Impact Driver vs. Drill: What Is the Difference and Which One Do You Need?

Walk into any framing site in Minnesota or many DIYer homes and you will see two cordless tools on almost every tool belt: a drill and an impact driver. They look similar enough that newcomers to the trade often wonder if one of them is redundant. It is not. These are two different tools designed for two different purposes, and understanding the distinction prevents a lot of stripped screws, broken bits, and wasted time.

We have been selling impact drivers and drills to contractors and builders across Minnesota and Wisconsin for over 18 years. The question we hear most often is some version of “do I really need both?” The short answer is yes, and this guide explains why.

Browse impact drivers at Polar Tool and Supply

What Is an Impact Driver?

An impact driver is a compact fastening tool that uses a combination of rotational force and concussive hammer blows to drive fasteners. When the torque required to drive a screw exceeds a certain threshold, the internal hammer mechanism engages and delivers rapid burst impacts along the axis of rotation.

The result is more torque output in a smaller, lighter package than a standard drill. An impact driver is not subtle: it is loud, it is fast, and it is purpose-built for driving fasteners at speed.

Impact drivers are designed for:

·      Driving screws and fasteners of all sizes, including structural screws and lag bolts

·      Quickly running in large volumes of decking screws, subfloor screws, and framing hardware

·      Driving fasteners through thick or dense materials where a drill would strain or stall

·      Removing stubborn fasteners that resist standard driver bits

What an impact driver is NOT designed for is drilling holes. The hammer action makes it imprecise for drilling, and the 1/4-inch hex chuck only accepts hex-shank bits. Standard round-shank drill bits will not fit.

What Is a Drill/Driver?

A drill/driver (often called simply a drill) is a more versatile tool. It accepts both round-shank and hex-shank bits through its keyed or keyless chuck, and it applies smooth, consistent rotational torque without impact action. Most drill/drivers include a clutch with adjustable torque settings, which prevents overdriving screws into softer materials or delicate surfaces.

Drills are designed for:

·      Boring holes in wood, metal, plastic, and masonry (with appropriate bits)

·      Driving screws in situations where controlled depth matters, such as cabinet work or finish carpentry

·      Mixing compounds and liquids with a paddle attachment

·      Any task that requires a precise, non-impacting rotation

A drill/driver is the more precise of the two tools. It gives you control that an impact driver cannot match. The tradeoff is that a drill will strain, heat up, and potentially strip fasteners when asked to drive large screws through dense material where an impact driver would handle it without effort.

Impact Driver vs. Drill: The Core Differences

Feature	Impact Driver	Drill/Driver
Torque output	Very high	Moderate
Chuck type	1/4” hex only	Keyless, accepts round and hex shank
Clutch control	None	Adjustable torque settings
Hammer action	Yes	No
Best use	Fastener driving	Drilling holes, precision fastening
Weight	Lighter	Slightly heavier
Noise	Loud when impacting	Quiet

When to Use an Impact Driver

An impact driver belongs in your hand when you are driving fasteners. That covers the vast majority of what happens on a construction site every day.

Use the impact driver for:

·      Structural screws (3-inch, 3-1/2-inch GRK, Spax, or similar)

·      Decking and subfloor fastening

·      Running in sheet metal screws

·      Driving lag bolts with a hex-shank socket adapter

·      High-volume screw driving where speed matters more than depth precision

One of the most common mistakes contractors make early in their careers is reaching for the drill when driving fasteners, then burning out the motor or stripping the head before the screw is fully seated. The impact driver exists specifically to prevent that.

When to Use a Drill

The drill earns its place any time you need a hole or need precise control over fastener depth.

Use the drill for:

·      Boring pilot holes before driving lag screws

·      Drilling holes for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC penetrations

·      Self-tapping screws in situations where a pilot hole helps

·      Driving finish screws in trim and cabinet work where the depth matters

·      Mixing thin-set, joint compound, and paint with a paddle bit

·      Counter-boring for pocket screws with a Kreg jig or similar

The clutch on a drill/driver is what makes it valuable for finish work. Set the torque correctly and the clutch disengages before the screw is overdriven, protecting the surface and the fastener head.

