1/4 inch vs 3/8 inch impact driver

I'm looking to get a cordless impact driver but I can't decide on the drive size:

1/4" or 3/8" (or 1/2")

Which is more useful?
Opinions??

BTW: I'm looking at DeWalt 20v MAX tools, because I have other tools that use the same batteries.

Thanks.

i use my 1/2 inch Ryobi 18v all the time and it works great. not sure you want something as small a 1/4 or even 3/8 for impact.

EDIT: I've had my half inch square drive extension in my 1/4 impact driver for so long i forgot that my half inch is an extension. that said the 1/4 inch has plenty of power and if i'm taking off a stubborn or tight bolt i usually have a long breaker bar or wrench to get it started so i don't beat up or round off the nuts or sockets.
good luck

Mostly "de-construction" work for Habitat for Humanity ReStore;
removing kitchen/bathroom cabinetry, shelving, garage doors, etc.
I frequently find that I need an impact driver for some of the more stubborn screws/bolts.

But I also would like to be able to use it for occasional automotive work.

well, 1/4 would be great for construction.

3/8 for under the car/truck, and 1/4 inside it.

Which one sells more? I'd pick up the rare-er one new, then find a good condition used one of the more common size....

i have had both the Dewalt 1/4" and the 3/8" in the last two weeks and sent back the 1/4 because it feels the same weight as the 3/8". the 3/8" 20v max also is the brushless model and i opted for the smaller battery to save weight. great little wrenches.

well, 1/4 would be great for construction.

3/8 for under the car/truck, and 1/4 inside it.

Which one sells more? I'd pick up the rare-er one new, then find a good condition used one of the more common size....

I second this completely. I use a dewalt 1/4 impact for small things and 3/8 dewalt where I need a little power. Anything beyond that I grab an impact. There are some days I never have to grab an air line. 1/4 would be more useful for you in a construction environment I would say.

I also think the 1/4 is your best bet for what you do. I still have and use my 1/2 inch that I bought about ten years go. I got it thinking I'll use it for everything and just use an adapter for the 1/4 inch stuff. Turns out that you'll use 1/4 inch 80% of the time. These days they make all the bits and nut drivers you'll possibly want for the 1/4 drive, so you'll use it even more before needing to go to a socket.

Hang on I'm confused. Are we comparing 1/4" impact drivers here with 3/8 and 1/2" impact wrenches? I mean, are we talking square anvil drive or hex drive here?

Hang on I'm confused. Are we comparing 1/4" impact drivers here with 3/8 and 1/2" impact wrenches? I mean, are we talking square anvil drive or hex drive here?

Yeah, this thread is absolutely loaded with people who think impact wrenches and impact drivers are the same thing. I was reading like "whaaaaaaaaa?"

As far as I know, there's no such thing as a 3/8" impact driver.

Mostly "de-construction" work for Habitat for Humanity ReStore;
removing kitchen/bathroom cabinetry, shelving, garage doors, etc.
I frequently find that I need an impact driver for some of the more stubborn screws/bolts.

But I also would like to be able to use it for occasional automotive work.

Bosch makes a 1/2" hybrid that has a 1/4" female hex inside of a 1/2" square anvil but it doesn't have the best reviews and you'd be adding another battery and charger to your collection.

You could get a 3/8" square to 1/4" hex adapter but this might make it a bit harder to get inside of tight spaces like cabinets. Some of them seem longer than they need to be. Maybe there are shorter ones out there.

Likewise, you can use adapters to run 3/8" sockets on a 1/4" hex driver but you again lose some clearance and also torque from the adapter.

Based on what you told us, I think the 1/4" hex is the way to go. Adapters are cheap for socket use.

Hang on I'm confused. Are we comparing 1/4" impact drivers here with 3/8 and 1/2" impact wrenches? I mean, are we talking square anvil drive or hex drive here?

I was talking about a comparison of 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 cordless impact drivers...
(DeWalt makes all 3 drive sizes)

Oh, I see the confusion... the 1/4" has a hex drive , the 3/8" has a hog ring anvil drive, and the 1/2" has a square anvil drive...

Also, the 1/4" is referred to as an impact driver, but the 3/8" & 1/2" are called impact 'wrenches'.

For what I need; I think I'll go with the 1/4" hex drive impact.

I was talking about a comparison of 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 cordless impact drivers... (DeWalt makes all 3 drive sizes.)

