What is an Impact Driver? Uses, Features & Expert Guide to This High-Torque Power Tool

Last updated: December 2, 2025

If you have ever tried to drive long decking screws or coach screws with a standard drill, you will know the feeling. The bit slips, the screw head chews up, the drill starts to smoke and your wrist feels every bit of resistance from the timber. That is exactly the kind of job impact drivers were built to make easy.

An impact driver is a compact, high-torque fastening tool that uses a clever internal mechanism to deliver rapid rotational blows while it spins. Instead of simply turning the bit like a normal drill, it applies bursts of torque when it feels resistance. The result is that it drives screws and fixings far more easily, with less strain on your wrist and a much lower chance of stripping the screw head.

In this guide we will answer the two big questions straight on: what is an impact driver and what is an impact driver used for. We will break down how the mechanism works, how it differs from a combi drill and an impact wrench, the key features to look for, and the jobs where an impact driver absolutely shines. Along the way we will highlight leading models and categories available from Toolden’s Impact Drivers range.


Table of Contents

What is an Impact Driver and How It Works

A simple definition first:

An impact driver is a power tool designed specifically for driving screws and fixings, using high rotational torque and rapid impacts to do the hard work for you.

Where a standard drill provides smooth, continuous rotation, an impact driver adds a second action when the going gets tough.

The rotational impact mechanism

Inside every impact driver you will find three key components working together:

At low load, the hammer and anvil rotate together smoothly. As resistance increases (for example when the screw bites deep into hardwood), the hammer is forced to slip back slightly, then spring forward, striking the anvil. This happens many times per second and each strike adds a burst of extra torque.

This is called a rotational impact mechanism. It is different to the linear hammering in a hammer drill, which punches the bit forwards into masonry. Here, the blows are around the axis of rotation, not along it.

Key consequences:

Automatic engagement

There is no extra button to press for the impact action. On a modern impact driver the impacts engage automatically when resistance reaches a certain threshold. Light duty screwdriving feels almost like a normal driver. As soon as you move to longer or thicker fasteners you will hear that familiar “ratatat” as the hammer and anvil get to work.

1/4 inch hex chuck

Instead of a three-jaw drill chuck, impact drivers use a 1/4 inch hex quick-change chuck. Bits with a hex shank slide in and lock with a simple push. This is ideal for:

Torque is usually expressed either in Newton metres (Nm) or inch pounds (in-lb). Typical 18 V professional impact drivers sit in the 150 to 220 Nm range, equivalent to roughly 1,450 to 2,000 in-lb. Models such as the Makita DTD152Z, DeWalt DCF887N and Milwaukee M18FID3 all fall into this band.


Types of Impact Drivers

Impact drivers are not all the same. Choosing the right style can make a big difference to comfort and performance on site.

Standard impact drivers

This is the classic format most people recognise: pistol grip, trigger, and a stubby nose with a 1/4 inch hex chuck. These are:

Take a look at the full range in Toolden’s Impact Drivers category for a sense of the size and layouts available.

Angled impact drivers

Angled impact drivers or angle attachments place the chuck at 90 degrees to the body. They are designed for:

You will often see these as part of specialist trade kits or as right-angle attachments compatible with standard 1/4 inch hex impact drivers.

Corded vs cordless impact drivers

Corded impact drivers exist, but in practice cordless tools dominate this category.

Cordless impact drivers:

Corded models can still make sense on production lines or workshops where constant power and zero downtime matter more than mobility, but for most users an 18V cordless impact driver is the obvious choice.

Brushless impact drivers

Brushless motor technology has transformed modern impact drivers. Brushless models:

You can see this on real products. The DeWalt DCF887N uses a brushless motor with three speed and torque modes, delivering up to 205Nm while remaining compact and lightweight.

Mini and compact impact drivers

If you work in lofts, cupboards or overhead all day, saving weight and length is massive. Sub-compact and 12V impact drivers:

These mini tools are perfect for electricians, kitchen fitters and anyone who values manoeuvrability ahead of raw power.


Impact Driver vs Similar Tools: The Key Differences

The confusion usually starts here:

They all spin, some of them hammer, and all of them are used with bits and fasteners. The important distinction is how they apply force and what fixings they are designed for.

