Best High Torque Cordless Impact Wrenches 2026: Metabo HPT Steps Up

Introduction

The high torque cordless impact wrench market just got a lot more interesting. Metabo HPT (known as HiKOKI in much of the world) has launched a second-generation half inch high torque, the WR36DG, alongside a three-quarter inch sibling, the WR36DF. Both carry big torque claims from a brand with a track record of playing it straight with its ratings, and both are priced aggressively for the class. We put them up against the current benchmarks: the DeWalt DCF900, the Milwaukee M18 high torque, and the Makita XGT three-quarter inch.

Metabo HPT WR36DG: The Gen 2 Half Inch Sleeper

At a glance, the WR36DG looks almost identical to the previous WR36DB, and that is part of the problem for the brand. The giveaway is the hammer case: the new model adds a triangular swoosh detail on the aluminum front case where the old one was mostly round. Under that familiar skin, the numbers jump from 770 ft-lbs tightening and 1,218 ft-lbs nut busting to a claimed 1,033 ft-lbs tightening and 1,475 ft-lbs nut busting.

In testing, the headline result is a 770 ft-lbs maximum torque run, which places it among the top few high torque impacts currently sold. Working torque is less flashy at 584 ft-lbs, and the tool takes a moment to get going. Handling is also worth noting: like the Makita LXT high torque, it wants to jump off a stubborn bolt, twisting noticeably in the arm. On the flip side, its best reverse run hit 829 ft-lbs, right in the same conversation as the DeWalt, and 840 with a larger 8 amp hour comparable pack. At 8.6 pounds with a 2.5 amp hour comparable battery, it is about a pound heavier than the Milwaukee, and you feel it.

How It Stacks Up Against DeWalt and Milwaukee

The DeWalt DCF900 is the reigning reference in this class. It updated the near decade-old DCF899 with a much more powerful platform, and its best numbers come in forward mode, where it posts figures the Metabo HPT approaches in reverse. The DeWalt also has a deep battery ecosystem, with six and eight amp hour options that push its output further.

The Milwaukee M18 high torque remains a strong all-rounder, but the WR36DG undercuts it on weight comparisons aside, it matches or beats the Milwaukee’s numbers in our tests while costing less. Scoring 440.8 points overall in our evaluation, the WR36DG lands in the top four cordless high torques for sale anywhere, right alongside a $464 Snap-on option. At $279, it is a genuine value pick, and its 45.2 point performance-per-price score is excellent.

Metabo HPT WR36DF: A Serious Three-Quarter Inch Contender

The WR36DF is the tool that generated the most anticipation, and the main visible difference from the half inch version is the larger anvil. That anvil change alone appears to lift the claimed tightening torque from 1,033 to 1,401 ft-lbs, with nut busting at 1,770 ft-lbs. In testing, it delivered a best run of 900 ft-lbs, beating every three-quarter inch cordless we have tested except the Makita XGT, and comfortably outperforming the Milwaukee three-quarter inch.

The larger square drive also tames the handling: the arm-twisting and push-back hopping that plague the half inch are nearly eliminated, improving from a wrist-breaking score of 8.5 down to a friendlier 7.0. Interestingly, an 8 amp hour comparable 217-cell battery made no real difference, with results within a few foot pounds of the smaller pack. It scores 443.7 points overall, placing it second among cordless three-quarter inch impacts, a well-deserved spot. At 8.5 inches long, it is about normal for the class, and its 103.5 points per inch figure is exceptionally high.

How It Compares to the Milwaukee and Makita Three-Quarter Inch Tools

The Makita XGT three-quarter inch, at roughly $400 to $450, remains the class leader and the one tool the WR36DF could not topple in reverse testing. It is an animal, and its position is safe for now. The Milwaukee M18 three-quarter inch, now priced at $350 or more, is a more direct rival, and the Metabo HPT beats it on our best-case runs while selling for $299.

One caveat applies across both new Metabo HPT tools: they are slow out of the hole in short working torque runs and do not favor forward mode. If your work involves breaking loose large, soft lag bolts or rusted fasteners in reverse, that matters little. If you rely on forward tightening speed, the DeWalt and Makita hold the edge.

Buying Advice

If you want the most performance per dollar in a half inch high torque, the Metabo HPT WR36DG at $279 is hard to beat, though expect its weight and its tendency to twist in the hand. If you need a three-quarter inch drive, the WR36DF at $299 undercuts every major competitor while beating the Milwaukee and trailing only the Makita XGT in reverse torque. Buyers who want maximum forward performance and a deep battery ecosystem should still look at the DeWalt DCF900, and those who want the outright strongest three-quarter inch should keep the Makita XGT on the list.

Conclusion

Metabo HPT’s new high torque pair are genuine sleepers: they look like last year’s tools but test like flagships. Both are strong value picks available now, and they make the top of this market more competitive than it has been in years.