Best 3/8 Cordless Impact Wrenches in 2023

Driving around New Mexico has always given me headaches because of the rocky terrain in the surroundings which can lead to frequent punctures. Besides this, who doesn’t know about the tiring process of changing wheels and removing bolts? All these things made it troublesome for me to drive around the state until I discovered the 3/8 cordless impact wrenches.

These tools are exceptional and come with powerful brushless motors that can generate a large amount of torque and speed to effectively loosen and tighten the bolts according to the task at hand. Similarly, some highly advanced options also allow you to choose the auto-stop mode for intact bolt removal. In this article, I have reviewed the best 3/8 cordless impact wrench featuring a brushless motor, variable speed trigger, high torque, and lightweight.

Driving around New Mexico can become a hassle if you end up puncturing the wheels. This is common in the region because of the rocky terrain, which can render you helpless on an empty road. In this situation, a cordless impact wrench is a perfect accessory.

Well talking about impact wrenches, what can be better than the DEWALT ATOMIC 20V MAX* 3/8 in. Cordless Impact Wrench. I have been using this product for three years now and have never felt myself at any disadvantage in terms of performance or maintenance.

I selected this cordless impact wrench on the basis of 30 people’s reviews as they found it highly portable, reliable, and durable. If I talk about its weight then it is quite handy to be carried along. Its working efficiency makes it more demanding so the person can easily use it for a year or more. I prefer this tool for construction and mechanical works because of its better reliability and power requirements.

It is a lightweight option that can be chosen if you have to remove bolts and nuts regularly. The compact size and lightweight will make it easier for you to carry it around to different places and therefore, it can come in handy during emergency situations especially if you lack technical support.

DEWALT ATOMIC 20V MAX* 3/8 in. Cordless Impact Wrench is my go-to choice for the efficient removal of rusty nuts and bolts. This is because of the impressive torque generated by the tool, which ranges between 300 to 450 feet/pound and contributes to outstanding results.

WORKSITE 20V 3/8 Inch Cordless Impact Wrench is my second favorite on the list and offers tough competition to its previously-mentioned counterpart. This is because of its remarkable torque, which might lag behind the former, but still offers decent force to remove bolts and nuts.

The product can be used to remove rusty bolts from vehicular wheels and motors. You can achieve up to 240 feet per pound of torque immediately. The motor is extremely powerful and efficient and therefore, contributes to the reduction in the time required for torque generation.

In addition to this, the remarkable power-retaining battery is the highlight of the product and allows you to operate the wrench continuously and perform intense tasks without consuming a lot of power. This saves you from recharging the model frequently and leads to better time management while significantly reducing the hassle for you.

WORKSITE 20V 3/8 Inch Cordless Impact Wrench is a must-have if you want to get your task done immediately but do not want to invest in a high-priced option. This version also comes with a variable speed trigger and allows you to adjust the speed according to requirements.

Want to remove the rusty bolts from motors while keeping them intact? Try out the KIMO 20V Cordless Impact Wrench Set. This amazing option will impress you with its advanced features and fast charging abilities. However, what’s best about this product is its variable speed trigger.

This speed trigger allows you to adjust the speed of the motor according to your convenience and the task at hand. So, you can even prevent the bolts from breaking if you have mastered control over it. Besides this, you can get the full benefit of the LED lights incorporated into the system.

These lights are highly useful during the nighttime and will relieve you from using a flashlight separately. This coupled with the comfortable grip will allow you to hold the wrench easily and control it effectively even if it is your first time using it. Thus, achieving efficient results.

KIMO 20V Cordless Impact Wrench Set comes with a 3.8-inch square driver and thus, contains a smaller yet powerful motor. With this wrench, you can generate a torque of up to 250 feet per pound at a speed of 3000 RPM. This means that you will not face any problems while removing the bolts smaller than 10mm.

AVID POWER ⅜ Cordless Impact Wrench is termed the best 3/8 cordless impact wrench by a diverse range of consumers. This is because of its powerful motor and affordability, which makes it a perfect option for the majority and allows for effective outcomes.

