Last Updated on June 2, 2023 by Tyra Miller
There are a lot of different models and brands of impact wrenches in the market today, so which is the best? You may have looked at Amazon for deals already, but you might be wondering with all the choices, how do you choose the best impact wrench! Don’t worry, in this article, we will discuss just that.
We found that the best impact wrench is the Milwaukee 2767-20 and we will tell you why below. First, let’s compare all of the other options so that you can pick the right impact wrench for you.
Here’s a table with our favorite impact wrenches and their specs.
Table of Contents
Best Impact Wrench
Name | Type | Torque | Weight |
Milwaukee M18 FUEL Impact Wrench | Cordless | 1400 ft-lbs | 5.9 pounds |
DeWalt DCF899HB Impact Wrench | Cordless | 1200 ft-lbs | 5.8 pounds |
Ingersoll Rand 2235 Ti Max | Air Powered | 1350 ft-lbs | 4.6 pounds |
Here is a list of the best impact wrench, so you can compare options and choose the best one for you.
Milwaukee 2767-20 1/2″ Impact Wrench M18 with Friction Ring
Let’s start with this excellent Milwaukee 1/2 impact. Cordless and battery operated — Milwaukee sets the bar high for this one. This is our top pick for an impact wrench. It combines the right tool and the right price. It has a lot of torque in reverse, quite surprised with this, and more power than an air impact wrench, definitely worth the price. Air tools will struggle to keep up with this. This is going to be the last impact you’ll ever buy.
Seriously, there is no nut this wrench couldn’t take, this Milwaukee impact truly is a monster. Features 1000 ft-lbs of fastening torque and 1400 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque. It took off lug nuts and the air impact couldn’t even budge.
Batteries last a good while and it’s fast on the recharge too. Everyone at my mechanic’s shop knows these are excellent impact wrenches, to the point that they just buy it. It’s a reasonable price and has a powerful cordless impact. Milwaukee cordless tools got it right with this high torque and robust tool. I must say though it has massive power, it works great, no more pneumatic impact gun. The protective cover mold provides protection against corrosive materials. Plus, the tool fits in your hand nicely.
Milwaukee has taken the impact wrench and made it cordless and powerful this is an obvious pick for the best impact wrench. This impact wrench is a beast. It really has power that far exceeds my old air impact, and vs. my old air impact, it can’t even compare. Works great to remove those rusty lug nuts. This is probably the best brushless impact gun I have ever owned, on par with the most high-end air impacts.
Great features, lots of torque, a really great product at an attractive and affordable price. The compact design makes it useful for being able to reach hard-to-reach places. No need for air-powered impacts anymore.
DeWALT DCF899HB Brushless 1/2″ Torque Impact
This is our favorite Dewalt in the market for a cordless brushless impact wrench. It has not let me down. This is another beast of an impact, and the 5 ah 20v battery is excellent.
A true powerhouse. If you are considering getting one of these to replace your air impact gun then it’s not a bad choice. This is way more convenient than pneumatic air-powered impact wrenches! Plus those 5 amp batteries are great for all-day usage. This wrench gives a similar response to pneumatic air tool versions/air impact wrenches just without the air, of course.
This DeWalt impact wrench combines cordless and high torque, and this is a true competitor vs. the Milwaukee 2767.
Didn’t struggle with taking off any lug nuts, so no complaints. Suitable for installing lag bolts. It also comes with a DeWALT standard heavy-duty warranty. The power setting, when tightening bolts, the impact is a useful feature to have. This impact works beautifully for taking out anything really (except your wife maybe). Excellent product with considerable power to a snap-on 1/2 air impact gun.
The DCF899 really beats the air hose again for an impact wrench, this wrench is cordless and provides a high amount of torque. This impact is one of the best we’ve ever seen, takes nuts without any effort at all.
Porter-Cable PCE211 1/2″ 7.5 Amp Impact Wrench
Features a 7.5 Amp Motor, 450 ft-lbs of torque, 2200 rpm, 2700 bpm, and a 1/2″ hog ring anvil for easy socket changes.
Worked pretty well to get nuts off quickly, but was struggling to get some of the more rusty lug nuts loose. So this wrench is not quite in the same range as the impact wrenches we reviewed above, but it’ll get the job done.
It will make your work quicker, that’s for sure. But we do not see it in the same range of power torque that you would get from an air impact wrench. Plus this drill is slightly heavier than other impact wrenches. It’s a corded tool, so it isn’t quite as convenient as the impacts we reviewed above, but for the price, it’s an excellent overall wrench.
