Veteran-built.
How to use these comparisons
Every comparison here starts with tools our crew owns and uses (mostly Milwaukee M18 and DeWalt 20V MAX) and puts them next to the tools we don't own, using the brands' published specs. Each page tells you where the tool is sold and which battery it runs on.
Pick a category
| Category | What it compares | Start here if… |
|---|---|---|
| Saws | Circular, table and cut-off saws | You're choosing between corded and cordless cutting |
| Drills and impacts | Drill/drivers, impact drivers, hammer drills | You're buying your first cordless kit |
| Work lights | Husky, Milwaukee and DeWalt lights | You need light that runs on the packs you own |
| Jobsite radios | Five brands of jobsite radio | You want sound and charging on the job |
| Jobsite Fans | Corded, battery and misting fans | You work in attics, crawlspaces or full sun |
| Trimmers and mowers | Battery and gas yard tools by voltage | You keep up a yard or run a landscape crew |
How to compare two tools yourself
- Start with your battery platform. A cheaper bare tool on a platform you don't own costs you a battery and a charger. Stick with your packs unless the job demands a switch.
- Compare within the same class. A compact drill against a hammer drill isn't a fair fight. Match the class (compact, standard, high-output) before you look at the specs.
- Read the spec fine print. Torque, RPM and runtime are measured differently by each brand. See how to read them on Field notes.
- Check the warranty and where it's sold. Store-exclusive brands (RIDGID and Ryobi at Home Depot, Kobalt at Lowe's) have their own return and warranty rules. See our brand guides.
- Wait for the deal if you can. Free-tool kits and buy-more-save-more promos come around often, especially from November through Father's Day. See Live deals.
What "we own it, we use it" means
When a comparison says we own a tool, it's in our truck or on our tool wall and we use it on jobs. That's a fact about ownership, not a crew report. The field notes page lists what our crew watches for with each kind of tool on real jobs.
Safety notes
- Match the tool to the job. An impact driver isn't a drill, and a cut-off saw isn't a grinder.
- Use guards and handles as shipped, and wear eye and hearing protection.
- Battery tools are always "on." Pull the pack before you change a blade or bit.
Where the buy buttons go
Each comparison has store links such as See it at Home Depot: Milwaukee M18 combo kit and Check price on Amazon: DeWalt 20V MAX combo kit. The store's page shows the current price; we don't type prices into these links.
FAQ
Are these comparisons lab tests?
No. We don't run a lab. They compare published specs, prices and platforms.
Why do you mostly compare Milwaukee and DeWalt?
They're the platforms our crew runs. We add other brands when we can point to published specs and real availability.
Do you get paid when I buy?
Some links are affiliate links. That never changes which tool we recommend. See our disclosure.
Where did the fans page go?
It is called Jobsite Fans now. The old address forwards to the new one.
Sources
- RIDGID (sold at Home Depot): https://www.ridgid.com/
- Ryobi (sold at Home Depot): https://www.ryobitools.com/
- Kobalt (sold at Lowe's): https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=kobalt
- Mas Equipo brand guides: https://masequipo.com/brands/