When it comes to power equipment, there are a number of “big names” that you can normally have confidence in. And two of the most significant names are Milwaukee and Makita. And handymen all over the place can not support but request the organic concern: which manufacturer is far better?
It is in fact a tough question to solution because the brands and their equipment have modified so a lot over the many years. But which is the far better model in 2021?
To response these questions, we when compared the two brand names in true “head-to-head” trend. Which a single came out on prime? Hold reading to uncover our full information to Milwaukee vs Makita!
A Quick Comparison
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Milwaukee | | CHECK PRICE |
| | Makita | | CHECK PRICE |
Brief History of Milwaukee
Milwaukee is a significant title amongst power resources producers. And this American firm has been innovating energy instruments considering that it was founded back again in 1924.
And as a company, they actually strike the floor managing. In the thirties, the federal authorities gave the firm their equipment specification score. Milwaukee had a tall activity: they would now be manufacturing tools to the optimum expectations of the United States Navy. And when the United States entered World War II, Milwaukee grew to become a main supplier for the Navy and played a key part in the war effort.
Together the way, Milwaukee began innovating their own products. They helped to revolutionize items like sanders and electric hammers, and the production boom in the course of the war served make them a major player on the countrywide phase.
In excess of the several years, different parent organizations have owned Milwaukee. But their commitment to excellence and innovation remains unchanged nearly a century following the business very first began.
Brief History of Makita
As a company, Makita is a bit more mature than Milwaukee. While Milwaukee was established in 1924, Makita was started in 1915 in Japan. Like several companies, they started out by focusing on a handful of higher-good quality merchandise and little by little expanded their functions.
Again in 1915, Makita’s major precedence was fixing and promoting things like motors, lights gear, and transformers. Even though they had been effective, Makita would not become the company you know until finally 1958.
In 1958, Makita began advertising a portable electric powered planer. Pursuing this success, they started focusing on electrical power tools in 1959. And even though they have had several improvements more than the many years, what really place Makita on the map was the 6500D battery-driven drill launched in 1969.
This was the world’s initial rechargeable electricity tool. And the firm has put in the decades because then perfecting their different rechargeable equipment. To this working day, they continue to be one of the largest names in rechargeable instrument technologies.
Milwaukee vs Makita: Manufacturing
Milwaukee
Regardless of becoming a subsidiary of a Chinese company, Milwaukee is found in America. Their headquarters are in Brookfield, Wisconsin, even though their instruments are made all more than the entire world.
In accordance to Milwaukee’s own site, the organization has producing amenities through The us as well as in China and Europe. This can make sense for an more and more worldwide financial system, but it does imply that only some of Milwaukee’s instruments are in fact “made in The us.”
Milwaukee instruments made overseas nevertheless maintain the substantial quality the brand name has been acknowledged for all these several years. But if your precedence is acquiring equipment that are only created in The us, you might need to have to find an additional business.
Makita
Makita is very considerably a Japanese business. But does this indicate all of their tools are produced in Japan?
Not at all! In simple fact, the firm launched the Makita Company of America again in 1985. They are located in Buford, GA and take care of most of the instruments that handymen in The usa will buy from them.
Nonetheless, the firm is not limited to American producing. The principal company headquarters is located in Anjō, Japan, and they also manufacture tools in numerous other nations around the world all around the globe. This contains services in Brazil, China, Mexico, Germany, Dubai, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
Milwaukee vs Makita: Product Line
Milwaukee
Milwaukee helps make a key assortment of electricity equipment. However, they are most known for specific varieties of equipment. And if you are buying 1 of these varieties of instruments, you can relaxation assured it will be a top quality solution.
Impact Wrenches
The firm tends to make a range of reliable influence wrenches. This involves their famous M18 Fuel line of wrenches.
High-speed Ratchets
Milwaukee specializes in higher-pace ratchets. And they have ratchets available in a assortment of different measurements.
Nailers
Milwaukee tends to make many diverse nailers, like framing nailers and finish nailers.
