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Our 7 Best Tool Brand Picks (2024)

by Ross Bentley04/15/2024 12:35 PM

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A good set of tools is something that can last a lifetime—but which tool brand offers the best quality and value? With tool costs ranging from just a few dollars for a basic screwdriver set to close to $1,000 for a tool combo kit, homeowners and DIYers want to make sure the tools they buy today can be used for home projects and repairs spanning decades.

In order to help you find the best tools, we looked at seven top tool brands to single out the ones offering the best reputation, performance, and warranties. With its lineup of durable products with lifetime guarantees against defects, Milwaukee earned our pick for the best tool brand. We also selected six other brands that stand out in different performance categories.

Best Tool Brands: Our 7 Top Picks

  • Best Overall: Milwaukee
  • Best Premium: Bosch
  • Best Cordless: DeWalt
  • Best Brushless: Makita
  • Best Budget: Ryobi
  • Best Warranties: Craftsman
  • Best Mid-Range: Kobalt

Best Overall: Milwaukee

Good for: Someone who does frequent renovations or repairs around the house.

Founded in 1924, Milwaukee offers a limited lifetime warranty on most of its products that ensures the brand will repair or replace any hand tool that is determined to be defective in material or workmanship. The brand is known for its high-quality corded power tools, cordless power tools, hand tools, hand saws and pneumatic impact drivers.

Pros Has powerful motors on cordless drills Battery powered tools are known for long operating times In addition to a limited lifetime warranty against defects, most tools are backed by a five-year limited warranty
Cons Pricier than comparable brands You have to read warranty information carefully because it varies by product

Top Milwaukee Tools

Best Premium: Bosch

Good for: Someone who is rough with their tools.

Known for its ultra-durable impact drivers, circular saws, drills, sanders, angle grinders, and multi-tools products, Bosch offers professional tools designed to stand up to the grind. Bosch’s drills have a reputation for offering exceptional strength for drilling and chiseling while being extremely lightweight.

Pros Offers a three-year limited warranty on most power tools Ordering replacement parts through Bosch is easy Bosch batteries are interchangeable among all Bosch power tools
Cons Tool ecosystem is more limited compared to other brands Replacement batteries are pricey

Top Bosch Tools

Best Cordless: DeWalt

Good for: Someone who likes smooth designs with easy handling.

With a lineup including drills, impact drivers, grinders, nailers, circular saws, track saws, miter saws, reciprocating saws, jigsaws and countless accessories, DeWalt is a brand that’s easy to stay loyal to when moving from project to project. A consistent battery platform for cordless tools allows users to use the same battery across many different applications.

Pros Tools carry a three-year warranty, seven-year warranty, or limited lifetime warranty Offers one of the largest tool ecosystems With most big-box stores carrying DeWalt power tools, picking up accessories is easy
Cons Battery and charger costs are high Often prioritizing overengineering over making lightweight tools, DeWalt has a reputation for heavy tools

Top DeWalt Tools

Best Brushless: Makita

Good for: Someone who wants tough, efficient power tools.

Founded in 1915, Makita tools are known for their high-performance brushless motors that are engineered to be more efficient compared to other models. The brand’s robust lineup also includes drills, saws, grinders, hammer drills, sanders, and combo kits. Makita’s automotive lineup of tools is also highly rated.

Pros Two-year and three-year warranties offered on all products Makita lithium-ion batteries are designed to be interchangeable across the brand's lineup Many tools have lightweight, ergonomic designs
Cons Smaller tool ecosystem compared to other brands While Makita designs batteries to be interchangeable, users with older LXT-compatible products aren't able to mix and match with products on the new XGT system

Top Makita Tools

Best Budget: Ryobi

Good for: Someone who does infrequent or lighter DIY projects.

Offering great value, Ryobi is known for its drills, sanders, circular saws, miter saws, band saws and more. This has become a go-to brand for DIY homeowners looking for reliable performance on basic jobs.

Pros Tools and parts have a one-year, three-year, or limited lifetime warranty Angle grinders and other tools often cost much less than what competing brands charge Easy to find replacement parts and accessories
Cons May not work well for some heavy-duty or intensive projects The ability to interchange batteries between different tools is limited

Top Ryobi Tools

Best Warranties: Craftsman

Good for: Someone who wants tools that are guaranteed to last.

With most Craftsman products coming with full lifetime warranties or limited lifetime warranties, the brand stands out for offering the strongest overall warranties in the tool world. Some notable pieces from Craftsman’s lineup includes drills, sanders, saws, compressors, and oscillating tools.

Pros Batteries are nearly universally interchangeable within the brand's lineup Craftsman power tool combo kits provide great value Replacement parts and accessories are easy to find in stores compared to other brands
Cons Battery charges have a reputation for being weaker than competitors Newer generation Craftsman tools are no longer made in the United States

Top Craftsman Tools

Best Mid-Range: Kobalt

Good for: Someone who doesn’t have time to research different tools.

Kobalt is a tool brand that is owned and operated by Lowe’s. Known for their affordability and reliability, Kobalt tools are geared for DIY projects. Standout products include saws, drills, and power tool combos. Kobalt also sells storage and organizational kits designed with practical, safe storage for tools in mind.

