Stanley vs Bosch – which is best for you?

Stanley vs Bosch

Having the best tools is an important part of business success. Both Stanley and Bosch are big tool brands known across the construction industry and skilled trade network.

Comparing the two, however, can be tricky.

Tools by Stanley

Stanley are well known for their hand tool range and are sometimes viewed as a good budget brand, more suited to DIY enthusiasts than professional tradespeople.

Stanley, however, merged with Black and Decker in 2010 to become Stanley Black and Decker. This merger enabled them to offer a wider range of tools including many power tools.

Tools by Bosch

Bosch, on the other hand, are associated more with their range of power tools. They have a good reputation for quality and are used extensively by trade professionals.

With these things in mind, we’ll take a look at the following things to consider when purchasing Stanley or Bosch.

• Price
• Durability
• Availability of parts
• Ease of use
• Battery life

To help make a direct comparison, we’ve selected two power drills, one made by Bosch and one by Stanley Black and Decker.

How to compare the differences between Bosch and Stanley

So to work out which is best for your trade business, we’ve chosen to look in a bit more depth at the Bosch PSB 1800 LI-2 Cordless Combi Drill and the Stanley Fatmax 18V Cordless Power Drill.

Both of these cordless power drills have excellent ratings and predominantly positive online reviews.

Let’s compare them in terms of the criteria above.

Considering the price difference

Cost is often the most important consideration when purchasing tools. On one hand you want to buy a quality products, while on the other hand you don’t want to pay more than you need to.

In this instance, the Bosch Power Drill is more expensive than the Stanley option.

• The Bosch Power drill at £110 is a considerable investment*
• The Stanley Fatmax drill at £70 is a far more cost-effective option*

However, cost is not the only factor that you should consider when it comes to tools.

Getting the most durable option

Another factor to consider in the Stanley vs Bosch debate is how long the tool will last.

Perhaps the best way to gauge a tool’s durability is to look at what length warranty is offered by the manufacturer.

In this case, both Bosch and Stanley provide three-year warranties on all their products.

In reality, your power drill is likely to last for a lot longer than three years. You do, however, have peace of mind that it’s protected for this amount of time.

What about the availability of parts?

As mentioned above, any problems with parts failure will be covered under the warranty within the first three years after purchase.

However, with your tools being there to rely on for your job, you want to make sure they can stay their best for as long as possible.

In terms of availability of parts and accessories, both Bosch and Stanley are pretty equal.

As large multi-national companies, availability of parts should never be a problem with either tool brand.

Stanley or Bosch – which is easier to use?

In terms of the comparison we’re using, both the Bosch power drill and the Stanley option score highly in terms of usability.

Both options are lightweight but robust. However, when asking our members, when it comes to features the Bosch option is closer to a winner.

The Bosch drill has 20 torque settings compared to the Stanley drill’s 15.

Both drills are suitable for:

• Screwdriving
• Drilling
• Impact drilling

Both options can be used for drilling into a variety of materials including wood, metal, and masonry with the correct drill bit.

Comparing battery life

When it comes to battery life, both the Bosch drill and Stanley drill come with 18V Lithium-ion batteries.

With the Bosch model, however, two batteries are included as standard, so you’re less likely to run out of charge during a job. However, replacement and spare batteries are available for the Stanley Fatmax as well.

Both the Bosch battery and the Stanley battery are interchangeable with other power tools in their range.

This is an important consideration when you’re planning to buy a range of different tools for your trade business.

Bosch vs Stanley – a conclusion

This comparison has highlighted that both Bosch and Stanley are reputable brands that offer a range of different tools.

Since their merger with Black and Decker, Stanley also compete well in the power tool range. Bosch, however, offer a slightly higher quality of product but this is reflected in the higher price.

In conclusion, both are great choices if you want to invest in a premium set of tools. And can also be thrown into the mix when comparing to other tools such as Makita and DeWalt or Milwaukee.

Bosch are often rated higher for their quality, and the Stanley tools tend to come out on top when it comes to price. However, both are fantastic choices for tradespeople, so it really does come down to personal choice.

What is your favourite tool brand?

Enjoyed reading this article and would like to have your say? Comment below about your experiences using Bosch and Stanley products.

* Prices correct at time of publishing