Milwaukee
M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only)
$149Cheaper
Released 2022
Best Impact Drivers · head-to-head
M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) vs Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only)
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) is cheaper at $149. Every spec and price links to its source.
Makita
Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only)
$195
Released 2019
Which is better: the M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) or Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only)?
The Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only) wins 2 of the 2 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) is the cheaper at $149. Get the Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only) for the stronger spec sheet, the M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) to spend less.
See M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) on Amazon See Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only) on Amazon
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) | Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only) |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $149 | $195 |
| Brand | Milwaukee | Makita |
| Released | 2022 | 2019 |
| Voltage (V) | 18 | 18 |
| Max torque in (lb) | 2000 | 1600 |
| Max (rpm) | 3900 | 3600 |
| Max ipm | 4400 | 3800 |
| Brushless | Yes | Yes |
| Speed settings | 4 | 4 |
| Weight (lb) | 2.2 | 1.9 |
Sources — M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only): milwaukeetool.com (verified 2026-06-19). Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only): makitatools.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) and Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only)?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Max torque in (lb): M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 2000 vs Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only) 1600
- Max (rpm): M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 3900 vs Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only) 3600
- Max ipm: M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 4400 vs Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only) 3800
- Weight (lb): M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 2.2 vs Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only) 1.9
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only)
Only one whitelisted tester, Pro Tool Reviews, yielded a readable hands-on review; TechGearLab was under maintenance and no Popular Mechanics test exists. PTR scored the Gen-4 2953 9.7/10, calling it their best all-around impact driver to date, praising near-top drive speeds, a 4.47-inch compact frame, and a shadow-killing tri-beam LED. No drawbacks flagged. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Rated best all-around impact driver PTR has tested, with performance consistently near the top of the field (fast measured drive times, e.g. 8.6s RSS-screw average on a 5.0Ah pack); Class-leading compactness at 4.47 inches, 0.12 in shorter than the prior gen while keeping 2.2 lb bare weight; Tri-beam ring LED around the collet eliminates shadows better than trigger-mounted lights, plus one-hand bit insertion.
Makita XDT16Z 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only)
One whitelisted hands-on source: Pro Tool Reviews (9.5/10) timed the XDT16 (XDT16Z bare tool) through their impact-driver test track, finishing in 1:59, and clocked ~8.5 sec on GRK 8-inch RSS screws in stacked OSB. They praise its compact, lightweight build (2.9 lbs with battery) and class-leading, sustained driving speed but flag limited torque for large lag or timber screws. This is a single-source review. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Incredibly compact and lightweight (under 3 lbs with battery); Excellent, sustained driving speed vs competitors; Advanced controls: 4 standard plus 4 smart assist modes with programmable switch.
Flagged: Limited torque (1,600 in-lbs) for large timber/lag/ledger screws; Premium price.