Updated October 2026
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A cordless impact wrench for a house and a garage is an 18V / 20V square-drive tool: 1/2-inch or 3/8-inch anvil, impact sockets, built to spin nuts and bolts. It is not an impact driver (1/4-hex, screws) and it is not a drill. If you landed here looking for hex-shank bits, leave this page and open that one.
We match manufacturer specs and kit contents to the Amazon listings we link. Prices move, so this page does not print street prices; check current price and seller on Amazon before you buy.
This is not a shop test. Milwaukee is a Home Depot exclusive in the US. We do not send you to an Amazon third-party listing for that line.
Need holes first? Start with Best Cordless Drills or Best Cordless Drill Under $100. Need a saw? Best Circular Saws or Best Miter Saw.
Quick verdict
Best overall 1/2 mid-torque: DeWalt DCF891B — 20V MAX XR, hog ring, tool only. Manufacturer 600 ft-lbs fastening / 800 ft-lbs breakaway. The current yellow 1/2 if you already own 20V MAX packs. Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Best high-torque 1/2: DeWalt DCF900B — 20V MAX XR hog-ring high-torque, tool only. Manufacturer 1,030 / 1,400 ft-lbs. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Check price on Amazon
Best compact 3/8: DeWalt DCF923B — ATOMIC 3/8 hog ring, tool only. Manufacturer 300 / 450 ft-lbs. Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Best budget: Craftsman CMCF921B tool-only if you already have V20 packs — or the SKIL IW6720B-10 kit if you are starting from zero. The SKIL is 220 / 260 ft-lbs, not a mid-torque. Check price on Amazon
Comparison
| Model | Best for | Power | Anvil | Notes | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DCF891B | Best overall 1/2 mid-torque | 20V MAX XR | 1/2 hog ring | Mid-range; 600 / 800 ft-lbs (DeWalt); tool only | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| DeWalt DCF900B | High-torque 1/2 | 20V MAX XR | 1/2 hog ring | 1,030 / 1,400 ft-lbs (DeWalt); tool only | Check price on Amazon |
| DeWalt DCF923B | Compact 3/8 | 20V MAX ATOMIC | 3/8 hog ring | 300 / 450 ft-lbs; tool only | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| DeWalt DCF921B | Compact 1/2, already 20V MAX | 20V MAX ATOMIC | 1/2 hog ring | Same 300 / 450 class as DCF923B; tool only | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| Craftsman CMCF921B | Budget V20 | V20 brushless RP | 1/2 hog ring | 275 ft-lbs fastening (Craftsman); tool only | Check price on Amazon |
| SKIL IW6720B-10 | Kit from zero | 20V PWR CORE | 1/2 friction ring | 220 / 260 ft-lbs (SKIL); 2.0Ah + charger; compact-class, not mid-torque | Check availability on Amazon |
| Craftsman CMCF940M1 | High-torque V20 kit | V20 brushless RP | 1/2 hog ring | 700 / 1,000 ft-lbs (Craftsman); 4.0Ah + charger + bag | Check price on Amazon |
| Makita XWT18Z | Already LXT | 18V LXT | 1/2 detent pin | 520 / 740 ft-lbs (Makita); 4-speed; tool only | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| Milwaukee 2962-20 | Pro mid-torque benchmark | 18V M18 FUEL | 1/2 friction ring | 550 / 650 ft-lbs (Milwaukee); Home Depot exclusive; no Amazon link | Home Depot only |
Ryobi PBLIW01B is a real ONE+ HP 1/2 high-torque (700 / 1,170 ft-lbs on Ryobi.com; tool-only at Home Depot). Do not use B0BCSKD867; that listing is not the Ryobi PBLIW01B. 3/4-inch and corded 120V wrenches are a different class and are not picks.
DeWalt DCF891B — best overall 1/2 mid-torque
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
If you want one 20V MAX 1/2-inch square-drive and you already live in yellow, this is the current mid-range XR. Hog-ring anvil, brushless, 4-mode including Precision Wrench, LED, belt clip. Tool only — no pack, no charger.
DeWalt rates 600 ft-lbs MAX fastening and 800 ft-lbs MAX breakaway, under 4 lb tool-only. Those are DeWalt’s numbers, not a test from us.
