DeWalt DCF860 Impact Driver vs Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt WH36DC Triple Hammer BOLT Impact Driver
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Quick take: The Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt WH36DC Triple Hammer BOLT Impact Driver costs $1 less bare; the DeWalt DCF860 Impact Driver is lighter (2.7 vs 3.5 lbs); they live on different battery platforms (DeWalt 20V Max vs Metabo HPT MultiVolt), so the deciding factor is usually which batteries you already own.
| Spec | DeWalt DCF860 Impact Driver | Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt WH36DC Triple Hammer BOLT Impact Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Price (bare tool) | $199 | $198 |
| Kit Price | $299 | $329 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (968) | — |
| Category | Impact Driver | Impact Driver |
| Battery Platform | DeWalt 20V Max | Metabo HPT MultiVolt |
| Voltage | 20V | 36V |
| Motor | Brushless | Brushless |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs (bare) | 3.5 lbs (with battery) |
| Released | 2024 | 2022 |
| Max Torque | 2,500 in-lbs | 1,903 in-lbs |
| Top Speed | 3,800 RPM | 3,400 RPM |
| Impacts | 4,500 IPM | 4,100 IPM |
| Drive | 1/4 in hex | 1/4 in hex |
| Modes | 3-speed + Precision Drive | 5 (Soft, Power, BOLT, BOLT Single, Self-Drilling) |
| Head Length | 4.84 in | 4.5 in |
Pros & cons
DeWalt DCF860 Impact Driver
- ✓Class-leading 2,500 in-lbs of torque — Pro Tool Reviews measured it beating Milwaukee's best M18 Fuel and Makita's top XGT drivers.
- ✓The 9-LED ring around the collet kills fastener shadows completely, and the 20-minute flashlight mode doubles as task lighting.
- ✓Ran cooler than the DCF850 in head-to-head testing, which matters on long ledger and deck days.
- ✓Precision Drive mode gives controlled low-speed starts so it doesn't strip small fasteners despite the huge peak torque.
- ✓Frequent promos push the bare tool under $120, making its dollars-per-torque the best in the pro class.
- ✓Backward compatible across the entire 20V Max battery range including PowerStack pouch packs.
- ✗Bigger and heavier than the compact class — at 2.7 lbs bare and 4.84 in long it gives back the size advantage the DCF850 built.
- ✗List price sits above the Milwaukee 2953 while the fit-and-finish (rubber overmold, mode button feel) draws mixed reviews.
- ✗Three speeds but no dedicated self-tapping mode like Milwaukee offers.
- ✗DeWalt's 3-year warranty trails Milwaukee's 5-year coverage.
- ✗The high-torque tuning is overkill for cabinet and trim work — owners doing finish work often prefer the DCF850's finesse.
- ✗XR/PowerStack/PowerPack battery-tier confusion makes kit shopping harder than it needs to be.
Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt WH36DC Triple Hammer BOLT Impact Driver
- ✓Triple-hammer mechanism (three anvils) delivers 1,903 in-lbs with noticeably less vibration and wrist chatter than conventional two-hammer impacts — owners consistently call it the smoothest impact they've used.
- ✓Won Pro Tool Reviews' structural screw race against Makita's XGT flagship (8.1 seconds on RSS screws) while the WH36DCM kit undercuts the Makita kit by about $100 ($329 vs $429).
- ✓Dedicated BOLT and BOLT Single modes auto-manage tightening and breaking large nuts and bolts — a genuine wrench-lite trick most impact drivers lack.
- ✓Ultra-compact 4.5 in head length and 2.0 lb bare weight get it into cabinet- and joist-bay-tight spots.
- ✓MultiVolt flexibility: runs 36V or 18V MultiVolt packs and even an optional AC adapter for all-day corded work — no other pro platform offers that.
- ✓IP56 dust/water rating plus Metabo HPT's lifetime lithium-ion tool body warranty — the strongest coverage of any major pro brand (Makita is 3 years).
- ✓Triple LED ring around the chuck lights the fastener from three sides with minimal shadowing.
- ✓Owner-forum sentiment pegs Metabo HPT as 'premium tools at Ryobi prices' — the Triple Hammer is repeatedly named alongside M18 FUEL and DeWalt as top-tier feel and trigger control.
- ✗3.5 lbs with a 2.5Ah MultiVolt pack — the big 36V batteries make a nominally 2 lb tool heavier and more top-heavy than compact-pack rivals.
- ✗Trailed Makita in Pro Tool Reviews' lag screw and nut-busting tests even while winning the screw-driving race.
- ✗Peak torque spec now trails the newest 18V flagships (Milwaukee M18 FUEL Gen 4 claims 2,000+ in-lbs).
- ✗MultiVolt batteries cost noticeably more than mainstream 18V/20V packs, and the ecosystem is far smaller than M18 or DeWalt 20V MAX.
- ✗Bit chuck requires a manual collar pull to insert bits — no one-handed drop-in like DeWalt or Milwaukee.
- ✗Thin US retail footprint (Lowe's is the only big-box carrier) and few verified retailer reviews, so the owner-feedback sample is small.
- ✗Design dates to 2022 with no US refresh since — the newer BOLT styling debuted on the 18V WH18DC instead.
- ✗No app/tool connectivity or customizable modes like Milwaukee One-Key or DeWalt Tool Connect.