With this product, you can achieve up to 240 feet per pound of torque and can easily remove bolts of up to 10mm in size. Besides the removal of bolts, you can also use the cordless wrench to tighten the nuts with a speed of approximately 2700 RPM.

Similar to various other options listed here, this version also comes with variable speed, and thus, you can adjust the speed depending upon the requirement of the task at hand and your skill level. This reduces the damage to the bolts during removal and makes it ideal for delicate tasks.

AVID POWER ⅜ Cordless Impact Wrench features a bright LED light, which is suitable for nighttime applications. Similarly, its powerful AH battery will provide you with a continuous power supply without requiring frequent recharges in the middle of the task.

Who doesn’t love Dewalt products? The manufacturer is famous for its high-quality and performance-efficient products. Therefore, the DEWALT DCF913B 20V MAX* 3/8 Cordless Impact Wrench is also highly popular among those who have used its products already.

This is because of its exceptional versatility, which allows you to use it for a variety of tasks including bolts removal and tightening. You can choose between the desired torque settings ranging from 250 feet per pound to 400 feet per pound and can get the task done as quickly as possible.

Similarly, its compact size allows you to reach narrow gaps and enclosed spaces without any difficulty. Thus, enabling you to perform the tasks that might be difficult to compete with other cordless impact wrenches found in the market these days.

DEWALT DCF913B 20V MAX* 3/8 Cordless Impact Wrench is integrated with a hog ring anvil that is highly beneficial and can be used for securing the socket changes properly. You can also use the LED light to brighten your surroundings and achieve the utmost precision even in the dark.

Finding it difficult to choose the best 3/8 cordless impact wrench? Don’t worry, I have got your back. Try using the ACDelco ARW1209-K14 Cordless 3/8” Impact Wrench. The most surprising element of this model is its combo nature, which provides you a ratchet wrench as well apart from the impact wrench.

Hence, enabling you to achieve higher efficiency and effective bolt removal. Despite its 2-in-2 nature, this version is extremely lightweight and therefore, can be easily carried with you at all times. This will ensure that you do not get stuck helplessly in emergency situations.

One thing you should note over here is that the product is designed for smaller applications. Therefore, you can easily remove small-size bolts using this option with a torque of up to 45 feet per pound at the speed of 170 revolutions per minute.

ACDelco ARW1209-K14 Cordless 3/8” Impact Wrench is a versatile, user-friendly product that features an ergonomic design and comfortable grip. This means that you can easily grab it while working and do not need to worry about losing control because of the high speed even if you are a beginner.

Interested in the products manufactured by the famous Makita? I have the Makita XWT16Z 18V LXT ⅜ Cordless Impact Wrench for you. This high-quality, performance-oriented wrench is capable of generating torque of up to 220 feet per pound.

Therefore, it can effectively remove standard-size bolts and nuts from the wheels of various vehicles. In addition to this, its compact size is all you need to reach narrow ends and tighten all the required screws without seeking any technical assistance for this purpose.

Its compact size also contributes to its lightweight, which is the reason I prefer to carry it with me all the time. Trust me, carrying an impact wrench with you can come in handy during emergency situations and will allow you to get those rusty nuts out of your vehicle in no time.

Makita XWT16Z 18V LXT ⅜ Cordless Impact Wrench features a speed selection switch that can be used to switch between four different speed options depending upon the complexity of the task. You can also decrease the trigger pull by enabling the full-speed mode to reduce the processing time significantly.

Now it is time to discuss the NEIKO 10880A ⅜ Cordless Impact Wrench. This is another budget-friendly and energy-efficient model on the list of the best 3/8 cordless impact wrench and offers you complete flexibility in terms of speed selection.

Hence, you can select the desired speed which you feel is convenient for the task you are performing. In addition to this, this particular option displays different charging levels on the panel and notifies you when you are about to run out of power.

Thus, allowing to recharge it beforehand and preventing distractions while working. The charging time required by the tool is also extremely low and is compatible with the power retention abilities of the wrench, which prevents you from charging it again and again in the middle of your job.

