Impact Wrench Torque Chart: Reading the Numbers
An impact wrench torque chart compares maker-stated tightening or fastening torque with breakaway torque. Read those figures as different measures, then match the tool's control settings and intended work to your fasteners.
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An impact wrench torque chart compares maker-stated tightening or fastening torque with breakaway torque. Those figures describe different work, so use the right column when comparing tools and follow the fastener maker's instructions for final tightening.
For example, DeWalt gives the DCF891B 600 ft-lb max fastening torque and 800 ft-lb max breakaway torque. Those numbers aren't interchangeable: fastening describes driving, while breakaway describes loosening resistance.
How do you read an impact wrench torque chart?
Read the model name, torque type, and unit together. A number without its label can give the wrong impression of what the wrench can do.
| Wrench | Maker-stated tightening or fastening torque | Maker-stated breakaway torque |
|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DCF901B | 250 ft-lb max tightening | 400 ft-lb max breakaway |
| DeWalt DCF891B | 600 ft-lb max fastening | 800 ft-lb max breakaway |
| DeWalt DCF900B | 1,030 ft-lb max fastening | 1,400 ft-lb max breakaway |
| Milwaukee 2767-20 | 1,000 ft-lb fastening | 1,400 ft-lb nut-busting |
These are the figures the brands publish for these models. “Nut-busting” is Milwaukee's term; don't assume every manufacturer uses the same wording or that its numbers come from an identical test.
The chart is a comparison aid, not a torque specification for a bolt or lug nut. For an explanation of how much tool output your jobs may call for, see how much torque you need in an impact wrench.
What is the difference between tightening and breakaway torque?
Tightening or fastening torque describes driving a fastener; breakaway torque describes loosening one. A tool can have a higher breakaway figure because loosening a stuck fastener is a different task from tightening it.
DeWalt's DCF900B is rated at 1,030 ft-lb max fastening torque and 1,400 ft-lb max breakaway torque. Don't use the larger breakaway number as a tightening target.
Milwaukee describes the 2767-20 as delivering 1,000 ft-lb of fastening torque and 1,400 ft-lb of nut-busting torque. Compare those labels as the brand presents them, while keeping their different roles clear.
Is breakaway torque a safe tightening target?
No. Breakaway torque isn't a safe tightening target.
It describes loosening performance, not the specified clamp force for your fastener.
For lug nuts, check the vehicle manual for the required torque and tightening sequence. Use a torque wrench for the final check; our guide to checking torque after an impact wrench job explains that step.
Which wrench fits each torque range?
Pick a wrench by the work you expect to do and the control it offers, not by the biggest figure alone. The four examples below show how maker figures and listed features vary.
Is a compact wrench enough for lighter automotive work?
The DCF901B is the lowest-output option in this chart, with 250 ft-lb max tightening torque and 400 ft-lb max breakaway torque. DeWalt describes it for a range of automotive applications and says its compact size helps reach tight areas.
Choose it when access and a lower stated output fit the task. Check the fastener requirements first, since a compact tool's published maximum doesn't guarantee it can handle every stubborn fastener.
What does a mid-range wrench add?
The DCF891B sits between the other DeWalt examples, at 600 ft-lb max fastening torque and 800 ft-lb max breakaway torque. Its four speed settings, variable speed trigger, and Precision Wrench control give you more ways to manage output.
Consider this model when the DCF901B's figure seems low for your planned work and a high-torque wrench may be more than you need. For a deeper look at tool output, compare mid-torque and high-torque impact wrenches.
When does a high-torque wrench make sense?
The DCF900B has 1,030 ft-lb max fastening torque and 1,400 ft-lb max breakaway torque. DeWalt describes it for demanding work such as large pipe flanges, wheel lugs, and concrete anchor bolt setting.
Milwaukee's 2767-20 is another high-torque example, with 1,000 ft-lb fastening torque and 1,400 ft-lb nut-busting torque. Milwaukee says it has a friction ring anvil for one-handed socket changes and is compatible with M18 batteries, which are sold separately.
A high maximum can be useful when your work calls for it, but doesn't make the wrench right for every fastener. Use the tool's speed or torque controls where available, and follow the fastener maker's instructions.
Do impact wrench settings change the torque chart?
Settings can help control how a wrench runs, but they don't change what a maker's maximum torque figure means. A tool with modes may offer more control than a tool without them, but a mode isn't a substitute for measuring final fastener torque.
The DCF891B and DCF900B each have four speed settings and a variable speed trigger. DeWalt says Precision Wrench control is designed to help prevent overtightening in forward and run-off in reverse.
See whether impact wrenches have torque settings for how modes work and what to check on a specific tool. When accuracy matters, finish with the method specified for the fastener.
Why can published torque figures be hard to compare?
The labels and conditions behind a figure matter. “Max fastening,” “max tightening,” “breakaway,” and “nut-busting” aren't one shared measurement category.
A published maximum also doesn't tell you the torque a fastener will receive in every situation. The fastener, socket, battery, tool setting, and time on the trigger can all affect the result.
Treat this chart as a way to compare the maker's stated figures for these models. For a vehicle's wheel hardware, use its manual for the required value and a torque wrench to verify the final tightening.
What should you use the chart for?
Use an impact wrench torque chart to shortlist tools by the kind of work and control you need. Compare the tightening or fastening column for driving work, and the breakaway column for loosening work.
Choose the DCF901B when its lower stated output and compact design fit your automotive tasks. Consider the DCF891B when its mid-range figure and control settings suit the job, or the DCF900B and Milwaukee 2767-20 when you need to compare higher maker-stated figures.
For lug nuts, the deciding number is the vehicle's specified torque, not the wrench's maximum. Read what size impact wrench lug nuts call for, then confirm final tightness with a torque wrench.
Frequently asked questions
What does an impact wrench torque chart show?
An impact wrench torque chart compares torque figures that manufacturers publish for different tools. Check whether each number is tightening or fastening torque, or breakaway torque, because those figures describe different tasks.
Use the chart to narrow choices, then check the tool's control features and your vehicle or equipment manual.
Is breakaway torque the same as tightening torque?
No. Tightening or fastening torque describes the maker's figure for driving a fastener, while breakaway torque describes loosening resistance.
A higher breakaway figure doesn't tell you the correct torque to apply when tightening a wheel nut.
Follow the vehicle or equipment manual for the final tightening value.
Can an impact wrench set the correct lug nut torque?
An impact wrench can drive lug nuts, but its published torque figure doesn't set the correct final clamp force. Use the vehicle manual for the required value and a torque wrench to confirm it.
Impact wrench settings may help control output, but they don't replace that check.
Why do two torque charts show different numbers for a wrench?
A wrench can have separate tightening, fastening, and breakaway figures, and sources may highlight different ones. Compare the exact model and the name attached to each figure.
Don't treat the largest number as the tool's tightening target or as a standard for every fastener.
