Lightest Cordless Tools by Weight (2026)

The Atomic DCF850 is the impact driver DeWalt buyers actually take home: 1,825 in-lbs and 3,250 RPM - the exact spec sheet of the flagship DCF887 - squeezed into a 3.97-inch head that was the shortest 18/20V impact Pro Tool Reviews had ever tested. In their head-to-head it gave up only about half a second to the DCF887 on structural screws, which makes the compact the smarter buy for almost everyone. Three trigger-selected speeds and a tri-LED ring around the collet round out a tool that has sat atop best-seller lists since late 2021.

The 4th-generation M18 Fuel impact driver and Milwaukee's mainstream flagship. Shorter and slightly stronger than the Gen 3 2853 it replaced, with four drive modes including a dedicated self-tapping screw mode. A 2957 One-Key variant adds tracking and customizable profiles.

Ridgid's flagship 18V impact driver punches far above its price: 2,400 in-lbs of torque puts it near the top of the class, and Pro Tool Reviews' head-to-head ranked it third overall, ahead of pricier DeWalt and Makita flagships. Three speeds plus a self-tapping assist mode, backed by Ridgid's registration-based Lifetime Service Agreement covering parts, service, and batteries.

Launched in August 2023, the 3602 is the volume mid-tier of Milwaukee's M18 drill lineup: their first compact brushless hammer drill, slotting between the entry cordless line and the M18 Fuel 2904/2905 flagship. It packs 550 in-lbs and 25,500 BPM into a 5.8-inch, 2.3 lb body - more torque than the old 2801-class compact in a body over 12% shorter, replacing the larger 725 in-lb 2902 as the sensible-money pick. What you give up versus the Fuel is top-end torque and speed, not build quality: the all-metal chuck and gear case carry over.

The mainstream impact driver in Makita's 40V XGT lineup, slotting between the entry GDT05 and the high-torque GDT04. Four speed ranges plus a digitally controlled T-mode for self-drilling screws, wrapped in a reinforced metal gear housing.

The PBLID02 is the flagship 4-mode impact driver in Ryobi's ONE+ HP brushless line, released in early 2021. Its brushless motor delivers up to 2,200 in-lbs of torque, 0-2,900 RPM across three speed ranges, and 4,000 IPM, plus an Assist Mode that slows the driver as the fastener seats. It runs on the same 18V ONE+ batteries as 260+ other Ryobi tools and is sold exclusively at Home Depot.

Ryobi launched this second-generation HP brushless drill/driver in March 2025 as a Home Depot exclusive, and it replaced the 750 in-lbs PBLDD01 as the most powerful drill/driver in the ONE+ range. It makes 850 in-lbs through a 2-speed gearbox (0-700 and 0-2,150 RPM), with a 24-position clutch and a 1/2-inch ratcheting metal chuck. At 2.3 lbs bare it is the lightest drill/driver here, 0.8 lb under the Ridgid R86114. Ryobi's '65% more torque' claim is measured against its basic brushed PCL206, not against the previous HP model.

DeWalt's high-torque XR flagship, out-muscling Milwaukee's 2953 and Makita's XGT drivers at 2,500 in-lbs. The compact Atomic DCF850 remains in the lineup for tight-space work; the DCF860 is the max-power pick.

The FX1371A is Flex's flagship 24V hex impact driver, released in early 2022 as part of the brand's Stacked Lithium generation. Its brushless motor produces 2,500 in-lbs of torque with three speed modes topping out at 4,000 RPM and 4,450 IPM, plus two self-tapping screw modes that detect torque changes and stop before stripping. The signature Quick Eject collet has an eject button above the trigger so bits can be inserted and released with one hand.

The PBLHM101 pairs Ryobi's HP brushless motor with its High Performance batteries to deliver 750 in-lbs of torque, 0-2,100 RPM, and 31,000 BPM from a compact 7.5-inch, 2.8-lb body. It uses a 24-position clutch with dedicated hammer mode and a 1/2-inch ratcheting metal chuck, and runs on the 300-plus tool ONE+ 18V ecosystem. Pro Tool Reviews found it outdrilled Ryobi's older P251 flagship by a wide margin while shrinking in size and weight.

The XPH12 has been Makita's volume-selling 18V hammer drill since late 2016: 530 in-lbs and 30,000 BPM in a 7-1/8 inch body that weighs just 3.6 lbs with a compact 2.0Ah pack. It sits well below the 1,250 in-lb XPH14 flagship, trading top-end grunt for the class-leading power-to-weight ratio and glass-smooth trigger control Makita is known for. Nearly a decade in production with a 4.4-star record makes it the known quantity of the compact class - even if the spec sheet now reads dated.

Launched in April 2022 as the hammer-drill twin of the DCD800, the DCD805 is the compact XR that DeWalt actually sells by the pallet - it packs 850 UWO and 796 in-lbs into a 7-inch, 2.95 lb body, up 40% on the DCD796 it replaced. It sits one tier below the flagship DCD999/DCD1007, trading their anti-kickback E-Clutch and top-end torque for a smaller, lighter package that handles 90% of the same work. The adjustable 3-position, 70-lumen spotlight LED is the party trick no other brand's compact matches.

Launched in Craftsman's October 2024 V20 BRUSHLESS RP line expansion, the CMCD726 displaced the older made-in-USA CMCD721 as the brand's most powerful hammer drill, jumping from 400 to 495 UWO. A 2-speed gearbox (0-500/0-2,000 RPM) drives up to 34% faster drilling, hammer mode hits 34,000 BPM for masonry anchors, and the 3.09 lb body carries an LED light, bit holder, and belt hook. It is sold tool-only at $119 with a 3-year warranty and VERSATRACK compatibility.

Sitting above the SubCompact R87012, this is the strongest drill/driver in Ridgid's 18V lineup without a hammer mode: a brushless motor rated at 800 in-lbs and a two-speed gearbox topping out at 2,100 RPM. It carries an all-metal 1/2-inch ratcheting chuck, a metal gear case, a 24-position clutch, a foot LED and an auxiliary side handle. Registration within 90 days adds Ridgid's Lifetime Service Agreement, which covers parts, service and batteries. Anyone who wants more torque has to step up to the R861152 hammer drill, since Ridgid sells no high-torque drill without the hammer.

Milwaukee's fourth-generation M18 Fuel drill/driver shares its motor and gearbox with the 2904 hammer drill but drops the hammer mechanism, keeping the same 6.88-inch head length. It makes 1,400 in-lbs, 200 more than the previous generation, with 0-500 and 0-2,100 RPM ranges. This generation brought AutoStop anti-kickback to the standard (non-One-Key) model and went back to a mechanical 16-position clutch after the Gen 3's electronic one drew complaints. Milwaukee ships it with a side handle and belt clip.