Impact Driver vs Drill: Which Do You Need?
Every UK DIYer has stared at the shelf in Screwfix or Toolstation and wondered the same thing: why does a drill cost £50 and a nearly identical-looking tool cost the same, and what's the difference anyway? The impact driver and the combi drill are the two most-bought power tools in the country, and most people only own one. If you're trying to decide which to buy, or whether you need both, this guide compares them properly.
The short answer: a drill makes holes and drives screws slowly with torque control, and an impact driver hammers screws in fast with brute force but can't drill a hole worth a damn. For assembling flat-pack, decking, and anything with long screws, the impact driver wins. For drilling into timber, brick, or metal, you need the drill. Most UK makers end up owning both, and there's a good reason for that.
Here's how they compare on torque, speed, weight, and price, plus exactly which jobs each one should handle.
- DeWalt DCF887N Impact Driver - the best all-round impact driver for UK DIYers (around £75)
- DeWalt DCD778S2T Hammer Drill - the best combi drill if you need masonry capability (around £179)
- Drills win for holes and precision - impact drivers win for speed and screw-driving power
- An impact driver is lighter, more compact, and much faster at sinking long screws than any drill
- If you can only buy one, get a combi drill first, then add an impact driver when your next project needs it
Suggested reading: Best Impact Drivers UK 2026 · Best Cordless Drills UK · 18V vs 12V Cordless Drills
Quick Comparison - Impact Driver vs Drill
| Feature | Combi Drill | Impact Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Drilling holes, masonry (hammer models), precise screw driving | Fast screw driving, long screws, decking, repeated fastening |
| Chuck type | 13mm keyless chuck - accepts round drill bits | 1/4in hex collet - quick-change hex bits only |
| Torque | 50-65Nm typical (18V brushless) | 180-215Nm typical - 3x a drill's torque |
| Speed | 0-2000 RPM, 2 gears | 0-3600 RPM plus 0-4000 IPM hammer blows |
| Weight | 1.4-1.8kg (body only) | 1.1-1.5kg (body only) |
| Screw driving feel | Smooth, adjustable clutch, more control | Hammer action, fast, can over-drive on soft wood |
| Drilling holes | Yes - wood, metal, brick with hammer mode | No - not designed for round bits or drilling |
| Entry price (18V) | £54 (Black & Decker BCD700) | £41 (Einhell TP-CI 18) |
What Is an Impact Driver?
An impact driver is a specialist screw-driving machine. Instead of a chuck that grips round drill bits, it has a 1/4in hex collet that accepts standard hex bits in one click. Inside, a hammer mechanism delivers rapid rotational blows - thousands per minute - which is where the "impact" in the name comes from. That hammering is what lets it sink a 6-inch screw into oak without stalling.
Because of the impact mechanism, the driver transfers almost none of the torque back into your wrist. The blows do the work, so the tool doesn't twist violently when a screw bites. That's why tradespeople reach for an impact driver all day without fatigue: it's lighter than a combi drill and far less tiring to hold on a screw head.
Best Overall - DeWalt DCF887N
DeWalt DCF887N 18V XR 3-Speed Impact Driver
~£75 | 205Nm torque | 3 speeds (0-3800 IPM) | brushless | 1.4kg
The DCF887N is the impact driver every UK tradesperson seems to own, and for good reason. The 205Nm of torque is class-leading, the three speed settings let you dial down for delicate work, and the brushless motor gives you serious runtime on a 2Ah battery. It's the benchmark that other impact drivers get compared against.
Build quality is typical DeWalt XR: rubber overmould, protected trigger, and a belt clip that actually stays put. The single LED is decent but not the brightest on the market. For the price, nothing else matches its combination of power, reliability, and the huge DeWalt battery ecosystem behind it.
Best Budget - Einhell TP-CI 18
Einhell TP-CI 18 Li BL-Solo Impact Driver
~£41 | brushless | 1/4in hex collet | PXC 18V platform | body only
If you're on the Power X-Change system or just want to try an impact driver without spending big, the Einhell TP-CI 18 is a genuine bargain at around £41. It's brushless, which is rare at this price, and it handles decking screws and flat-pack assembly without complaint.
It's not in the same torque league as the DeWalt or Makita - expect around 150-170Nm in practice - but for weekend projects it does everything you'd ask. The LED is decent, the belt clip works, and if you already own Einhell batteries, this is a no-brainer add-on.
What Is a Combi Drill?
A combi drill is the generalist. Its 13mm keyless chuck grips round drill bits, which means it drills holes in wood, metal, and (with hammer mode) brick and block. It also drives screws using a torque clutch that clicks off once the screw is seated, so you don't over-drive and strip the head.
Modern 18V brushless combi drills produce 50-65Nm of torque. That's plenty for drilling with a 10mm bit and driving most screws, but it's roughly a third of an impact driver's output. When a screw fights back, a drill stalls or twists in your hand; an impact driver hammers through. That single difference is why the two tools coexist.
