DeWalt vs Makita: Which Brand Wins?
Project Farm has put DeWalt and Makita products into the same head-to-head test 46 times in this index. Counting each brand's best finisher, DeWalt came out ahead in 29 of those 46 matchups and Makita in 17. Neither brand sweeps: the lead changes with the tool category, so the grid below shows every matchup, category by category, with each brand's exact finishing position and a link to the full test results.
DeWalt
29 / 46
matchups finished ahead · 7 outright test wins
Makita
17 / 46
matchups finished ahead · 5 outright test wins
“Finished ahead” compares each brand's best-placed product in a test. “Outright test win” means the test itself declared that brand's product the overall winner.
DeWalt vs Makita, category by category
Every test below included at least one genuine product from each brand. Positions are the order the products finished in the test; knockoff and counterfeit entries never score.
Power Tools19 tests
| Test | DeWalt best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Wrench2025 · 13 products | #3 of 13DeWalt Atomic | #12 of 13Makita | DeWalt |
| Cordless Hammer Drill2025 · 11 products | #10 of 11DeWalt | #8 of 11Makita | Makita |
| Air Compressor2025 · 13 products · DeWalt won the test outright | #1 of 13DeWalt | #13 of 13Makita | DeWalt |
| Impact Drivers2025 · 12 products · DeWalt won the test outright | #1 of 12DeWalt 860 DCF860 (implied by 860 model designation, not stated by full number in transcript) | #5 of 12Makita | DeWalt |
| Heat Gun2024 · 18 products | #12 of 18DeWalt Corded | #2 of 18Makita Corded | Makita |
| Cordless Screwdriver2024 · 17 products | #14 of 17DeWalt | #17 of 17Makita | DeWalt |
| Corded Angle Grinder2023 · 11 products · Makita won the test outright | #5 of 11DeWalt | #1 of 11Makita SJS high-powered grinder | Makita |
| Right Angle Drill2022 · 10 products | #4 of 10DeWalt | #5 of 10Makita | DeWalt |
| Corded Vs Cordless Power Tools2022 · 10 products | #3 of 10DeWalt (cordless angle grinder) | #1 of 10Makita (cordless circular saw) | Makita |
| Battery-powered Sanders2022 · 12 products | #12 of 12DeWalt | #8 of 12Makita | Makita |
| Cordless Circular Saws2022 · 10 products | #8 of 10DeWalt | #7 of 10Makita | Makita |
| Angle Grinder2022 · 10 products | #4 of 10DeWalt | #6 of 10Makita | DeWalt |
| Oscillating Multi-tool2022 · 10 products | #3 of 10DeWalt | #8 of 10Makita | DeWalt |
| Cordless Drill2021 · 8 products | #2 of 8DeWalt | #3 of 8Makita | DeWalt |
| Compact Battery Screwdriver2021 · 15 products | #3 of 15DeWalt Gyroscopic inline screwdriver kit | #14 of 15Makita | DeWalt |
| Cordless Reciprocating Saw2021 · 9 products · DeWalt won the test outright | #1 of 9DeWalt | #3 of 9Makita brushless, two-speed | DeWalt |
| Hammer Drills2021 · 6 products | #3 of 6DeWalt DCD999B | #2 of 6Makita XPH07Z | Makita |
| Cordless (battery Powered) Wet/dry Shop Vacs2021 · 7 products | #4 of 7DeWalt | #5 of 7Makita | DeWalt |
| Impact Driver2020 · 4 products | #3 of 4DeWalt DCF 888BR | #2 of 4Makita XDT16Z | Makita |
Blades, Bits & Abrasives13 tests
| Test | DeWalt best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drill Bit Set2026 · 14 products | #5 of 14DeWalt Cobalt, pilot point | #13 of 14Makita HSS, titanium coated | DeWalt |
| Circular Saw Blades2022 · 15 products · Makita won the test outright | #9 of 15DeWalt | #1 of 15Makita Max Efficiency Blade | Makita |
| Bit Holders2022 · 19 products | #8 of 19DeWalt locking | #13 of 19Makita ImpactX | DeWalt |
| Chop Saw Metal Cutting Blade2022 · 10 products · Makita won the test outright | #6 of 10DeWalt carbide blade | #1 of 10Makita | Makita |
| Sandpaper2021 · 11 products | #8 of 11DeWalt | #9 of 11Makita made in Italy line | DeWalt |
| Torx Bit2021 · 12 products | #1 of 12DeWalt | #3 of 12Makita | DeWalt |
| Masonry Drill Bit2021 · 10 products | #7 of 10DeWalt Rock Carbide | #6 of 10Makita XPH07Z bit set (the Makita XPH07Z 18V LXT drill was also used to power every brand's bits) | Makita |
| Step Drill Bits2020 · 13 products · DeWalt won the test outright | #1 of 13DeWalt | #5 of 13Makita | DeWalt |
| Impact Driver Bits2020 · 10 products | #4 of 10DeWalt Max Fit | #8 of 10Makita Gold | DeWalt |
| Flap Disc2019 · 6 products | #5 of 6DeWalt | #2 of 6Makita | Makita |
| Metal Cutoff Wheels2019 · 6 products · Makita won the test outright | #3 of 6DeWalt | #1 of 6Makita | Makita |
| Metal Grinding Wheel2018 · 6 products | #2 of 6DeWalt | #4 of 6Makita | DeWalt |
| Reciprocating Saw Blade2018 · 7 products | #3 of 7DeWalt | #5 of 7Makita | DeWalt |
Outdoor Power Equipment6 tests
