/driver which are good for smaller screws up to around 2"
Impact Driver vs Cordless Screwdriver?
We are often asked the difference between an impact driver and a cordless screwdriver.
Impact Driver
Mainly used for driving longer screws into wood
For working on heavier projects like fencing, decking and major construction
Mainly used for small screws into wood
Also used for assembling flat pack furniture
Still Undecided?
If you still haven't made up your mind then don't forget our recommendation which is the Makita DTD152Z Impact Driver. This is the best seller in the UK and we can highly recommend this model.
Impact Driver FAQ
We believe the best model is the Makita DTD152Z Impact Driver. It is a big seller and gets extremely good online buyer ratings and reviews. It certainly cam out at number one on our list of impact drivers.
There is always a slight tug of war when it comes to preferred brands. That is usually between Makita and Dewalt, and both are of course excellent but expensive brands. For impact drivers we lean towards Makita, as they seem to be getting better online reviews for those. For an inexpensive brand, the best option is Tacklife.
They are really not for everyone, and if you already own a cordless drill/driver, then the chances are that will do almost all of your jobs around the home and garden.
Only if you plan on doing heavier or longer work on projects like building a deck, putting up a fence or partially/fully converting a garage or attic, should you bother buying an impact driver.
It just easily drives in longer screws and all screws a great deal faster.
A typical 12V impact driver can deliver up to 110Nm of torque. That is enough for screwing down decking boards and tasks of that nature. Some people prefer them because they are more compact and lighter than an 18V option.
It all becomes a matter of preference and the 12V is quite popular with many of the trades.
Generally speaking, an impact driver with 1500–1800 in-lbs of torque puts more emphasis on higher RPM. It will do 95% of the work more quickly than a tool with more torque and slower speeds.
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