5 Best Cordless Impact Wrench Reviews for 2020

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Last updated on April 26th, 2020 at 05:59 pm

5 Best Cordless Impact Wrench Reviews
Best Cordless Impact Wrench Reviews

What are the Best Cordless Impact wrenches to buy in 2020? 

Milwaukee, Ingersoll, Bosch, and Dewalt are definitely some popular brands to consider!.

But even the top brands have different options to choose from. 

This Cordless Impact Wrench reviews, guides, detailed comparison, and my ultimate recommendation below would help you make the right choice. So read on! 

Here is a roundup of the top-rated cordless impact wrench we reviewed below. More details and a comparison chart you will find below.

  1. If you need an everyday cordless impact wrench with lots of torque to take out really difficult nuts, bolts, or screw, choose the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2763-22. It’s the first on our list and ready for the difficult, robust task.
  2. If you need for yourself a light home use wrench and want something for the budget then choose Bosch 24618-01
  3. If you’re looking to get the best of both worlds (heavy duty & DIY), then the Dewalt DCF889HM2 is the impact wrench to go for. 

Some FAQ Questions:

Read - What is an impact wrench?

What is an Impact Wrench?

What is an impact wrench and how does it work? Is there any difference between an impact wrench and an impact driver?

An impact wrench (also called torque gun, impact gun, air wrench, rattle gun, air gun, windy gun) is a powerful tool used by repair technicians for the loosening and tightening of nuts and bolts.

It reduces the effort the user puts in and the time spent on fixing nuts and bolts. Simply put, it is a fast and efficient tool that requires minimal effort to use.

 
Read - How does an Impact Wrench works?

How does an Impact Wrench Work?

There are basically three types of impact wrench:

  • Air Powered Impact Wrench (Corded)
  • Electric Powered Impact Wrench (Corded)
  • Cordless Impact Wrench (Battery-Powered)

The different types all work in the same way. Impact wrenches work with the fundamental principle of an electric motor. It works by delivering a rotational force (or torque) at controlled speeds (called impacts).

Because the impact wrench delivers force at a controlled speed (or bursts), the user is able to apply a larger torque to fixings than would be possible with regular wrenches.

This reduces the effort required by the user; the bruised knuckles, fatigue, and time spent on tightening or loosening any nut or bolt.

Our focus for this article is the Cordless Impact Wrench. The Cordless Impact wrench is battery powered and lacks a cord unlike the other types of impact wrenches.

Now, because it is cordless, the Battery Powered Impact Wrench is less restrictive; allowing you better mobility within your workspace.

Why buy a Cordless Impact Wrench?

Why buy a Cordless Impact Wrench?

Recently, the popularity of Cordless Impact Wrenches has been on the rise among technicians and home users.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise as many Cordless Impact Wrenches are outperforming their equivalent air counterparts without the compressor and airline hassle of the Air-Powered Impact Wrenches.

The absence of a cord (or airline) means greater mobility within your workspace; thus saving you more time, energy, and ultimately, money.

One little drawback of the Cordless Impact Wrench is the heaviness of battery packs in less expensive units which can lead to operator fatigue after prolonged use. 

You can avoid this if you buy the best cordless impact wrench with ergonomic consideration. In this review, we will make a recommendation.

Read - Impact Driver vs Impact Wrench?

What is the difference between an Impact Driver and an Impact Wrench?

The difference between an impact wrench and an impact driver is a source of confusion for many people. This is understandable as both power tools are very similar but are used for different purposes.

An impact wrench has a much higher torque than the impact driver. An impact wrench is designed for doing the heavy lifting. 

An impact wrench is also designed for tightening or loosening stubborn bolts, lug nuts, or any other troublesome nut or bolt.

The impact wrench and impact drive are fundamentally the same but the impact wrench is for strong. a stronger and difficult task.

Don’t get me wrong you can also use it for light jobs. A look at their torque ratings will make the difference between them clearer:

  • 18V impact drivers: 1300-1400 in-lbs. (Max 117 ft-lbs.) of torque
  • 18V impact wrenches: 1600-5800 in-lbs (Max 483 ft-lbs). of torque

The higher torque rating of an impact wrench is due to its lower RPM (Revolutions per minute) and IPM (Impacts per minute).

An Impact wrench has lower IPM, so they can save up on inertia and deliver 3 times as much torque as impact drivers.

Read - Brushless Vs. Brushed Impact Wrench?

Brushless vs. Brushed Cordless Impact Wrenches

The internal components of your cordless impact wrench matter a lot as they influence durability and performance.

In a brushed impact wrench, the individual components of the motor are in contact with one another. This leads to friction which causes wear and tear. A brushless impact tool is an exact opposite.