Do You Need Both an Impact Driver and a Drill?

For professional contractors: yes, without question. These tools complement each other rather than compete. On a typical framing or finish job, you will switch between them multiple times in a single hour.

The practical workflow looks like this: drill a pilot hole with the drill, drive the structural screw with the impact driver. Or bore the hole for a plumbing penetration with the drill while the impact driver is already loaded with screws for the next task.

Buying a two-tool combo kit (drill plus impact driver) from Milwaukee, DeWalt, or Makita is consistently the best value entry point into a cordless platform. The tools come paired with batteries and a charger, the bundle price is lower than buying separately, and you start with both tools the day the box arrives.

For serious DIYers doing occasional home projects, the honest answer is that an impact driver alone covers most tasks. If you rarely drill large holes and primarily drive screws, buy the impact driver first.

Impact Drivers at Polar Tool and Supply

We carry impact drivers from Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Makita. All three brands offer professional-grade M18, 20V MAX, and 18V LXT options that are appropriate for production contractor use.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL impact driver: Up to 2,000 in-lbs of torque with four-mode DRIVE CONTROL for precision mode through max output. The most specified impact driver on production framing sites in our market.

DeWalt 20V MAX ATOMIC impact driver: Compact and light, with strong output for the size. A top seller for contractors who already run the 20V MAX platform and want a tool that fits in tight spaces.

Makita 18V LXT impact driver: Known for smooth variable speed and solid build quality. A reliable choice for Makita LXT platform users and anyone who prioritizes a lighter tool.

All three are available as bare tools or as part of combo kits paired with a drill/driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an impact driver used for?

An impact driver is used to drive screws and fasteners quickly and with high torque. It is the right tool for structural screws, decking, subfloor fastening, and any application where you are driving large volumes of fasteners or need more torque than a standard drill provides.

Can I use an impact driver instead of a drill?

An impact driver can drive screws, but it cannot drill holes with standard round-shank drill bits. The 1/4-inch hex chuck only accepts hex-shank bits. For drilling holes, you need a drill/driver with a standard keyed or keyless chuck.

What is the difference between an impact driver and a drill?

An impact driver uses a hammer mechanism to deliver high torque in short bursts, making it ideal for driving fasteners. A drill/driver applies smooth continuous rotational force with adjustable torque settings, making it better for drilling holes and precision fastening. Most professional contractors carry both.

Is an impact driver better than a drill?

Neither is better overall. They are different tools for different tasks. An impact driver is better for driving screws and fasteners, especially structural or large fasteners. A drill is better for boring holes and for precision work where depth control matters. For most contractors, both belong on the tool belt.

What impact driver do most contractors use?

Milwaukee M18 FUEL and DeWalt 20V MAX impact drivers are the most commonly seen on production construction sites. Both deliver professional-grade performance and work within large battery ecosystems that cover drills, saws, nailers, and other cordless tools on the same charge.

Where can I buy an impact driver in Minnesota or Wisconsin?

Polar Tool and Supply stocks Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Makita impact drivers at locations in Gem Lake, MN; Superior, WI; and Altoona, WI. 

Browse impact drivers at polartool.us.

Shop Impact Drivers at Polar Tool and Supply

Whether you are building out a new cordless platform or adding an impact driver to a kit you already own, Polar Tool carries the tools and the batteries that keep professional crews running across Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Browse our full impact driver selection at polartool.us, or stop into any of our three locations in Gem Lake, MN; Superior, WI; and Altoona, WI, including jobsite delivery when the job cannot wait.

Shop Drill & Impact Driver Combo Kits

Get both tools in one kit. Explore these drill/driver and impact driver combinations from DEWALT and Makita.