Nothing beats the best electric screwdriver for flatpack construction, cupboard work and, in fact, anything other than screwing into masonry or very tight spaces. Real burly builder fellas would tell you they'd never be seen dead holding an electric screwdriver, but we beg to differ. With the best electric screwdrivers, you can do away with RSI and make mincemeat out of simple screwing jobs. They get into tighter spaces than drill drivers, and are easier on the wrist than manual ones.
Do you need an electric screwdriver? Well, even if you own one of the best cordless drills, our verdict is a resounding yes! That's because there are plenty of jobs where a drill won't fit, and plenty more where getting the drill out is more effort than it's worth.
The truth is, manually screwing into timber, plaster and flatpack furniture can be a killer on the arms. Manual screwdrivers get dropped into infinite chasms behind furniture, drills are too unwieldy, and expletives tumble like rabbits down a slide, out of tired mouths. An electric screwdriver offers relief to regular handy folk and the best ones feature gun-like barrels to hold myriad screwdriver bits, meaning no more fumbling over the correct 'driver for the job.
So, sure, an electric screwdriver might get you laughed off the building site. But give any of those wolf-whistling types an Ikea Billy Bookcase to assemble and they’ll soon be begging for the mechanical assistance an electric screwdriver can offer…
Best electric screwdrivers ranking 2024
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Best electric screwdriver
+ Convenient size and shape
+ Great for everyday DIY tasks
+ Some very useful optional heads
- Not the most powerful thing ever
- Some very non-useful optional heads
The IXO line of electric screwdrivers must be among the best-selling tools in Britain, and rightly so. With the IXO 6, Bosch has made some very useful improvements, while keeping the compact size and convenience that has always made IXOs such fun to use.
With small size yet enough power for most DIY and maintenance tasks, IXO 6 is a great buy. Add the optional attachments that let you screw at an angle in confined spaces and it's even more useful. We're not so sold on the attachments that turn it into a corkscrew and barbecue blower, though.
Read our full IXO 6 review for more information!
Best electric screwdriver for more serious DIY
+ Top performance
+ Quick charge
+ Built to last
- Looks rather scary
First up, for the avoidance of confusion, Hitachi power tools are now known as Hikoki. No, I don't know why. Straight out of the box, this Hikoki model feels like a more professional offering than its rivals here. Its dual Lithium-ion batteries scream of a tool that has been built to withstand the demands of regular use, while the design doesn't make any attempt whatsoever to look stylish or cool.
With a 5Nm torque output, it's powerful enough to take on stubborn timber and masonry job, while it can handle some very basic drilling tasks, should you have the correct bit. All in all, it's a much tougher, more solid proposition than most on the list and one that should last a lifetime. The only issue we have with it is that it keeps going off sale.
The best cheap electric screwdriver
+ Small enough to get into tricky spots
+ Very affordable
+ Lightweight
- Not so powerful
Where other bulky electric screwdrivers tend to come unstuck when tackling particularly fiddly tasks, this forward thinking model from Worx incorporates a neat extending shaft for trickier spots.
An an LED lamp for illuminating those tight spaces and an auto spindle lock for manually applying torque and you have a textbook cheap screwdriver. The latter feature is admittedly largely welcome because the 3Nm motor isn't exactly scarily powerful.
Another great 'semi-pro' option
+ Robust
+ Powerful
+ Good value
- Slow to charge
As with much of the Ryobi range, this small cordless screwdriver is both robust and mightily powerful without breaking the bank.
The pack comes with 10 different 25mm screwdriving bits and a durable storage case, while the driver itself features a grip that's specially moulded for comfort and a long-life Lithium-ion battery pack.
Said pack does take a while to charge but then, Ryobi's batteries are excellent and seem to hold their charge much better than rivals.
Best ultra-cheap electric screwdriver
+ Compact
+ Cheap
+ Easy to use
- Requires AA batteries
Not everyone is looking for maximum torque and the ability to drive screws into notoriously difficult surfaces. For those with more sedate screwing in mind, there's this more traditional, highly affordable offering from Black & Decker.
It appears like a standard manual screwdriver but a small motor and rotating head unit sees it take the strain out of more irksome driving jobs.
It's no way near as powerful as some of the others mentioned here of course, and will come unstuck when tackling bigger DIY jobs. But for taking on flat-pack tasks and simple screwing jobs, it's a bargain.
The most convenient electric screwdriver
+ Comes with numerous bits
+ Extremely convenient
+ Resembles phaser
- Harder to access tight spaces with
The need to keep rooting around in your toolbox to find the right screwdriver is largely negated with this James Bond-esque DIY wonder gizmo.
Inside the barrel of this electric driver sit no fewer than 12 different, commonly used bits, which can easily be selected with a twist of the barrel. The unit also features a front-facing light, for illuminating the job in hand, a battery status indicator and an automatic spindle lock for manually apply torque to stubborn screws.
There's a screw bit for pretty much every occasion, including an Ikea-friendly Allen key, while the Lithium-ion batteries are guaranteed to be good for at least 90 standard screw jobs before it requires recharging.
How to buy the best electric screwdriver
For something that seemingly tackles a relatively simple job, prices of the humble electric screwdriver vary wildly according to brand cache, build quality and performance. It's possible to pick something up for as little as £10 from some online outlets, but we'd suggest avoiding the really budget stuff, as the screw bits tend to break or round screws, the torque output generally isn't enough to tackle most jobs and the batteries don't last.
Seeing as the electric screwdriver is a handy cordless addition to any toolbox, battery life is pretty important. Instead, spend a bit more and get something with Lithium-ion batteries and a motor that puts out at least 3Nm of torque, which should be enough to tackle even the most demanding flat-pack jobs.
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