In a brushless impact wrench, the component parts are NOT in contact. Hence, no friction or wear on the motor. This makes cordless impact wrenches with brushless motors more durable.

Comparison of the 5 Best Cordless Impact Wrench

A comparison table for you!

Products/FeaturesMilwaukee M18 Fuel 2763-22Ingersoll-Rand W7150-K2Bosch 24618-01Makita BTW251ZDewalt DCF889HM2
Maximum Bursting Torque (ft-lbs) 1,100 1,100133170400
Voltage (V)1818181820
MotorBrushless Brushed BrushedBrushedBrushed
Maximum RPM 1,900 1,900  2,800 2,1001,500
Variable Speed ButtonYesYesYesYesYes
Weight (lbs.) 7 6.8 3.8 2.811.9
Battery GaugeYesYesNoNoYes
Brake ButtonYesYesYesYesYes
Anvil Size (inches)2-Jan  1/2 1/22-Jan2-Jan
Anvil TypeFriction RingHog RingDetent PinDetent PinHog Ring
Check PriceCheck PriceCheck PriceCheck PriceCheck Price

Here is a quick review of our 5 top-rated cordless impact wrenches.

Five Best Cordless Impact Wrench Reviews for 2020

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Impact Wrench – Editors Pick (Heavy Duty and Rugged)

Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2763.22 Cordless Impact Wrench Review
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2763.22 Cordless Impact Wrench

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2763-22 is first on our list. Boasting 700lbs fastening torque and 1,100lbs nut removing torque, the Milwaukee 2763-22 is one powerful cordless impact wrench.

This state of the art gun has handled every nut we’ve thrown at it. It took off lugnuts, crank bolts, axle nuts, and even control arm bolts. We’re super impressed with the power of this impact tool.

The Milwaukee 2763-22 has the only brushless motor on the list. Brushless motors are super durable. This reduces the wear and tear caused by friction. With two fastening torque modes, this impact gun is suitable for all tasks.

If you need an everyday cordless impact wrench with lots of torque to take out really difficult nuts, bolts or screw, choose the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2763-22.

Concerned about the battery draining fast? No need. The Milwaukee 2763-22 comes with two red Lithium-ion XC 4.0 batteries. These batteries last for more than 8 hours of heavy work.

The charge time for this tool is less than 30 minutes. It has a battery gauge to check battery and charge status. The Milwaukee 2763-22 also comes with a fast multi-voltage charger.

There is also a 1/2″ friction ring for an easy and quick change of sockets on this 18V tool. Another thing we love about this gun is that other Milwaukee products can use the same battery as this gun. A huge plus is you can save on batteries on other Milwaukee products.

The downside to this amazing impact tool is that it is quite heavy. 7lbs (tool and battery) may not seem heavy at first but after prolonged use, your arm will definitely be feeling the burn. However, the power that comes with this Milwaukee impact wrench makes the weight totally worth it.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an amateur or a professional mechanic; the Milwaukee 2763-22 will perform any task you want. With its high nut-busting and fastening torque, you can be sure no nut can stand the Milwaukee 2763-22.

This is the absolute best cordless impact wrench out there for anyone serious about tackling nuts, bolts, and screws.

Buy Milwaukee 2763-22 from Amazon

Ingersoll Rand W7150-K2 Review – Best Powerful Cordless Impact Wrench

Ingersoll Rand W7150-K2 Cordless Impact Wrench Review
Ingersoll Rand W7150-K2 Cordless Impact Wrench

The small but powerful Ingersoll-Rand W7150-K2 makes it to the number two spot on our list. This cordless impact wrench comes with 1100ft-lbs nut removing torque power rating.

Let’s not forget its 780ft-lbs maximum reverse torque power rating. It removes1-1/2” lug nuts, axle, and crank pulley bolts etc.on tractors, trucks, or any other type of vehicle. Whatever your task is, this cordless impact wrench has got you covered.

Weighing only 6.8lbs but packing a speed of 1900 RPM, we’ve taken to calling this impact wrench “mighty Inger”. With variable speed and electronic brake switches. We love this particular cordless impact wrench.

The Ingersoll-Rand also comes in a steel-lined aluminum casing to protect internal components.

”If you require a high torque tool, the Ingersoll-Rand W7150 is definitely the impact wrench for you”.

With the torque on the Ingersoll-Rand, you would expect the battery to drain quickly. We were more than happy to be proven wrong. This impact wrench has two Lithium-ion batteries that hold their charge for more than four hours each.

Ingersoll-Rand W7150-K2 comes with a hog ring connection that enables the fast change of sockets. The charge time on this power tool is just 30 minutes. It also comes with a charger and battery LED indicator that shows charge status.

