Impact drivers have concussive blows that push the screw in quite easily. Impact drivers have the most power when it comes to power tools. You’ll hear that “brrrr” sound with the impact driver that you won’t see anywhere. And you won’t have to put on the extra manual pressure either.
Drill drivers can house a screwdriver bit to technically do the same job as that of an impact driver. But as I’ve said before, you’ll have to put in a lot of effort to drive the screws home. But with the best 12V impact driver, it’s like a knife through butter.
Find the Best 12v Impact Driver of Market
You will find it quite hard and puzzling to find out a top-notch impact driver from thousands of these as per your requirements. We handpicked some most valued and popular products from the market to reduce your hassle.
1. Bosch PS41-2A 12V Max 1/4-Inch Hex Impact Driver Kit
Positive Words
With a body weighing only 2.1 lbs along with the shortest head length, this Bosch PS41-2A impact driver created a buzz in the market. You can hold this product without having any fatigue because of the reduced weight. The incredibly slim body lets you work in tight and congested areas.
Despite being a brushed motor, this motor can create 930 in.-lbs torque with a revolution rate of 2600 rpm. For greater impact force, Bosch included an anvil and hammer system developed on their own. So, you can use this for all kinds of household works like fastening screws, mild drilling, etc without any hesitation.
This impact driver comes with a built-in fuel gauge that makes the driver quite power-efficient. It also maintains the battery actively which assures an increased lifetime. As two compatible batteries are provided with this kit, you should not be worried about the health of this device.
Drawbacks
- The build quality of the light ring is not very strong.
2. DEWALT DCF815S2 12-Volt Impact Driver Kit
Positive Words
Though this DEWALT DCF815S2 impact driver is equipped with a brushed motor, it can provide 0-2450 RPM and 0-3400 IPM with 1400 in.-lbs of torque. This huge output power will allow you to do almost any kind of heavy and lightweight work such as drilling, fastening bolts, fastening screws, metal-works, wood-works, etc. The streamline performance puts the use of a drill guide out of the equation.
If you are searching for a driver that suits both heavy and light works then this can help you with its variable speed feature. The 1.1 Ah battery Recharges within an hour and supports a long time that makes it the best device for professionals. Besides these, strong radial LED lights to make this a perfect device to use during low light conditions.
The strong, durable and lightweight metal-built body makes the driver very rugged and strong. Only 2.3 lbs body makes this impact driver pretty convenient to use for a long time for both occasional and professional users. Compact design and rugged look make it one of the most attractive products in the market.
Drawbacks
- The battery doesn’t include fuel gauge.
3. Ridgid R82230N 1/4 Inch 12 Volt Impact Driver
Positive Words
Having a lighter body of 1.94 lbs despite the greater torqued motor, this Ridgid impact driver earned huge popularity in the market. The motor is quite small and incredibly powerful that can generate 1100 in.-lbs torque. You will find this driver quite convenient for all professional works, car-works, metal-works, etc.
Though this impact driver comes with a brushed motor, only a 1.5 Ah li-ion battery can support this driver for more than an hour. Proper venting prevents the motor and the battery from heating up. This motor omits noise and vibration quite actively which will make your work experience smooth and cozy.
You will find this product very comfortable to use as you can change bits by just pulling the collar. Hex textured rubber handle lets you hold the driver firmly no matter how slippery or sweaty your hand is. You can also keep this driver attached on either side of the belt using the reversible clip that reduces hassle during tough jobs.
Drawbacks
- Any battery isn’t provided with the kit.
- No warranty is provided.
4. Milwaukee 2462-20 M12 Impact Driver
Positive Words
This Milwaukee 2462-20 M12 impact driver comes with a strong and slim brushed motor. This motor can create a maximum of 2500 RPM and a torque of 1000 in.-lbs, which is enough for both light and heavy works such as fastening screws, drilling through concrete, metal-works, car-works, etc.
The inclusion of the Redlithium battery maintenance system makes this one of the top-grade impact drivers in the market. This system maintains battery temperature by creating communication between the battery and the driver. As a result, the battery remains healthy and lasts much longer and assures your safety while working.
