The 9 Best Electric Screwdrivers of 2023 | by The Spruce

We researched a wide range of cordless screwdrivers, evaluating each model for ergonomics, power, ease of use, battery life, and overall value. Our top pick, the DEWALT DCF680N2 8-Volt Gyroscopic Electric Screwdriver Kit , has plenty of power, as well as unique gyroscope action that adjusts the speed based on your wrist movements.

Electric screwdrivers fill the gap between power drills and manual screwdrivers. These handy cordless tools are lightweight, easy to use, and very convenient when you need to drive a lot of screws while assembling furniture, hanging artwork, tightening loose fasteners, or doing similar projects around your home. But Deane Biermeier , a licensed contractor and carpenter, as well as member of The Spruce’s Home Improvement Editorial Board, cautions, “Remember that an electric screwdriver isn’t a drill. Electric screwdrivers are excellent at reaching into confined spaces and installing or removing screws that require relatively little torque. While there are heavier-duty electric screwdrivers, these tools are generally intended for use on lighter tasks. Heavier use, such as driving long screws into wood without a pilot hole, is a job for a drill, not a screwdriver.”

Best Overall

DEWALT DCF680N2 8-Volt Gyroscopic Electric Screwdriver Kit

4.9

8-Volt Gyroscopic Electric Screwdriver Kit

DEWALT

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What We Like

Gyroscopic action
Adjustable grip
Variable speed
Adjustable torque

What We Don’t Like

Doesn’t come with any bits
Gyroscopic action can be tricky in very tight spots

If you only need a screwdriver occasionally to drive one screw, then you don’t need this tool. But if a screwdriver is a regular part of your day, week, or even month, then you’ll find that the many features of the DEWALT DCF680N2 make it well worth the price. This is an 8-volt electric screwdriver that runs off a DEWALT MAX battery pack, which charges in less than an hour and stays charged for days, depending on how often you use it. But thanks to the battery charge status indicator, you’ll never have to guess when it’s time to recharge.

That’s certainly not all this powerful cordless screwdriver offers, however. It is a gyroscopic screwdriver, which is a fancy way to say that the tool automatically increases speed and direction with the movements of your hand; turn your hand towards the right, and the screwdriver drives the screw forward. Turn your hand towards the left, and the screwdriver reverses to pull the screw back out. The more you turn your hand, the faster the bit turns. The variable speed of the tool ranges from 0 to 430 rpm, depending on the movement of your hand. There’s also an adjustable clutch with 15 settings to determine the torque level up to a maximum of 40 inch-pounds—you won’t find this feature in lower-power or lower-end cordless screwdrivers.

The handle of the screwdriver can be adjusted to either pistol-grip or inline-grip configurations, so you can choose the one that works best for your needs: go inline if you are working in a tight spot, or pistol if you need a more secure grip. The tool also has a built-in LED light and an easy-change 1/4-inch chuck for use with bits up to 1 inch in length. The screwdriver kit includes two batteries, a charger, and a carrying bag, but note that it does not include bits, which you can purchase separately.

Price at time of publish: $104

Best Budget

BLACK+DECKER AS6NG Cordless Screwdriver

black-decker-cordless-screwdriver

Amazon

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What We Like

Reasonable price
Lightweight
Narrow nose for tight spots

What We Don’t Like

Not a lot of power
No work light
No speed adjustment

This reasonably priced cordless screwdriver is very basic, but if you merely need a tool for occasionally tightening loose screws around the house, hanging blinds, or similar tasks, this is a great option that’s also easy to store, thanks to the pegboard hole at the end of the handle. You can turn off the tool and use it as a manual screwdriver, if desired. This screwdriver has an inline-grip handle and is comfortable to hold. At 6 volts and running off four AA batteries (included), you aren’t getting a lot of power, but you don’t need excessive force for the types of projects to which this tool is suited.

There are no speed settings, just on or off. When switched on, this electric screwdriver delivers speeds up to 130 rpm and 20 inch-pounds of torque. It has a fairly narrow nose, which makes it easy to maneuver in tight spots. The screwdriver includes one Philips head and one flat-head bit, but you can purchase other bits in different sizes, as long as they match this screwdriver’s 1/4-inch shank. It does not include a case but is easily stored in a tool box or even a kitchen drawer.

