Are you ready to build your own home? Perhaps you’re starting a bit smaller with a deck. You may even just need to make some repairs around the house. Regardless, you’re going to need the right tools to get the job done. Is there really enough difference between one brand and another to justify the huge range in prices? If you came here asking that question, the answer is probably not.
The title is not clickbait, I have legitimately put in the research and the trigger time to confidently state a top ten. The thing is, the top half and the bottom half are on two different playing fields and the contenders in each half only separate themselves by preference and specialty. Brands 1-5 are contractor grade tools that are built to handle the rigors of daily use. Brands 6-10 are built with the weekend warrior in mind and as my good friend “Jersey” Joe Carrano put it are “homeowner grade”. “Homeowner grade” is not a mark of shame by any means. I have lots of power tools in the 6-10 range that have served me well on home improvement projects and at my tiny home sales lots for years. I also have hand-me-down Craftsman power tools from the 70’s and 80’s that are still going strong! The point is, don’t blow your project budget on contractor grade tools if you aren’t going to be using them regularly in the long term.
But…there definitely is something to be said for buying quality when you are depending on your tools regularly!
How I determined the rankings
I took five weighted factors into account when determining the contenders and the rankings for this top 10 list.
Poll Results – I polled a cross section of 350 people ranging from professional contractors to DIYers
Professional Experience – I took into account my own professional experience as a tiny home builder in addition to that of an HVAC professional (Tony), a hardwood flooring contractor (Chris), and a plumber (Bill).
Product Range – Some of these brands are more dedicated to one range of products more than others and a broad range of quality tools scores a higher spot. No strictly specialty tool brands are included.
Warranty – A power tool’s warranty is a big factor in its overall value and is weighted as such in this list.
Availability – Availability was only a factor in eliminating brands that aren’t commonly available locally.
Top 10 Power Tool Brands
1. Milwaukee
Forget everything I said above about job specialty and nuanced differences. Milwaukee power tools knock it out of the park in all categories and are always a reliable choice across a huge range of tools. Milwaukee tools not only have a bullet-proof warranty but are dealer serviceable! That’s right, if a motor burns up in your Milwaukee drill, you can actually take it to a qualified Milwaukee dealer for repair! The dealer can even sell you spare parts! Milwaukee power tools are an obvious choice for any professional who depends on their tools and can be a sweet DIYer purchase if you catch the right deal.
Tony Quote “These are the only power tools I buy anymore. It’s just not worth it to me to have a tool fail in the middle of a job. My time is money and my Milwaukee tools keep me working.”
Bill Quote “I’m a cheap bastard. I can’t imagine paying new prices for Milwaukee tools, but I have acquired some second hand over the years. I couldn’t believe it when a local dealer actually repaired a saw for me in-store a few years ago. I didn’t think anyone did that anymore.”
Lester Quote “The EZ Portable Buildings and Tiny Homes production facility in Paducah, KY was recently broken into. The thieves primarily targeted the builders’ toolboxes. What the thieves didn’t realize when they were packing out all those new Milwaukee power tools is that they were fitted with Milwaukee’s TICK locator chips. These guys were literally busted by a Sawzall!”
Chris Quote “Other than my specialty floor sanders and trim saws, all of my on-the-job power tools are Milwaukee. I’ve had very few issues over the years, and the problems I have had were swiftly remedied by my local dealer.”
2. Makita
Makita is a strong contender for the highest quality power tool brand. Makita has managed to expand their production from Japan to all over the world without sacrificing the quality they have been known for since 1958. Makita led the wave of power tool manufacturers streamlining their voltage options so that batteries were sharable across their entire range of cordless tools.
Tony Quote “I have two Makita cordless drills that I got from Dad 10 years ago. I have no idea how many times these batteries have been recharged, but they must be at least quadruple the expected cycle life by now and are still going strong!”
Bill Quote “I only have one circular saw for jobsites and home DIY projects. It is a Makita that I bought used at an auction for $25 six years ago. From what I have seen so far, this saw will outlive me.”
