Impact Driver Guide: Choosing the Best Tool for Tight Spaces and Precision
Impact Drivers for Tight Spots — Choosing the Right One
If you're working in tight spaces — inside cabinets, under sinks, between joists — a compact impact driver makes a big difference. Shorter head, better torque, easier to control than a drill in awkward positions.
Here's how the Makita options compare.
The Four Worth Considering
DTD153
Straightforward 18V impact driver. 170Nm torque, brushless motor, no speed modes to worry about. It just works. Popular with electricians and carpenters who want reliability without extra features. If you don't need variable speed control, this does the job well.
DTD157
The compact one. 117mm long, which is about as short as you'll find in an 18V impact driver. 140Nm torque with two speed settings. This is the one to look at if access is your main problem — kitchen fitting, bathroom installs, anywhere space is tight. The lower torque is fine for most fixing work.
DTD172
180Nm with four speed settings. The slower modes give you proper control for delicate work — fitting hinges, running screws into thin material, anything where you don't want to overdo it. Good choice if your work varies between heavy fixing and more precise stuff.
DTD173
Same 180Nm and four speeds as the 172, slightly different balance. Some prefer the feel of this one, some prefer the 172. Worth holding both if you can. Either works well for trade use where you need power but still work in restricted spaces.
Practical Points
Check the length in the specs. The difference between 117mm and 120mm matters when you're trying to fit into a corner. Measure your typical workspace if you're not sure.
Use impact-rated bits. Standard bits don't last. Impact drivers hit hard and fast, so get bits designed for it.
Battery platform matters. All four run on Makita 18V LXT batteries. If you're already on that platform, no extra chargers or batteries needed.
Specs at a Glance
Full Comparison
| DTD153 | DTD157 | DTD172 | DTD173 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Torque | 170Nm | 140Nm | 180Nm | 180Nm |
| Length | 119mm | 117mm | 119mm | 120mm |
| Weight (body only) | 1.4kg | 1.1kg | 1.4kg | 1.5kg |
| Speed Settings | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| No-Load Speed | 0-3,400 RPM | 0-3,200 RPM | 0-3,700 RPM | 0-3,700 RPM |
| Impacts Per Minute | 0-3,600 | 0-3,600 | 0-3,800 | 0-3,800 |
| Max Screw | 6mm | 6mm | 6mm | 6mm |
| Max Bolt | M14 | M14 | M16 | M16 |
| Soft Start | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 18V LXT | 18V LXT | 18V LXT | 18V LXT |
| Brushless | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LED Light | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | General trade use, reliability | Tight access, compact work | Variable work, precision control | Power and control in tight spaces |
If you're not sure which suits your work, let us know what you're mainly using it for and we can point you in the right direction.