Screwdrivers have been around for a long time. The basic design has not changed much over the years but nowadays you also have electric screwdrivers. The electric screwdriver makes it more comfortable to work. Even better is the cordless screwdriver, you are not limited by the range of the cord. There are a couple things to keep in mind when buying a cordless screwdriver.

First, how powerful screwdriver do you need? As a rule of thumb, the more powerful driver, the heavier it gets. If you will be working a lot with the screwdriver, a light-weight model is generally the best choice. Note that the powerful impact drivers are brute-force tools. They are very powerful but can’t be used with delicate materials, impact drivers will damage the material. If you have a lot of different projects, you may need more than one cordless driver.

Physical parameters are also important. You should take care of the size of the screwdriver. If your hands are small, a big screwdriver may not be suitable for you. Similarly, if the screwdriver is too heavy for you, you will find it difficult to use it. Apart from size and weight, the shape of the screwdriver should also suit your hands and abilities. These are very small factors but they can create a huge difference, especially when working with the tool for longer periods.

Batteries are another important factor. For heavy duty, you want Li-Ion (Lithium-Ion) batteries. They are more expensive than the older NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) and NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) batteries. But they are lighter, have longer lifetime and are more powerful. As a bonus, they have no memory effect. For hobby usage, the older and cheaper batteries are often good enough.

Torque control, meaning that you can adjust rotating force (or turning power) is very useful. Sometimes you need a lot of torque to fasten screws into hard materials but if you work with softer material, you can damage the material if you use too much power. The larger the torque range, the better. If you are working on a wide variety of projects, you need a higher torque range.

Note that all screwdrivers come with reverse action, making it possible to not only to insert screws but also to remove them.

For most jobs around the house, a combined cordless drill and driver is the most cost effective solution. The drill/driver is adequate for most tasks but will be heavier and larger than a cordless screwdriver. Still, if one tool can do two tasks, why buy a second tool.