Impact Driver vs Drill (Which to Pick & Why)
Not sure whether to grab a drill or an impact driver for your next project? You’re not alone.
Both tools may look similar, but they perform very different jobs. So, which one is better for making holes? Which one drives long screws with ease? And which one gives you the most precision?
In this guide, I’ll break down each tool’s differences, strengths, and best uses so you can pick the right one. Whether you’re assembling furniture, building a deck, or tackling DIY projects around the house, I’ll help you choose the best tool for the job.
Table of Contents
- What is a Drill?
- What is an Impact Driver?
- What’s the Difference Between an Impact Driver and a Drill?
- Drill and Impact Driver Comparison Chart
- Which One Should You Choose?
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What is a Drill?
I love a drill’s versatility. It’s one of the most useful tools in my collection. Sometimes called a drill driver, it’s a handheld tool that spins with continuous torque, making it great for drilling holes and driving fasteners.
TIP: Torque is the twisting force a tool applies to a fastener. Higher torque means more power for driving tough screws or bolts, while lower torque gives you more control for delicate tasks.
I use my drill all the time for driving screws into wood, but you can also use it with metal and other materials. You can handle almost any assembly task with the right driver bits like Phillips, flathead, square, or star.
When you need to drill holes, just swap in the best bit for the job. Spade bits, hole saws, Forstner bits, and countersink bits all work depending on the material and hole size you need. Whether working with wood, metal, or plastic, a drill gets the job done.
Related: 14 Types of Wood Drill Bits (Which to Use & Why)
And it’s not just for drilling and driving. You can also use it with attachments like rotary sanders, wire-wheel brushes, and a right-angle driver to tackle even more projects.
Understanding the Chuck
The chuck is what holds the bit in place on your drill. It’s a clamp with adjustable jaws that open and close, so you can easily swap between different bit sizes and shapes. One thing I like about this design is that it lets you use round shank bits.
Related: How to Put a Drill Bit in a Drill
The jaws also allow your drill to accept hex bits.
There are two types of chucks: keyed and keyless. A keyed chuck needs a special chuck key to tighten or loosen the grip on the bit, giving it extra holding power, which is great for heavy-duty jobs.
Many newer cordless handheld drills have a keyless chuck, which you can twist by hand to swap out bits. It’s faster and more convenient, especially when switching between different tasks.
One thing I love about a keyless chuck? I never have to tear apart my workshop, looking for a tiny chuck key that somehow vanished into another dimension. I just twist, swap the bit, and get back to work; no scavenger hunt required!
Dialing in the Settings
Your drill has a few settings that make it more versatile: a forward/reverse switch, speed control, and an adjustable clutch for torque.
The forward/reverse switch is a simple toggle that changes the direction the bit spins, perfect for driving screws in or backing them out.
The speed setting lets you adjust how fast the drill turns. Lower speeds give you more control for delicate tasks, while higher speeds help power through tougher materials.
The torque, or clutch setting, controls how much twisting force the drill applies when driving screws or drilling.
Most drills have a slip clutch that helps prevent stripping screws or driving them too deeply. When the drill meets a certain level of resistance, the clutch disengages, stopping the bit from turning.
TIP: Stripping a screw head happens when the bit wears down the grooves, making it hard to turn the screw. This usually happens from too much force or using the wrong bit size. Stripping a screw hole occurs when a screw is over-tightened, causing the threads to lose their grip in the material.
I use the slip clutch all the time, like when I’m driving pocket hole screws. Setting the clutch keeps me from over-tightening and damaging the workpiece.
Related: How to Use a Pocket Hole Jig
With adjustable speed and torque settings, a drill is great for detailed work, giving you more control over each task.
Limitations of a Drill
As much as I love using drills, they’re not perfect. Sometimes, the bit works itself loose in the chuck, which can be frustrating. I’ve also had several stripped screws when I wasn’t careful about adjusting the torque settings. And when you’re driving long or large screws, your drill can sometimes stall out, making the job tougher than expected.
What is an Impact Driver?
An impact driver, sometimes called an impact drill, looks a lot like a regular drill, but it’s smaller, lighter, and packs way more torque.
As I mentioned earlier, torque is the twisting force that helps drive fasteners, and that’s what an impact driver does best. When you need to drive screws quickly, this is your go-to tool.
I’ve noticed people sometimes confuse impact drivers with hammer drills and impact wrenches. A hammer drill adds a pounding motion to help make holes in concrete or masonry, while an impact wrench is made for loosening and tightening bolts, like removing lug nuts from a car.
If your goal is to drive fasteners with power and speed, an impact driver is the way to go.
How an Impact Driver Delivers Power
An impact driver produces two to three times more torque than a standard drill. When it meets resistance, it doesn’t slow down; it kicks in with rapid bursts of twisting force to power through tough materials.
