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DeWalt 20V MAX DCK240C2 (drill + impact driver)
Your first drill, with a free impact driver at today's price
Check the price on Amazon- Same $129.00 as the DeWalt drill kit alone
- Drill/driver + 1,400 in-lbs impact driver
- Two batteries, charger, 61,268 ratings
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🗓️ Prices checked on October 27, 2026
Written by Julien · Reviewed by Nadia on 10/27/2026 (prices, links and availability checked) — our editorial pen names
Our pick: the DeWalt 20V MAX DCK240C2 combo kit, because for $129.00 you get the DCD771 drill/driver, the DCF885 impact driver, two batteries and a charger, rated 4.7/5 from 61,268 ratings on Amazon.com (checked October 27, 2026).
See the DeWalt DCK240C2 kit on Amazon →See the brushless DeWalt DCK277D2 kit →Every tool aisle in America puts these two side by side, and they look almost the same. They don’t do the same job. This guide is part of our Drilling & Driving section; if you only want the best drill on its own, see our best cordless drill comparison.
Impact driver vs drill: the key facts in 4 points
- A drill/driver does both jobs. A 1/2 in. (13 mm) keyless chuck, an adjustable clutch and two speeds (0–450 and 0–1,500 rpm on the DeWalt DCD771, per DeWalt). It’s the tool for flat-pack furniture, shelves, wall anchors and pilot holes.
- An impact driver does one job, and does it better. A 1/4 in. hex quick-release collet and 1,460 in-lbs (165 N·m) with up to 3,500 impacts per minute on the Makita XDT11Z, per its listing: long screws sink into lumber without the twist landing on your wrist.
- Torque numbers aren’t comparable across the two. Impact drivers are rated at 1,400 to 1,700 in-lbs (158 to 192 N·m); DeWalt rates its drill in power (300 UWO, “unit watts out”), not torque. The impact driver wins on force, the drill on finesse.
- Buy the drill first, unless you already own one. When you add the second tool, stay on the same battery platform. And if a deck or a shed is on your list, get both tools on one battery now: one charger, batteries that swap between tools.
Impact driver vs drill: who wins what, row by row?
Specs as published by DeWalt and Makita and on the Amazon.com listings; prices, ratings and sellers checked on Amazon.com on October 27, 2026. Examples: Makita XDT11Z and DeWalt DCF885 for the impact driver, DeWalt DCD771 for the drill/driver.
| Feature | Impact driver | Drill/driver | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rated output | 1,400 in-lbs (DeWalt DCF885) to 1,460 in-lbs (Makita XDT11Z) | 300 UWO of power (DeWalt DCD771), no torque figure | ✔ impact driver |
| Long screws (deck, shed, framing) | Rotary impacts: up to 3,500 per minute (XDT11Z) | Struggles with long screws and sends the twist back to your wrist | ✔ impact driver |
| Drilling wood and metal | 1/4 in. hex-shank bits only, rougher holes | 1/2 in. chuck takes round-shank bits, spade bits and hole saws | ✔ drill/driver |
| Small screws, flat-pack, particleboard | No clutch: only your trigger finger controls it | Adjustable clutch stops before the screw strips | ✔ drill/driver |
| Bit holder | 1/4 in. hex, one-handed bit changes | Keyless chuck: round bits, hex bits, hole saws | ✔ drill/driver (versatility) |
| Size | Makita XDT11Z: 5-3/8 in. long, 2.8 lbs with battery (per its listing) | Longer head: the chuck alone adds a couple of inches | ✔ impact driver (shorter) |
| Starting price, battery included | Makita XDT11Z: $81.98 tool only, no battery or charger | DeWalt DCD771C2: $129.00 with 2 batteries and charger | ✔ drill/driver |
| Noise | Loud as soon as the impacts kick in | Quiet when driving screws | ✔ drill/driver |
Score: 5 rows for the drill/driver, 3 for the impact driver. Prices on Amazon.com on October 27, 2026: DeWalt DCK240C2 drill + impact driver kit $129.00 (4.7/5, 61,268 ratings, sold by Amazon.com) · DeWalt DCD771C2 drill kit $129.00 (4.8/5, 49,952 ratings, sold by Amazon.com) · Makita XDT11Z, tool only $81.98 (4.7/5, 1,079 ratings, third-party seller).
