Impact Driver Vs Drill | What’s the Difference?

Drill drivers and impact drills are two of the most essential power tools for DIYers, home improvement projects, construction, and woodworking. They may seem quite similar because they can both drill holes and drive screws. However, they function in different ways and excel at different tasks.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain:

• What is a drill driver and how does it work
• What is an impact drill and how does it work
• The key differences between the two tools
• When you should choose a drill driver vs an impact drill
• Pros and cons of each tool
• Features to look for when buying each tool

 

What is a Drill Driver?

Drill drivers are one of the most common and versatile power tools found in any handyman’s toolbox. Before diving into the differences between drill drivers and impact drills, it’s important to understand exactly what a drill driver is and how it works.

This section will provide a brief overview of the key components and functionality of drill drivers. We’ll explore the motor, chuck, variable speed trigger, clutch, and gears that make drill drivers such an indispensable tool for drilling holes and driving screws.

A drill driver, often simply called a “drill”, is a versatile tool that can drill holes as well as drive screws and other fasteners.

The key components of a drill driver are:

• Motor – Provides the power and torque. Can be corded or cordless.
• Chuck – The adjustable jaws at the front that grip the drill bits. Usually keyless for quick bit changes.
• Variable speed trigger – Controls drill speed. Squeeze to increase speed.
• Clutch – Adjustable ring that controls torque for driving screws. Prevents over-tightening.
• Gears – 2-speed drills have a gear shift to toggle between low and high speed/torque.

How Does a Drill Driver Work?

When you pull the trigger, an electric motor spins the chuck and attached drill bit. The speed depends on how much you squeeze the trigger. The chuck provides a tight grip on drill bits to prevent slipping.

For drilling holes, the constant rotational force lets you bore smooth, precise holes in wood, metal, plastic etc.

For driving screws, you adjust the clutch to your desired torque setting. As you drive the screw, when the resistance increases, the clutch disengages the chuck at a certain point to prevent over-tightening. This prevents damaging screw heads or materials.

 

What is an Impact Drill?

Impact drills have surged in popularity in recent years as an alternative to standard drill drivers. With their ability to drive screws with tremendous rotational force, impact drills have become a favorite for construction projects and heavy-duty fastening needs.

This section will provide an introduction to what sets impact drills apart – namely their specialized anvil and hammer mechanism that produces short, powerful bursts of turning force.

We’ll briefly explain how the components of an impact driver work together to deliver such astounding torque and speed when driving screws.

An impact drill, also called an impact driver, provides extremely high torque in short rotational bursts. This allows it to drive screws and other fasteners with tremendous ease and speed, especially in dense or hard materials.

The key components of an impact drill are:

• Motor – Provides rotational force. Typically higher power than drill drivers.
• Anvil and hammer mechanism – Creates the hammering impact force. Engages when resistance is met.
• Hex chuck – Holds hex-shank driver bits to withstand impact force.
• Variable speed trigger – Controls speed. May be single or multi-speed.

How Does an Impact Drill Work?

When you squeeze the trigger, the motor spins an internal anvil, which in turn spins the hex chuck and bit. At low resistance, it functions like a standard drill.

When the bit encounters resistance, the hammer engages. It rapidly strikes the anvil, creating a powerful hammering or “impacting” motion while the anvil continues spinning.

This allows an impact drill to drive screws with tremendous speed and force. The impacts apply downward pressure to prevent bit slippage or stripping screw heads.

This is what gives impact drills their fast driving power. The hammering action ceases when resistance stops or you release the trigger.

 

Key Differences in Functionality

Now that you have a basic understanding of drill drivers and impact drills independently, it’s time to directly compare them. While they may seem very similar at a glance, the two tools actually differ quite a bit in their functionality and capabilities.

This section will outline some of the major points of differentiation, including driving power, rotational action, versatility, chuck type, bits used, control, size/weight, and noise. Exploring these key contrasts will help clarify when each tool excels.

Understanding the differences in how drill drivers and impact drivers work makes it easier to choose the best tool for a job:

Now that you understand how they work, let’s compare some of the key differences:

• Driving power – Impact drills provide extremely high torque in short bursts, while drill drivers provide lower but continuous torque.
• Rotational action – Drill drivers provide smooth, constant rotation. Impact drivers pulse/hammer as they spin.
• Versatility – Drill drivers are more versatile as they can drill very precisely. Impact drivers focus on fast driving.
• Chuck type – Drill drivers have standard keyed or keyless chucks. Impact drivers use a hex chuck.
• Bits used – Drill drivers use standard drill bits. Impact drivers require special impact-rated hex shank bits.
• Control – Drill drivers allow more control over speed and torque for precision work. Impact drivers are less controllable.
• Size and weight – Impact drills tend to be more compact and lighter weight.
• Noise – Impact drills are very loud when hammering. Drill drivers operate more quietly.

