Drill & Driver Spec Comparison
The measured baseline for cordless drills and impact drivers — torque, no-load speed, pack voltage and bare weight — drawn from 127 listings with published specification data. It also sets out the three fields we removed from this category after checking what units the source figures were actually in, because two of them would have been wrong by a factor of a thousand.
The category baseline
Two populations sit in this category and they must be read separately. A drill/driver and an impact driver are different mechanisms, and combining their figures produces a median that describes neither.
Cordless drills
67 listings, of which the following carried usable data.
| Specification | Products with data | Coverage | P25 | Median | P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pack voltage (V) | 61 | 91% | 12 | 20 | 20 |
| No-load speed (RPM) | 49 | 73% | 650 | 1,350 | 2,000 |
| Bare weight (kg) | 47 | 70% | 0.89 | 1.50 | 2.56 |
| Max torque (Nm) | 35 | 52% | 19.5 | 30.1 | 62.7 |
| Pack capacity (Ah) | 31 | 46% | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
Impact drivers
60 listings. Note the sample sizes — this category publishes less than the drill category does.
| Specification | Products with data | Coverage | P25 | Median | P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bare weight (kg) | 47 | 78% | 0.54 | 1.04 | 2.20 |
| Pack voltage (V) | 31 | 52% | 18 | 20 | 20 |
| No-load speed (RPM) | 24 | 40% | 1,650 | 2,775 | 3,400 |
| Max torque (Nm) † | 18 | 30% | 155 | 169 | 206 |
† Below the 40% coverage threshold this site normally requires before publishing a figure, and it has fallen further — from 36% to 30% — as the sample grew. It appears here with its sample size visible because the comparison it supports is the most useful thing in this category, and because withholding it silently would be less informative than showing you exactly how thin it is. Treat it as indicative, not as a category average.
What the two tables say together
The median impact driver produces roughly five times the torque of the median drill — about 169 Nm against 30.1 Nm — while weighing about a third less at the median, 1.04 kg against 1.50 kg. Both sit on the same nominal 20 V class. That is the entire argument for owning both rather than one, expressed in numbers rather than adjectives: the impact driver is not a more powerful drill, it is a different mechanism that trades all depth control for fastening torque and mass.
The drill’s own distribution is worth reading closely. Its interquartile range for torque runs 19.5 to 62.7 Nm — a factor of three between the lower and upper quarter of the category — while the voltage column barely moves. Voltage class tells you almost nothing about how hard a drill pulls; the gearbox and motor behind it do, and neither appears on the box.
The pack-voltage P25 of 12 V on drills is not an error. A quarter of this category is 3.6–12 V compact and precision drivers, which is a real and popular segment rather than a stray. See voltage and amp-hours explained for why that number is the least useful figure on the packaging.
The exclusions you should know about
Every figure above survived a unit check: we read the original text each number was extracted from and confirmed the unit was one the field can legitimately hold. One field crossed back over that threshold when the sample doubled, and two remain excluded.
Pack capacity (Ah) — now published, previously removed. Some drill listings state capacity in milliamp-hours in a field recording amp-hours — “1500 milliamp_hours” read as 1,500 Ah, a thousand times the real figure. Those records still exist and are still excluded from the quartiles. What changed is their share: at 17 listings they were 24% of the field and it was withheld; at 36 listings the same errors are 14% and the field clears our limit. The capacity row above is therefore a weaker result than its coverage suggests, and the same caveat applies on the battery platform comparison.
Chuck capacity (mm) — removed. One listing in the category carried a chuck figure at all, and it read 3/8" chuck — a fraction the extractor resolved to 3 inches, or 76 mm. A 76 mm chuck does not exist on a hand-held drill; the correct value is 9.5 mm. One record is not a baseline in any case, but the direction of the error is worth stating, because it is the same class of mistake as the capacity one: the number was read and the notation attached to it was not.
Blade diameter was also dropped, on a single record — it belongs to saws, not to this category, and its presence here is a shortlisting artefact rather than a specification.
How to place a tool against this
Take the figure from the manufacturer’s own page rather than the retail listing, check which unit it is in, and convert before comparing — 1 Nm is approximately 8.85 in-lbs, and the two are quoted interchangeably across brands. Then read it against the correct table above, not against the category as a whole.
| Where it falls | What that means for a drill |
|---|---|
| Below P25 (under 19.5 Nm) | Compact or precision class. Adequate for flat-pack, electronics and light household fastening; it will stall in a joist |
| P25 to median (19.5–30 Nm) | The general-purpose middle of the category. Most household work sits here |
| Median to P75 (30–63 Nm) | Full-size two-speed territory. Spade bits, hole saws and sustained driving |
| Above P75 (over 63 Nm) | Verify what you are looking at before paying for it — at this end the category mixes hammer drills, impact wrenches and auger drivers, which are not drills competing on the same axis |
The Products These Figures Come From
Cordless Drills
Of the 67 drills in this category, 20 publish every figure in the baseline above. The 10 shown here are listed by price tier, then alphabetically — this is not a ranking, and a product appearing here means its listing is complete, nothing more. 5 listings are held back for a published figure far outside the category’s own range — a data defect rather than an unusual product.