The extra torque is a game-changer for driving long or large fasteners. Plus, I’ve noticed that the impact action helps prevent stripped screw heads and keeps the bit from slipping, which saves a lot of frustration.
TIP: I don’t recommend using an impact driver for pocket hole projects. The rapid impacts can loosen the stop collar when drilling pocket holes, and when driving pocket screws, the high torque can strip out the hole or even crack the wood. A drill gives you much more control for this type of work.
Related: 9 Pocket Hole Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make
Settings and Compact Design
Impact drivers keep things simple with just a forward/reverse switch; unlike drills, they typically don’t have adjustable speed or torque settings.
An impact driver’s compact size is a big advantage, allowing you to reach tight spaces or awkward spots where a bulkier drill might struggle.
Related: How to Screw in Hard-to-Reach Places
How the Collet Works
One thing you’ll notice about an impact driver is that it has a collet, a sleeve that locks the bit securely in place. Unlike a drill with an adjustable chuck, an impact driver can only accept ¼” hex bits, making it easy to swap them out quickly while ensuring a firm grip.
TIP: Always use impact-rated bits with your impact driver. Standard drill bits can’t handle the high torque and rapid impacts, which can cause them to break. Impact-rated bits look different from other bits. They are usually skinnier in the middle and wrapped in plastic.
Limitations of an Impact Driver
Impact drivers are great for power and speed, but they have a few drawbacks. They’re loud, so you might want to wear hearing protection, especially when using them for long stretches. They only work with ¼” hex shank bits, which means you can’t use just any bit. And with all that torque, they can sometimes be too powerful for delicate tasks where precision matters more than brute force.
What’s the Difference Between an Impact Driver and a Drill?
Impact drivers and drills look similar. They’re both handheld tools that spin when you squeeze the trigger, but what sets an impact driver apart for me is the higher torque, smaller size, and lighter weight compared to a drill. It’s a powerhouse when it comes to driving fasteners.
However, I wouldn’t use an impact driver for everything. Since it’s built for one main job, driving fasteners fast, it’s not as versatile as a drill and shouldn’t be used as a replacement. I still reach for my drill when I need more precision or when the job calls for more than just driving screws.
How Impact Drivers and Drills Apply Torque Differently
A drill delivers steady, constant torque, which works great for drilling holes and driving smaller screws. But when you try to drive long screws into dense materials, it can stall out or struggle to keep going.
That’s where an impact driver shines, delivering torque in quick bursts when it encounters resistance. This pulsing action makes it much more efficient at driving long or large fasteners without losing power.
Even with all that torque, an impact driver is surprisingly comfortable to use. Its internal mechanism directs most of the twisting force into the fastener instead of your wrist or forearm, reducing the strain you’d typically feel with a drill.
But that power isn’t always a good thing. If I’m working on a delicate project or need precision, an impact driver can be too strong, and I’ll grab my drill instead.
Settings and Size: What Sets Them Apart
One thing I like about drills is the extra control they offer. Most have speed and torque settings, along with a forward and reverse switch, which makes them incredibly versatile.
The speed setting lets you adjust how fast it spins, which is helpful for various tasks. The torque setting works with the slip clutch to prevent screws from stripping or going in too deep, something I appreciate when working on delicate projects that need more precision.
Impact drivers are much simpler. It usually has a forward and reverse switch and no clutch, making it lighter and more compact than a drill. While you don’t get as much fine-tuned control, the high torque makes up for it when you need to drive fasteners quickly and effortlessly.
Chuck vs. Collet: How They Hold Bits
What I like about drills is their adjustable chuck, which lets you use both round shank and hex bits, giving you more flexibility for different tasks.
On the other hand, impact drivers have a collet instead of a chuck. It only works with ¼” hex bits, which lock in securely but limit the types of bits you can use.
Drill and Impact Driver Comparison Chart
| Drill | Impact Driver | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Large and Heavy | Small and Light |
| Accepts Round Bits | Yes | No |
| Accepts Hex Bits | Yes | Yes |
| Requires Impact-Rated Bits | No | Yes |
| Speed Setting | Yes | No |
| Torque Setting | Yes | No |
| Best for Precision Work | Yes | No |
| Best for Drilling Holes | Yes | No |
| Best for Drilling Pocket Holes | Yes | No |
| Best for Driving Screws Quickly | No | Yes |
| Best for Driving Long or Large Screws | No | Yes |
Which One Should You Choose: A Drill or an Impact Driver?
Picking between a drill and an impact driver depends on the kind of project you’re working on.
For years, a drill has always been my go-to for woodworking, small repairs, and most home improvement projects. I didn’t even own an impact driver until recently, which led me to write this comparison.
