The Makita XDT21T 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver Kit is a compact cordless impact driver built for professional fastening on the 18V LXT battery platform. This is an impact driver designed for driving screws, lags and self-drilling fasteners into wood and metal where speed and control both matter. The model number is XDT21T, and it ships as a kit with two 5.0Ah batteries, a rapid charger and a tool case.

Power comes from a Makita-built brushless motor rated at 1,860 in.-lbs. of max torque, 3,700 RPM and 4,400 impacts per minute at its top setting. On the job, that means long structural screws and lag bolts go in without bogging, and the impact mechanism keeps pressure off your wrist. Makita builds the hammer and anvil from high-grade steel with its own heat-hardening process, which is where the driving power and durability come from.

You get four speed settings: 0-1,100, 0-2,100, 0-3,200 and 0-3,700 RPM, paired with 0-2,000, 0-3,600, 0-4,200 and 0-4,400 impacts per minute. Low speed protects small brass screws and cabinet hardware. High speed runs structural screws and lags. Quick-Shift Mode reads the load through the brushless motor electronics and finds the best balance of speed and torque for the fastener, so you spend less time switching modes and fewer heads get stripped.

Tightening Mode (T-Mode) is aimed at self-drilling screws in thin-gauge metal. It drives fast while drilling, then backs off as the screw seats, which helps eliminate screw cam-out and cross threading and protects the workpiece. Metal stud framers, HVAC installers and anyone fastening sheet metal will use it constantly.

The tool is built for real job site abuse. Extreme Protection Technology (XPT) adds integrated seals that channel dust and water away from the internals. The gear housing is all metal, and the brushless motor has no carbon brushes to wear out, so it runs cooler and lasts longer. A dual ball bearing chuck reduces bit wobble and run-out for straighter driving.

The design stays compact and comfortable: 4-3/4 inches long, about 3.6 lbs. with a battery according to Makita, a rubberized soft grip, a one-touch 1/4-in. hex chuck for one-handed bit changes, and built-in LED lights with preglow and afterglow so you can see the screw before and after the trigger pull.

It runs on any Makita 18V LXT slide-style lithium-ion battery. Star Protection Computer Controls let the tool and a star-marked battery share data in real time to guard against overloading, over-discharging and overheating. Makita rates the brushless motor at up to 50% longer run time per charge than its brushed motors.

Who should buy it: framers, deck builders, remodelers, cabinet installers, metal stud and HVAC crews, and serious DIYers already on 18V LXT. The kit is the right buy if you need batteries and a charger, since the two 5.0Ah packs give a full day of driving.

Four Modes, One Compact Driver

The Makita XDT21T 18V LXT Brushless Quick-Shift Mode 4-Speed Impact Driver Kit packs 1,860 in.-lbs. into a 4-3/4-in. body and adds the T-Mode metal workers actually use.

• Who it's for: Contractors and remodelers on 18V LXT who drive everything from trim screws to lags and self-drilling metal screws.
• Why it stands out: Quick-Shift Mode, Tightening Mode, XPT sealing and a dual ball bearing chuck in a 4-3/4-in. body.
• Worth knowing: You get two 5.0Ah batteries, a rapid charger and a case, so it is ready to work out of the box.

• Does it work with my existing Makita 18V batteries? Yes. It runs on Makita 18V LXT slide-style lithium-ion batteries, and star-marked batteries get Star Protection.
• What is Quick-Shift Mode? It uses the brushless motor electronics to find the best balance of speed and torque for each fastener automatically.
• What is Tightening Mode for? Faster tightening of self-drilling screws in thin-gauge metal while helping prevent damage to the screw or workpiece.
• How long is the tool? 4-3/4 inches from the back of the motor housing to the front of the chuck.