Milwaukee Introduces M12 Lineup’s Most Compact Impact Wrenches

Recently, Milwaukee announced the addition of two new subcompact impact wrenches for the M12 Fuel lineup: a 1/4-inch model and a 3/8-inch model. Separate from the 2024 launch of the Gen-2 stubby models, these are designed to be the most compact tools in their class. But what’s beyond the buzz? I decided to dig deeper into the claims to help you decide which one is a good fit for your automotive tool roster.

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Subcompact Impact Wrench Performance

• Model: Milwaukee 3049 (3/8-inch)
• Max Breakaway Torque: 225 ft-lbs
• Max Fastening Torque: 200 ft-lbs
• Max Speed: 3400 RPM
• Max Impact Rate: 3600 IPM
• Anvil: Friction Ring
• Four Modes
• Brushless Motor
• Auto Shut-Off Mode

The Milwaukee 3048 and 3049 impact wrenches are part of the M12 Fuel lineup. As subcompact tools, Milwaukee tells us they’re ideal for light-duty automotive applications, such as installing bumpers and fenders, under-hood fastening, suspension work, and more.

The 3049 reaches torque levels of up to 225 ft-lbs during breakaway applications and 200 ft-lbs while fastening. For the 1/4-inch 3048, you get up to 70 ft-lbs of fastening torque and 100 ft-lbs of breakaway torque. Those are clearly very different performance levels, so choosing the right one is more than just your preferred drive size.

Both models feature four speed modes to select from, including an Auto Shut-Off mode.

Here’s a look at the speed and impact rate specs for both impact wrenches in each of the four settings:

3048 (1/4-inch)

• Mode 1: 0-1500 RPM; 0-1350 IPM
• Mode 2: 0-2900 RPM; 0-3700 IPM
• Mode 3: 0-3800 RPM; 0-4400 IPM
• Mode 4 (Auto Shut-Off): 0-2200 RPM (forward)/ 0-3800 RPM – 0-1500 RPM (reverse); 0-4400 IPM

3049 (3/8-inch)

• Mode 1: 0-1150 RPM; 0-1100 IPM
• Mode 2: 0-2400 RPM; 0-3400 IPM
• Mode 3: 0-3400 RPM; 0-3600 IPM
• Mode 4 (Auto Shut-Off): 0-1600 RPM (forward) / 0-3400 RPM – 0-1500 RPM (reverse); 0-3600 IPM

In Auto Shut-Off mode, the forward torque is limited to 15 ft-lbs in the 3049 and 7 ft-lbs in the 3048 to prevent over-tightening. In reverse, the RPMs slow to a top speed of 1500 RPM automatically once the bolt is free, for fewer fastener drops.

The Auto Shut-Off feature is not unique to this model; it’s included in several Milwaukee impact wrenches on both the M18 and M12 platforms. However, we appreciate its inclusion in this subcompact model to address common fastening and breakaway pain points.

The 3049 is kitted with two 2.5Ah batteries, and I recommend sticking to that size if you want to take full advantage of the lightweight and compact design. However, if you prioritize runtime and you can sacrifice a bit of heft, swapping in a larger-capacity battery would still be fine.

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Subcompact Impact Wrench Design

• Length: 4.4 in (3048); 4.5 in (3049)
• Weight: 1.5 lb (3048); 1.6 lb (3049)

The 1/4-inch 3048 impact wrench is the most compact and lightweight model in its class, at just 4.4 inches in length and 1.5 pounds bare. The 3/8-inch 3049 is just barely larger, at 4.5 inches long and 1.6 pounds.

This size of impact wrench excels in small areas, providing better underhood access in automotive applications. While some models, like Milwaukee’s Gen-II M12 stubby impact wrenches, deliver higher performance, these subcompact tools are ideal for lighter-duty fastening within tight spaces.

Additional Features

• Tri-Beam LED Light: Illuminates dark engine bays while you work.
• Single-Hand Mode Change: Toggle through speed settings with minimal interruption to your workflow.

How Does it Compare?

Here’s how the Milwaukee 3049 impact wrench stacks up against other 12V subcompact models from Makita and DeWalt.

The big takeaways here are how much more fastening power Milwaukee offers to go with its impressively compact and lightweight design. Considering how many automotive and trade-specific tools the M12 system has compared to Makita and DeWalt, it’s an even more compelling proposition.

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Subcompact Impact Wrench Price

The 3/8-inch 3049 retails for $229 bare and $349 as a kit, including two M12 2.5Ah batteries, a charger, and a contractor bag. At the time of writing, the 1/4-inch model (3048) is only available as a bare tool, also for $229.

Milwaukee backs both versions with a 5-year tool warranty and a 2-year warranty on the batteries.

If you’d like some added protection for your tool, Milwaukee also offers a protective boot compatible with both the 3/8-inch and 1/4-inch models, which runs $35.

Should You Buy It?

Milwaukee released its Gen-II stubby impact wrenches in 2024, and they were a huge hit for heavy-duty Pro-grade automotive applications. However, for lighter-duty auto jobs, the 3048 and 3049 impact wrenches provide a nice update to the M12 platform, especially for users who don’t need the top-shelf performance of the stubby models.

If you usually work on larger fasteners, these models likely won’t be your main tool. However, for light-duty fastening jobs and tight engine bay access, the 3048 and 3049 provide unmatched M12 compactness. If you prioritize a small form factor over top-shelf power, they’re a compelling option.