If you’re planning a bigger project, like building a deck, you’ll definitely appreciate having an impact driver. The extra torque makes driving long screws so much easier.
If you’re still unsure whata to get, I’d say start with a drill. It’s more versatile, with speed and torque settings, and the adjustable chuck lets you use all kinds of bits and attachments for drilling and driving.
I got an impact driver when I actually needed one for a heavy-duty project where my drill just wasn’t cutting it.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the difference between a drill and an impact driver makes a big difference in getting the job done right.
A drill is my go-to for most DIY projects. It works with various bits, has adjustable speed and torque settings, and gives me the precision I need for more delicate tasks.
An impact driver is all about power and speed. It only takes ¼” hex bits, so it’s not as versatile, but when I need to drive screws quickly and efficiently, it’s the tool I reach for.
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Hi there – I’m Scott, a woodworking enthusiast and creator of Saws on Skates, a site I started in 2015 to share easy-to-follow tutorials, space-saving shop tips, and project inspiration for DIYers at any skill level. Learn more about my woodworking journey here.
Good article. My only comment is that every impact driver I have used does have speed adjustment. Typically they have 3x speeds and this can be used to reduce the torque when driving delicate screws.
Hi Christopher – Thank you for the compliments. That’s good to know. The DeWalt impact driver I just bought does not have any speed settings. The speed can be varied by the pressure that is applied to the trigger, but there isn’t a switch for specific speed settings. The only switch is for forward and reverse.
Dewalt sells drill and impact driver ‘kits’ at most home centers, and I would suggest buying the entire package, as they’re often on sale. I (and many others) use the impact driver a lot more than a drill for attaching screws and bolts. I almost never use Phillips or slotted screws anymore, as almost any power tool strips the heads. Instead, I use “Torx” style screws and bolts, as they never strip, can be easily removed if necessary, and come in many styles, lengths, etc. Trim screws are great for finish applications (and they come in many, many lengths). Cabinet screws, with built-in washers are great for attaching cabinets and other ‘blind’ locations, and framing screws/bolts are used by everyone to frame, attach hangers, install decking (even blind fasteners), etc.
Having said all this, I agree that a drill has great value and application for many tasks, not only for woodworking, but countless other needs.
Hi Marc – Thank you for sharing all of this info. And yes, I agree the drill/impact kits are a good investment if you have it in your budget to go this direction.
I appreciate this article because I did not know the difference between a drill and an impact driver. Maybe you could add a drill with a hammer setting to the comparison.
Hi Ben – That’s a great suggestion. I don’t have a hammer drill, so it looks like I’ll be shopping for a new tool!
I recently got a tool kit from Dewalt which included an Impact driver. I was puzzled by that, but now understand better about one vs the other. Your comparison has clarified this for me. Also, the tool kit included a Circular saw. I had used my neighbor’s battery operated Dewalt circular saw. I was glad the kit included this, to get my own. Using the Circular saw to cut a very small piece of wood, I was very disappointed by it’s low power output and a very quick powering down with this minor task. Do all the new batteries require an initial recharge before the 1st use of the Circular saw?
Hi Ron – I’ve been pretty happy with my DeWalt cordless circular saws. That said, I don’t know if it’s recommended, but I usually charge new batteries before I use them. Also, I think DeWalt offers optional batteries that last longer than batteries that come with the kit.
There are combibation Drill/Impact drivers. While probabally NOT the best at each function, they can perform well at both tasks in one tool….my Ryobi combination is everything I need, in one tool.
Thank you for speaking common language as to the difference between the drill and an impact. I have never owned an impact and i can see for my day to day home owner repairs and woodworking i will NEVER need one! Great to save money on a tool i do not need! ( I do not use long screws nor repetitive driving.
Thank you!
Hi Lexie – Thank you for the compliments. I’m glad this was helpful for you!
I really appreciate your helpful information and step by step plans.
You’re welcome, Tami. Thank you for the compliments!
Thank you so much for this. I have been wanting this information. I only read the short version, everything I wanted to know in less time.
Scott, thanks for your great plans and articles. Have used several and have purchases a few tools according to your recommendations.
Reading through your plans for the Outdoor Wall Mount Planter, you reference a right angle drill/driver attachment. I found a DEWALT Flextorq Right Angle Drill Attachment that states it is “impact ready”. My dilemma: I do not own an impact driver, yet. Only a couple plain drill/drivers. Would it be reasonable to purchase this tool for it’s right angle capacity, with the intend of buying an impact driver in the future? In other words, can this impact ready tool be used in a plain “non-impact” drill/driver?
Hi Krisby – Thank you for the compliments. Yes, you can use impact-rated bits in a regular drill. You just don’t want to use bits that are not impact-rated in an impact driver.