Core comparison

FeatureImpact driverStandard drill / driverHammer drill / combi drillImpact wrench
Primary mechanismHigh torque rotational impactsContinuous rotationRotation plus forward hammering into the materialHigh torque rotational impacts
Main functionDriving screws and construction fixingsDrilling holes, light screwdrivingDrilling into masonry and concrete, general drillingTightening and loosening nuts and heavy bolts
Typical drive type1/4 inch hex quick-change chuck3 jaw keyed or keyless chuck3 jaw keyed or keyless chuck1/2 inch or 3/8 inch square drive for sockets
Torque measurementUsually in Nm or inch pounds (in-lb)Lower torque, often specified in NmSimilar to drill, limited torque for screwsNewton metres or foot pounds (ft-lb), very high
Typical use caseDecking, framing, roofing, structural screwsPilot holes, smaller screws, light DIYDrilling anchor holes in brick, block and concreteWheel nuts, structural steel bolts, plant, HGV
Primary userCarpenters, builders, serious DIYGeneral DIY, cabinet makers, light tradesBuilders, electricians, plumbers, HVAC installersAutomotive and heavy engineering professionals

The crucial distinction is in torque and measurement:

A 200Nm impact driver is serious power for screws, but a 1,000 Nm impact wrench is a very different animal, designed for wheel nuts and heavy structural fixings.

Impact driver vs drill

A standard drill or drill driver:

An impact driver:

Pros of an impact driver compared with a drill

Cons

Combi drill (hammer drill) vs impact driver

A combi drill combines:

Use it when you need:

Use an impact driver when you need:

In practice, many tradespeople carry both. The combi drill handles drilling and light screws, while the impact driver takes over for structural fixings. Toolden’s own comparison article on combi drill vs impact driver vs impact wrench goes into more depth on this point.

Impact driver vs impact wrench

This is where torque gets serious.

An impact wrench:

An impact driver:

As a rule:


Essential Impact Driver Features & Technology

Once you understand the basic mechanism, the next step is knowing which features actually matter when you are picking a tool.

Motor type: brushed vs brushless

Modern mid to high end impact drivers from Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee and Bosch now use brushless motors in many models, such as the DeWalt DCF887N and Milwaukee M18FID3.

Torque and speed

Key specs to look at:

For example, the Makita DTD152Z offers up to 165Nm of torque, 0 to 2,900 rpm and up to 3,500 impacts per minute, which is more than enough for most construction screws.

Electronic controls and modes

Rather than a simple on/off trigger, modern impact drivers incorporate:

This is effectively your torque control on an impact driver. Instead of a clutch, you select a lower mode for smaller screws and softer materials, and a higher mode for big fixings.

Compact design and ergonomics

Impact drivers are famously short and stumpy. A typical 18V model such as the Makita DTD152Z is only around 137mm long and 1.5kg including battery.

Benefits:

Look for:

1/4 inch hex chuck

Every impact driver shares this essential detail:

This chuck is a major reason impact drivers are so quick and convenient on repetitive jobs.


10 Common Tasks Impact Drivers Are Used For

So, what is an impact driver used for in real life? Here are ten everyday tasks where it earns its keep.

1. Driving long screws in wood, metal or composite

This is the impact driver’s home turf. Driving 80 mm to 200 mm screws into structural timber, engineered joists or composite decking is effortless compared with a standard drill. The impact action keeps the bit seated and powers through knots and dense material.

2. Assembling flat pack and fitted furniture

Impact drivers make short work of furniture assembly, kitchen units and built-in storage. Use a lower power mode and appropriate bit and you can drive hundreds of screws quickly without your wrist aching. Just be gentle with chipboard carcasses and pre-drilled holes.

3. Installing drywall and plasterboard

Paired with collated drywall screws or loose screws and the right bit, an impact driver will fix boards to studs at high speed. The consistent torque helps seat screws at the right depth. Many trades will use a dedicated collated screw gun for large jobs, but an impact driver is a great option for smaller or mixed tasks.

4. Deck building and outdoor structures

Decking, pergolas, sheds and garden rooms involve heavy, repeated fastening into treated timber. An impact driver keeps driving even when screws hit wet or dense timber, with far less risk of stripping the head. Using decking screws from Toolden’s wide range of fixings completes the package.

5. Concrete anchor installation

For frame fixings, masonry screws and some concrete anchors, an impact driver can be used after you have drilled the pilot hole with an SDS or combi drill. It is especially useful with concrete screws, where the high torque helps cut the thread into masonry.

6. Cabinet making and shopfitting

Cabinet installers and shopfitters love compact impact drivers for:

The short head length and one-handed bit changes are perfect in cramped interiors.

7. Roofing and flooring projects

From flooring screws into joists to roofing screws through sheet materials into timbers, an impact driver keeps fixings moving without burning out. Use appropriate roofing or flooring screws from Toolden’s screws and fixings range to ensure a secure hold.

8. Loosening rusted bolts and screws

Lightly rusted or stubborn screws often yield to the shock action of an impact driver where a hand screwdriver or drill would slip. With an impact-rated nut setter you can also tackle small bolts and fixings. For serious rusted nuts and bolts, however, an impact wrench is the more appropriate tool.

9. Fencing and garden structures

Impact drivers are ideal for:

You will often work at awkward heights or angles outdoors and the compact body plus LED light make those tasks much easier.