| Test | DeWalt best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Chainsaw2025 · 13 products | #11 of 13DeWalt | #13 of 13Makita | DeWalt |
| String Trimmers2025 · 10 products | #2 of 10DeWalt DCST 980 | #9 of 10Makita | DeWalt |
| Chainsaw2022 · 12 products | #7 of 12DeWalt chainsaw, 12in bar | #8 of 12Makita 10in bar chainsaw (compact) | DeWalt |
| Cordless Leaf Blower2022 · 10 products | #8 of 10DeWalt 772B, 60V | #6 of 10Makita 36V | Makita |
| String Trimmer2022 · 9 products · DeWalt won the test outright | #1 of 9DeWalt | #3 of 9Makita | DeWalt |
| Chainsaw2020 · 6 products · DeWalt won the test outright | #3 of 6DeWalt | #4 of 6Makita LXT | DeWalt |
Power Tool Batteries3 tests
| Test | DeWalt best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tool Battery (counterfeit Vs Genuine)2024 · 6 products | #1 of 6DeWalt DCB205 (genuine) | #5 of 6Makita | DeWalt |
| Power Tool Batteries2021 · 3 products | #1 of 3DeWalt | #2 of 3Makita | DeWalt |
| Power Tool Batteries2020 · 4 products | #1 of 4DeWalt 5 amp hour 20V max lithium ion battery | #3 of 4Makita 5 amp hour 18V battery | DeWalt |
Hand Tools1 test
| Test | DeWalt best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Socket Adapter2020 · 18 products · DeWalt won the test outright | #1 of 18DeWalt | #4 of 18Makita Gold | DeWalt |
Home & Cleaning1 test
| Test | DeWalt best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stapler2022 · 15 products · Makita won the test outright | #8 of 15DeWalt electric stapler with depth control | #1 of 15Makita 18V LXT lithium ion | Makita |
Home Appliances1 test
| Test | DeWalt best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handheld Vacuum2024 · 14 products | #14 of 14DeWalt genuine (20-V system) | #13 of 14Makita | Makita |
Jump Starters & Car Power1 test
| Test | DeWalt best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tire Inflators2023 · 13 products | #7 of 13DeWalt | #2 of 13Makita | Makita |
Workwear & Safety Gear1 test
| Test | DeWalt best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heated Jackets2021 · 5 products | #3 of 5DeWalt heated jacket (with battery and charger) | #4 of 5Makita heated jacket (jacket only; battery and charger sold separately) | DeWalt |
Where DeWalt finished ahead
How this scoreboard works
Every row comes from one Project Farm head-to-head test that fielded genuine products from both DeWalt and Makita. For each test we take each brand's best-finishing product, in the order the test ranked them, and score which one placed higher; the test's own declared winner is reported separately as an outright win. We did not run any of this testing ourselves, and no number on this page exists outside the underlying test data. Click any test to see the full measured results and the link to the original video.
The products behind these results
The best finisher each brand fielded in the tests above. We link what the tests named, not our own pick, and we have not tested anything ourselves.
Power Tools · test winner
DeWalt 860 DCF860
Blades, Bits & Abrasives
DeWalt Cobalt, pilot point
Power Tools · test winner
Makita SJS high-powered grinder
Home & Cleaning · test winner
Makita 18V LXT lithium ion
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FAQ
Is DeWalt better than Makita?
Neither brand sweeps. Across the 46 independent Project Farm tests in this index that included both brands, DeWalt's best product finished ahead in 29 matchups and Makita's in 17. The result varies by tool category, so check the grid above for the product you are actually buying.
How many tests did DeWalt win outright?
DeWalt took the test's declared overall win in 7 of the 46 shared tests, including air compressor, impact drivers, string trimmer. An outright win means the test itself named a DeWalt product the winner; finishing ahead of Makita happened more often than that.
How many tests did Makita win outright?
Makita took the test's declared overall win in 5 of the 46 shared tests, including corded angle grinder, stapler, circular saw blades. An outright win means the test itself named a Makita product the winner; finishing ahead of DeWalt happened more often than that.
Who wins in power tools?
Power Tools is the pair's biggest battleground here: 19 shared tests. DeWalt's best product finished ahead in 11 of them. Every one of those tests is linked in the grid above so you can check the measured results.
Did Which Brand Wins run these tests?
No. Every measurement and finishing order on this page comes from Project Farm's independent test videos. We index the results and compute the scoreboard; each row links to our write-up of the underlying test, which links the original video so you can check the numbers yourself.