Power Screwdrivers & Impact Drivers Price Comparison 2026
Compare 223 power screwdrivers & impact drivers from Bosch, Makita and DeWALT. Find the best price across top UK retailers, updated daily.
Power screwdrivers and impact drivers occupy a curious corner of the power tools market: they look similar, but they work very differently — and choosing the wrong type can mean stripped screws, snapped bits, or a tool that simply can't cope with the job. We've tracked 223 models across the full price spectrum, from budget cordless screwdrivers starting at 21 £ to professional-grade impact drivers pushing towards 407 £, and the spread tells an interesting story.
Bosch dominates this category outright, accounting for roughly a third of all listings and commanding a price premium that sits noticeably above the category average. Makita and DeWALT follow, both hovering around a similar average price point — these three brands effectively define the professional tier. What's worth noting is how much value sits in the mid-range: the sweet spot between 68 £ and 107 £ covers a surprisingly capable set of 18V brushless models that will satisfy most tradespeople and serious DIYers without requiring a second mortgage.
The budget end of the market is dominated by names like Einhell and Black & Decker, which are perfectly adequate for occasional home use — hanging pictures, assembling flat-pack furniture, light maintenance. But if you're regularly driving M10 bolts into hardwood or working on a building site, the step up to a proper combi drill or a high-torque impact driver is genuinely worth it. The difference in cam-out resistance and motor longevity between a brushed budget model and a brushless professional tool is not marginal.
One pattern we consistently observe: buyers often underestimate the value of battery ecosystem compatibility. A Bosch 18V Professional battery works across the entire GSR, GSB and GDR range — and across rotary hammers, angle grinders and beyond. If you already own tools from one platform, buying into the same system almost always makes more financial sense than chasing a marginally cheaper standalone kit. Factor that in when comparing prices — a bare-tool deal can be excellent value, or a trap, depending on what batteries you already own.
Prices in this category shift noticeably around Black Friday and the January sales, with 18V professional kits from Bosch and Makita regularly seeing reductions of 20–30% at Currys, Amazon.co.uk and AO.com. Setting a price alert on the models you're watching is the simplest way to avoid paying full price.
How to Choose a Power Screwdriver or Impact Driver
The gap between a £40 cordless screwdriver and a £200 professional impact driver isn't just about build quality — it's about what each tool is actually designed to do. Get this choice wrong and you'll either be overpaying for capability you'll never use, or burning out a motor on a job it was never built for. Here's what actually matters.
Impact driver or power screwdriver — which do you actually need?
This is the first question, and most buyers skip it. A power screwdriver (or combi drill) uses rotational force alone — it's versatile, handles drilling and screwdriving, and suits general DIY. An impact driver adds a rapid concussive hammering action on top of the rotation, delivering far higher effective torque (typically 150–200 Nm versus 40–80 Nm on a standard drill). Impact drivers are the right tool for driving long screws into timber, tightening bolts, and any job where cam-out is a real risk. They're not ideal for precision work or drilling into masonry. If you only buy one tool, a combi drill is more versatile. If you're doing regular fastening work, an impact driver is faster and less fatiguing.
Voltage and battery ecosystem
Voltage determines power output and, critically, which batteries you can share across your tool collection. 12V tools are compact and light — excellent for overhead work, tight spaces, and tasks where you're working for hours at a time. 18V tools deliver significantly more torque and runtime, and are the professional standard. The key decision isn't really 12V vs 18V — it's which ecosystem you're buying into. Bosch 18V Professional, Makita 18V LXT, and DeWALT 20V MAX are the three dominant platforms in the UK. If you already own batteries from one of these, buying a bare tool (without batteries) from the same range can save you a substantial amount compared to a full kit.
Brushless vs brushed motor
Brushless motors are 20–30% more efficient than brushed equivalents, run cooler, and last significantly longer because there are no carbon brushes to wear down. For occasional home use, a brushed motor is fine and costs less. For anyone using the tool regularly — tradespeople, serious DIYers, anyone on a job site — brushless is worth the premium. The efficiency gain also translates directly to longer runtime per battery charge, which matters when you're mid-job and your spare battery is in the van. Most models above 107 £ in this category are brushless; below that, check the spec carefully.
