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Best Cordless Screwdriver: 17 Battery-Powered Models Tested

Published March 10, 2024 · Updated August 26, 2026

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For jobs where an impact driver is too big and too powerful, a compact battery-powered screwdriver fills the gap. This comparison covers 17 of them, from the $13 Warrior sold at Harbor Freight to the $188 Makita, including popular Amazon brands like Hi-Spec and Hychika alongside pro names like Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Metabo HPT. Every model was measured for no-load speed, noise, and weight, then run through clutch torque control, maximum working torque, breakaway torque, drywall-screw driving speed, a 5-minute continuous-load durability test, and a bit-retention pull test.

The $110 Hercules came out on top, beating the excellent $49 Milwaukee in nearly every category, while the compact $25 Skil embarrassed several models costing far more. Price and performance correlated only loosely — the $100 Ryobi finished at or near the bottom of almost every test.

Top Picks

Best Budget Light-Duty

Skil

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Purchased for: $25

Made In: China

Just 5.5 inches long, yet the strongest of the sub-$30 group: 29 in-lbs of working torque, 37 in-lbs of breakaway torque, and a full 5-minute durability run.

Best Value

Vastar

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Purchased for: $36

Made In: China

At $36, delivers 60 in-lbs of breakaway torque — third overall — and drives drywall screws in 1.19 seconds, faster than everything except the Hercules and Milwaukee.

Best Value for M12 Owners

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Purchased for: $49

Made In: China

At $49 tool-only, delivers 105 in-lbs of breakaway torque, 1.1-second screw drives, and a clutch that disengages below the torque meter's measurement threshold.

Best Overall

Hercules

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Purchased for: $110

Made In: China

Tops the field with 109 in-lbs of breakaway torque, 64 in-lbs of working torque, 1,259 RPM, and half-second screw drives — outperforming the Milwaukee in nearly every test.

Name	Purchased for ($)	Link	Made In
Warrior	$13.00	Search on Amazon	China
Bauer	$20.00	Search on Amazon	China
Hi-Spec	$20.00	Search on Amazon	China
Hychika	$21.00	Search on Amazon	China
Skil	$25.00	Search on Amazon	China
Craftsman	$25.00	Search on Amazon	China
Black+Decker	$25.00	Search on Amazon	China
Neu Master	$27.00	Search on Amazon	China
Vastar	$36.00	Search on Amazon	China
NoCry	$40.00	Search on Amazon	China
Milwaukee	$49.00	Search on Amazon	China
WORX	$50.00	Search on Amazon	China
Metabo HPT	$75.00	Search on Amazon	China
DeWalt	$95.00	Search on Amazon	China
Ryobi	$100.00	Search on Amazon	China
Hercules	$110.00	Search on Amazon	China
Makita	$188.00	Search on Amazon	China

Price

Lower is better

Prices range from $13 for the Harbor Freight Warrior to $188 for the Makita kit with two batteries and a charger. The Milwaukee's $49 price is tool-only, without battery or charger, while the $110 Hercules includes both.

Measured No-Load Speed (RPM)

Fastest measured no-load speed — higher is better

The 12-volt Hercules is the fastest in the group at 1,259 RPM in high gear (386 RPM in low), with the two-speed Metabo HPT and Makita also well ahead of the pack. The Milwaukee's variable-speed trigger runs from a controlled 45 RPM crawl up to 496 RPM. Most of the 4-volt budget models cluster between 170 and 215 RPM.

Full results table

Rank	Product	Result
1	Hercules	1259
2	Metabo HPT	673
3	Makita	558
4	Milwaukee	496
5	DeWalt	459
6	Vastar	335
7	NoCry	240
8	WORX	214
9	Hi-Spec	209
10	Skil	206
11	Neu Master	200
12	Ryobi	189
13	Bauer	180
14	Hychika	180
15	Black+Decker	178
16	Warrior	175
17	Craftsman	171

Noise Level (Decibels)

Measured at 24 inches — lower is quieter

The WORX and DeWalt tie as the quietest at 66.5 decibels, with the Ryobi, Black+Decker, Vastar, and Makita also under 70. The powerful Hercules is the loudest at 78.8 decibels, and the little Hi-Spec is surprisingly noisy for its size at 77.5.