What the spec sheets don’t tell you: the real starting price
Cross-checking the DeWalt and Makita specs with Amazon.com prices on October 27, 2026, three points stand out that no listing puts up front.
| What you pay to start working | Price (Oct 27, 2026) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Makita XDT11Z + Makita 18V LXT starter pack (4.0Ah battery + charger) | $81.98 + $99.97 = $181.95 | 1 impact driver, 1 battery |
| DeWalt DCD771C2 drill kit | $129.00 | 1 drill/driver, 2 batteries |
| DeWalt DCK240C2 combo kit | $129.00 | 1 drill/driver + 1 impact driver, 2 batteries |
| DeWalt DCK277D2 brushless combo kit | $199.00 | 2 brushless tools, 2 batteries of 2.0Ah |
- The cheapest impact driver isn’t the cheapest way to start. The Makita XDT11Z sells for $81.98 bare: you still need a Makita 18V LXT battery and charger ($99.97 for the BL1840BDC1 starter pack). That’s $181.95 for one tool, against $129.00 for DeWalt’s drill and impact driver with two batteries.
- Today, the second tool is free. The DeWalt DCK240C2 kit and the DCD771C2 drill kit both cost $129.00 on Amazon.com on October 27, 2026. Same drill, same two batteries, same charger: the kit simply adds the DCF885 impact driver and its 1,400 in-lbs. Amazon shows a $239.00 list price on the kit; that’s a reference, not proof of a real markdown, but $129.00 is the price you pay that day.
- The extra force only drives screws. The impact driver’s 1,400 to 1,460 in-lbs don’t drill one more hole: they sink long structural screws and lag bolts, the jobs where a drill/driver stalls or twists your wrist.
A trap to avoid with Makita: the compact 12V CXT tools and the 18V LXT tools don’t share batteries. Buy one tool in each line and you’ll need two chargers.
What if I own neither?
That’s where the best deal usually is: a kit that pairs a drill/driver and an impact driver on the same batteries. Three levels, checked on Amazon.com on October 27, 2026.
- Best quality: the DeWalt DCK277D2 kit, $199.00. Brushless DCD777 drill/driver and brushless DCF787 impact driver (1,500 in-lbs per the listing), two 2.0Ah batteries, charger and bag. Rated 4.8/5 from 4,821 ratings, third-party seller, in stock. See the DeWalt DCK277D2 kit
- Best value: the DeWalt DCK240C2 kit, $129.00, our pick: DCD771 drill/driver (1/2 in. chuck, 300 UWO, two speeds), DCF885 impact driver (1,400 in-lbs), two 1.3Ah batteries, charger and contractor bag. Rated 4.7/5 from 61,268 ratings, sold by Amazon.com. Later, you can add DeWalt’s compact ATOMIC DCF809B impact driver ($94.00 tool only, 1,700 in-lbs per the listing, 4.7/5 from 3,344 ratings) on the same batteries. See the DeWalt DCK240C2 kit
- Cheapest that holds up: the same DeWalt DCK240C2. No complete, well-rated impact driver kit beat its price on October 27, 2026. If you already run Makita 18V LXT batteries, the bare Makita XDT11Z at $81.98 (4.7/5 from 1,079 ratings) is the impact driver to add. See the Makita XDT11Z
Our verdict by profile: which one should you buy first?
- First tool, apartment, flat-pack furniture, shelves: the drill/driver, and at today’s price, take it in the DeWalt DCK240C2 kit for the same $129.00. Match your bits to your screws with our Phillips vs Pozidriv vs Torx guide.
