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Prices were last checked 2026-07-22 and can change — confirm the current price at the retailer before buying.
#1
Flex 24V Brushless Impact
Flex
Best for most buyers in this category
Why 4.5/5: Strong, consistent praise across our credible sources. No recurring complaint surfaced in our sources.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 2.3
- ●Sources
- 3
Backed by 3 credible sources. What reviewers liked: GearLab also places Kobalt's impact driver over Milwaukee's in its list of the best impact drivers, naming the XTR 24V 1/4-inch impact driver its best overall driver after lab-testing multiple models. No specific criticism surfaced in the sources we read — not proof none exists, so check recent reviews before buying.
Pros
- GearLab also places Kobalt's impact driver over Milwaukee's in its list of the best impact drivers, naming the XTR 24V 1/4-inch impact driver its best overall driver after lab-testing multiple models.
- Flex 24V ¼-inch hex impact driver Flex After testing several models, Pro Tool Reviews named the Flex 24V ¼-inch hex impact driver its best overall impact driver.
- The tool scored a perfect 10 out of 10 when it comes to torque, speed, and battery.
Specifications
- lbs
- 2.7 lbs
- inches
- 5 inches
- w
- 75 W
- inch
- 2,500 inch
#2
RIDGID 18V Brushless 4-Mode Impact
RIDGID
Best for newer tool that's easy to find
Why 4/5: Well-reviewed overall, with only minor trade-offs.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 3.1
- ●Sources
- 5
Backed by 5 credible sources. What reviewers liked: If you're looking for a newer tool that's easy to find, then the Cat 18V ¼-inch impact driver isn't a great choice. No specific criticism surfaced in the sources we read — not proof none exists, so check recent reviews before buying.
Pros
- If you're looking for a newer tool that's easy to find, then the Cat 18V ¼-inch impact driver isn't a great choice.
- This model’s torque is near the top of the charts and the speed is very much in the mix with premium brands.
- still a little larger and heavier than we expect from premium models, the performance level is solidly in the Pro class.
Specifications
- lbs
- 2.7 lbs
- inches
- 5 inches
- lb
- 2.2 lb
- inch
- 2,000 inch
- watts
- 300 Watts
- mah
- 8000 mAh
- w
- 239 w
- hr
- 1 hr
#3
Kobalt Lowe's KXID 1424A-03
Kobalt
Best for buyers prioritizing specific tradeoffs
Why 4/5: Well-reviewed overall, with only minor trade-offs.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 1.4
- ●Sources
- 2
Backed by 2 credible sources. What reviewers liked: It performs well in our tests—its power is excellent, its run time is better than average, and its handling is passable. No specific criticism surfaced in the sources we read — not proof none exists, so check recent reviews before buying.
Pros
- It performs well in our tests—its power is excellent, its run time is better than average, and its handling is passable.
- Kobalt (Lowe's) KXID 1424A-03 The Kobalt KXID 1424A-03 is a great budget impact driver.
Specifications
- inch
- 2,500 inch
#4
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2953-20 Impact
Milwaukee
Best for small 1 square head screws or cabinet adj
Why 3.5/5: A solid, usable pick — but not the best in its class. Main caveat reviewers raised: Milwaukee M18 Fuel Surge Impact Driver Reviews. [23 hours ago The main complaint is trigger finesse—the minimum RPM is faster than the Gen 4, making it tricky for small 1 square head screws or cabinet adjustments.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 2.5
- ●Sources
- 4
Backed by 4 credible sources. What reviewers liked: Popular Mechanics (January 2026 expert-domain test) picked Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2953-20 as Best Overall, Ryobi ONE PSBID04 as Best Value, DeWalt Atomic 20V MAX as Best Compact, and Makita XDT20 18V LXT as Best Features. The main drawback they noted: Milwaukee M18 Fuel Surge Impact Driver Reviews. [23 hours ago The main complaint is trigger finesse—the minimum RPM is faster than the Gen 4, making it tricky for small 1 square head screws or cabinet adjustments.
⚠ Why some reviewers rated it low
This scores below 4★. Here’s the criticism reviewers actually raised — read it and decide whether any of it is a dealbreaker for you:
- Runner Up: Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2953
- Second only to Flex in our performance tests
Pros
- Popular Mechanics (January 2026 expert-domain test) picked Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2953-20 as Best Overall, Ryobi ONE PSBID04 as Best Value, DeWalt Atomic 20V MAX as Best Compact, and Makita XDT20 18V LXT as Best Features.