Check current price and seller on Amazon, and confirm new vs renewed; this listing is often third-party.
Who it’s for. Already on 20V MAX or FLEXVOLT and you want a current 1/2 mid-torque for rusted passenger-car lugs, suspension bolts, and trailer hardware. Same packs run a cordless drill and an impact driver.
Who it’s not for. Starting from zero — you would be buying a battery and charger on top of a tool-only box. A first kit is the SKIL IW6720B-10 (light torque) or the Craftsman CMCF940M1 if you want high-torque in a V20 carton. Need 1,000+ ft-lbs breakaway? That is the DCF900B. Tight engine-bay 3/8 work? That is the DCF923B. Already on ONE+, LXT, or M18? Stay there.
Specs that matter. 20V MAX XR. Brushless. 1/2-in hog ring. Mid-range. 600 / 800 ft-lbs (DeWalt). 4-mode + Precision Wrench. Tool only. Model DCF891B. Amazon listing B09YXXFPBJ.
Caveats. Confirm that the title is still the DCF891B mid-range — not the ATOMIC DCF921 (300 / 450) and not the high-torque DCF900. Hog ring, not detent pin. 3-year limited warranty on the DeWalt tool.
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
DeWalt DCF900B — high-torque 1/2
This is the 20V MAX XR 1/2 high-torque. Hog-ring anvil, brushless, 4-mode including Precision Wrench, LED, belt hook. Tool only.
DeWalt rates 1,030 ft-lbs MAX fastening and 1,400 ft-lbs MAX breakaway. That is a different class from the DCF891 mid-range and a different class from the ATOMIC 300 / 450 tools.
Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. Already on 20V MAX and you need the high-torque body for stuck truck / SUV lugs, large fasteners, and work the mid-range will not break free.
Who it’s not for. Everyday passenger-car lugs if you wanted something lighter — that is the DCF891B. Starting from zero. Anyone on a tight budget. Anyone who thinks a compact ATOMIC 1/2 is “almost high-torque.”
Specs that matter. 20V MAX XR. Brushless. 1/2-in hog ring. High-torque. 1,030 / 1,400 ft-lbs (DeWalt). 4-mode + Precision Wrench. Tool only. Model DCF900B. Amazon listing B0B9T68W3B.
Caveats. Confirm that the listing is still the DCF900B hog-ring tool-only — not a detent-pin sibling and not a kit. 3-year limited warranty on the DeWalt tool.
DeWalt DCF923B — compact 3/8
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Same 20V MAX aisle, 3/8 hog-ring anvil, ATOMIC body. DeWalt rates 300 ft-lbs MAX fastening and 450 ft-lbs MAX breakaway, 4-speed including Precision Wrench and a timber-screw mode. Tool only. Belt clip in the carton.
This is compact-class torque, not the DCF891 mid-range. Shop it for tight 3/8 sockets, not rusted 3/4 truck hardware.
The US listing we verified is B09MLM7BQJ. Check current price and seller on Amazon; this listing is often third-party. Confirm new vs used.
Who it’s for. Already on 20V MAX and you want a short 3/8 for engine-bay fasteners, machinery, and anywhere a 1/2 head will not fit.
Who it’s not for. Starting from zero. Anyone who will only buy from Amazon.com itself, unless the seller checks out at click. Anyone who needed mid-torque or high-torque 1/2 — those are the DCF891B and DCF900B. Want the same ATOMIC body with a 1/2 anvil? That is the DCF921B.
Specs that matter. 20V MAX ATOMIC. Brushless. 3/8-in hog ring. Compact. 300 / 450 ft-lbs (DeWalt). 4-speed + Precision Wrench. Tool only. Model DCF923B. Amazon listing B09MLM7BQJ.
Caveats. Confirm B09MLM7BQJ is still the DCF923B 3/8 tool-only, not a 1/2 ATOMIC DCF921 bundle and not a used carton.
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
DeWalt DCF921B — compact 1/2 if you already own yellow
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Same ATOMIC 20V MAX body as the DCF923B, 1/2 hog-ring anvil instead of 3/8. Same manufacturer 300 / 450 ft-lbs. Tool only. Belt clip.
