Makita XDT13 18V Cordless Impact Driver Review

If you are in need of a cordless impact driver, you can’t help but consider Makita’s excellent XDT13. It’s not their flagship, but it’s compact, powerful, and affordable, making it a great pick for home handyman and small shops.

• Weight: 2.8 pounds to 3.3 pounds (with battery)
• LED Front Lamp: Yes
• Bit Depth: 12mm (15/32″) or 9mm (3/8″)
• Bit Size: 1/4″ hex

The XDT13 is a lightweight, relatively affordable impact driver that is sold with or without a battery. You can get it in a kit with a battery, tool bag, and charger or you can save some money and get it in a Makita 18V LXT kit alongside a drill. The tool alone will cost you under $100, but you’ll need to provide your own battery and charger.

Buying The XDT13

The XDT13 is normally sold as the Makita XDT13Z, which is the battery-less model. If you already have a Makita LXT 18V battery then you can get this impact driver for well under $100, making it a highly affordable purchase.

XDT13 Review

I’ve used the XDT13 as my primary impact driver — which I use more than my drill — for some months now and I’m quite happy with it.

First of all, it was what I’d consider to be a very good deal at a bit under $90 when I bought it from Amazon. I already owned a 3Ah 18V LXT battery so I went with the tool-only option to save money.

The XDT13 has more than sufficient power. I know many people online, particularly on Youtube, seem to avoid the XDT13 in favor of the XDT16, but that model is overkill for most hobbyist and almost any non-professional users. The XDT14 has better controls than the XDT14, a bit more power, and is a bit lighter, so if anything that’s worth considering, but it’s not as easy to find as the XDT13 (at least it wasn’t when I was buying) and the XDT13 has proven perfectly sufficient.

The XDT13 is a bit loud for an impact driver, especially one that is small and not of professional-grade power. It’s never loud enough to hurt your ears, but when using it inside a cabinet when building out drawers I wished it was a bit quieter.

Overall, I’d recommend the XDT13 and remain satisfied with the purchase (as I am with almost all the 18V LXT tools from Makita that I’ve purchased).

Makita XDT13 vs. XDT14

The number one question people have about the XDT13, has nothing to do with the model itself, but rather it’s about the slightly more expensive XDT14.

So what’s the difference between the two?

The XDT14 is the upgrade model, with more power and a slightly smaller size. It’s better than the XDT13 in just about every way, and many pros will say the upgrade is well worth the extra money. Home users might not be able to tell much of a difference, or (like me) might not really care about the extra power.

The big features difference is that the XDT14 has a speed selector which can limit the speed for when you want to have limited RPMs and impacts/minute. This will prevent over-driving and crushing plywood when screwing something in too far.

Ultimately the XDT14 is a little quieter and a little faster. The variable trigger on the XDT13 works well enough that the speed limiting features on the XDT14 won’t be a big deal if you aren’t specifically in need of them.

XDT13 Versions

If you are trying to sort through the Makita XDT13 model numbers, this guide will help you figure out what to buy.

• XDT13Z: The tool itself. This is sold along as the battery-free version of the XDT13 impact driver.
• XDT131: The XDT13Z with 3.0Ah battery, charger, and case
• XDT13T: The XDT13Z with 5.0Ah battery, charger, and case
• XDT13R: The XDT13Z with 2.0Ah battery, charger, and case
• XDT13M: The XDT13Z with 4.0Ah battery, charger, and case. This model has been discontinued.

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