NEIKO 10880A ⅜ Cordless Impact Wrench comes with a 2.4 amp ELT-approved fast charger that allows you to charge the wrench immediately within 1 to 1.5 hours. So, you do not need to spend money in order to purchase the charger separately for charging it.

Makita XWT12ZB 18V Cordless 3/8″ Impact Wrench is another model manufactured by Makita. Makita is also one of the renowned manufacturers in this field and has manufactured some of the advanced impact wrenches. This version is an example of high-quality options that are capable of removing the bolts intact without breaking them.

This is because of its 3 forward 3-reverse rotation auto stop mode, which is capable of stopping the rotation and impact generated by the motor once the bolt has loosened. Thus, allowing you to remove the already loosened bolts easily without putting much force on them.

Besides this, the variable speed selection allows you to choose between four different speed settings that offer you the required control over the wrench and enables you to adjust the speed for different applications. Finally, the wrench is extremely lightweight and compact and therefore, can be kept in your car.

Makita XWT12ZB 18V Cordless 3/8″ Impact Wrench is integrated with a brushless motor that is exceptionally powerful and can generate a torque of around 220 to 370 feet per pound. This means that you can easily tighten and lose standard-size bolts conveniently without breaking or damaging them.

Makita WT05R1 12V max Cordless 3/8″ Impact Wrench similar to its previously mentioned counterpart features a brushless motor that is extremely powerful and can generate torque ranging between 120 feet per pound to 210 feet per pound.

Now, this is interesting and allows you to switch between different torque values depending upon the nature of the bolts and whether they require tightening or removal. You also change the speed settings depending upon these factors using the variable two-speed options to increase the suitability of the wrench for a variety of applications.

Similarly, you can always make use of the reverse rotation auto stop mode to stop the rotations and impact generated by the motor once the bolts have started loosening. Doing so will help in the effective removal of the bolts while making sure that they are intact and damage-free.

Makita WT05R1 12V max Cordless 3/8″ Impact Wrench is a lightweight and compact option that only weighs 2.2 pounds. The wrench is cordless in nature and features a high-quality battery that can retain power for long hours and protects you from the hassle of repeated recharges.

You might be planning to purchase a good ⅜ cordless impact wrench for yourself. However, the process might not be what you had originally expected. It can take a lot of time to choose a good product for yourself especially if you are new to the field and do not possess a lot of experience in this regard. Things can become even messier when you come across a multitude of options to choose from.

This can definitely cloud your judgment and you might not be able to make a sound or good decision for yourself. In other cases, you can also get scammed and might also invest in an option that is not compatible with your growing requirements.

All of this can result in excessive stress and can also lead to financial losses in the long term. Therefore, it is important to carefully read all the details of the tool before making a decision to prevent suffering from negative consequences in the future. Here, I have brought you a detailed buying guide to help you with the selection.

Brushless Motor

First things first, a powerful brushless motor is a significant component of an impact wrench, and therefore, you must never neglect it. Think of it as a tool as you think of air for yourself. The wrench will not survive without a good motor. Now, you might be questioning why I should look for a brushless motor.

Well, let me tell you that a brushless motor is extremely important and can significantly improve the efficiency of your wrench. These motors are highly powerful in nature and can generate a torque of up to 100 feet per pound without overheating. This will help you in the efficient removal of the rusty and corroded bolts without overheating the motor. Thus, offering you the best of both worlds.

In addition to this, brushless motors are renowned for their energy efficiency and negligible maintenance requirements. This will help you in extending the average life of the motor while contributing to the reduction in overall energy consumption. Similarly, you also do not need to put in continuous effort in maintaining and looking after the motor since it is a low-maintenance product and less prone to damage because of external factors.

Variable Speed Trigger

Besides the brushless motor, you should also look into the variable speed trigger as it will help you adjust the speed of the motor. This can be highly useful if you work with impact wrenches on a regular basis and want to adjust their speed when the bolts are already loose and do not require high force or torque for removal.

