Best Power Tool Brands Ranked

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Skill, discipline, and creativity — these are all vital qualities that every effective builder or craftsman ought to have. But they don't mean anything if you don't have the right equipment to do the job. Whether you are planning to start working as a contractor or a DIY homeowner wanting to cut expenses on repairs, a dependable set of power tools is an investment you can't just entrust to sheer luck. There are over 100 power tool brands on eBay and nearly 150 are found in the tools and home improvement section of Amazon. But we have gone through the haystack on a mission to highlight the very best that the industry has to offer.

Given the broadness of the scope, it is challenging to objectively determine the absolute best among power tool brands. One brand may be better than another in specific areas or product types, although placed lower in the ranking. Nonetheless, the following list is based on the assessment of the brands' overall value. A detailed ranking methodology is provided at the end of the article for reference.

Skil is another beloved brand among DIY-ers. It's an offshoot brand of the more popular Skil Saw, a pioneer in power saw technology. While the latter mostly serves businesses and professional contractors, the company specifically created Skil to cater to its non-pro clientele. Though not built for heavy-duty use, its products are well respected by hardened practitioners and consistently record impressive outputs during comparative tests. "Other manufacturers over-engineer their tools and equip them with unnecessary bells and whistles; not the case with Skil," explains woodworker and blogger, Emilee Anderson. "Their tools are simple yet effective, which is exactly what you want."

The Skil conglomerate is ironically the result of its product, rather than the other way around. Dubbed "the saw that built America," the Model 77 Circular Saw was the very first of its kind and the foundational success of the brand. Skil now offers a wide range of power tools but is still regarded as one of the best makers of sawing equipment. The Skil 15Amp Corded Circular Saw was hailed best value in the corded category of Popular Mechanic's best circular saws for 2024. In other segments, Skil's cordless screwdriver was a category winner in the 2023 Protool Innovation Awards.

Since its acquisition by Black & Decker in 2017, Craftsman has been working its way up the power tool market ladder, especially in the non-pro section. There has been plenty of talk about the brand's improvements and even the most seasoned contractors cannot ignore its growing popularity. Some of Craftsman's products have gone head to head in test runs against leading brands and left reviewers in awe. For its lightweight build, handlers are often impressed by the power the tools can generate and their endurance.

Craftsman receives high marks for its astonishing price-performance ratio. Its V20 ½ inch Drill/Driver Kit emerged as the best bang for your buck awardee in the 2024 best cordless drill review by techgearlab.com. It is a notable achievement considering the lineup of two dozen contenders, many of which were more than twice the model's retail price. The product holds a 4.8-star rating on Amazon from over 4,500 reviews. As an overall go-to brand, it probably can't rival other high-end, heavy-duty players just yet. However, Craftsman would be an ideal choice for smaller projects.

Metabo HPT might be described as an underdog due to its lack of brand visibility and awareness. Ever since it was rebranded from its former name Hitachi, it has gone unnoticed by many and is often confused with its mother brand, Metabo. That's something that its marketing department needs to work on, but in terms of research and development, its products are worth much praise.

In particular, the Metabo HPT multi-volt cordless line is favored by numerous experienced users. "I own a number of Metabo HPT 18V and MultiVolt cordless power tools and have had zero regrets. Their Triple Hammer impact driver remains my favorite," said tool industry blogger Stuart Deutsch via toolguyd.com. The Metabo HPT Cordless Nail Gun secured the top spot as the best overall cordless nailgun for 2024 by Popular Mechanics. The underrated manufacturer is by no means a letdown in terms of innovation either. Its multi-volt system is one of its most praised features, allowing workers to switch from cord to cordless at will. The Metabo HPT brand only came to be in 2018, but the company has been running the course for the past 70 years under different trade names.

Alongside Dewalt, Bosch is another ubiquitous name in the global power tool landscape. In fact, it is one of the oldest mainstream brands in the market, tracing its roots back to Germany in 1886 and still thriving today. The Bosch trade network is currently present in about 150 countries. Aside from its proven dependability, the industry veteran gets extra points for its dedication to sustainability, innovation, and ergonomics. The company invests more than $5.7 billion every year in research and development and submits over 3,000 patent applications. It is also committed to attaining a zero-carbon footprint.

Bosch is a pioneer in battery technology. Some suggest that Bosch batteries are the best on the market in terms of durability. "Their batteries have some of the longest shelf lives we've experienced among manufacturers," say experts from Protools Review. Its product range is also diverse, from the bulkiest machines to the smallest accessories. Though regarded as one of the more expensive choices, the quality of its products justifies its pricing, and the trust that its name has established earns Bosch a lofty seat on our list.

While Milwaukee wins the approval of pro users, its sister brand, Ryobi takes the spotlight in the non-professional scene. Known for being user-friendly, reasonably priced, and widely accessible, this popular brand is the most recommended for DIY folks and homeowners. Although they understandably do not match the durability and power of professional-grade units, Ryobi products demonstrate exceptional quality as consumer market tools. Some industry practitioners find them so reliable that they even include them as part of their regular on-site equipment. "​​They had survived the abuse of multiple house restorations and also my real work on site," says user Pyro Control on Tooltalk.com. Another user, Kai Clarke, exclaims, "Debatably the best bang for your buck out there!"

Ryobi's 18V Brushless Hammer Drill was named the best cordless drill for DIY for the year 2024 by Protools Review. Meanwhile, the Ryobi 40V brushless chainsaw won as the best battery-powered chainsaw. As a member of the Techtronic Industries group, Ryobi is also an active innovator. Its clever One+ battery pack technology is among its biggest selling points, enabling the same battery pack to be used for hundreds of different tools.

Dewalt ranks first on our list because it is the most widely appreciated brand on the market, both by professionals and amateurs, whether for heavy construction or simple tasks in multiple product categories. Its popularity is no accident, surely. Dewalt power tools are known for their vast selection, excellent performance, and user-friendly design. Many of their models achieve high ratings in professional tests, often beating or coming close to those of other mainstream brands. Several users attest that Dewalt is the most successful in producing consumer market tools that can compete at a pro level. It is also one of the broadest in terms of market availability — Dewalt tools can be bought almost anywhere in the world.

Though originally focused on corded power tools, the world-renowned tool maker has continuously grown its cordless selection, finding favor among DIY enthusiasts. In a comparative review published by Forbes, the Dewalt Atomic 20V-max drill reigned as the best cordless drill for home repairs. Moreover, the company scored multiple categories in the coveted Popular Mechanics best tools awards for 2024, securing top spots for best compact hammer drill, best rivet tool, and best drywall combo. Dewalt is part of the Black & Decker brand and is headquartered in Maryland. The industry giant celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.