Which Cordless Screwdriver Brand Wins?
2024 test17 productsPower Tools

Which Cordless Screwdriver Brand Wins?

This head-to-head test of 17 cordless screwdriver options has the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.

The verdict
Skil
Budget pick

Skil

Price shown in test: $25

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The quick take

The short version of why each pick lands where it does, built straight from the measured results.

Budget pickSkil$25

Best in 1 of 8 measurements, including Bit Retention.

The measured results

Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.

Weight

  • 1Warrior
    348 g
  • 2Bauer
    380 g
  • 3Hi-Spec
    310 g

    lightest in the lineup

  • 4Hychika
    381 g
  • 5Skil
    372 g
  • 6Craftsman
    422 g

    heaviest yet at the time of testing

  • 7Black+Decker
    351 g
  • 8Neu Master
    389 g
  • 9Vastar
    517 g

    heaviest yet at the time of testing

  • 10NoCry
    567 g
  • 11Milwaukee
    969 g

    heaviest yet at the time of testing

  • 12Worx
    527 g
  • 13Metabo HPT
    474 g
  • 14DeWalt
    506 g
  • 15Ryobi
    412 g
  • 16Hercules
    997 g

    heaviest in the lineup

  • 17Makita
    541 g

No Load (rpm)

  • 1Warrior
    almost175 RPM
  • 2Bauer
    180 RPM
  • 3Hi-Spec
    209 RPM

    most yet at the time of testing

  • 4Hychika

    very close to 180 RPM

  • 5Skil
    206 RPM
  • 6Craftsman
    171 RPM

    slowest yet at the time of testing

  • 7Black+Decker
    close to178 RPM
  • 8Neu Master

    very close to 200 RPM

  • 9Vastar
    335 RPM

    most yet at the time of testing

  • 10NoCry
    240 RPM2nd

    moved into second place at the time of testing

  • 11Milwaukee

    variable speed, 45 to 496 RPM

  • 12Worx
    just about214 RPM
  • 13Metabo HPT
    224 RPM

    in first gear, 673 RPM in second gear (later recap in the same transcript states 763 RPM for what appears to be the same figure)

  • 14DeWalt
    459 RPM

    about 40 RPM slower than the Milwaukee

  • 15Ryobi

    very close to 189 RPM

  • 16Hercules
    386 RPM

    in first gear, 1,259 RPM in second gear, fastest in the lineup

  • 17Makita
    176 RPM

    in first gear, 558 RPM in second gear

Noise (dB)

  • 1Warrior
    72.7 decibels
  • 2Bauer
    73.9 decibels
  • 3Hi-Spec
    77.5 decibels

    loudest yet at the time of testing

  • 4Hychika
    72.9 decibels
  • 5Skil
    76.3 decibels
  • 6Craftsman
    73.3 decibels
  • 7Black+Decker
    68.2 decibels

    quietest yet at the time of testing

  • 8Neu Master
    76.7 decibels
  • 9Vastar
    68.9 decibels
  • 10NoCry
    76.1 decibels

    a lot louder than the Vastar

  • 11Milwaukee
    74.1 decibels
  • 12Worx
    66.5 decibels

    least noise yet at the time of testing, tied overall quietest with the DeWalt

  • 13Metabo HPT
    71.5 decibels
  • 14DeWalt
    66.5 decibels

    tied quietest overall with the Worx

  • 15Ryobi
    66.7 decibels
  • 16Hercules
    78.8 decibels

    loudest in the lineup

  • 17Makita
    69.1 decibels

Max Working Torque

  • 1Warrior
    20 in lbs

    came to a gradual stop

  • 2Bauer

    ran out of steam at 20 in lbs

  • 3Hi-Spec
    13 in lbs

    really struggled

  • 4Hychika
    23 in lbs

    took the lead at the time

  • 5Skil
    29 in lbs

    strongest yet at the time of testing

  • 6Craftsman
    24 in lbs

    5 in lbs less than the Skil

  • 7Black+Decker
    25 in lbs2nd

    moved into second place behind the Skil

  • 8Neu Master
    25 in lbs

    tied with the Black+Decker

  • 9Vastar
    24 in lbs

    extra voltage wasn't enough

  • 10NoCry
    42 in lbs3rd

    took the lead at 13 in lbs more than the Skil; finished third overall behind the 64 in lbs Milwaukee/Hercules tie

  • 11Milwaukee
    61 in lbs1st

    on a 2 amp battery; retested at 64 in lbs on a 4 amp battery, tied for first overall with the Hercules 2 amp low-range figure of 64 in lbs

  • 12Worx
    16 in lbs

    ran out of steam very early

  • 13Metabo HPT
    8 in lbs

    in high range, ran out of steam quickly; 22 in lbs in low range

  • 14DeWalt
    21 in lbs
  • 15Ryobi
    12 in lbs

    last place, described as taking last place from 'the Hitech'

