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. Here are the best electric screwdrivers. 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 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

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

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

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 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 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 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 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 Most electric screwdrivers contain rechargeable batteries and include a charging cord so you can power up the tool by plugging it into an electrical outlet. Today, more models also include a USB cord so you can power your tool up from a USB charger. Some very lightweight, lower-powered cordless screwdrivers rely on disposable batteries, however, usually AAs.  Heavier-duty electric screwdrivers generally use batteries that are removed for recharging in a separate charging station. This is especially useful if the screwdriver is from a brand you already use for other power tools, as the batteries are generally interchangeable between tools, as long as they are the same voltage.

Power

The average DIYer carrying out tasks around the home, such as assembling furniture, tightening loose screws on doors or cabinets, or hanging artwork or holiday lights, doesn’t need an electric screwdriver with the utmost in power. For these uses, a tool with 3 to 7 volts of power is sufficient. However, if you expect to use the cordless screwdriver for heavier tasks, such as driving screws into harder wood or metal, then you’ll find that a cordless screwdriver with 8 to 15 volts of power is the right choice.

Speed

The speed of a cordless screwdriver is measured in revolutions-per-minute of the bit. While there are heavy-duty electric screwdrivers with speeds of up to 600 rpm, the average DIYer doesn’t require a speed anywhere close to that. Generally, for typical home uses, a tool with speeds of 130 to 200 rpm is more than sufficient. Some higher–end electric screwdrivers have variable speed settings, allowing you to adjust the speed more precisely, but most cordless screwdrivers have only a single speed setting, and a few have high/low speed options.

Torque

Torque refers to the turning force of a tool. Depending on the manufacturer, the tool’s torque might be expressed in inch-pounds or in Newton meters (Nm). The higher the torque, the more force the tool can generate. Don’t assume that you must have the highest possible torque, however. For many applications, too much torque means a stripped or broken screw.  Most cordless screwdrivers offer anywhere between 25 and 85 inch-pounds of torque, which is more than sufficient for typical tasks around the home. For heavy-duty use, though, such as construction, there are cordless screwdrivers with up to 225 inch-pounds. While not all cordless screwdrivers have torque adjustments, those that do are adjusted by turning the clutch, which is the front of the tool, to the desired setting.

Shape

There are three basic shapes of cordless screwdrivers.

Pistol-grip cordless screwdrivers resemble drill/drivers, and are pistol-shaped, as the name suggests. These are easy to hold and control, and are especially comfortable for people who are used to doing a lot of work with power drills.Inline-grip cordless screwdrivers have a straight shape that’s most like a regular screwdriver. These are a little more awkward to hold, but they are easier to maneuver into tight spaces than pistol-grip options. Adjustable-grip cordless screwdrivers give you the best of both worlds: You can rotate the handle into a pistol configuration, an inline configuration, or somewhere in between. This makes the tool very versatile for the widest range of projects.

Weight

Most cordless screwdrivers are fairly light in weight. One to 2 pounds is common, with some very lightweight models being less than a pound. Heavier-duty tools, though, can weigh more than 3 pounds.

Other Features

Some other nice features to look for, especially if you expect to use your cordless screwdriver frequently, include a built-in LED worklight, a magnetic tip for holding screws in place, which frees up your hand, or an automatic stop, which halts the tool immediately once the screw is fully seated or if the screw jams. And while most cordless screwdrivers just come with a couple of bits, there are some that include more comprehensive kits with a wide range of bit sizes.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Michelle Ullman is the home improvement/tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs around the house and yard. If you rarely need a screwdriver, however, then you probably won’t use an electric model often enough to make it worth buying one. For this roundup, Michelle considered dozens of electric screwdrivers and evaluated each for power, speed, versatility, ergonomics, and overall value. She also considered feedback from customers, both positive and negative, and received further input and advice from Deane Biermeier, a licensed contractor, carpenter, and member of The Spruce’s Home Improvement Review Board.