We would love to tell you that the Ingersoll-Rand W7150 is perfect, but it is not. The noise level is a little high. There is no lighting attached to this impact tool. You have to bring your own light when you work in the dark.

Even with the tremendous torque, we are a little unhappy about the positioning of the trigger and reverse/forward buttons.

It can get a little technical using this impact tool if you are right-handed. Although once you’re used to this powerful tool, the positioning of the two buttons ceases to be a bother.

If you require a high torque tool, the Ingersoll-Rand W7150 is definitely the impact wrench for you. This portable cordless impact wrench will do the work of your air impact tool without hassle.

It would be a mistake to pass up this amazing gun.

Buy Ingersoll-Rand W7150 from Amazon

Dewalt DCF889HM2 Cordless Impact Wrench Review – Best of Both Worlds (Heavy Duty & DIY)

Dewalt DCF889HM2 Cordless Impact Wrench Review
Dewalt DCF889HM2 Cordless Impact Wrench

The Dewalt DCF889HM2 comes in at number three. This is one of the best cordless impact wrenches for DIY enthusiasts and amateur mechanics. It’s a home and car owner repair dream tool.

The Dewalt DCF889HM2 has a 400ft-lbs torque power rating. With 20V on its belt, this impact tool will remove lug nuts, nuts in wood, and concrete. This is perfect for all home improvement activities as well as working on your vehicle.

With a magnesium gear casing and an all-metal transmission, the Dewalt DCF889HM2 is built to last. Its hog ring anvil makes it easy to change sockets pretty fast. And with its LED light, you can work in the dark with ease.

Worried about the battery draining fast? Don’t bother about that. This impact tool comes with XR Lithium-ion batteries that retain their charge for more than 4 hours of heavy work. And the battery charges in less than 30 minutes.

”This impact wrench is a great tool. All you DIYs enthusiasts and occasional mechanics out there, this cordless impact wrench was made just for you”.

The variable speed trigger and brake button on the Dewalt DCF889HM2 make it really user-friendly. The fuel gauge is another handy feature that we absolutely love. Charge and battery status can be determined at any time by looking at the gauge.

The noise level of this impact gun is really low. Another perk of the Dewalt DCF889HM2 is that all Dewalt products have interchangeable batteries. This is great news if you already own an older model of this gun. That battery will work with this new 20V model.

As much as we love the Dewalt DCF889HM2, we found it to be too heavy after prolonged use. It weighs 11.9 lbs. The tool bag that comes with this impact gun is too small. So, you would need another tool bag to hold sockets, batteries, and chargers.

This impact wrench is a great tool. All you DIYs enthusiasts and occasional mechanics out there, this cordless impact wrench was made just for you. It would be a waste of time and money to go for anything that isn’t Dewalt DCF889HM2.

Buy Dewalt DCF889HM2 from Amazon

Bosch 24618-01 Cordless Impact Wrench – Light Home Use (Best for the Bucks)

Bosch 24618-01 Cordless Impact Wrench Review
Bosch 24618-01 Cordless Impact Wrench

The awesome Bosch 24618-01 is number four on our cordless impact wrench review list. The Bosch 24618-01 is one of the best cordless impact wrenches for amateur mechanics and DIY enthusiasts. This dream power tool will do just about any job you want.

The Bosch 24618-01 has a torque of 1,600 inches/lbs. (133.3ft-lbs). With a whopping 2,800 RPM, this is one powerful impact gun. This 18V tool will remove 4-inch Tek screws, lag bolts in wood, and lugnuts off any car.

Two Lithium-ion batteries accompany the Bosch 24618-01. The batteries retain their charge and last for a really long time; four hours and counting. The charge time is about 30 minutes.

If you need for yourself a light home use wrench and want something for the budget then choose Bosch 24618-01

We love that this 1/2 inch square drive impact wrench comes with a belt clip. It also has a LED light for working in dark areas. And the noise level is very low.

The Bosch 24618-01 has a variable speed trigger as well as a brake button. Weighing just 3.8lbs, this impact tool is very light and compact. It is perfect for those hard to reach places in many cars.

Although the Bosch 24618-01 impact wrench is great for most home and garage use, it does have some downsides. Its low torque rating makes it unsuitable for trucks. It has no battery meter to check battery and charge status.

Also, we find the LED light isn’t all that bright. And there is no OFF button for the LED light. It’s on whether you need it or not.

The Bosch 24618-01 is a great impact tool for anyone who doesn’t require too much power. If you’re into DIY’s home and car repairs, you’d be disappointed to pass up this impact wrench.

