7 Best Milwaukee Impact Wrench [Buying Guide 2021] (2024)

What is the fastest way to get your work done? Screwing nuts and tightening bolts can be both time-consuming and exhausting. Thus, what can you do to get your work done quickly without exerting much?

7 Best Milwaukee Impact Wrench [Buying Guide 2021] (1)

Buy an impact wrench, of course! If you’re on the lookout to buy an impact wrench that works great, then you’ve certainly come to the right place.

We’ve compiled the list of the best Milwaukee impact wrench that is affordable, high quality, and promise to speed up your work without getting you tired!

Impact Wrench

Torque

Anvil Size

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Stubby

250 ft-lbs

3/8” sq friction ring

Milwaukee M18 High Torque

450 ft-lbs

½” hex friction ring

Milwaukee M18 2854-20

250 ft-lbs

3/8” hex friction ring

Milwaukee M18 2767-20

1000 ft-lbs

½” head friction ring

Milwaukee's One Key

1800 ft-lbs

1” fixed square head

Milwaukee's Cordless

100 ft-lbs

¼” fixed square head

Milwaukee's 2463-20

100 ft-lbs

3/8” fixed head

Comparing Best Milwaukee Impact Wrench 2021

Impacts wrenches make a great addition to your tool kit especially for professionals who have to work hours around loosening and tightening bolts.

We started renovating our place a few months back and only then did we realize that how tiring and exhausting it was to place screws, tighten and loosen them. The task itself drained us of all the energy, leaving us wondering if there was a more effective way of doing it.

Hence, then we were introduced to impact wrench by a professional, who was a friend of course. And believe it or not, once we bought this fabulous tool, we were able to complete our renovation project within a week without exhausting ourselves much.

So, a piece of advice for everyone whose been working with nuts, bolts, and screws, here are the best Milwaukee impact wrenched that you must try out!

1.

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Milwaukee M12 Fuel Stubby 3/8″ Impact Wrench

  • High breakaway torque of 250 ft-lbs
  • 4-modes drive control
  • Auto-shutoff mode for increased productivity
  • Friction ring anvil increases efficiency

If you get a chance to lay your eyes on this beauty, we are sure you’ll be quickly attracted to it. With the bright red colors and amazing features, this M12 Fuel Stubby wrench my Milwaukee pops out of the lot.

So, what we love most about this impact wrench is the powerful torque that it offers. It produces torque up to 250 ft-lbs which helps speed up the project without letting you exert much.

Moreover, the square-shaped 3/8” anvil lets you go deep into the smallest of spaces while reducing friction, which increases performance efficiency.

Also, it consists of 4-mode drive control including auto-shutoff which increases productivity by reducing the over-fastening of bolts.

The M12 Fuel stubbyMilwaukee high torque impact wrenchis probably one of the most compact wrenches by Milwaukee but does not be fooled by the small size.

It produces torque 2 times greater than an average impact wrench and because of its size, can slide into the tightest of spaces without a problem.

The effortless usage and sustainable modes are what make it a true winner!

Pros

  • Produces 2 times greater torque than an average impact wrench
  • 4-modes drive control with an auto-shutoff feature for increased productivity
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Friction-less square anvil lets you reach small spaces with ease

Cons

  • May not produce powerful torque as advertised
  • Expensive

2.

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Milwaukee M18 High Torque Impact Wrench

  • Delivers a powerful torque up to 450 ft-lbs
  • Weighs only 5.2 lbs, making it compact and lightweight
  • 4-pole frameless motor for enhanced performance
  • Comes with a friction ring for friction-less and effective performance

If we call this one to be themost powerful 1/2 impact wrench,we won’t be wrong! Once you get hold of it, you’ll be surprised to see the power it produces out of such a small frame.

What impressed us the most about this Milwaukee impact wrench is the high torque that it produces. This is a perfect automatic tool for professionals working with heavy nuts and bolts every day.

The torque it delivers is up to 45 ft-lbs, 4 times as much as any other ordinary impact wrench, which surely saves your time, energy and lets you complete your tasks much more effectively.