High carbon steel made body makes it surprisingly lightweight, rugged, and durable. You won’t have any fatigue or muscle pain holding it for a long time because the body weighs only 1.37 lbs. You can also keep this machine attached to your belt using the ambidextrous belt clip and get quick access.
Drawbacks
- Batteries are not provided with this kit.
- Single LED light is not strong enough to illuminate the workspace properly.
- No carrying bag is provided.
5. Milwaukee 2494-22 M12 Impact Driver
Positive Words
Very few products in the market have an intelligent battery maintenance system as this Milwaukee 2494-22 M12 impact driver. RedLink li-ion intelligence system precisely controls the current flow from the battery which resists the impact driver from heating. These batteries also show the remaining power by using the fuel gauge.
The powerful motor can generate 1000 in.-lbs torque with 2500 rpm revolving rate that lets you do almost every kind of semi-heavy work such as mild drilling through concrete and stone, metal fastening, car-working, etc. You won’t have to worry about light work because you can control the speed in 20 clutch positions.
This impact driver is a very good choice for those who have to work with a slippery hand or have a palm-sweating problem. Deeply textured handle helps you to clutch the driver firmly. You can also hang this driver using the metal clip to get quick access. A big clothed carry bag will vastly reduce your hassle while carrying.
Drawbacks
- This single LED is not strong enough to illuminate perfectly.
- The plastic body seems quite weak and fragile.
6. Hitachi WH10DFL2 12-Volt Peak Cordless Lithium-Ion Impact Driver
Positive Words
This Hitachi WH10DFL impact driver is equipped with a brushed motor that can create 955 in.-lbs torque with 2700 RPM which is enough for average usage. You can easily work on medium bolts, fasten metals, mild drilling, etc. Besides these, the variable speed feature will help you to perform different jobs like using a bolt extractor perfectly.
Holding this impact driver for a long time won’t cause any fatigue to your arm as it weighs only 2.2 pounds. The inclusion of li-ion batteries makes this impact driver substantially lighter than those with NiCd batteries. Li-ion batteries also assure a fade-free power supply to support the device strongly and assure proper health.
Hitachi provides this impact driver in a kit that includes a compatible charger, battery, and a replacement chuck. To carry these tools comfortably, they will provide you a strong plastic box. Apart from these features and facilities, Hitachi provides a lifetime warranty to make sure proper service and a better experience.
Drawbacks
- This single LED is not enough to illuminate surrounding the object.
- The placement of the LED is not quite convenient.
- The design and build quality seem cheaper.
7. Makita DT03Z 12V max CXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Impact Driver
Positive Words
This Makita DT03Z cordless impact driver is empowered by a li-ion battery of a capacity of 2 Ah that can support the driver for more than an hour by single charging. Makita also has a 4 Ah battery variant for professional users. The inclusion of the battery protection circuit resists over current flow and saves both battery and driver.
This can provide a revolution rate of 2600 rpm with a torque of 970 in.-lbs, slightly low, but pretty convenient for twisting long screws, mild drilling, small bolt fastening, etc. This impact driver offers you a miscellaneous usage with its variable speed feature.
Though having a huge capacity, batteries are incredibly small and lightweight. As a result, the whole device weighs only 2.3 lbs which assures you a long-time usage without causing any fatigue. You can also keep this tool attached with your waist belt strongly using the metal clip to get quick access.
Drawbacks
- The handle is not conveniently serrated to discard the sweating problems.
- Body build-quality seems cheaper than other competitors.
- The kit doesn’t include a charger and batteries.
Things You Should Acknowledge to Find the Best 12v Impact Driver
An impact driver is nearly an indispensable gadget for both household and professional work. Let’s leave neither the external attributes nor the inner quantitative features how trivial it may seem.
Motor
Generally, two types of motors are found in impact drivers brushless and usual. Usual motors have a lower price but have some issues of being heated up and lower efficiency. But brushless ones have better efficiency and torque without dealing with high heat. For heavy works, a brushless motored one is perfect.
