Which drill is best? Driver or High Impact?

I get asked quite often, “which drill I should get?” and my typical response is “both”, because you can never have too many tools, right?  But really, do you need both…NO.

And if you didn’t know that there were 2 types of drills—well there are.  A standard cordless drill and a high impact driver.

So what’s the difference?

A cordless drill is battery operated can make holes and screw fasteners, nuts, and small bolts.  You can use it on wood, drywall, metals, plastics, and more.  It also has an internal clutch that will automatically stop your drill if it reaches a specific amount of torque (turning force).  That clutch is to prevent you from drilling too deep or hard…although you still can push a screw all the way through wood.

An impact driver is smaller and stronger than a regular drill. It can produce quite a bit more torque so it’s often used for drilling larger fasteners into harder surfaces like masonry and concrete.  It spins faster, with more force, and more power.  It is also smaller so it can fit into hard to reach places.  It is more specific in use, meaning it’s not as versatile as a regular drill/driver.

Between the two choices, a cordless drill can do everything a DIY’er needs.  If you’re looking to buy a drill, start with a cordless drill.

I should also mention that there are corded drills too, and while they are powerful, it can be a nuisance to have to always be near or connected to an outlet.  With state-of-the-art technology, the battery powered drills are strong and very reliable.

So, which brand should I get?

Well, RYOBI is always my #1 recommendation.  It’s affordable, reliable, and the battery can be used on many of their other tools. Over 90% of my tools are RYOBI and I have not been disappointed in the least bit.

If you’re looking to spend a little more, RIGID would be my #2 recommendation.  If I had more money at the time I started building my tool arsenal, I would have gone RIDIG on all my tools however, like I said earlier, I have been more than happy with my RYOBI tools.  And believe it or not, I have a couple of tools that are compatible and play well together between RYOBI and RIGID.

If you’re looking to get the higher line of drills then go with DEWALT.  You will pay a premium for their brand products if you’re planning to have all your tools be uniform in brand, but they’ve been around for a long time and have placed themselves in the market as a higher end brand of tools.

Hope this helps you make a decision. Happy tool shopping!

If you have any other questions, post them in the comments below.