ESENDE

18V Best by platform

18V starter kits

If you don’t own any batteries yet, start with a kit with two tools, two batteries and a charger. My pick for most people: the Makita DLX2131TJ.

Reviewed on 5 November 2026 · Data from the official spec sheets, linked on each model · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Generic cordless drill and impact driver in an open case, with two batteries and a charger
Illustrative image: it isn’t any of the models compared.

Your first kit decides your platform. So I don’t compare random kits here, but the best starting point on each brand.

A kit with a drill and an impact driver covers almost everything at home: holes in walls, flat-pack furniture, long screws in timber.

What to look for before you buy

  • Two batteries, not one: one charges while you work with the other.
  • 4 or 5 Ah batteries if you’ll later use saws or a grinder; 2 Ah ones run out quickly.
  • Brushless motor: it lasts longer and gets more out of the battery.
  • Check the second tool: an impact driver for timber and screws, a rotary hammer if you’ll drill a lot of concrete.

Makita 18V LXTMy pick

Makita DLX2131TJ

The most balanced kit for home and renovations: combi drill, impact driver and big batteries.

In the boxDHP482 combi drill + DTD152 impact driver, 2 × BL1850B 5.0 Ah batteries, DC18RC fast charger and Makpac case
Drill torque62 Nm (hard) / 36 Nm (soft)
Drill speeds0-600 / 0-1,900 rpm
Impact driver torque165 Nm
Charging one batteryAbout 45 minutes with the DC18RC
Check the price on Amazon

Official spec sheet for the Makita DLX2131TJ

DeWalt 18V XR

DeWalt DCK266P2T

The site alternative: a slightly more powerful drill and a 205 Nm impact driver. UK version (DCK266P2T-GB), with a UK-plug charger and a TSTAK case.

In the boxDCD796 combi drill + DCF887 impact driver, 2 × 5 Ah batteries, charger and TSTAK case
Drill torque70 Nm (hard) / 27 Nm (soft)
Drill speeds0-550 / 0-2,000 rpm
Impact driver torque205 Nm
MotorsBrushless
Check the price on Amazon

Official spec sheet for the DeWalt DCK266P2T

Bosch Professional 18V

Bosch Professional GSR 18V-45 + GBH 18V-22

For anyone drilling concrete from day one: it comes with an SDS-plus rotary hammer instead of an impact driver. I haven’t found it with a UK charger on amazon.co.uk, so the button goes to Bosch’s official page.

In the boxGSR 18V-45 drill driver (no hammer action) + GBH 18V-22 rotary hammer, 2 × GBA 4.0 Ah batteries, GAL 18V-40 charger and bag
Guarantee3 years if registered in PRO360, batteries and charger included
See the official spec sheet

Official spec sheet for the Bosch Professional GSR 18V-45 + GBH 18V-22

The pros and cons summarise opinions that come up again and again in the reviews and forums linked in the sources. I haven’t tested these tools in person.

What about Milwaukee?

I don’t include it with an Amazon link: its extended guarantee only covers purchases from an authorised distributor. If you already have M18 batteries, look for this model with the official dealer locator.

My pick

Makita DLX2131TJ for most people. Bosch Professional if the first thing you’ll do is drill concrete. Einhell or Ryobi if budget comes first and you want the battery for the garden too.

Sources

Specs checked on the manufacturers’ websites on 5 November 2026. I don’t publish prices because they change every day.

More tools

No platform yet? How to choose a platform in five questions.