  • 16Hercules
    30 in lbs1st

    in high range; tied the Milwaukee's 4 amp figure at 64 in lbs in low range on a 2 amp battery, tied for first overall

  • 17Makita
    12 in lbs4th

    in high range, ran out of steam very quickly; 32 in lbs in low gear, fourth overall behind the Milwaukee/Hercules 64 in lbs tie and the NoCry's 42 in lbs

Drywall Screw Avg Time

  • 1Warrior
    4.27 seconds

    average, lost hold of the bit after the job was finished

  • 2Bauer
    3.85 seconds

    average (4.0s first screw, ~3.8s each on screws 2 and 3)

  • 3Hi-Spec
    3.5 seconds

    average (3.2s first screw, 3.65s each on screws 2 and 3), moved into the lead

  • 4Hychika
    4.17

    4.17, 4.06 seconds on the three screws; faster than the Warrior but slower than the Bauer and Hi-Spec

  • 5Skil
    3.32 seconds

    average, moved into the lead

  • 6Craftsman
    4.53 seconds

    average, slowest yet at the time of testing

  • 7Black+Decker
    4.1 seconds

    average

  • 8Neu Master
    3.77 seconds

    average, but lost hold of the driver bit two out of three times

  • 9Vastar
    1.19 seconds

    average, by far the fastest yet at the time of testing

  • 10NoCry
    2.43 seconds2nd

    average, second place

  • 11Milwaukee
    1.1 seconds2nd

    average, second overall behind the Hercules high gear at 0.5 seconds

  • 12Worx
    3.84 seconds

    average

  • 13Metabo HPT

    could not fully sink the screw head in high gear; 2.99 seconds average in low gear, fastest 4-volt screwdriver tested

  • 14DeWalt
    1.53 seconds3rd

    average, finished third overall behind the Hercules (0.5s) and Milwaukee (1.1s)

  • 15Ryobi
    3.38 seconds

    average

  • 16Hercules
    1/2 second

    average in high gear, fastest in the lineup; 1.3 seconds average in low gear, almost as fast as the Milwaukee

  • 17Makita

    could not fully seat the drywall screw in high gear; 3.3 seconds average in low gear

Five Minute Torture

  • 1Warrior

    out of gas at just over 3 minutes, did not survive the full test

  • 2Bauer

    survived the entire 5 minutes

  • 3Hi-Spec

    powered down repeatedly if it didn't get to speed quickly enough; after a couple dozen attempts it survived the entire 5 minutes

  • 4Hychika

    no problem getting up to speed and surviving the entire 5 minutes

  • 5Skil

    survived the entire 5 minutes, great job for a compact screwdriver

  • 6Craftsman

    survived the entire 5 minutes but was pretty worn out by the end

  • 7Black+Decker

    no problem surviving the entire 5 minutes

  • 8Neu Master

    survived the entire 5 minutes

  • 9Vastar

    powered down repeatedly if it didn't reach RPM quickly enough out of the gate; survived the entire 5 minutes after several attempts

  • 10NoCry

    very easy work of surviving the entire 5 minutes

  • 11Milwaukee

    held very high RPM for the entire 5 minutes

  • 12Worx

    survived the entire test, not as fast as some of the others

  • 13Metabo HPT

    performed well, survived

  • 14DeWalt

    a little tricky to get going but held very good speed throughout the entire 5 minutes

  • 15Ryobi

    powered down for several seconds after each of several attempts; pass or fail not explicitly stated in the transcript

  • 16Hercules

    maintained very good speed throughout the entire test in low gear

  • 17Makita

    performed well throughout the entire 5 minute test

Bit Retention

  • 1Warrior
    548 g
  • 2Bauer
    608 g
  • 3Hi-Spec
    483 g

    let go early

  • 4Hychika
    almost3,000 g

    via its locking quick-change chuck

  • 5Skil
    685 g

    best of the magnetized bit holders at the time of testing

  • 6Craftsman
    almost900 g
  • 7Black+Decker
    981 g
  • 8Neu Master
    309 g

    struggled badly on this test

  • 9Vastar

    locking bit holder, offers plenty of strength, no gram figure given

  • 10NoCry
    480 g

    a little weak

  • 11Milwaukee

    locking bit holder, held on just fine, no gram figure given

  • 12Worx
    738 g
  • 13Metabo HPT

    locking bit holder, held on just fine, no gram figure given

  • 14DeWalt

    locking bit holder, held on just fine, no gram figure given

  • 15Ryobi
    886 g

    performed well despite earlier struggles

  • 16Hercules

    locking bit holder, performed very well, no gram figure given

  • 17Makita

    locking bit holder, performed very well, no gram figure given

Breakaway Torque

  • 1Warrior
    24 in lbs
  • 2Bauer
    20 in lbs

    gave up sooner than the Warrior

  • 3Hi-Spec
    35 in lbs

    immediately powered down after

  • 4Hychika
    28 in lbs
  • 5Skil
    37 in lbs

    most breakaway torque yet at the time of testing

  • 6Craftsman
    31 in lbs
  • 7Black+Decker
    27 in lbs

    about the same as the Hychika

  • 8Neu Master
    18 in lbs

    gave up early

  • 9Vastar
    60 in lbs3rd

    immediately powered down; finished third overall behind the Hercules (109) and Milwaukee (105)