Moreover, let’s not forget how lightweight it is. The small size and less weight let you use it for longer hours without ending up with aching arms or muscles. Also, it consists of a 1/2” single-socket anvil which makes switching heads pretty easy and quick.

Additionally, it holds on to a 4-pole frameless motor for effective deliverance of maximum run-time. Thus, until the batteries die, this tool won’t disappoint you!

Pros

  • Delivers high powerful torque
  • Lightweight and compact
  • 4-pole frameless motor for maximum run-time
  • Single-socket anvil for easily changeable heads
  • Battery operated

Cons

  • Creates a lot of noise

3.

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Milwaukee M18 2854-20 Impact Wrench

  • Brushless motor delivers torque up to 250 ft-lbs
  • 4-mode drive control
  • Tr-LED’s for enhanced visibility at the workplace
  • Compact and lightweight

Do you find it hard to work in low light just like us? We always wished to own a power tool that came with in-built light but failed to find one until we got our hands on the Milwaukee M18 impact wrench.

This compact impact wrench produces a nut-busting torque of 250 ft-lbs using a brushless motor, which saves most of your time and energy while efficiently completing tasks.

Moreover, the in-built tri-LEDs enhance visibility at places with low light so you can easily work your way around in the darkness.

Furthermore, it consists of 4-mode drive control that lets you manage speed and gain better control over the power tool. And because of the size, you can easily slide into small corners to tighten/loosen bolts which most other impact wrenches are unable to do.

So, if you’re looking to increase your speed and work efficiency, get your hands on the Milwaukee M18 impact wrench!

Pros

  • Built-in LEDs for enhanced visibility
  • Brushless motors produce powerful torque up to 250 ft-lbs
  • 4-mode drive control for better management of the tool
  • Reaches into smaller spaces with ease

Cons

  • A little expensive as compared to an average impact wrench

4.

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Milwaukee M18 2767-20

  • Delivers up to 1000 ft-lbs high torque
  • Twice as powerful as any other impact wrench
  • 4-mode drive control including bolt removal
  • Automatic adjustable speed

A powerful and quick start can throw you on the right track, helping you to finish your work within minimum time!

We’ve always loved renovating our house. Painting murals on the walls to building sheds, we’ve done it all! And we must say, building even a table isn’t an easy job if you don’t have the right tools!

Because screwing bolts took most of our time during our “home improvement” projects, we thought of buying a tool that allowed us to do the work without exerting much, and hence, the M18 2767 by Milwaukee is what proved helpful for us.

This is one of themost powerful ½ impact wrenchout there, a true beast when it comes down to performance!

It delivers a high torque of 1000 ft-lbs, which is great when you have a tough job ahead. A noteworthy feature here is the automatic speed adjustment that won our hearts.

This impact wrench starts at high speed, delivering high torque but ultimately drops to a speed of 750 rpm, giving you better control over the tool while removing nuts, fasteners, etc.

Sounds brilliant right? With 4-mode drive control including bolt removal mode, the M18 by Milwaukee is probably one of the best impacts wrenched we’ve gotten a chance to use so far.

Weighing at 8.7 pounds, the impact wrench is easy to use, compact yet powerful enough to let you complete your work efficiently.

Pros

  • Produces a high torque at 1000 ft-lbs
  • Comes with 4-mode drive control including bolt removal mode
  • Starts at high speed and comes down to 750 rpm, giving you better control over the equipment
  • Work best under extreme weather conditions too

Cons

  • Batteries need to be bought separately

5.

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Milwaukee’s 2867-20 One-Key Impact Wrench

  • 1800 ft-lbs torque
  • Brushless motor
  • Ideal for the automotive industry
  • 4 times powerful than any other impact wrench

Are you looking for thebest Milwaukee cordless impact wrench for automotive? Then we’ll suggest you go for the model 287-20 One Key impact wrench.

This cordless, brushless wrench functions at a high torque of 1800 ft-lbs, making it one of the most powerful wrenches on the list till now!

What we love most about this impact wrench is that it is highly durable, lightweight, and compact and with the powerful torque that it delivers, handling it isn’t a problem either.

