Before you compare torque figures, answer the question that actually shapes the decision: which battery system will you live on? An impact driver is a different tool from a drill. It drives long screws, bolts and fasteners fast by adding rotational hammer blows on top of rotation, and it grips bits in a 1/4in hex chuck rather than a keyed jaw. But the body is only half the purchase. The options here cover Makita LXT and DeWalt 18V XR on 18V, and Bosch Professional 12V for lighter duty work. If you already own batteries from one of those brands, that is usually the smartest place to start.
We are not naming a single best impact driver because we have not confirmed Australian manufacturer warranty coverage for these linked offers. Compare the three options by battery platform. All three are bare tools, with batteries and chargers sold separately. The Makita DTD173Z suits people who already run Makita LXT. The DeWalt DCF887N suits people on DeWalt 18V XR batteries. The Bosch is the budget option for people who already own Bosch Professional 12V batteries or who only do light jobs. The other things worth weighing are brushless versus brushed motors, the number of speed and assist settings, and how short the head is for tight work.
Makita DTD173Z 18V LXT Impact Driver
If you already run Makita LXT batteries, the Makita DTD173Z is the body to add. It is a bare tool with a brushless motor, and Makita lists it at 111mm overall, which suits cabinets and other tight spots.
Makita lists 4 stage speed selection and 4 assist modes, with a quick switch button for single handed mode changes. The front lamp has three brightness levels and stays on for about 10 seconds after you release the trigger. When we checked in September 2026, the Amazon listing said usually dispatched within 3 to 4 days.
Bare tool: battery and charger sold separately. Makita's Australian warranty covers products sold new in Australia through an authorised Makita Australia dealer. The seller on this listing in September 2026 was JJS Corporation. We did not find JJS Corporation in Makita's dealer locator.
DeWalt DCF887N XR 18V Impact Driver
If you are on DeWalt 18V XR batteries, the DeWalt DCF887N is the body to add. It runs on any DeWalt 18V XR pack, and DeWalt quotes 205 Nm of torque from its brushless motor, which covers long lag screws and heavy fastening as well as everyday jobs.
Three motor speeds and torque settings, including a PrecisionDrive mode, let you ease off on small screws so you do not strip heads or sink them too deep, and the 3x LED Halo ring lights the work piece. Budget for a DeWalt 18V XR battery and charger if you do not already own them.
Bare tool: battery and charger sold separately. Offered as a UK import on Amazon Australia in September 2026, and the listing notes the maker's warranty may not apply.
Bosch GDR 12V-105 Impact Driver
If you already own Bosch Professional 12V batteries, or you only need an impact driver for light jobs around the house, the Bosch GDR 12V-105 is the budget option. Bosch describes it as the shortest cordless impact driver in its class, with a head length of only 137mm. That matters when you are driving screws overhead or reaching into a cramped cabinet where a longer body will not fit.
It is light at 0.96kg, carries three LED lights for dark spaces, and Bosch says its 105 Nm of torque covers around 80 per cent of common impact driver jobs in metal and concrete. It ships in a carton without batteries or charger, so you will need a Bosch Professional 12V battery and charger to run it, and 12V tops out below the 18V options for the very heaviest fastening.
Bare tool: battery and charger sold separately. The seller on this listing in September 2026 was AK TOOLS. AK TOOLS says it does not provide a separate manufacturer warranty. The seller states it offers its own two year warranty on skin only power tools.
Why we removed three earlier picks
This guide used to list six impact drivers. We removed the DeWalt DCF850N because its Amazon Australia listing was unavailable when we checked in September 2026. We removed the Ryobi RID1801M because its listing was also unavailable, and Ryobi Australia's warranty page says its warranty does not apply to Ryobi products purchased from Amazon. We removed the Craftsman CMCF800C1 kit because its included charger is a North American model specified for 120V mains, so it is not suited to Australian power.
