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DeWalt DCF787

By DeWalt · Cordless Drills · Power Tools · More from DeWalt

  • 20V MAX brushless motor
  • 1,500 in-lbs max torque
  • 0-2,800 RPM
  • 0-3,200 IPM
  • 1/4 inch hex chuck

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Summary

A compact 20V MAX brushless impact driver for everyday screwdriving, small and light enough for cabinets, stud bays and overhead work. Check two things before you buy: 125 ft-lbs is not enough to move lug nuts, and the model looks discontinued in the US.

Strengths

  • Compact and light enough for cabinets, stud bays and overhead work.
  • Strong for everyday screwdriving relative to its size.
  • A brushless motor running on the shared 20V MAX battery platform.
  • The LED worklight stays lit about 20 seconds after the trigger is released.
  • Owned by people who already have 20V MAX packs and chargers.
  • A 3-year limited warranty with 1 year of free service on worn parts.

Weaknesses

  • At 125 ft-lbs it is not an impact wrench and will not move lug nuts or rusted bolts.
  • Bits can stick in the quick-release chuck, a recurring owner complaint.
  • It appears to be discontinued in the US, which weakens long-term model support.
  • No instrumented independent test of this exact model was found.
  • Published length and weight figures disagree across sources.
  • The $111-150 bare-tool range stacks up poorly against DeWalt’s newer drivers.

Verified specifications

ModelDCF787, a 20V MAX 1/4 in. (6.35 mm) brushless cordless impact driver.
Voltage20V MAX (maximum initial voltage 20 V, nominal 18 V).
Max torque1,500 in-lbs (125 ft-lbs / 170 Nm).
No-load speed0-2,800 RPM.
Impact rate0-3,200 IPM, per a retailer spec sheet.
Motorbrushless, rated up to 57% more runtime than brushed.
Chuck1/4 in. (6.35 mm) hex quick-release, one-handed loading, accepts 1 in. bit tips.
WorklightLED above the trigger, stays on about 20 seconds after release.
Controlsvariable-speed trigger and forward/reverse button.
Length and weight5.4-5.55 in. front to back; 2.1-2.8 lb, depending on source.
Warranty3-year limited, 1-year free service on worn parts and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Full research notes and sources

What it is good for

This is a compact screwdriver, not a high-torque tool. The manual rates it at 1,500 in-lbs (125 ft-lbs / 170 Nm), 0-2,800 RPM and 0-3,200 IPM in a body roughly 5.4-5.55 inches long. Owners praise its size and weight for tight spaces and everyday fasteners, and the LED worklight staying lit about 20 seconds after the trigger is released is a common point in its favor. DeWalt rates the brushless motor at up to 57% more runtime than brushed equivalents. For automotive work it is the wrong tool: at 125 ft-lbs owners are repeatedly told to use an impact wrench for lug nuts and corroded fasteners.

Chuck and bit retention

The one recurring usability complaint is the quick-release chuck. A r/Dewalt thread titled “DCF787 1/4” impact driver bit stuck" documents bits jamming in the collar, with owner workarounds such as pulling the collar back and pointing the tool down. Treat it as a know-how issue rather than a defect; no motor or battery failure cluster was found.

Discontinuation and support

A July 2026 deal article reports the DCF787B is no longer listed on DeWalt’s US website and reads that as likely discontinued, while DeWalt Canada still lists the DCF787D1 kit. The tool stays compatible with every 20V MAX battery, so the batteries and charger carry over, but long-term model-specific support is weaker than for a current-line driver. DeWalt ServiceNet hosts parts diagrams for the model family, and repairs go through authorized service centers.

Walmart ran the bare tool at $74 against a stated $150 reference in 2026, Acme Tools listed the bare tool at $149.99, and Toolmarts listed it near $181.64. Kits cost more: Contractor Tool listed the DCF787D1 at $118 against a stated $179, and Tool Nut listed the DCF787C1 at $278 against a $378 comparable. Acme Tools listed the DCK277D2 two-tool combo (DCD777 drill plus DCF787) at $249.00, and an older r/Tools thread records a DCF787C1 kit at $99 against $159 at Lowe’s. Under about $80 bare tool it is strong value for an existing 20V MAX owner; between $111 and $150 it is hard to justify when DeWalt’s newer DCF845, DCF850 and DCF860 deliver 1,825-2,500 in-lbs with current support.

Which model this is

This page covers the DEWALT DCF787, the 20V MAX compact brushless 1/4 in. impact driver, sold as the bare tool DCF787B and as the DCF787C1 and DCF787D1 kits. Do not confuse it with the ATOMIC DCF850, the higher-torque DCF845, the three-speed DCF860, or the older brushed DCF885 and DCF887. The listing ASIN is B07SQ42PGZ.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Retailers:

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