Torque output and clutch settings
Torque is measured in Newton-metres (Nm). For driving screws into softwood, 30–50 Nm is plenty. For hardwood, composite decking, or structural timber, you want 80 Nm or more. Impact drivers sidestep this somewhat — their impact mechanism means effective torque is much higher than the headline figure suggests. What matters equally is the clutch: a well-calibrated multi-setting clutch lets you dial in exactly how deep a screw drives, preventing over-tightening and split timber. Professional models typically offer 20+ clutch settings; budget tools often have fewer, which limits precision.
Weight and balance for the job at hand
A 2.5 kg impact driver feels fine on a workbench. After 20 minutes of overhead work, it's a different story. Compact 12V models typically weigh under 1.5 kg; full-size 18V professional tools run from 1.8 kg to over 2.5 kg with battery. If your work involves a lot of overhead fastening — fitting kitchen units, installing ceilings, working in loft spaces — weight is not a secondary consideration. Check the spec with battery included, not just the bare tool weight that manufacturers tend to advertise.
Battery capacity and what's included in the kit
Battery capacity is measured in Amp-hours (Ah). A 2.0 Ah battery is adequate for light use; a 4.0 Ah or 5.0 Ah battery is what you want for a full day on site. Fast chargers (30–60 minutes) are worth paying for if downtime matters. Pay close attention to what's actually in the box: some listings are bare tool only, others include one battery, and proper kits include two batteries and a charger. The price difference between a bare tool and a twin-battery kit can look dramatic, but if you're starting from scratch, the kit is almost always better value than buying components separately.
- Entry-level and occasional use (From 21 £ to 68 £) : Mostly brushed-motor cordless screwdrivers from Black & Decker, Einhell, and BGS Technic. Adequate for flat-pack assembly, light DIY, and occasional home maintenance. Don't expect these to cope with sustained heavy use or hardwood — the motors and clutches simply aren't built for it. Fine as a second tool or a gift for someone who rarely picks up a screwdriver.
- The sweet spot for most buyers (From 68 £ to 107 £) : This is where the market gets genuinely interesting. You'll find entry-level Bosch Professional models, Yato impact drivers, and KS Tools units that offer real capability at a reasonable price. Brushless motors start appearing here. Good for regular DIY, small trade jobs, and anyone who wants a tool that will last more than a couple of years.
- Professional-grade performance (From 107 £ to 183 £) : The core of the Bosch GSB/GSR 18V Professional range, Makita DTW series, and mid-range DeWALT models live here. Brushless motors are standard, battery ecosystems are mature, and build quality is noticeably better. This is the right budget for tradespeople, serious DIYers, and anyone who wants a tool that earns its keep on a job site.
- High-torque and specialist tools (Over 183 £) : Metabo leads this tier, alongside top-spec Bosch GDS and Makita DTW300RTJ kits. You're paying for maximum torque output (often 1000 Nm+ on impact wrenches), premium brushless motors, full battery kits, and in some cases IP-rated protection. Genuinely necessary for automotive work, structural fastening, and professional contractors who run tools hard every day. Overkill for most domestic applications.
Top products
- Bosch GSB 18V-90 C 2100 RPM Black, Blue (Bosch) : The most-listed model in this category and for good reason — the GSB 18V-90 C is a genuinely capable brushless combi drill with 90 Nm of torque and Bosch's Connected tooling features. That said, it's a premium price for a tool that ships without batteries; only worth it if you're already in the Bosch 18V Professional ecosystem.
- Bosch GSB 12V-15 Professional 1300 RPM Black, Blue (Bosch) : The best entry point into the Bosch Professional range. Compact, light, and more than capable for everyday household tasks. The 1300 RPM and 30 Nm torque won't win any power contests, but for the price it's hard to fault as a first proper cordless drill.
- Yato YT-09511 power screwdriver/impact driver (Yato) : The standout budget option — Yato offers surprisingly solid build quality for the price, and this model is the most competitively priced among the top-listed tools. A sensible choice for occasional use or as a secondary driver, but don't expect it to match Bosch or Makita for sustained heavy-duty work.
