Best 12V Impact Driver Results Still Dominated by Milwaukee M12 Fuel
We performed an extensive review of over 30 impact drivers, 10 of which entered our search for the best 12V cordless impact driver. When it was all over, two models stood out, and both were red.
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Surge 2551
The Milwaukee 2553's dominance in the 12V impact driver category is finally over thanks to…another M12 Fuel product. When we calculated the final score, the M12 Fuel Surge took the top spot overall. Don't worry though, our beloved 2553 is less than a point behind second place.
also highly rated
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel Impact Driver 2553
- DeWalt 12V Brushless Impact Driver DCF801
Best 12V Cordless Impact Driver Speed
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Impact Driver
The M12 Fuel Surge may score slightly higher overall, but the Milwaukee 2553 is still the king of the hill when it comes to fastening speed. The Surge does come in second, though, and there's a big gap to the rest of the field.
Also drives good speed
- Milwaukee M12 fuel surge
Best 12V Cordless Impact Driver Torque
Milwaukee M12 fuel surge
The Milwaukee M12 Fuel Surge came out on top in both our tightening and nut breaking tests. This is our first 12V to break 1000+ in-lbs in our tightening test and the first 12V to break 2000+ in-lbs in our nut breaking test.
Best 12V impact driver noise level
Milwaukee M12 fuel surge
Now that Milwaukee has a 12V hydraulic impact driver, noise level testing is a nirvana for the Surge. At 87 decibels, it's 6 decibels ahead of DeWalt's 12V brushless model, and has a sound pressure level 4 times lower than the closest competition!
Most compact 12V cordless impact driver
Bosch 12V impact driver PS42
Turning to size didn't take us away from Milwaukee, but it did bring in a couple of other brands. Ridgid's 12v impact drivers have the smallest overall footprint, although the M12 Fuel impact drivers and Surge have slightly smaller head lengths.
Bosch takes the win with its lightest overall 12V impact driver at 2.1 pounds with a 2.0Ah battery. When you put the size and weight together, the Bosch also makes the most compact 12V impact driver we've tested.
Other ultra-compact options
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel Impact Driver
- Ridgid 12V Impact Driver
Best 12V Cordless Impact Driver Value
Ridgid 12V Impact Driver
Ridgid and Skil fight hard for the best value. The Skil's $99 kit price is attractive, and its performance is impressive for a so-called DIY tool. Ridgid wins with a $119 kit price that includes two batteries and a drill to match its design and performance.
better value
- Skil PWRCore 12 Brushless Impact Driver ID574401
- Metabo HPT 12V Impact Driver WH10DFL2
Test Results
Note: To see the details of our testing methodology, check out our comparison of the best impact drivers.
speed under load
Milwaukee (397 RPM) measured fastening speed while installing 1/4" ledger screws and took the win with its M12 Fuel impact driver. The M12 Fuel Surge (346 RPM) came in second, with Bosch ( 283 RPM) came in third.
efficiency
Tightening efficiency is a measure of how much force an impact driver must use to drive a beam screw. We compare the RPM it drives under load to the RPM we measure with no load. The higher the percentage, the less stress the motor is under, and likely for longer.
While none of these impact drivers are as efficient as their 18V cousins, a few are more efficient than the rest. Metabo HPT (12.7%) beat out Milwaukee's M12 Fuel (12.4%), with Bosch (12.2%) finishing third.
Tightening torque
Note that our torque tests do not and cannot replace the way manufacturers test to their specifications. Head to the Test Methods section on our Best Impact Drivers page to see details.
When it comes to tightening torque, the Milwaukee M12 Surge sets new heights for 12V impact driver tightening torque and makes its presence felt. It requires 1026 in-lbs of torque to loosen the hardened nut it sets, well ahead of the M12 fuel impact driver (804 in-lbs) and the Skil (732 in-lbs).
Nut breaking torque
Who knew a 12V impact driver could break 200 foot-pounds of torque? ! ? ! Milwaukee's M12 Fuel Surge (2400 in-lbs) does just that, while setting another power benchmark for the class. Both Milwaukee and Skil broke 1680 in-lbs, putting Bosch in fourth place by a wide margin.
weight
The Bosch (2.1 pounds) is arguably the lightest in its class, though it's not out of control. DeWalt's 12V brushless and Milwaukee M12 Fuel's 2.0Ah batteries both weigh 2.2 pounds, and others aren't far behind.
footprint
When you're looking for an impact driver for tight spaces, head length is the most critical dimension. DeWalt's 12V brushless model is only 5.1 inches long, while Milwaukee's Surge and M12 Fuel impact drivers are only 0.1 inches long.
