A right-angle adapter is a lifesaver when you just can’t get at a screw hidden under a worktop or inside an electric appliance. Once you’ve used an electric screwdriver for putting in or taking out a few screws, you’ll never look at a manual screwdriver again. I used both the WX240 and the Bosch IXO to assemble a PC inside a new case, and while the Bosch was fine for removing external case screws, the Worx was a lot more usable inside the case and for getting screws into the motherboard. Not all lithium-ion batteries are alike: some will hold a charge better than others, while some will also charge faster, within two or three hours. And if you need the light touch of a manual screwdriver, you can lock off most electric screwdrivers and use muscle power if you want.

If like me, you’ve got big hands, you might find yourself changing direction when you don’t want to. These lock on to the body of the IXO once you remove the section surrounding the magnetic bit holder, providing more scope to get a screw into awkward spaces next to a wooden panel or beneath a horizontal strut.The Hychika electric screwdriver is packed with clever features and boasts a massive 6 Nm of torque, which is more than either of the Bosch cordless screwdrivers on my list. mAh stands for MilliAmp hour and represents how much current a battery will discharge over a period of one hour.

A battery power indicator displays how much charge is remaining, and this charge time is between 3 and 5 hours.Cordless screwdrivers tend to come in three basic types: compact pistol-grip efforts with a built-in battery; cylindrical tools with a more traditional screwdriver feel; and larger models with removable batteries that will often double as a low-powered cordless drill. You get more reach along its 182 mm length, handy when screws are buried deep under worktops or inside electrical appliances. The ideal accompaniment to a full size cordless drill, you won’t have to keep changing drill bits all the time. There’s the usual range of crosshead, flat head and PoZi bits, but also some Torx and even some hex shank drill bits . Weighing in at just 280 g, it’s probably the lightest screwdriver in Bosch’s green line of DIY-level tools.

The kit includes a micro-USB type adaptor, a USB micro charging cable and a massive 81-piece bit set in a sturdy storage case. With close to 100 years experience, their products are lauded the world over for both their performance and quality. The membrane rocket switch on the top is a little over-sensitive, but it makes it easy to screw in with one press and unscrew with the next without any change direction locks or sliders. The more powerful cordless screwdrivers and drill-drivers will have some form of speed control, but most will have a single speed, forward and reverse gears, and a trigger to squeeze when it’s time to start screwing.Makita power tools are built with professional users in mind, developed and designed to the highest standards to ensure they continue to perform in the toughest environments. Some of the best electric screwdrivers come with both a straight grip and a pistol grip for maximum comfort and ease of use. The accessory kit is varied enough for most jobs around the house and the extension bit will come in handy. Sarah’s role as chief editor at DIY Garden is about more than just making sure we’re literally dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s (although she’s a stickler for detail, so it’s certainly about that too!

This is a more expensive rechargeable screwdriver, but it does have the power and quality you expect from Makita products. The battery screwdriver also features a handy micro-USB charging system that plugs into the base of the handle and is neat and easy to tuck away when not in use. FFX are proud to offer a range of products from Makita, the foremost manufacturer of power tools in the world. The flexible drive shaft is probably the best accessory you can get for a portable electric screwdriver. Unlike the convertible electric screwdrivers on my list, you can’t get as much pressure behind this driver.But the best electric cordless screwdrivers can take the sting out of any teeth-gritting tasks, such as removing old, rusted-in screws and driving self-tappers in without a pilot hole.