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This is a bigger decision than picking a drill, because batteries do not cross brands. Buy two or three tools on a platform and you are committed — switching later means replacing the batteries, the chargers and the tools together.

So choose for the tools you will own in five years, not the one you need this weekend.

Makita

The widest range available in Singapore, by a long way. Over 180 tools run on the 18V LXT battery — and not just drills and grinders. Vacuums, jobsite fans, worklights, coffee makers, grass trimmers, pruning shears, pressure washers. If a tool exists, Makita probably makes an LXT version.

That breadth is the real argument. Buy a drill, and three years later the same batteries run your vacuum and your garden trimmer at bare-unit prices.

Makita also runs 40V XGT, a separate and more powerful platform. The two are not compatible, which is worth knowing before you buy — people do get caught.

Best for: almost everyone here, and especially anyone who expects to own more than two or three cordless tools.

Starting point: the DHP490 18V brushless hammer drill — the replacement for the discontinued DHP482 — or the GA4030 angle grinder. Browse the full Makita range.

DeWalt

Built for sites, and it shows. The 20V MAX platform is one of the most widely used in construction worldwide, and DeWalt's tools tend to survive being dropped, rained on and left in a van.

The range is strong across core trade tools — drills, impact drivers, saws, grinders — and the ToughSystem and TSTAK storage is genuinely well designed. It narrows outside those categories compared with Makita.

One practical point in DeWalt's favour: their kickback and safety features on grinders and drills are among the best, which matters if the tools are used by several people.

Best for: renovation and construction work, and anyone who values durability over range.

Starting point: the DCD708N brushless hammer drill, or the DWE8200PL grinder. Browse the full DeWalt range.

Bosch

Two distinct lines, and the difference matters. Bosch Blue is the professional range — precise, well engineered, priced accordingly. Bosch Green is for DIY and home use, and it is genuinely good value rather than a token budget line.

Bosch is particularly strong in measuring and detection — laser measures, levels, wall scanners — and in drilling precision. We go through that range in our guide to Bosch lasers and detectors.

The caution: check which line you are buying. Green batteries do not fit Blue tools.

Best for: occasional home users who want quality without trade pricing (Green), and anyone who values measurement accuracy (Blue).

Starting point: the GWS 700 grinder is the cheapest real professional tool we stock. Browse the full Bosch range.

What about the cheaper brands?

Ingco, Kendo and similar sit well below the three above on price, and for genuinely occasional use they are not a mistake. A grinder used twice a year does not need to be a Makita.

Where they fall short is sustained use, parts availability and resale. If the tool will earn money, buy one of the three majors. Our guide to INGCO hand tools for the home is honest about where the budget end is the right call and where it is not.

So which should you choose?

Choose Makita if you want one battery to eventually run everything, or if you are unsure. It is the lowest-regret option in this market.

Choose DeWalt if the tools will live on a site and take abuse, or if you already own 20V MAX batteries.

Choose Bosch Green if you are a home user who wants decent tools cheaply, and Bosch Blue if precision is your priority.

Choose on price alone only for tools you will use a handful of times.

One thing people get wrong

Do not pick a platform based on a single discounted kit. A cheap drill kit that commits you to a narrow battery range costs more over five years than paying a little more now for the platform you actually want.

Still deciding on the tool itself? Our cordless drill buying guide covers drill types and specific picks. All three brands are on display at our Geylang showroom — come and hold them side by side before you commit.