Price at time of publish: $16

Best Heavy-Duty

Bosch PS21-2A 12-Volt Pocket Driver

PS21-2A 12-Volt Pocket Driver

Bosch

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What We Like

High speed and high torque
Two speed settings
Compact shape for accessing tight spots

What We Don’t Like

Not variable speed
Few complaints about charger

This 12-volt electric screwdriver might be compact in size, but it’s definitely not short on power. It has 21 clutch settings for torque up to a whopping 265 inch-pounds, and it has two speed settings: low is 0 to 350 rpm and high is 0 to 1,300 rpm, making this a faster and more powerful cordless screwdriver than most others. It has a forward/reverse switch and a built-in work light. The shank is 1/4 inch, so you can use any 1/4-inch, hex-based bits with the tool, although it comes with a flat-head and a Philips-head bit.

Thanks to its compact size—just 5.6 inches long and 1.4 pounds in weight—you can easily use the screwdriver to access screws that are deeply set, in awkward spots, or over your head. And thanks to its power, the screwdriver easily drives screws not just into wood of any hardness, but also into soft-to-medium-bodied metal. Along with the screwdriver and two bits, you get two 12-volt batteries, a charger, and a handy carrying case for all of it.

Price at time of publish: $89

Best for Electronics

AMIR 28-in-1 Precision Electric Screwdriver

28-in-1 Precision Electric Screwdriver

AMIR

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What We Like

Includes large set of precision bits
Very lightweight and compact
Tip can be magnetized or demagnetized

What We Don’t Like

Poor battery life
Doesn’t include good case

This isn’t a cordless screwdriver for use in household tasks, but rather a precision screwdriver for use in repairing electronics, jewelry, eyeglasses, or other items with very tiny screws. The screwdriver itself is not much larger than an ink pen, at just a bit over 7 inches in length and a little more than 1/2 inch in diameter. The tool runs off a 350-mAh rechargeable battery and includes a USB cord for charging the battery when needed. An indicator light lets you know when the screwdriver is fully charged. It has a forward/reverse button and three built-in LED lights, which are very helpful when doing delicate work.

The screwdriver has a top speed of 180 rpm and delivers up to 3 inch-pounds of torque with the motor on or 26 inch-pounds of torque when used as a manual screwdriver. It comes with a set of 24 precision bits in various sizes and shapes, as well as a magnetizer/demagnetizer to make the tip of the tool magnetic or remove magnetic charge, a prying tool for opening computers and other electronics, and a USB charging cable.

Price at time of publish: $26

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Best for Assembling Furniture

BLACK+DECKER BCRTA601I Hexdriver Furniture Assembly Tool

Hexdriver Furniture Assembly Tool

BLACK+DECKER

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What We Like

Indispensable for assembling furniture
Includes five screwdriver bits as well as a hex wrench
Built-in work light

What We Don’t Like

No carrying case
Not very powerful

Buying the perfect assemble-yourself bookcase, dresser, or cabinet can turn from exciting to exasperating once you discover how many screws are required to put the piece together. And the Allen wrenches typically included with flat-packed furniture are not easy to hold or turn. The solution to the problem is the BLACK+DECKER BCRTA601I Hexdriver, which has a patent-pending chuck designed to hold the Allen wrench that came with the furniture, letting you drive screws three times faster than if you just did it by hand. Plus, it’s far more comfortable to hold and easier on your fingers. And of course, you can also use the tool to drive regular screws; it comes with five screwdriver bits, including Philips, slotted, and square. It also includes a 4-mm hex wrench.

The screwdriver has a 4-volt battery that charges with the included USB cable. You cannot adjust the speed, which tops out at 180 rpm. The torque maxes out at 45 inch-pounds. There’s a built-in work light, which is handy when working in cabinets or other dimly lit spots. The Hexdriver does not include a carrying case, however.

Price at time of publish: $26

Best Variable Speed

Milwaukee M12 2401-22 Electric Screwdriver Kit

M12 2401-22 Electric Screwdriver Kit

Milwaukee

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What We Like

Very powerful torque
Variable speed
Includes two batteries

What We Don’t Like

Doesn’t include any bits
Somewhat heavy

Most lower-powered electric screwdrivers either have no speed settings at all or only have a low/high speed switch. More heavy-duty tools, however, often have a variable speed setting, which lets you tailor the speed to your needs—go fast when driving smaller screws, or slow it down when driving large screws that require more force. The Milwaukee 2401-22 is a professional-level tool, with a 12-volt battery that’s compatible with other Milwaukee tools and up to 500 rpm of speed. There are 16 clutch settings for up to a powerful 175 inch-pounds of torque; not many screws are going to resist that kind of force.

