Ryobi’s P262 mid-torque impact wrench just went head-to-head against the Ridgid R86012 in Pro Tool Reviews’ latest three-test comparison, and the gap between them came down to a single number: impact rate. Ridgid won, but by less than most shoppers would guess.
Both tools sell bare at Home Depot within ten dollars of each other. The Ryobi P262 lists at $179, the Ridgid R86012 at $189. Same class, same 1/2-inch friction-ring anvil, same 2,800 RPM no-load speed. Until recently the assumption was that Ridgid, the “pro value” brand in TTI’s stable, would walk away from the DIY-branded Ryobi. The test results say otherwise.
The Three Tests, Side by Side
| Test | Ryobi P262 | Ridgid R86012 |
|---|---|---|
| Bolt break (8 lug nuts at 500 ft-lbs) | 33.27 sec | 33.68 sec |
| Lag bolt drive (10 x 1/2-inch, 30 sec limit) | 0.36 in remaining | 0.31 in remaining |
| Inertia torque (measured output) | 236.6 ft-lbs | 283.4 ft-lbs |
Ryobi actually edged the lug-nut breakaway test. Ridgid took the lag bolt drive by a hair, sinking the fastener 0.05 inches deeper in the 30-second window. The decisive margin showed up in the inertia torque test, where the Ridgid measured 20% higher.
The explanation is impact rate, not raw power. The Ridgid anvil hits 3,800 IPM against the Ryobi’s 3,200, about 18.75% faster. More blows per minute translates directly into measured torque on the tester, and it tracks with Ridgid’s paper specs too: 650 ft-lbs breakaway and 500 ft-lbs fastening versus Ryobi’s 600 and 450.
Which One Should You Buy?
The honest answer from the testing: either will do the job, and platform is the real tiebreaker. Both are bare-tool-only, so if you’re already running Ryobi ONE+ batteries, the P262 at $179 is the sensible pick. If your fleet is Ridgid 18V with its lifetime service agreement, the R86012 justifies the extra $10 with measurably more torque and that warranty backstop.
The bigger story is what this says about the ONE+ HP brushless line. Ryobi’s performance is now close enough to a pro-brand mid-torque that the old “DIY tools can’t touch pro tools” line doesn’t hold up in this class. For automotive DIY, suspension work, and light truck duty, the P262 is genuinely competitive.
Deep dive: our best cordless impact wrenches for automotive and DIY roundup ranks the full field.
The Ridgid NUKE vs Milwaukee M12 comparison covers the subcompact end of Ridgid’s current lineup.