Power tools · owner-verdict comparison

DeWalt DCF887 Impact Driver vs Makita XFD13 Drill: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Makita XFD13 Drill: 91% of 46 owners recommend it, vs 69% of 54 for the DeWalt DCF887 Impact Driver.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

DeWalt DCF887 Impact Driver

69%of 54 owners recommend
69% recommend · 3% neutral · 28% don't
Owners praise
  • Serious power and torque that drives tough screws, bolts, and even lugnuts
  • Reliable workhorse that keeps running after years of drops and jobsite abuse
  • Multiple speed settings handle everything from delicate to heavy driving
Owners complain about
  • Trigger and speed-control electronics can fail, leaving power fluttering or stuck
  • Chuck wobble and bit-retention problems, with springs breaking on bit swaps
  • Repairs cost enough that owners just buy a new tool instead
Full owner report →

Makita XFD13 Drill

91%of 46 owners recommend
91% recommend · 2% neutral · 7% don't
Owners praise
  • Exceptional longevity, owners report drills and batteries still running strong after 10, 19, even 20 years of regular use, with some calling them 'hard to kill'
  • Plenty of torque and low RPM for heavy-duty mixing tasks like drywall mud, mortar, concrete, and paint that lighter drills can't handle
  • Strong brand loyalty, owners repeatedly describe themselves as satisfied 'Makita guys' who trust the build quality over other brands
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the DeWalt DCF887 Impact Driver if
  • ✓DIYers driving screws and assembling flat-pack furniture
  • ✓Tradespeople needing an all-day jobsite driver
  • ✓Users wanting three-speed control for fine or delicate work
  • ✓Anyone driving lots of long or stubborn fasteners
Skip it if
  • People wanting a small driver only for light delicate tasks
  • Buyers worried about the reported trigger reliability issues
Get the Makita XFD13 Drill if
  • ✓Tradespeople who mix mud, mortar, or paint and need heavy-duty torque
  • ✓Anyone drilling large holes in tough material like truck frame steel
  • ✓Owners who want a drill that survives decades of daily jobsite abuse
  • ✓Users who value simple brush replacement and easy DIY repairability
Skip it if
  • Buyers wanting variable-speed control on single-speed D-handle models
  • Anyone comparing raw battery runtime against newer competitor platforms

What DeWalt DCF887 Impact Driver owners say

“887 still goin strong, really a beast of an Impact for being roughly 8 years and change”
— @BlackenedEclipse on YouTube
“I have the Dewalt DCF887. It makes driving and removing screws effortless, and the impact action does so without stripping heads, wrenching your wrist, and lets you drive long screws into wood like butter. It's the most used tool I own.”
— soupyfrood on Reddit
“the tool repair shop at the other location has literal crates of DCF887 impacts that are just older than 1 year and if the switch just now went out thats not considered a defect so you'll have to ~$97 plus shipping on a tool that sells for $139.”
— shiyal on Reddit

What Makita XFD13 Drill owners say

“I just picked up a xfd13 drill and it’s much nicer than the black option and not that much bigger/heavier”
— srrmax on Reddit
“xfd13 is really good also but bigger”
— Late_Chemical_1142 on Reddit
“Been downhill ever since”
— rcb4d on Reddit

DeWalt DCF887 Impact Driver vs Makita XFD13 Drill: frequently asked questions

Is the DeWalt DCF887 Impact Driver or the Makita XFD13 Drill better?

Real owners lean toward the Makita XFD13 Drill: 91% of 46 owners recommend it, vs 69% of 54 for the DeWalt DCF887 Impact Driver.

Who should get the DeWalt DCF887 Impact Driver?

Owners point the DeWalt DCF887 Impact Driver at dIYers driving screws and assembling flat-pack furniture, and tradespeople needing an all-day jobsite driver.

Who should get the Makita XFD13 Drill?

Owners point the Makita XFD13 Drill at tradespeople who mix mud, mortar, or paint and need heavy-duty torque, and anyone drilling large holes in tough material like truck frame steel.