Blog
Buying guides and explainers for cordless power tools.
Best Cordless Impact Drivers
A specification-based guide to eight cordless 1/4 inch hex impact drivers, with listed torque, size, motor type and what comes in the box side by side.
Best Cordless Drills
A specification-based guide to eight cordless drills, six drill/drivers and two hammer drills, with listed torque, battery system and what comes in the box side by side.
Cordless Chainsaw Bar Length: 12, 14 or 16 Inch?
Bar length sets the largest log a cordless chainsaw can handle in one pass, but the battery decides how long it keeps cutting. Here is how to choose, with five saws compared.
Best Cordless Leaf Blowers
A specification-based guide to five cordless leaf blowers from EGO, RYOBI, Greenworks, Milwaukee and Makita, with airflow, air speed and kit contents side by side.
6-1/2 vs 7-1/4 Inch Cordless Circular Saws
A 7-1/4 inch saw cuts deeper; a 6-1/2 inch saw is lighter and easier to carry. Here is how to choose, with six cordless saws compared.
Barrel Grip vs Top Handle Jigsaw
A barrel grip sits low and close for tight, controlled cuts. A top handle gives leverage for long straight cuts. Here is how to choose, with five cordless examples.
Best Cordless Angle Grinders
A specification-based guide to eight cordless angle grinders from Craftsman, Skil, Bosch, Makita, Milwaukee, RYOBI and Flex.
2Ah vs 4Ah vs 5Ah: Which Battery Size to Buy
Amp-hours tell you run time, not power. Here is how to choose between 2Ah, 4Ah and 5Ah packs, with six battery packs from major brands.
M12 vs M18: Which Milwaukee System Fits Your Work
M12 and M18 are separate 12V and 18V Milwaukee systems with non-interchangeable batteries. Here is how they differ and which fits which work.
Mid-Torque vs High-Torque Impact Wrench
Mid-torque wrenches are compact and controllable; high-torque wrenches handle the largest fasteners. Here is how the specifications compare.
Best Cordless Sanders
A specification-based guide to six cordless random orbit sanders from Craftsman, DeWalt, Skil, Makita, Milwaukee and RYOBI, plus two alternatives.
RYOBI ONE+ vs ONE+ HP: What the Difference Is
ONE+ is the 18V battery platform and HP is a higher-performance tier within it. Here is what RYOBI's pages say about the difference.
Best One-Handed Reciprocating Saws
A researched look at one-handed and compact cordless reciprocating saws, with two other saws for contrast. All specifications come from manufacturer pages.
Best Two-Tool Combo Kits (Drill and Impact Driver)
A researched comparison of eight drill and impact driver kits, with notes on batteries, hammer drill options and the five-tool step up.
Best Mid-Torque Impact Wrenches
A researched comparison of five 1/2 inch cordless impact wrenches in the mid-torque range, with each torque figure labeled by type.
Best Cordless Circular Saws
A researched comparison of eight cordless circular saws across three blade sizes, using manufacturer specifications.
Best Cordless Jigsaws
A specification-based guide to eight cordless jigsaws from Black+Decker, Craftsman, Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, RYOBI and Skil.
18-Gauge vs 16-Gauge Cordless Nailers
18-gauge brads suit thin trim and leave small holes. 16-gauge finish nails hold heavier trim. Here is how to choose, with five cordless examples.
Best Cordless Brad Nailers
A specification-based guide to eight 18-gauge cordless brad nailers from Metabo HPT, Craftsman, Bosch, Flex, Makita, RYOBI, Milwaukee and Ridgid.
Tool Only vs Kit: What "Bare Tool" Means and Which to Buy
A bare tool has no battery or charger; a kit includes them. Here is how to decide which fits what you already own.
Best Cordless Oscillating Multi-Tools
A specification-based guide to eight cordless oscillating multi-tools from Skil, Craftsman, Metabo HPT, Makita, Bosch, Flex, Milwaukee and RYOBI.