Professional Impact Driver Head-to-Head Pits Four Powerhouse Brands Against Each Other
We’ve heard the hype and seen the best impact driver videos, but how do the latest generation of impact drivers stack up in the professional sector? Breaking away from our one-on-one focus, we have a DeWalt vs. Milwaukee vs. Makita vs. Flex impact driver comparison on tap for you today.
Not everyone has the same priorities, so we’re sharing everything we learned along the way. The final call is yours, so be sure to tell us which is your favorite and what makes it stand out from the rest in the comments below!
Here are the models we’re testing (in alphabetical order):
- DeWalt DCF845 – Buy it at Acme Tools
- Flex FX1731 – Buy it at Acme Tools
- Makita GDT01 – Buy it at Acme Tools
- Milwaukee 2953 – Buy it at Acme Tools
Editor’s note: Check out our in-depth breakdown of Milwaukee vs DeWalt as tool brands and companies.
Why Not Use the Makita GDT02?
The Makita GDT02 XGT impact driver launched more recently, and you might be tempted to think it’s an upgrade over the GDT01. However, the GDT01 is the better of the two, so we’re sticking with it for this comparison.
DeWalt vs Milwaukee vs Makita vs Flex Impact Driver Specifications
Here are the basic numbers to know before we jump into the testing:
| DeWalt DCF845 | Milwaukee 2953 | Makita GDT01 | Flex FX1371 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Speeds | 1500/2800/3400 | 1700/3000/3900 | 1100/2100/3200/3700 | 1900/2700/4000 |
| Max Impact Rate | 4200 IPM | 4400 IPM | 4400 IPM | 4450 IPM |
| Max Torque | 1825 in-lbs | 2000 in-lbs | 1950 in-lbs | 2500 in-lbs |
| Head Length | 5.1 in | 4.5 in | 4.8 in | 4.8 in |
| Bare Weight | 2.0 lbs | 2.2 lbs | 2.2 lbs | 2.8 lbs |
| Weight w/Tested Battery | 3.4 lbs (5.0Ah) | 3.9 lbs (5.0Ah) | 3.7 lbs (2.5Ah) | 4.9 lbs (5.0Ah) |
A quick look through the numbers reveals that DeWalt is the lightweight of the group, Milwaukee is the most compact, and Flex boasts the highest performance specs.
DeWalt vs Milwaukee vs Makita vs Flex Test Results
We have significantly different battery systems in this group. DeWalt’s 20V Max and Milwaukee’s M18 are both in the 18V/20V max class, running a 5-cell system. Makita is on its 10-cell 40V max platform (36V nominal) and Flex uses a 6-cell system to reach 24V max (21.6V nominal).
To keep things as even as possible, we’re using the closest batteries we can get. With 5.0Ah packs for Dewalt and Milwaukee and a 2.5Ah pack for Makita, they’re all running at 90Wh capacity. Flex is the odd one with its 5.0Ah battery holding 108Wh.
Speed Test with Ledger Screws
We started with a medium-load test driving a 6-inch x 1/4-inch GRK Fasteners RSS screw into stacked OSB subfloor. The result is the average of three tests.
Lag Screw Power Test
The second test is timed to see how far each model can drive a 10-inch x 1/2-inch lag screw into the same material in 30 seconds. The result is the average of how much of the screw remained proud in three tests—less is better.
Lug Nut Test
The third test is to see how long it takes to break loose a nut that is set to 150 ft-lbs (1800 in-lbs). The result is the total time added together for 5 bolts.
| DeWalt DCF845 | Milwaukee 2953 | Makita GDT01 | Flex FX1371 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSS Screw Average | 9.1 sec | 8.6 sec | 12.8 sec | 8.7 sec |
| Lag Screw Average | 3.1 in | 1.7 in | 3.5 in | 3.1 in |
| Nut-Busting Total | 5.4 sec | 2.5 sec | 6.0 sec | 3.2 sec |
But what about advanced batteries?
DeWalt has a PowerStack, Milwaukee has its High Output, and Flex has Stacked Lithium. Unfortunately, we haven’t had the chance to run DeWalt with the PowerStack battery yet, but we do have results for Milwaukee (6.0Ah High Output) and Flex (6.0Ah Stacked Lithium).
| Milwaukee 2953 | Flex FX1371 | |
|---|---|---|
| RSS Screw Average | 6.7 sec | 5.9 sec |
| Lag Screw Average | 1.2 in | 0.7 in |
| Nut-Busting Total | 1.9 sec | 2.3 sec |
DeWalt vs Milwaukee vs Makita vs Flex Impact Driver Highlight Features
DeWalt DCF845
- Brushless motor
- 3 standard modes
- One-hand bit insertion
- 3 LED lights around the collet
Milwaukee 2953
- Brushless motor
- 3 standard modes
- 1 assist mode
- One-hand bit insertion
- 3 LED lights around the collet
- Available with One-Key smart controls and tracking (model 2957)
Makita GDT01
- Brushless motor
- 4 standard modes
- 6 assist modes
- One-hand bit insertion
- Quick Shift button above the trigger
- 2 LED lights around the collet
Flex FX1371
- Brushless motor
- 3 standard modes
- 2 assist modes
- Quick Eject button above the trigger
- Foot-mounted LED light
DeWalt vs Milwaukee vs Makita vs Flex Impact Driver Price
| DeWalt DCF845 | Milwaukee 2953 | Makita GDT01 | Flex FX1371 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Tool | $99.00 | $149 | $217 | $159 |
| Kit #1 | $219.00 1 x 5.0Ah Battery | $299.00 2 x 5.0Ah Batteries | $449.00 2 x 2.5Ah Batteries | $249 1 x 2.5Ah Battery 1 x 5.0Ah Battery |
| Kit #2 | $279.00 2 x 5.0Ah Batteries | NA | NA | $279 6.0Ah Stacked Lithium Battery |
| Combo Kit | NA | $349 Impact Driver Hammer Drill 2 x 5.0Ah Batteries Charger | $469 Impact Driver Hammer Drill 2 x 2.5Ah Batteries Rapid Charger | $349 Impact Driver Hammer Drill 1 x 2.5Ah battery 1 x 5.0Ah battery Fast Charger |
| Warranty | 3 years | 5 years | 3 years | Lifetime w/ Registration (5 years standard) |
So who’s your winner? Let us know in the comments below—bonus points for telling us why!