| Product | Brand | Price Tier | Pack voltage (V) | No-load speed (RPM) | Weight (kg) | Max torque (Nm) | Pack capacity (Ah) | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DEKOPRO Power Drill Cordless |
DEKOPRO | <$30 | 20 | 1,350 | 1.13 | 40.0 | 1.5 | 18+1 torque settings, two speeds to 1350 rpm; 1.5 Ah pack and charger; 2.5 pounds |
 AVID POWER 20V Cordless Drill Set for Home DIY & Beginner… |
AVID POWER | $30-75 | 20 | 550 | 1.68 | 31.6 | 1.5 | 15+1 torque settings rated 280 in-lbs, variable to 550 RPM; 2.5 lb; battery level display |
 BLACK+DECKER 12V MAX Cordless Drill/Driver |
BLACK+DECKER | $30-75 | 12 | 550 | 1.27 | 26.0 | 1.5 | Keyless chuck, 11-position clutch, LED work light; compact body for tight spaces |
 BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* POWERCONNECT Cordless Drill Driver… |
BLACK+DECKER | $30-75 | 20 | 650 | 2.77 | 16.9 | 1.5 | 24-position clutch and soft-grip handle; ships as a 100-piece bit and accessory kit |
 GALAX PRO 20V Impact Cordless Driver-1.3 Ah Battery and… |
GALAX PRO | $30-75 | 20 | 2,800 | 1.04 | 100.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 Ah pack and charger; variable trigger to 2800 RPM; tool-less collet bit change |
 BOSCH Cordless Drill PS31-2A 12V Max 3/8 Inch Drill/Driver… |
Bosch | $75-200 | 12 | 1,300 | 1.36 | 29.9 | 2.0 | 265 in-lbs max torque, 20+1 clutch settings, two speeds to 1,300 RPM; 7-inch head |
 BOSCH GSR12V-140FCB22 12V Max Drill/Driver with 5-In-1… |
Bosch | $75-200 | 12 | 1,300 | 0.64 | 29.9 | 2.0 | FlexiClick system: keyless chuck, locking bit holder, right-angle head rotating to 16 positions |
 Bosch PS21-2A 12V Max Two-Speed Pocket Driver Kit with… |
Bosch | $75-200 | 12 | 1,300 | 0.64 | 29.9 | 2.0 | Pocket driver at 1.4 lbs; 265 in-lbs max torque |
 CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Drill Set and Impact Driver |
CRAFTSMAN | $75-200 | 20 | 1,700 | 3.36 | 203.4 | 2.0 | Two-tool kit: 300 UWO drill driver, impact driver rated 120 fasteners per charge |
 DEWALT 20V MAX XR Impact Driver and Hammer Drill Cordless… |
DEWALT | $200-500 | 20 | 3,400 | 4.84 | 206.2 | 4.0 | Two-tool kit: 2-speed hammer drill plus an impact driver rated 1825 in-lbs and 3400 RPM |
Key Details summarize what each listing states about itself, in our words rather than the seller’s. Every claim is checked against the listing text it was taken from.
Impact Drivers
Of the 60 impact drivers in this category, 22 publish every figure in the baseline above. The 10 shown here are listed by price tier, then alphabetically — this is not a ranking, and a product appearing here means its listing is complete, nothing more. 5 listings are held back for a published figure far outside the category’s own range — a data defect rather than an unusual product. 1 is excluded for a specification we have confirmed to be wrong.