Lester Quote “I don’t recall ever personally owning a Makita product, but my uncle’s entire wood shop was decked out with Makita tools. I have one particularly vivid memory of him showing me difference in precision between his Makita miter saw and a Craftsman that he had set up next to it. He cut five sections of 2×4 off at 45 degree angles with both. When we checked the pieces with a protractor, all five of the Makita cuts were dead on, but the Craftsman cuts varied by up to 3 degrees.”
Chris Quote “I don’t own any Makita tools. However, from using them here and there throughout my life, I can attest that they are high quality.”
3. DeWalt
Raymond E. DeWalt invented the radial arm saw in 1923 making DeWalt one of the original power tool manufacturers. Black and Decker acquired the company in 1960 and has maintained the reputation as a contractor grade brand since then.
Tony Quote “DeWalt tools are probably the best power tools you can buy that don’t say Milwaukee on them. If I were out of town on a jobsite and had to replace one of my tools, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy a DeWalt (if I couldn’t find a Milwaukee).”
Bill Quote “My experienced guys have their own tools, but I furnish tools for trainees. The “loaner tools” include a 5-piece DeWalt set (reciprocating saw, circular saw, drill, impact driver, and flashlight) that I got at Lowe’s (thanks for the Veteran’s discount!). Not only have all five tools held up great, there’s no excuses for forgetting a bright freak’n yellow drill on a jobsite!”
Lester Quote “DeWalt is just a great option for DIYers and professionals alike. My DeWalt miter saw has led a very rough life. It has been “rode hard and put away wet” way too many times, but it still fires up and makes laser-perfect cuts every single time. DeWalt tools can often be caught on sale, particularly around the holidays.”
Chris Quote “I don’t have a lot to say about DeWalt. I bought a DeWalt sander once that was completely DOA. I didn’t have any trouble returning it, but that is the only power tool that I ever bought that just did not work at all right out of the box. I’ve never bought another DeWalt since.”
4. Festool
Festool is known around the world as a top-tier, German-engineered line of tools. Festool has a fairly broad product range, but is best known as a brand for fine woodworking.
Tony Quote “Sorry, this is the one brand on the list that I’ve never even touched.”
Bill Quote “A good friend of mine is a custom cabinet maker. He swears by his Festool saw for very fine detail cuts.”
Lester Quote “I borrowed a Festool circular saw and vacuum attachment recently to cut some acrylic panels. The saw setup included some ingenious aluminum guide rails that made getting a perfect cut a breeze. When all was said and done, my cut edges looked better than the factory production edges.”
Chris Quote “My Festool saw setup is my bread-and-butter for fine finish and trim work. It was expensive, but it has paid for itself many times over.”
5. Bosch
Bosch was founded by Robert Bosch in 1886 in Stuttgart, Germany. While Bosch maintains a high level of quality across their product line, they are not know as an innovator and often lag behind other contractor grade tool manufacturers in adopting new features.
Tony Quote “I’ve used other peoples’ Bosch tools before and don’t recall ever having an issue with one. I’d definitely consider them “contractor grade”.
Bill Quote “I’ve never used any Bosch tools in my plumbing business, but I do have a couple Bosch air nailers and a portable air compressor that I’ve had great luck with and would whole-heartedly recommend.”
Lester Quote “I can’t speak on their saws, drills, etc., but I’ve shingled about a million square feet of roofs with Bosch nail guns. I guess it would be cheesy to say they are “tough as nails”, but…they are!”
Chris Quote “I have several Bosch stationary saws in my home shop. They don’t see the hard daily use that my jobsite tools do, but do a great job for what they are for”
Look, the next five tool brands aren’t built for rigorous daily use, but if you have a big DIY project in mind or are building your homeowner arsenal, they are perfect!
6. Craftsman
Craftsman got its start in 1927 as part of Sears. Since being acquired by Black & Decker, the two brands have ruled the mid-priced power tool market.
Tony Quote “I don’t work with Craftsman power tools much, but the old stuff seems to be a lot better than the new stuff.”
Bill Quote “Craftsman used to be known for quality. Maybe not “contractor grade”, but definitely the best working man’s tool brand. Now they are about the same as any Wal-Mart or Harbor Freight brand.”
Lester Quote “I’ve got a vintage Craftsman radial arm saw that I wouldn’t trade for a brand new one of any brand. That old saw cuts like a laser and is a joy to use.”
Chris Quote “I’ve got several tool chests full of Craftsman hand tools. I have just as much confidence in a Craftsman wrench as I do a Mac or Snap On. The Craftsman cordless power tools on the other hand don’t impress me much.”
7. Black & Decker
Black & Decker really defined themselves as a premier tool manufacturer in 1917 by inventing the “portable electric drill”. Acquiring DeWalt as their professional grade brand in 1960 allowed Black & Decker to focus on high quality saws, drills, and sanders for the average Joe.
Tony Quote “Black & Decker tools are a good choice for projects around the house. They are great for that, but I wouldn’t necessarily plan on running them hard all day everyday.”
Bill Quote “I’ve got several Black & Decker drills that I use all the time. They’re awfully good tools for the money in my opinion.”
Lester Quote “Black & Decker is a tried-and-true budget tool option. The majority of my personal power tools in this price range have been Black & Decker and I really can’t say enough about the value of these tools. They have a great balance of dependability and replaceability.”
Chris Quote “I like Black & Decker for a budget brand. They’re even better if you can catch them on sale!”
8. Ryobi
Ryobi has the same parent company as Milwaukee and are often seen as hobbyist brand with Milwaukee as the professional brand. Despite not being built to run as hard or long as Milwaukee, Ryobi tools benefit from shared innovation with the best tool brand on the market.
Tony Quote “I really like Ryobi as a DIY and project tool brand. I’ve bought several Ryobi tool sets for family members.”
Bill Quote “I hear good things about Ryobi, but I see them priced as high as DeWalt. Never pay more for a Ryobi than a DeWalt!”
Lester Quote “Ryobi would be my second recommendation behind Black & Decker for homeowner grade tools”
Chris Quote “I bought my wife a 5 piece Ryobi tool set to keep her from stealing my Milwaukees! They’ve performed great across a wide range of projects she’s done with them.”
9. Skil
Skil was founded in 1926 in New Orleans They were acquired by the German company Bosch in 1996. Most recently they have been acquired by Chevron, a Chinese power tool manufacturer. The Skilsaw Model 77 was introduced in 1937.
Tony Quote “I’m pretty sure every circular saw I used until the age of 25 was a Skil. I’m not sure about their other tools, but I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up a Skilsaw for just about any project.”
Bill Quote “I’ve got old metal-body and new laser-fitted Skilsaws. I’ve been using Skilsaws for years and probably have 10,000 hours behind them. They are my first choice for a circular saw.”
Lester Quote “I clearly remember a scout test in which me and 100% of Cub Scout Pack 107 mis-identified a circular saw as a “skill saw” because that is what 100% of our fathers had in the garage at home.”
Chris Quote “Everybody’s heard of Skil. You can pick one up about anywhere. I’ve found them to be on par with the other homeowner grade tools on this list.”
10. Hart
Hart power tools have a couple of pretty neat factors going for them that may make them perfect for your situation. The are the de facto Wal-Mart power tool brand making them widely available at an affordable price. Furthermore, Wal-Mart’s loose return policy essentially make it a free “loan-a-tool” program.
Combined Opinion The three “wise tool guys” and I all have pretty similar opinions on Hart. Quality-wise, they are the bottom of the barrel of the tools on this list. Hart’s saving graces are the facts that they are cheap to buy and replace and can be returned for almost any reason.
Conclusion
As much as it is true that you need the right tool for the job, it is also true that you need the right value of tool for your purpose.
The best power tool brand for professionals that use their tools every day is easily Milwaukee.
Homeowners needing tools for maintenance and DIYers are better off stretching their tool budget with quality mid-priced manufacturers such as Black & Decker and Craftsman.
Go forward with your knowledge and dare tobuild your dreams!
