Impact Driver vs Drill
They look alike, often share a battery and are sold in the same kit. They solve different problems, though. Here is how to tell which one a job needs.
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Use a drill to make holes and for controlled, precise driving. Use an impact driver to drive long or large fasteners quickly. A drill turns smoothly and has an adjustable clutch. An impact driver adds rapid rotational hammer blows, which lets it sink 3-inch-plus screws and lag bolts without stalling or twisting your wrist. If you can only buy one, buy the drill. If you build decks, fences, framing or cabinets, you will want both.
On this page
The core difference in one sentence
A drill applies steady, continuous rotation and stops at a set torque thanks to its clutch. An impact driver applies rotation plus thousands of short hammer blows per minute once the fastener resists, which delivers much more effective driving force with less strain on you.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Drill/driver | Impact driver |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Drilling holes; precise driving | Driving long and large fasteners |
| Chuck | Keyless 3-jaw (1/2-inch on most 18V) | 1/4-inch hex quick-release collet |
| Accepts | Round and hex shanks | Hex shanks only |
| Clutch | Yes, numbered torque settings | Usually none; speed modes instead |
| Mechanism | Continuous rotation (hammer drills add forward blows) | Rotational hammer and anvil |
| Typical rated torque, 18V | 500 to 1,400 in-lbs | 1,500 to 2,200 in-lbs |
| Wrist kickback | Can be strong if a bit binds | Low |
| Size | Longer, heavier head | Shorter and usually lighter |
| Noise | Moderate | Loud while impacting |
| Precision | High, with minimal runout | Lower, since the collet has play |
Drill and impact torque ratings use different test methods, and each brand measures its own way. Use these ranges to understand classes, not to compare one exact model with another.
How each tool works
The drill
A motor drives a gearbox, which turns a three-jaw chuck. A two-speed gearbox lets you choose low speed with more torque for driving and large bits, or high speed for small drill bits. The clutch (the numbered collar) slips at a preset torque, so you can drive a screw flush without overdriving it. Many drills also have a "drill" setting that bypasses the clutch.
The impact driver
The motor drives a spring-loaded hammer. With little resistance, it spins like a fast screwdriver. Once a screw resists, the hammer repeatedly disengages and strikes the anvil, delivering bursts of torque. Short bursts mean the reaction force on your arm stays low even when the output is high. Read more in how an impact driver works.
Which tool for which job
| Job | Better tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Drilling holes in wood or metal | Drill | Precise chuck, accepts any bit |
| Drilling brick or block | Hammer drill | Forward hammering; impacts do not help here |
| Driving 3-inch deck or framing screws | Impact driver | Faster, fewer stripped heads, less fatigue |
| Lag bolts and structural screws | Impact driver | Drills stall; impact keeps advancing |
| Hinges, switch plates, small brass screws | Drill (low clutch) | Clutch prevents stripping and snapping |
| Flat-pack furniture | Drill or screwdriver | Particleboard strips easily under impact |
| Hole saws and large spade bits | Drill | Steady torque without chatter |
| Self-drilling screws into metal studs | Impact driver | Self-tapping modes and speed |
| Tapcon screws into concrete | Both | Hammer drill for the hole, impact to drive |
| Mixing paint or thinset | Drill | Continuous torque at controlled speed |
Why an impact driver strips fewer screws on long fasteners
When a drill drives a long screw, you have to push hard to keep the bit seated while the motor fights the wood. Once torque rises past the grip of the bit, it cams out and chews the screw head. An impact driver's blows keep the screw turning in small steps, so you need less forward pressure and the bit stays seated. On the other hand, with small screws an impact driver's power can snap them or strip the threads in the wood. Speed control and the right impact-rated bit matter. See how to stop stripping screws.
Can one tool replace the other?
Impact driver as a drill
With hex-shank drill bits, an impact driver drills pilot holes and holes up to about an inch in softwood quickly. It struggles with precision, large hole saws, hardwood with big bits and anything masonry. Details: can you drill with an impact driver?
Drill as an impact driver
A drill will drive most screws given time, a sharp bit and a good push. It becomes the wrong tool when you have hundreds of long screws, or lag bolts that make it stall and twist in your hands.
Which should you buy first?
- Homeowner with occasional projects: a drill/driver first. It does more different jobs.
- Planning a deck, fence, shed or framing: both. Buy a combo kit, since kits usually cost little more than a drill kit alone.
- Already own a drill: add a bare impact driver from the same battery platform.
- Trades (electrical, HVAC, cabinets): both, often in 12V for weight. See the M12 impact driver.
Drill and impact driver combo kit
Two tools, two batteries, one charger, usually discounted against buying separately.
Choose the platform first (how to choose), then a brushless combo with at least one 2.0 Ah or larger battery. Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita and Ryobi all sell brushless kits in this format.
Verdict
Drills make holes and give you control. Impact drivers drive fasteners with power and less effort. They complement each other rather than compete. Start with a drill if you are new to tools, and add an impact driver, preferably on the same battery platform, as soon as your projects involve long screws.
Frequently asked questions
Is an impact driver better than a drill?
Not better, just different. It is better at driving long fasteners and worse at drilling precise holes, drilling masonry and gently driving small screws. That is why combo kits pair the two.
Can I use drill bits in an impact driver?
Only bits with a 1/4-inch hex shank fit. Impact-rated hex drill bits work well for pilot holes and holes in wood or thin metal. Round-shank bits do not fit the collet.
Can a drill do everything an impact driver does?
A drill can drive most screws eventually, but long structural screws and lags will stall it, strip heads more often and twist your wrist when it binds. For a few screws that is acceptable. For a deck it is miserable.
Should a beginner buy a drill or an impact driver first?
A drill first. It drills holes, which an impact driver does poorly, and its clutch makes small screws forgiving. Add an impact driver, ideally as part of a combo kit, when you start bigger projects.
What is a drill/driver?
It is the standard cordless drill: a drill with an adjustable clutch so it can also drive screws. When people say drill vs impact driver, they almost always mean a drill/driver vs an impact driver.