Bare Tool vs Kit
The same impact driver is often sold two ways: tool only, or in a kit with batteries and a charger. Which is cheaper depends on what you already own. Here is the simple math.
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In the bare tool vs kit decision, buy the kit if you have no batteries on that platform, and the bare tool if you already do. A kit is the better deal when its price is less than the bare tool plus the batteries and charger you would otherwise need to buy. Watch for battery promotions that include a free bare tool: they often beat both options.
On this page
Bare tool vs kit: the short answer
A bare tool (tool only) is just the tool. A kit adds one or two batteries, a charger and usually a bag or case. If you are starting on a new platform, you need batteries and a charger anyway, so a kit is almost always the better deal. If you already own packs on that platform, a bare tool avoids paying for batteries and another charger you do not need.
The exceptions come from promotions and battery sizes, and that is where the math below helps. Prices change constantly, so this page uses variables instead of dollar figures. Plug in today's prices from your store or the current listing.
The formula
Use these variables:
- K = kit price
- T = bare tool price
- B = price of one standalone battery of the same capacity as the kit's
- n = number of batteries in the kit that you actually need
- C = charger price, if you need one (zero if you already own a charger)
The kit is the better deal when:
K < T + (n × B) + C
The key word is need. If you already own four batteries, n is probably zero and C is zero, so the comparison is simply K vs T, and the bare tool wins. If you own nothing, n is at least one and C is a full charger, so the kit usually wins.
Worked examples
Example 1: first impact driver, new platform
You own no batteries. The kit includes the driver, two 2.0 Ah batteries and a charger. Batteries are the expensive part of a platform: on most brands a single standalone pack costs a large share of the bare tool price, and sometimes more. Even with n = 1 and a basic charger, T + B + C is usually well above K. Buy the kit.
Example 2: adding a driver to a platform you already own
You have three batteries and a charger. n = 0 and C = 0. The comparison is K vs T. Since K is always higher than T for the same tool, buy the bare tool, unless the kit includes a larger battery you genuinely want, in which case set n = 1 and rerun the formula.
Example 3: you own a drill kit with one small battery
You have one 2.0 Ah pack and a charger. You want a second battery so one can charge while you work. Now n = 1 and C = 0. Compare K with T + B. Kits with two batteries often win here, but a battery promotion with a free tool (below) may beat both.
Example 4: kit with batteries you plan to sell
You already own plenty of batteries but the kit is on deep discount. Subtract a cautious resale estimate, R, for the unneeded packs: the kit wins if K − R < T. Be conservative with R, since used batteries sell for well below new.
Quick decision table
| Your situation | Usually best | Why |
|---|---|---|
| No batteries on this platform | Kit or combo kit | You need batteries and a charger anyway |
| Own 2+ batteries and a charger | Bare tool | Avoid paying for more packs |
| Own 1 small battery | Kit or battery promo | A second pack is worth having |
| Need both a drill and impact driver | Combo kit | Two tools for close to the price of one kit |
| Want larger batteries | Bare tool + battery promo | Kit packs are often small |
| Kit includes an older model | Compare carefully | Some bundles pair new batteries with previous-generation tools |
Battery promotion patterns to watch
Most major brands run predictable types of deals. They tend to cluster around spring, Father's Day, and the late-year holiday season, but timing varies by brand and retailer.
- Free tool with a battery starter kit. Buy a battery-and-charger kit and choose a bare tool free. When the free tool is one you wanted, this often beats any kit.
- Buy two batteries, get a tool. Good if you already need more packs.
- Holiday "special buy" kits. Lower prices, but check battery capacity and whether the tool is the current model.
- Bonus battery kits. A kit with an extra pack thrown in. Count only batteries you will use.
- Bundle-and-save offers. Discounts when you buy several bare tools together.
Our guide to impact driver deals covers timing and how to spot a real discount.
What to check before you buy
- Model number and suffix. Make sure the kit and the bare tool are the same tool. For example, the Milwaukee 2953-22 kit contains the 2953-20 tool. DeWalt kit and bare versions share the base code (DCF887) with different suffixes.
- Battery capacity. A kit with two 2.0 Ah packs is not equal to two 5.0 Ah packs sold separately.
- Charger type. Kit chargers are often basic, slower models.
- Case or bag. Nice to have, but do not pay a big premium for it.
- The platform itself. A cheap kit on a platform that does not make the tools you need later is not a bargain. See choosing a cordless tool platform.
Where impact drivers fit in
Impact drivers are among the most commonly bundled tools. They appear in drill and impact driver combos and are a frequent "free tool" choice in battery promotions. That makes them one of the easiest tools to get at a low effective price. If you need one on a budget, compare our budget impact driver picks and the best drill and impact driver combo kits against the battery deals running on your platform. For model-specific advice, the best impact drivers page lists our top picks on each major platform. One more tip: when a bare tool is discounted heavily, check whether a newer generation just launched. Clearance on the outgoing model can be excellent value, as long as it still uses your current batteries.
Example bare tool on Amazon Example kit on Amazon
Verdict
Kits are for starting a platform; bare tools are for growing one. Run the formula with today's prices: if the kit costs less than the bare tool plus the batteries and charger you actually need, buy the kit. Otherwise buy bare, and time big battery purchases for promotions that include a free tool.
Frequently asked questions
What does tool only mean?
Tool only, also called bare tool, means the box contains the tool but no battery and no charger. Manufacturers often mark these with a suffix, such as -20 on Milwaukee or B on DeWalt model numbers. It will not run until you add a battery from the same platform.
Are batteries in kits lower quality?
Not lower quality, but often smaller. Holiday and promo kits frequently include compact 1.5 Ah or 2.0 Ah packs instead of the 4.0 Ah or 5.0 Ah packs sold separately. Check the capacity before comparing kit and battery prices.
Is it cheaper to buy a combo kit than two kits?
Usually. A drill and impact driver combo kit includes two tools, two batteries and one charger, and is often priced close to a single-tool kit. If you need both tools, a combo is typically the cheapest entry to a platform.
Can I sell the extra batteries from a kit?
Many people do, which is one way kits can work out cheaper than bare tools. Resale value varies by brand and battery size. Sell only genuine, undamaged packs, and treat the resale as a bonus rather than counting on it.