Cordless Drill vs Impact Driver: Which One Should You Buy?

Cordless drill vs impact driver: the short verdict

On the drill side, the CRAFTSMAN V20 states a 1/2 in keyless chuck, 0 to 1500 RPM and 280 UWO, with a 3-year limited warranty. The AVID POWER states 280 in-lb with 15+1 torque settings and 0-550 RPM in a 2.5 lb tool with a 3/8 in chuck. On the impact driver side, the DEWALT combo kit states 1500 in-lb of torque and 2800 RPM with a quick-release hex chuck. If you drill holes and drive a few screws, the drill side wins; if you drive fasteners all day, the impact driver side wins.

Side by side

Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 20 October 2026. “Not stated” means the listing does not give the figure. A figure from one listing describes that listing only.

The examples

Chuck versus hex: what separates the two

The drill side lists keyless chucks: the CRAFTSMAN a 1/2 in chuck, the AVID POWER a 3/8 in chuck. The impact driver side lists a quick-release hex chuck on the DEWALT. Chucks hold round bits for drilling; hex chucks hold driver bits for fasteners. The CRAFTSMAN states drilling capacity of 0.5 in in wood and metal; the AVID POWER states 13/16 in in wood and 3/8 in in steel plate. The DEWALT states no drilling capacity, which is honest: it is the driving side.

Torque and speed per listing

The DEWALT states 1500 in-lb of torque at 2800 RPM, the highest torque figure here, on the impact driver side. The AVID POWER states 280 in-lb with variable 0-550 RPM and 15+1 torque settings on the drill side. The CRAFTSMAN states 280 UWO with a 2-speed gearbox at 0 to 1500 RPM on the drill side. Do not compare the 1500 in-lb impact figure directly against the drill-side 280 in-lb and 280 UWO figures: they measure different mechanisms on different sides.

Kit, warranty and weight

The DEWALT is a combo kit with a drill, an impact driver, two batteries, a charger and a bag, at a stated 8.8 lb for the kit, with a stated 3-year limited warranty and 90-day money back guarantee. The CRAFTSMAN kit includes one battery and a charger with a stated 3-year limited warranty, at 4.5 lb. The AVID POWER kit includes a battery, charger and 22 bits at a stated 2.5 lb tool weight, with no stated warranty term. For one purchase that covers both sides, the DEWALT combo is the only listing that puts a drill and an impact driver in one box.

Battery platform notes

All three picks run on 20-volt batteries, but the packs differ. The AVID POWER includes a 1.5 Ah lithium-ion battery with a real-time battery level display, and its listing warns to use only AVID POWER batteries, not another brand and not a larger-capacity pack. The CRAFTSMAN includes a 1.3 Ah 20V MAX battery and a charger that the listing says charges in 60 minutes or less. The DEWALT combo includes two 2.0 Ah batteries, a charger and a bag. Two batteries matters: one charges while the other works, which is the difference between a continuous job and a waiting job.

Battery care is stated on the AVID listing and worth following on any pack. It says to fully charge the battery after receiving the product, to remove the battery from the drill when the machine is out of use, and to recharge it every 3 months for longer life. These are the listing’s own instructions, and they apply to the lithium-ion packs on all three tools here.

What the speed and torque numbers mean for your job

On the drill side, the AVID POWER lists variable speed from 0 to 550 RPM with 15+1 torque settings and 280 in-lb of torque. The listing caps drilling at 13/16 inch in wood and 3/8 inch in steel plate, says the drill is not suitable for bits over 25 mm, and not for concrete or masonry walls. That is a furniture-assembly and light-repair envelope, stated plainly, and it matches the beginner-project positioning in the title.

The CRAFTSMAN steps up: a 2-speed gearbox reaching 0 to 1500 RPM with a stated 280 UWO, a 1/2-inch keyless chuck against the AVID’s 3/8-inch chuck, and drilling capacities of 0.5 inches in wood and 0.5 inches in metal. The bigger chuck and the second gear are what move it from assembly work into general garage drilling.

On the impact driver side, the DEWALT combo kit states 1500 in-lb of torque and 2800 RPM with a 1/4-inch quick-release hex chuck. Do not compare that 1500 in-lb figure directly against the drill-side numbers: impact torque is a different mechanism from drill torque, and the 280 UWO figure on the CRAFTSMAN is its own rating system. The practical read is simpler: the drills bore holes with control, and the impact driver drives long fasteners with repeated rotational blows.

Weight and ergonomics

Weight is stated three ways here, so read carefully. The AVID POWER lists a 2.5 lb tool weight for the drill itself and a 3.7-pound item weight, with a compact 9.5 by 3 by 8.5 inch body and a rubberized grip. The CRAFTSMAN lists 4.5 pounds for the kit at 10.88 by 2.75 by 10 inches. The DEWALT lists 8.8 pounds, which is the whole combo kit: drill, impact driver, two batteries, charger and bag. Compare tool to tool, not kit to tool: the AVID is the lightest drill in hand, the DEWALT’s 8.8 lb is two tools plus everything else.

All three list an LED light for dark workspaces, and the DEWALT adds a 20-second trigger release delay on its light plus a 7.6-inch front-to-back design for tight areas. The CRAFTSMAN is compatible with a Versatrack hang hook. Small details, but they are the difference between a drill you reach for and one that stays on the shelf.

What comes in the box, and what backs it

The AVID POWER kit is the fullest starter box: the drill, one battery, a charger and 22 accessories, stated as 10 drill bits, 10 driver bits, a flexible shaft and an extension bar. The CRAFTSMAN kit includes the drill, one 20V MAX battery, a charger and a double-sided bit. The DEWALT combo includes the DCD777 drill, the DCF787 1/4-inch impact driver, two 2.0 Ah batteries, a charger and a contractor bag: the only listing here that puts a drill and an impact driver in one box.

Warranty terms separate them too. The CRAFTSMAN states a 3-year limited warranty. The DEWALT states a 3-year limited warranty, a 1-year free service contract and a 90-day money back guarantee. The AVID POWER states no warranty term. For one purchase that answers the drill-versus-driver question by giving you both, the DEWALT combo is the listing to beat; for a single light drill, the AVID and CRAFTSMAN kits cover the two ends of the beginner-to-garage range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which side should a beginner buy?

The drill side: the CRAFTSMAN or AVID POWER drills handle holes and light driving. An impact driver is a second tool for heavy driving.

Can an impact driver drill holes?

The DEWALT combo kit includes a drill alongside the impact driver; the impact driver itself is built around hex bits for fasteners.

Which has the highest stated torque?

The DEWALT at 1500 in-lb on the impact driver side. The drill-side listings state 280 in-lb and 280 UWO, which are different figures.

Which state the longest warranty?

The DEWALT and CRAFTSMAN both state 3-year limited warranties. The AVID POWER states no warranty term.

Related: the best cordless drill roundup, the best cordless drill for auto mechanics and the impact wrench vs impact driver comparison.

More picks: browse cordless tools.