Full results table

Rank	Product	Result
1	WORX	66.50
2	DeWalt	66.50
3	Ryobi	66.70
4	Black+Decker	68.20
5	Vastar	68.90
6	Makita	69.10
7	Metabo HPT	71.50
8	Warrior	72.70
9	Hychika	72.90
10	Craftsman	73.30
11	Bauer	73.90
12	Milwaukee	74.10
13	NoCry	76.10
14	Skil	76.30
15	Neu Master	76.70
16	Hi-Spec	77.50
17	Hercules	78.80

Weight (Grams)

Lower is better for extended overhead or one-handed work

The Hi-Spec is the lightest at 310 grams, followed by the Warrior at 348 and Black+Decker at 351. The two 12-volt models are in a different class — the Hercules weighs 997 grams and the Milwaukee 969. For tight spaces, the Warrior and Skil are also the shortest in the group at 5.5 inches.

Full results table

Rank	Product	Result
1	Hi-Spec	310
2	Warrior	348
3	Black+Decker	351
4	Skil	372
5	Bauer	380
6	Hychika	381
7	Neu Master	389
8	Ryobi	412
9	Craftsman	422
10	Metabo HPT	474
11	DeWalt	506
12	Vastar	517
13	WORX	527
14	Makita	541
15	NoCry	567
16	Milwaukee	969
17	Hercules	997

Minimum Clutch Torque (in-lbs)

Torque at the lowest clutch setting — lower means better control for delicate fasteners

Only eight of the seventeen screwdrivers have an adjustable clutch. The Milwaukee, Metabo HPT, DeWalt, and Makita all disengaged below the torque meter's measurement threshold, registering 0 in-lbs — excellent protection for delicate fasteners. The Vastar offers the least control, slipping only at 10 in-lbs.

Full results table

Rank	Product	Result
1	Milwaukee	0
2	Metabo HPT	0
3	DeWalt	0
4	Makita	0
5	Neu Master	3
6	NoCry	4
7	Hercules	4
8	Vastar	10

Maximum Working Torque (in-lbs)

Torque at which the screwdriver stalls while tightening — higher is better

The Milwaukee and Hercules tie at the top at 64 in-lbs — the Milwaukee needed a 4 Ah battery to get there (61 in-lbs on a 2 Ah), while the Hercules hit 64 in low gear on a 2 Ah battery. The NoCry finished third at 42 in-lbs and the Makita fourth at 32. Two-speed models fade badly in high range: the Metabo HPT managed only 8 in-lbs and the Makita 12 before switching to low gear. The $100 Ryobi is last at 12 in-lbs.

Full results table

Rank	Product	Result
1	Milwaukee	64
2	Hercules	64
3	NoCry	42
4	Makita	32
5	Skil	29
6	Black+Decker	25
7	Neu Master	25
8	Craftsman	24
9	Vastar	24
10	Hychika	23
11	Metabo HPT	22
12	DeWalt	21
13	Warrior	20
14	Bauer	20
15	WORX	16
16	Hi-Spec	13
17	Ryobi	12

Breakaway Torque (in-lbs)

Maximum torque for loosening a tight fastener — higher is better

In low gear the Hercules edges out the Milwaukee, 109 in-lbs to 105, with the Vastar a distant third at 60. The Hi-Spec and Vastar both hit hard but immediately powered down after the initial impact, while the NoCry kept working after breaking the fastener loose. The WORX brings up the rear at 16 in-lbs.

Full results table

Rank	Product	Result
1	Hercules	109
2	Milwaukee	105
3	Vastar	60
4	NoCry	50
5	DeWalt	47
6	Makita	46
7	Skil	37
8	Hi-Spec	35
9	Craftsman	31
10	Metabo HPT	31
11	Hychika	28
12	Black+Decker	27
13	Warrior	24
14	Bauer	20
15	Neu Master	18
16	Ryobi	17
17	WORX	16

Drywall Screw Driving Speed (Seconds per Screw)

Average time to drive a 1-1/4 inch drywall screw — lower is better

In high gear the Hercules averaged just half a second per screw, with the Milwaukee second at 1.1 seconds and the DeWalt third at 1.53. The $36 Vastar nearly matched the Milwaukee at 1.19 seconds. The Ryobi kept powering down before screw heads were fully seated, the Neu Master let go of its bit on two of three screws, and the Metabo HPT and Makita both lacked the power to seat screws in high gear, needing low range to finish the job.