In addition to this, the speed trigger also allows for adjustments and modifications in the RPM as well and thus, will enable you to use the desired settings depending upon the task at hand and enabling you to achieve exceptional performance without wasting any time or energy.

Quality Construction

The quality of the material of construction is equally important and therefore, I must emphasize the quality construction of the impact wrench. Check everything has been screwed and organized properly. Do not invest in low-quality cheap options. They might provide you short-term benefits but can become a hassle for the future and might also lag in performance. Therefore, you should always choose options that seem sturdy in construction and offer high durability and resistance against damage from multiple factors.

Compact and Lightweight

The weight of the option you are considering to purchase is equally important and therefore, must not be neglected in any case. It is important to know what suits your needs the best and make a timely decision accordingly. As a rule of thumb, I always suggest going for lighter and smaller options as they are not only easier to carry but will also offer you better control while removing the bolts. Hence, allowing you to achieve the desired results without wasting any time or energy on unnecessary factors.

Power and Speed

What is the purpose of purchasing an impact wrench if you do not want high power and speed? So, always go for options that offer you both these advantages. It would be best if you can achieve high speed with minimum energy consumption as doing so would increase the efficiency of the product while decreasing the power consumption. This will not only prevent the motor from overheating but will also increase your productivity.

The speed of the impact wrench is characterized by its impact per minute and revolutions per minute. There are some highly advanced options available around the market that will allow you to achieve quick bolt removal by generating additional rotations and torque at a low RPM value. If you come across such a model, it is a green sign that you should immediately purchase it provided that it falls under your budget range. This brings us to our last factor i.e., price.

Price

Even if you want to neglect all the above-mentioned factors you must not overlook the price. This factor is directly associated with your finances and negligence, in this case, can affect you severely. It is essential to check the price of each option and then narrow down your choices.

Doing so will ensure that you do not go overboard with your budget and can decide on the perfect option for yourself without any stress. Trust me, nothing can be more heartbreaking than choosing your favorite product and then being unable to purchase it because of financial constraints. Therefore, to save yourself from unwanted trouble, always keep the price as one of your top priorities.

There are plenty of differences between impact drivers and impact wrenches. In fact, both tools have more differences among them than similarities and therefore, it is easier to differentiate between the two. However, it is completely okay if you get confused between them because of a lack of experience and knowledge about them.

Here, I will be discussing some major differences between both tools to help you differentiate them from one another while working. The basic factor which sets both these products apart from each other is their functionality. Yes, they serve different purposes, and therefore, it is important to use the right one for the right task. Let’s get into the details of how they are different in terms of functionality.

Functionality

Basically, the impact drivers are used to tighten the loose screws and can get the job done without any complex mechanism or phenomenon behind them. For tightening the users are only required to attach the tool with the chuck so that it can be used to tighten and loosen the screws by spinning the chuck. The chuck spins with the movement of the tool and thus, can be used to tighten the screws immediately without putting in any additional effort.

On the other hand, impact wrenches are different and involve the use of other factors as well. These tools are specifically designed to remove the nuts present on the vehicle tires. You might also observe some professionals using the wrenches to remove motor nuts as well, however, it isn’t as common as with the wheel nuts.

Moreover, the working mechanism of impact wrenches is also different and involves the use of high speed and torque to get the task done. The wrenches are integrated with a hog ring anvil that comes with specialized sockets. These sockets generate high torque and speed due to rotation, which leads you to achieve efficient nut removal.

The Importance of Torque

The second difference between impact drivers and impact wrenchers lies in the torque they generate. Even the unit of measurement of torque generated by both these tools is different from each other and therefore, it is evident that both of these are different from each other. The impact driver measures the torque in inches per pound, while the torque generated by an impact wrench is measured in foot-pounds.

As you can see, there is a huge difference between both. Similarly, the overall torque generated by an impact driver on average ranges between 1500 to 1600 inches per pound, while in comparison the torque generated by an impact wrench ranges between 2000 to 5000 inches per pound or in simple words 250 to 500 feet per pound. These figures clearly indicate the difference between the torque generated by both tools and therefore, are a clear indicator that can be used to differentiate them from each other.

