DeWalt Vs Milwaukee: Which Is The Better Brand?

DeWalt and Milwaukee are the top brands manufacturing professional-grade power tools. Their tools offer the durability and power to handle heavy-duty construction. They are also user friendly and value for money. But which is best when you compare DeWalt vs Milwaukee? In this article, we focus on which one is best for you based on various factors. We will also dive deep into their power tool kits.

Our Verdict

When you compare DeWalt vs Milwaukee, both DeWalt and Milwaukee have strengths and weaknesses in their products. Even though Milwaukee offers better products, they lay behind by the price. At the same time, DeWalt offers similar or better performance at a reduced cost. This makes them our favorites. It is also better to go and buy a combo pack instead of buying your equipment separately. This saves both time and money.

DeWalt Vs Milwaukee: Comparison

If you are not looking for combo packs, you can buy the ones that you need. So, we are also preparing a small comparison between DeWalt vs Milwaukee for the five most used tools.

The Tools We Will Be Comparing Include:

• Hammer Drills
• Impact Drivers
• Reciprocating Saws
• Circular Saws
• Work Lights
• Angle Grinders.

1. Hammer Drills

A hammer drill is a tool used for drilling hard materials. It is a rotary drill with an impact mechanism that generates hammering motion. This hammering motion helps to drill hard surfaces like concrete or brick. From DeWalt and Milwaukee, we have considered two options for hammer drills. They are DEWALT 20V MAX Hammer Drill, 1/2-Inch, and Milwaukee 2607-20 1/2″ 18V Hammer Drill / Driver. Both these are excellent hammer drills (see they can be used), and we are comparing DeWalt vs Milwaukee tools to find out which is the best.

DEWALT 20V MAX Hammer Drill, 1/2-Inch

This one has a power output of 535 UWO (units watts out). This makes it more powerful than the Milwaukee counterpart. The drill also has 3-speed range options.  0-600, 0-1,250 and 0-2,000 RPM. This is one range more than Milwaukee. This makes it versatile. It also has a 360- degree side handle and an LED light. It also uses a 1/2-inch metal ratcheting chuck. But this chuck is with carbide inserts.

This helps to improve bit gripping strength. It has heavy-duty construction and a more powerful motor. This helps to perform better in difficult areas. It is heavy. The heavy-duty construction also adds to the weight. It also has a bigger battery that offers longer run times.

Milwaukee 2607-20 1/2” 18V Hammer Drill / Driver

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It’s a very versatile drilling tool. This is thanks to its many drilling modes. You can choose from drilling, driving, and hammer drilling to suit your needs. It has only 2-speed range options. 0-400 and 0-1,900 RPM. Also, it has less torque compared to the DeWalt drill. It is light and offers a sturdy construction. The sturdy construction offers better quality product and long-lasting life. Being lightweight, you can carry them around without difficulty.

It also sports an inbuilt LED light and comes with an ambidextrous belt clip. Its major defaults lay in the fact that it is underpowered compared DeWalt hammer drill. Also, this one is costlier than its rival. The drill doesn’t sport a side handle. For many users, that is a severe drawback as a side handle helps to improve grip.

Verdict: Even though Milwaukee is light, DeWalt is more powerful and offers a better grip. It is also cheaper than the Milwaukee hammer drill.

2. Impact Drivers

Impact drivers are high torque tools, used to tighten nuts and drive in screws. They hold 1/4-inch chuck, which will accept 1-inch bits. Let’s look at prominent impact drivers from DeWalt and Milwaukee.

DEWALT 20V MAX Impact Driver, 1/4-Inch – DCF885B

DeWalt 20V Max Impact Driver accepts 1-inch bits. It has a maximum torque of 1400- in.lbs. The torque is lower than its main rival. It has a maximum speed of 2800rpm, which is higher than its rival. They are lightweight and sturdy in construction. The material used for body construction is plastic. This helps to decrease weight while maintaining the sturdiness.

Its ergonomic features include LED lights, a belt hook, and a slim handle. It also has 3 LED lights with 20 seconds delay. The belt hook and lightweight body make it easy to carry around. Its main complaints include louder motor compared to the competition. It also has less torque.

Milwaukee 2656-20 M18 18V 1/4 Inch Hex Impact Driver

Milwaukee uses their famous four poles frameless motor in this impact driver. This makes it well-recognized equipment. The motor offers longer life and more power. The impact driver provides a torque of 1500 in. Lbs with 2750 rpm. It is more suitable for heavy-duty applications than a DeWalt impact driver. It also has a variable trigger.