- The variable speed trigger creates smooth acceleration, which prevents stripping of screw heads.
- Even its newer and better models, like the M18 Fuel ¼-inch hex impact driver, sometimes don't match the performance of more affordable tools.
Specifications
- lbs
- 2.7 lbs
- inches
- 5 inches
- lb
- 2.2 lb
- inch
- 2,000 inch
- hours
- 23 hours
#5
Milwaukee 2850-22CT
Milwaukee
Best for buyers prioritizing specific tradeoffs
Why 3.5/5: A solid, usable pick — but not the best in its class. Main caveat reviewers raised: the latter still tied the former in power and outscored the former when it came to handling and battery.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 1.4
- ●Sources
- 2
Backed by 2 credible sources. What reviewers liked: Consumer Reports ' CR recommended list of impact drivers includes several products, including the Makita XDT16 and Milwaukee 2850-22CT . The main drawback they noted: the latter still tied the former in power and outscored the former when it came to handling and battery
⚠ Why some reviewers rated it low
This scores below 4★. Here’s the criticism reviewers actually raised — read it and decide whether any of it is a dealbreaker for you:
- the Makita XDT16 can also be found for less than the Milwaukee 2850-22CT
- though both are increasingly hard to find in stock
Pros
- Consumer Reports ' CR recommended list of impact drivers includes several products, including the Makita XDT16 and Milwaukee 2850-22CT .
- Milwaukee 2850-22CT The Milwaukee 2850-22CT earns strong marks across the board in CR’s tests.
Specifications
- inch
- 2,500 inch
#6
Milwaukee 2953-20
Milwaukee
Best for few years and its maximum torque of 1
Why 3.5/5: A solid, usable pick — but not the best in its class. Main caveat reviewers raised: it lacks the eject function of the Flex driver.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 1.2
- ●Sources
- 2
Backed by 2 credible sources. What reviewers liked: other brands have narrowed the gap with the black and red brand, Milwaukee’s top-of-the-line impact driver is still the best of the bunch thanks to its tremendous power-to-weight ratio and numerous speed settings. The main drawback they noted: it lacks the eject function of the Flex driver.
⚠ Why some reviewers rated it low
This scores below 4★. Here’s the criticism reviewers actually raised — read it and decide whether any of it is a dealbreaker for you:
- Milwaukee touts its quick-change collet, though it lacks the eject function of the Flex driver.
- One of the first differences shoppers might notice is that the latter costs $109 more than the Hercules driver.
Pros
- other brands have narrowed the gap with the black and red brand, Milwaukee’s top-of-the-line impact driver is still the best of the bunch thanks to its tremendous power-to-weight ratio and numerous speed settings.
- That's impressive given that the tool has been around for a few years and its maximum torque of 1,900 in-lbs is shy of the max torque of Milwaukee's 2953-20 M18 Fuel ¼-inch hex impact driver
- Real World Test .... [4 months ago The Milwaukee 2953-20 felt more comfortable for extended use and had the superior self-tapping screw auto-stop mode that actually prevents overdriving.
Specifications
- lb
- 2.2 lb
- inches
- 4.47 inches
- inch
- 2,000 inch
- lbs
- 3.8 lbs
#7
Makita XDT20 18V LXT Impact
Makita
Best for wide range of applications
Why 3.5/5: A solid, usable pick — but not the best in its class.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 1
- ●Sources
- 2
Backed by 2 credible sources. What reviewers liked: [Dec 25, 2025 The XDT20 offers 4-speed power selections (0-1,100/ 0-2,100/ 0-3,200/ 0-3,600 RPM & 0-1,100/ 0-2,600/ 0-3,600/ 0-3,800 IPM) which provides precise fastening ... No specific criticism surfaced in the sources we read — not proof none exists, so check recent reviews before buying.
⚠ Why some reviewers rated it low
This scores below 4★ and we couldn’t surface specific, credible criticism — treat the rating cautiously and read recent buyer reviews before purchasing.