If you're concerned about height, the Ridgid is the shortest at 6.0 inches, while the Bosch is 6.3 inches. Both the Milwaukee model and DeWalt's brushed model wrap the sub-7-inch portion of the group at 6.8 inches.
feature set
12V impact drivers aren't as feature-packed as 18V models, but there are still a few things worth pointing out before you decide which one to take home.
Bosch 12V PS42
- Brushless Motor
- 2 speeds
- 3 LED light ring around chuck
DeWalt 12V Brushless DCF801
- Brushless Motor
- 2 speed plus precision assist modes
- 3-LED light ring around chuck
- One-handed drill insertion
- spring drill pop
DeWalt 12V DCF815
- brushed motor
- 1 speed
- One-handed drill insertion
- spring drill pop
Hilti 12V SID 2-A
- brushed motor
- 1 speed
Makita 12V CXT DT03
- brushed motor
- 1 speed
Metabo HPT 12V WH10DFL2
- brushed motor
- 1 speed
Milwaukee M12 Fuel 2553
- Brushless Motor
- 3 gears plus self-tapping screw auxiliary mode
- One-handed drill insertion
Rich 12V R82230
- brushed motor
- 1 speed
Skill PWRCore 12 ID5774401
- Brushless Motor
- 2 speeds
- LED halo around chuck
- USB charging port on battery
- PWRJump fast charger optional
- One-handed drill insertion
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Surge 2551
- hydraulic impact drive
- Brushless Motor
- 3 gears plus self-tapping screw auxiliary mode
- One-handed drill insertion
noise level
Thankfully, the 12V impact drivers give our ears a rest than their noisier 18V cousins, but they're still pretty loud. Well, except for the M12 Fuel Surge. Measured with an SPL meter, its average decibel of 87 is 6 decibels lower than DeWalt's 12V brushless 93.
How much does 6 decibels really mean? The Surge's sound pressure level (actual damage to your ears) is 4x lower than the closest competition! You can read more about the relationship between decibels, sound pressure level, and perceived loudness here.
value
For us, value is more than a price list. It's how that price compares to performance, design, and a host of other considerations that affect your experience as the owner of that tool. We put all this data into our algorithm to calculate what that value is.
Ridgid wins, thanks in large part to the $119 price tag, which includes two batteries and a drill as part of the deal. Skil also scored well at $99, with Metabo HPT's $80 kit coming in third.
price list
NOTE: Prices are as of this writing.
- Bosch 12V Brushless PS42: $119 bare, $139 kit (2 x 2.0Ah)
- DeWalt 12V Brushless DCF801: $74 bare, $99 kit (2 x 2.0Ah)
- DeWalt 12V DCF815: $119.99 Kit (2 x 1.3Ah)
- Hilti 12V SID 2-A: $59 bare, $150 kit (2 x 2.6Ah)
- Makita 18V CXT DT03: $39.99 bare, $99 (2 x 2.0Ah)
- Metabo HPT 12V WH10DFL2: $82.79 Kit (2 x 1.3Ah)
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel 2553: $129 bare, $169 kit (2 x 2.0)
- Ridgid 12V R82230: $119 kit (1 x 2.0Ah, 1 x 4.0Ah, drill bits)
- Skil PWRCore 12 Brushless ID 574401: $59.99 bare, $99.99 kit (1 x 2.0Ah, PWRJump charger upgrade)
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel Surge 2551: $149 bare, $199 kit (2 x 2.0Ah)
final ranking
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel Surge 2551
- Milwaukee M12 Fuel Impact Driver 2553
- DeWalt 12V Brushless Impact Driver DCF801
- Bosch 12V Brushless Impact Driver PS42
- Skil 12V Brushless Impact Driver ID574401
- Metabo HPT (Hitachi) 12V impact driver WH10DFL2
- Hilti 12V Impact Driver SID 2-A
- DeWalt 12V Impact Driver DCF815
- Ridgid 12V Impact Driver R82230
- Makita 12V CXT impact driver DT03