Pros Tools are designed to be easy enough for the average person to use Easy to mix and match accessories and tools All batteries are interchangeable
Cons Designs are bulky compared to other tool brands Not many retailers carry this brand

Top Kobalt Tools

What To Know Before Buying Tools

Filling a garage or shed with tools is a time-honored tradition. However, the tool landscape is very different from the way that it was when your grandparents bought their tools. The good news for consumers today is that major tool brands that range from budget to luxury all utilize similar technology for precision, performance, and battery life. That means that you can generally find tools that will get you through DIY projects even if you don’t want to pay for professional-grade tools. That doesn’t mean that every tool out there is a good bargain. This guide to finding the right tool brand will help you to decide which features matter most.

What features should you look for in new tools?

The first feature to pay attention to technically isn’t a feature: A brand’s warranty policy can help determine its long-term value. Fortunately, all major tool brands today offer some form of warranty. A few provide lifetime and limited lifetime warranties that protect against product defects for the full lifetime of any tool. The bare minimum that a tool brand should provide is a one-year warranty.

The second important feature is battery compatibility. This feature allows you to reuse the same batteries across your full tool lineup. Why is that important? In most cases, you may only use a tool a few times a year. That means that your battery is sitting unused most of the time. When you need particular batteries for each tool in your garage, you’ll end up spending money on replacement batteries you barely even use. With some batteries ranging in price from $14 to $200, that’s not a cost you want to incur unnecessarily. The other benefit of interchangeable batteries is that you won’t have to wait for batteries to charge between uses because you can simply swap out batteries during recharging sessions.

What are some basic power tools DIYer should keep on hand?

With many of the best tool brands offering hundreds of different products, it can be hard to know what you need to get started. Here’s a look at the basic tools needed in every garage:

  • Cordless drill: As the most versatile tool, the cordless drill can be used to hang shelves, install a baby cake, tighten loose cabinet doors or assemble a new deck.
  • Circular saw: Essential for all woodworking projects, a circular saw has a blade that cuts large panels or long lumber.
  • Miter saw: Designed for creating accurate angled cuts, the miter saw is essential when redoing baseboard, molding, or trim.
  • Impact driver: Remove or install screws and nails instantly using torque power without worrying about burning out your drill with this must-have tool.
  • Electric sander: A good electric orbital sander is the secret to getting smooth, paintable wood surfaces without leaving scratches.

If you’re not sure where to start with your tool journey, purchasing a large multi-tool kit or power tool set that features all of the essential tools can help you to get all of the basics covered for simple home repairs. These self-contained kits make it easy to keep small hand tools organized. Don’t forget to pick up some accessories to start you on your DIY journey with tools, too. Some essentials that are necessary in order to use your tools properly include a level, measuring tape, and stud finder. 

If you’re planning to purchase corded power tools instead of cordless power tools, you’re also going to need some heavy-duty power cords. While you may have plenty of plugs in your garage, the noise and debris of many power tools are why many seasoned homeowners set up work benches in the yard or garage when they are working on heavy-duty DIY projects.

What safety features are most important in new tools?

All power tools manufactured today must be made with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines in mind. The simple rule when using power tools is that the user is the most dangerous element. That’s why it’s important to look for power tools with quick-access buttons. For example, a constant-pressure switch button that instantly stops power when pressure drops. This feature is standard on drills, saws, sanders, and angle grinders. It’s also important for tools to have single-motion shutoff tools. Finally, corded tools should have grounding features.

What material is best for tools?

Heavy-duty tools are made from a variety of carbon and alloy steels. Bits are high-speed steel or carbon high-speed steel. Handles and casements are often made from thermoplastic (TPE). TPE is what your hand comes into contact with when you’re touching tool grips on hammers, pliers, and drills.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tool Brands

What’s the best way to keep tools organized?

While organizational options can be limited based on the amount of garage or shed space available, it’s important to have a designated area for tools that protects both tools and the people who use them. Vertical tool cabins are great for saving space. It is also recommended that power tools are organized in designated tool chests or containers that keep them protected from dust and moisture. Pegboards can be useful for displaying hand tools for quick grabbing.

What brands are the best for power tools?

We picked Milwaukee tools as our choice for the best overall tool brand for 2024. However, there are multiple brands offering value and performance in many different price ranges. Some other highly rated tool companies to consider when shopping for new power tools and hand tools include DeWalt, Craftsman, Bosch, Kobalt, Makita, Ryobi Tools, Hitachi, Skil, Metabo, Porter Cable, Stanley, and Black & Decker.

When is the best time to buy new tools?

Any time of year known for major sales at big-box stores is also generally the best time to get a deal on tools. It’s very common to find great deals on tools on Cyber Monday, Black Friday, President’s Day, and Fourth of July. Tools also tend to go on sale more during the period from November through January because many homeowners slow down on outdoor DIY projects during the colder months of the year. If there is a specific tool brand you like, signing up for the brand’s mailing list may help you to enjoy surprise sales throughout the year.

Why You Can Trust Us

This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIY-ers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. 

The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, from doorbell cameras and dining room decor to circular saws and snow blowers.

Once we conclude our research and testing phases, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.

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