In a rotary impact tool according to an aspect of the present disclosure, an impact mechanism rotates an output shaft by a rotational force of a motor and, when a torque equal to or greater than a given value is externally applied to the output shaft in a direction opposite a rotational direction of the output shaft, the impact mechanism intermittently applies an impact force as a momentary torque to the output shaft in the rotational direction of the output shaft. A protection unit stops the motor or reduces a rotational speed of the motor on condition that an abnormal impact detection unit detects the abnormal impact. A control unit controls activation of the protection unit differently when the rotational direction of the motor is set to a reverse rotational direction in comparison with when the rotational direction of the motor is set to a forward rotational direction.