DeWalt vs Makita vs Milwaukee — which 18V platform should a tradesperson commit to?

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The thing nobody tells apprentices

Walk into any Toolstation and look at the prices. A bare-tool DeWalt impact driver — body only, no battery, no charger — is £90. The same impact driver with a 5Ah battery and charger is £230. Spot the difference? The £140 in batteries.

That's the maths that decides which platform you commit to. Once you've bought three batteries on one platform — and most working trades have at least three — switching brands means writing off £450+ in batteries that no longer power anything in your van. That's why this decision matters way more than 'which drill is best'.

The big three, briefly

There are loads of platforms out there. Hikoki, Erbauer, Bosch Pro, Festool, Milwaukee M12, Makita XGT. We're not covering them. Three platforms dominate the working trade van: DeWalt 18V XR, Makita LXT, and Milwaukee M18. Pick one of those three and you're future-proof for tools availability and second-hand value.

And before anyone asks: no, the batteries are not cross-compatible. Different physical connector, different electronics, different pin layout. There are third-party adapter blocks on Amazon — we'd avoid them. They void warranties on both ends, and tool electronics can react badly to non-spec voltage delivery from an adapter.

DeWalt 18V XR — the all-rounder

DeWalt's 18V XR (sold as 20V MAX in North America — same battery, different label) is what you'll see in most apprentice toolbags. Reasons:

• Massive range — over 200 tools on the platform.
• FLEXVOLT compatibility — the bigger 54V FLEXVOLT batteries also work in any 18V XR tool, which means a £180 9Ah FLEXVOLT pack runs your impact and your bigger SDS or table saw.
• Easy to buy — Toolstation, Screwfix, B&Q, every Wickes — yellow and black is on the shelf everywhere.
• Decent price on bare tools — DeWalt has been aggressive on body-only pricing in 2025-26.

Where DeWalt hurts: brushless impact wrench torque ratings have been overtaken by Milwaukee. The chargers are big, ugly bricks. And some of the older XR tools are noticeably heavier than the equivalent Makita.

Best for: sparkies, general builders, and anyone who wants the safest 'will I still find batteries in 10 years' bet. Our impact driver pick for sparks has the DeWalt DCF887 at the top.

Makita LXT — the lightweight specialist

Makita LXT is the platform of choice for trades where weight in the hand matters all day. Carpenters, joiners, second-fix specialists. The brushless Makita impacts and drills are noticeably lighter than the equivalent DeWalt — usually 200-300g less, which over a 9-hour day matters.

• Best ergonomics in the trade — handle shape, balance, grip texture.
• Excellent brushless motor reliability — Makita brushless tools have a reputation for going years without service.
• Wide range — over 280 tools on the LXT platform.
• Compatible chargers across LXT and the older 18V Ni-Cd platform.

Watch-outs: Makita is now selling some pro-grade tools only on the new 40V Max XGT platform. The two ranges are not compatible. Read the spec carefully before buying — make sure you're getting LXT and not XGT unless you've decided to commit to the new platform.

Pricing on Makita is usually 5-10% above DeWalt for equivalent tools. You're paying for the build quality.

Best for: carpenters, fitters, anyone who's on the tools 8+ hours a day where weight matters.

Milwaukee M18 — the high-torque specialist

Milwaukee has the trade press on side because their headline numbers are gobsmacking. Their M18 Fuel impact wrench (the 1/2-inch one, model 2767) puts out 1,000+ ft-lbs of breakaway torque. That's gas-engine territory in a battery wrench.

If your trade involves stuck bolts — vehicle mechanics, plant fitters, scaffolders breaking down site fences, anyone working with rusty steel — Milwaukee is the obvious answer.

• Industry-leading impact wrench performance.
• Excellent SDS hammers and chainsaws on M18 — the bigger heat-generating tools where Milwaukee's electronics shine.
• One Key — Bluetooth tool tracking and tool customisation app, useful if you're worried about theft.

Watch-outs: Milwaukee tools are typically the most expensive of the three on a like-for-like basis. The platform is split between M12 (compact) and M18 (full-size), which is a feature rather than a bug, but you need both ecosystems if you want their compact tools too. Range in the UK is good but not as deep as Makita or DeWalt.

Best for: heavy industrial trades, scaffolders, anyone who broke a DeWalt impact wrench trying to undo seized brake nuts last month.

How to pick if you genuinely don't know

Three quick questions:

1. What does your mentor or your nearest mate use? This is the most underrated factor. If your gaffer is on Makita, you can borrow batteries on the bad day when you've left yours on charge in the van. Same brand cuts both ways — it's a genuine working benefit.

2. How much grunt do you actually need? If you're doing 95% normal screwing, drilling, and impact work — DeWalt or Makita is fine. If you're routinely undoing seized bolts or driving 250mm SDS into reinforced concrete — Milwaukee.

3. How much time will the tool be in your hand? If you're on the trigger eight hours a day, every gram counts. Makita LXT, every time.

The buying order that doesn't waste money

Whichever platform you pick:

1. Start with one bare-tool impact driver or combi drill, plus one 5Ah battery and a charger. Around £230 total on any platform.
2. After three months — when you know you like it — add a second battery (£60-80). Now you've got rotation for charging.
3. After six months, add a second tool body-only. Drill if you started with impact, impact if you started with drill. £90-120.
4. After a year, you're upgrading to higher-capacity batteries (8Ah or FLEXVOLT) for runtime, and adding specialist tools as the work demands.

That's a 12-month spend of £450-£600 on a working tool kit, all on one platform, with maximum interchangeability across batteries and chargers.

When platform-jumping is actually fine

One scenario: you've inherited a few tools from a relative who's retired from the trade. Different brand to what you'd choose. That's OK — keep them as backup, run them till they die, and slowly build your main kit on your chosen platform. Don't try to integrate two ecosystems by buying batteries for both.

Other scenario: you've been on DeWalt for ten years and you've worn out three impact drivers. You can switch — but be honest about the cost. Selling your old DeWalt batteries on eBay recovers maybe 30% of value. Build that into the budget.

The summary if you only read this section

Sparky / general builder — DeWalt 18V XR.

Carpenter / joiner / fitter — Makita LXT.

Mechanic / scaffolder / industrial — Milwaukee M18.

Pick one. Stick with it for at least five years. Don't try to mix. Buy bare tools whenever you can. Buy a couple of high-capacity batteries rather than five small ones — the maths works out better.

For specific tool picks on each platform, our impact driver round-up and power drill picks have what we'd actually buy in 2026.