Makita 40V XGT GDT02 Impact Driver
Impact Driver
$174

Makita

Makita 40V XGT GDT02 Impact Driver

5(4 reviews)

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.

Bare Tool
$174
Kit
$299
Platform
Makita 40V XGT
Weight
2.3 lbs (bare)
Best for: XGT platform owners who want a do-everything impact with Makita's build quality

Specifications

Category
Impact Driver
Battery Platform
Makita 40V XGT
Voltage
40V
Motor
Brushless
Model
GDT02Z
Weight
2.3 lbs (bare)
Released
2023
Max Torque
1,860 in-lbs
Top Speed
3,700 RPM
Impacts
4,100 IPM
Drive
1/4 in hex
Modes
4-speed + T-mode
Head Length
4.75 in

Features

Multiple Drive ModesLED LightBelt Clip

Pros

  • Smoothest trigger modulation in the class — Makita's speed-control finesse is the thing owners consistently rave about.
  • Reinforced metal gear housing and XGT's over-heat/over-discharge protection read as genuinely jobsite-proof.
  • T-mode automatically shifts speed when a self-drilling screw bites, reducing cam-out on metal framing.
  • Four distinct speed ranges give finer control than the two- and three-speed competition.
  • Quieter under load than Milwaukee and DeWalt equivalents, a recurring owner observation.
  • Street price around $174 bare undercuts the other flagship drivers.

Cons

  • 1,860 in-lbs trails both the DeWalt DCF860 and Milwaukee 2953, so it loses the spec-sheet war it competes in.
  • XGT batteries are expensive and the ecosystem is still far smaller than M18 or 20V Max.
  • No compatibility with Makita's own 18V LXT batteries without buying the one-way ADP10 adapter — the LXT/XGT split frustrates longtime Makita owners.
  • Thinner US retail presence: Home Depot stocks limited XGT, so warranty swaps and impulse battery buys are harder.
  • No US-market One-Key/Tool-Connect-style tracking option.
  • Frequently on backorder at major tool retailers, which says good things about demand and bad things about buying one today.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2953 Impact Driver
$179
Impact Driver

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.

2,000 in-lbs4,400 IPMSelf-tap mode
Milwaukee M1818V2.2 lbs (bare)Brushless
Best for: M18 users who want the fastest-driving compact impact in the red ecosystem
View Details
Flex FX1371A Quick Eject Impact Driver
$159
Impact Driver

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.

2,500 in-lbsQuick Eject collet4,000 RPM
Flex 24V24V2.7 lbs (bare)Brushless
Best for: Pros and power users on the Flex 24V Stacked Lithium platform who want class-leading torque and speed with true one-handed bit changes.
View Details
DeWalt DCF860 Impact Driver
$199
Impact Driver

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.

2,500 in-lbsClass-leading torque9-LED ring
DeWalt 20V Max20V2.7 lbs (bare)Brushless
Best for: 20V Max users who want the highest-torque mainstream impact driver on any 18V-class platform
View Details