 

When to Choose a Drill Driver vs an Impact Drill

With the differences between drill drivers and impact drills spelled out, we can now dive into recommendations for when to choose one tool over the other. To use the right tool for the job, it’s important to understand the types of applications each does best.

This section explores the ideal uses for drill drivers including drilling holes, smaller screws, precision work, and overall versatility. It also covers the best uses for impact drills such as large fasteners, dense materials, and heavy duty driving tasks.

Now that you understand the key differences in how they function, when should you choose one over the other?

Best uses for a drill driver:

• Drilling holes in wood, metal, masonry etc – the smooth rotation creates clean, precise holes.
• Driving small to medium screws where control is needed to avoid damage – the adjustable clutch prevents over-tightening.
• Precision work like drilling pilot holes for screws – the smooth rotation and better chuck grip provides control.
• Assembling furniture, installing fixtures, hanging pictures – the versatility to drill holes and drive screws.

Best uses for an impact drill:

• Driving large numbers of big screws or bolts – the impacting action speeds up driving time significantly.
• Driving lag bolts into dense wood like oak – the high torque lets you sink them with ease.
• Heavy duty construction like deck building – quickly drive large screws into materials like lumber.
• Removing rusted, painted-over or stuck screws and bolts – the hammering impact helps break them free.
• Driving screws into very hard materials like concrete or steel – the impacts allow penetration into tough surfaces.

 

Pros and Cons of Drill Drivers

Now that we’ve covered the differences and ideal uses, it’s helpful to summarize the respective strengths and weaknesses of each tool. This section will provide a concise list of pros and cons for drill drivers.

The pros include versatility, control, hole drilling, and precision. Cons look at lower torque, wrist strain, chuck slippage, and speed. These paint a full picture of what drill drivers excel at along with their limitations.

Pros:

• Extremely versatile – can drill, drive screws, mix mortar etc
• Allows precise control over speed and torque
• Creates clean, precise holes for drilling
• Keyed or keyless chucks provide very solid grip on bits
• Lighter and less tiring for extended use
• Quieter operation

Cons:

• Lower torque – can’t drive larger fasteners as easily
• More stressful on the wrist when driving many screws
• Chuck can slip on bit when driving into very hard material
• Not as fast at driving multiple screws quickly

 

Pros and Cons of Impact Drills

Just as with drill drivers, impact drills also have particular advantages and disadvantages worth considering. This section will outline the pros of impact drills such as speed, power, low effort, and compact size.

The cons look at lack of precision, noise, overdriving, and limitation to mostly driving tasks. Seeing these pros and cons together provides deeper insight into when impact drills are the best choice over drill drivers.

Pros:

• Drives screws insanely fast with little effort
• Provides extremely high torque for big screws and bolts
• Easier on the wrists – don’t have to push as hard when driving
• Hammering action prevents bit slippage in hard materials
• Compact and lightweight design

Cons:

• Very loud hammering noise
• Less control and precision when driving screws
• Can overdrive screws if not careful
• Limited mainly to driving tasks rather than drilling
• Requires special impact-rated bits

 

Use Cases of Each Tool

To highlight when each tool is most useful, here are some examples of common DIY projects and which tool we recommend:

Impact Driver

• Building a deck – Driving large screws through pressure treated lumber requires an impact driver’s torque and speed.
• Framing walls and roofing – Quickly driving framing nails into solid lumber and rafters.
• Assembling flat pack furniture – An impact driver makes quick work of driving furniture assembly screws into particle board and pine.

Drill Driver

• Hanging curtains and blinds – Precision drilling into plaster or drywall to avoid cracks and strips.
• Assembling furniture – Adjustable torque control helps prevent stripping small particle board screws.
• Electronics projects – Careful control when drilling plastic or driving small screws into circuit boards.

 

Key Features to Consider When Buying

For drill drivers:

• Cordless or corded – cordless provides portability, corded offers unlimited runtime
• Battery voltage – higher voltage means more power. 18V to 20V is ideal for most tasks.
• Chuck size – 1/2″ chuck allows larger bits, 3/8″ is suitable for most light jobs.
• Clutch – manual or automatic clutch to adjust driving torque. Prevents over-tightening.
• Gears – 2-speed models provide low and high gear modes. Helpful for diverse tasks.
• Brushless motor – provides more efficiency, power and battery life.
• LED light – illuminates your work area. Very helpful when visibility is low.
• Belt clip – allows hands-free carrying when moving around job sites.
• Bit storage – convenient onboard storage for frequently used driver bits and drill bits.

