Best Right Angle Impact Tools: Ridgid's New Driver and Wrench Face the Competition

Introduction

New right angle impact tools do not come to market often, so it is worth paying attention when three arrive at once. Ridgid has launched a new right angle impact driver and a right angle impact wrench rated for 250 foot-pounds, which puts it at the highest spec currently available. Alongside them sits the well-established Milwaukee M12 right angle impact wrench, a proven compact option that has long defined this category. This comparison looks at how each stacks up on torque, head size, price, and everyday usability.

Ridgid R87730B Right Angle Impact Driver

The Ridgid R87730B is a brushless 18V right angle impact driver with a head design that closely resembles an existing red-brand 18V tool from the same manufacturer group, measuring within 0.08 inches of it. In forward working torque tests it reached 69 foot-pounds, edging past the competing SKIL model but trailing the Milwaukee by a visible gap. In reverse it posted 76 foot-pounds, again passing SKIL toward the end of the run. Both tools revert to forward behavior at the end of reverse runs, which matches how these tools are typically used.

Its head profile is short, and combined with solid numbers in this class, that compactness earns it a strong size score of 40.4 points, which is the main selling point of a right angle driver in the first place. At around $159, though, it costs more than the older Milwaukee 18V model and a lot in general for an impact driver. The verdict: the SKIL remains the smarter buy at roughly $99 or less, often as a kit with a charger and battery, with useful ring lighting and a smaller, lighter body. But if you already own Ridgid batteries and chargers, the bare-tool math changes, and by the numbers it is the best performer in its class.

Ridgid R8720B Right Angle Impact Wrench

The R8720B looks like an all-new design and arguably the best-looking right angle impact wrench on the market. Priced at $199 to match the Milwaukee, it sits above the Kobalt’s $150, but Ridgid rates it at 250 foot-pounds, the most powerful right angle cordless impact wrench rating available, and it adds modes that slow down bolts during loosening. It also spins at an unusually high 3,200 RPM for an impact wrench, which can feel excessive but may pay off in speed.

Head length comes in at 2.94 inches, under the Kobalt’s 3.05 inches, and the long body can actually help when reaching deep into an engine bay. The 3/8-inch drive version tested here posted 266 foot-pounds with the current 4Ah Max Output battery, beating the Kobalt’s 252 and marking a rare case where the newer battery outperformed the older Octane pack. It scores a record 90.5 points for size in the cordless category. The tool can jitter at its high RPM and IPM, so it sometimes needs a firm grip to perform smoothly. Overall, it is a fair claim that this is the best right angle cordless impact wrench currently on the market, and the half-inch drive version may vibrate even less and make slightly more torque thanks to its larger anvil.

Milwaukee M12 Right Angle Impact Wrench

The Milwaukee M12 remains the compact benchmark in this space. In the same comparison, the M12 half-inch version posted 188 foot-pounds, which the CCA tool narrowly edged at 197. The Ridgid’s newer 18V, 4Ah Max Output platform out-torquing a 12V tool with a 2Ah battery is not a dramatic surprise, and the M12 improved little when held differently, likely because it is already smoother. It stays relevant because of its small size and smooth behavior, and because its rated torque sits in the same conversation as the Ridgid’s claimed figures.

How the CCA Right Angle Impact Wrench Fits In

To round out the current market, a CCA right angle impact wrench, a budget Amazon-brand kit around $95 to $100 with a Makita-style battery and charger, was included. It posted just 78 foot-pounds in forward working torque, 153 in reverse, and 204 in a max run, with reverse being where it clearly prefers to operate. A hand near the head can improve results by 6 to 9 foot-pounds, and swapping in a real Makita 5Ah battery pushed it past 200 to 211 foot-pounds. Its size earns only 62.3 points since it is a thick tool, and it totals below the Milwaukee. Still, none of these CCA impacts have failed in use, and using Makita LXT batteries in place of the included ones could be a sensible upgrade if you want a sub-$100 kit.

Buying Advice

The short version: SKIL for a slim right angle impact driver, Ridgid for an impact wrench, and the CCA kit if you own Makita batteries or want to spend under $100.

If you already own the Kobalt right angle impact wrench, the Ridgid may not be an urgent upgrade, but it delivers a meaningful torque improvement over the Milwaukee and adds modes the Kobalt lacks. Consider the half-inch drive despite the bigger sockets, since a larger anvil usually reduces vibration and may add torque.

Conclusion

Right angle impact tools are about reaching fasteners ordinary drivers cannot, so head profile, smoothness, and real reverse torque matter more than headline specs. The Ridgid R8720B now leads the wrench category on paper and in testing, the Ridgid R87730B wins on numbers but not on value, and the Milwaukee M12 and the budget CCA kit still earn their places for compactness and price respectively.