6 Best Cordless Impact Wrenches for the Money
Cordless impact wrenches have come a long way and are slowly converting even the diehard air tool guys. With torque capabilities that now exceed many pneumatic models, these battery-powered beasts are changing the game.
Most of the best cordless impact wrenches below have a common factor: they’re powered by a brushless motor (all except the 1/2-drive DeWalt).
While four of our top picks feature a 1/2″ drive mechanism compatible with common impact sockets, we’ve also included two 3/8″ drive options that offer excellent performance in a more compact size for tighter spaces.
Three of the cordless tool industry’s top brands are represented, and the quality is up to par with other tools made by these companies. If you haven’t tried the latest in electric impact wrench technology, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.
Looking for air impact wrenches? See here >
Our 6 Favorite Cordless Impact Wrenches
| Product | Size | Weight (w/ bat) | Max Torque | Reverse Torque | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Milwaukee 2967-20 | 1/2" Drive | 7.5 lbs | 1,200 ft/lbs | 1,600 ft/lbs |
 | Milwaukee 2767-20 | 1/2" Drive | 7.5 lbs | 1,100 ft/lbs | 1,600 ft/lbs |
 | DeWalt DCF900P1 | 1/2" Drive | 9.0 lbs | 1,030 ft/lbs | 1,400 ft/lbs |
 | Makita XWT08Z 18V LXT | 1/2" Drive | 7.9 lbs | 740 ft/lbs | 1,180 ft/lbs |
 | Milwaukee 2854-20 | 3/8" Drive | 3.9 lbs | 250 ft/lbs | 250 ft/lbs |
 | DeWalt DCF889M2 20V MAX | 3/8" Drive | 3.7 lbs | 250 ft/lbs | 400 ft/lbs |
Cordless Impact Wrench Reviews
#1 – Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2-Inch Impact Wrench (2967-20)
Remember when most people said that cordless impact wrenches would never match the power of air tools? Times sure have changed.
Improving on the top-selling 2767-20, Milwaukee’s latest ½-inch impact wrench (the 2967-20) delivers an insane 1,200 ft-lbs of max fastening torque and 1,600 ft-pounds of max breakaway torque. Perhaps even more impressive is how compact the tool is, allowing access to tight spaces similar models could never reach.
Under the hood is a brushless motor and a patented battery isolation system to reduce vibrations transmitted to the battery while ensuring a secure connection. A four-mode drive control lets you select from a number of preset RPM and IPM levels to take the guesswork out of specific tasks. Mode 4 features Bolt Removal Control, a setting which delivers full torque to loosen a fastener, then decreasing the automatically down to 750 RPM to prevent dropping the fastener.
Another useful feature is the auto shut-off control, which limits torque to 50 ft-lbs for hand-tightening tasks. The anvil is surrounded by Tri-LEDs to reduce shadows and increase illumination. This last feature means this is not only one of (if not THE) most powerful cordless impact wrenches out there, but also perhaps the gentlest when needed.
When you want a beast of a tool in a small package, the 2967-20 should definitely be at the top of your list. Just be warned, it’s heavier than it looks. Also, some say the reverse button is placed in a spot where it’s easy to bump it during high torque operations.
If you don’t yet have other Milwaukee M18 products, you’ll want to purchase the kit version which adds a battery, charger, and carrying bag. It’ll be cheaper than buying everything separately.
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#2 – Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2-Inch Impact Wrench (2767-20)
This 1/2 inch drive battery powered impact wrench is highly compact without sacrificing tremendous power from its brushless motor. In fact, we’re now to the point where a cordless model actually provides more torque than even some of the most powerful air powered models.
The four mode drive control includes a bolt removal mode for improved control, while the friction ring makes changing sockets quick and easy.
This best in class cordless impact wrench uses REDLITHIUM batteries for longer charge life and the REDLINK PLUS intelligence system to prevent overheating.
Best of all, the tool has a premium rubber overmold that not only makes for more comfort, but also helps protect the wrench from corrosive elements.
With 1,100 foot/pounds of torque and a maximum breakaway of 1,600 feet/pounds, this is easily the most powerful impact wrench on the list.
Owners note (and are surprised in some cases) that it can handle almost any job effortlessly.
They also love the bolt remover setting, which slows to 750 RPM once the fastener has broken loose, allowing for improved control.
See Also: 9 Best Torque Wrenches for Automotive Work
Battery life remains an issue with this tool, and even the improved battery can only handle so much before running down. This means of some particularly difficult bolts, you may use a good bit of juice breaking it loose.
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#3 – DeWalt 20V MAX 1/2-Inch Impact Wrench Kit (DCF900P1)
This proud addition to DeWalt’s 20V MAX collection provides an impressive 1,400 foot-pounds of max breakaway torque and 1,030 foot-pounds of max fastening torque to handle almost any job. To prevent overtightening and runoff, the tool features precision wrench control.
