The Best Cordless Impact Wrench
Our Top Pick for 2018: Milwaukee 2763-22 M18 1/2″ Inch Cordless Impact Wrench
Read our full review.
We decided that our next mission would be to find the best cordless impact wrenches in the market. If you aren’t familiar with these tools, they are extremely helpful. Not only do they allow you to ditch your electric drills, but they make fastening screws and bolts a cinch. And with the cordless ones, you won’t even have to worry about the power cord getting in the way. Yes- that’s how far technology is taking us these days. For our purpose, we researched as many cordless impact wrenches as we could find. We put them to the test in different settings and on different machinery. We tested them outside and inside. We tried to evaluate every possible thing that would affect their workmanship and their results. In the end, we came up with our official take on the best products out there. Here is our list of the top three and our final budget buy.
Let’s Have a Quick Look of Our Top 4 Picks:
#1. Milwaukee 2763-22 M18 1/2″ Inch Cordless Impact Wrench
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The gold pick for best cordless impact wrench goes to the Milwaukee 2763-22 M18 ½-Inch Cordless impact wrench. We liked this particular impact wrench because of its fantastic power and clean design. Not only can it save on time and energy, but it will give you a professional result every time you use it.
The Milwaukee is a favorite of ours due to a lot of different attributes. One of the main ones is its power. An impact wrench works by using torque; it works on 18-volts. The gun works by storing energy into the gun and releasing it through the shaft with a lot of force. Easing pressure on your hand, or requiring power to come from your hand is its goal. The Milwaukee is able to do this because of a powerful inner mechanism that delivers up to 700 feet-pounds of fastening torque. It actually has two settings to it and the lower setting delivers 100 feet-pounds. This model also has a longer-run time so you won’t have to worry about running out of power. This is great news for users who have big jobs to tackle. They can get them done in no time—and with minimum strain on their hands. It comes with a Red lithium XC 4.0 battery pack and that’s where it gets its superb long-lasting power.
The other favorable thing about this Milwaukee brand is that it runs cooler than other models, despite running longer. It also boasts no “wearable” parts within the mechanism. Again- this makes for a long-lasting product that will be safe to use for extended periods of time. You will never have to worry about the motor overheating and it should last until the end of any project. We always look for models that can take a beating, last for extended times and still perform optimally. The Milwaukee is definitely one of them and we’re happy to include it at the top of our list.
When it comes to look, this one is great. We loved the overall look of the product. A machine with this much power, can sometimes come with a bulky body or clumsy build. Neither one is an issue here. The manufacturer must have worked hard on the construction because it manages to still be sleek, despite its power. It’s the typical Milwaukee-red with black and silver. It looks like a quality tool and performs like one too. We loved the design of this impact wrench and how convenient it was to get into tight spaces quickly. It weighs 16.2 pounds and its dimensions are 12.6-inches by 16-inches by 4.4-inches.
Some other notable features of the Milwaukee 2763-22 M18 is its overload protection. This is a great feature. Any construction worker knows how easy it is to push him- or herself and their machinery to get a job done. Some machines are prone to overload, which can easily damage inner mechanisms. The Milwaukee is built to avoid this. Not only does that avoid damaging the motor, but it avoids damage to the battery and entire inner-makeup. It also has discharge protection technology that can stop cell damage. Again- another feature that is going to help with the lifespan of your impact wrench. The entire package comes with the impact wrench, two M18 Red lithium XC 4.0 battery packs, an M18 and an M12 multi-voltage charger and the carrying case.
This was a fantastic example of what an impact wrench should be and that’s why it made it to the number one spot. If you are looking for the best one available, definitely check out the Milwaukee 2763-22 M18. Likely you will see what we see—a quality, durable, powerful tool that will help you finish your job that much quicker.
#2. DEWALT DCF899P1 20V MAX XR Brushless High Torque 1/2″ Impact Wrench
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*Price typically updated every 24 hours. Current price may be different.
The Dewalt DCF899P1 20V Max XR Brushless High Torque ½-Inch Impact Wrench Kit with Detent Anvil is our number two silver pick. We liked this one because of its power, sleek design and flexibility. It definitely was a stand-out, and here is why.