| Product | Brand | Price Tier | Pack voltage (V) | No-load speed (RPM) | Weight (kg) | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 AVID POWER 20V Cordless Brushless Impact Driver Kit 1/4"… |
AVID POWER | $30-75 | 20 | 2,600 | 1.68 | Brushless, two speeds at 1900 and 2600 RPM; brake stop in reverse |
 DIYtoolifz 1/2" Cordless Impact Wrench 1110 Ft-lbs… |
DIYtoolifz | $30-75 | 20 | 2,300 | 2.27 | Bare-tool 1/2 inch impact wrench for DeWalt 20V packs: 1000 ft-lbs tightening, 1110 loosening |
| GALAX PRO 20V Impact Cordless Driver-1.3 Ah Battery and… |
GALAX PRO | $30-75 | 20 | 2,800 | 1.04 | 1.3 Ah pack and charger; variable trigger to 2800 RPM; tool-less collet bit change |
 Milwaukee 2656-20 M18 18V 1/4 Inch Lithium Ion Hex Impact… |
Milwaukee | $30-75 | 18 | 2,750 | 0.68 | LED array below the quick-connect chuck; Redlink electronics paired to M18 packs |
 Protmex Cordless Impact Wrench |
Protmex | $30-75 | 21 | 3,500 | 3.50 | 1/2 inch impact wrench to 3500 RPM; two 4.0Ah packs and a fast charger; built-in LED |
 BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver |
BLACK+DECKER | $75-200 | 20 | 650 | 2.27 | Two-tool kit: 3/8 inch chuck drill with an 11-position clutch; impact rated 1,375 in-lb |
| CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Drill Set and Impact Driver |
CRAFTSMAN | $75-200 | 20 | 1,700 | 3.36 | Two-tool kit: 300 UWO drill driver, impact driver rated 120 fasteners per charge |
 DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill Driver Set |
DEWALT | $75-200 | 20 | 1,500 | 1.63 | 300 UWO motor, two speeds (0-450 and 1,500 rpm); 1/2 inch ratcheting chuck |
 DEWALT 20V MAX XR Impact Driver |
DEWALT | $75-200 | 20 | 3,400 | 1.00 | Brushless, 1825 in-lbs and 3400 RPM; 3-speed selector; 3-LED work light and belt hook |
 DEWALT DCF850B 20V Cordless Brushless Compact 1/4” Impact… |
DEWALT | $75-200 | 20 | 3,280 | 1.00 | Bare tool: 1,825 in-lbs and 3,250 RPM; variable 3-speed trigger; accepts 1 inch bit tips |
Key Details summarize what each listing states about itself, in our words rather than the seller’s. Every claim is checked against the listing text it was taken from.
Notes on the Products at the Edges
Most of the products above sit inside the interquartile range on every figure, which is what the baseline already describes. These are the ones it does not: each is outside P25 or P75 on at least one published figure. The position is computed from the category statistics; the explanation is what the listing itself states.
DEWALT 20V MAX XR Impact Driver and Hammer Drill Cordless… — DEWALT, $200-500
Pack capacity of 4.0 Ah sits above the category P75 of 2.5 Ah. A two-tool kit shipped with larger packs than most drills here carry; its impact driver is rated 1825 in-lbs and 3400 RPM.
CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Drill Set and Impact Driver — CRAFTSMAN, $75-200
Max torque of 203.4 Nm sits above the category P75 of 100.0 Nm. A drill and impact driver kit rather than a single tool; the listing rates the drill at 300 UWO.
GALAX PRO 20V Impact Cordless Driver-1.3 Ah Battery and… — GALAX PRO, $30-75
No-load speed of 2,800 RPM sits above the category P75 of 2,000 RPM. Supplied with a 1.3 Ah battery, the smallest pack in this set, and a trigger running to 2800 RPM.
Protmex Cordless Impact Wrench — Protmex, $30-75
Weight of 3.50 kg sits above the category P75 of 2.17 kg. An impact wrench rather than a driver, supplied with 2 x 4.0Ah batteries and a fast charger and rated 900Ft-lbs.
CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Drill Set and Impact Driver — CRAFTSMAN, $75-200
Weight of 3.36 kg sits above the category P75 of 2.17 kg. A drill and impact driver kit rather than a single tool; the listing rates the drill at 300 UWO.
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver — BLACK+DECKER, $75-200
No-load speed of 650 RPM sits below the category P25 of 1,300 RPM. The speed figure belongs to the drill/driver in this kit, not to its impact driver, which the listing rates at 1,375 in-lb on a 1/4 in. hex chuck.
Specifications are the manufacturer’s published values as scraped for this corpus, not our own measurements — the same source, and the same limits, as the baseline above. Prices move daily, so we show the tier rather than an amount. Links to Amazon are affiliate links.
What this category does not publish
Impact rate (BPM/IPM) appears in marketing copy across this category and almost never as a structured specification, so there is no baseline for it here. Neither brushless construction nor gear count reached a usable sample — brushless was stated on 13% of drill listings, which tells you about listing practice rather than about the market. Claimed runtime is absent by choice: it is unusable without the pack capacity and load condition beside it, and those are rarely given.
Nothing above is a recommendation, a ranking or a test result. We do not own these tools. The method, including the coverage threshold and the unit check, is on comparison methodology.
Common questions
Why is the median drill torque so much lower than the numbers on the packaging?
Because the median is the middle of an entire category that includes compact and precision drivers, not the middle of the full-size 18 V drills that carry the loudest torque claims. Read the P75 figure if full-size two-speed drills are what you are shopping for.
Should I compare torque across brands at all?
Weakly, and only with the units and test condition matched. Hard-joint and soft-joint measurement both yield legitimate figures from the same tool, and nothing obliges a manufacturer to say which is printed. Speed, chuck capacity and bare weight survive cross-brand comparison far better.
Why publish a figure you say is below your own threshold?
Because the alternative was to leave the most decision-relevant comparison in the category unstated while implying the data was fine elsewhere. The sample size is in the table, the caveat is beside it, and you can discount it accordingly. A hidden weakness is worse than a disclosed one.
Do you rank these tools or pick a winner?
No. This page is a distribution, not a leaderboard. It exists so you can place a specific tool against its category before deciding, which is a different job from being told which to buy.