Makita vs. Milwaukee drills: Which is best for DIYers?

The Makita 18-Volt packs plenty of power, but the Milwaukee M18 squeezes in a little extra

Both Makita Electric Works and Milwaukee offer excellent, top-of-the-line cordless power tools that are more than powerful enough to handle the average DIY project. They also offer some smaller alternatives for tasks that may not need as much power, plus some intensely strong ones for the toughest jobs.

The BestReviews Testing Lab ran two Makitas and one Milwaukee through many tests, including drilling holes, driving screws and dropping them to test durability. The Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drill and its counterpart, the Makita 18-Volt LXT Cordless Drill, both impressed us significantly. For example, they could each drill through wood and 16-gauge sheet metal in seconds. 

Though we think both brands are great, the Milwaukee M18’s overall stronger performance during testing edged out the Makita. But if you’re just starting a tool collection, Makita, which bundles more accessories with its drills, may be a better choice. 

Makita vs. Milwaukee: What they do well

There’s plenty to like about both Makita and Milwaukee, but we narrowed it down to the top three benefits of each.

Makita benefits 

• Battery efficiency: The Makita 18-Volt LXT had the best battery life of all the drills we tested and was the only drill to have over an hour of operating time.
• Special features: Some Makitas, such as the 40-Volt Hammer Drill with its digital clutch, have special features that Milwaukee drills just don’t have.
• Product bundling: Makita offers multiple bundles of its products that give you plenty of ways to start a power tool collection while saving a little money.

Milwaukee benefits

• Power: Milwaukee usually offers more power than the competition, such as the M18’s 800 maximum wattage compared to the Makita 18-Volt’s maximum 350 watts.
• Durability: Milwaukee products use the best materials for excellent durability, including the exterior plastic and the internal components, so you can drop the drill and it keeps on working.
• Consistency: Milwaukee products are remarkably consistent, both in terms of ability and basic design. You can expect similar quality across the board when shopping for more Milwaukee tools.

What they could improve

While both Makita and Milwaukee are top brands, there’s still room for improvement.

Makita drawbacks

• Weight: The Makita 18-Volt LXT felt slightly heavier than the other drills we tested, an issue compounded by the fact that Makita’s batteries are fairly chunky, adding even more weight.
• Inconsistency: We tested two Makitas and found the Makita 12-Volt Max CXT to be surprisingly low in power. For example, it took about three times as long to drill a hole through wood with a paddle bit than with almost every other drill we tested.

Milwaukee drawbacks

• Driving performance: While we loved the drilling performance of the M18, we were slightly disappointed by its driving performance. For example, it sometimes struggled to drive a screw into wood even at maximum power.
• Battery efficiency: The Milwaukee M18 had some of the worst battery efficiency performance of the drills we tested, at less than 30 minutes. However, we suspect it may have been a bad third-party battery, though we didn’t have a second compatible battery to test this.

Top Makita models

The Makita we tested, the 18-Volt LXT, really wowed us in every aspect, especially with its impressively long battery life. It should be more than enough drill for the average DIYer. However, if you are using extremely tough materials or have extra challenging tasks, you might want to look into the supercharged Makita 40-Volt XGT Hammer Drill.

Makita XFD131 18-Volt LXT Cordless Drill Kit

The Makita 18-Volt LXT comes with accessories, making it an excellent way to start a tool collection.

Product specifications

Maximum Rotational Speed: 1,900 rpm | Maximum Power: 350 W  | Voltage: 18 | Gears: 2 | LED Work Light: Yes

The Makita’s drilling performance was immediately impressive, though not quite perfect. Using the paddle bit, we saw some catching on the two-by-four, though even with the occasional catch it still only took three or four seconds to make a hole. The hole saw test also took only five seconds to drill through one side of the board, though we still had to flip the board to finish the hole from the other side. The 16-gauge sheet metal drilling took some time: about five seconds for a quarter-inch bit to make a hole and 10 seconds for a half-inch bit. It didn’t struggle with driving a 3-inch wood screw into a four-by-four either.

Its battery efficiency might be its most impressive aspect. Using the three-amp-hour battery it came with, we squeezed out about an hour and a quarter of continuous drilling. This was easily the longest-lasting of the seven drills we tested. Its durability is also exceptional. We dropped it multiple times from heights of 3, 4 and 5 feet, resulting in only a few cosmetic scratches on the plastic and zero functionality issues.

It’s also plenty comfortable to use. The handle provides a good grip, so there is no accidental slipping, plus it’s comfortable to use over time. It does feel a little heavy, though, which we were starting to notice by the end of testing.

Makita GPH01Z 40-Volt XGT Cordless Hammer Drill

You can quickly lose control of the Makita 40-volt drill when drilling through tough materials. Make sure to use the attachable handle in these instances

Product specifications

Maximum Rotational Speed: 2,600 rpm | Maximum Power: NA |  Voltage: 40 | Gears: 2 | LED Work Light: Yes

This Makita does not play around with its extraordinary 2,600 maximum revolutions per minute for its standard drilling mode and 39,000 blows per minute for its hammer drilling mode. It should be able to turn any material into Swiss cheese and force almost any screw into place. It also has some premium features, such as a bright LED work light and an electronic digital clutch that offers 41 settings at low gear and 21 at high gear. The trigger also has variable speed, so you can go slowly with a light touch or quickly with a heavy touch.

Top Milwaukee models

We only tested one Milwaukee, the M18 Fuel Drill, but we found it to be among the best of all the drills we tested thanks to its superb drilling and driving performance. It might even be a little too much for the average homeowner who only needs it for maintenance and assembling flat-pack furniture. If that’s you, the smaller but equally good 12-Volt Fuel Drill could be easier to use.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drill

The torque adjustment dial on the Milwaukee M18 is short, making it hard to twist without scratching your hand against the side.

