Craftsman Vs Ryobi Impact Driver Head-to-Head Review

Craftsman Vs Ryobi Impact Driver Head to Head Review

Moving to the popular Prosumer class, we’re taking a deeper dive into a Craftsman vs Ryobi impact driver head-to-head review. For Craftsman, it’s the tried and true CMCF820 V20 brushless model that’s been around for several years. For Ryobi, it’s the more recent PDLID02 that’s part of the 18V One+ HP Brushless lineup.

Which one is the best in your book? Take a look at what we discovered in our testing and then let us know in the comments below!

Want more impact driver content? Check out our best impact driver recommendations for the year!

Why Not Use the Newer Craftsman Brushless RP Impact Driver?

Craftsman recently launched its Brushless RP line (RP = Runtime + Performance) and there’s a new impact driver as part of the mix. However, the V20 Brushless is still the higher performing of the two. We’ll see if Craftsman has something in the works to change that later in the year.

Craftsman Vs Ryobi Impact Driver Specifications

Here’s what the manufacturers say about both impact drivers along with the head lengths and weights we measured:

Craftsman CMCF820Ryobi PCLID02
Top Speeds1300/2600/2900 RPM850/2000/2900 RPN
Max Impact Rate3800 IPM4000 IPM
Max Torque1700 in-lbs2200 in-lbs
Head Length5.4 inches5.5 inches
Bare Weight2.1 pounds2.3 pounds
Weight Tested Battery3.5 pounds3.9 pounds

Craftsman Vs Ryobi Impact Driver Test Results

We ran three different performance tests to see what these impact drivers are capable of. Before jumping in, we had to decide which batteries to use. Craftsman is on a 20V Max platform while Ryobi is on an 18V. While it may look like Craftsman is at a higher voltage, they’re actually the same—20V at their maximum charge states and 18V at their nominal charge states. You can read more about 20V Max vs 18V.

We chose 4.0Ah batteries for both tools. Craftsman doesn’t have any advanced packs just yet, so we used the standard battery. Ryobi designed the HP Brushless line specifically to take advantage of its High Performance batteries, so we used the advanced battery for it.

The first test is 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.

Craftsman Vs Ryobi Impact Drvier Head to Head Review - GRK Fasteners RSS Screw 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.

Craftsman Vs Ryobi Impact Drvier Head to Head Review - Lag Bolt 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.

Craftsman CMCF820Ryobi PCLID02
RSS Screw Average12.3 seconds16.1 seconds
Lag Screw Average4.4 inches4.0 inches
Nut-Busting Total7.9 seconds7.2 seconds

Craftsman Vs Ryobi Impact Driver Feature Highlights

Craftsman CMCF820

Craftsman Impact Driver
  • Brushless motor
  • 3 standard speeds
  • Tri-beam LEDs surrounding the collet
  • One-hand bit insertion and active ejection
  • Made in the USA with global materials

Ryobi PCLID02

  • Brushless motor
  • 3 standard speeds plus an assist mode
  • One-hand bit insertion and active ejection

Craftsman Vs Ryobi Impact Driver Price

Craftsman CMCF820Ryobi PCLID02
Bare Tool$99.00$119.00
Kit$179.00 (2 x 2.0Ah)$159.00 (1 x 2.0Ah battery)
Basic Combo$249.00
Impact Driver
Hammer Drill
2 x 2.0Ah batteries
Charger
$229.00
Impact Driver
Hammer Drill
2.0Ah Battery
4.0Ah Battery
Charger
Warranty3 years3 years
*Prices at the time of writing from Lowe’s and Home Depot

So who’s your winner? Let us know in the comments below—bonus points for telling us why!

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