This is another heavy-duty motorized machine. This Dewalt model also comes with a lot of power in its small frame. This one has 700 feet-pound of fastening torque, just like our number one pick. It has three different speeds to work with, so you easily can adjust to the job at hand without wasting energy. This is a great feature because of how versatile it makes the tool. When we look for tools, we always look for the ones that can perform with high-quality on a variety of different tasks. They can handle the little jobs equally as well as they can handle the bigger jobs. That’s exactly what this Dewalt can do and that is a huge part of why it made it to our number two pick.
On top of having a great maximum torque level, the Dewalt impact wrench also has a max breakaway torque of 1,200 feet-pound. That is huge and helpful. It puts this tool in line with much bigger corded machines in its category. Couple the power with its other features, and you definitely have a winner. We can see this much power being a huge advantage to people working with heavy machinery repair, elevator work, iron-working, dye-casting businesses and farms. This is the machine that will take a beating and be ready for more time and again.
The Dewalt also has an LED indicator light that will help you to see in darker or shadowed areas. This was a handy feature because it adds to the tool’s universal appeal. On top of that, it has a battery power gauge that will tell you how much charge is left in the battery. We love tools that interact with the user to tell them the status of the power and help them work more efficiently. Manufacturers that are able to build these qualities into their products always get a second look from us. We are all for helping our readers and appreciate manufacturers who do the same with their potential customers.
In terms of size, the Dewalt is 10.7-pounds of power. Its dimensions are 17.1-inches by 5.9-inches by 9.8-inches. It also has a ½-inch anvil with a detent pin. This makes for a highly convenient machine. Although it brings a lot of power to it, we found that it was easy to get into tight spaces and finish demanding jobs quickly. We loved that the manufacturer was able to harness so much power into such a small space. Speaking of power, with as high a torque as this tool has, it runs on its lithium ion battery. This of course is a feature that ensures long-lasting power just like the Milwaukee model has. The streamlined body of this tool is another thing that put it at the top of our list of the best impact wrenches on the market.
The Dewalt package includes the impact wrench, a 5.0ah battery, the charger and a bag to carry it. We liked that the manufacturer gives buyers everything they need to complete jobs. Gone are the days when workers needed an electric-powered or pneumatic impact wrench. Now, thanks to technology the battery-operated ones are doing just fine on their own. This tool is definitely designed for professional use and offered with a confident 3-year limited warranty by the manufacturer.
If you need a powerful impact wrench, definitely consider testing out this Dewalt. Not only is it the complete package, but it comes at a great price. We tested a huge amount of impact wrenches and this one made it to the top of our list for good reason. Find Hand Torque Wrenches Here
#3. Makita XWT02Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 3-Speed 1/2-Inch Impact Wrench
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Our bronze pick is the Makita XWT02Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 3-Speed ½-Inch Impact Wrench. We chose this one because of its power to compact size. This is one of the best performing tools and the fact that it comes in as tiny as it is, is pretty amazing. Here are the details of why we chose it as our number three product.
This Makita model has enough power to get just about any job done. It delivers a smaller amount of power than our top picks, both the gold and the silver choices, but it still has enough advantages to earn it the number three spot on our list. It has 210 feet-pound of maximum torque. It uses a brushless motor to increase its safe run-time. The motor is run via an electronic control that efficiently matches torque to RPM. It also has three speeds and we really liked this versatile option. It allows users to decide just how much power they need and avoid over-torqueing. This is particularly handy for vehicle repair. In fact, that’s exactly where we see this tool being used the most. It also has a 3-stage LED gauge that tells you exactly how much charge is left. By letting you know how much time you have left, you can adjust to complete the job you are working on. All mechanisms on the Makita are constructed from high-quality steel and benefit from a unique heat-hardening process.