For impact drills:

• Battery voltage – 18V to 20V provides best power. 12V models offer lighter weight.
• Brushless motor – same benefits as for drill drivers. More runtime and power.
• Variable speed trigger – allows some control over speed/power. Useful for certain tasks.
• Torque rating – higher torque lets you drive larger fasteners. Look for 1400 in-lbs or higher.
• Impact rate – impacts per minute. More impacts equals faster driving.
• 1/4″ hex chuck – suitable for most impact-rated driver bits.
• LED light – especially helpful since impact drivers are often used in tight spaces.
• Belt clip – frees up your hands to hold workpieces.

 

Benefits of Owning Both Tools

While an impact driver or drill driver can handle many DIY tasks on their own, there are benefits to owning both:

• Switch to the impact driver when high speeds and driving torque is needed. Use the drill driver when control and precision are critical.
• Quickly swap between creating pilot holes and driving screws without changing tools. Much more efficient.
• Impact drivers can handle larger fasteners and demanding tasks without wearing down the drill driver motor.
• Always have the ideal tool for the job based on your particular needs. Much more capable workshop.

For serious DIYers and home improvement enthusiasts, having both an impact driver and drill driver in your tool kit provides maximum versatility.

 

FAQs on Impact Driver Vs Drill

 

1. What is the main difference between a drill driver and an impact drill?

The main difference is that a drill driver provides continuous torque to drill holes and drive screws, while an impact drill delivers rotational force in short powerful bursts. This hammering action allows an impact drill to drive screws with much higher torque.

2. Which tool is better for driving screws – drill driver or impact drill?

An impact drill is superior for driving large numbers of screws, especially into dense or knotty wood. The hammering action allows it to drive screws with less effort and reduces wrist strain. A drill driver offers more control and is better for smaller screws or delicate materials.

3. Is an impact drill good for drilling holes?

You can use an impact drill for basic drilling tasks with impact-rated bits. However, a standard drill driver is far better for drilling holes accurately, especially in metal, masonry, and soft materials where control is key. Impact drills lack the precision for detailed drilling.

4. What materials should you not use an impact drill on?

Avoid using an impact drill on fragile materials like plastics, thin wood, drywall, tiles, and masonry. The hammering action risks cracking these brittle materials. Use a standard drill driver for better control.

5. Which tool offers more speed – impact drill or drill driver?

Drill drivers provide faster speeds as they apply continuous force without pulsing. Impact drills lose some speed due to the hammering action. However, impact drills maintain speed better when high torque is needed.

6. Is an impact drill or drill driver easier to control?

A drill driver offers superior control with variable speed triggers and clutch settings for torque control. Impact drills provide huge torque but lack the fine control of drill drivers, making them easier to over-drive screws.

7. Which tool is less tiring to use for extended periods?

Impact drills are much less tiring since the concussive force provides the torque rather than your wrist. Drill drivers require you to push hard when driving screws which can quickly lead to fatigue.

8. Are impact drills or drill drivers more compact and portable?

Impact drills tend to be more compact and lighter weight than drill drivers of comparable power. This makes them easier to use in tight spaces and less tiring to hold for long periods.

9. Which tool is best for driving large lag screws and bolts?

An impact drill is by far the best choice for driving large lag screws, bolts, and other large fasteners. The extreme torque allows it to drive fasteners a drill driver simply cannot.

10. Is it worth buying both tools or can one replace the other?

For most DIYers, owning both tools is ideal as each excels at different tasks. An impact drill drives screws faster while a drill driver offers superior drilling ability and control. Together they form the ultimate drilling and driving duo.

 

Key Facts of Impact Driver Vs Drill

To recap the fundamental differences between these two driver tools:

Impact Driver

• Utilizes concussive impacts for extremely high torque.
• Designed specifically for driving screws and bolts quickly.
• Compact and lightweight. Perfect for tight access jobs.
• Provides speed but less control. Can damage surfaces and fasteners.

Drill Driver

• Provides continuous rotational force at moderate torque levels.
• Ideal for drilling and driving small to medium screws.
• Allows superior speed and torque control. Better for precision tasks.
• Larger and heaviest of the two tools. Requires two hand operation.

Drill drivers and impact drivers each offer unique benefits. Selecting the right tool depends on the demands of the task at hand and your particular needs.

For most DIYers, a drill driver is the more essential and versatile choice as an all-rounder for drilling, driving, and precision work. Add an impact driver later for demanding fastening tasks and large projects.

Impact drivers provide jaw-dropping torque and speed for fastening. They excel at driving large volumes of screws quickly. However, they lack the control and flexibility of a drill driver.

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of both tools allows you to make the right choice for a particular DIY job. For the widest range of applications, owning both an impact driver and drill driver gives you the perfect pair of fastening tools.