Impact Driver vs Impact Wrench vs Combi Drill: Which Do You Actually Need?
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Walk into any tool shop and you will see three tools that look almost the same: a combi drill, an impact driver and an impact wrench. All three are 18V, all three take the same sort of battery, and all three have a chuck or a drive on the front that spins. It is easy to see why people buy the wrong one.
They are different tools for different jobs, and the right choice depends on what you do all day. A sparky drilling holes in joists needs something very different from a scaffolder tightening nuts or a carpenter driving long screws into timber.
This guide explains what each tool does, which jobs suit each, and which models are worth buying from Amazon UK at the time of writing. If you only have budget for one, we will tell you which one it should be.
Quick Verdict
If you can only buy one tool, buy a combi drill. It drills, drives screws and handles masonry with the hammer function, and it is the most versatile of the three. If you drive a lot of long screws, add an impact driver, which is smaller, faster and kinder to your wrist.
An impact wrench is a specialist tool for nuts and bolts. Mechanics, scaffolders, steel erectors and plant fitters will use one all the time. Everyone else can do without.
The Three Tools Compared
The Combi Drill: Makita DHP453Z
A combi drill has a chuck that holds round-shank drill bits, and a clutch that lets you set a torque for driving screws. A hammer mode lets it drill into brick and block. It is the all-rounder, and the first tool a new tradesman should buy.
The Makita DHP453Z is a long-serving 18V LXT combi drill sold as a bare tool at about £73, with over 1,700 reviews on Amazon UK. It uses a brushed motor, which keeps the cost down, and it is a good choice if you want a reliable drill on the Makita platform without spending a lot.
- Variable speed control
- Conveniently located push button for forward/reverse
- SIngle sleeve keyless chuck
- Maximum capacity in wood 36mm
- Maximum capacity in masonry 13mm
A Step-Up Combi: DeWalt DCD796N
The DCD796N is DeWalt’s 18V XR brushless combi hammer drill, supplied here as a bare tool in a TSTAK case at about £83. Brushless motors run cooler, last longer and give more runtime from each battery charge, so this is the combi drill to buy if you use it every day.
The listing is relatively new on Amazon UK and has fewer reviews than older models, but the DCD796 is one of the best-known drills in DeWalt’s range.
- Dewalt Dcd796N 18V Brushless Combi Hammer Drill Body Tstak Case Dcd796Nt
- Dewalt DCD796N 18V Brushless Combi Hammer Drill Body Tstak Case DCD796NT
- Color: Yellow
- Yellow
The Impact Driver: Makita DTD153Z
An impact driver has a hex chuck and delivers short rotational blows as the screw tightens, which drives long screws in without the drill twisting your wrist. It is much smaller and lighter than a combi, and it is the tool carpenters, joiners, decking fitters and fixers reach for.
The Makita DTD153Z is a brushless 18V LXT impact driver, sold as a bare tool at about £64, and it has more than 3,500 reviews on Amazon UK. It is one of the best-value tools on this list.
- Maximum fastening torque 170 NM. Overall length is 1.26cm
- No load speed 0-2400 rpm
- Brushless motor
- One touch sliding chuck for easy bit installation and removal
- Forward/reverse rotation
An Alternative Impact Driver: DeWalt DCF887N
The DCF887N is DeWalt’s 18V XR brushless impact driver with three speed settings, at about £60 for the bare tool. It has more than 5,000 reviews on Amazon UK and is one of the most popular impact drivers in the country.
If you are on DeWalt, this is the one to buy. The three speeds let you choose between control for small screws and full power for big ones.
- Proven reliable Dealt technology
- Lightweight construction at just 1.24 kg
- High performance for the home or tradesman
- Maximum bolt diameter - m12
The Impact Wrench: DeWalt DCF921N
An impact wrench has a square drive, normally 1/2 inch, and is designed to tighten and loosen nuts and bolts. It makes light work of wheel nuts, scaffold fittings and coach bolts. It is much more powerful than an impact driver, but it is not designed to drive screws.