It is not the DCF891 mid-range. It is the compact 1/2 for people who already own 20V MAX packs and want a lighter 1/2 than the XR mid-torque.
Check current price and seller on Amazon; this listing is often third-party.
Who it’s for. Already on 20V MAX and you want a compact 1/2 for passenger-car work, furniture assembly bolts, and jobs where the DCF891 is more tool than you need.
Who it’s not for. Starting from zero. Anyone who needed 600 / 800 mid-torque — buy the DCF891B. Anyone who needed 3/8 sockets without an adapter — buy the DCF923B.
Specs that matter. 20V MAX ATOMIC. Brushless. 1/2-in hog ring. Compact. 300 / 450 ft-lbs (DeWalt). Tool only. Model DCF921B. Amazon listing B09M3TL9BB.
Caveats. Confirm the title is still the DCF921B tool-only, not the DCF891 mid-range and not a kit with a no-name pack.
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Craftsman CMCF921B — best budget pick
This is the budget 1/2-inch square-drive. V20 BRUSHLESS RP, hog ring, 2-mode, LED, VERSATRACK clip-ready. Tool only. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Craftsman rates up to 275 ft-lbs MAX fastening. That is compact-mid, not DCF891 class (600 / 800) and not the V20 high-torque CMCF940 (700 / 1,000). Fine for light lugs and general bolts if you already own V20 packs. Not a rusted-truck wrench.
Who it’s for. Already on Craftsman V20 and you want a 1/2 hog-ring wrench without XR money.
Who it’s not for. A first battery purchase — a bare wrench plus a 2.0Ah and charger is not a budget kit. That kit is the SKIL (light torque) or the CMCF940M1 if you want high-torque in one V20 carton. Already on 20V MAX: buy the DCF891B or DCF921B, not a second charger. Anyone who wanted the older brushed CMCF900B.
Specs that matter. V20 brushless RP. 1/2-in hog ring. 275 ft-lbs fastening (Craftsman). 2-mode. Tool only. Model CMCF921B. Amazon listing B0B94PQR3P.
Caveats. Confirm the live price and that you are not looking at a 1/4-hex V20 impact driver. Tool only. 275 ft-lbs is not mid-torque in the DeWalt 800-breakaway sense.
SKIL IW6720B-10 — kit if you are starting from zero
This is the Amazon kit with a battery in the box: PWR CORE 20 brushless 1/2 friction-ring, 2.0Ah pack (BY519701), 60W charger (SC535801). Two-speed 0–1,950 / 3,000 RPM, 0–2,450 / 3,350 IPM. Manufacturer page listed $109.99. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
SKIL rates 220 ft-lbs fastening and 260 ft-lbs nut-busting. That is compact / light — not the DCF891 mid-range and not a high-torque. SKIL marketing mentions wheel lugs. Treat it as a first-kit compact, not a rusted-truck tool.
Who it’s for. No 18V / 20V packs on the shelf and you want one 1/2 square-drive kit without buying DeWalt batteries first.
Who it’s not for. Already on 20V MAX, ONE+, LXT, V20, or M18. Platform lock-in is the hidden cost. One 2.0Ah pack — when it dies, you wait. Anyone who needed 600+ ft-lbs mid-torque or 1,000+ high-torque. Anyone who also needs a 1/4-hex on day one should add the impact driver on the same platform, or start with a drill kit.
Specs that matter. 20V PWR CORE 20. Brushless. 1/2-in friction ring. 220 / 260 ft-lbs (SKIL). 2-speed. Kit: 2.0Ah + charger. Model IW6720B-10 (tool IW6720B-00). Amazon listing B0FQ86P56C.
Caveats. Confirm the carton still lists the 2.0Ah and SC535801 charger. 260 ft-lbs nut-busting is a stretch vs mid-torque marketing. Titles drift.
Craftsman CMCF940M1 — high-torque kit on V20
If you want high-torque and a pack in one carton, this is the V20 BRUSHLESS RP 1/2 we verified: hog-ring high-torque, 4.0Ah (CMCB204), charger (CMCB104), soft bag. Craftsman rates 700 ft-lbs MAX fastening and 1,000 ft-lbs breakaway, 3-speed. Those are Craftsman’s numbers.
