Top 5 compared
The best electric screwdrivers
Screws in and out at the press of a button, for new furniture, a loose hinge or the battery door on a toy.
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The top 5 at a glance
An electric screwdriver is a small battery tool that turns the bit for you, so a row of screws takes minutes and none of the wrist work. Straight ones are slim enough for a kitchen drawer; others fold into a pistol grip or have a head that pivots to an angle. Most have a small light by the tip.
They aren’t drills: they have the torque to drive screws, not to bore holes in studs or brick, and a long screw into hardwood goes in more easily with a pilot hole first. Square-drive Robertson screws, patented in 1909 by P. L. Robertson of Milton, Ontario, are still the most popular kind in Canada.
What matters
- Torque settings, so small screws stop snug instead of stripping.
- A head or handle that bends, for screws in tight corners.
- USB-C charging, from the cable that already charges your phone.
#1HOTO Electric Screwdriver Set (12 bits, aluminum case)
$75–$100
Light enough to use one-handed, with three torque settings up to 4 Nm, a ring of light around the tip that comes on by itself and 12 bits in a frosted aluminum box. It brakes the instant you let go of the button, so the bit doesn’t spin on and mark the screw.
What owners say: Owners say it makes furniture assembly simple and feels robust, even heavy duty, and they rate the torque and how long the battery lasts; no complaint keeps coming up.
Heads up: None of the 12 bits is a square (Robertson) bit, but the chuck takes standard 1/4-inch hex bits, so one is easy to add.
A closer look: Turn the knob to I for small hinge and electronics screws and to III for furniture, and finish a stubborn screw in manual mode, turning the tool by hand, for up to 8 Nm. A full charge over USB-C takes under two and a half hours, and the light goes off 10 seconds after you let go.
- Light switches on by itself
- Brakes instantly on release
- Made for one-handed use
Best for: Assembling furniture and fixing hinges
- Torque
- 3 settings, up to 4 Nm
- Grip
- Straight
- Battery and charging
- 1,500mAh, USB-C cable
- Bits
- 12, aluminum box
#2SKIL Twist 2.0 4V Screwdriver with Pivoting Head (SD5619-02)
$30–$50
The head pivots and locks at 0, 22.5 and 45 degrees, so a screw inside a cabinet or behind a toilet goes in without bending your wrist. It has three torque settings and USB-C charging, and the 28-piece kit includes square (Robertson) bits in three sizes.
What owners say: Owners rate how well it’s built and how easy it is to carry, and the pivoting head wins them over; power and battery life divide them.
A closer look: Keep the head straight for furniture assembly and angle it only when a wall or a shelf gets in the way. The forward and reverse trigger sits under one finger, and the slim 2-inch bits reach down into recessed screw holes on appliance covers and toys.
- Square Robertson bits included
- One-finger forward and reverse
- Slim bits for recessed screws
Best for: Tight spots and awkward angles
- Torque
- 3 settings (Nm not stated)
- Grip
- Head pivots to 22.5° or 45°
- Battery and charging
- Capacity not stated, USB-C cable
- Bits
- 27 + holder, case
#3Makita 3.6V Screwdriver with Hinged Handle and 81-Piece Bit Set (DF001DW)
$50–$75
The handle hinges, so it works as a slim straight driver or folds into a pistol grip when a screw needs more push, and it comes with an 81-piece set in its case, from square, Torx and hex bits to nut setters.
What owners say: Owners call it well made and practical, and like how complete the bit set is, though opinions differ on battery life, power and torque.
A closer look: The LED has its own switch, so it can stay off in daylight or light up a cabinet before you start. It charges through the micro-USB adapter in the box and takes three to five hours, so plug it in the evening before a big assembly job.
- Light has its own switch
Best for: A bit for nearly every screw
- Torque
- 4 Nm (no settings listed)
- Grip
- Hinged: straight or pistol grip
- Battery and charging
- 1,500mAh, micro-USB adapter
- Bits
- 74 bits + 6 nut setters, case
#4Fanttik S2 Pro Electric Screwdriver (20 bits)
$100–$150
Seven torque settings, from 0.5 to 6 Nm, take it from delicate electronics and computer builds up to furniture and appliance repairs. A 90° angle adapter fits on the tip to turn the bit sideways for screws in tight spaces, and the 20 bits sit in a magnetic case with an extension rod.
What owners say: Owners find it handy and well made, with plenty of power, and some say it improves on an already good design; the torque adjustment, value, durability and the case all draw mixed reports.
A closer look: A bar of lights on the body shows the torque setting and which way it’s turning, and a ring glows when the battery runs low or while it charges. Start at 0.5 or 1 Nm on electronics and step up only as far as each screw needs, and use the extension rod for screws set deep inside a PC case.
- Lights show torque and direction
- Light ring shows low battery
- Magnetic case for the bits
Best for: Delicate electronics to bookcases
- Torque
- 7 settings, 0.5–6 Nm
- Grip
- Straight, 90° angle adapter
- Battery and charging
- 2,000mAh, USB-C cable
- Bits
- 20, extension rod, case
#5BLACK+DECKER 4V MAX Screwdriver and Flashlight with Pivoting Handle (BDCSFL20C)
$20–$30
A screwdriver and a flashlight in one: the LED also works on its own, and the handle pivots into three positions to reach screws in awkward spots. It drives up to 5.5 Nm, enough for furniture, switch plates and toys.
What owners say: Owners find it handles small jobs well and like how light it is and how many jobs it covers; strength and battery life split them.
A closer look: Only two bits come in the box, so a small bit set is worth adding. Set the handle so you can push straight in line with the screw, which keeps the bit from slipping out of the screw head.
- Doubles as a flashlight
Best for: Toy battery doors and dark corners
- Torque
- 5.5 Nm (no settings listed)
- Grip
- Handle pivots, 3 positions
- Battery and charging
- 1,300mAh, charger
- Bits
- 2
How they compare
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| Feature | #1HOTO O1 Pro | #2SKIL Twist 2.0 | #3Makita DF001DW | #4Fanttik S2 Pro | #5BLACK+DECKER BDCSFL20C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Biggest bit set | Best premium | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.8 |
| Price | $75–$100 | $30–$50 | $50–$75 | $100–$150 | $20–$30 |
| Torque | 3 settings, up to 4 Nm | 3 settings (Nm not stated) | 4 Nm (no settings listed) | 7 settings, 0.5–6 Nm | 5.5 Nm (no settings listed) |
| Grip | Straight | Head pivots to 22.5° or 45° | Hinged: straight or pistol grip | Straight, 90° angle adapter | Handle pivots, 3 positions |
| Battery and charging | 1,500mAh, USB-C cable | Capacity not stated, USB-C cable | 1,500mAh, micro-USB adapter | 2,000mAh, USB-C cable | 1,300mAh, charger |
| Bits | 12, aluminum box | 27 + holder, case | 74 bits + 6 nut setters, case | 20, extension rod, case | 2 |
| Best for | Assembling furniture and fixing hinges | Tight spots and awkward angles | A bit for nearly every screw | Delicate electronics to bookcases | Toy battery doors and dark corners |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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