  • 10NoCry
    50 in lbs2nd

    continued working after the initial impact

  • 11Milwaukee
    105 in lbs2nd

    second overall behind the Hercules at 109

  • 12Worx
    16 in lbs

    least breakaway torque yet at the time of testing

  • 14DeWalt
    47 in lbs

    well above average

  • 15Ryobi
    17 in lbs

    about the same as the Worx

  • 16Hercules
    109 in lbs

    in low gear, barely edges out the Milwaukee, highest breakaway torque in the lineup

  • 17Makita
    46 in lbs
  • 13Metabo HPT
    not tested
All measurements (10 more)+

Voltage

  • 1Warrior
    4.8 volts
  • 2Bauer
    4 volt
  • 3Hi-Spec
    3.6 volt

    USB charging

  • 4Hychika
    4 volt

    2 amp hour, 36 piece accessory set

  • 5Skil
    4 volt

    USB charging

  • 6Craftsman
    4 volt
  • 7Black+Decker
    4 volt

    (claimed)

  • 8Neu Master
    4 volt

    (claimed)

  • 9Vastar
    7.2 volt
  • 10NoCry
    7.2 volt
  • 12Worx
    4 volt

    semi-automatic driver

  • 13Metabo HPT
    3.6 volt

    two lithium batteries included, two-speed transmission

  • 16Hercules
    12 volt

    like the Milwaukee

  • 17Makita
    7.2 volt

    lithium

  • 11Milwaukee
    not tested
  • 14DeWalt
    not tested
  • 15Ryobi
    not tested

Low Torque Clutch

  • 8Neu Master
    3 in lbs

    lowest clutch setting recorded at the time of testing

  • 9Vastar
    10 in lbs

    very poor torque control

  • 10NoCry
    4 in lbs2nd

    moved into second place

  • 11Milwaukee

    performed the best yet, torque too low for the torque meter to measure

  • 13Metabo HPT
    0 in lbs
  • 14DeWalt
    0 in lbs
  • 16Hercules
    4 in lbs
  • 17Makita
    0 in lbs
  • 1Warrior
    not tested
  • 2Bauer
    not tested
  • 3Hi-Spec
    not tested
  • 4Hychika
    not tested
  • 5Skil
    not tested
  • 6Craftsman
    not tested
  • 7Black+Decker
    not tested
  • 12Worx
    not tested
  • 15Ryobi
    not tested

Claimed (rpm)

  • 7Black+Decker

    claims 180 RPM

  • 8Neu Master

    claims 200 RPM

  • 9Vastar

    claims up to 320 RPM

  • 10NoCry
    up to230 RPM

    claimed

  • 11Milwaukee
    up to500 RPM
  • 15Ryobi

    claims up to 200 RPM

  • 1Warrior
    not tested
  • 2Bauer
    not tested
  • 3Hi-Spec
    not tested
  • 4Hychika
    not tested
  • 5Skil
    not tested
  • 6Craftsman
    not tested
  • 12Worx
    not tested
  • 13Metabo HPT
    not tested
  • 14DeWalt
    not tested
  • 16Hercules
    not tested
  • 17Makita
    not tested

Claimed Torque

  • 7Black+Decker

    claims 35 in lbs of torque

  • 8Neu Master

    claims up to 53 in lbs of torque

  • 9Vastar

    manufacturer claims 48 in lbs of torque

  • 10NoCry
    up to53 in lbs

    of torque claimed

  • 16Hercules

    advertised up to 312 in lbs of torque

  • 1Warrior
    not tested
  • 2Bauer
    not tested
  • 3Hi-Spec
    not tested
  • 4Hychika
    not tested
  • 5Skil
    not tested
  • 6Craftsman
    not tested
  • 11Milwaukee
    not tested
  • 12Worx
    not tested
  • 13Metabo HPT
    not tested
  • 14DeWalt
    not tested
  • 15Ryobi
    not tested
  • 17Makita
    not tested

