Best Impact Driver Under $100 (2026)
Five cordless impact drivers under $100 compared on torque, speed, kit contents and the warranty each listing states.
On this page
Top picks at a glance
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- 1
Best OverallMakita XDT11Z9.6/10View on Amazon - 2
Most TorqueAVID POWER ACIS1819.5/10View on Amazon - 3
Best Kit ValueBLACK+DECKER BDCI20C9.5/10View on Amazon - 4
Most CompactMilwaukee 3453-209.4/10View on Amazon - 5
CRAFTSMAN Hand Impact DriverView on Amazon - 6
SWANLAKE 20PCS Power Nut Driver Set for Impact DrillView on Amazon
The fender liner is off, the bumper cover is hanging by two clips, and a dozen small bolts stand between you and the headlight you came to replace. That is the job the best impact driver under 100 was made for: driving fasteners all afternoon without the wrist ache a drill leaves behind. This guide compares five cordless impact drivers on what each listing states: torque, speed, what comes in the box and the warranty in writing.
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Quick picks
- Best Overall Makita XDT11Z: The only 3-year warranty here, 1,460 in-lb, all metal gear housing, 5-3/8 in long on the 18V LXT platform. Check price on Amazon
- Most Torque AVID POWER ACIS181: 2,220 in-lb from a brushless motor, 2-speed control, brake stop, plus 4 sockets and 4 bits in the kit. Check price on Amazon
- Best Kit Value BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C: Driver, 20V battery, charger and bit in the box with a 2-year warranty, ready to work out of the box. Check price on Amazon
- Most Compact Milwaukee 3453-20: A 2 lb 12V Fuel driver with 4-mode control and three LEDs, if you already own M12 batteries. Check price on Amazon
The picks
Makita XDT11Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Impact
An 18V LXT 1/4 in hex impact driver, tool only, with 1,460 in-lb of torque, variable speed to 2,900 rpm and the longest stated warranty here, 3 years.
Pros
- 3-year limited warranty, the longest stated here
- 1,460 in-lb torque with variable speed to 2,900 rpm
- All metal gear housing and 4-pole motor stated
- Compact at 5-3/8 in long, 2.8 lb with battery
Cons
- Bare tool: battery and charger not included
- Spec table lists item weight as 0.27 g, nonsense against the 2.8 lb bullet
- 18V LXT batteries do not fit 20V platforms
- Lower top speed than the 3,600 rpm Milwaukee
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT 1/4 in.
A 20V MAX 1/4 in hex impact driver kit with 1,375 in-lb of torque, 3,000 rpm, battery, charger and bit in the box, and a 2-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Complete kit: driver, 20V battery, charger and bit
- 2-year limited warranty in writing
- 1,375 in-lb torque, 3,000 rpm, 3,900 ipm
- Quick-release 1/4 in hex chuck and soft-touch grip
Cons
- Lowest stated torque here at 1,375 in-lb
- 1.5Ah battery is small for long sessions
- Single speed: no drive modes stated
- POWERCONNECT batteries stay inside one brand
AVID POWER 20V Cordless Brushless Impact Driver
A 20V brushless 1/4 in impact driver kit with the most stated torque here, 2,220 in-lb, 2-speed control, brake stop, LED, 4 sockets and 4 bits.
Pros
- 2,220 in-lb, the most stated torque here
- Brushless motor with 2-speed and variable speed
- Brake stop in reverse, stated to prevent stripping screws
- Kit includes 4 sockets, 4 bits, battery and charger
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- 2.16 lb tool, 3.7 lb as shipped, heavier than the 12V Milwaukee
- 60 percent and 30 percent claims are the maker’s, not measured
- Newer brand with less track record than the names above
CRAFTSMAN 20V MAX Impact Driver Kit, 1/4 Inch
A 20V MAX 1/4 in impact driver kit with 1,460 in-lb of torque, 2,800 rpm, LED light, battery and charger, and a spec table that fights its own bullets.
