Choosing A Power (Electric) Screwdriver | A Buyer’s Guide

Choosing A Power Screwdriver A Buyers Guide

Want To Share This?

Putting in or removing screws is not that hard to do if you have a regular screwdriver, up to a certain number of screws, that is.

Electronics, appliances, crates, and even some of your more complex projects use dozens of screws, and the number of times you have to put in or take out dozens of screws a day can easily run into the hundreds if you run a business. 

Fortunately, there’s a better way than having your wrist messed up: power screwdrivers.

Power Screwdrivers Versus Regular Power Drills

There’s a good chance you already own a power drill, and regular drills can also be used as a screwdriver with the right attachment. If you have one that can actually drill holes, though, chances are it will be large and too bulky to be using all day to deal with screws.

A power screwdriver is just the right size and outputs just the right amount of torque to handle screws all day long, and some of the newer cordless power screwdrivers are made with extreme portability in mind – some even come in a pen-type form factor.

Power screwdrivers are small and lightweight, which means a lot when you are trying to aim for the slots of tiny Philips screws some dozens of times in a row. Most power screwdrivers weigh less than 1.5 lbs., even with batteries, and they have a fast charge time too.

More importantly, power screwdrivers are tuned to the right RPM and torque for general-purpose driving of screws – that means fewer chances of stripping screw slots or overtightening them.

Choosing the Right Type of Power Screwdrivers

The right type of power screwdriver for the job more or less depends on the size of screws or fasteners you will be dealing with most of the time if you are choosing a general purpose power screwdriver.

For most screwdriving tasks, you can have the usual pistol grip models or the classic straight or pen-type models. If you are in the business of hanging drywall, there are power screwdriver models made with users like you in mind, too.

General purpose power screwdrivers nowadays are mostly of the cordless, battery operated variety, although corded screwdrivers still have their place, especially as you go up in the wattage scale.

Like most rotary-type handheld power tools, power screwdrivers also come in pneumatic models as well – you’d need an air compressor to use these ones, but they have their own set of advantages.

Straight Power Screwdrivers / Pen-type Power Screwdrivers

At first glance, straight power screwdrivers can be easily confused with an ordinary, non-powered regular screwdriver. These are as compact as you can get with a power screwdriver, especially if it’s a cordless model.

This type of power screwdriver is excellent at getting into tight spots, which makes them ideal for working on computers and laptops. As small as they are, modern cordless screwdrivers pack enough torque to drill smaller wood screws through drywall or softer wood, too.

Features to Look For in Straight Power Screwdrivers

  • USB Power Charging for cordless models lets you charge the battery of your tool using a regular outlet or through your computer or laptop.

  • Battery charge indicator lets you know the charge level of your power screwdriver.

  • Drive mechanism locks allow you use the tool as a regular screwdriver.

  • Lithium-ion batteries have faster charging times, are more lightweight, and are less affected by “charge memory” issues compared to older Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries.

One downside to straight power screwdrivers is that they can be a bit awkward to hold with two hands. Plus, these tools don’t pack much in the way of features – don’t expect a pen-type power screwdriver to come with depth gauges, variable speed control or interchangeable batteries.

Pistol Grip Power Screwdrivers

The pistol grip form factor is a proven simple, intuitive shape for most power tools, and the power screwdriver is no exception.  

Most power screwdrivers on the market are of the pistol grip variety, and you can have anywhere from 12 ounce power screwdrivers for your workbench to 6-pound heavy duty power screwdrivers for driving screws into drywall and studs.

Features to Look For in Pistol Grip Power Screwdrivers

  • Ergonomic design allows easy grip and handling.

  • LED Work lights let you easily aim for those tiny screw slots even in dimly lit areas.

  • Overdrive protection prevents stripping the screw slot or damaging surfaces.

  • Forward or reverse switch and indicator lets you drive or loosen screws.

  • Automatic spindle lock feature locks the spindle in place whenever the tool is not running, so you can use the tool just like a regular non-powered screwdriver.

  • Variable-speed trigger for precise speed control.

  • Extra batteries ensure longer operating time by letting you swap one in while the other battery charges up.

  • A carrying case is a must if your tool comes with a lot of bits.

  • A good selection of bits lets you use the tool right away without having to get a bit set for the fasteners you are planning on using for your project.

Drywall Power Screwdrivers

These tools are in a class of their own when it comes to driving screws. They are more powerful than most cordless power screwdrivers, and most of them come in the corded electric variety to keep the operating time of the tool to the maximum.

Some drywall power screwdriver models also come with auto-feed mechanisms, letting you drive in one screw after another without having to partially drive them into the drywall one at a time.

Features to Look For in Drywall Power Screwdrivers

  • Accurate, tool-less depth adjustment lets you consistently drive in screws all day long.

  • Belt clip for attaching to belt or holster lets you put away the tool easily while working on ladders or scaffolding.

  • Metal gear housing for job site durability and increased reliability.

  • Autofeed mechanisms make you even more productive by letting you drive in one screw after another with minimal interruption.