Check current price and seller on Amazon, and confirm that the box still lists the 4.0Ah and charger — Craftsman also sells a CMCF940B tool-only, which we do not link.
Who it’s for. Starting on V20, or already on V20, and you want a 1/2 high-torque kit instead of the SKIL’s 260 ft-lbs compact.
Who it’s not for. Already on 20V MAX — buy the DCF900B tool-only and skip a second charger. Anyone who only needed a compact 275 ft-lbs tool-only — that is the CMCF921B. Anyone shopping Milwaukee high-torque: that is Home Depot, a different SKU, and not on this Amazon list.
Specs that matter. V20 brushless RP. 1/2-in hog ring. High-torque. 700 / 1,000 ft-lbs (Craftsman). 3-speed. Kit: 4.0Ah + charger + bag. Model CMCF940M1. Amazon listing B0BJLFSN22.
Caveats. Confirm kit contents. High-torque on V20 is not the DeWalt DCF900 1,400-breakaway class. Recheck the seller.
Makita XWT18Z — already on LXT
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
The 18V LXT 1/2 mid-torque we can name as a tool-only: detent-pin anvil (not hog ring), brushless, 4-speed. Makita rates 520 ft-lbs fastening and 740 ft-lbs nut-busting, with auto-stop modes. Those are Makita’s numbers.
The listing we used is B08L8CDBKK because the title names XWT18Z tool-only. Check current price and seller on Amazon; this listing is often third-party. Other listings exist for the same model (including battery-bundle listings). Confirm that the carton is detent-anvil tool-only.
Who it’s for. Already on 18V LXT and you want a 1/2 mid-torque that eats those packs. Detent pin holds sockets more securely for overhead / dropped-socket work.
Who it’s not for. A first LXT purchase. On DeWalt or Ryobi? Stay there. Anyone who only uses hog-ring quick-change sockets and does not want a detent pin.
Specs that matter. 18V LXT. Brushless. 1/2-in detent pin. Mid-torque. 520 / 740 ft-lbs (Makita). 4-speed. Tool only. Model XWT18Z. Amazon listing B08L8CDBKK.
Caveats. Confirm B08L8CDBKK is still the new XWT18Z tool-only, not a 5.0Ah add-on bundle and not a hog-ring sibling. Detent pin, not hog ring.
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Milwaukee 2962-20 — pro mid-torque benchmark, not an Amazon buy
Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL Gen-2 1/2 mid-torque with friction ring (2962-20) is a Home Depot line in the US. Milwaukee rates 550 ft-lbs fastening and 650 ft-lbs nut-busting, about 6 inches long, 5.1 lb with a 5.0Ah, 4-Mode DRIVE CONTROL, AUTO SHUT-OFF around 35 ft-lbs. Those are manufacturer numbers, not a test from us.
Confirm the number in the store or on HD’s page. Home Depot 2962-20
The pin-detent sibling is 2962P-20. The 3/8 mid-torque sibling is 2960-20. High-torque M18 FUEL 1/2 is a different SKU. None of those are Amazon picks.
Who it’s for. Pros, or DIY buyers who already live in M18 and can pick up a kit at Home Depot.
Who it’s not for. Anyone we would send to Amazon. Marketplace copies show up. They are not first-party stock of a Home Depot exclusive. We are not linking those.
Caveats. Confirm the Home Depot price. Kit contents change (2962-22 and other kits exist). Milwaukee is the benchmark on this page, not an Amazon button.
Buying guide
Impact wrench vs impact driver vs drill. A drill/driver has a clutch and a chuck. It drills holes and drives screws. An impact driver is a 1/4-hex: hex-shank bits, no clutch in the same way, built to sink fasteners. An impact wrench is a square-drive (usually 1/2 or 3/8) for bolts and nuts. This page is wrenches. Do not buy a driver because the title said “impact.” Socket adapters on a 1/4-hex are how people break adapters. If you still need holes, buy the drill first.
1/2 vs 3/8 vs 3/4. Most household and passenger-car sockets are 1/2. 3/8 is the compact engine-bay size (DCF923B). 3/4 and 1-inch hog wrenches are a different class, so they are not on this page. Corded 120V 1/2 tools are also omitted; this page is 18V / 20V cordless.