The more the pressure put on the trigger, the higher the speed. It also has an LED for illumination and benefits from Redlink Technology. Redlink technology helps to reduce the chance of overheating. This increases efficiency.  Its main complaints include more massive build and cost.

Verdict: – Milwaukee is the winner here. It has a better motor, more torque, and ergonomics. But if you worry about the price, then DeWalt is a perfect compromise. 

3. Reciprocating Saws

The reciprocating saw uses a push and pulls mechanism to cut objects. They are powerful tools that are found in construction and demolition works. Let’s have a look at different offers.

DeWalt DCS380B 20V Max Cordless Reciprocating Saw

DeWalt Reciprocating saw is famous for four-position blade clamps. The blade clamp helps it in flush cutting. This feature helps in increasing the positional versatility and tool-free blade changes. It has a variable trigger with a maximum speed of 3000SPM and a stroke length of 1-1/8inch. The speed and stroke length are the same as that of Milwaukee reciprocating saw.

It also has a pivoting adjustable shoe, which allows depth control. This helps to increase the life of the blade. Its body rubber molded. This offers excellent comfort while holding it. At the same time, it provides a more excellent grip than competitors. It’s also lightweight and less costly for the performance it offers.

Its main problems include not such a robust build. When you compare it to Milwaukee reciprocating, saw the build quality ok. But not that great. It targets the DIY professionals as the device is not as sturdy as that of Milwaukee offers.

Milwaukee 2621-20 M18 18V Cordless Sawzall Reciprocating Saw

The Milwaukee Sawzall Reciprocating saw is best known for its build quality. Its build to take abuse from construction and demolition sites. They are best regarded for their all-metal gearing and case. This helps to protect them from job site abuse. More durability means more faith in the product for a consumer. It has a stroke length of 1-1/8inch length and 0-3,000 SPM.

The speed and stroke length are like that of the DeWalt offering. The main features that set Milwaukee reciprocating saw are its build quality. The product also has a slim front. This design element helps to improve both user comfort and control. It has a Quik-Lok blade clamp and counterbalance mechanism. The counterbalance system helps to reduce stress and fatigue.

The Quik-Lok blade clamp helps to reduce blade changing time. Its primary disadvantage is its weight and price. As always, Milwaukee products are costlier. The weight is also a major issue. This reciprocating saw weighs twice as much as DeWalt reciprocating saw.

Verdict: Based on performance, there is no clear winner. The DeWalt reciprocating saw is lighter and cheaper unless you are a professional builder but DeWalt Reciprocating Saw.

4. Circular Saw

It is a power saw. It uses a circular toothed or abrasive disk to cut different materials. It is used to cut a wide range of materials, including concrete, wood, glass, stone, etc.

DeWalt DCS393 bare tool 20V MAX 6 1/2″ circular saw

DeWalt offer is a 20V battery-powered portable circular saw that has a 6-1/2inch blade. It is lighter than its rival and also faster and cheaper. It has a speed of 3700RPM, which is 200RPM faster than Milwaukee offers. DeWalt circular saw offers a higher bevel angle. It can cut up to 50-degrees. It is lighter and has a higher strength magnesium shoe. It offers better performance and durability. Its main disadvantage comes in the placement of trigger safety lock.

Milwaukee M18 2630-20 18V 6-1/2″ Cordless Circular Saw

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It is a heavy-duty product with sturdy construction. The downside of which is the weight. It is heavier compared to the DeWalt offering. It’s bevel angle and speed are less than the DeWalt offering. It can only achieve 45-degree bevel cuts and has a speed of 3500RPM. It has an electronic brake system and magnesium guards. The brake system ensures the blades stop faster. The magnesium guards protect it from accidental drops. It has a soft grip. But the double pulling trigger is a bit awkward to use. It is also costly than its counterparts.

Verdict: The DeWalt Circular saw is faster, has more bevel angle, and cost-effective. It is the clear winner.

5. Work Lights

Work lights provide illumination at the worksite. The main attributes of a work light should be long life and higher light output.

DeWalt DCL040 work light

The DeWalt work light is a lot cheaper than for what it offers. It uses a visual LEG graph to show the voltage. The higher the voltage, the better the illumination. The LED light has a clear advantage over traditional xenon lights. They do no heat up and required less power and voltage. DeWalt light output is 110 lumens. It produces a smooth white color. It is heavier and runs longer than its Milwaukee counterpart. They can run up to 25hours. It also offers a comfortable grip. But if you need hands free operation, you can hang it on a hook. Its main defects include the limit head-rotation angle, and it is also heavier.