Best Overall - DeWalt DCD778S2T
DeWalt DCD778S2T 18V XR Brushless Hammer Drill
~£179 | 65Nm torque | 2-speed | 13mm chuck | 2x 1.5Ah batteries + TSTAK case
The DCD778S2T is a proper hammer drill that comes as a full kit - two batteries, charger, and the TSTAK box. The 65Nm of torque is at the top of the DIY class, the hammer mode punches through brickwork for wall plugs, and the all-metal chuck holds bits firmly without slipping.
It's heavier than a compact drill at over 1.6kg with a battery, and the 1.5Ah batteries that ship with it run down quicker than you'd like on long drilling sessions. But as a first serious drill, it does everything - holes, screws, masonry - and the DeWalt ecosystem means your next tool shares the batteries.
Best Value - Bosch GSB 18V-55
Bosch Professional GSB 18V-55 Cordless Combi Drill
~£94 | 55Nm torque | RÖHM 13mm metal chuck | brushless | 2-speed | body only
At around £94 for the bare tool, the Bosch GSB 18V-55 is the best value pro-grade combi drill you can buy in the UK. The RÖHM metal chuck is the same one fitted to drills costing twice as much, and the 55Nm brushless motor is smooth, quiet, and efficient.
It's lighter than the DeWalt at 1.4kg and balances better for overhead work. The trade-off is the lower torque and the fact it's body-only - you need a Bosch Professional 18V battery and charger already. If you're on that system, this is the drill to own.
Impact Driver vs Drill: Which Job Gets Which Tool?
The rule of thumb is simple: holes = drill, screws = impact driver. But real projects mix both, so here's the breakdown by common UK jobs.
Use the drill for
- Drilling any hole - pilot holes, rawl plugs, hinges, shelf brackets. The drill's chuck accepts the round bits you need.
- Masonry - with hammer mode and an SDS or masonry bit, a combi drill gets through brick and block. An impact driver can't.
- Metal work - step bits, HSS bits, and holesaws all need a drill's steady rotation.
- Delicate screw driving - the torque clutch protects softwood and MDF from stripped heads.
- Mixing paint or mortar - a drill with a paddle mixer attachment is a proper paint stirrer.
Use the impact driver for
- Long screws into hardwood - decking, fencing, and timber frame work. The hammer action drives 100mm screws that stall a drill.
- Flat-pack furniture - faster than any drill, and the impact action seats cam locks and dowels cleanly.
- Repetitive fastening - screwing plasterboard, roof battens, or a whole fence line. The impact driver is quicker and less tiring.
- Bolts and lag screws - with a socket adapter, an impact driver undoes stubborn nuts and bolts.
- Anywhere you're working overhead - the lighter weight and lack of kickback make it easier to hold up.
One honest warning: impact drivers are aggressive. On softwood or MDF, they can drive a screw straight through the material if you don't feather the trigger. Most modern ones have variable speed or a mode dial (the Makita DTD173Z has a T-mode that stops the hammer early for exactly this), but it's still a tool that rewards control.
Do You Need Both?
Honest answer for a UK maker: eventually, yes. They're complementary, not competing, tools. The classic setup is a combi drill as your first tool, then an impact driver as your second purchase. If you're assembling furniture, building a deck, or doing any serious timber work, the impact driver will become your most-used tool within a month.
If you're just drilling a few holes for shelves and putting up curtain poles, a combi drill alone is genuinely enough. The Ryobi RPD18BL2-0 at around £64 or the Black & Decker BCD700 at £54 will handle 90 per cent of household DIY. Add the impact driver when you start a project that involves more than ten screws at a time.
One tip that saves money: buy both tools from the same battery platform. A DeWalt DCF887N impact driver and DCD778S2T drill share the same 18V XR batteries, so you're buying one battery system, not two. The same logic applies to Makita LXT, Milwaukee M18, Ryobi ONE+, and Einhell PXC. Check our 18V vs 12V guide if you're still deciding on voltage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Verdict
If you buy one tool, make it a combi drill. It drills the holes every project needs, and it drives screws well enough to get by. If you buy two, add an impact driver and it will quickly become the tool you reach for on every screw-heavy job.
We compared these products using Amazon purchaser reviews, manufacturer specifications and independent feedback - we have not run our own lab tests. We compared 18V models from DeWalt, Makita, Bosch, Milwaukee, Ryobi, Einhell, and Black & Decker across torque, speed, weight, and price to give you the straight answer on which tool earns its place in your workshop.
For the full lineup, read our best impact drivers UK roundup and best cordless drills UK roundup. And if you're still deciding between 12V and 18V, our voltage guide sorts that out.
James writes about power tools, hand tools and workshop setup for MakerUK, helping makers buy the right thing the first time.
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Last reviewed: August 15, 2026 · Evidence-based content · Contains affiliate links