Updated on Jun. 04, 2025
Understanding the difference between impact drivers and drills might help you choose the right power tool. We’re here to help you decide what you need.
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Confused about the difference between impact driver and drill? Though both are power tools, they’re based on different principles.
Impact drivers have one main function, driving lots of screws and fasteners. Drills, also sometimes called drill drivers, can drive screws, too, but not as effectively as impact drivers. Drills are much better suited for boring holes instead.
Still, drills and impact drivers have many similarities. They’re both handheld power tools that spin when you squeeze the trigger. Most models of drills and impact drivers have variable speeds you can switch between. But there are some key differences you need to understand when deciding if you need one or both.
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Impact drivers, as the name suggests, are power tools that are used to drive screws, bolts, and other fasteners into tough surfaces. Besides rotational force—the key mechanism behind drills—impact drivers also use concussive impact to ensure screws are affixed properly. Impact drivers have an internal hammer and anvil system that allow them to deliver powerful torque, installing screws or other fasteners even on hard surfaces such as metal or wood.
One of the key differences between impact driver and drill is that the former is compact and lightweight. It also removes the factor of wrist fatigue due to its absorption of the rotational force. Impact drivers also adaptively apply bursts of torque if they sense resistance in the material.
While short drilling applications are no challenge for the impact driver, you might be better off with traditional drills if precision is your priority.
Among the most popular and widely used power tools, drills bore holes in materials and surfaces using rotational force. Drills often spin attachments called bits at high speed to create holes in tough surfaces and materials such as wood, metal, or even masonry.
Modern drills are available in both corded and cordless variants. While primarily used to make holes, drills might even be useful in driving screws or other fasteners—provided they’re coupled with appropriate attachments.
Drills come in many varieties, from basic versions to hammer drills that can cut through tough surfaces like concrete. They can feature both rotational and pulsating movements to drive through various materials. Drills also come equipped with adjustable settings to alter speed and torque. Unlike impact drivers, these ubiquitous power tools are better suited to bore holes but might require additional force from the operator in case they encounter resistance.
The main difference between an impact driver and a drill is power and rotational action. Unlike drills, impact drivers are made with quick-release shanks that accept all one-quarter-inch hex driver bits. Drills, on the other hand, use a chuck to hold bits of different shapes and sizes based on function. This makes impact drivers more efficient at driving fasteners, whereas drills can cut through surfaces. Impact drivers produce lots of rotational force, capable of driving the largest wood screws in seconds.
Internal mechanisms allow impact drivers to produce more torque than drills in quick bursts. These bursts or “impacts” happen up to 50 times a second, giving impact drivers their name. The impact driver reduces counter torque and makes it less heavy on the wrist while in operation, lowering the risk of stripping crews. They also rotate bits in a two-steps-forward-one-step-back pattern, engaging and driving screws more effectively than drills — especially in dense and tough material like hardwood or metal.
Impact drivers tend to be more compact and lighter than most drills. Still, they have an excellent power-to-weight ratio, usually delivering more power for a given size of tool while also keeping the driver bit more completely engaged with the screw head. This last advantage is the main feature people notice when they use an impact driver for the first time. Driver bits hardly ever slip and spin within screw heads when using an impact driver.
Despite these advantages, impact drivers aren’t drill replacements, and their more popular, rotary counterpart is your best option when you want to create precise holes or are working tasks that need consistent torque—think metalwork or assembling furniture.
Some people confuse impact drivers with hammer drills. Like regular drills, hammer drills are distinct from impact drivers and made for a different purpose. They’re essentially regular drills with the added ability to vibrate bits back and forth rapidly while spinning. This makes for much quicker drilling in concrete, brick, stone or blocks. It’s this vibration (a kind of rapid hammering, really) that gives hammer drills their name.
Like all power tools, if you invest in an impact driver, be sure to use it safely. Wear safety glasses, keep your hands, clothes and hair clear of the tool during use, and avoid workspace clutter that might cause an accident.
If you need to drill holes and drive the occasional medium-sized screw, a regular drill will suit you fine. Drills are quite versatile and can handle a broad variety of tasks. This also includes precision drilling in delicate material and fastenings that require adjustable torque.
However, if you’re looking for a tool that can handle repetitive high-torque tasks that need screws and other fasteners affixed, consider investing in an impact driver.
If you’ve got a deck to build, a plywood subfloor to install, a tree house to screw together or any other job involving lots of wood screws or even lag bolts—the impact driver is your best shot. Using an impact driver will significantly cut down your work time, while also giving you the satisfaction of driving large screws into wood in just a few seconds. The consistent bursts of power and high torque make any form of fastening a breeze, and this is beside the fact that impact drivers are smaller, lighter and more ergonomic when compared to drills. These make for some of the best uses for an impact driver.
Most modern impact drivers are battery-powered, and their batteries typically come in three sizes: 12, 18 and 20 volts. Higher voltage means more power and torque. More power is good if you want to drive lots of large fasteners. But keep in mind higher voltage also means larger, heavier batteries, and an impact driver that’s harder to slip in and out of your tool belt. Be sure to also consider the kind of projects you’ll be tackling while choosing, besides fatigue and ease of use.
Another consideration is brushed versus brushless motors. Drivers with brushless motors are somewhat more expensive but are also more efficient and powerful while generating less heat and having a longer battery run time between charges. In addition, brushless motors are also relatively low-maintenance, allowing for consistent use and a more long-term solution.
Finally, consider choosing a model with variable speed so you can harness more or less torque depending on how hard you squeeze the trigger. Variable speeds enhance precision and reduce the risk of damage and overdriving. DeWalt, Milwaukee and Makita are some of the brands that produce high-quality brushless impact drivers.
Want to bore holes with an impact driver? It’s possible. A handful of companies offer collections of drill bits that have the kind of one-quarter-inch hex shank that screwdriver bits use. Slip one into your impact driver, then make some holes before driving screws.
No. Impact drivers are excellent for driving tasks, but are often lacking when it comes to adjustable torque applications such as assembling electronics, metalworking, or assembling pre-made furniture. A simple drill might just be your best bet in these use cases.
Impact drivers possess a great weight-to-power ratio and deliver optimum torque despite their compact size. Their light weight also reduces slippage and enhances precision driving, apart from lowering wrist strain.
A drill’s versatility positions it better for general DIY projects, but an impact driver delivers a good punch when you’re looking to fasten some screws. If you’re looking to tackle a bunch of different projects, owning both is ideal.