Pros
- Kit with V20 1.3Ah battery and charger
- 1,460 in-lb torque, 2,800 rpm, 3,100 ipm per bullets
- LED work light and quick-release chuck
- Compact 5.3 in long, 2.04 lb tool only
Cons
- Spec table claims 2,500 in-lb and 3,800 rpm against the bullets
- Spec table claims brushless; bullets never say it
- No warranty term is stated
- 1.3Ah battery is small for long sessions
Milwaukee 3453-20 12V Fuel 1/4" Cordless Hex
A 12V Fuel 1/4 in hex impact driver, bare tool, with 1,500 in-lb of torque, 4-mode drive control and three LED lights in a 2 lb body.
Pros
- 4-mode drive control with self-tapping screw mode
- Three LED lights around the chuck
- 2 lb body, the lowest weight stated here
- Brushless Fuel motor, 1,500 in-lb
Cons
- Bare tool: no battery or charger included
- No warranty term is stated
- 12V M12 platform, less muscle than 20V-class
- Spec table dimensions of 127 in long are nonsense
More options to compare
CRAFTSMAN Hand Impact DriverCheck price on Amazon
SWANLAKE 20PCS Power Nut Driver Set for Impact DrillCheck price on Amazon
Compare the picks
| Model | Shop Score | Max torque | Speed | Voltage | Kit | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makita XDT11Z | 9.6/10 | 1,460 in-lb | 0-2,900 rpm | 18V | Tool only | 3 years |
| BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C | 9.5/10 | 1,375 in-lb | 3,000 rpm | 20V MAX | Driver, battery, charger, bit | 2 years |
| AVID POWER ACIS181 | 9.5/10 | 2,220 in-lb | 1,900 / 2,600 rpm | 20V | Driver, battery, charger, 8 pcs | None stated |
| CRAFTSMAN CMCF800C1 | 9.4/10 | 1,460 in-lb | 2,800 rpm | 20V MAX | Driver, battery, charger | None stated |
| Milwaukee 3453-20 | 9.4/10 | 1,500 in-lb | Up to 3,600 rpm | 12V | Bare tool | None stated |
Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 22 October 2026. Where a listing states a figure two ways, the table shows the title and bullets figure.
How we scored them
Each driver is scored out of 10 on performance, build, value, safety listing and warranty, with the weights published on our How We Pick page. Performance covers stated torque, speed and drive modes. Build covers the motor type, chuck and materials named. Value weighs what comes in the box against the class. No listing here states a safety certification, so safety scores zero across the board; two listings state a written warranty term. Rankings follow the computed totals.
| Product | Shop Score | Perf. /35 | Build /25 | Value /25 | Safety /10 | Warranty /5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makita XDT11Z | 9.6 | 29 | 22 | 20 | 0 | 4 |
| BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C | 9.5 | 27 | 20 | 21 | 0 | 3 |
| AVID POWER ACIS181 | 9.5 | 30 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| CRAFTSMAN CMCF800C1 | 9.4 | 28 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Milwaukee 3453-20 | 9.4 | 27 | 21 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score.
What the listings tell you
Five cordless impact drivers, four 20V-class and one 12V. Stated max torque runs from 1,375 to 2,220 in-lb, and stated top speeds run from 2,600 to 3,600 rpm. Three are kits with a battery and charger in the box; two are bare tools. Two listings state a written warranty: 3 years on the Makita, 2 years on the BLACK+DECKER. Two listings carry spec-table figures that fight their own bullets, and we call those out in their reviews. Brushless motors are stated on the AVID POWER and the Milwaukee Fuel; the CRAFTSMAN spec table claims brushless while its bullets stay silent, so we score it on the bullets.
Buying guide: best impact driver under 100
Torque
Torque is the headline number, and here it runs from 1,375 in-lb on the BLACK+DECKER to 2,220 in-lb on the AVID POWER, with the Makita, CRAFTSMAN and Milwaukee between 1,460 and 1,500 in-lb. More torque drives lag bolts and large fasteners with less strain; the CRAFTSMAN listing names screws, lag bolts and large fasteners as its applications. For trim screws and small bolts, any of these five has torque to spare. Do not chase the biggest number alone; check what the listing states about speed control too, since an uncontrollable driver snaps small fasteners.
