For a power tool user who is not already familiar with these tools, telling impact drivers versus drill drivers apart may take some getting used to. They really look similar at first glance – both come with a pistol grip handle behind a tubular main body of the tool, and both are designed to be used with one hand. Both do their job by turning a fastener or a bit, too.
If you have both an impact driver and a drill driver from the same brand, you would be forgiven if you confuse one over the other every now and then.
When you see them in operation, though, the differences become readily apparent. Impact drivers and drill drivers may overlap here and there in terms of the things they can do, but they are the most effective at the specific tasks they are designed for. If you are just getting started with shopping for your first impact driver or drill driver, it pays to learn more about the differences between these two power tools.
Depending on the type of projects or jobs around the house that you need to do, one of these may be a better fit for your situation, as well as your budget at the time.
Impact Driver Weight
Weight is an important consideration for any power tool designed for one-handed use, and in this regard, the impact driver does not disappoint. Even the cordless models, which usually come with a hefty lithium-ion battery pack, often weigh no more than 3 pounds.
Most cordless impact drivers also come with a belt clip, and you’ll find that you will hardly notice the weight of the tool on your belt. This makes the impact driver an incredibly handy tool to have on top of a ladder or on scaffolding. You will also appreciate the fact that you can use the tool all day with little to no fatigue.
The lightweight build and compact form factor of the impact driver makes it easy to do things like installing screws overhead, something that steel framers, HVAC installers and other contractors surely appreciate.
Drill Driver Weight
All things considered, there is probably more drill driver models compared to impact drivers, or any handheld power tools for that matter. This means that when it comes to size and weight, you will find that there’s simply a wider selection available for power drills.
You can get a compact drill driver that weighs less than 3 pounds, or you can opt for a beefier model that weighs 6 pounds. And when you start looking at power drills with hammer features, that’s where the weight begin to add up – it’s not uncommon to find drills weighing 8 pounds to as much as 14 pounds, in some cases.
Just like the impact driver, you can choose a drill driver that’s lightweight and easy to handle. As much as possible, you should at least test the fit and comfort of a drill driver before you buy it, and that goes for just about any power tool as well.
Weight, ergonomics, and balance are important considerations for any tool that you will be using for hours at a time, so spend a bit of time evaluating them in this regard.
Impact Driver Features
Impact drivers are a relative newcomer to the power tool scene. As such, many impact driver models will come with features you would expect on more modern power tools. LED lighting, brushless motors, lithium-ion batteries and charge indicators are well represented in most impact driver models in the market nowadays.
Most users value the impact driver as a compact, easy to use tool for applications that require high amounts of torque – driving long screws into hardwood, for example.
For that, the impact driver adds rotational torque with a rapid rotational strike that works in the direction of the drive shaft’s rotation. Unlike the hammer drill, which delivers this striking motion from the back of the tool, the impact driver directs these fast-paced impacts downward.
This not only dramatically increases the torque applied on the drive shaft and the fastener, but it also ensures that the impact does not really affect the user that much. This makes the impact driver a safe and comfortable tool to use, even for beginners or those with smaller hands.
Impact drivers use a 1/4-inch hex socket in its drive shaft, which securely holds a hex bit even against the vibration and impact that the tool produces. This also tends to limit the variety of bits and accessories that an impact driver can use. Users need to note that they will also need to invest in “impact ready” or “impact rated” bits as well.
These bits, which usually come with a black oxide coating, are designed to withstand the impact and vibration from hammering tools and will not chip, crack or break as easily as regular bits.
Driver Drill Features
Driver drills simply can’t be beaten when it comes to versatility, and they have a place in every toolbox. With the right bit or adapter, they can drill holes, drive fasteners, mix paint, and even use tin snips on metal sheets. Driver drills offer consistent rotational speed that you can customize according to your needs, and they have the features to match.
While driver drills come with variable speed triggers as a standard, the better models offer a lot when it comes to fine-tuning your torque. Some models have a gear selector which helps you set a maximum speed for your tool, which can help you control the torque of the drill better.
This way, you can choose a slower gear with more torque for driving in fasteners, or set the driver drill at the faster gear (with less torque) to quickly drill holes.
Aside from gear selectors, many drill drivers also come with a clutch selector. These clutch selectors are usually found just behind the chuck. By setting the clutch selector to the proper setting, the motor can disengage once the maximum torque has been reached – this lets you avoid driving screws too far into the material and damaging it, or stripping fasteners when they get stuck.
Driver drills, at least the bigger ones, may also come with a hammer function. This hammer function produces a fast-paced series of impacts on the bit, which helps the tool drill into harder materials such as concrete or hardwood.
