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Makita cordless or corded drywall screwdriver

Updated: 24 October 2026

You either own Makita 18 V packs already, or £129.43 has just looked like a complete gun. A Makita cordless or corded drywall screwdriver choice in this set is mostly that mistake. The [Makita drywall screwdriver comparison](/hub/hand-tools/makita-drywall-screwdriver) keeps two bare cordless listings and one 240 V corded gun that is finished when the lead reaches. Neither cordless ASIN is the current UK DFS452. Who should buy which row is the [best Makita drywall screwdriver](/hub/hand-tools/makita-drywall-screwdriver/sub/makita-drywall-screwdriver-best) page. Prices are amazon.co.uk shelf prices in this set. Peter F. did not measure runtime. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You either own Makita 18 V packs already, or £129.43 has just looked like a complete gun. A Makita cordless or corded drywall screwdriver choice in this set is mostly that mistake.

Our top picks

Makita Makita DFS251Z

Best overall

Makita Makita DFS251Z
8.9/10about £129.43
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Makita Makita FS4300/2

Rank 2

Makita Makita FS4300/2
9.2/10about £119.99
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Makita Makita XSF04Z

Alternative

Makita Makita XSF04Z
7.1/10about £294.98
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On this page
  1. 1.The lead that is the whole tool
  2. 2.DFS251Z is a TEK body, not a kit
  3. 3.XSF04Z is not the DFS452
  4. 4.Buy bare only if the pack is already on the shelf

The lead that is the whole tool

Choose the FS4300/2 when a 240 V socket is beside the work and you do not already live on Makita 18 V packs. The listing says 240 V, 4,000 RPM, 570 W, a depth locator and a 1/4 inch hex, at £119.99 and 1.4 kg. The contents line is the screwdriver. Reviewers say the depth collar is easy to knock, so the first screws belong on a scrap. How to set that ring is on the depth adjustment page. The stars are 4.6 from 100 ratings. One UK review, from 31 May 2015, calls it well packed and worth the money. A battery on top of £129.43 can pass £119.99.

DFS251Z is a TEK body, not a kit

The DFS251Z arrives as a body. Batteries and charger are not included. For £129.43 you get the tool, a belt clip and a magnetic socket bit. It is 18 V and brushless, with a 5 mm drywall line and a 6 mm self-drilling line. Reviewers say the holder does not take ordinary 1/4 inch bits and that a plasterboard bit was not supplied. One comment wants a longer holder, around 60 mm, before a normal bit sits properly. Ignore the amazon table. It prints 2.5 RPM and 500 RPM. The manual says 0–2,500 min⁻¹, and working noise may exceed 80 dB(A), so wear ear protection. Non-genuine packs void the warranty.
Makita Makita DFS251Z

Testsieger

Makita Makita DFS251Z
8.9/10about £129.43
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XSF04Z is not the DFS452

The XSF04Z is Makita's US tool-only drywall screwdriver at 2,500 RPM and £294.98. The contents are two insert bits, a 3 inch magnetic holder and a belt clip. A line that says one battery conflicts with the title. The amazon.co.uk rating is 4.3 from 115, and every review in the file is from the United States. Makita UK's current cordless plasterboard gun is the DFS452 at 0–4,000 min⁻¹. It is not this ASIN. The US page asks for a Star-symbol 18 V pack, and this comparison has not fitted a UK LXT pack. Up to 50 percent longer runtime is a listing claim, not a test.

Buy bare only if the pack is already on the shelf

Buy bare only when the pack is already yours and the holder matches the screws. For plasterboard from a house socket, the FS4300/2 stays the simpler buy. For cladding and self-drilling screws, the DFS251Z is the body reviewers describe, if the pack is genuine Makita. A third-party pack that clicks in is not a pack the guarantee allows. The XSF04Z fails that test more sharply: £294.98 for a US code, with no UK review in the file. Take the corded FS4300/2 when the socket is 240 V and you are not already on LXT.

Common questions

Is the DFS251Z ready to board when it arrives?
No. Batteries and charger are not included. At £129.43 the contents are a belt clip, a magnetic socket bit and the tool. Reviewers say that socket is for cladding and does not take an ordinary 1/4 inch bit. You need a genuine Makita 18 V pack and a bit that fits before the 5 mm drywall line means anything on plasterboard.
Which batteries does the manual name?
The DFS251 manual names Makita 18 V LXT packs and the matching chargers. The listing says non-genuine batteries and chargers invalidate the guarantee, and registration within 30 days is tied to the extra two years on top of one year. This page does not list every pack code. The XSF04Z's US page asks for a Star-symbol pack, which this comparison has not checked against a UK LXT battery.
Why is the amazon speed table blank on the comparison?
The DFS251 table prints 2.5 RPM and 500 RPM. Those figures disagree, and neither matches the manual's 0–2,500 min⁻¹. The comparison shows no speed rather than picking a number the listing contradicted. Use the manual if you need a DFS251Z speed. The XSF04Z title does state 2,500 RPM, and that is a different, US code.
Is the XSF04Z the same tool as a DFS452?
No. The XSF04Z is the US tool-only code at 2,500 RPM and £294.98. The DFS452 is Makita UK's 18 V plasterboard screwdriver at 0–4,000 min⁻¹. Shop bodies sit near £249, and kits with batteries cost more. The XSF04Z box is two bits, a 3 inch holder and a belt clip. If you want the UK cordless gun, it is not among these ASINs.
When is the corded FS4300/2 the simpler buy?
When a 240 V socket is next to the board and you do not already own Makita 18 V packs. At £119.99 the screwdriver is the whole tool. A DFS251Z at £129.43 still needs a pack, and a pack on top can cost more than the corded gun. That is a rule of thumb, not a quote. The corded gun is the wrong simpler buy if your only supply is a 110 V site lead.
Will a non-Makita 18 V pack do?
The DFS251 listing says non-genuine batteries and chargers void the warranty. The manual points at Makita LXT packs. A pack that clicks in is not automatically a pack the guarantee allows. If you want the extra years from registration inside 30 days, use a pack the listing accepts. For the XSF04Z, 18 V on a UK pack is not proof it is the Star-symbol battery the US page asks for.

Related pages

Buying guide

Makita drywall screwdriver

Makita drywall screwdriver for a 110 V or 240 V lead

Best Makita drywall screwdriver for a UK 13 A socket

Makita drywall screwdriver depth adjustment, A or B

Sources

Sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026.

  1. Makita UK FS4300 product page (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  2. Makita UK DFS452 product page (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  3. Makita DFS251 instruction manual (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  4. Makita FS4300 family instruction manual (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  5. HSE construction electrical systems (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  6. IET electricity in the workplace FAQ (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  7. Makita USA XSF04Z product page (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  8. Toolden Makita FS2500 110 V (retrieved 22.10.2026)
  9. amazon.co.uk listings for the five ASINs (retrieved 22.10.2026)