Mid-torque vs high-torque vs compact. Compact (DCF921 / DCF923 / SKIL 220–260 / Craftsman 275) is light work. Mid-torque (DCF891 600 / 800, Makita 520 / 740, Milwaukee 550 / 650) is the default 1/2 for rusted passenger-car and light-truck work. High-torque (DCF900 1,030 / 1,400, Craftsman CMCF940 700 / 1,000) is the heavier body. Manufacturer ft-lbs are not interchangeable across brands and are not shop tests.
Hog ring vs detent pin vs friction ring. Hog ring / friction ring (DeWalt, Craftsman, SKIL, Milwaukee 2962-20) is quick-change. Detent pin (Makita XWT18Z, Milwaukee 2962P-20 at HD) holds the socket with a pin. Buy the anvil that matches the sockets you already own.
Kit vs tool only. Only the SKIL IW6720B-10 and the Craftsman CMCF940M1 on this page are verified kits with a pack and charger. Everything else is tool only. A bare mid-torque wrench is not a deal if you still have to buy a 5.0Ah and a charger.
Platform lock-in. DeWalt 20V MAX, Ryobi ONE+, Craftsman V20, Makita LXT, and SKIL PWR CORE 20 do not share packs. Milwaukee M18 does not either, and you shop that at Home Depot. Already own a drill kit? Buy the wrench that eats those batteries. Brand comparison: DeWalt vs Milwaukee vs Ryobi.
Ryobi on Amazon. PBLIW01B is real at Ryobi.com and Home Depot (tool-only, 700 / 1,170 ft-lbs). The older Amazon listing for RYOBI-PBLIW01B is not the current Ryobi tool. No Amazon link.
Third-party and stock. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Buy Home Depot exclusives at Home Depot, not from third-party Amazon sellers.
The other garage tools. Screws are an impact driver. Holes are a drill. Same-day sheet goods are a circular saw. Trim and framing cuts are a miter saw.
FAQ
Which impact wrench should I buy in 2026? Already on 20V MAX: DCF891B for 1/2 mid-torque, DCF900B for high-torque, DCF923B for compact 3/8, DCF921B for compact 1/2. Already on V20 and on a budget: CMCF921B. Starting from zero: SKIL IW6720B-10 if 260 ft-lbs is enough, CMCF940M1 if you want a V20 high-torque kit. Already on LXT: XWT18Z. Already on M18: Milwaukee 2962-20 at Home Depot.
Is an impact wrench the same as an impact driver? No. A wrench is square-drive for bolts. A driver is 1/4-hex for screws. The driver page is live: Best Impact Drivers. Do not buy a wrench as your household driver.
Do I need mid-torque or high-torque? Mid-torque (DCF891B, Milwaukee 2962-20, Makita XWT18Z) is the default 1/2 for passenger cars and light trucks. High-torque (DCF900B, CMCF940M1) is the heavier body for stuck hardware. Compact 300 / 450 or 220 / 260 tools are not mid-torque, even when the carton says “impact wrench.”
Hog ring or detent pin? Hog ring / friction ring drops sockets fast. Detent pin (Makita XWT18Z; Milwaukee 2962P-20 at HD) holds them. Match the anvil to the sockets you own.
Can I start from zero with just an impact wrench? You can. The SKIL kit is the verified Amazon box with a pack — and it is compact-class torque. The CMCF940M1 is the verified V20 high-torque kit. You will still want a drill the first time you need a hole and an impact driver the first time you need screws.
Should I just buy Milwaukee? If you already own M18, buy the 2962-20 (or the high-torque M18 FUEL 1/2 SKU) at Home Depot. It is the benchmark, not an Amazon recommendation. We are not sending you to a gray-market listing.
Related
Best Impact Drivers · Best Cordless Drills · Best Cordless Drill Under $100 · Best Circular Saws · Best Miter Saw · DeWalt vs Milwaukee vs Ryobi
Prices and Amazon offers change. We don’t list live prices; check Amazon for the current price and seller. Manufacturer prices, RPM, torque, and breakaway claims are the manufacturers’ published ratings, not tests we ran. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
For the high-torque pick in this guide, see our DeWalt DCF900B full review.