Drill or Impact Driver, Which One Do You Need
They look alike and they aren't the same tool
You're halfway through a fence repair and your drill starts struggling with a stubborn timber screw, and you wonder whether you've got the wrong tool in your hand. It's a common moment, because a drill and an impact driver sit side by side in the aisle looking almost identical, and what they're built to do is quite different.
What a drill does
A drill is the all-rounder. It makes holes in timber, metal, plastic and masonry if it has a hammer setting, and it'll drive screws as well, though driving is the job it's least suited to once things get tight. The chuck takes round shanks and hex shanks, and the clutch lets you dial back the torque so you stop before you bury a screw head in the timber.
It suits jobs like:
- Drilling pilot holes for garden sleepers
- Putting up floating shelves in a hallway
- Driving fence hinges where the depth matters
It sounds like a smooth whirr, with no banging.
What an impact driver does
An impact driver is shorter and stubbier and it delivers far more rotational force, in rapid pulses rather than a steady turn. That pulsing is what lets it drive long screws into hard material without stripping the head or stalling. It takes 1/4 inch hex bits only, it has no chuck, and it has no clutch, so it won't stop itself the way a drill will.
It suits jobs like:
- Decking screws into jarrah or other hardwood
- Building a retaining wall out of treated pine sleepers
- Assembling raised beds from recycled timber
It sounds like a rhythmic hammering once it loads up.
The key differences
| Feature | Drill | Impact driver |
|---|---|---|
| Main use | Drilling holes, light screw driving | Driving screws and bolts |
| Torque | Lower | Much higher |
| Control | Clutch stops it at a set depth | No clutch, so you judge it by ear |
| Bit fitting | Chuck takes round and hex shanks | 1/4 inch hex only |
| Motor action | Steady rotation | Pulsing rotation |
A drill is the precise one and an impact driver is the one with the muscle. You can drill with an impact driver using hex-shank bits, but you'll get a rougher hole and less control, so it's a fallback rather than the plan.
Use impact-rated bits, and this part matters
An impact driver will snap an ordinary screwdriver bit, because a standard bit is made hard and brittle and the pulsing action shatters it. Impact-rated bits are made slightly softer so they twist a little instead of breaking, and a broken bit at speed is worth avoiding for more reasons than the cost of the bit.
Which one should you buy
If you mostly build, assemble or repair things outdoors, lean towards the impact driver. If you want neat holes and precision work indoors, a drill will serve you better. Plenty of people end up with both eventually, and if they run on the same battery platform the second one costs a lot less than the first.
- How hard is the material? Hardwood or old gum, use the impact driver.
- Are you making holes or driving? Holes are a drill's job.
- Do your screws keep rounding out? That's impact driver territory.
Shop related products
- Katana 18V Cordless Impact Driver, tool only. Runs off the same 18V pack as the rest of the range.
- Katana 18V Cordless Hammer Drill, skin only. Drilling and driving, with a hammer setting for masonry.
- Toolking Power Bit Set 208pcs. A cased set that covers most heads you'll meet.
- Supatorq Phillips PH2 50mm Driver Bits, 2 pack. The size that fits most general screws.
- Supatorq Phillips PH3 50mm Driver Bits, 2 pack. For the bigger heads on structural screws.
Did you know we also carry impact-rated power bit sets and nut setters in the shop, plus Supatorq bits in square, hex, Torx and slotted, along with the Katana batteries and chargers. Not all of that is on the website, so give us a ring on (08) 8536 4333 to check what's there.
Where to go next
Have a look at the power tools range, and these two cover the next questions:
- How to Use an Impact Driver for Tough DIY Jobs
- How to Choose Anchors and Screws for Mounting Heavy Items
I round out more screw heads than I'd like to admit to, so if you're not sure which one you need, come in and put both of them in your hand.
Cheers,
Candeece
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