Want To Add An Impact Driver To Your Tool Box? How Harbor Freight And Menards Models Compare

According to one popular home improvement expert, an impact driver is a tool every homeowner should have. They can be used to drill holes in a pinch, but their main purpose is to drive screws for decking, fencing, and other projects; tasks where a standard drill driver can struggle. Harbor Freight and Menards both offer affordable versions, but how do they compare? It's not an easy question to answer. Both stores offer several models at different price and performance levels. Menards has the absolute cheapest, at as little as $12.99, but it's not a good idea to buy any power tool based solely on cost. We need to dig into the details.

The situation is confused by the fact that Harbor Freight only sells house-brand tools, whereas Menards has both their own and also offers tools from big names such as Skil and Bosch. For the purposes of this article, only the store brand options are included in this comparison.

When comparing their own brands, Harbor Freight has Warrior for occasional users, Bauer for DIY enthusiasts, and Hercules aimed at pros. The approximate equivalents for Menards are North Tech, Performax, and Masterforce. That said, these aren't necessarily direct comparisons, so it's important to compare individual tools before making your choice. While Harbor Freight might win out in one aspect, you really can't go wrong with either. Let's look at some examples.

For those who only need a tool for one or two jobs, the dirt-cheap North Tech ¼" Impact Driver Kit mentioned earlier is worth a shot. The Warrior equivalent with the same voltage and bit size is three times the price. In the mid-range, the Performax model at Menards costs less than the Bauer 20V ¼ Inch Impact Driver Kit at Harbor Freight, but the Bauer wins on performance. Key specifications for these tools are torque (twisting force) and Impacts Per Minute (IPM), sometimes given as Blows Per Minute (BPM). The Bauer's superior power makes it worth the extra twenty bucks at Harbor Freight, but if you know the best time to shop at Menards, you may get an offer too good to miss.

Harbor Freight's top pick is the Hercules 20V ¼" Impact Driver Kit. The best option at Menards is the Masterforce BOOST 20V ¼" Impact Driver Kit. This time Harbor Freight has the price advantage, although the Masterforce has a higher-capacity battery. The Hercules delivers slightly more torque and higher maximum IPM. Menards doesn't provide customer feedback, so we don't know how this option performs longterm. However Harbor Freight buyers give the Hercules 4.9 stars, and 99% say they would recommend it. 

If you're unsure if you need one of these tools, there is an article to help you decide whether an impact driver or regular drill is best for you. If you do decide to add one to your tool kit, both stores have competitive options. Overall, Harbor Freight might just have the edge, but not by much.