How to choose an 18V battery platform in five questions
Last updated: 5 November 2026
Before you look at drills, choose the battery. Every brand uses its own and they don’t mix, so your first purchase ties you to a platform for years. These five questions narrow it down to one or two options.
1. What will you use the tools for?
- Occasional jobs around the house (hanging things, flat-pack furniture, the odd hole in a wall): Ryobi ONE+ or Einhell Power X-Change. Plenty of power and they cost less.
- Frequent DIY or a renovation: Makita LXT or Bosch Professional 18V. Tougher, and with a range you can grow into.
- Daily work: DeWalt XR, Milwaukee M18 or Bosch Professional 18V, built for site work.
2. Which tools will you need in two years’ time?
Think about your third and fourth tool, not just the first. If you’ll want a mitre saw, a big circular saw or a workshop vacuum, check your platform has them. All six do, but the ranges vary a lot: Makita advertises over 440 products and Ryobi over 200.
If your trade uses very specific tools (plumbing press tools, paint sprayers), look at Bosch Professional: its AMPShare alliance uses the same battery in tools from more than 35 brands.
3. Do you already own an 18V battery?
If it’s from one of these six platforms and it works well for you, stay with it: you’ll save money buying “body only” tools, without battery or charger.
A common trap: Bosch has two 18V systems that don’t mix. Green Bosch (DIY) batteries don’t work in blue Bosch (Professional) tools, or the other way round.
4. How much do you want to spend on the first kit?
Buy a kit with two batteries and a charger: it usually works out cheaper than buying them separately. The home platforms (Ryobi, Einhell) have cheaper entry kits; the trade ones (DeWalt, Milwaukee, blue Bosch) cost more but usually come with bigger batteries. I don’t publish prices because they change often: where I’ve found the kit on amazon.co.uk, each platform page links to it so you can see the price on the day.
5. Do you want to use the same battery in the garden?
Einhell and Ryobi have the most complete garden ranges on the same battery. Makita has one too, and its big lawn mowers run on two batteries at once.
The six platforms at a glance
| Platform | Tools (according to the manufacturer) | Guarantee in the UK | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makita 18V LXT | Over 440 | 3 years on tools if you register; batteries and chargers 2 years, not extended | Serious DIY and renovations |
| Bosch Professional 18V | Over 350 (430+ with AMPShare) | 3 years if you register, batteries included | Trades and demanding DIYers |
| Einhell Power X-Change | Over 350 | 3 years if you register | Home and garden on a tight budget |
| Milwaukee M18 | Over 325 | 3 years if you register, authorised distributor only | Trades |
| DeWalt 18V XR | Over 250 | 3 years if you register, authorised reseller only; batteries 1 year except POWERSTACK | Site work and trades |
| Ryobi ONE+ | Over 200 | 3 years if you register | Home and garden |
Tool counts checked on the official websites on 4 November 2026 and UK guarantees on 5 November 2026. Each platform page links to its sources.
My recommendation if you’re not sure
For most homes that want something that lasts, Makita LXT is the safest bet: the widest range and compact tools. If budget comes first or you’ll use it in the garden too, Einhell Power X-Change.