The size of the Makita impact wrench is a huge advantage also. It weighs just 3-pounds. Its dimensions are 10-inches by 4-inches by 8-inches. That means it is small enough for continued use and convenient enough for overhead use. Anyone who has had to lift a heavy tool to repair a high object, will appreciate the weight of this one. Despite its size, it is powerful enough for many different applications. We definitely gave a huge nod to manufacturers who figured out how to harness so much power in such a small machine. It isn’t as powerful as our other top picks, but given its weight and dimensions that is not a problem at all. In fact, its size to power ratio is probably the main reason why it earned its title as our bronze pick for impact wrenches.
We also liked the design of Makita. On top of being light-weight it is designed with an ergonomic handle. If you look at the hilt, you can see how it is curved and slightly wider on top for ease of grip. Imagine working for a long time on a project. With older tools, you may get cramps in your hand, or have a difficult time continuing until completion. Because this machine is designed for ease of use, it won’t tax your muscles. Its ergonomic design works perfectly with your grip. The whole purpose of an impact wrench is to let the tool do the work, rather than your hand. This ergonomic feature only makes sense and we applaud Makita for working it into their design.
Finally, the Makita is enabled with an Extreme Protection technology. This allows it to be highly dust- and water-resistant. If you are working outside or in tough conditions this is the perfect tool to have in your hand. Not only will it get the job done, but it will stand up to weather. There are a lot of tools that can’t safely handle harsh conditions—in particular light rains—but the Makita definitely is not one of them. You can easily use it (within reason) in difficult weather.
If you need a powerful machine that is considerably compact and reliable, test out the Makita impact wrench. Not only will you find it easy to use, but your job will be completed in no time at all. This is a fantastic product and we proudly included it as our number three pick on our list of the best impact wrenches available.
#4. Tradespro 14.4V 3/8″ Drive Cordless Impact Wrench
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*Price typically updated every 24 hours. Current price may be different.
As usual, we pick our top three products but then we went back and picked an additional budget buy. This is the product that didn’t quite make it to the top, but still deserves some promotion due to its quality. With our list today this honor goes to the Tradespro 14.4V 3/8” Drive cordless impact wrench.
The power of the Tradespro is notable as compared to its size. It offers 100 feet-pound of torque power. That may not sound like a lot as compared to our other picks, but for most jobs we found that it was able to stand up nicely. It works with 14 volts and is battery powered like our other picks. Of course the battery power means that you aren’t tied to a power cord or a pneumatic source for it to run. This impact wrench is most suited for automotive work or household work. It works easily with any 3/8-inch socket. You can handle a wide variety of jobs with it and during testing, we found it to be one of the most reliable tools around.
It is just 5-pounds and has dimensions of 12-inches by 13-inches by 5.4-inches. Just like our third-place impact wrench, this one is compact and has a lot of power as compared to its size. This makes it easy for transport and easy to have ready for any job that comes up. It works with a NiCAD battery and we found it is long-lasting on a single charge. This makes it the perfect companion for jobs and it won’t require a lot of maintenance beyond regular charging. One thing we did notice is that it does need considerable time to fully charge. That is why we suggest it for jobs that are started and finished, and aren’t in need of continuous maintenance. You can get a pretty long run of performance from it but then need to let it regenerate its power.
The Tradespro also comes with a 1-year warranty on parts and comes with a storage case, the battery and the charger. Again- we want products that come with everything you need to get them working right out of the box. With the exception of a good charge, this one will be ready to go immediately. We like it when manufacturers include all items needed, and also convenience items like the carry bag. It makes it easier on the worker who needs to get to the jobsite quickly without having to fumble for various parts and attachments.
We chose the Tradespro as our budget buy because of the amount of work it can handle in its small package. It’s convenient and reliable and definitely deserves to be on our list. No- it isn’t as powerful or diverse as our other top three picks, but it still can contribute to a great result on any project you undertake.
Pre-purchase considerations
When we embark on a new research study to find the best products in the market, we always first sit down and decide what considerations are going to be studied. If we are reviewing coffee makers, for example, we consider the ability to extract intense flavor from the grounds. If we are reviewing lawn mowers, as another example, we look at how well it cuts the grass uniformly. When it comes to impact wrenches, we considered the individual tool’s features. Things like its motor speeds, its maximum torque and its energy-efficiency were discussed. We also looked at its power. This included its voltage and battery life. Another consideration was its ease of use and how effective it would be for a newer user. Finally, we also looked at its overall design. Here are the details of each consideration we had and how we broke each down.