Besides this, impact wrenches are also available in both corded and cordless versions and can be chosen accordingly depending upon the task at hand. One thing that you should keep in mind while purchasing these wrenches is that although they are inexpensive and available at affordable rates, you should include the cost of the compressor and hose in the overall cost of the wrench to save yourself from financial issues and embarrassment in the future.

The 3/8 and Air impact wrenches can be differentiated on the basis of their size, power, weight, precision, functionality, and design. Let us compare both these products one by one on the basis of their size, weight, and precision to get some deeper insights into their abilities and basic differences.

Size

First and foremost, the size of these impact wrenches is a highly important factor and easily sets them apart from each other. Since the air impact wrench is more powerful than its other counterpart, you can easily guess that it has a larger and more powerful motor than the 3/8 impact wrench.

Furthermore, it is also powered by a large battery since the motor requires high power to operate it, and therefore, there is no doubt that the air impact wrench is larger in size as compared to the 3/8 version. Although the high power and battery offer the advantage of increased torque generation to the former, it also makes it more bulky and difficult to carry. This brings us to our second factor which is weight.

Weight

When compared on the basis of their weight the ⅜ impact wrench definitely stands out among others. This is because of its compact size and lighter weight, which makes it easier to transport and carry with you at all times. Unlike the air impact wrenches that are bulkier and difficult to transport.

On average, an air impact wrench weighs around 7 pounds, while the ⅜ impact wrench weighs 2 pounds, which is significantly less than the former. All of this is because of the small motor and battery of the ⅜ version, which makes it less bulky than the air impact wrench. But, the small motor size also has its cons as it generates relatively lower torque and might not be suitable for some advanced applications.

Precision

3/8 wrenches also have an upper hand over the air impact wrenches in terms of precision and therefore, are an ideal choice if you want to remove the nuts and bolts effectively. Now, you might be wondering how is that even possible as these tools possess weaker motors and can not generate a large amount of torque.

Well, that’s the key. Though they are weaker, they force all the torque in one direction, which allows you to accurately remove all the bolts and nuts at a specific point. This might be difficult to achieve with an air impact wrench because of its large size, which is difficult to handle and might also lead to inaccuracies if you are not properly familiar with its functionality.

Besides these three major factors, there is a multitude of other factors, some of which are discussed earlier that can be used to differentiate between an air impact wrench and a 3.8 impact wrench. You might also observe differences in their prices as well, which can be checked on various online platforms such as Amazon and Walmart.

The basic purpose of the cordless impact wrench is to generate torque, which is used to remove nuts and bolts from the wheels of vehicles. The ⅜ cordless impact wrench as mentioned earlier comes with a small motor with a small battery and therefore, unlike the air impact wrenches it does not require a lot of voltage to operate efficiently. The product can generate a decent amount of torque at an average voltage of 20 volts.

In fact, 20 volts is the standard and recommended voltage for a 3.8 cordless impact wrench as suggested by the experts. This is because it can generate the desired amount of torque without overheating the motor or consuming a lot of power in the process. Similarly, if you want to achieve a higher torque value, you can upgrade to 25 volts, which will generate a higher torque for you if you require it for complex operations and advanced tasks.

Ideally, bolts can be removed using a cordless impact wrench without breaking them. However, technically it is not easier to do so. There is a lot to consider and various external factors are also involved that can affect the overall outcome. So, before setting your hopes up, you should carefully read all the details and factors to identify whether you can remove the bolts without breaking them or not. Firstly, you should check what type of cordless impact wrench is in your possession.

Older versions of these wrenches are not capable of removing the bolts while keeping them intact unless and until you are extremely skilled in the field and are capable of doing so. Otherwise, using such tools to eliminate the bolts will inevitably lead to breakage because of the high torque and motor power, which will exert increased force in removing the bolts. Hence, breaking and damaging them in the process.