Driver drills use an adjustable chuck to accommodate bits or adapters, so they can accept a wide range of accessories. Finally, cordless driver drills also come with a few features like LED lighting, brushless motors, and lithium-ion batteries.
Impact Driver Torque
Impact drivers are designed to drive long fasteners into harder materials, and they can easily do so since they can deliver so much torque. Aside from the torque that the spinning drive shaft produces, a weight also stores some of that rotational energy and delivers it in a split second to the shaft. This happens many times every second, and greatly increases the rotational power delivered to the fastener.
Depending on the model and size of your impact driver, you can expect anywhere between 1,000 to 3,000 inch-pounds of torque. A small compact impact driver, one that lets you squeeze the tool in the tightest of spaces, can still give you around 1,200 to 1,600 inch-pounds of torque – which is plenty for driving screws into hardwood.
The larger impact drivers are your best bet when it comes to sheer muscle, as you might expect. A regular sized impact driver can easily put out 2,200 inch-pounds of torque or more, especially if you go for a beefier corded model.
Take note that most impact drivers do not come with a means for controlling torque. Impact drivers are simple tools, and most of them don’t come with gear selectors or clutch dials. You can learn to control the torque by feel using the variable speed trigger, or you can use a clutch accessory to give you consistent results every time.
Drill Drivers Torque
Drill drivers certainly lag behind impact drivers when it comes to torque, but in exchange, you can also find more ways to control the amount of torque you deliver. Depending on the model, a drill driver can give you anywhere between 350 to 750 inch-pounds of torque. It’s not a lot compared to impact drivers, and especially so when you start comparing them to impact wrenches.
What you do get with some models, however, is a gear selector which lets you increase the torque of your drill, at the expense of rotational speed. For drilling screws, that is usually plenty.
Drill drivers are certainly suited for driving screws into softer materials, where precise control is needed to prevent damage to the work piece. Between the gear selector, clutch selector and variable speed trigger, you have at least three ways to ensure that you are delivering just the right amount of torque for the job.
Impact Driver Applications
Impact drivers and the torque that they can deliver, let you drive even the longest of fasteners with little effort. When you’re a contractor that needs to drive hundreds and thousands of screws a day on the job site, the time savings quickly add up.
Impact drivers are the tool of choice for anyone working with hardwood and screws for that reason. The same goes for steel frame installers, where even a basic structure can have hundreds of bolts that need to be fastened efficiently.
Since the impact driver spins relatively slowly, there is less danger of stripping screws. And when you do come across a stripped screw or a bolt with the corners rounded down, an impact driver has the torque you need to extract them. You can do all these and feel little impact on your wrist or arm, thanks to the design of the impact driver that directs the hammering action right in the direction of the rotation.
For any job that requires plenty of torque, an impact driver is the tool of choice. You can find impact drivers in most garage workshops, in woodworking shops that focus on hardwood, as well as in the toolboxes of HVAC contractors, roofing professionals, and deck builders.
Drill Driver Applications
Drill drivers are simply too versatile to leave out of your toolbox. They provide just the right amount of drilling power for most of the materials you will find around the home – drywall, plywood, softwood lumber, and plastic. They can also drive screws efficiently in most materials, and they can do so without the hammering noise that impact drivers produce.
With a drill driver, you also have more control for delicate and precise driving jobs. Between the slip clutch and gear settings, you will always have the right amount of torque for the fasteners and materials you are working with. That’s on top of being able to efficiently drill holes, too.
Drill drivers, paired with the right accessories, can do more than just drive screws or drill holes. The high rotational speed they can produce lets them use accessories like mixers, wire wheeled brushes, and rotary sanders. Not only are they affordable, but they are also incredibly versatile, too. Since they use an adjustable chuck, you can use a wide variety of bits and accessories with then, too.
Impact Driver Cost
Impact drivers and drills often come in sets, so it’s rather easy to compare how two tools from the same set differ in terms of price. You will often find that an impact driver is just slightly more expensive than the drill driver – but not in al cases.
You can expect to pay around $50 - $120 for a bare tool from a reputable manufacturer or roughly around $100 - $200 depending on what's included (not combo kits).
Drill Driver Cost
Drills and drill drivers are some of the most inexpensive tools you can own, and you can get a good cordless drill driver for less than $50 (bare tool, base model). That’s already a good drill from a reputable brand rated at 18 volts, which is the top end when it comes to consumer-grade drills.
For just a bit more, you can get an entire kit for around the $100 mark which includes most of the bits you will need, plus a battery and charger. Or better yet, you can spring for a 2-piece toolkit and have your impact driver too for around $150 - $200!