Featuring a ½-inch drive, updated 4-mode speed setting switch, and variable speed trigger, this impact wrench gives you just the right amount of power when you need it. Even the onboard LED work light can be adjusted for brightness.
To help ensure longer battery life, the tool includes Battery Guard, a special shock-absorbing connection between the tool and battery. This kit includes the tool, battery, charger, and a case. However, if you are already part of the 20V MAX family and wish to save a few dollars, a bare tool option is also available.
This is one of those tools that has surprised people time and again with the amount of power it puts out, despite not having a brushless motor.
Unfortunately, at about 9 pounds counting the battery, it’s a little on the heavy side and bulkier than some of the competing models. For comparison, the Milwaukee 2967-20 above weighs around 7.5 pounds with battery. But if you’re plugged into DeWalt’s ecosystem, it’s still a fantastic product.
Related: Impact Driver vs Impact Wrench (Comparison)
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#4 – Makita 18V LXT 1/2-Inch Impact Wrench (XWT08Z)
Makita is one of those brands that is widely respected among professionals but often plays second fiddle to the DeWalts and Milwaukees. That’s a pity, because this cordless impact gun with its brushless motor is a real workhorse.
Designed with both power and speed in mind, this wrench can loosen even the toughest lug nuts and bolts with an impressive 740 foot/pounds of fastening torque and 1,180 feet/pounds of breakaway torque – almost unheard of power for a cordless model.
Three speed settings and an ability for the motor to automatically match torque and RPM allow this device to have double the runtime of brushed motors and completely eliminate the need for breaker bars.
See Also: Torque Sticks – Why You’d Want Them
It’s hard to compare this Makita to the DeWalt above because their abilities are almost a perfect balance at the end of the day. Owners of this impact wrench tear into their work with gusto and report minimal battery impact, while the dual LED work lights mean you can easily see what you’re doing.
The trade-off to this model is a much heavier weight than the DeWalt. Weighing in at a hefty 7.9 pounds with the battery in, it can cause fatigue a lot faster than lighter models.
In all, consumers have reported that they get work done faster but also wear out faster, making this a good tool for shorter jobs or ones where you’ll be switching between tools frequently.
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#5 – Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3/8-Inch Impact Wrench (2854-20)
⅜-inch drive impact wrenches aren’t as powerful as their ½-inch cousins, but they make up for this in their smaller size and easier accessibility to tight spaces. This model is arguably the most compact in its class at a mere 4.8 inches long and can deliver up to 250 ft-lbs of torque, which is enough for most automotive repairs.
It features a Powerstate brushless motor and 4-mode drive control with preset RPM/IPM levels for guesswork-free applications. The fourth mode has Bolt Removal Control, a special feature that provides full torque to loosen a fastener, then automatically reduces the RPM so you won’t drop the fastener. Meanwhile, an auto shut-off control limits the torque to 20 ft-lbs for hand-tightening applications.
Tri-LEDs surround the anvil so your work area has more illumination and fewer shadows. And since this is part of the M18 Fuel line, you can not only use any REDLITHIUM battery in your collection for increased work time, but it also has onboard REDLINK PLUS technology. This helps protect the tool from over-discharge, overheating, and overloads.
In all, this is a pretty reliable tool, but it’s easy to forget these ⅜-inch drives are meant for lighter applications. Stories of people grabbing a ⅜ to try and tackle a large rusted bolt and being disappointed are a dime a dozen. But when used for the proper applications, it’s really hard to beat this tool.
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#6 – DeWalt 20V MAX* 3/8-Inch Impact Wrench (DCF913B)
The DCF913B is a compact, versatile ⅜-inch drive tool designed to provide excellent power for its class. The hog ring anvil makes swapping bits easy and holds them secure. It can provide up to 250 foot-pounds of max tightening torque and 400 ft-lbs of max breakaway torque.
At only 5.87 inches long and weighing only 2.3 pounds, this tiny terror can get into tight places. Once there, the built-in LED ring ensures you have full visibility of the work zone. As this is part of the 20V MAX family, you can swap batteries with any other tool from the line for uninterrupted work over long periods. And in case of defects, the tool is covered by DeWalt’s 3-year limited warranty.
Sometimes a company is known to make the same dumb mistake for a long period of time before fixing it. Such is the case with the reverse switch on many of DeWalt’s impact wrenches. They’re located in a spot that’s easy to bump with your thumb during operation, which can be frustrating (and possibly break fittings when using more powerful tools).
Beyond this recurring design issue, some question the max breakaway torque number and claim it’s nowhere near the stated 400 ft-lbs.
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