But of course, if we’re talking about such high speed and torque, we won’t recommend it for beginners or home-based projects.

Rather this metal wrench is ideal for the automotive industry where professionals need to work with big nuts/bolts, tightening and loosening hundreds of them on an average day.

Moreover, this Milwaukee impact wrench weighs around 11.60 pounds, which might be heavier than the rest but you certainly need a stronger body to produce heavier torque.

Additionally, it comes with no cords and is battery operated which certainly makes it easy to reach small spaces without a problem. Heavy, easy to use, and efficient, if you are looking for a brilliant tool to effectively get your work done, this one is one to grab!

Pros

  • Produces powerful high torque up to 1800 ft-lbs
  • 4 times powerful than an average impact wrench
  • Ideal for the automotive industry
  • Cordless and durable

Cons

  • Some users have complained about the 1” head not working well with similarly sized sockets or even smaller ones
  • Users have also complained about the weak power that it produces as opposed to what has been advertised

6.

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Milwaukee’s Cordless Impact Wrench

  • Compact and lightweight
  • Easy to use
  • Produces torque up to 100 ft-lbs
  • Affordable

Compact and lightweight, 2552-20 is thebest budget Milwaukee impact wrenchthat we’ve come across in the past few months,

This small-sized tool is highly efficient in performance especially when it comes to managing projects around the house or on a smaller scale.

Upon laying your eyes on this plastic-made wrench you won’t be pretty impressed for are sure because weren’t either. But because we had a small project to manage at home, we were looking for an impact wrench smaller in size with minimum torque.

Thus, this model by Milwaukee is what we got and we are glad that we did! Although it is compact and super lightweight this is where the fun lies.

It produces torque up to 100 ft-lbs, which not be as high as the other wrenches offering on the list but good enough to tighten/loosen screws of smaller size.

Moreover, it has no cord which lets you reach out to the tiniest of corners without having to deal with tangled wires, and best of all, the less weight lets you use it for long hours without complaints of achy arms or so.

If you are looking for a wrench for a 1/4” socket for not so “big” tasks, we highly recommend this tiny tool which is very much user-friendly!

Pros

  • User-friendly
  • Compact and lightweight
  • Great for small projects
  • Cordless design lets you reach out to small spaces
  • Affordably priced

Cons

  • The batteries need to be purchased separately
  • Some people may not find it powerful enough for getting the work done

7.

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Milwaukee’s 2463-20 Impact Wrench

  • Weighs only 2 pounds
  • Durable, lightweight, and compact
  • Delivers torque up to a 100 ft-lbs
  • User-friendly design

Are you a beginner at using air tools or electronic ones? When we were new to the idea of such powerful tools, we started by buying a less-powerful impact wrench, something that was easy to use, lightweight and affordable.

It offers a great run time with the brushless motors producing torque up to 100 ft-lbs which is great for pacing your work. Moreover, it is durable, compact, and lightweight making it easy to use.

Additionally, this model impact wrench by Milwaukee uses only an 18 V battery to operate and creates less noise, letting you concentrate on your task. It fits sockets measuring at 3/8” hence, making your work easier and fast.

All we can say about this impact wrench is that do not be fooled by its size because the best things come in small packages!

Pros

  • Lightweight and compact
  • Easy to use and control
  • Offers reasonable torque which is enough to get done with smaller tasks in less time
  • Durable
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Some users may not find it powerful enough

Milwaukee Impact Wrench: Buyer’s Guide

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When it comes to the top-rated tool brands out there, Milwaukee is one name that surely tops the list. The company has been impressing professionals and beginners both by introducing automatic tools that are easy to use and most of all speed up their work.

But even when you have a trustable name in mind, choosing the right impact wrench to satisfy your requirement can be pretty overwhelming. It took us a while before we could make the real purchase.

Thus, to ensure no one else goes through the stress that we did, we’ve gathered a few important pointers down below that’ll help you buy the best Milwaukee impact wrench for use.

Torque

The ultimate goal behind buying an impact wrench is that you wish to speed up your work without having to exert much energy and effort. This can be only making possible if you have an external force pushing you from behind, lending a helping hand.

