Makita
Makita 40V XGT GWT07 Impact Wrench
At 810 ft-lbs nut-busting, the highest breakaway rating of any mid-torque here, plus 560 ft-lbs fastening, Makita's 40V XGT wrench comes in the same 6-11/16-inch length as the LXT version. It keeps the four speeds, three forward and three reverse Auto-Stop modes and full-speed mode, and adds XGT's tool-to-battery communication for overload and overheat protection. Weight is 6.0 lbs with a compact 2.5Ah pack; the GWT08 is the detent-anvil version.
Specifications
Features
Written from the maker's spec sheet and independent reviews, not from owner reports.
Strengths
- ✓810 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque is the highest breakaway rating of any mid-torque here, though DeWalt's DCF891 and Flex's FX1451 both rate higher on fastening (600 against its 560).
- ✓Tool Box Buzz found the trigger responds instantly and feathers well, so you can creep a fastener loose without snapping it.
- ✓Six Auto-Stop modes plus four speeds give finer control over seating torque than any single-button competitor.
- ✓Balances well on a 2.5Ah XGT pack with no noticeable loss in performance, which keeps the package manageable overhead.
- ✓A flexible joint at the grip base and silicone buffers in the battery rails cut vibration and contact wear on expensive XGT packs.
- ✓XPT sealing and a reinforced gear housing are built for wet, dirty jobsites like trench shoring and equipment yards.
Drawbacks
- ✗In Tool Box Buzz's rig on a 1-7/8-inch socket it broke only a 510 ft-lbs bolt, well short of the 810 spec, so expect less than the headline number on big hardware.
- ✗At roughly $349-369 bare it's the most expensive mid-torque here, before you buy into 40V batteries.
- ✗XGT packs don't fit Makita's much larger 18V LXT lineup, so it's only worth it if you're already committed to 40V.
- ✗Top speed of 2,300 RPM is modest next to Milwaukee's 2,575 and Ryobi's 2,800, so it isn't the quickest at running nuts down.
Common Questions
Does the GWT07 really break 810 ft-lbs?
Is the GWT07 worth it if my batteries are Makita 18V LXT?
What battery size should I run on the GWT07?
Is there a pin-detent version of the GWT07?
Should I use the GWT07 or the GDT02 impact driver for bolts?
Compare the Makita 40V XGT GWT07 Impact Wrench
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Makita's 18V LXT mid-torque puts 520 ft-lbs of fastening and 740 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque into a 6-11/16-inch body that weighs 6.0 lbs with a battery. Four speeds sit alongside three forward and three reverse Auto-Stop modes, the most granular control in this class, plus a full-speed mode that cuts the trigger travel. XPT sealing and a flexible joint that isolates the battery from grip vibration are aimed at daily professional use; the XWT18 is the detent-pin twin.
Milwaukee's Gen 2 mid-torque packs 650 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque into a 6-inch head and 3.5 lbs bare, which is why it lives on so many shop carts. Four-mode Drive Control gives three speeds plus Mode 4, which quits at about 35 ft-lbs when snugging and backs off RPM once a bolt breaks free in reverse. Three LEDs ring the anvil, and the friction-ring 2962 has pin-detent (2962P) and 3/8-inch (2960) siblings built on the same body.
This 1/2-inch Bosch mid-torque trades headline numbers for control: 330 ft-lbs fastening and 590 ft-lbs breakaway from a 6.6-inch, 3.5 lb body. Three speed/torque settings sit alongside two assist modes, one that stops when the fastener seats and one that stops spinning once a nut breaks loose in reverse so it doesn't drop into the wheel well. The anvil has both a friction ring and a thru-hole, so you can run quick-change sockets or pin them for overhead work. It's connected-ready, but the module that unlocks custom presets in the Bosch app is sold separately.
Rated at 568 ft-lbs tightening and 774 ft-lbs nut-busting, Metabo HPT's 36V mid-torque wrench has a 4-stage speed switch running 1,500 to 2,400 RPM. An auto stop mode prevents snapping bolts from over-tightening, and it can be combined with the High/Low selector. The main unit is rated IP56 against dust and water, and a vibration damper sits between the handle and the battery mount. It runs on any MultiVolt 36V/18V pack or on Metabo's AC adapter.
Replacing the DCF894, DeWalt's current mid-range 1/2-inch wrench is rated at 600 ft-lbs fastening and 800 ft-lbs breakaway, the biggest paper numbers in the 18V-class mid-torque field. A push-button selector gives three impacting speeds plus Precision Wrench, which pauses briefly once impacting starts in forward and slows down in reverse so a loose nut doesn't fly off. The DCF891 uses a hog-ring anvil; the DCF892 is the same tool with a detent pin.
Ridgid claims 500 ft-lbs fastening and 650 ft-lbs breakaway for its current 1/2-inch mid-torque, which is 10% more compact than the R86011 it replaced. Three speeds cover most jobs, and a fourth auto mode stops once a bolt seats in forward, then runs full breakaway in reverse and stops when the bolt comes loose. The die-cast gearbox and friction-ring anvil are what you'd expect in this class. Register within 90 days and Ridgid's Lifetime Service Agreement covers parts, service and batteries.