Milwaukee vs Makita: Which Brand Wins?
Project Farm has put Milwaukee and Makita products into the same head-to-head test 43 times in this index. Counting each brand's best finisher, Milwaukee came out ahead in 28 of those 43 matchups and Makita in 15. 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.
Milwaukee
28 / 43
matchups finished ahead · 8 outright test wins
Makita
15 / 43
matchups finished ahead · 4 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.
Milwaukee 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 Tools20 tests
| Test | Milwaukee best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Wrench2025 · 13 products | #1 of 13Milwaukee M12 Fuel | #12 of 13Makita | Milwaukee |
| Cordless Hammer Drill2025 · 11 products | #9 of 11Milwaukee | #8 of 11Makita | Makita |
| Impact Drivers2025 · 12 products | #2 of 12Milwaukee M18 Fuel | #5 of 12Makita | Milwaukee |
| Heat Gun2024 · 18 products | #11 of 18Milwaukee Corded | #2 of 18Makita Corded | Makita |
| Cordless Screwdriver2024 · 17 products | #11 of 17Milwaukee | #17 of 17Makita | Milwaukee |
| Corded Angle Grinder2023 · 11 products · Makita won the test outright | #3 of 11Milwaukee | #1 of 11Makita SJS high-powered grinder | Makita |
| Right Angle Drill2022 · 10 products | #6 of 10Milwaukee M18 | #5 of 10Makita | Makita |
| Corded Vs Cordless Power Tools2022 · 10 products | #7 of 10Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless reciprocating saw) M18 Fuel | #1 of 10Makita (cordless circular saw) | Makita |
| Battery-powered Sanders2022 · 12 products | #9 of 12Milwaukee | #8 of 12Makita | Makita |
| Cordless Circular Saws2022 · 10 products | #2 of 10Milwaukee Fuel | #7 of 10Makita | Milwaukee |
| Cordless Right Angle Impact Wrenches (and Battery Ratchets)2022 · 9 products | #1 of 9Milwaukee M12 battery ratchet | #8 of 9Makita | Milwaukee |
| Angle Grinder2022 · 10 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #1 of 10Milwaukee M18 Fuel | #6 of 10Makita | Milwaukee |
| Oscillating Multi-tool2022 · 10 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #1 of 10Milwaukee | #8 of 10Makita | Milwaukee |
| Cordless Drill2021 · 8 products | #1 of 8Milwaukee | #3 of 8Makita | Milwaukee |
| Compact Battery Screwdriver2021 · 15 products | #15 of 15Milwaukee | #14 of 15Makita | Makita |
| Cordless Reciprocating Saw2021 · 9 products | #2 of 9Milwaukee M18 Fuel (cordless) | #3 of 9Makita brushless, two-speed | Milwaukee |
| Hammer Drills2021 · 6 products | #1 of 6Milwaukee FUEL 2804-20 | #2 of 6Makita XPH07Z | Milwaukee |
| Cordless (battery Powered) Wet/dry Shop Vacs2021 · 7 products | #2 of 7Milwaukee | #5 of 7Makita | Milwaukee |
| 3/8 Inch Cordless Ratchets2020 · 4 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #1 of 4Milwaukee M12 | #2 of 4Makita | Milwaukee |
| Impact Driver2020 · 4 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #1 of 4Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2853-20 | #2 of 4Makita XDT16Z | Milwaukee |
Blades, Bits & Abrasives9 tests
| Test | Milwaukee best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drill Bit Set2026 · 14 products | #2 of 14Milwaukee | #13 of 14Makita HSS, titanium coated | Milwaukee |
| Circular Saw Blades2022 · 15 products · Makita won the test outright | #6 of 15Milwaukee | #1 of 15Makita Max Efficiency Blade | Makita |
| Bit Holders2022 · 19 products | #7 of 19Milwaukee | #13 of 19Makita ImpactX | Milwaukee |
| Torx Bit2021 · 12 products | #2 of 12Milwaukee | #3 of 12Makita | Milwaukee |
| Masonry Drill Bit2021 · 10 products | #2 of 10Milwaukee Shockwave Impact Duty | #6 of 10Makita XPH07Z bit set (the Makita XPH07Z 18V LXT drill was also used to power every brand's bits) | Milwaukee |
| Step Drill Bits2020 · 13 products | #6 of 13Milwaukee Shockwave | #5 of 13Makita | Makita |
| Impact Driver Bits2020 · 10 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #1 of 10Milwaukee Shockwave Shockwave | #8 of 10Makita Gold | Milwaukee |
| Metal Cutoff Wheels2019 · 6 products · Makita won the test outright | #4 of 6Milwaukee | #1 of 6Makita | Makita |