Hence, the extra “hand” that you need to get your work done quickly is through a power tool that delivers high torque. the higher the power it will produce, the quicker and more effectively you’ll be able to finish your work.

But how would you know the range of torque/power you should go for? This depends on the nature of your work/projects/tasks. The heavier the work you need to complete, the more torque produced by an impact wrench is what you will require.

Speed

Doesn’t matter you’re a beginner or a professional, a speed dial on your impact wrench always comes in handy. There are times when you need higher speed and torque to tighten a bolt while at others you can work well wat low-speed settings.

Remember, the addition of a speed dial gives you better control over the tool, letting you move through the project without a problem.

Power Source

Some Milwaukee’s impact wrench run on electricity using a cord while others are cordless and require a battery to perform. So, why it is important to consider the power source when buying an impact wrench?

This is so, if your work requires high torque, a corded impact wrench is highly recommended as it uses a maximum of 18V to function, allowing it to produce higher torque.

While a cordless, battery-operated impact wrench is good for work that requires minimum torque and less power to complete.

Anvil/Chuck Size

Milwaukee’s impact wrenches come with different shaped and sized anvils/chucks where each one is targeted at a differently sized socket. So, what is the deal with the sizes?

Before you head out to buy any impact wrench randomly, pay close attention to the size of the socket you have to work with. If it is a smaller one, you’ll need a wrench with a small anvil and vice versa.

For bigger sockets, you surely need a bigger wrench because a smaller one won’t fit. Common sense, right?

Corded or Cordless

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If your work doesn’t require high power yet you have to reach tight corners to tighten screws, a cordless impact wrench is what you should buy. These run on battery and although most deliver high torque it isn’t as much as the corded ones.

On the contrary, corded impact wrenches may only offer you limited maneuverability but produce higher torque as they use more power/electricity to function, making them ideal for heavy-duty work.

Thus, before you buy a wrench just because it looks good, make sure you know the nature of your task to ensure you buy the right tool.

Ease of Use

Although we do believe that impact wrenches are easy to use, but for a beginner, things can get messy. Rather than investing in a wrench with fancy features (unless you are a professional), go for Milwaukee’s impact wrench that is easy to use, consists of adjustable speed, and is lightweight.

Price

Of course, everyone shops around for tools as per their budget. No matter how much you’re tempted into buying the most expensive impact wrench on the market, remember, money does not always buy you durability.

There are a few brands like Milwaukee that offer great wrenches at affordable prices so that next time you have an urge to let the artist within out, you have this powerful tool to speed up things around.

Durability

It is not every day that you’ll end at the market buying an impact wrench. Power tools like these are costly, and hence, we’d suggest you to invest in a wrench that is made of solid metal so it can withstand the tearing and wearing over time.

Types of Impact Wrenches

Are you planning to buy an impact wrench anytime soon? So, if you’ve already made the decision, it is important for you to understand the types of wrenched available out there. What are we talking about?

Here are the three basic types of impact wrenches you’ll come across during your purchasing spree:

Air OperatedElectricHydraulic

Wrenches run by air motors or compressed air are probably one of the most common types available out there. These are highly powerful and use the air pressure to operate, producing torque that speeds up your work.

Electric (corded or cordless) use a power source either wires or battery to operate. Although these are ideal for smaller tasks but not as powerful as wrenches operated by compressed air.

The hydraulic impact wrenches are probably the most powerful of the three. These use hydraulic motors and fuel to operate, producing high torque that lets you complete heavy-duty tasks without a hassle.

Popular Impact Wrench Brands

Impact wrenches are a great tool when you want to speed up your work. But when buying a tool like this, the brand name is of most importance. You wouldn’t want to buy an impact wrench from an unknown brand and suffer because of the low quality.

Although popular brands are a little expensive than less popular ones, we’ve always invested in known labels because we know they’ll provide nothing less than perfection.

Perhaps, you too share the same opinion as ours, right? But one of the most commonly asked questions is when it comes to buying impact wrenches is that which brand to go for?