Battery
Type
Most of the impact drivers are powered by either lithium-ion or Ni-Cd batteries. Though Nickel-Cadmium batteries are slightly heavier and have less capacity, they are common and cheaper. But Li-ion batteries have good capacity and are lightweight and smaller. For long battery life, lithium-ion batteries are highly preferred.
Capacity
Generally, impact driver batteries have 2-4 ah capacity. For household works, you can use a 2ah battery as they are lighter and rechargeable within a short time. 4 ah batteries are slightly heavier and bulky. But they are better for those, who need a compact driver for a long-time usage within a single recharge.
Technology
Some batteries have intelligence systems that communicate with the rest of the devices such as RedLink intelligence. This type of technology is highly recommended for heavy users and professional workers to maintain battery temperature. Some batteries come with a battery level indicator. These are a must for professional users.
LED Lights
Led lights are used for lighting up the workpiece. These are implemented either on the upper side of the trigger or surrounding the clamp. The surrounding arrangement is better if you have a battery of good capacity. The outcome withers one is not, usually, quite powerful but still good for those batteries that less capacity.
Body Material
Mainly two types of chassis of impact driver found in the market. One is the full plastic body and others come with metal parts or partially metallic. Full plastic ones are easily carryable and better for light works. The partially metallic body is slightly heavier but durable too. These are good for heavy and professional work.
Power
Most of the impact driver motor torque lies within 100-200 nm or 1800 in.-lbs and the revolution rate of 1500-2700 rpm. Multiply the rated torque with its rev rate, and you’re with the output power. An impact driver of greater power is better for heavy and professional works such as drilling through walls or fastening bolts.
Speed
In most cases, impact drivers are used to fastening long screws and thin bolts. For this purpose the better the revolution rate the better it will serve you regardless of the torque. Usually an rpm between 2500-3000 with a small torque of 800-1000 in.-lbs is more than enough to perform those works perfectly.
Carrier
Usually, a plastic box or a clothed carry bag is provided to carry the impact driver kit. Clothed bags are very good carrying the total kit and some other affiliated tools comfortably. Plastic boxes are good for carrying the whole kit safely. But you can’t carry other related tools in the latter.
Warranty
Mainly, two kinds of warranties are found, one comes body parts wise and another comes on the whole kit. If the warranty is between 2-3 years, it’s quite good for the whole kit but the same on parts is a tough call.
FAQ
Q: Can drill bits be used in impact drivers?
Ans: Simply no, impact driver bits are usually hex shank shaped and the diameter is certain. So, there are different bits for impact drivers in the market. You can’t use drill bits directly in impact drivers unless you use a proper adapter that accommodates both ends. A magnetic bit holder is quite the best solution.
Q: Is the usual motor replaceable with a brushless motor?
Ans: It’s impossible to replace the usual motor with a brushless one. Because brushless motors have different sizes and battery requirements. So, the impact driver may not accommodate the brushless one or match the requirements of the pre-installed motor.
Q: Is the clamp of the shank changeable to accommodate different sized shanks?
Ans: You can’t change the clamp or can’t change the size of the clamp. But you can have many adapters from the market. Using those adapters, you can also use a ¼ inch shank in ½ inch clamp using adapter sockets.
Q: Can this be a replacement for electric drills?
Ans: Electric drills are specially designed to make holes in concrete walls, woods, non-iron metals, and other hard objects. But impact drivers are quite differently designed to fasten metal and wood objects. You can use slim drill bits to impact drivers but it can’t work on the hard objects as good as an electric drill can.
Final Recommendation
12V Impact drivers come with better portability, lightweight design, and admirable output power. But there are some variations of design and capabilities that fit different jobs. So, let’s jump into the suggestions to help you find the best 12v impact driver you need.
Bosch PS41-2A and Ridgid R82230N Impact Drivers are best for lightweight professional works because of their better portability with a rugged and compact design. Though they include brushed motors, they are just perfect for all kinds of household works such as fastening screws, mild drilling, tightening bolts, etc.
If you need a compact, heavy-duty and professional impact driver, then DEWALT DCF815S2 is probably the best choice for you. The motor generates 1400 in.-lbs which is enough for metal, car, and concrete works. Moreover, if you have greater torque and speed requirements, then a brushless motor impact may fit your job.
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