Are Harbor Freight's Hercules Power Tools Worth Buying?

Harbor Freight produces three main power tool ranges: Warrior for the occasional user, Bauer for the more enthusiastic DIYer, and Hercules, which they claim offers 'professional quality, power, and performance.' They are targeting the latter at buyers who might usually choose premium manufacturers like DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, etc. Yet you'll rarely, if ever, find Hercules featured in lists of the best power tools ranked. Is this because they've been overlooked, or are they inferior?

Although the Hercules name has been around for many years, it wasn't until 2022 that they introduced the revamped collection that features brushless cordless models. This, and Harbor Freight's reputation for focusing on the budget end of the market, may be responsible for the tools being underrated. There may be some historical bias. So the question we set out to answer is whether the current range of Hercules power tools is worth buying. A check of independent reviews, tool forums, and buyer feedback would suggest that they are. The vast majority of users seem happy with their purchases, and impressively, none of the cordless models has a rating lower than 4.5 stars.

There are over seventy-five Hercules power tools, with two-thirds offering the convenience of cordless power. Surprisingly, there are no cordless sanders, although they do appear in the corded range. A quick check of the lineup shows that both prices and specifications stack up well when compared to their major rivals, but let's look at a few key tools in more detail.

Any list of power tools for first-time homeowners must include a cordless drill/driver. The Hercules 20V model has a brushless motor, ½-inch chuck, two speeds, and comes with a battery and charger for $97.99. DeWalt's closest rival is $116.75, and Milwaukee's is $199.00.

Other popular power tools, like their angle grinder and 12-inch sliding compound miter saw, show that while Harbor Freight's focus for Hercules might be on performance, they mostly retain an edge on pricing, too. That said, it's important to check the details. For example, both DeWalt's and Milwaukee's drill/driver kits come with two batteries, not one.

While Hercules power tools are clearly worth buying in terms of value, reliability is also a key issue, especially with professionals. Customer feedback is a good indicator. Of the tools we looked at in detail, the Hercules drill rates an average of 4.7 stars, and 95% would recommend it. Particularly telling was one buyer who said, "this was my first tool in the Hercules line but it has given me the confidence to try others." (via Harbor Freight) The angle grinder gets 4.8 stars and a 97% approval. The miter saw gets 4.9 stars and a stellar 99% approval. This feedback isn't from a handful of customers, it's from over 4,000. You might find other power tool deals that will save big cash, but a lot of folks think Hercules is hard to beat.

I am House Digest's expert carpenter and remodeler, and I've worked with dozens of different power tools from most of the brands on the market. Although Harbor Freight's updated Hercules range has only been around for a few years, it has quickly established itself as a competitively priced alternative to the likes of DeWalt, Milwaukee, and so on. It's likely to take a number of years for them to command a reputation comparable to that of the top brands, but they seem to be approaching it the right way and delivering on their promises.

To put together this article, we surveyed several independent power tool testing websites and popular power tool forums. We checked feedback from Harbor Freight customers. We made general comparisons between the specifications of Hercules power tools and their main big-brand rivals. Then we focused on three popular models (two cordless and one corded) for a more detailed look. While we did check specifications, we did not take into account ratings on other websites. Harbor Freight's Hercules tools aren't available through different channels, so doing so doesn't give any comparable information.