18V Battery platform
Makita 18V LXT
The biggest 18V range, with compact, reliable tools. A good choice for serious DIY and renovations; for really heavy work, Makita steers you towards its other range, 40V XGT.
Reviewed on 5 November 2026 · Data from Makita’s official websites, linked at the end · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Platform at a glance
| Products in the range | Over 440, according to Makita (makita.es, checked November 2026) |
|---|---|
| 18V batteries | 2.0 · 3.0 · 4.0 · 5.0 · 6.0 · 9.0 and 12.0 Ah |
| 36V machines | Yes: they run on two LXT batteries at once (mitre saws, circular saws, lawn mowers, vacuums) |
| Garden tools on the same battery | Yes: lawn mowers, strimmers, blowers, chainsaws |
| Fast charger | DC18RC: a 5.0 Ah battery in about 45 minutes |
| Guarantee in the UK | 1 year on tools (2 years on Li-ion batteries and chargers); 3 years on tools if you register within 30 days. Batteries and chargers are not part of the extension |
Which batteries fit and which don’t
- Every 18V LXT battery fits every LXT tool.
- They don’t work with the 12V range (CXT) or the 40V range (XGT). XGT looks similar from the outside, but it’s a different system with its own batteries.
- Makita sells an adapter (ADP10) to charge LXT batteries on the XGT charger, not to use them in XGT tools.
What people like most
- The widest 18V range: almost every tool exists in LXT
- Compact, light tools and batteries
- A reputation for reliability and fast charging
What people criticise most
- No high-output 18V battery like DeWalt’s or Milwaukee’s
- Runs short of torque and runtime on really heavy work; there Makita points to XGT or its 2×18V machines
I summarise opinions that come up again and again in forums and reviews, linked in the sources. I haven’t tested these tools in person.
Who it’s for
Good fit: Frequent DIY, renovations and medium-use trades who want lots of tools on one battery.
Not a good fit: Anyone cutting or drilling concrete every day: they’re better off looking at the 2×18V machines or going straight to XGT.
Sources
- Makita UK: guarantee
- Makita Spain: LXT system (product count)
- Makita Spain: LXT 18V batteries
- Makita Spain: XGT system
- Makita Spain: adapters
- Data Power Tools: LXT vs XGT
- Tools In Action forum: Makita batteries
Tool counts are the ones each manufacturer publishes and they change often. I checked them on 5 November 2026.
The other platforms
Torn between several? How to choose a platform in five questions.