They only make all three in square drive. Any of those will require an adapter to run 1/4" hex bits, which are what you'd need for deconstruction.

For female hex drive there is only 1/4".

[EDIT] It appears Dewalt does not make a 1/4" square drive in the 20V Max line. Lowes lists the DCF895B as a wrench and not a driver. Didn't look close and assumed they made a wrench in all three sizes.

Oh, I see the confusion... the 1/4" has a hex drive and both the 3/8" & 1/2" have a square anvil drive...

Also, the 1/4" is referred to as an impact driver, but the 3/8" & 1/2" are called impact 'wrenches'.

Almost. Many companies make 1/4" in female hex and male square drive.

The 1/4" hex is called a driver, the 1/4" square is called a wrench.

I was talking about a comparison of 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 cordless impact drivers...
(DeWalt makes all 3 drive sizes)

Oh, I see the confusion... the 1/4" has a hex drive and both the 3/8" & 1/2" have a square anvil drive...

Also, the 1/4" is referred to as an impact driver, but the 3/8" & 1/2" are called impact 'wrenches'.

Yes. They are for completely different things. Impact drivers use screwdriver bits. Impact wrenches use sockets. For habitat for humanity work, you want a driver. For automotive, you want a wrench, as the driver doesn't have the torque to do much of anything when it comes to rusty old fasteners and whatnot.

1/4" square drive stuff is uncommon.

As far as I know Dewalt doesn't make a 1/4" square drive wrench. I could be wrong. Milwaukee makes one but the 1/4" anvil hurts the max torque rating.

Modern 1/4" hex-shaft impact drivers are freakishly powerful, I'd get that for the OP's purpose. Square drive is geared towards automotive use.

I'm sorry for my original post not being accurate so i just edited it for the thread. I've had a half inch square drive extension in my 1/4 inch Ryobi 18v impact for so many years i forgot it was even there. my Ryobi 18v has plenty of power for all the bolts I've thrown at it which are usually 3/4 inch and under.

i do also use a breaker bar or regular wrench to get bolts off that are on tight or rusted so i don't round off the bolts or the sockets.

one note most of you know is if you are removing bolts that use Allen wrench or hex sockets use the impact on the nut and not the Allen side because they can strip easily and then the easy out comes into play and a new boltwhich isn't always available.

For what I need; I think I'll go with the 1/4" hex drive impact.

Yes, probably the best for what you're doing, construction/remodeling work. I love mine so much, I bought a spare (NIB) in case it breaks.

If I was you I would buy the Milwaukee fuel 1/4 in impact driver. Gives options as far as power goes and will do a lot as far as stubborn screws go. I use mine at work mostly for lights on semi trailers. Usually start on the lowest setting and work my way up as to minimize broken screws/bits.

I just picked up the DeWalt 20Max XR (i.e. Brushless) 1/4" Compact Impact Driver, it is scary powerful. I haven't used it for automotive/mechanical yet, but it has so much more oomph than my 12v Impact. For what you're doing, this or the XR Premium would be the ticket for you.

I also ended up buying the DeWalt 20V Max XR (i.e. Brushless) 1/4" Compact Impact Driver... Love it.

Thanks for all the input.

That Bosch hybrid, pretty cool idea, anyone else make that?

That Bosch hybrid, pretty cool idea, anyone else make that?

I don't believe so. Bosh had an earlier version that I think was also a drill so it had three functions but it never caught on and may not have even been sold in the states.

Festool makes a hybrid drill/impact. Would be nice for pre-drilling holes and then driving. I think it allows you to keep a bit in the keyless chuck and then a hex bit in the driver which is exposed when the chuck is popped off.

Many years ago when I was on a very limited tool budget I had the B&D Firestorm drill that had a removable chuck that exposed a hex receiver. It didn't impact like the Festool and it was not a great drill but was great for cabinet carcass assembly. However, the few times I used it for hanging stuff I had trouble holding the cabinet in place with my left hand and then using both hands to pop the chuck off. In those cases I preferred to have a tool set up for drilling and a tool set up for driving resting in the bottom of the cabinet.

A poster here on GJ took a Rigid 1/4" hex driver and milled it down to accept 3/8" sockets. As I recall it could still use 1/4" hex bits. Don't know if he's updated recently. I assume this wouldn't be as powerful in loosening mode as some of the more popular impact wrenches.

Don't know if there is a patent but I'd be interested to see what other companies can do with this concept or what Bosch can do to improve it.