Makita Impact Drivers
A Makita impact driver is what you grab when screws keep snapping, bits keep camming out, and you need fixings driven fast, straight, and repeatable.
On first fix, decking, roofing and steelwork, a Makita impact driver puts torque in without you leaning on it all day. Choose body only if you're already on LXT; go for a Makita impact driver with battery and charger if you're starting fresh. Pick brushless if it's living in the van.
What Are Makita Impact Drivers Used For?
- Driving long screws into timber for studwork, joists, decking and roofing battens without constantly stripping heads or burning your wrist out.
- Running coach screws and structural fixings where a standard drill driver stalls, especially when you are working one handed up a ladder or on a roof.
- Fixing metal to metal with self drilling screws on framing and ducting, where the impact action keeps the bit engaged and stops cam out.
- Fast repetitive fit out work like kitchen carcasses, door hardware and bracketry, where a compact Makita impact driver keeps pace and fits tight corners.
- Site snagging and maintenance, because a Makita cordless impact driver is quick for removing and refitting fixings without dragging a combi around.
Choosing the Right Makita Impact Driver
Match the Makita impact driver to the fixings you actually use, then choose the kit format that fits your battery setup.
1. Brushless vs Brushed
If it is a daily driver, go Makita brushless impact driver every time for better runtime and less heat when you are hammering in long screws. If it is only for occasional snagging, brushed will do the job, but it will not feel as sharp under load.
2. Body Only vs Kit (Battery and Charger)
If you are already on Makita LXT, buy a Makita impact driver body only and put the money into decent bits. If you are starting out or your batteries are tired, a Makita impact driver with battery and charger saves you turning up with dead kit.
3. 18V LXT Platform Compatibility
If you want one battery system across the van, stick with a Makita 18V impact driver on LXT so your drill, impact and lights all share packs. Do not mix random chargers and batteries on site, it is how you end up short mid shift.
4. Control Features for Finishing Work
If you are doing kitchens, doors or anything you can mark, look for speed control and assist modes so you are not overdriving screws. If it is pure first fix, prioritise torque and a tough gearbox feel over fancy settings.
Makita Impact Driver FAQs
Is Makita a good impact driver?
Yes. On UK sites Makita impact drivers are a go to because the LXT platform is solid, spares and batteries are easy to live with, and the tools take daily abuse. They are not magic though, you still need impact rated bits and the right settings to avoid snapping screws.
What Makita impact driver is best?
The best Makita impact driver UK buyers pick is usually the Makita 18V brushless impact driver that matches their workload. If you are on it every day, go brushless and look for good control modes as well as torque. If it is occasional snagging, a simpler Makita impact driver 18V will still be fine.
Can a Makita impact driver be used as a drill?
Sort of, but it is not the right tool for clean drilling. You can run hex shank drill bits for quick pilot holes, but for accurate holes in timber, metal, or masonry you want a proper drill driver or combi. A Makita drill and impact driver combo is the sensible setup.
Is Makita impact better than DeWalt?
It depends what you already own and what feels right in the hand. Both make proper trade kit and both have strong brushless options. The smart move is to choose the platform you are already invested in for batteries and chargers, because that is what costs you money and downtime on site.
Can a Makita impact driver take off lug nuts?
Not reliably. A Makita impact driver is for driving screws and smaller fixings; wheel nuts normally need an impact wrench with the right torque and proper impact sockets. You might shift the odd one, but do not buy an impact driver expecting it to do wheel changes day in, day out.
Who Uses Makita Impact Drivers?
- Chippies and joiners on first fix and second fix, because an impact driver Makita 18V will drive fixings all day without slipping out the head.
- Roofers and cladders who need compact power for long screws and brackets, especially when working at height and swapping bits constantly.
- Sparks and plumbers for tray, brackets and plant room fixings, because a small Makita impact driver gets into corners where a drill impact setup is too bulky.
- Maintenance teams and shopfitters who want a Makita drill and impact driver combo, keeping the drill for holes and the impact for driving so nothing gets abused.
The Basics: Understanding Impact Drivers
An impact driver is not just a drill with more power. It drives screws using rapid impacts, so the bit stays engaged and the tool keeps turning when a drill driver would stall.
1. Impact Action vs Drill Action
A Makita impact driver hammers rotationally when it meets resistance, which is why it drives long fixings without you leaning on it. That is what stops cam out on stubborn screws and keeps work moving.
2. Hex Bit Holder and Fast Bit Changes
Most Makita impact drivers use a quarter inch hex chuck, so you can swap PZ, TX and nut setters quickly with one hand. On site, that saves time every time you jump between pilot holes, fixings and brackets.
3. When You Still Need a Drill
Use a drill for clean holes and controlled boring, then use the impact for driving. If you try to make an impact do all your drilling, you will chew bits and end up with rough holes in timber and metal.
Makita Impact Accessories That Stop Site Headaches
The driver is only half the story; the right bits and sockets are what stop snapped heads, rounded fixings, and wasted time.
1. Impact Rated Bit Sets (PZ, TX, PH)
Use proper impact bits, not standard screwdriver bits, or you will keep shattering tips and rounding screw heads. A decent Makita impact driver set of bits pays for itself the first week on first fix.
2. Nut Setter and Impact Socket Sets
For tek screws, bolts and fixings into steelwork, nut setters and impact sockets stop slipping and save your knuckles. Make sure they are impact rated so they do not split under hammering.
3. Spare LXT Batteries and a Fast Charger
If your Makita impact driver is your main tool, carry at least one extra battery so you are not waiting on charge when the fixings start. A fast charger is the difference between staying productive and borrowing kit.
Shop Makita Impact Drivers at ITS
Whether you need a compact Makita impact driver body only to match your LXT kit, or a Makita impact driver with battery and charger for a fresh setup, we stock the full range of Makita impact drivers and sets. It is all held in our own warehouse, in stock and ready for next day delivery when you need it on site.