Buy Bosch 24618-01 from Amazon

Makita BTW251Z Cordless Impact Wrench – Best Light Use (DIY)

Makita BTW251Z Cordless Impact Wrench Review
Makita BTW251Z Cordless Impact Wrench

And last on our list of the best cordless impact wrench is the Makita BTW251Z. This impact wrench is perfect for home improvement works and taking off car wheels. This compact power tool will get the job done fast.

The Makita BTW251Z has a torque rating of 170ft-lbs. With 2,100 RPM, this impact tool can do just about anything. This 18V impact gun will remove lug nuts, bolts, lag screws, etc.

If you’re looking to get the best of both worlds (heavy-duty & DIY), then the Makita BTW251Z is the impact wrench to go for.

The detent pin on the Makita BTW251Z enables you to change sockets very fast. This impact wrench also comes with a LED light for working in dark spaces.

One lovely thing about this impact wrench is the glow in the dark feature. The Makita BTW251Z has a variable speed trigger as well as a brake button.

Weighing just 2.8lbs (bare tool only), this is the lightest impact wrench on our list. It is just right for those hard to reach places in vehicles, go-karts and dirt bikes.

As much as we love the Makita BTW251Z, the noise level is a little too high. It doesn’t have a battery gauge. Neither does this tool come with batteries.

Although the battery and charger are sold separately, any Makita tool battery and charger will work with this impact gun. If you already own any Makita power tool, this cordless impact wrench will be the best fit for you.

Buy Makita BTW251Z from Amazon

So that’s is it for the 5 best cordless impact wrench. 

Before you commit to buying an impact wrench, there are some factors you must consider. Good for you we took a dive on the very important factors. Don’t buy a cordless impact wrench without considering the following factors below.

Factors you must consider in choosing the Best Cordless Impact Wrench

Here are the most important factors – not listed in order of importance:

Power/Torque

The torque rating of a cordless impact wrench will determine if you should buy it or not.

The torque is what allows a wrench to loosen or tighten a nut. It is important to choose a cordless impact wrench that is capable of driving very tough screws.

Wrenches with a minimum torque of 1600 in-lbs (133 ft-lbs)  are best. After-all why is it an impact wrench!

Weight/size

Whether you’re a professional technician or a home user, the size of the wrench should matter very much to you.

One reason is that you might be working over long periods, so you don’t want to select a heavy wrench. Heavy wrenches can lead to fatigue or loss of feeling in the arm. Choosing a light to medium weight wrench is the key.

Sound level

The noise level involved when using your cordless impact wrench is important. You don’t want to become hard of hearing after using your wrench. Go for the quieter varieties.

Battery

The quality of the battery of your wrench is very important. Your battery should be able to retain power after charging.

You don’t want to stop in the middle of driving a nut to charge the battery of your wrench. Some manufacturers include two batteries to curtail this problem.

Some batteries are known for retaining charges more. It depends on the technology used.

Also, some brands are known for battery quality. On our cordless impact wrench review below we took this into consideration

Speed

Depending on the task, the speed of the wrench should be adjustable to enable you to work efficiently. Many brands of cordless impact wrenches come with a variable speed setting.

This is to allow you to control the speed of torque to suit the task at hand.

Charge time

Your cordless wrench should not take forever to charge. A fast charge time is important. It saves you time and money spent on electricity bills.

Your cordless impact wrench shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes to charge. Though in the future we are looking at fast charging technology (5 -10 min. depending on the device). Until now 30 minutes is the optimum time for a device like this.

Comfort

Your comfort when using a cordless impact wrench is of utmost importance. Some brands come with a soft-touch grip that reduces vibrations and fatigue over prolonged use. These types are the best.

Durability

Durability is one important factor. Your cordless impact wrench should be long-lasting. It shouldn’t break down after some time. Go for brands with either Aluminium or Magnesium gearcase.

They are more durable. Wrenches with all-metal transmission last longer. Also, impact wrenches with brushless motors are more durable than their brushed counterparts.

Warranty

A warranty is the manufacturer’s stamp of trust in their product. The warranty on cordless impact wrenches can vary from a year to three. Go for brands that have a longer warranty time.

Lighting

This is important when you work in dark spaces. A wrench with its own LED light saves you money on buying a flashlight. It also saves you the hassle of maneuvering the flashlight in tight dark spaces.

Other features like battery indicator and brake function should also be taken into consideration.

By taking these factors into account, you are ready to make a purchase decision.

Still, have questions!

Leave us a comment, we will get back to you. If you’ve finally got one, get back to us, we will love to get your feedback

All the best….!

Image credits: Makita BTW450 impact wrench by Cramo Group

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