Best Overall
Bosch 12-Volt Pocket Driver
AMAZON
- This versatile tool with 20 different settings has more torque than most other options on our list.
This versatile tool with 20 different settings has more torque than most other options on our list.
- The 12-volt battery might not be powerful enough for heavy-duty tasks.
The 12-volt battery might not be powerful enough for heavy-duty tasks.
Don’t let this pocket driver’s small size fool you: It’s a powerful, versatile tool. The Bosch PS21-2A 12V Max 2-Speed Pocket Driver Kit has far more torque than most of the other electric screwdrivers on our list, which means it can handle tough tasks.
You can also adjust the torque, as there are 20 different settings to suit whatever project you’re working on. With a pistol grip (rather than a fixed straight shaft) and a short head, it can fit in tight corners and small workspaces with ease. A built-in LED light illuminates dark spaces.
The tool’s two-speed settings (0-350 rpm and 0-1,300 rpm) let you match it to the task at hand, and a forward and reverse switch lets you drive fasteners and remove them easily.
It comes with two 12-volt lithium-ion batteries, a 12-volt charger, two 1.5-inch driver bits, and a carrying bag. While the battery power might not be sufficient for heavy-duty tasks, all in all, this small but mighty electric driver is the complete package.
Product Details: Max Speed: 1,300 rpm | Weight: 1.4 pounds | Torque: 30 Newton-meters
Key Terms to Know
- Fastener: A screw, nut, or bolt
- Pistol-grip: An electric screwdriver that is shaped like a drill with a trigger button
- Torgue: A measure of force
Best Budget
HOTO NEX Pro 3.6-volt Electric Screwdriver
AMAZON
- The intelligent knob adjusts the torque easily to suit the task at hand.
The intelligent knob adjusts the torque easily to suit the task at hand.
- It has a straight shaft rather than a pistol grip, which can be restrictive.
It has a straight shaft rather than a pistol grip, which can be restrictive.
Doc from Last Best Tool has been impressed with Hoto tools he has tested. An intelligent rotary knob allows the Hoto Nex Electric Screwdriver to adjust the torque to suit the current task.
The low-torque setting is ideal for computer and speaker work, medium torque is suited for furniture assembly, and the highest level of torque is meant for skateboard and bicycle repair. It also has an instant stop feature to avoid over-tightening or over-rotating fasteners.
It has a sleek design and comes with four S2 steel long bits (for Philips, hex, Torx, flathead, and Pozidriv fasteners), which are stored discreetly in the tool’s base. The top has a soft rubber coating for a comfortable grip.
An LED lamp illuminates your work surface and turns off automatically, and you can charge the battery with a USB-C cord. Note that, unlike many of the drivers on our list, this one is a straight shaft rather than a pistol grip, which might make it difficult to reach into cramped corners or tight spots.
Product Details: Max Speed: 220 rpm | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Torque: 4 Newton-meters
Best Splurge
Dewalt 8-Volt Gyroscopic Electric Screwdriver Kit
AMAZON
- The speed on this gyroscopic driver is motion-activated.
The speed on this gyroscopic driver is motion-activated.
- You need to turn off the tool to use it as a manual screwdriver.
You need to turn off the tool to use it as a manual screwdriver.
The Dewalt 8-volt Max Cordless Screwdriver is a futuristic little dynamo! It has an internal gyroscope that adjusts the driver’s speed with a turn of your wrist. Rotate slightly for a slower, more precise task, turn farther to amp up the speed, or tilt the tool counterclockwise to reverse the driver.
“It’s very similar to a pedal-assisted e-bike, where the harder you pedal, the more the bike engages,” Doc explains. “With this screwdriver, the harder you turn it, the more force it applies to the fastener. That’s why I like it: It’s more integrated into your motion as opposed to just an electric motor and a switch.”
You can also adjust the screwdriver’s position to in-line or a pistol grip—whichever is handier for your project. An LED light provides illumination in confined or shadowy areas, and a status bar alerts you when the battery needs to be swapped or charged.
The kit includes two 8-volt lithium batteries. Additionally, the driver comes with a charger and a storage bag. It’s also tied for the lightest-weight driver on our list.
Our only complaint is that the gyroscope feature means you must turn off the tool if you want to use it as a fixed screwdriver (perhaps to achieve exactly the tightness you want), but that’s a small gripe.
Product Details: Max Speed: 430 rpm | Weight: 1.1 pounds | Torque: 2.6 Newton-meters
Best Power
Milwaukee Fuel Surge Hydraulic Driver
AMAZON
- It has a self-tapping screw mode to reduce movement when installing self-tapping screws.
It has a self-tapping screw mode to reduce movement when installing self-tapping screws.
- The driver is louder than some of the other electric screwdrivers on our list.
The driver is louder than some of the other electric screwdrivers on our list.
For heavy-duty tasks, the Milwaukee Surge Driver is our pick. It has a hydraulic powertrain, which makes the tool smoother and faster. The drive control offers four different modes, so you can control how fast the driver spins and how much power it exerts.