10. Automotive repairs (light duty)

An impact driver is not a replacement for a high torque impact wrench, but it is useful around vehicles for:

Use socket adapters and impact-rated nut drivers for small hex fasteners. For suspension, engine mounts or wheel nuts you should move up to an impact wrench.


Powering the Tool: Battery Technologies

Most modern impact drivers are cordless, so battery choice is a big part of performance and cost.

Lithium ion vs NiCd

Older tools used nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries which:

Modern impact drivers almost universally use lithium ion (Li-ion) packs:

For that reason, NiCd is mostly of historical interest. If you are buying new, you will be looking at lithium ion.

Voltage and capacity (Ah)

Common cordless platforms include:

Battery capacity is measured in amp hours (Ah). A 5.0Ah 18V battery holds roughly twice as much energy as a 2.5Ah pack of the same voltage. In practice that means more screws driven per charge, but also more weight on the tool.

The Toolden blog’s impact driver buying guide highlights that 18V lithium ion platforms are especially popular, giving a sensible middle ground between power and portability.

Battery platforms and cross tool compatibility

Most major brands (Makita LXT, DeWalt XR, Milwaukee M18, Bosch Professional and others) use a shared battery platform:

If you buy an 18V impact driver from one of these ranges, it makes sense to stick with the same platform for future drills, saws and other cordless tools.

Battery care, charging and maintenance

To keep your impact driver batteries healthy:

Toolden stocks a wide selection of batteries and chargers across the major platforms, so matching replacements or upgrades is straightforward.


Essential Accessories & Kits

An impact driver is only as good as the accessories you pair it with. The high torque means you must choose appropriately robust bits and sockets.

Impact rated bits

Standard screwdriver bits are designed for drills and hand drivers, not repeated shock loading. In an impact driver they can:

Impact-rated bits are made from tougher alloys with specific heat treatment and geometry to survive the percussive action. When you are choosing bits from Toolden’s range of power tool accessories, make sure they are clearly marked as impact-rated.

Nut drivers and socket adapters

To drive hex-head screws or small bolts:

Combined with Toolden’s Impact Sockets & Sets, this gives a very versatile fastening setup for light mechanical work.

Hex-shank drill bits

If you plan to drill occasional pilot holes with your impact driver, you will need hex-shank drill bits:

For frequent or precise drilling, especially in masonry, a dedicated drill or combi drill is still the better option.

Kit vs bare tool

Many impact drivers are sold as body only tools, like the Makita DTD152Z, DeWalt DCF887N and Milwaukee M18FID3 – ideal if you already own compatible batteries and chargers.

If you are buying your first tool on a platform, consider a kit that includes:

The upfront cost is higher than a bare tool, but it is usually cheaper than buying everything separately and gets you working straight out of the box.


Top Brands and Buying Advice

Toolden carries impact drivers from all the major trade brands, along with brand-specific kit builder pages so you can assemble the ideal battery and tool bundles for your work.

Leading brands for impact drivers at Toolden

Here are some of the standout brands and where to browse their impact driver options.

Shop Makita Impacts!

Shop Makita Impacts!

Shop DeWalt Impacts!

Shop DeWalt Impacts!

Shop Milwaukee Impacts!

Shop Milwaukee Impacts!

Shop Bosch Impacts!

Shop Bosch Impacts!

Popular best selling impact drivers on Toolden

At the time of writing, the general Impact Drivers category highlights several best selling models. A few examples:

  1. Makita DTD152Z LXT 18 V Cordless Impact Driver (Body Only)
  2. DeWalt DCF887N XR 18 V Brushless 3 Speed Impact Driver (Body Only)
  3. Milwaukee M18FID3 18 V FUEL 1/4 inch Hex Impact Driver (Body Only)

Customer review scores can change over time as more people purchase and rate these tools. For the latest star ratings and written feedback, it is best to check each product page directly.

Choosing the right impact driver: DIY vs professional

When you are deciding which model to buy, think about:

For a deeper dive into specification choices, check Toolden’s dedicated guide on how to choose the best impact driver.


Common Impact Driver Questions (FAQs)

The keyword research behind this guide highlights a long list of frequently asked questions about impact drivers. Here are clear, straightforward answers.

What do you use an impact driver for?

Primarily for driving screws and fixings where high torque is needed. Think decking screws, structural timber screws, coach screws, frame fixings and other repetitive fastening tasks in wood, metal and some masonry applications.

What is the difference between an impact driver and a drill?

A drill provides smooth, continuous rotation and is optimised for drilling accurate holes and light screwdriving. An impact driver adds rotational impacts to deliver much higher torque for tougher screws and fixings, but is less precise for drilling.

Can you use an impact driver as a drill? / Can you drill with an impact driver?

