Ryobi's HP brushless mid-torque doubles the old brushed P261 with 450 ft-lbs of fastening and 600 ft-lbs of breakaway torque, and its 2,800 RPM top speed ties Ridgid's R86012 for the fastest here. Three speeds plus Auto mode handle the finesse: Auto stops after a few impacts in forward so you can finish with a torque wrench, and in reverse it ramps up to break a fastener loose, then quits. A friction-ring anvil, three LEDs around the nose and a die-cast gear case round it out; the high-torque PBLIW01 is a separate, much larger tool.
Specifications
Features
Why people buy it
- ✓In Tool Box Buzz's timed test it pulled eight truck lugs in 22.44 seconds, fastest of every mid-torque tested including Milwaukee and Makita.
- ✓It also won their continuous lag-bolt driving test by a full 25 seconds; the operator called it "an Ox".
- ✓Owners replacing the brushed P261 describe the difference as night and day, and say it takes lug nuts off without drama.
- ✓Auto mode snugs fasteners without over-torquing and spins them out gently in reverse, handy for setting lugs before the torque wrench.
- ✓At $179 bare, or $299 with a 4.0Ah battery and charger, it's the cheapest way into a genuinely useful 1/2-inch mid-torque.
- ✓Grip is sized for larger hands, and the tool is light enough at 3.75 lbs bare to live in a truck for roadside flats.
What to watch for
- ✗Tool Box Buzz's sample repeatedly shut down with all lights flashing after about six seconds of hammering a 1-7/8-inch socket, and the replacement did the same.
- ✗It broke only 510 ft-lbs on their bolt rig, well under the 600 breakaway spec, so heavily seized hardware can outlast it.
- ✗Ryobi recommends a 4.0Ah or larger HP battery, so the small 2Ah packs many ONE+ owners already have aren't the right match.
- ✗It was among the loudest wrenches in that test, a real trade-off for its speed if you work in a closed garage.
- ✗Belt clip isn't included; the tool only accepts Ryobi's optional belt hook.
Common Questions
Should I buy the P262 kit or run it on my existing ONE+ batteries?
How fast is the P262 at pulling lug nuts?
Does the P262 shut down under heavy load?
How does Auto mode on the P262 work?
Is the P262 Ryobi's high-torque impact wrench?
Compare the Ryobi ONE+ HP P262 Impact Wrench
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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.
Flex rates this 6.3-inch wrench at 600 ft-lbs fastening and 750 ft-lbs nut-busting, tied with DeWalt's DCF891 for the highest fastening rating here, and it backed them up with a consistent 414.8 ft-lbs working torque on Pro Tool Reviews' test rig. Three speeds run from 450 to 2,700 RPM. Bolt Auto Stop prevents over-tightening lug nuts, and Bolt Removal mode shuts off once a nut breaks free. A vibration-isolating housing and an electric brake round it out. The anvil is friction ring only.
Of the impact wrenches here, Craftsman's Brushless RP 1/2-inch is the lightest-duty: 275 ft-lbs of max fastening torque, a 1,900 RPM top speed and two mode settings. A hog ring anvil makes socket swaps quick, and an LED work light and variable-speed trigger help in tight wheel wells. Craftsman doesn't publish a breakaway or impact-rate figure, so it's hard to compare directly against rivals that do. At around $149 bare it's the cheapest impact wrench in the catalog.
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.
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.
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.