Circular Saws
Milwaukee delivers really reliable round saws. These are obtainable in the two the M12 and M18 strains.
Makita
Makita is typically acknowledged for its high-high quality power tools. And as key innovators in Lithium-Ion batteries, they have served to revolutionize cordless engineering.
Batteries
Makita produced waves when they launched the 1st rechargeable power tool. They have since become a key authority on Lithium-Ion batteries and launched the initial 18-volt Lithium-Ion battery.
Cordless Tools
Because of their concentrate on rechargeable batteries, Makita has also grow to be one particular of the top makers of cordless equipment. If you need to have a instrument that is light-weight and portable, Makita is a very good wager.
Hammers
Makita can make great specialty hammers as portion of their energy tools. This involves reliable drilling and stemming hammers.
Gardening Equipment
You could not know that Makita results in substantial-good quality gardening products. This consists of eco-welcoming choices this kind of as electric powered lawnmowers.
Milwaukee vs Makita: Price
For much better or for even worse, cost is constantly an important thought when it will come to electrical power equipment. So when comparing Milwaukee vs Makita, we must reply the concern: which model offers the ideal cost?
Honestly, there is not a large distinction among their rates. Generally speaking, Milwaukee resources are a little bit far more costly than Makita. But neither business helps make quite several cheap items. Instead, the aged rule holds real: you get what you pay out for, and it’s important to established aside a budget and buy some high-quality instruments.
If you’re hunting to save a little bit of cash, the two Milwaukee and Makita provide reliable bundles that merge instruments, batteries, and components. But after you personal compatible Lithium-Ion batteries, you might be able to preserve much more cash by getting just the resource alternatively of the bundle.
Milwaukee
If you’re looking for a good Milwaukee “budget acquire,” we suggest the Milwaukee M12 Drill Driver. But if you are hunting for a solid premium tool, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Gap Proper Angle Drill is a very good decision.
Makita
For Makita, a single of the best price range purchases is the Makita 18V Impact Driver XDT13Z. But if you have the spending budget for a top quality device, we suggest the Makita Influence Driver Kit XDT111.
Milwaukee vs Makita: Warranty
With any electrical power resource, it’s crucial to get a good warranty. The good news is, both Milwaukee and Makita provide reliable guarantee applications.
Milwaukee
All of Milwaukee’s instruments automatically arrive with a guarantee: no registration is needed. They offer cost-free repairs and replacements and addresses flaws in merchandise supplies and workmanship.
Makita
With Makita items, you can get a refund or a substitution up to 30 times after obtain. Additionally, Makita merchandise appear with a 1-calendar year constrained warranty that handles any problems in item components and workmanship. Moreover, specific Makita instruments could offer you for a longer time warranties.
Milwaukee vs Makita: Customer Service
Customer provider is the cornerstone of any successful business. And even though the two firms make equivalent resources, there is truly a huge big difference in the high quality of their customer provider.
Makita
Makita typically gives strong consumer service. Customers primarily praised their responsiveness and attentiveness to client demands. On best of this, most consumers praised their products for their quite consumer-friendly layout.
Milwaukee
Many consumers have described concerns with Milwaukee’s consumer support. Customers report problems achieving Milwaukee and gradual (or no) responses to any messages. Other users have described problems with taking benefit of their item warranties.
Head-to-Head: Cordless Combo Kit
Milwaukee 2896-26 18V M18 Fuel vs Makita XT610 18V LXT Li-Ion
These are good items to examine since you get the same point with each and every kit. But which package is much better for buyers?
The 1st thing you will recognize is that the Milwaukee kit fees substantially more than the Makita item. So, does the performance of these equipment justify the improve in value? Which is a subject of perspective. The Milwaukee kit undoubtedly performs much better than the Makita kit, but your mileage could vary whether this increased cost tag is truly value it.
Incredibly, the Makita battery daily life was worse than the Milwaukee battery existence. So, if operating for lengthier intervals of time is a high priority for you, the Milwaukee kit might be really worth it.
