DeWalt or Milwaukee – Which is better for your trade?

Are you a carpenter, kitchen fitter, builder, joiner or electrician? Whatever your trade, power tools and hand tools are likely a key part of your equipment.

When looking at upgrading or replacing there is lots to contend with. Differences in prices, battery life, availability of parts and durability are all important. So too are things like warranty and product guarantee.

With lots to think about with your tools, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why we look at different tool options to highlight some key points.

So, DeWalt or Milwaukee: which is better for you?

Which tool is better: DeWalt or Milwaukee?

When you need to get new tools, it is good to shop around. Maybe you’re varying your skillset, service offering, or you’ve sadly lost your favourite to age. Whatever your reason for tool shopping, there are now so many good options to consider.

Names like Black and Decker, Stanley, Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, DeWalt and Milwaukee are all associated with quality. So when you’re looking to fill up your toolbox, there are a whole range of choices.

At the end of the day, picking between brands comes down to a number of factors:

• Reason for use
• Price
• Battery life
• Weight
• Comfort
• Availability of parts
• Personal preference

The last one is one of the biggest reasons why tradespeople tend to favour one brand of tool over another. Personal preference will play a big part in your decision. If you’ve been using DeWalt for years, chances are you might already be thinking of buying the same again.

However, with so many choices out there, why not think about trying a different brand for a different tool?

We’ve put together some other comparisons that you could consider as well:

• Stanley vs Bosch – which is best for you?
• Makita vs DeWalt – which is best in 2024?

Get more for less

Something to consider when looking at buying new tools is that Checkatrade members can make great savings too. Thanks to our partnerships with trade suppliers like Selco, Wickes and Tradepoint, you can enjoy money off your next purchase.

If you’re already a Checkatrade member, simply sign in to your Member’s Area today to check out the latest deals. Regardless of whether you favour DeWalt or Milwaukee.

What’s the best drill: Milwaukee or DeWalt?

The humble cordless combi drill can often be seen as the most used piece of kit. Whatever your trade skill, chances are you have easy access to a drill.

Both for indoor and outdoor jobs, a cordless drill is incredibly useful. So whether you specialise in joinery work, install bathrooms, fix doors or offer complete home renovations, it’s good to have a drill you can rely on.

In order to do a comparison between the two brands, we’ll look at two 18v cordless combi drills.

Makita DHP453SF 18V LXT Cordless Combi Drill

• Charge time – 60 min
• Size – 232mm length
• Torque settings – 16
• Batteries – 1 with overload protection
• Gearbox – 2 speed metal gearbox
• Weight – 1.7kg

Milwaukee M18 BPD-202B 18V Combi Drill

• Charge time – Varies based on battery cell monitoring
• Size – 198mm length
• Torque settings – 18
• Batteries – 2x M18B2 included
• Gearbox – Metal gearbox
• Weight – 1.9kg

Looking at the two combi drills, there are differences in weight, battery life and length. Choosing the best one for you to use or for your business will come down to which you prefer.

Some suppliers will allow you to handle and test tools before making a decision.

Don’t forget that whether choose DeWalt or Milwaukee, it’s worth considering tools insurance and get the right cover for your equipment.

Choosing Milwaukee or DeWalt impact driver

Another useful power tool to have around is an impact driver. Especially when it comes to carrying out jobs in older properties where old screws, bolts and nuts may need the extra push.

Again, to give a good indication about the two brands, we’ve compared very similar impact drivers across a number of specifications.

DeWalt XR 18V Brushless Cordless Impact Driver

• Torque – max 205Nm
• RPM – 3,250rpm
• Size – 160mm length
• Speed settings – 3
• Weight – 0.94kg

Milwaukee M18BLIDR-0 18v Brushless Cordless Impact Driver

• Torque – max 180Nm
• RPM – 3,600rpm
• Size – 112mm length
• Speed settings – 3
• Weight – 0.8kg

When it comes to choosing an impact driver by DeWalt or Milwaukee, you need to start weighing up some very technical details. The DeWalt option is slightly larger and heavier, but also provides more torque. The lighter and more compact Milwaukee version delivers a higher RPM for less torque.

Really it all comes down to your business need and the requirements of the job in hand.

If you’re in the market for a new impact driver for your trade business, don’t forget that you can make great savings as a Checkatrade member.

Can’t decide between DeWalt or Milwaukee impact wrench?

To the uninitiated, many power tools can seem very similar indeed.

Obviously, the difference between an impact driver and impact wrench is in their different levels of power and how they’re used. Impact wrenches are often heavier, bulkier, and more powerful.

Wrenches tend to use square socket bits for loosening and fastening nuts and bolts, while impact drivers will mainly use hex bits for driving screws.

However, when you need the different tool, it is still worth considering the differences between brands.

DeWalt 18V XR Brushless 1/2″ High Torque Impact Wrench

• Torque – 1632Nm
• Breakaway torque – 2372Nm
• Weight – 3.5kg (with battery)

Milwaukee M18 Brushless 1/2″ High Torque Impact Wrench

• Torque – 1085Nm
• Breakaway torque – 1627Nm
• Weight – 3.4kg (with battery)

Often favoured by trades such as tyre fitter or mobile mechanic, the higher torque needed to loosen stiff nuts and bolts is essential when it comes to impact wrenches.

However for other tradespeople, their use may be more limited. You know which tools work for you, so if you’re setting out to buy a new DeWalt or Milkwaukee impact wrench, compare the specifications to see if they line up with the needs of the job.

Become a Checkatrade member and get your tools for less

With over 24 million searches for skilled trade jobs in 2023*, the Checkatrade website is a good place for your trade business to find more work.

Looking to get more leads? Becoming a Checkatrade member means you can get more jobs coming your way. Fixed membership from Checkatrade means you can expect a certain number of leads throughout the year.

Of course, there are plenty of other benefits, including making fantastic savings on your tools. We have partnered with trade suppliers like Selco, Wickes and Tradepoint to help our members out.

On top of that, you can also expect:

• Your own member profile for reviews and pictures
• Offers and discounts on a range of business essentials
• Guarantee on your work up to £1000 when booked through us (T&Cs apply)
• Dedicated membership advice team
• Beneficial referral scheme
• Versatile Checkatrade trades app for quoting, invoicing, job management and more!
• Our fixed membership option lets you build the plan that’s perfect for you and your business needs

Still not convinced? Why not fill in a few details and speak to someone in our team? We can talk through your options and help you find a membership that’s a perfect fit for your trade business.

* Internal search data from users of the Checkatrade.com website in 2023

Tell us your favourite – DeWalt or Milwaukee

Don’t agree with this guide? Let us know which one of the two you prefer in the comments and why.