Milwaukee 2735-20 Work Light

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Milwaukee work lights run up to 12 hours and have an output of 160 lumens. The light output is higher than its competitors. It has a sturdy weather-resistant construction. This helps to protect it from accidental bumps and drops. It also has a larger head rotation angle. The head can rotate up to 135-degrees. Its main disadvantage includes reduced run time compared to competitors. The switch is also flimsy and small.

Verdict: Both are well-matched, and the choice should for the need of the user. If you are looking for longer battery life, then go for DeWalt. It’s also cost-effective. But if you need more intense light, Milwaukee is a perfect choice.

DeWalt vs Milwaukee: A Quick Summary On Their History

What is an essential thing that you will consider when buying a power tool? One of the many things that you will consider is their brand history. Both these brands started long back in the 1920s. 

DeWalt

DeWalt started operations in the year 1923. They were one year ahead of Milwaukee in realizing their brand. They started their production with a radial arm saw. From that, they diversified their product catalog. Their present products include drills, saws, sanders, axes, hammers, etc.

But they sold their business to Black & Decker in 1960. Back then, Black and Decker focused on consumer equipment. After buying DeWalt, they shifted their focus on to professional-grade tools. In the year, Black & Decker took over a German woodworking power tool producer ELU. With the little help from ELU, DeWalt increased its product line. They also improved their products to great lengths.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee started their operation in the year 1924. They focused on delivering quality and innovation over the years. They started their operations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Electric Tool Company started as A.H. Petersen Company in 1922. They were the first to create a single handheld hand shooter. The tool was light enough for single-handed operations.

At the same time, it was powerful enough for heavy-duty use. Over the years, they have created various new power tools and offer combo packs to buyers. Products of Milwaukee Electric Tool Company include drills, saws, and outdoor equipment. They also manufacture construction instruments and hand tools. They are the 1st company to use Lithium-ion powered batteries in their power tools. This helped them to build their reputation for long-lasting batteries on power tools.

They started using lithium-ion powered tools in the year 2005, which was a first. They also introduced Ice Hardening technology.  They use the cryogenic hardening process for hardening the metal. This helps to make the products more durable and last long. They always focused on power users. But their products were accessible to both power-users and home users. This flexibility made them more famous.

DeWalt vs Milwaukee: Main Features

When it comes to features and variety, DeWalt vs Milwaukee both looks similar. Both of these brands produce professional-grade equipment for various purposes. Both these manufacturers are famous for their products. Their products have specific qualities. These products are also different based on such qualities. Let’s take a look at these.

DeWalt

1. Tool Connect: – This is the most advanced feature that DeWalt tools have. Its main purpose is to allow the user to get real-time updates about their tools.
2. 20V Max XR Line: – It’s a line of brushless power tools with a brushless motor. It’s has a high-capacity lithium-ion battery to improve performance, runtime, and efficiency.
3. Shocks-Active Vibration Control: – It helps to reduce vibrations up to 50% in rotary hammers.
4. Flexvolt: – The advancement is not in the tool but the battery. The battery can change the output voltage when moved from one tool to another.

Milwaukee

1. Redlink Intelligence: – A feature helps to improve the performance of the tool. This ensures efficient system communication between the tool, charger, and battery.
2. Power state Brushless Motor: – It ensures high and consistent power supply to the tool.
3. Redlithium Battery Technology: – This battery pack has a longer battery life. 

DeWalt Vs Milwaukee: Tools

Anybody can buy a power-tool these days. But how to find the best one? There are two approaches everyone considers when purchasing tools. Either buy as combo packs or buy each product by comparing the category it’s in. Buying a combo pack is easy. When purchasing a combo pack, you can find the deal that suits you.

You can also save a lot of money on that. Also, having a single brand eases the servicing hurdles that you may face. But if you want the best of all worlds, then compare the products in each category. This helps you to get the best of all worlds. You can buy the best product in each category. Now, Let’s have a look at both these scenarios.

Buying Combo Pack

Both manufacturers offer combo packs of varying combinations. You can find two tool combo pack and 5+ tool combo pack. The 5+ tool combo pack category contains both 7 and 9 tool combo packs. Let’s look at the three types in depth.

2 Tool Combo Pack

Both DeWalt vs Milwaukee offers a wide range of 2 tool combo kits. It is handy if you need only specific tools. DeWalt present product portfolio has 25 combo kits. Milwaukee has 31 different two combo tool kits. If your need is only a drill and reciprocating saw, then we can look at the following offers.

Milwaukee M18 Drill/Driver and Reciprocating Saw Combo Kit Vs DeWalt 12V Max Drill/Driver and Reciprocating Saw Combo Kit

Milwaukee combo pack comes with an M18 Hammer Drill/ Driver and M 18 Reciprocating Saw. The hammer drill (compare it with impact drill) is especially useful in drilling denser objects like concrete. The hammer drill punches back and forth while drilling. This helps to penetrate brick and concrete. The kit also offers M18 Reciprocating Saw, which is well known in the industry. Why? It has 18V in power and can achieve 3000 strokes per minute.