Our Verdict:
If you have acquired the funds to spare, we advocate likely with the Milwaukee package more than the Makita kit. It gives better efficiency and far better battery life, and that is the mark of a dependable cordless instrument.
Head-to-Head: Drill Driver
Milwaukee M18 Compact vs. Makita 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion 1/2″
Milwaukee and Makita both make strong drill motorists. But which driver is the best for the wants of the typical handyman?
On paper, the Makita driver might appear like the greater choice. Following all, its technological specs are outstanding (if only by a hair). But in exercise, we located the performances to be extremely comparable. Where Milwaukee shines, however, is in sheer toughness: in between the two resources, we can ensure that the Milwaukee device is heading to very last for a longer time and can survive a lot more put on and tear.
Our Verdict:
After once again, we have to give the nod to Milwaukee. It is not that the Makita tool is bad–it will undoubtedly serve most of your needs, and it is undoubtedly better than the regular driver. But the Milwaukee device provides a similar functionality whilst supplying you a more sturdy merchandise. At the end of the day, we’ll always go with the instrument that offers us further years of price.
Head-to-Head: Jigsaw
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt vs. Makita 18V LXT Cordless
A jigsaw is a quite specialised instrument, and it requires a lot of function for a company to get items “just right.” The good news is, equally Milwaukee and Makita have produced sound jigsaws. But which a single is the far better decision?
In a continuation of the theme, the Milwaukee instrument is the far better selection. Although each and every jigsaw will come with a handy LED light, the Milwaukee device arrives with an on/off blower where the Makita does not. And the Milwaukee tool will come with a five-calendar year warranty even though the Makita only offers a three-calendar year guarantee.
On prime of that, the Milwaukee jigsaw has a 3,five hundred SPM and 4 positions whilst the Makita provides only two,600 SPM and only 3 positions.
Our Verdict
It feels a little bit repetitive for us to preserve offering the nod to Milwaukee. But as soon as again, they came out forward when we began evaluating their particular equipment to what Makita has to supply.
Overall Brand Reputation
There are many different aspects that give these brand names their popularity. Here, we’ll get a nearer seem at these elements to decide which one comes out on leading.
Performance
Edge: Milwaukee
Once again, there is absolutely nothing “wrong” with the performance of Makita’s equipment. But each time we in contrast a Makita device and a Milwaukee tool, the Milwaukee device supplied superior functionality. If getting the best functionality from your tools is a key priority, we advise that you adhere with Milwaukee brand name electrical power equipment.
Price
Edge: Makita
One more issue that we quickly identified was that Makita products normally experienced a greater price tag. Merely put, if you are purchasing on a funds, Makita is a excellent choice.
But keep in thoughts what we explained ahead of: you constantly get what you pay for. While Makita virtually usually has the greater value, Milwaukee virtually always has the much better overall performance.
Durability
Edge: Milwaukee
For the most part, we found that Milwaukee products have been much more resilient than Makita items. This is largely a subject of the layout and components utilized for Milwaukee’s resources. Additionally, Milwaukee equipment often supplied a much better guarantee on certain equipment than Makita, and this delivers great peace of head when acquiring their merchandise.
Design
Edge: Tie
Previously, we mentioned how the Milwaukee model normally has far more durable products. But when it will come to the genuine design of these items, we found it to be a tie among the two manufacturers. Most of the instruments for each and every manufacturer are aesthetically-satisfying and ergonomic, and you’ll be happy to demonstrate off what you acquired to other handymen.
Conclusion
By now, the answer is very clear: Milwaukee is the much better choice. Each businesses make solid electricity instruments, but Milwaukee presents far better performance, much better warranties, and far more sturdy products.
The Makita model is definitely more inexpensive, and you are going to get lots of excellent use out of their merchandise. But if you have a little bit of added money, we feel you are going to discover Milwaukee’s instruments to be the much better selection each and each and every time.
See Also: Makita CXT vs LXT: What is the Difference?
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