With so many labels working hard to deliver and maintain quality, the choice can be a difficult one. Hence, here we’ve set a small comparison for you between known brands, giving you an insight into what each one is offering today!

Milwaukee Vs. DeWalt Impact Wrench

DeWalt and Milwaukee both are the top-rated tool brands around the world today and hence, give one another a tough competition.

But of course, there are some models of impact wrenches where we believe Milwaukee out-performs DeWalt. How? Let’s get to it:

Power/TorqueBrushless MotorWarranty

The first thing that comes into our mind when talking about an impact wrench is the torque and power it produces. And when comparing the two, we’ve found Milwaukee to be better in both.

Although both the labels produce models that are either corded or cordless, we find Milwaukee impact wrenches to be more powerful in terms of performance.

The Milwaukee wrenches use lithium-ion batteries, that produce more power hence delivering higher torque.

Moreover, these batteries are long-lasting and because Milwaukee was the first name to have experimented with lithium-ion batteries, it was able to outrun its competition.

Milwaukee is the pioneer of brushless motors, which gives it an edge over other brands. It was the first enterprise to have come up with the idea of brushless motors that use the magnet as an external rotor.

These motors improve the efficiency of the impact wrench, letting it produce higher torque while reducing friction. This leads to the need for low maintenance and hence, increases durability so you get to use your tool for a long time.

Being the pioneer of the brushless motor, Milwaukee has surely been able to produce better wrenches than its competitors, which followed its footsteps later.

Additionally, in terms of warranty, DeWalt offers 5 years warranty on all its tools while Milwaukee offers only 3 years which can lead to people preferring one over the other.

Milwaukee Vs. Makita

If you ask us, we’d say both these brands are top-rated when it comes down to impact wrenches and related tools. Both offer technologically advanced wrenches that consist of ergonomic design, thus giving you complete control over the tool.

Moreover, they deliver high torque and allow you to speed up your work without much exertion. Although we find both of these to be amazing producers of impact wrenches in terms of price, Milwaukee sells its tools at a higher price as compared to Makita with the same quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size impact wrench for lug nuts should I use?

Lug nuts in the car require a torque of 80-100 ft-lbs to be tightened or loosened.

Hence, when you’re buying an impact wrench for it, make sure it produces torque more than 100 ft-lbs to efficiently screw or remove the lug nuts.

How much torque do I need in an impact wrench?

The torque that you need in an impact wrench depends on the nature of your work. If you have heavy-duty work, then you’ll need an impact wrench that produces a torque of more than 1000 ft-lbs.

While on the other hand, for small-scale tasks, you can efficiently work with impact wrenches delivering torque from anything in between 100 to 500 ft0lbs.

What is the difference between an impact wrench and an impact driver?

As compared to an impact driver, an impact wrench is heavier and produces powerful torque, making it suitable for heavy-duty projects.

Moreover, the wrenches are used for tightening or loosening nuts/bolts while drivers are used for driving screws only.

Are impact wrenches expensive?

This depends on the brand name and models you’re going for. The more features an impact wrench offers including a higher torque, the more expensive it will be.

What mistakes should I avoid when using an impact wrench?

Here is what you should keep in mind when using an impact wrench:

  • Buy a wrench according to the size of the socket or else a misfit won’t do you any good
  • Do not overtight or over fix the nuts and bolts
  • Purchase the right type of wrench that delivers torque that lets you complete your work efficiently

Conclusion

Impact wrenches are a brilliant creation that has made working with nuts and bolts much easier. Rather than exerting more forces on tightening/loosening screws, wrenches have not only sped up the pace but lets you save a lot of energy.

If you’re looking for the best Milwaukee impact wrench, because this brand has always stood by its word to deliver quality tools, we’ll recommend going for eitherM12 Fuel Stubby 3/8” Impact Wrench or Milwaukee M18 High Torque Impact Wrench,as these are durable, powerful and easy to use.

We can assure you of one thing since the day we invested in an impact wrench, we’ve been happily working around our space, renovating stuff every day without feeling tired.

Tagged Impact WrenchMilwaukee

7 Best Milwaukee Impact Wrench [Buying Guide 2021] (2024)
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