There’s also a self-tapping screw mode that reduces “walking” (movement of the screw) when you’re starting self-tapping screws; this mode also reduces overdriving, breaking, and stripping screws.
Doc notes that the Surge is powerful even at low speed. “It’s like an impact driver if you take the torque way down and run it really slow,” he explains. At that point, “it’s using a kind of impact mechanism, rather than a twisting one, so your control on the tool is really precise.”
This kit comes with the driver, a belt clip, a bit holder, and a battery, which is compatible with all Milwaukee 18-volt batteries and chargers. The battery has a three-year warranty, and the driver itself has a five-year warranty; Milwaukee will repair or replace its products if there are any defects in materials and workmanship.
Some users might find this driver to be loud, especially when compared with other electric screwdrivers, which is something to note.
Product Details: Max Speed: 3,200 rpm | Weight: 1 pound | Torque: 50.8 Newton-meters
Best Heavy Duty
Bosch Go (Gen-2.0) Smart Screwdriver
AMAZON
- A dual-activation feature lets you press the button or simply push the tool to start it.
A dual-activation feature lets you press the button or simply push the tool to start it.
- The battery might not last long enough to complete large tasks.
The battery might not last long enough to complete large tasks.
To use the Bosch GO Smart Screwdriver, you can press the “on” button—or simply push the tool into the fastener to start it. The mechanical clutch comes with five torque settings, so you can adjust the power for the project, and an electronic brake stops the driver immediately when you turn it off.
The straight shaft has a soft grip for comfort when you’re using it. We would just note that the tool does charge with a micro-USB cable, and it may not be suitable for large tasks.
Product Details: Max Speed: 360 rpm | Weight: 1.43 pounds | Torque: 2.5-5 Newton-meters
Best Mini
LIFEGOO Mini Electric Screwdriver
AMAZON
- It includes three LED lights to illuminate your work area.
It includes three LED lights to illuminate your work area.
- It may not be as durable as other models.
It may not be as durable as other models.
Not much larger than a pen, the Lifegoo Mini Electric Screwdriver is very functional for its size. Its torque varies from 0.25-0.30 Newton-meters for electric use and goes up to 3 N-m for manual use.
Three LED lights provide extra visibility, and its carrying case comes with more than 60 high-quality bits (Philips, Torx, hex, slotted, and more) that fit snugly into the end with a magnet. The driver is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery, which charges in 40 minutes (for up to three hours of operation time).
As a mini electric screwdriver, it doesn’t possess the power or speed for heavy-duty applications, such as screwing into wood or drywall—it is meant for smaller jobs. It also may not be as durable as other, more substantial electric screwdrivers.
Product Details: Max Speed: 200 rpm | Weight: 1.3 pounds | Torque: 0.25-3.0
Best Precision
Wowstick Precision Screwdriver
AMAZON
- It comes with more than 50 bits.
It comes with more than 50 bits.
- This tool should be kept dry and free from moisture and humidity.
This tool should be kept dry and free from moisture and humidity.
The Wowstick Precision Screwdriver comes with more than 50 popular bits, which are compatible with most electronic devices. The driver itself has a slim body with a pen shape, making it easy to grip and carry. The driver charges in its own stand, which plugs into a power supply with a USB cable.
The device includes an LED light like most options on our list. It has a maximum speed of 200 rpm and torque up to 3 Newton-meters, which is suitable for lighter-duty, precision tasks: repairing cameras, phones, eyeglasses, laptops, and the like.
The driver, bits, and a lithium-ion battery all come in a compact storage box to protect it from moisture, which could make it short-circuit, so be sure to keep it dry.
Product Details: Max Speed: 200 rpm | Weight: 1.83 pounds | Torque: 0.15-3.0 Newton-meters
Best All-in-One
WORX Semi-Automatic Power Screwdriver
TARGET
- It includes a handy slide-action bit changer and screw-holder for increased ease of use.
It includes a handy slide-action bit changer and screw-holder for increased ease of use.
- The tool light illuminates only when the driver is spinning.
The tool light illuminates only when the driver is spinning.
If you’ve got a lot of work to do, the Worx Semi-Automatic Power Screwdriver is just the partner you want by your side. It has several smart features that make quick work of almost any task. A quick-draw bit changer lets you swap out bits with the flick of your thumb.
It also stores bits you’re not using in a secure spot (rather than on your work surface or in your pocket). An attachment on the end keeps a screw in place so you can drive it with just one hand. And a single charge can last up to 18 months.
The Worx device includes a charger (the battery is internal) and six popular bits. And it is tied for the lightest weight of all the electric screwdrivers on our list.
Our main complaint is that the light on the driver’s end comes on only when the tool is spinning. We wish it would illuminate with a light squeeze of the trigger so the user could see where to put the bit.
Product Details: Max Speed: 230 rpm | Weight: 1.1 pounds | Torque: 3.1 Newton-meters