This powerful cordless screwdriver has a built-in LED work light, a fuel gauge so you always know how much battery power remains, and a quick-change 1/4-inch hex chuck that requires just one hand for easy changes of the bits. And while designed for use as a driver, with the appropriate bit you could also use this tool for lightweight drilling. At 2 pounds, it’s somewhat heavy for this type of tool, but it’s only 6.5 inches long, making it easy to use in tight spaces. The drill comes with two batteries, a charger, and a carrying bag. It does not include bits, but you can purchase them separately.

Price at time of publish: $99

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Best Inline Grip

Worx WX240L Cordless Screwdriver

3-Speed Cordless Screwdriver

Worx

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What We Like

Includes 12 bits
Three torque settings
Comfortable grip

What We Don’t Like

Not very powerful

This 4-volt cordless screwdriver from Worx is comfortable to hold and maneuver with an inline-grip that reaches into even tight spaces. Unlike many similar electric screwdrivers, this one has three torque settings: use the lowest, which is 22-inch-pounds, for reversing screws or driving small fasteners, the middle setting for driving average-sized screws, and the high setting, which is 44-inch-pounds, for driving larger fasteners. The top speed of the drill is 300 rpm; the more tightly you squeeze the trigger, the faster it goes.

There’s a battery life indicator, but you won’t need to worry about it very often, as the screwdriver can remain charged for 45 minutes of actual working time. It recharges with an included USB cable. There’s also a built-in work light. This tool includes a very nice assortment of bits: one 2-inch power bit, a magnetic bit holder, three Philips-head bits, three slotted-head bits, two square-head bits, and two torque bits. That lets you tackle a wide range of screws, from very small fasteners used in electronics to screws used in common household items such as furniture. You also get a storage box for the kit.

Price at time of publish: $38

Best Adjustable Grip

Makita DF001DW Electric Screwdriver Kit

DF001DW Screwdriver Kit

Makita

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What We Like

Includes a set of 81 bits
Adjustable handle for inline or pistol grip configurations

What We Don’t Like

No battery life indicator
Slow battery recharging time

Why commit yourself to only an inline or a pistol grip, when you can have both in one tool? The Makita DF001DW lets you configure the handle to either inline or pistol, which is ideal when you tackle a wide range of projects. The built-in 3.6-volt battery charges with an included micro USB cable. The tool does not have adjustable speeds or torque but provides a maximum speed of 220 rpm, a top torque of 40 inch-pounds when powered on, and a maximum torque of 53 inch-pounds when used as a manual screwdriver.

Unlike many other cordless screwdrivers, you can turn the LED light on this one on or off, rather than having it automatically stay on during use. And at a mere 0.8 pounds, it’s very lightweight, although not especially compact in size. One big bonus is the included set of 81 bits in various styles and sizes, ensuring that you’ll always have the right bit for your project. On the downside, however, the screwdriver does not have a battery life indicator, although it does have a long battery run time. It includes a carrying case.

Price at time of publish: $64

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Best for Household Use

Skil SD561801 4-Volt Cordless Screwdriver

SD561801 4-Volt Cordless Screwdriver

Skil

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What We Like

Lightweight and compact
Includes nine bits
Reasonable price

What We Don’t Like

No carrying case
Not a lot of power

This compact, lightweight electric screwdriver is perfect for a wide range of DIY projects and household repairs. Its 4-volt battery recharges with a USB cord, and once charged, it runs for quite a while before needing another charge. The ergonomic handle is easy to hold, and the two-finger trigger gives you good control, making it easy to carry out even delicate tasks. The screwdriver does not have adjustable speed or torque but provides up to 220 rpm of speed and 36 inch-pounds of torque.

There’s a built-in LED light to illuminate your work area, and the screwdriver has two magnetic spots for holding extra bits, so if you are working with different sizes of bit, you can keep them close at hand. The direction reverse buttons are on each side, making it easy for left-handed or right-handed use. The tool comes with a set of nine bits in common Philips, slotted, Torx, and square sizes, but you could use other 1/4-inch-shank bits if desired. On the downside, there is no included carrying case.

Price at time of publish: $20