Pros
- [Dec 25, 2025 The XDT20 offers 4-speed power selections (0-1,100/ 0-2,100/ 0-3,200/ 0-3,600 RPM & 0-1,100/ 0-2,600/ 0-3,600/ 0-3,800 IPM) which provides precise fastening ...
- The XDT20 offers 4-speed power selections (0-1,100/ 0-2,100/ 0-3,200/ 0-3,600 RPM & 0-1,100/ 0-2,600/ 0-3,600/ 0-3,800 IPM) which provides precise fastening control for a wide range of applications.
- Weight 2.3 lb without battery (3.3 lb with battery) Makita’s XDT20 combines smooth performance with loads of features that give you more control over the tool’s speed, including two tightening modes.
Specifications
- lb
- 2.2 lb
- inches
- 4.47 inches
- inch
- 2,000 inch
- lbs
- 3.8 lbs
#8
Flex FX1352 24V Impact
Flex
Best for anyone looking for an everyday impact dri
Why 3.5/5: A solid, usable pick — but not the best in its class. Main caveat reviewers raised: Flex backs this impact driver with a 5-year limited warranty.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 0.8
- ●Sources
- 1
Backed by 1 credible source. What reviewers liked: The Flex FX1352 is a strong option for anyone looking for an everyday impact driver that trades off top-tier performance for a more compact size and lighter weight The main drawback they noted: Flex backs this impact driver with a 5-year limited warranty.
⚠ Why some reviewers rated it low
This scores below 4★. Here’s the criticism reviewers actually raised — read it and decide whether any of it is a dealbreaker for you:
- Not as strong as top-tier performers
- This is notably slower than Flex’s flagship FX1371, which posted a time of 5.86 seconds.
Pros
- The Flex FX1352 is a strong option for anyone looking for an everyday impact driver that trades off top-tier performance for a more compact size and lighter weight
- Those are strong numbers for an impact driver in this class, and put it squarely in the conversation as an everyday-use kind of tool.
- Flex FX1352 Impact Driver Design Notes Size and Weight The FX1352 hits a nice middle ground when discussing weight.
Specifications
- inches
- 4.4 inches
- lbs
- 2.4 lbs
- w
- 75 W
#9
Festool TID 18 HPC 4
Festool
Best for buyers prioritizing specific tradeoffs
Why 3.5/5: A solid, usable pick — but not the best in its class. Main caveat reviewers raised: its tools—including this TID 18 HPC 4,0 Plus impact driver—are priced accordingly.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 0.6
- ●Sources
- 1
Backed by 1 credible source. What reviewers liked: The German brand is a favorite among high-end contractors The main drawback they noted: its tools—including this TID 18 HPC 4,0 Plus impact driver—are priced accordingly
⚠ Why some reviewers rated it low
The main caveat reviewers raised is noted above. We didn’t surface additional specific criticism — read recent buyer reviews before purchasing.
Pros
- The German brand is a favorite among high-end contractors
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#10
FLEX 24-volt 1/4-in Brushless
FLEX
Best for buyers prioritizing specific tradeoffs
Why 3.5/5: A solid, usable pick — but not the best in its class. Main caveat reviewers raised: There’s also a compromise for that 24-volt power and speed, and that’s in weight, as the FLEX is larger and heavier than most impact drivers.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 0.5
- ●Sources
- 1
Backed by 1 credible source. What reviewers liked: [Feb 6, 2026 Best Value: Kobalt 24-volt Impact Driver (KID 2024A-03) · Excellent value that includes a 2-amp hour battery · Comfortable handle · Good performance for the ... The main drawback they noted: There’s also a compromise for that 24-volt power and speed, and that’s in weight, as the FLEX is larger and heavier than most impact drivers.
⚠ Why some reviewers rated it low
The main caveat reviewers raised is noted above. We didn’t surface additional specific criticism — read recent buyer reviews before purchasing.
Pros
- [Feb 6, 2026 Best Value: Kobalt 24-volt Impact Driver (KID 2024A-03) · Excellent value that includes a 2-amp hour battery · Comfortable handle · Good performance for the ...
- We also added tools from brands Ryobi and Ridgid that offer impressive performance that’s comparable to the top brands at more affordable prices.
Specifications
- lb
- 2.2 lb
- inches
- 4.47 inches
- inch
- 2,000 inch
- lbs
- 3.8 lbs