- Makita DTW300Z power screwdriver/impact driver 3200 RPM Black, Blue (Makita) : Makita's DTW300Z is a bare-tool impact driver that punches well above its weight in terms of build quality and impact mechanism refinement. At 3200 RPM and with Makita's 18V LXT compatibility, it's an excellent choice for tradespeople already in the Makita ecosystem — just budget separately for batteries and charger.
- Bosch GDS 18V-1050 H 1750 RPM Black, Blue, Red (Bosch) : The most powerful tool in the top 15 — 1050 Nm of impact torque puts this firmly in the professional/automotive tier. Overkill for general joinery or DIY, but if you're working with large structural bolts or doing vehicle maintenance, nothing else in this category comes close. The price reflects that specialisation.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a power screwdriver and an impact driver?
A power screwdriver uses rotational force only, making it versatile for drilling and general screwdriving. An impact driver adds rapid concussive blows alongside the rotation, delivering far higher effective torque — typically 150–200 Nm versus 40–80 Nm on a standard drill. The practical result is that impact drivers drive large screws and bolts much faster, with far less risk of cam-out (the bit slipping out of the fastener head). The trade-off is that impact drivers are noisier, less precise for delicate work, and not suitable for drilling into masonry.
Is an 18V tool always better than a 12V model?
Not always — it depends entirely on the job. 18V tools deliver more torque and longer runtime, making them the right choice for heavy fastening, structural work, and full days on site. 12V tools are lighter, more compact, and easier to handle in tight spaces or overhead — and for most domestic tasks, their power output is perfectly sufficient. The Bosch GSB 12V-15 Professional, for example, handles the vast majority of household jobs without issue. If portability and reduced fatigue matter more than raw power, 12V is a legitimate choice, not a compromise.
Should I buy a brushless impact driver in 2026?
Yes, if you're spending above 107 £, there's very little reason to accept a brushed motor. Brushless motors are 20–30% more efficient, run cooler, last significantly longer, and deliver more consistent power throughout the battery's discharge cycle. The price premium over brushed equivalents has narrowed considerably, and the long-term savings in battery life and tool longevity make brushless the sensible default for anyone buying a tool they intend to use regularly.
Can I use my existing Bosch batteries with a new Bosch impact driver?
It depends on the battery platform. Bosch runs two separate 18V systems — the blue Professional range and the green DIY range — and their batteries are not cross-compatible despite sharing the same voltage. Within each range, however, compatibility is broad: a Bosch 18V Professional battery will work across the GSR, GSB, GDR, and GDS series, as well as angle grinders, rotary hammers, and other Professional tools. Always check the specific battery platform before buying a bare tool.
What torque do I need for driving screws into hardwood?
For hardwood, aim for at least 60–80 Nm of torque for a standard power screwdriver, or choose an impact driver where the impact mechanism effectively multiplies the driving force well beyond the headline Nm figure. Driving 100mm structural screws into oak or hardwood decking with a 40 Nm brushed drill will stall the motor and strip the screw head. An 18V brushless combi drill at 80+ Nm, or any decent impact driver, handles this comfortably. Pre-drilling a pilot hole also makes a significant difference with dense materials.
Are cheap impact drivers worth buying, or should I avoid them?
Budget impact drivers under 68 £ are worth avoiding for anything beyond very occasional use. The core issue isn't just power — it's the impact mechanism itself. Cheap tools often use lower-quality steel in the anvil and hammer, which wears rapidly under sustained use, reducing impact effectiveness and eventually failing altogether. The clutch settings are also typically coarser, making it easy to overdrive screws. For occasional flat-pack assembly, a budget cordless screwdriver is fine. For anything more demanding, the step up to a mid-range brushless model is money well spent.
What does IP54 mean on a power tool, and does it matter?
IP54 means the tool is protected against dust ingress (rated 5 out of 6) and splash water from any direction (rated 4 out of 8). In practical terms, it means the tool can handle dusty job sites and light rain without the motor or electronics being damaged. For professional use outdoors or in construction environments, IP54 or better is genuinely useful. For home DIY use in a garage or workshop, it's a nice-to-have rather than essential. Most budget tools carry no IP rating at all — fine for dry indoor use, but worth noting if you work in less controlled conditions.