Clutch Settings

  • 13Metabo HPT
    21

    clutch settings

  • 14DeWalt
    15

    clutch settings

  • 16Hercules
    17

    clutch settings

  • 17Makita
    21

    position clutch

  • 1Warrior
    not tested
  • 2Bauer
    not tested
  • 3Hi-Spec
    not tested
  • 4Hychika
    not tested
  • 5Skil
    not tested
  • 6Craftsman
    not tested
  • 7Black+Decker
    not tested
  • 8Neu Master
    not tested
  • 9Vastar
    not tested
  • 10NoCry
    not tested
  • 11Milwaukee
    not tested
  • 12Worx
    not tested
  • 15Ryobi
    not tested

Kit

  • 14DeWalt

    two batteries and a charger included

  • 17Makita

    two batteries and a charger included

  • 1Warrior
    not tested
  • 2Bauer
    not tested
  • 3Hi-Spec
    not tested
  • 4Hychika
    not tested
  • 5Skil
    not tested
  • 6Craftsman
    not tested
  • 7Black+Decker
    not tested
  • 8Neu Master
    not tested
  • 9Vastar
    not tested
  • 10NoCry
    not tested
  • 11Milwaukee
    not tested
  • 12Worx
    not tested
  • 13Metabo HPT
    not tested
  • 15Ryobi
    not tested
  • 16Hercules
    not tested

System

  • 11Milwaukee

    M12

  • 1Warrior
    not tested
  • 2Bauer
    not tested
  • 3Hi-Spec
    not tested
  • 4Hychika
    not tested
  • 5Skil
    not tested
  • 6Craftsman
    not tested
  • 7Black+Decker
    not tested
  • 8Neu Master
    not tested
  • 9Vastar
    not tested
  • 10NoCry
    not tested
  • 12Worx
    not tested
  • 13Metabo HPT
    not tested
  • 14DeWalt
    not tested
  • 15Ryobi
    not tested
  • 16Hercules
    not tested
  • 17Makita
    not tested

Mechanism

  • 14DeWalt

    gyroscopic screwdriver, unique among the lineup

  • 1Warrior
    not tested
  • 2Bauer
    not tested
  • 3Hi-Spec
    not tested
  • 4Hychika
    not tested
  • 5Skil
    not tested
  • 6Craftsman
    not tested
  • 7Black+Decker
    not tested
  • 8Neu Master
    not tested
  • 9Vastar
    not tested
  • 10NoCry
    not tested
  • 11Milwaukee
    not tested
  • 12Worx
    not tested
  • 13Metabo HPT
    not tested
  • 15Ryobi
    not tested
  • 16Hercules
    not tested
  • 17Makita
    not tested

Feature

  • 15Ryobi

    pivoting head for increased access

  • 1Warrior
    not tested
  • 2Bauer
    not tested
  • 3Hi-Spec
    not tested
  • 4Hychika
    not tested
  • 5Skil
    not tested
  • 6Craftsman
    not tested
  • 7Black+Decker
    not tested
  • 8Neu Master
    not tested
  • 9Vastar
    not tested
  • 10NoCry
    not tested
  • 11Milwaukee
    not tested
  • 12Worx
    not tested
  • 13Metabo HPT
    not tested
  • 14DeWalt
    not tested
  • 16Hercules
    not tested
  • 17Makita
    not tested

No Load RPM Range

  • 16Hercules
    0

    to 400 RPM claimed low range, up to 1,500 RPM claimed high range

  • 1Warrior
    not tested
  • 2Bauer
    not tested
  • 3Hi-Spec
    not tested
  • 4Hychika
    not tested
  • 5Skil
    not tested
  • 6Craftsman
    not tested
  • 7Black+Decker
    not tested
  • 8Neu Master
    not tested
  • 9Vastar
    not tested
  • 10NoCry
    not tested
  • 11Milwaukee
    not tested
  • 12Worx
    not tested
  • 13Metabo HPT
    not tested
  • 14DeWalt
    not tested
  • 15Ryobi
    not tested
  • 17Makita
    not tested

How it was tested

  • no-load RPM
  • sound level in decibels
  • low-torque clutch control
  • maximum working torque
  • breakaway torque
  • drywall screw driving speed, three screws
  • 5-minute continuous-load torture test
  • bit retention force

Brand head-to-head scoreboards featuring this test

Data notes and caveats

Ends with segmented per-use-case picks rather than one overall winner: budget = Skil, mid-range = Vastar, best value for M12 owners = Milwaukee, and a closing overall endorsement of the Hercules ('outperformed the Milwaukee in just about every category'); per spec this is treated as winner:null with the segment picks preserved in each product's notes and budgetPick set to Skil. Several brand names required resolution against the description's Products Tested list: 'New Master' to Neu Master, 'Fastar'/'Vaststar' to Vastar, 'HiKOKI' (bit retention section only) to Hychika by testing order and mechanism, and 'the Hitech' to Hi-Spec by elimination. The Metabo HPT's high-gear RPM is given twice with different digits (673 then 763), both figures preserved and flagged rather than picking one. No meta chapters were present to cross-check against (chapters: null).

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