How to choose an impact driver
The single biggest mistake is comparing only the tools and ignoring the batteries. Every impact driver here is a bare tool, so the true cost is the platform you commit to. If you already own Makita LXT, DeWalt 18V XR or Bosch Professional 12V batteries, the smartest buy is almost always the matching body, because the battery and charger are a separate purchase. If you have nothing yet, pick the platform first, then price the body together with a battery and charger from the same brand before you compare.
After the platform, weigh size and motor type. A short tool, such as the Makita at 111mm overall or the Bosch with its 137mm head, is easier to use overhead and inside cabinets. The Makita and the DeWalt have brushless motors. Then look at speed and assist settings: multiple speeds plus a precision or assist mode, as on the DeWalt, help you avoid stripping screw heads or sinking fasteners too deep into soft material.
What the key specs mean
A handful of figures do most of the work. Torque, quoted in Newton metres or inch pounds, is the twisting force the driver can apply, so higher numbers drive longer, fatter fasteners with less stall. DeWalt rates the DCF887N at 205 Nm, and Bosch rates its compact 12V driver at 105 Nm. Some brands quote inch pounds instead, so check the units match before you compare two tools. Impacts per minute and RPM describe how fast it hammers and spins, which translates into how quickly a screw goes home.
Voltage tells you the platform and rough power ceiling, 12V for lighter duty and 18V for more grunt, rather than being a direct speed rating. The chuck on every driver here is a 1/4in hex that takes standard impact bits. A bare tool, also sold as a skin or body only, means no battery or charger in the box, while a kit includes them. Read torque, voltage, head length and whether it is a kit together, and any product page starts to make sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an impact driver and a drill?
They look similar but do different jobs. A drill applies steady rotation and uses an adjustable keyed or keyless chuck, which makes it best for boring holes and for driving with a clutch that stops you tightening too far. An impact driver adds rotational hammer blows on top of the rotation, delivered through a 1/4in hex chuck, which lets it drive long screws, bolts and lag fasteners far faster and with less effort from your wrist. For building decks, fixing framing or sinking long screws, an impact driver is the right tool; for clean drilling and delicate work, a drill still wins.
Do these impact drivers come with a battery and charger?
No, and it is the most important thing to check before you buy. All three are bare tools, sold as a skin only, so the tool comes on its own and you supply a compatible battery and charger from the same brand. The Makita and the DeWalt are body only, and the Bosch ships in a carton without batteries or charger. If you have no batteries yet, choose your platform first and budget for a battery and charger alongside the tool.
How much torque do I actually need?
For most home and renovation jobs, less than you might think. Bosch says the 105 Nm of its compact 12V driver covers around 80 per cent of common impact driver jobs in metal and concrete. The 205 Nm of the DeWalt DCF887N gives you more headroom for heavy, repeated work like long lag bolts, structural framing or large fasteners. Buying far more torque than you will use mostly adds weight and cost, so match the figure to your real jobs rather than the biggest number on the shelf.
Which battery platform should I choose?
Whichever one you already own, if you own any. Because every driver here is a bare tool, the batteries are the real expense, so the cheapest route is almost always the body that matches packs you already have: Makita LXT, DeWalt 18V XR or Bosch Professional 12V. If you are starting fresh with nothing, weigh how many other tools you might add to the same system later, and price the tool, a battery and a charger together before you decide.
Why does head length matter on an impact driver?
Because real jobs are rarely in open space. A short tool fits into cabinets, between studs and joists, and up under benches where a longer body simply jams. That is why the Makita, at 111mm overall, and the Bosch, with its 137mm head, are easy to live with for work around the house. For overhead driving especially, a compact head reduces wrist strain and gives you better control, which often matters more in practice than squeezing out the last few Newton metres of torque.
What does brushless mean and is it worth it?
Brushless describes the motor design, and for most buyers it is worth it. A brushless motor has no carbon brushes wearing against the rotor, so it runs cooler, lasts longer and converts more battery charge into actual work, giving you more drives per charge and a longer tool life. The Makita DTD173Z and the DeWalt DCF887N here are both brushless. Brushed motors still work fine and cost a little less, but if you use the tool regularly the efficiency and longevity of brushless usually justify the small premium.