DeWalt is the better choice if you don’t need a hammer drill. The 12V Max Drill/ Driver has 12 V and can go up to 1500rpm. It also has 15 clutch settings, built-in LED light, and a belt hook. But it’s less potent at 12V. If that is the case, then you can buy the 18V drill. DeWalt Reciprocating saw can go up to 2700 strokes per minute. It has three positions pivoting handle and built-in LED light. It is also lighter than M18 saw.

Verdict: In two combo categories, Milwaukee is the better one as it has a power saw and a hammer drill. But if you are a home user, then DeWalt will be the better option. DeWalt meets all the home user requirements, and it’s also lighter.

7. Tool Combo Kits

The seven tool and nine tool combo kits target people who want more than basic tools. They are more focused on professionals. Both DeWalt and Milwaukee offer great options for consideration. DeWalt offers 14 kits while Milwaukee offers seven kits. Let’s have a closer looker loot at the most prominent offers from DeWalt and Milwaukee.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel 7-Tool Combo Kit Vs DeWalt 20V Max Compact 7- Tool Combo Kit

These are two great options from both DeWalt and Milwaukee. Both kits include impact drivers, circular saws, reciprocating saws, grinders, and flashlights. You also have to look at the accessories included in the kit.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel 7-Tool Combo Kit

Milwaukee includes seven tools with an 18V battery. The power tools are cordless, making it easy to use and carry. It also offers excellent portability. The manufacturer’s warranty includes a 5-year warranty on tools. Milwaukee also provides a 3-year warranty on batteries. Milwaukee is CSA, ETL and UL listed.

Details About The Tools:

1. M18 FUEL 1/2 in. hammer drill (2804-20)
2. M18 FUEL 1/4 in. hex impact driver (2853-20)
3. M18 FUEL SAWZALL reciprocating saw (2720-20)
4. M18 FUEL 6-1/2 in. circular saw (2730-20)
5. M18 FUEL 1/2 in. mid-torque impact wrench (2861-20)
6. M18 FUEL 4-1/2 in. Or 5 in. grinder paddle switch (2780-20)
7. M18 LED work light (2735-20)

Details About The Accessories:

1. (2) M18 REDLITHIUM XC 5.0 battery
2. (1) M18 and M12 multi-voltage charger
3. Two free M18 5.0 Ah batteries
4. Bag

DeWalt 20V Max Compact 7- Tool Combo Kit

DeWalt kit includes seven tools with 20 V batteries. DeWalt tools are also cordless. They are lighter than Milwaukee counterparts. They are more portable and easier to use. The manufacturer’s warranty includes 3-years limited warranty on tools and battery. It also has 1-year free services and a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Details About The Tools:

1. DCD796 Brushless Compact Hammer-drill
2. DCF885 1/4 in. hex Impact Driver
3. DCS381 Reciprocating Saw
4. DCL040 bright flashlight
5. DCS355 Oscillating Multi-Tool
6. DCS393 Circular Saw with 6-1/2 in. carbide blade
7. DCG412 Grinder with an 8,000 RPM motor

Details About The Accessories:

1. (2) DCB203 20V max Compact Lithium-Ion Battery Pack
2. (1) DCB204 20V Max Xr® Lithium-Ion Battery Pack
3. (1) DCB115 12V Max* – 20v Max* Lithium-Ion Battery Charger
4. Bag

Verdict: – Both are great options, but DeWalt has the upper hand in when you compare DeWalt vs. Milwaukee. This is due to their higher voltage capacity, lightweight, and its more powerful. It’s also a lot cheaper. The DeWalt combo kit costs around $500, while Milwaukee costs $999.  But Milwaukee offers five years warranty and offers great products. The choice is yours.

A Final Verdict

When you are buying a new tool, it is always best to buy a combo kit. A combo kit offers many advantages over individual tool purchases. A combo kit helps to lower the price of the equipment. Combo kits usually come with a lot of offers and have extra accessories. When buying each product, you have to buy the accessories along with it. This raises the cost.

If you are not worried about the equipment and its particular performance, then the combo pack is the best way to go. But if you want a specific product meeting, a particular criterion then buys it separately. When you are careful about DeWalt vs Milwaukee, DeWalt offers the best value for money among DeWalt and Milwaukee combo packs. They offer similar or better performance than Milwaukee and reduced costs. This makes them perfect for beginners or small-scale workshops.