| Reciprocating Saw Blade2018 · 7 products | #2 of 7Milwaukee | #5 of 7Makita | Milwaukee |
Outdoor Power Equipment6 tests
| Test | Milwaukee best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Chainsaw2025 · 13 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #1 of 13Milwaukee M18 FUEL | #13 of 13Makita | Milwaukee |
| String Trimmers2025 · 10 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #1 of 10Milwaukee 17 inch dual battery straight shaft trimmer | #9 of 10Makita | Milwaukee |
| Chainsaw2022 · 12 products | #1 of 12Milwaukee M12 FUEL Hatchet 6-inch pruning saw | #8 of 12Makita 10in bar chainsaw (compact) | Milwaukee |
| Cordless Leaf Blower2022 · 10 products | #4 of 10Milwaukee 2824-20, 36V | #6 of 10Makita 36V | Milwaukee |
| String Trimmer2022 · 9 products | #2 of 9Milwaukee | #3 of 9Makita | Milwaukee |
| Chainsaw2020 · 6 products | #5 of 6Milwaukee M18 FUEL | #4 of 6Makita LXT | Makita |
Power Tool Batteries3 tests
| Test | Milwaukee best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tool Battery (counterfeit Vs Genuine)2024 · 6 products | #3 of 6Milwaukee | #5 of 6Makita | Milwaukee |
| Power Tool Batteries2021 · 3 products | #3 of 3Milwaukee | #2 of 3Makita | Makita |
| Power Tool Batteries2020 · 4 products | #2 of 4Milwaukee M18 Red Lithium XC 5.0 extended capacity | #3 of 4Makita 5 amp hour 18V battery | Milwaukee |
Hand Tools1 test
| Test | Milwaukee best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Socket Adapter2020 · 18 products | #14 of 18Milwaukee Shockwave | #4 of 18Makita Gold | Makita |
Home & Cleaning1 test
| Test | Milwaukee best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stapler2022 · 15 products · Makita won the test outright | #3 of 15Milwaukee | #1 of 15Makita 18V LXT lithium ion | Makita |
Home Appliances1 test
| Test | Milwaukee best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handheld Vacuum2024 · 14 products | #12 of 14Milwaukee genuine (M18) | #13 of 14Makita | Milwaukee |
Jump Starters & Car Power1 test
| Test | Milwaukee best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tire Inflators2023 · 13 products · Milwaukee won the test outright | #1 of 13Milwaukee | #2 of 13Makita | Milwaukee |
Workwear & Safety Gear1 test
| Test | Milwaukee best finish | Makita best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heated Jackets2021 · 5 products | #5 of 5Milwaukee M12 Heated Tough Shell Jacket, Stretch Polyester (jacket only) | #4 of 5Makita heated jacket (jacket only; battery and charger sold separately) | Makita |
Where Milwaukee finished ahead
Where Makita finished ahead
How this scoreboard works
Every row comes from one Project Farm head-to-head test that fielded genuine products from both Milwaukee 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.
Outdoor Power Equipment · test winner
Milwaukee M18 FUEL
Outdoor Power Equipment · test winner
Milwaukee 17 inch dual battery straight shaft trimmer
Power Tools · test winner
Makita SJS high-powered grinder
Home & Cleaning · test winner
Makita 18V LXT lithium ion
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FAQ
Is Milwaukee better than Makita?
Neither brand sweeps. Across the 43 independent Project Farm tests in this index that included both brands, Milwaukee's best product finished ahead in 28 matchups and Makita's in 15. The result varies by tool category, so check the grid above for the product you are actually buying.
How many tests did Milwaukee win outright?
Milwaukee took the test's declared overall win in 8 of the 43 shared tests, including compact chainsaw, string trimmers, tire inflators. An outright win means the test itself named a Milwaukee 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 4 of the 43 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 Milwaukee happened more often than that.
Who wins in power tools?
Power Tools is the pair's biggest battleground here: 20 shared tests. Milwaukee's best product finished ahead in 13 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.