Tech & Gadgets · 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 push button switch also adjusts LED brightness.
- At 7.1 lbs bare it is the heaviest tool in the group before you add a battery.
- 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, the heaviest in-use figure here.
- Peak breakaway torque is 220 ft-lbs below the DCF900B.
- No mode that limits torque on final tightening.
Side by side
| DeWalt DCF900B 20V MAX XR 1/2 in. High Torque Impact Wrench | 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 |
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).