- You already own a drill and you’re building a deck, a shed or a pergola: the impact driver, bare, from your battery brand: Makita XDT11Z ($81.98) on Makita 18V LXT, DeWalt DCF809B ($94.00) on DeWalt 20V MAX.
- Whole house to equip, big wood project ahead: the brushless kit, DeWalt DCK277D2 at $199.00.
- You mostly drill into concrete: neither one; read hammer drill vs rotary hammer.
Who should skip it
- Night-time and indoor work: an impact driver bangs with every impact; late in the evening or in a shared building, the drill/driver is the quieter choice.
- Bits: impacts wear out ordinary bits fast; buy bits sold as “impact ready” or “impact rated”.
- Small batteries: the DCK240C2’s 1.3Ah packs are fine for furniture and shelves, short for a full day of decking; that runtime gap is part of what the DCK277D2’s 2.0Ah packs add.
- Third-party sellers: on October 27, 2026, the Makita XDT11Z and the DeWalt DCK277D2 were sold by third-party sellers on Amazon.com; check the seller and the return policy before you order.
How Malin chooses
1. The price to start working, battery and charger included, checked the same day.
2. What the tool really does: drill, drive small screws gently, or sink long screws.
3. A model in stock, rated by thousands of buyers, on a battery that will run your next tool.
Method: we did not test these tools ourselves. This guide cross-checks the Amazon.com listings (prices, ratings, sellers, stock), DeWalt’s product pages for the DCK240C2, DCD771C2 and DCF809B, and Makita’s page for the XDT11Z, all checked on October 27, 2026. Starting prices, gaps and comparisons are our own calculations.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy an impact driver or a drill first?
A drill/driver, in most cases: it drills wood and metal and drives every screw you’ll meet around the house. The impact driver comes second, for long deck, shed or framing screws. On October 27, 2026, though, the DeWalt DCK240C2 kit with both tools costs $129.00 on Amazon.com, the same as the drill kit alone.
Can you drill holes with an impact driver?
A little, not really. It has no chuck: only 1/4 in. hex-shank bits fit, and the impacts leave rougher holes. For a wall anchor hole or a clean hole in metal, you need a drill/driver, or a hammer drill for masonry.
How much more torque does an impact driver have than a drill?
Impact drivers are rated at 1,400 to 1,700 in-lbs (DeWalt DCF885: 1,400; Makita XDT11Z: 1,460; DeWalt DCF809: 1,700). DeWalt rates its DCD771 drill at 300 UWO, a power figure rather than torque, so there is no exact ratio. The impact driver’s torque comes in short bursts, so your wrist doesn’t take the twist.
Is a drill and impact driver combo kit worth it?
Yes, especially right now: the DeWalt DCK240C2 combo kit was $129.00 on Amazon.com on October 27, 2026, the same price as the DCD771C2 drill kit alone. For brushless motors on both tools and 2.0Ah batteries, the DeWalt DCK277D2 kit costs $199.00.
Our verdict
Our pick: the DeWalt 20V MAX DCK240C2 combo kit, because for $129.00 you get the DCD771 drill/driver, the DCF885 impact driver, two batteries and a charger, rated 4.7/5 from 61,268 ratings on Amazon.com (checked October 27, 2026). The drill/driver is still the tool to own first, and today it comes with a free impact driver. Already own a drill? Add a bare impact driver on your batteries. Building a deck this year? Step up to the brushless DCK277D2 at $199.00 and enjoy the longer runtime.
See the DeWalt DCK240C2 kit on Amazon →See the DeWalt DCK277D2 kit →Go further: our best cordless drill comparison, all our Drilling & Driving guides, and every tool we stand behind on our recommended tools page.
Sources (October 2026): DeWalt, DCK240C2 drill/driver and impact driver combo kit · DeWalt, DCD771C2 drill/driver kit · Makita, XDT11Z 18V LXT impact driver · Makita, BL1840BDC1 battery and charger starter pack · Amazon.com listings of the six products, read on October 27, 2026. Prices change: check the day you buy.