You can drill with an impact driver for light duty work using hex-shank drill bits, especially in wood and thin sheet metal. It will not be as accurate or controllable as a dedicated drill, and it is not suitable for serious masonry drilling, where a combi or SDS drill is the correct tool.

Can you use an impact driver as a screwdriver?

Yes. With the right bit and on a low power mode, an impact driver can act as a powered screwdriver. For delicate work or very small screws, a drill driver or manual screwdriver still gives better feel and control.

Can you use an impact wrench as an impact driver?

Not really. An impact wrench uses a square drive for sockets and delivers torque in foot pounds, usually far higher than you want on screws. Even with adapters, it would be clumsy and overpowered for typical screwdriving tasks.

When should you not use an impact driver?

Avoid using an impact driver where:

In those cases use a drill driver or combi drill instead.

Can I use impact driver bits in a drill?

Yes. Impact-rated bits will work perfectly in a standard drill chuck. In fact, they often last longer than non-impact bits because they are made from tougher materials.

Do I need impact sockets for an impact driver?

If you are using socket adapters and driving nuts or bolts, you should use impact-rated sockets. Standard chrome vanadium sockets can crack or shatter under repeated impact loads, which is a safety risk.

Do I need impact bits for an impact driver?

Yes. The high torque and percussive action will quickly destroy ordinary screwdriver bits. Always choose bits labelled impact-rated or impact-compatible.

What size impact driver for lug nuts?

Most impact drivers are not ideal for car lug nuts. Wheel nuts are usually tightened to 80 to 130 ft-lb or more, which is better handled by a 1/2 inch impact wrench. Some very powerful 18 V impact drivers can loosen lightly tightened nuts, but you should not rely on them for critical wheel fixings.

What happens if I use normal bits in an impact driver?

They are likely to twist, snap or strip the screw head. This can damage the tool, the workpiece and potentially cause injury if the bit shatters. It is not worth the risk when impact bits are readily available.

What is better, 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch impact driver?

These refer to different tool types:

Neither is “better” in general. Choose 1/4 inch for screws, 1/2 inch for bolts.

Is 1,000Nm torque good for an impact driver?

1,000 Nm is far beyond normal for an impact driver and firmly in heavy duty impact wrench territory. Typical 18 V impact drivers are in the 150 to 220 Nm range. Tools advertised at 1 000 Nm are usually impact wrenches designed for automotive or structural steel work.

Do I need an impact driver?

If you only occasionally drive small screws into softwood, a combi drill may be enough. If you regularly build decks, fences, roofs, stud walls or other projects involving lots of screws and structural fixings, an impact driver will save time, effort and wear on your drill.

Are impact drivers loud?

Yes, they are noticeably louder than standard drills. Sound pressure levels around 90 to 100 dB are common, as you can see in specs such as the Makita DTD152Z which quotes 93 dB(A) sound pressure and 104 dB(A) sound power. Ear protection is strongly recommended for extended use.

Can impact drivers be used on concrete?

Indirectly. They are great for driving concrete screws or frame fixings after you have drilled a pilot hole with an SDS or combi drill. They are not the right tool for drilling those holes in the first place.

Do I need an impact driver if I already own a drill?

If your projects are mostly light DIY, your drill may be enough. If you find yourself burning out drills, struggling with long screws or doing a lot of construction work, adding an impact driver will make life far easier and extend the life of your drill.

How do I prevent stripping screws with an impact driver?

How much torque does a typical impact driver provide?

Most 18V impact drivers aimed at trade users deliver somewhere between 150 and 220Nm, depending on brand and model. Examples include 165 Nm for the Makita DTD152Z, 205 Nm for the DeWalt DCF887N and 226 Nm for the Milwaukee M18FID3.

Is a brushless motor worth the extra cost?

For frequent users, yes. Brushless motors are more efficient, give better runtime from each battery and have fewer wear parts. Over the lifetime of the tool, especially on site, they usually justify the higher upfront price.

Which battery voltage is best for home use, 12V or 18V?

If you can see yourself doing bigger projects later, 18V is the safer bet.

What kind of screws and bits does an impact driver use?

Impact drivers use:

Stick with high quality screws and bits from reputable brands and you will get far better results with fewer headaches.


Conclusion

An impact driver is a specialised fastening tool that takes over where a normal drill starts to struggle. By combining rotational speed with powerful internal impacts, it delivers high torque in a compact body, making it ideal for decking, framing, roofing, fencing and all forms of repetitive fastening. Compared with a drill it drives long screws faster and with less effort; compared with an impact wrench it is optimised for screws rather than large nuts and bolts.

Once you match the voltage, torque, motor type and accessories to your needs, an impact driver quickly becomes one of the most used tools in your kit. If you are ready to upgrade your setup, explore the full range of impact drivers at Toolden along with impact sockets, bits and batteries, and build a cordless system that will handle everything from weekend DIY to full time site work.

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Shop the full range!


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