These Cordless Impact Wrenches Allow For More Mobility (2024)

Models like this Milwaukee are the heavy hitters when it comes to impact wrenches. They’re bigger, weightier, and torque-ier (1,400 foot-pounds for the M18 Fuel here). Removing lug nuts on our F-250 Super Duty was no challenge for this impact wrench. It barely hesitated breaking them loose.

With four modes, three different speeds, and a bolt removal mode, it’s easy to set the speed/torque for the job. And that bolt removal mode is a pleasure to use; it backs off the speed and torque once a nut or bolt breaks loose so that it doesn’t run off the end and go flying. When it came to the rusty old bolts on the farm equipment, the M18 broke them free without much effort, and using the bolt removal mode also helped prevent damage, spinning the nuts off over-rusted threads.

The M18 impact wrench is an effective tool for major jobs like heavy equipment repair, industrial maintenance and repair applications, or any other task with big, tough nuts and bolts.

Key Features

Ryobi’s 18V One+ hits a price point that’s hard to beat, at the same time accomplishing everything we asked of it in testing. When we used it to remove lug nuts, it impacted for a little more than a second before breaking them loose and spinning them off. It only took slightly longer when we removed rusty bolts on a farm implement. We were also able to drive 6-inch lag bolts into pressure-treated lumber.

We found the three speeds were most useful when trying to avoid over-tightening fasteners. The lack of a brushless motor means we wouldn’t expect it to stand up to daily use, but this is a capable tool that helps get a lot of projects done around the house.

Key Features

We could tell the DeWalt 20V Max XR was a beast when we picked it up. High-torque impact wrenches tend to weigh more because they have beefier components required to handle the forces involved in transferring all that torque. This is no exception, weighing 7.2 pounds with one of the two big 5-Ah batteries clipped to the bottom—the heaviest impact wrench in the test.

The weight does give the impression it’s well built and can take some abuse though. Removing the lug nuts on the F-250 Super Duty was seemingly effortless, the Max XR breaking them free in a fraction of a second. We tried it in all three speed settings, with the highest removing them the fastest. We had to get a feel for when to back off the trigger and let the tool’s momentum spin the nut off—do it too late and the nut could run off the stud at high RPM and fly out of the socket.

Working on the rusty farm equipment felt like a perfect job for the Max XR. The rusted nuts and bolts were no match for it—the only issue was being able to reach a couple of them because of the size of the wrench. DeWalt’s high-torque impact wrench would be a natural fit for auto, truck, or tractor repair out in the field or on the roadside.

Key Specs

You’re not going to find Ingersoll Rand (IR) tools in most big box, home improvement stores, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth searching them out. IR tools are often found in industrial or commercial applications due to their reputation for robust performance and durable construction.

Their ½-in. High- Torque 20v Impact Wrench is a good example of this, with an all metal drivetrain, steel reinforced handle, and a whopping 1500 feet-pounds of nut busting torque. In fact, there wasn’t much in testing that could challenge the High-Torque’s capabilities—we didn’t have big enough, or rusty enough, hardware on our farm equipment. It differed from nearly all other multi-mode cordless impact wrenches in that it uses a dial mode selector on the back of the tool head. This means that the selector is always facing you—making it easy to see what mode it’s in and select a different mode.

The four modes include hand tight, wrench tight, half power and full power. Hand tight was great for snugging things like lug nuts up, while wrench tight cranks things down to around 100 feet-pounds, which is plenty tight for a lot of applications. IR’s ½-inch High Torque Impact Wrench would be ideal for daily or heavy use applications.

Key Specs

Using DeWalt’s Atomic 20V Max in a drive mode optimized for timber screws, we were able to drive lags bolts just a little faster than with the other models—having the highest torque specs also helped driving speed. That’s a lot of juice for a tool that measures less than 5 inches from tip to tail.

Like the Milwaukee, the Atomic 20V Max has a mode for bolt removal and fastening that prevents both runoff and over-tightening—plus two speed settings. When repeatedly tightening similar fasteners, like lug nuts, we were able to get a feel for getting them all within 5 to 10 foot-pounds of spec.

While the DeWalt was the most powerful, it was also the loudest model we tested. This compact impact wrench is great for working in tight spaces.

Key Features

Flex’s ½-inch Mid-Torque Impact Wrench was able to handle every task in our test. It is well suited for auto maintenance and mechanical work, with plenty of torque for common operations.

Removing and fastening lug nuts tightened to 165 feet pounds was a quick, smooth operation. We used both bolt removal and auto-stop modes on the lug nuts, with removal mode cutting power once the lug broke free, to prevent spinning it at high speed right off the stud. A second pull of the trigger backed the nut off gently, while auto stop prevented over tightening nuts and fasteners—allowing us to go back with a torque wrench and tighten to spec.

The Flex also has three other mode settings that limit RPMs to 400, 1600, or 1200—so you can tailor speed to the task. Smaller and lighter than high torque models, this Mid-Torque impact is easy to handle and fits into more places you need to work.

Key Specs

While our testing geared more towards half-inch tools, Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 3⁄8-inch mid-torque wrench never skipped a beat. We used a 1⁄2-to-3/8-inch adapter to remove and replace the lug nuts on our F-250 Super Duty pickup—a job it easily completed. We were also able to break free large, rusty nuts on our old farm equipment.

This impact wrench has four mode settings. The first three step up both RPM and IPM, with the third hitting max on both. The fourth mode (“drive control”) is the one we really like, though. When driving, it limits torque to 35 feet-pounds, so there is no risk of over-tightening fasteners. When removing a fastener, it starts off at full torque, then backs off the RPM when the fastener has broken loose, preventing spinning off at full speed.

The compact body and three LEDs on the face of the tool make it a good option in tight, dark spaces. This is a professional-grade tool, designed to stand up to daily use, but also an option for homeowners with frequent projects. We’ve turned to this tool several times since testing, as its size and torque are useful for a wide range of jobs.

Key Specs

The only subcompact model we tested, the Ridgid 18V, is smaller and lighter than the others. While we found it easy to handle overhead or in tight spaces, it couldn’t break free a 9⁄16-inch, grade-8 bolt tightened to 200 foot-pounds, although it did at 175.

Similarly, it struggled for us with a ½ x 8-​inch lag bolt, but a smaller ⁵⁄16 x 4½-inch was not a problem. Despite this, the Ridgid was capable of tasks like removing lug nuts tightened to 150 foot-pounds. We were pleased with its bolt-tightening mode, which prevents over-tightening by shutting down at about 20 foot-pounds.

While the Ridgid won’t cut it for bigger jobs, it’s a good lightweight and compact option for lighter duty work.

Key Specs