Are DeWalt Corded Tools Worth Buying Over Cordless?

DeWalt has an outstanding reputation when it comes to the quality, reliability, and durability of the equipment they sell. According to Lifestory's America's Most Trusted Study, they are the most popular power tool brand in the US and have been for four straight years. They are a favorite with both DIYers and contractors.

The DeWalt range is vast. Everything from drills, saws, and sanders to must-haves for yard and garden projects. Not surprisingly, cordless tools dominate. However, there are still plenty of corded alternatives available. Some people might consider these old-fashioned, and it's true that having a power cord may be a little inconvenient at times, but these tools can be noticeably cheaper than their battery-powered equivalents.

So does that make DeWalt corded tools worth buying instead of the cordless version? It could often be the case. Here's an example: DeWalt sells a corded jigsaw for around $120. The brand also carries a cordless model advertised for around the same price, but that's as a bare tool. So you'll need a battery and charger, which will add $60 or more, depending on the battery chosen. If you also want a spare, the price difference could easily top $100. Unless you regularly use the saw in awkward positions, which isn't likely, the cord probably won't bother you much, and so, in this instance ,that model is certainly worth buying over cordless. Unfortunately, the decision isn't always as straightforward as that. Let's look at why it might get complicated.

The cheapest DeWalt drill we found is a corded model at $99. If you were very careful, you might be able to drive screws with it, but there's no clutch for adjustment. DeWalt offers a cordless drill/driver kit that includes two batteries and a charger for $116. So in this case, for under $20 extra, the more versatile cordless tool seems a way better choice.

Let's say you bought the DeWalt cordless drill kit. You then have batteries that work in any other 20V DeWalt tool. So you could buy the cordless jigsaw mentioned above and get it as cheaply as the corded model. Sadly, that's not always the case. DeWalt's 5-inch corded sander is about $70. The equivalent cordless sander is over $100, without a battery. For many, that would again make the corded version worth buying.

If you've wondered if DeWalt tools are really worth the hefty price tag, it's certainly worth checking out some of the corded alternatives. You might be in for a pleasant surprise. That said, it's important to check individual specifications. Most corded tools are probably no longer being developed, so cordless models may have improved features and higher performance. It's also important to consider the number of tools you are likely to buy. If you just want a single DeWalt hammer drill, the corded version could be worth buying. If you're getting a whole bunch of DeWalt power tools, it's probably worth investing in the cordless platform.

As House Digest's expert carpenter and remodeler, I have used a variety of power tools from DeWalt. This experience ensured we compared like with like when assessing corded and cordless models rather than basing our choices solely on which were cheapest.

Often when we review power tools, garden machinery, and other home improvement products, we check independent reviews as part of the assessment of performance and value. However, this is DeWalt, so although they are seldom cheap, you can generally assume they're well made. This is underlined by customer feedback. For example, the DeWalt corded sander has an average rating of 4.6 stars. The cordless equivalent has 4.7 stars. It's unlikely you'll be disappointed with any DeWalt tool.

So there's little to note between DeWalt corded and cordless tools in terms of quality or customer satisfaction. Where the differences do appear is in these products' prices. To find out how extensive the disparity is, I made more than two dozen direct comparisons, then focused on three of the most popular tools to illustrate this. Additionally, I analyzed how having bought batteries for one cordless tool could affect subsequent purchases.