Milwaukee vs Makita — Full Platform Comparison for UK Trades

Quick Verdict

Milwaukee edges it on raw power, tool range and smart-tool features; Makita counters with lighter, more ergonomic tools and a genuinely enormous LXT range that covers almost anything you’d want on one battery format. If you’re deciding on drill and driver alone, the gap is small — go with whichever platform your trade and your existing kit already lean towards.

Battery Platforms

Milwaukee: M12 and M18

Milwaukee runs two platforms side by side. M18 is the full-size range — combi drills, impact drivers, saws, grinders and an expanding line of heavy-duty site and outdoor equipment under the FUEL brushless banner. M12 is the compact 12V platform for tight spaces and lighter trades. Milwaukee’s newer FORGE battery technology is aimed at longer runtime and faster charging on its higher-capacity packs, rolling out gradually across the M18 range.

Makita: LXT (18V) and XGT (40V max)

Makita’s core platform is 18V LXT — one of the largest cordless tool ecosystems on the market, extending well past power tools into outdoor equipment, vacuums and site accessories that all run off the same battery. For genuinely heavy-duty tools, Makita runs a separate 40V max XGT platform with its own batteries and charger, similar in concept to a second battery format you’d need to invest in alongside LXT.

Core Tool Performance: Head to Head

Here’s how the two platforms compare on the tools most trades actually reach for.

Combi Drills

Milwaukee’s M18CBLPD-402C is the current-generation FUEL combi drill — genuinely strong torque for a compact drill, well suited to masonry and heavier fixing work.

0★ rating (20 reviews)

Makita’s DHP482 is a genuine current-generation LXT combi drill, well reviewed and comfortable over long shifts — Makita’s usual strength on ergonomics shows here.

3★ rating (43 reviews)

No products found.

Impact Drivers

Milwaukee’s M18FID2-0 is a genuine FUEL impact driver, Amazon’s Choice and well reviewed — strong, quick to drive and a genuine step up from Milwaukee’s compact/standard line. It’s down to the last couple of units at this listing, so check stock before you commit.

7★ rating (251 reviews)

No products found.

Makita’s DTD172 doesn’t have a clean current listing on Amazon UK — it only turns up via resellers at inflated prices — so the newer DTD152Z is the one to buy instead, a genuine current-generation Makita impact driver that’s noticeably light and compact for overhead work.

8★ rating (25 reviews)

SDS Drills

Milwaukee’s M18FH-0 is a genuine FUEL 26mm SDS-Plus rotary hammer, 2.5 joules of blow energy — plenty for routine masonry drilling and light chiselling.

9★ rating (22 reviews)

Makita’s DHR242 is a well-established SDS rotary hammer, sold bare with a MakPac case — pair it with any LXT battery you’ve already got.

6★ rating (37 reviews)

Circular Saws

Milwaukee’s M18CCS55-0 is a genuine FUEL circular saw with a 165mm blade — a compact saw built for one-handed site cutting rather than full ripping duty, and very well reviewed.

6★ rating (390 reviews)

No products found.

Makita’s DHS680 runs a larger 184mm blade and, unlike the Milwaukee above, comes bundled with a 6.0Ah battery rather than sold bare — worth factoring in when you compare the price tags, since you’re not comparing like for like on blade size or what’s in the box.

includes 1 x 6.0Ah battery

Smart Technology and Connectivity

Milwaukee’s ONE-KEY system pairs compatible tools with your phone over Bluetooth, letting you track tools, set custom torque and speed limits, and lock a stolen tool remotely — genuinely useful if tools regularly go missing from a shared van or site. Makita keeps things simpler with on-tool controls and no app required, which plenty of tradespeople prefer for speed on site.

Tool Storage and Organisation

Milwaukee’s PACKOUT modular system has become close to an industry standard for stackable, van-mountable storage, with a huge range of cases, organisers and mounts. Makita’s MAKPAC system covers the same ground — stackable, interlocking cases that come bundled with plenty of Makita kits — though the range of add-ons and organisers is narrower than PACKOUT’s.

Pricing and UK Availability

Milwaukee generally sits a little above Makita tool-for-tool across the wider range, reflecting its positioning as the premium option, though individual listings move around more than brand positioning does. Both brands are excellent stocked across UK trade counters, builders’ merchants and online retailers — availability on the core range isn’t a real deciding factor, though a handful of the specific listings above are down to their last few units, so check stock on the exact kit you want before you buy.

Which Platform Suits Your Trade?

Electricians often lean Milwaukee for the M12 compact range, which handles confined consumer units and tight spaces better than most full-size M18 or LXT tools. Plumbers and heating engineers get similar value from M12’s trade-specific press and pipe tools. Joiners and carpenters often prefer Makita’s lighter, more ergonomic handling over a full day of repetitive cuts. General builders do well on either — Milwaukee if raw power and PACKOUT organisation matter most, Makita if tool range and comfort matter more.

The Verdict

There’s no wrong choice between these two — both are proven, well-supported trade platforms with excellent UK availability. If you want the widest tool range, ONE-KEY tracking and PACKOUT storage, Milwaukee is the stronger all-rounder. If all-day comfort and Makita’s sheer platform breadth matter more, LXT is hard to beat. On the individual picks boxed above, buy on which platform you’ll build out over the coming years, not on today’s price gap between any two tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Milwaukee better than Makita?

Neither is universally better — Milwaukee has the edge in raw power, tool range and smart features, Makita has lighter handling and a genuinely enormous LXT ecosystem. The right platform depends on your trade and what you’re already invested in.

Can I use Milwaukee batteries in a Makita tool, or vice versa?

No. Milwaukee and Makita use different battery mounting systems and aren’t cross-compatible, so once you commit to a platform you’re buying into it for future tools too.

Is it worth switching platforms if I already own one?

Rarely, once you’ve got more than a couple of batteries and tools — the cost of rebuying batteries and chargers usually outweighs the benefit of switching. It’s a decision worth making once, early, rather than revisiting.

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