Features
All tools come with different features. There are a lot that are standard, but special features make one machine stand out from others. We look for the products that have exceptional features. The ones that were specially designed to not only complete a task, but improve on the results with its specialized construction. For example, all impact wrenches can tighten. But not all of them can tighten while protecting the user’s hands due to overuse. If a wrench had special ergonomic qualities, or a particularly powerful motor, we called this a special feature and took note of it.
We also looked at special features of a package. If a manufacturer included things that were not standard with the machine, we noted that. Anything that makes a specific product stand out, caused us to pay special attention to that model. This could be something like a longer warranty period or an extra battery, for example.
motor
We also looked at the motor. This after all is one of the most important elements of any tool. We wanted to be sure that the motor was strong and durable. Quite a few of our early contenders were pushed out of the mix when we realized that they were lacking in power. Sure they looked good and had sleek designs, but we just didn’t think they could get the job done. At least not without a lot of human effort to complete tasks. This wasn’t efficient and definitely was not what we were looking for. We vetoed all of these products.
We sought after products that had powerful motors. We wanted to be impressed by their performance over time and really be able to stand behind our picks. In particular the Makita made an impact due to its power-to-size. That’s a small tool that’s light-weight but it packs a powerful punch. Our two top choices, the Makita and our budget pick are all wildly powerful and can take on just about any job we can think of. We put them to the test during our research phase and they not only held up, but exceeded our expectations.We also looked at the motor. This after all is one of the most important elements of any tool. We wanted to be sure that the motor was strong and durable. Quite a few of our early contenders were pushed out of the mix when we realized that they were lacking in power. Sure they looked good and had sleek designs, but we just didn’t think they could get the job done. At least not without a lot of human effort to complete tasks. This wasn’t efficient and definitely was not what we were looking for. We vetoed all of these products.
We sought after products that had powerful motors. We wanted to be impressed by their performance over time and really be able to stand behind our picks. In particular the Makita made an impact due to its power-to-size. That’s a small tool that’s light-weight but it packs a powerful punch. Our two top choices, the Makita and our budget pick are all wildly powerful and can take on just about any job we can think of. We put them to the test during our research phase and they not only held up, but exceeded our expectations.
comfort features
We also considered the comfort factor. Sure some people would only be using their impact wrench a few times to finish a job. What about those who need to use it for hours? What about those whose job entails using one? We wanted them to have a tool that was easy to use over and over. Because of this we paid special attention to the manufacturers who built in ergonomic grips. We wanted to be sure that anyone who took our advice for the top picks was sure to have a comfortable product that would serve them well.
We also considered the weight. Some of the early products we reviewed for this list did the job, but they weight too much to ever be thought of as comfortable. We vetoed these quickly. To make our list a product had to be easy to use repeatedly if needed. We are happy to say that each one of our final winners fit comfortably into a worker’s hand and won’t cause discomfort.
inclusions
When we look at products for review, we also look at inclusions in the package. We want to be sure that the manufacturers we support are always thinking of the end-user and his or her convenience. We want to be sure that they include everything the user will need to use the tool. That’s why we always take a look at the whole package. Did the manufacturer include a carry case? It may sound trivial, but if you have to transport a handheld tool time and again, you want some way to carry it without throwing it blindly into your trunk. It may damage other items or just knock around clumsily. We want more than that from the manufacturers we herald. We want convenience for our readers and having the complete package is a big part of that.
Conclusion (Wrapping it up)
In the end, we came up with the Milwaukee 2763-22 M18 as our gold product, the Dewalt DCF899P1 20V as our silver product, the Makita XWT02Z as our bronze product and the Tradespro 14.4V as our budget buy. We put each one of these through a long series of testing and are positive that they are the best impact wrenches in the market. If you are looking for one, be sure to check these out. They not only will perform great, but they will help you finish the job quicker and more efficiently.