Tools & DIY · Head-to-head
DeWalt DCF900B 20V MAX XR 1/2 in. High Torque Impact Wrench vs Makita XWT08Z 18V LXT Brushless 3-Speed 1/2 in. Impact Wrench
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Impact Wrenches: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The DCF900B publishes both torque figures, tops the field on each, and adds a mode that limits overtightening. The XWT08Z gives up torque but adds a three-speed switch and a friction ring anvil that changes sockets faster.
DeWalt DCF900B 20V MAX XR 1/2 in. High Torque Impact Wrench
Buy itThe highest published torque in the group and the only one here with a mode built to stop you overtightening.
- 1,030 ft-lbs of max fastening torque and 1,400 ft-lbs of max breakaway, both stated separately on DeWalt's page.
- Precision Wrench mode reduces speed to help prevent overtightening in forward and fastener run-off in reverse.
- Hog ring anvil means sockets pull on and off by hand with no pin to press.
- Four-mode speed settings plus a variable speed trigger.
- At 7.1 lbs bare it is heavy, and a battery adds to that.
- The listed length of 9.94 in makes it awkward inside a wheel well or a tight engine bay.
- Sold as a bare tool, so a battery and charger are extra.
Makita XWT08Z 18V LXT Brushless 3-Speed 1/2 in. Impact Wrench
Buy itLess peak torque than the DeWalt, but a three-speed switch and a friction ring anvil make it the easier one to live with.
- 740 ft-lbs of fastening torque and 1,180 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque, both published by Makita.
- Three-speed switch runs 0-900, 0-1,000 or 0-1,800 RPM, so it can be dialed down for smaller fasteners.
- Friction ring anvil swaps sockets without tools.
- Runs on the 18V LXT battery platform, which is worth a lot if you already own the packs.
- Makita quotes 8 lbs with a battery.
- Peak breakaway torque is 220 ft-lbs below the DCF900B.
- No mode that limits torque on final tightening.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| DeWalt DCF900B 20V MAX XR 1/2 in. High Torque Impact Wrench Our pick | Makita XWT08Z 18V LXT Brushless 3-Speed 1/2 in. Impact Wrench | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Truck lug nuts, seized suspension bolts, and concrete anchors where running out of torque is the failure you are trying to avoid. | Anyone already on Makita 18V who wants one wrench that can do lug nuts and still be dialed back for smaller work. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$$ · premium |
| Max fastening torque | 1,030 ft-lbs | 740 ft-lbs |
| Max breakaway torque | 1,400 ft-lbs | 1,180 ft-lbs (nut-busting) |
| How torque is labeled | Two figures, both named | Two figures, both named |
| Motor | Brushless | Brushless |
| Anvil | Hog ring | Friction ring |
| Speed settings | 4-mode switch, 2,300 RPM max | 3 speeds, 1,800 RPM max |
| Impacts per minute | 0-2,200 IPM | Up to 2,200 IPM |
| Weight | 7.1 lbs bare | 8 lbs with battery |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the DeWalt DCF900B 20V MAX XR 1/2 in. High Torque Impact Wrench if
truck lug nuts, seized suspension bolts, and concrete anchors where running out of torque is the failure you are trying to avoid.
Know before buying: at 7.1 lbs bare it is heavy, and a battery adds to that.
Pick the Makita XWT08Z 18V LXT Brushless 3-Speed 1/2 in. Impact Wrench if
anyone already on Makita 18V who wants one wrench that can do lug nuts and still be dialed back for smaller work.
Know before buying: makita quotes 8 lbs with a battery.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the DeWalt DCF900B 20V MAX XR 1/2 in. High Torque Impact Wrench - The highest published torque in the group and the only one here with a mode built to stop you overtightening. Choose the Makita XWT08Z 18V LXT Brushless 3-Speed 1/2 in. Impact Wrench instead if anyone already on Makita 18V who wants one wrench that can do lug nuts and still be dialed back for smaller work.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Impact Wrenches: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).