Makita XDT131 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Impact Driver Kit (3.0Ah)

Why it's worth it

Makita's XDT131 puts 1,500 in-lbs of max torque into a 3.3-pound body with three selectable speed settings. It comes as a kit with a 3.0Ah battery and charger, and it's the tool most tradespeople reach for first on a job site.

An impact driver is the tool you'll grab more than any other, and this is the one contractors keep buying. It drives 3-inch deck screws without stripping heads and sinks lags into a post without a pilot hole. Owners who work in the trades describe it as the default on crews where everyone brings their own tools. That kind of consensus is worth paying attention to.

The three-speed control is the feature that earns its keep. Low mode lets you start a small screw in trim without blasting through the surface. High mode gives you the full 0-3,400 RPM and 0-3,600 IPM when you're framing. Most impact drivers ask you to feather the trigger and hope; this one lets you set a ceiling and just pull.

From our review of 8 makita power tools

What we like

• +An impact driver is the tool you'll grab more than any other, and this is the one contractors keep buying
• +The three-speed control is the feature that earns its keep
• +At 3.3 pounds it's genuinely light for what it does, and that shows up in tight spots

What to know

• –Impact drivers are loud
• –It's not a drill. The 1/4-inch hex chuck takes hex-shank bits only, so you can't clamp a round-shank drill bit in it