The latest DeWalt 20V Max XR impact driver is the DCF845. If you’ve been keeping track of model numbers, it’s not immediately clear between this, the DCF887, and the Atomic DCF850 where they all fit. Not to worry—we’ve done the homework and testing so you don’t have to!
DeWalt 20V Max XR Brushless Impact Driver Performance
Let’s start with a quick look at the performance stats for DeWalt’s three main impact drivers. Note that all three use brushless motors.
| 20V Max XR DCF845 | 20V Max Atomic DCF850 | 20V Max XR DCF887 | |
| Top Speeds | 1500/2800/3400 RPM | 1000/2800/3250 RPM | 1000/2800/3250 RPM |
| Max Impact Rate | 4200 IPM | 3600 IPM | 3600 IPM |
| Max Torque | 1825 in-lbs | 1825 in-lbs | 1825 in-lbs |
At first glance, we should expect faster driving speeds. Note that DeWalt isn’t following suit with other brands and chasing higher torque numbers. That’s okay—the weak point on high-torque impact drivers is the socket adapter. By keeping the torque where it is, DeWalt is effectively having you shift to an impact wrench rather than break a bunch of adapters on heavier loads.
That’s all great, but what about when there’s actual work to do?
DeWalt 20V Max XR Brushless Impact Driver Test Results
We run our impact driver through three primary tests and used a standard 5.0Ah battery for our testing. In the first, we check how long it takes to drive an 8-inch x 1/4-inch GRK Fasteners RSS screw into stacked OSB subfloor on average.
In the second test, we see how far the tool can drive a 10-inch x 1/2-inch lag screw into stacked OSB subfloor. In this test, a lower result is better because we’re measuring how much the screw is still proud.
In the final test, we set our nut-busting rig to 150 ft-lbs (1800 inch-lbs) and see how long it takes to break the nut loose. The result is the total time of 5 tests.
| 20V Max XR DCF845 | 20V Max Atomic DCF850 | 20V Max XR DCF887 | |
| RSS Screw Results | 9.1 sec | 15.5 sec | 12.6 sec |
| Lag Screw Results | 3.1 in | 3.7 in | 3.8 in |
| Nut-Busting Results | 5.4 sec | 11.0 sec | 6.6 sec |
Clearly, the DCF845 produced better results in all three of our tests. Even though the torque is the same, the higher top speed and impact rate make a difference.
DeWalt 20V Max XR Brushless Impact Driver Size and Weight
The overall form factor for the DCF845 is very similar to the DCF887. However, DeWalt did shave a little bit of length and weight from it.
| 20V Max XR DCF845 | 20V Max Atomic DCF850 | 20V Max XR DCF887 | |
| Length | 5.1 in | 4.0 in | 5.3 in |
| Bare Weight | 2.0 lbs | 2.1 lbs | 2.1 lbs |
| Weight w/5.0Ah Battery | 3.4 lbs | 3.5 lbs | 3.5 lbs |
Additional Highlights
- Tri-beam LEDs surrounding the collet
- One-hand bit insertion
DeWalt 20V Max XR Brushless Impact Driver Price
DeWalt offers several ways to get your hands on the DCF845. As usual, there’s a 3-year warranty, 1-year service agreement, and 90-day money-back guarantee.
- Bare Tool: $149.00
- 1 x 5.0Ah Kit: $219.00
- 2 x 5.0Ah Kit: $279.00
- Kit with a 1.7Ah PowerStack and 2.0Ah Standard: $219.00
At the moment, we’re not seeing this model as part of any combo kits, but we expect there will be some in the future.
The Bottom Line
The Atomic model is still the top choice if you need the most compact impact driver available. However, the DCF845 is the new flagship DeWalt 20V Max XR brushless impact driver for fans looking for the highest performance available. Considering the pricing is very close to the previous version, we expect this model to replace the DCF887 that’s been on the market for years.
DeWalt 20V Max Impact Driver Specs
- Model: DeWalt DCF845
- Power Source: Dewalt 20V Max battery
- No Load Speed: 0-1,500/ 2,800/ 3,400 RPM
- Maximum Torque: 1,825 IN-LBS
- Impact Rate: 4200 IPM
- Bare Weight: 2.0 lbs
- Weight with 5.0Ah Battery: 3.4 lbs
- Length: 5.1 in
