Cordless Screwdriver vs. Drill/Driver: Is the Small One Enough?
A cordless screwdriver is the smallest powered driver you can buy. It's slow, light on torque, and takes 1/4" hex bits, so it's made for assembly work rather than drilling. A compact drill/driver has a real chuck, more torque and a faster top speed, so it can drill holes as well as drive screws. To compare them with real numbers, we read Milwaukee's own pages tonight for one of each on the same M12 battery platform. We haven't tested either tool hands-on, so there are no ratings here.
| Kit | Maker-listed specs | In the box (per maker) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee M12 1/4" Hex Screwdriver Kit (2401-22) | 12V; brushed motor; 1/4" hex quick-change chuck; 175 in-lbs max torque; 0-500 RPM; 15 clutch settings; variable-speed trigger; LED light and battery fuel gauge | The 2401-20 tool, two M12 batteries (48-11-2401), charger (48-59-2401) | Check current price |
| Milwaukee M12 Subcompact Brushless 3/8" Drill/Driver Kit (3401-22) | 12V; brushless motor; 3/8" all-metal chuck; 350 in-lbs max torque; 2 speeds, up to 1,550 RPM; 12 clutch settings; 5.4" long; 1.58 lbs without battery, 2 lbs with | The 3401-20 tool, two M12 REDLITHIUM CP2.0 batteries, M12 charger, contractor bag | Check current price |
We left the screwdriver's weight out on purpose. Tonight its page gave different weights in different places, so check it yourself if weight matters to you. Milwaukee also doesn't list the battery capacity for the screwdriver kit in a way we could confirm, so we only give the part number.
What the numbers tell you
On paper the drill/driver has twice the torque (350 vs. 175 in-lbs) and roughly three times the top speed (1,550 vs. 500 RPM). It also has a brushless motor and a two-speed gearbox, while the screwdriver is brushed and single-range. The screwdriver's advantages are its slow, gentle speed and its 15 clutch settings, which make it hard to strip a small screw or crack a piece of flat-pack furniture.
Which one to buy
Get the drill/driver if this will be your first and only powered tool. It drills pilot holes, hangs shelves and curtain rods, drives most household screws, and it's still small enough for cabinets and overhead work. For most first-time homeowners, this is the one.
Consider the screwdriver as a second tool if you assemble a lot of furniture, install outlet covers and hardware, or want something light for small screws where a drill feels like too much. It doesn't drill regular round-shank bits, so it can't replace a drill.
Both run on the same M12 batteries, so whichever you start with, the other can come later as a bare tool. See best drill for homeowners, 12V vs. 18V/20V, brushed vs. brushless and bare tool vs. kit.
Sources: https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/details/m12-1-4-hex-screwdriver-kit/2401-22, https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/details/m12-subcompact-brushless-3-8-drill-driver-kit/3401-22. Specs and box contents checked on the manufacturer pages on Oct 28, 2026.