Milwaukee County plans to use nearly $25 million in federal funding for more than 60 street safety projects throughout the community. 

The grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program will be used in an effort to reduce crashes along some of the most dangerous roads in the county.

“This is a great opportunity for us to focus on one of the issues that have been affecting Milwaukee County residents, which is reckless driving,” Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said. 

The 65 infrastructure projects will be along ten “Corridors of Concern,” or “roadways that have been identified as the most hazardous in the County,” according to a county statement. The work will take place in West Allis, Glendale, Brown Deer, Shorewood, the city of Milwaukee and on multiple Milwaukee County highways. 

Some of the work will include high-visibility crosswalks, traffic signal upgrades, curb bump-outs, intersection upgrades and sidewalk expansions. The funding will also be used for traffic calming projects on three of the county’s “highest-speed corridors.” 

The county expects the projects to reduce “fatal and serious injury crashes” at the intersections and road segments by 26 to 50 percent, according to a statement. The work is anticipated to be completed by 2031. 

“We don’t want to put something in place that’s going to work for a year and then down the line, all of a sudden, we have to do more studies to figure out how we improve this even more,” Crowley said about the projects.

The city of Milwaukee was also awarded a separate $8 million grant for street safety improvements on portions of North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and West Forest Home Avenue through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. That funding will be used to reduce speeding and improve safety for pedestrians and drivers on those corridors, according to a statement from the Milwaukee Department of Public Works. 

Some of the work for that project will include curb extensions, raised crosswalks, raised intersections and improving curb ramps along the roads, according to city engineer Kevin Muhs.

“This is great news,” Muhs said about the grant. “We’re excited to make some good safety and pavement investments on these two corridors.” 

Reckless driving has plagued residents of Milwaukee for years. A 2024 Wisconsin Policy Forum report found traffic fatalities increased by 113.5 percent from 2002 to 2022 in Milwaukee County, while they dropped across the state during the same time period.

Local leaders have invested millions of dollars to combat the problem over the past few years. Street redesign and engineering projects — known as “traffic calming” projects — can help narrow roads, making it more difficult for drivers to speed.

Muhs said he believes the projects are working, even if some residents have complained about the changes slowing down traffic. 

“Really, what we’re trying to do is manage excessive speeds,” Muhs said. “That’s the goal of all of this.” 

There were 27,400 traffic crashes in Milwaukee County in 2021 , according to a county dashboard. That number fell to 24,600 in 2024.  

The Milwaukee Common Council passed an ordinance in late 2025 that allows for vehicles involved in a reckless driving offense to be impounded. A spokesperson for the Milwaukee Police Department said that there were 30 “reckless vehicle tows” between Nov. 5, 2025 and Sunday.

Meanwhile, some state lawmakers want to place up to 75 red light cameras at intersections across Milwaukee. Another proposal would place devices that limit a driver’s speed in the vehicles of repeat reckless drivers in Wisconsin.

The Forest County Potawatomi Community was also awarded a $3.6 million grant through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program’s 2025 funding cycle. That money will be used to construct a shared use path along a state highway. 

• Milwaukee County will receive nearly $25 million in federal funding for traffic safety projects.
• The 67 projects will target 10 of the county’s most hazardous roadways in several municipalities.
• Upgrades will include improved pedestrian infrastructure, intersection updates, and traffic calming measures.
• Officials estimate the projects could reduce fatal and serious injury crashes by 26%–50%.

Milwaukee County will receive nearly $25 million in federal funding for 67 traffic safety projects along 10 of the county’s most hazardous roadways, according to a Jan. 12 announcement from County Executive David Crowley’s office.

That funding will support upgrades for pedestrian infrastructure, intersections and high-speed corridors in Milwaukee, West Allis, Glendale, Brown Deer, Shorewood and on multiple county highways.

Collectively, these projects could reduce fatal and serious injury crashes in hazardous areas by 26%–50% and save an estimated $1.2 billion in car crash costs over 20 years, according to the announcement.

Preliminary designs are anticipated to begin in 2027, with all projects completed by 2031.

The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant, which the county’s Department of Transportation applied for in 2025 as part of its Complete Communities Transportation Planning Project, an initiative to increase safety and reduce reckless driving across its roadways. 

Already, the county has analyzed crash data, identified 25 “Corridors of Concern,” and reviewed potential project opportunities.

Milwaukee County’s award amounts to the third-largest grant in the federal program’s 2025 funding cycle. It will be managed by the county and distributed to the five municipal recipients.

The municipalities will lead the projects and provide a 20% local match to support costs.

More details about the projects’ locations will be posted on the transportation department’s website, according to the announcement.

The 65 infrastructure projects and two studies enabled by the grant aim to improve safety along 10 hazardous roadways the county has identified. 

Pedestrian infrastructure upgrades will include high-visibility crosswalks, upgraded pedestrian walk signals, restricting right-turn-on-red options, and sidewalk network expansion.

Intersection upgrades will include traffic signal upgrades, better visibility for pedestrians, bump-outs, and select geometric realignments. High-speed corridor upgrades will entail traffic calming improvements that help drivers stay in their lanes.

One of the projects will also seek to reduce reckless driving on the 16th Street viaduct, the 27th Street viaduct and the 35th Street viaduct. 

The grant will also fund a safety analysis study on West Lincoln Avenue between South 124th Street and South 52nd Street, which will issue recommendations for future projects. The grant will also fund a county Department of Transportation report assessing the county’s progress toward the Vision Zero goal.

Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13.