Excellent for removing lug nuts off with some effort, so not the best pick, however, we got it for a great deal! This wrench is a bit on the heavy side, but it’ll get your regular nuts in a few seconds.
If you’re looking for something on the inexpensive side, then this is a good pick for best budget impact wrench.
Ingersoll Rand 2235 Ti-Max 1/2″ Impact Wrench
This thing has impressive power. This really outdid any other air-powered Ingersoll Rand impacts I reviewed. If you prefer airpower, then look no further than this impact gun. An excellent choice for mechanics. This is our choice for the best air impact gun for the money.
It packs a punch, and we didn’t struggle with a single nut. Plus we dropped this thing a couple of times, and it didn’t break, so it’s pretty durable. A fantastic impact wrench, this Ingersoll Rand is a beast in the shop.
Has some real power and works fantastic taking off old wheel hub nuts with no effort, makes the job a lot easier. This is the best impact wrench for the money.
It feels lighter than their previous lines of impacts, but they haven’t sacrificed at all on the power. You will have fun using this impact gun every day. Takes bolts with no problem; this is the best impact gun for mechanics.
Excellent control and one of the strongest and most reliable IR impact out there. Any mechanic would be satisfied with this impact gun. We would recommend this to any mechanic looking to replace their old impact from Ingersoll Rand.
Dewalt DCF890B Compact 3/8″ Impact Wrench
This thing is nowhere near the power of the ones listed, but it’s still a decent impact wrench for mid-torque jobs.
If you’re upgrading from a crappy wrench, you’ll probably feel the difference with this 3/8 impact. But really, I don’t think you’ll move more than 100 ft-lbs with this wrench.
It’ll do an ok job though, and the price is a bargain at the time of writing this. Another good bargain pick, so if the price is right, you can’t go wrong.
Makita XWT08Z 1/2 in Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless
Features 740 ft-lbs of fastening torque and 1180 ft-lbs of break-away torque. This Makita impact wrench really impressed us, even on its lowest torque setting the response was great. It is pretty big, but it works great. The issue with this drill is that it is big and more cumbersome than in comparison to others.
Worked like a champ to take lug nuts off one of our trucks. This thing packs a lot of power, and it makes it difficult not to overtighten nuts. The tool is huge and bulky, but the ergonomic rubber coating gives it a nice feel. It’s huge in comparison to other power wrenches in the shop though. Overall, despite its size, this wrench is another beast from Makita.
Built for auto use, it’s a high-performing and durable wrench. Similar to other impact wrenches when comparing the battery life. The price-to-torque ratio is, and it gives good overall value.
Takes bolts off within seconds. Pretty happy with the 4 ah battery. Nice balance between power and battery too. The only issue is the size and weight, but if those aren’t important to you then it’s a decent choice.
Pneumatic vs Electric vs Cordless
Pneumatic Impact Wrenches
Pneumatic Impact Wrenches, or air impact wrenches, are typically used in professional rather than home environments. Especially popular with mechanics and automotive garages, air wrenches are fast and powerful. High-pressure air is required for working with these air impact guns get a good quality air compressor and lines that are 200+ psi for multiple impact sockets. Way less portable than their cordless counterparts. You can get a portable air compressor, but they are heavy, cumbersome & bulky. If you go for an air impact, it can get quite expensive. Usually not a good choice for home usage.
Electric Impact Wrenches
Electric Impact Wrenches, or corded impact wrenches, are not as durable as air impact wrenches. However, they are still fast and powerful. It’s great for home usage because it just requires a plug and a socket. The downside to electricity is that it obviously has a cord, which can limit your mobility. They are easier to move around compared to pneumatic wrenches since you don’t need an air compressor.
Cordless Impact Wrenches
Cordless impact wrenches, or battery-operated impact wrenches, are becoming more and more popular. As battery life improves and they are starting to offer more and more torque. The power of some cordless impact wrenches matches or even exceeds air-powered and electric-powered impact wrenches. It works well to get into those tight workspaces. The downside to cordless versions is that you must always remember to keep them charged. It also is heavier due to the battery. Compared to air impacts, cordless impacts are larger than pneumatic wrenches. The advantage of going cordless is that you have more mobility to move around. And, if you go on long road trips, it’s handy to keep one of these bad boys in the car.
Conclusion
There ya have it, this article was all about the best impact wrench. We went into the best models and brands in the market today and gave our reviews on all of them. If you have any questions, you can write to us below by leaving a comment.