But, some highly advanced modern options out there are capable of offering you intact bolts after removal. These products are capable of stopping the motor in time and thus, can reduce the amount of torque generated in the process. This decreases the force exerted on the bolts, thus, reducing the damage incurred to their surface.

Although capable, these models are highly expensive and therefore, can not be easily afforded by the majority. Thus, making it difficult to achieve the efficient and intact removal of the bolts from the vehicle tires. Another factor that must not be overlooked in this regard is experience and skill level.

Irrespective of the type of cordless impact wrench that you own, you might be able to remove the bolts without breaking or damaging them if you have considerable experience in this regard and have mastered control over the force and torque exerted on the bolts. Undoubtedly, beginners and those possessing intermediate skills are unable to do so.

Even various users with advanced skills are also unable to control the pressure on the bolts. Hence, it leads to breakage and damage. You should consider all these factors and assess your skill level properly before deciding whether the bolts can be removed without damage or not with the help of a cordless impact wrench.

All these terms torque, RPM, and IPM are inter-related, however, they are not the same. Various consumers might find themselves getting confused about these terms. However, you need to note that they are not the same thing and therefore, can not be used interchangeably. Doing so, can lead to difficulty in understanding the working mechanism of cordless impact wrenches and therefore, should be avoided as much as possible.

IPM

IPM is also termed the Impact Per Minute. It refers to the ability of a cordless impact wrench to generate power or torque in simpler words. This means that the impact it will generate per minute will direct the amount of force that will be exerted on the bolts for removal.

The majority of these tools available around the market are capable of generating an impact of around 3000 per minute on average. This is equivalent to around 50 impacts per second, which is amazing. Thus, you can say that IPM is the indicator of the quickness of an impact wrench and therefore, can be used to measure its efficiency and accuracy as well.

RPM

RPM or revolutions per minute refers to the number of rotations generated by the motor every minute. In other words, it is the ability of the motor to rotate in a specific time span, which in most cases is considered one minute. The more powerful the motor, the less RPM it will need to generate a large amount of torque.

Similar to the IPM, the RPM can also be used to identify how efficient a particular impact wrench is. This can be carried out by measuring the quickness of the motor in generating the torque. If you can achieve high torque with a low number of revolutions. This means that the motor is performance and energy-efficient and it is a perfect choice for you.

Torque

Finally, we have the torque. It is different from the above-described terms and can be considered a product of IPM and RPM. Torque refers to the amount of force that has been generated by a cordless impact wrench as a result of its continuous rotation. Higher the number of rotations, the higher the amount of torque that will be produced by the motor and vice versa.

The torque is measured in feet/pound in case of impact wrenches and therefore, you should check it carefully before investing in a particular option. Another thing you should note here is that impact wrenches are not impact drivers and therefore, they generate higher torque and are measured in feet per pound.

Therefore, you should not confuse them with the impact drivers which use inches per pound as the unit of measurement and generate relatively lower torque as compared to the main product discussed here. If your motor is capable of generating more torque than its RPM value, that means that the motor is highly efficient and energy-friendly as well.

It is important to monitor the torque of the model before you purchase it as it will be used as an indicator of its performance efficiency and will also enable you to remove the bolts easily, especially from the wheels and motors of vehicles. However, while monitoring torque, you should not neglect the importance of other factors discussed earlier in the detailed buying guide.

Best 3/8 cordless impact wrenches are difficult to choose from the multitude of options available around the market and therefore, you should carefully look at all the factors including size, weight, precision, torque, variable speed trigger, and motor power of these tools to choose the perfect one for yourself. Here I have reviewed the best 3/8 cordless impact wrenches and have outlined the following recommendations for you.

• DEWALT ATOMIC 20V MAX* 3/8 in. Cordless Impact Wrench for its brightness adjustability, precise wrench control, faster run-off, and multiple speed settings.
• WORKSITE 20V 3/8 Inch Cordless Impact Wrench because of its copper gear motor, decreased vibrations, and compact machine design.
• KIMO 20V Cordless Impact Wrench Set due to its comfortable rubber handle, high battery capacity, variable speed trigger, and powerful brushless motor.