Product specifications

Maximum Rotational Speed: 2,000 rpm | Maximum Power: 800 W | Voltage: 18 | Gears: 2 | LED Work Light: Yes

The power displayed by the Milwaukee M18 is impressive, especially in its drilling performance. It was the only one that could use a 1-inch hole saw on a two-by-four to punch a hole without having to flip the board over to finish it from the other side, and it did so in 13 seconds. It could also punch through wood with a paddle bit in three seconds, and it shredded through 16-gauge steel in an average of six seconds between two bit sizes.

Its screw-driving test results weren’t as amazing, but it was still more than enough for DIY projects. For example, it didn’t struggle with driving 5-inch lag screws into their required pilot holes. It did jerk a bit when driving 3-inch wood screws into a large four-by-four, but it still got them in without a pilot hole in an average of five seconds.

The only real area of concern is its battery efficiency. Because the drill didn’t come with one, we had to get one separately. We chose a third-party five-amp-hour battery that should have lasted quite a while, but it died after about 25 minutes of drilling. This is about half as long as other batteries on other drills lasted, despite those batteries mostly having two or three amp-hours. We suspect that the third-party battery was bad, but we didn’t have a second compatible battery to test that theory.

Even if it does have less-than-optimal battery efficiency, you still can get some good work out of it before the battery dies. Plus, its LED work light is very bright, and its semisoft handle and reasonable weight of 3.3 pounds (without battery) mean you can work in reasonable comfort.

Milwaukee 12-Volt Fuel Drill

Use the small Milwaukee 12-volt drill for everyday household maintenance or for working in very tight spaces.

Product specifications

Maximum Rotational Speed: 1,500 rpm | Maximum Power: 800 W | Voltage: 12 | Gears: 2 | LED Work Light: Yes

This small but powerful drill is an excellent alternative or addition to the M18. Its lower maximum rpm does mean it takes a little longer than the M18, but the 800 watts of maximum power mean the task should still get done. Its small size makes it easier to hold in general, plus you can also get it into tight spaces where the M18 can’t fit, such as under a small sink. Even its batteries, which are different from the M18’s, are small and light for easy use. It has a bright LED work light and a little hook on the side so you can hang it from a belt.

Makita XFD131 18-Volt LXT Cordless Drill Kit vs. Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drill

Both drills offer more than enough power to complete almost any project in and around the home, but the Milwaukee offers just a touch more. This translates into saving you a little personal energy since you don’t have to add as much pressure to get it going, plus it saves a few seconds per screw or drilled hole. However, the Milwaukee doesn’t include a battery, while the Makita includes a battery, charger and storage bag. If you’re just starting your DIY tool collection, these extra accessories are hard to pass up.

Makita GPH01Z 40-Volt XGT Cordless Hammer Drill vs. Milwaukee 12-Volt Fuel Drill

Unlike the comparable Makita 18-Volt and Milwaukee M18, these drills are polar opposites. The extreme power of the Makita 40-Volt XGT is exactly what a DIYer needs when they’re ready to upgrade to more intensive projects, especially if those projects involve tough materials like concrete and heavy-gauge metal. The Milwaukee 12-Volt Fuel Drill, on the other hand, is the perfect tool for people who might only use it for assembling flat-pack furniture and especially those who only need the drill for basic household maintenance. It can also be a great pinch-hitting drill for small spaces that a larger, more powerful drill wouldn’t be able to get into.

Makita vs. Milwaukee functionality

The functionality of a drill is limited regardless of the brand. It comes down mainly to power settings, the presence of a small LED work light and whether a drill comes with accessories.

Power settings comparison

Power settings involve both the clutch and the gears.

• Clutch: The Makita 18-Volt LXT offers 21 clutch settings compared to 16 on the Milwaukee M18. Both also have a dedicated drilling clutch setting.
• Gears: Both the Makita and Milwaukee offer the same two gear settings: one for drilling and one for driving.

LED work light comparison

Both brands include bright work lights on their drills to make it easier to see what you’re drilling in any condition. We didn’t notice any major differences between them in terms of brightness or performance, though we did wish that there was a way to adjust the brightness like the lights offered by some other brands.

Accessories comparison

This is where the Makita really shines, since its 18-Volt LXT kit comes with an exceptional battery, a charger with clear indicators that show charging progress and a nice bag for storage or travel. What it doesn’t include that the Milwaukee M18 does is an extra handle for more stability on harder tasks. Both drills come with belt loops.

Pricing

Makita drills tend to cost a little more than Milwaukee drills, whether they’re sold as just the tool or when bundled with accessories like battery, charger and carrying bag. Makita drills without accessories typically cost $100 to $200 compared to Milwaukee’s $60 to $150. Drill sets for both brands typically cost $150 to $300, with some Makita outliers that include many accessories and high-end tools costing $500 and more.

Cost of the drills in this article:

• Makita XFD131 18-Volt LXT Cordless Drill Kit: $169
• Makita GPH01Z 40-Volt XGT Cordless Hammer Drill: $188
• Milwaukee M18 Fuel Drill: $134.70
• Milwaukee 12-Volt Fuel Drill: $69

Bottom line

In general, both Makita and Milwaukee offer excellent drills that won’t disappoint you. But if we had to pick an overall winner, it would be Milwaukee for its slightly stronger performance, potential battery issue aside. However, we’d say the Makita 18-Volt LXT kit is a worthwhile purchase for those just starting a tool collection because of its accessories and nearly identical job performance.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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