  • Silent clutch and heat-treated gearing for reduced maintenance and quiet operation.

  • Lock-on button for continuous operation and increased productivity.

  • Tool-less screw length adjustment features let you switch between screw sizes easily.

  • Ergonomic in-line D-handle designs let you use both hands, one over the tool and the other holding the pistol grip, for better driving control – especially useful when driving longer screws through harder studs.

  • Dust proof construction helps keep the motor clean of any dust and ensures smooth sliding action of an autofeed mechanism while fastening.

Corded Electric Versus Cordless Battery Powered Screwdrivers

Corded electric power screwdrivers generally have bigger motors and practically unlimited operating time, making them ideal for driving the larger screws used in drywall hanging, deck building, or steel stud framing. For the job site, contractors usually turn to the corded electric power screwdriver to get the job done.

Around the house, though, the cordless power screwdriver is simply too convenient to set aside. Hanging a picture frame or assembling flatpack furniture goes by much faster with a power screwdriver that you don’t have to plug in.

Cordless power screwdrivers are also easier to handle if you’re up on a ladder, too.

Pneumatic Power Screwdrivers

Pneumatic power screwdrivers also come in either pistol grip or straight type form factors. With no motors and gear drives to weigh them down, these tools are some of the most durable and simplest power screwdrivers you can have. 

Most contractors will have an air compressor on the job site for the floor nailer or similar tools. Having an air-powered screwdriver is a good way to have that same air compressor as a power source for both installing floors and putting up steel studs and drywall.

Comparing Power Screwdrivers

Once you’ve settled in on the type of power screwdriver you want to get, then it’s time to line up two or three models to see how they stack up.  

Torque and Speed
Torque control is more important for most power screwdriver applications compared to raw power, which might explain why manufacturers would often describe their tool as “high torque” instead of mentioning a figure.

Speed is another gray area for power screwdrivers – speed by itself lets you be more productive, but only up to a point, when it comes to driving screws. Consistency is more important in this case, but manufacturers would often mention a figure in RPM or rotations per minute. The higher the RPM of your power screwdriver, the faster it can drive screws in general.

Manufacturers will often site a maximum idle speed, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM) as well.

The torque is expressed in Newton-meters (Nm) for metric, or feet-pounds (ft-lb) in imperial. Power screwdrivers usually cap out at 20 Nm for the more powerful models. Mid-range power drills, on the other hand, typically star from the 30 Nm range and get only more powerful from there.

Power
Power is often described in terms of voltage for cordless power screwdrivers. The higher the voltage of the tool, the more torque it can put out. Many general-purpose cordless power screwdrivers are in the 5 volt range, which makes them ideal for light and medium duty screwing tasks.

For corded electric power screwdrivers, the voltage can only be one of 110-120 or 220-240 volts. To compare corded electrics, you need to look at their wattage instead. The higher the rating in terms of watts, the more powerful the electric motor and the more torque you can coax out of your tool.

Pneumatic power screwdriver models often come with a recommended range of air pressure and air volume you can refer to in order to know if your air compressor can power them. Air consumption is often measured in cubic feet per minute, or CFM, while working pressure is often given in pounds per square inch, or PSI.

Industrial-grade air power screwdrivers also come with torque ratings specified in terms of Newton-meters or feet-pounds, as some models in this range are powerful enough to have their place in a furniture or vehicle assembly line.

Number of Clutch Positions
A clutch on a power screwdriver disengages the torque of a cordless screwdriver when the screw has been driven in tight enough. The right clutch setting lets you drive in screws more consistently, from finger-tight to the point that you might strip the head of a screw.

The more clutch positions you have, the more you can fine-tune the maximum torque that your power screwdriver can exert. This feature is especially crucial when you are working with electronics or wood.

Screwdriver Bits:
You can’t drive screws with your power screwdriver without the right screwdriver bits, and most people tend to have a lot of them – it’s not uncommon for a bit set to come with 40 attachments or more.

Having a good way to organize them is crucial; you don’t want to have to get a new set just because you lost that Phillips #4 that you were using the most.

Most of the better brands of power screwdrivers come with a basic set that has many of the most-used bits. A typical set will already cover a wide range of your screwdriving tasks, and will include one or more of the following:

  • Phillips Heads – PH0 will cover most small machine screws on electronics, while PH1 and PH2 will have you covered when it comes to wood screws and bigger machine screws.

  • Square Heads – many manufacturers will add two sizes.

  • Torx Screws – or star screws, you will find these inside cars, electronics, and computers.

  • Slot Screws – the classic screw head type, you can find these just about anywhere, and you can expect a respectable bit set to carry at least 2 slot head bit sizes.

  • Hex Socket – or Allen slots, these typically come with some of the larger sets around nine pieces and up.

Want To Share This?

About the author

Ryan

I have been in construction nearly my entire life and have a fascination with tools and love when they make my life easier. Match that with my "research addiction" and you create something like this website!

Leave a comment: