DeWalt vs Makita vs Milwaukee: choosing a battery platform you will keep for a decade

Cordless tools are sold by the tool but bought by the battery. Once you own two or three batteries from one brand, every future tool is a body-only purchase from that brand, because a battery costs £60 to £100 and switching means buying them again. So the first decision is the platform.

The three main platforms

DeWalt 18V XR. The largest range in the UK, widely stocked, competitive pricing, and the FlexVolt system lets the same battery run 54V tools. Strong on drills, drivers and saws. The trade default.

Makita 18V LXT. The widest range of tools of any platform, including garden equipment. Excellent build. Batteries are pricier. Makita's 40V XGT line is separate and not cross-compatible, which is a trap for the unwary.

Milwaukee M18. Premium pricing, premium performance, the strongest batteries and the best warranty (typically three years on tools, registered). Popular with trades that use tools all day. Less discounted.

The mid-tier

Bosch Professional (blue) is a serious platform with good UK availability. Einhell's Power X-Change is the value choice — genuine cross-compatibility across a large range at much lower prices, adequate for home use. Ryobi ONE+ is similar. Bosch green (DIY) is fine but a separate battery system from Bosch blue.

How to choose

Look at the tools you'll want in five years, not the drill you want today. Garden tools: Makita or Einhell. Heavy trade use: Milwaukee or DeWalt. Occasional DIY: Einhell or Ryobi, and put the difference into a better drill.

Buying tactics

Starter kits with two batteries and a charger are the cheapest way onto a platform; after that, body-only. Manufacturer redemption offers — a free battery by claim when you buy a kit — run each autumn and are often better than a cash discount. Trade retailers (Toolstation, Screwfix, Tooled Up) undercut general retail and Amazon on branded tools consistently, and their deals rotate weekly.