Full results table

Rank	Product	Result
1	Hercules	0.50
2	Milwaukee	1.10
3	Vastar	1.19
4	DeWalt	1.53
5	NoCry	2.43
6	Metabo HPT	2.99
7	Makita	3.30
8	Skil	3.32
9	Ryobi	3.38
10	Hi-Spec	3.50
11	Neu Master	3.77
12	WORX	3.84
13	Bauer	3.85
14	Black+Decker	4.10
15	Hychika	4.17
16	Warrior	4.27
17	Craftsman	4.53

Continuous-Load Durability (Minutes)

Time sustained spinning a drill under continuous load, out of a 5-minute cap

Fifteen of the seventeen screwdrivers survived the full 5 minutes of spinning a drill under load. The Warrior ran out of steam just past the 3-minute mark, and the Ryobi powered down after every attempt and never sustained a run. The Hi-Spec and Vastar each needed many restarts to get the drill up to speed but held on once spinning, while the Milwaukee and Hercules maintained high RPM the entire time.

Full results table

Rank	Product	Result
1	Bauer	5
2	Hi-Spec	5
3	Hychika	5
4	Skil	5
5	Craftsman	5
6	Black+Decker	5
7	Neu Master	5
8	Vastar	5
9	NoCry	5
10	Milwaukee	5
11	WORX	5
12	Metabo HPT	5
13	DeWalt	5
14	Hercules	5
15	Makita	5
16	Warrior	3
17	Ryobi	0

Bit Retention (Grams)

Pull force before the bit released — higher is better

Seven of the seventeen reached 3,000 grams without letting the bit go — the Hychika's quick-change chuck and the locking bit holders on the Vastar, Milwaukee, Metabo HPT, DeWalt, Hercules and Makita — an order of magnitude beyond what a plain magnetic holder manages. Among the magnetic holders, the Black+Decker was best at 981 grams and the Craftsman close behind at 898, while the Neu Master let go at just 309 grams, consistent with it dropping bits during the driving-speed test.

Full results table

Rank	Product	Result
1	Hychika	3000
2	Vastar	3000
3	Milwaukee	3000
4	Metabo HPT	3000
5	DeWalt	3000
6	Hercules	3000
7	Makita	3000
8	Black+Decker	981
9	Craftsman	898
10	Ryobi	886
11	WORX	738
12	Skil	685
13	Bauer	608
14	Warrior	548
15	Hi-Spec	483
16	NoCry	480
17	Neu Master	309

The Verdict

The Hercules is the best overall battery screwdriver in this comparison. It posted the highest breakaway torque at 109 in-lbs, tied the Milwaukee for working torque at 64 in-lbs while using half the battery capacity, drove drywall screws in half a second, and spun up to 1,259 RPM — the fastest in the group. Its trade-offs are bulk and noise: at 997 grams it is the heaviest model, and at 78.8 decibels the loudest. The Milwaukee is a very close second on performance, and at $49 tool-only it is a tremendous value for anyone already invested in the M12 battery system, with 105 in-lbs of breakaway torque, 1.1-second screw drives, and the best-in-class clutch.

For value, the $36 Vastar is the standout in the mid-range: 60 in-lbs of breakaway torque, 335 RPM, and 1.19-second screw drives that beat everything except the two 12-volt models. Among budget picks, the $25 Skil is the choice for light-duty work — smaller than most screwdrivers in its price range at 5.5 inches, yet stronger, with 29 in-lbs of working torque and 37 in-lbs of breakaway torque. The $40 NoCry also earns a look, finishing third in working torque at 42 in-lbs.

A few cautions: the $100 Ryobi was the only model to fail the 5-minute durability test, and it finished last in working torque at 12 in-lbs — hard to justify at that price. The $188 Makita delivers solid torque and a clutch that protects delicate fasteners, but it averaged a slow 3.3 seconds per screw, its two-position handle does not lock and can pinch the hand, and its direction controls sit awkwardly on the body rather than the handle. For work on delicate fasteners, stick with the Milwaukee, Metabo HPT, DeWalt, or Makita — the only models whose clutches disengage below measurable torque.