The DeWalt DCF921N is an 18V XR brushless 1/2 inch impact wrench with a hog ring anvil, at about £129 for the bare tool. It has more than 200 reviews on Amazon UK. It is a serious bit of kit for anyone who works with fixings, and overkill for anyone who does not.
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE BURHSLESS MOTOR: The 18V XR Brushless Motor delivers exceptional power, extends tool life, and features a compact design for tight spaces.
- QUICK SOCKET CHANGE: Equipped with a 1/2 in. square drive and hog ring for fast and hassle-free socket swaps.
- POWERFUL TORQUE: Achieve up to 406 Nm of fastening torque to handle tough applications with ease.
- 4-MODE SWITCH FOR PRECISION CONTROL: Includes Scaffold Mode and other settings for tailored application control, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
- VARIABLE TRIGGER FOR FULL CONTROL: Adjust speed and power seamlessly to match the demands of any task.
At a Glance: Which Tool for Which Job
| Tool | Chuck / Drive | Best For | Not Good For |
| Combi drill | Keyless chuck, round shanks | Drilling holes, driving screws, masonry | Long screws and heavy fixings |
| Impact driver | 1/4 inch hex | Long screws, decking, fixing timber | Large holes and precision drilling |
| Impact wrench | 1/2 inch square drive | Nuts, bolts, wheel nuts, scaffold fittings | Screws and drilling |
Which One Should You Buy?
If you are an electrician
Start with a combi drill, because you will be drilling holes and fixing clips and boxes all day. Add an impact driver if you are fixing a lot of containment or long screws.
If you are a carpenter or joiner
An impact driver is the first tool to buy, then a combi drill for drilling holes. You will rarely need an impact wrench unless you are bolting framing together.
If you are a plumber or heating engineer
A combi drill is the all-rounder, and an impact driver is useful for long screws in joists and fixings. An impact wrench is rarely needed.
If you are a scaffolder, steel fixer or mechanic
An impact wrench is the main tool for nuts and bolts, and you will want an impact driver for the lighter jobs.
If you are a general builder
Buy a combi drill and an impact driver as a pair, and add a wrench if the work calls for it. Many builders buy a twin pack with both tools and two batteries, which is the cheapest way to start.
Things to Know Before You Buy
Battery platform
As always, the battery you own should drive your choice. A bare tool on your existing platform will cost far less than a kit, and you will have the batteries to hand.
Brushless or brushed
Brushless is better, since it runs cooler, lasts longer and is more efficient. A brushed tool is cheaper and perfectly adequate for lighter use.
Do not use an impact driver for precision drilling
Impact drivers are not designed for drilling with round-shank bits, and the hex chuck can cause the bit to slip. If you need to drill a lot of holes, use a combi drill.
Do not use a combi drill for long screws all day
A combi drill will drive a long screw, but it will kick back and tire your wrist. If you are doing lots of long fixings, an impact driver is a better tool.
FAQs
Can an impact driver replace a combi drill?
Not entirely. An impact driver can drive screws and drill with the right bits, but it is not as good for precision drilling, and it cannot hammer into masonry.
Can I use an impact driver to drill into brick?
You can use an impact driver with an SDS adapter or hex-shank masonry bits, but it is not designed for it. A combi drill with hammer mode is a better tool, and an SDS drill is better still.
What is an impact wrench used for?
An impact wrench tightens and loosens nuts and bolts. It is used for wheel nuts, scaffolding, steelwork and heavy fixings.
What is the difference between an impact driver and an impact wrench?
An impact driver has a 1/4 inch hex chuck for screwdriver bits, and is designed for screws. An impact wrench has a square drive for sockets, and is designed for nuts and bolts.
Should I buy a brushless tool?
If you use the tool every day, yes. The extra cost is repaid in runtime and durability. For occasional use, a brushed tool is fine.
Final Word
For most trades the combination is a combi drill and an impact driver on the same battery platform. Together they cover almost everything, and a twin pack is often the cheapest way to get both.
Add an impact wrench only if you work with nuts and bolts, and think of it as a specialist tool rather than a general one.