Speed, modes and control
Top speeds here run from 2,600 rpm on the AVID POWER to 3,600 rpm in Mode 3 on the Milwaukee, with impact rates from 3,100 to 3,900 ipm where stated. More useful than the top number is how many speeds the listing states: the Milwaukee lists 4-mode drive control with a dedicated self-tapping screw mode, the AVID POWER lists 2 speeds (1,900 and 2,600 rpm) plus variable speed, and the Makita lists variable speed from 0 to 2,900 rpm. The AVID POWER also lists a brake stop in reverse that halts the driver once a nut or bolt loosens, which the listing says prevents stripping screws. For a beginner, more modes mean fewer snapped bolts.
Kit or bare tool
Three listings are kits: the BLACK+DECKER ships the driver, a 20V battery, a charger and a bit; the CRAFTSMAN ships the driver, a V20 1.3Ah battery and a charger; the AVID POWER ships the driver, a battery, a charger, 4 sockets and 4 bits. The Makita XDT11Z and the Milwaukee 3453-20 are bare tools: no battery, no charger. A kit is the whole job in one box if you own no batteries on that platform. A bare tool only makes sense if the matching batteries already live in your garage, since buying the battery separately can cost more than the price gap to a kit.
The battery platform
Four drivers run 20V-class or 18V batteries: BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX POWERCONNECT, CRAFTSMAN V20 20V MAX, AVID POWER 20V and Makita 18V LXT. The Milwaukee runs 12V M12 batteries. Batteries do not cross platforms, so the cheapest long-term buy is the driver that matches the batteries you already own. If you own none, weigh the kit contents: the AVID POWER throws in 8 bits and sockets, the BLACK+DECKER adds a bit, and the CRAFTSMAN keeps it to driver, battery and charger.
Warranty in writing
Only two listings state a warranty term: the Makita states a 3-year limited warranty, the longest here, and the BLACK+DECKER states a 2-year limited warranty. The AVID POWER, CRAFTSMAN and Milwaukee listings state no term. A stated term is the only promise you can hold the maker to, so it counts in the scores; the rest score zero on warranty no matter how solid they look.
Use rated jack stands on solid ground, wear eye protection with power and air tools, keep fuel-burning equipment out of a closed garage, and follow the manual for every tool. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an impact driver and a drill?
An impact driver is built for driving fasteners; a drill is built for drilling holes. The drivers here use 1/4 in hex chucks for quick bit changes, while a drill uses a keyed or keyless chuck for round bits. See our cordless drill vs impact driver comparison for the full breakdown.
How much torque does a home mechanic need?
The drivers here state 1,375 to 2,220 in-lb, which covers trim screws up to lag bolts and large fasteners, the applications the CRAFTSMAN listing names. The AVID POWER states the most at 2,220 in-lb. More torque helps with rusty or oversized fasteners; for small screws, speed control matters more than the peak number.
Should I buy a kit or a bare tool?
Buy the kit if you own no batteries on that platform: the BLACK+DECKER, CRAFTSMAN and AVID POWER listings each include a battery and charger. Buy the bare tool only if the matching batteries are already in your garage; the Makita XDT11Z and Milwaukee 3453-20 are tool-only listings. Check the battery platform first, since a wrong-platform bare tool is a paperweight.
Is brushless worth it?
The AVID POWER and Milwaukee Fuel listings state brushless motors. The AVID POWER listing claims up to 60 percent longer battery life and 30 percent more torque than brushed motors, stated as the maker’s claim. The CRAFTSMAN spec table claims brushless while its bullets do not mention it, so we did not score it as brushless. Brushless usually means better efficiency, but only the listings that state it get credit.
Related: best impact driver for mechanics, best cordless drill under 100, 12V vs 20V cordless drill, and best cordless drill for home garage.
