Electric screwdriver vs cordless drill

Updated: October 2026

You have a bookcase to assemble this weekend and a fence panel to fix next month, and you would rather buy one tool than two.

You have a bookcase to assemble this weekend and a fence panel to fix next month, and you would rather buy one tool than two. Electric screwdriver vs cordless drill comes down to the job: screws in existing holes, or new holes and large screws. Buy the electric screwdriver for pre-drilled furniture, fittings and tight spaces. Buy a drill, or an impact driver, when you must make holes, work in masonry or drive long structural screws. Do not expect a 5 Nm stick to do both. The electric screwdriver comparison covers the screwdrivers. A qualifying purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Our top picks

Badge	Product	Torque	Speed	Form	Note	Price	Offer
Best overall	Bosch Bosch IXO 7	5.5 Nm	235 rpm	Inline stick	8.5	about £41.90	View offer
	WORX WORX WX240	5 Nm	300 rpm	Inline stick	7.7	about £29.99	View offer
Best value	HYCHIKA HYCHIKA SD-4F	6 Nm	180 rpm	Folding handle	7.8	about £17.89	View offer

Best overall

8.5/10about £41.90

Rank 2

7.7/10about £29.99

Best value

HYCHIKA HYCHIKA SD-4F

7.8/10about £17.89

View offer

On this page

1.They are different tools
2.When the screwdriver is the one to use
3.When you need a drill or an impact driver
4.If you can buy only one

They are different tools

The screwdrivers in this set print 3–6 Nm where a figure is given, turn at about 180–300 rpm, take a 1/4 inch hex bit and run on a built-in cell. Most weigh well under 1.2 kg. The Bosch EasyImpact 18V-38 was removed because it is a drill: 18 V, 38 Nm, up to 1,630 rpm, a 10 mm chuck, a separate 2.5 Ah pack and 2.33 kg, at £76.50 when we captured it. ManoMano's UK guide puts cordless screwdrivers at about 10 Nm at most and drill drivers at about 40 Nm, a retailer rule of thumb. BBC Gardeners' World cites combi drills near 2,000 rpm and screwdrivers near 200 rpm. The IXO table's 230 V beside a 3.6 V title is a listing quirk, not drill-level power.

When the screwdriver is the one to use

Use the electric screwdriver for screws in holes that already exist: pre-drilled flat-pack, hinges, switch plates and battery covers. Low torque is a benefit on chipboard, which holds a thread poorly. A slim stick also fits inside a carcass where an 18 V drill will not go. Expert Reviews notes that drills and impact drivers can send screws through chipboard on light work. Cams, bits and reach are on the electric screwdriver for furniture page.

Testsieger

Bosch Bosch IXO 7

8.5/10about £41.90

View offer

When you need a drill or an impact driver

Making a hole is the dividing line. A pilot hole in hardwood, a plug in brick, or a 75 mm screw into a joist needs a chuck, speed and more torque than 6 Nm. Expert Reviews recommends a drill or impact driver for stud walls, fencing and decking. Screwfix suggests about 6–8 V for screwdriving and 12–18 V for light masonry. That is retailer guidance, and it does not make a 3.6 V stick a drill. Twist bits in the MQFORU and cupeohome kits do not change that. One UK MQFORU review did not expect those bits to go through wood. An impact driver is a third tool, for long screws such as decking screws. BBC Gardeners' World calls an electric screwdriver a companion to a drill, not a replacement.

If you can buy only one

Decide by the next six months of jobs, not by one heavy task. If most of the list is flat-pack, hinges and covers, buy an electric screwdriver and borrow a drill for the odd wall plug. Clutch, charging and the UK plug are on the electric screwdriver buying guide. If holes in masonry, fencing, decking or stud walls are routine, buy a drill driver or combi drill and shop outside this category. A drill can drive furniture screws on a low clutch, and it is less forgiving on particle board. The best cordless screwdriver page names a top pick and a best value on the screwdriver side. We compared amazon.co.uk listings and public UK sources. We did not run a lab test.

Common questions

Can I assemble furniture with a combi drill?

You can, but it is easy to overdo it. A combi drill delivers far more torque than a 3–6 Nm electric screwdriver and can strip a chipboard hole or push a screw through a panel. If a drill is all you have, set the clutch to its lowest setting, use a slow speed and finish each screw by hand.

Can I drill a pilot hole with an electric screwdriver?

Not reliably. The electric screwdrivers we compared print 3–6 Nm and turn at around 180–300 rpm, which is too little for clean holes in timber and far too little for masonry. Some cheap kits include twist bits, but that does not make the tool a drill. Use a drill driver or combi drill for pilot holes.

What is an impact driver for?

An impact driver drives long screws into timber with short rotational blows, for jobs such as decking, fencing and stud work. It is not a furniture tool, and Expert Reviews warns that impact drivers and drills can send screws through chipboard. If your jobs are mostly flat-pack and fittings, an electric screwdriver is the better match.

Is an 18 V drill just a stronger screwdriver?

No. An 18 V drill such as the Bosch EasyImpact 18V-38, which we removed from the screwdriver category, prints 38 Nm, up to 1,630 rpm, a 10 mm chuck and 2.33 kg. A household electric screwdriver prints 3–6 Nm and around 200 rpm. The drill is built to make holes. The screwdriver is built to drive screws gently into existing ones.

Why is the Bosch EasyImpact not in the screwdriver table?

The Bosch EasyImpact 18V-38 is a drill, not an electric screwdriver. Its extract shows 18 V, 38 Nm, a 10 mm chuck, a separate battery pack and 2.33 kg, which puts it in a different category. We mention it here only as a contrast and do not score or rank it alongside the screwdrivers.

If I can buy only one tool, which job decides?

Your most frequent job decides. If you mostly assemble furniture and fit hinges, brackets and covers, an electric screwdriver is the better single tool. If you regularly drill into masonry, fix fences or build decking, buy a drill driver or combi drill instead. Plan around your next six months of jobs, not a rare heavy task.

Cordless drill comparison