Can a Ryobi impact wrench actually remove lug nuts? I tested two to find out

Published Sep 23, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT Cory Gunther is a senior author and Newsletter Editor at Valnet, covering cutting-edge tech, Android, and more for How-To Geek. He's covered Android, cars, and technology for over a decade. When he's not reviewing the latest gadget, you can find him off-roading in his Toyota truck, fixing said truck, or doing something outdoors with friends and family. He's covered CES, SEMA, and MWC and reviewed countless phones, TVs, speakers, EVs, e-bikes, and more. Before Valnet, Cory worked for GottaBeMobile. His writing has also appeared on SlashGear, InputMag, and AndroidCentral. He's written over 9,000 articles. If you've ever used an X-shaped tire iron to remove lug nuts on your vehicle, you know how strenuous it can be. Most mechanics and DIYers use a breaker bar or an impact wrench instead, but a common question online is whether a Ryobi impact wrench can remove wheel lug nuts. After testing two of them, the answer is clear. Removing the lug nuts from your car or truck requires a certain amount of torque, and that's why it's so tough. Having the right tool for the job can make all the difference. As long as you buy the right Ryobi impact wrench, it's actually a pretty easy job. However, you never want to reinstall those lug nuts with an impact, but more on that below. Absolutely, as long as you have the right model A 1/2 inch impact wrench is essential for automotive work Before we begin, it's important to note that three main impact wrench sizes are ideal for automotive work and DIY projects around the house: 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch, and 1/2 inch. That's not the size of the tool, but the size of the wrench and socket adapter on the front. While a 1/4 inch impact might be okay for smaller jobs, and a 3/8 inch is a solid all-purpose size that can get you by when working on a vehicle, your best bet is a bigger 1/2 inch impact wrench for lug nuts, rusted-out bolts, and other heavy-duty applications. People all over Reddit and other forums ask whether a Ryobi can handle lug nuts and, if so, which model to buy. I own two different Ryobi 1/2 inch impact wrenches, and neither one is an entry-level model. As a result, both impact wrenches had absolutely no problem removing lug nuts from my Toyota Tacoma. It's fast, easy, and effective. Credit: Cory Gunther / How-To Geek The first one I tested was one of Ryobi's best impact wrench models, and I wasn't worried in the slightest. I'm talking about the Ryobi 18V ONE+ High-Torque 1/2 inch impact wrench (PBLIW01). This thing is big and powerful, offering nearly 1,170 ft-lbs of breakaway torque. Honestly, it's probably more power than most DIYers will ever need, but that also makes it your best bet. It's the last impact you'll ever need. For context, the lug nuts on your car or truck should always be tightened to the manufacturer's recommended torque. That's why they're always so hard to remove. Smaller vehicles typically require around 70–85 ft-lbs of torque, while larger sedans or mid-size trucks can go up to 100 or more. Then, big SUVs, crossovers, or full-size trucks often require the lug nuts tightened to upwards of 160 ft-lbs of torque. Now that you know that, it's pretty clear that Ryobi's High-Torque impact above with its 1,170 ft-lb rating is more than capable of removing the biggest or tightest nuts and bolts on just about any vehicle. Ryobi ONE+ 4-mode High Torque Impact Wrench $159 $269 Save $110 Ryobi's 4-mode Impact Wrench is perfect for tough jobs. Choose the power level you need and get to work. The second one I tested was a Ryobi 1/2 inch impact wrench (P261) that offers three speed modes and 300 ft-lbs of breakaway/fastening torque. This tool is nearly 10 years old, doesn't have a fancy new brushless motor, and is very well-used. Even this old and outdated model that is only capable of around 300 ft-lb of torque was able to quickly remove the lug nuts from my truck. That said, it took quite a bit longer than the model above, and the process required many more "impacts" to get those tight lug nuts moving. Still, it took less than five seconds for each nut, making tire rotations and brake maintenance fast and easy. Ryobi has an upgraded version of this tool, the Ryobi 18V ONE+ 1/2 inch impact wrench (P262) that features a brushless motor and double the power at 600 ft-lbs. At first glance, it looks just like the model above, but it's not nearly as powerful, smaller, but that makes it easier to handle. Thankfully, as long as it's paired with a big 4Ah battery, or a Ryobi EDGE battery, it'll be more than enough for any at-home automotive repairs. Grab yours from the link below. Ryobi 18V HP Brushless 1/2 Inch Impact Wrench Ryobi's 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 1/2-inch Impact Wrench (P262) is a capable mid-range tool that delivers up to 600 ft./lbs. of breakaway torque and 450 ft./lbs. of fastening torque. Don't use an impact driver to reinstall lug nuts For safety reasons, use a handheld torque wrench Credit: Cory Gunther / How-To Geek Now that you know how easy it is to remove lug nuts with many of Ryobi's mid-grade impact wrench models, before you start working on your vehicle you'll need to buy one more tool. This is important! As I mentioned above, wheel lug nuts should be tightened to the manufacturer's specifications. This ensures your wheels and tires stay safely attached to your vehicle, the lug nuts don't rattle loose, and that you won't apply too much torque and ruin the threads. I've seen someone rip off and break the entire lug nut stem (or stud) from their vehicle while using a pneumatic impact wrench. When reinstalling your lug nuts, always use a torque wrench set to the correct ft-lb specified in your owner's manual. I recommend a quality digital torque wrench, but those are pretty expensive. Instead, you can get by with a manual drive-click torque wrench like this model on Amazon. It's what I have, and it works great. For example, my older Toyota Tacoma wheels should always be tightened to 83 ft-lbs (113 N·m), and you'll easily exceed that number when using something like Ryobi's high-torque impact wrench. That's dangerous; always use a torque wrench. You've probably seen every tire shop employee use impact wrenches to quickly snug lug nuts to save time, but they should finish the job with a properly calibrated torque wrench. If they don't, I wouldn't go back to that location. Ryobi has the right tools for the job At the end of the day, the right tool for the job makes all the difference. You don't need to spend all your money on an expensive Milwaukee or Makita impact to work on your vehicle. Both of my Ryobi tools easily removed the lug nuts from my truck. While I can't speak to some of Ryobi's entry-level impact wrenches, or even upgraded models like the 3/8 inch (P263) impact, as long as you get a model with the right specs, you'll be absolutely fine.