Cordless power tools are super convenient & easy to use. Use the same batteries across multiple, same brand, devices & they’re also very affordable.
Choose one power tool brand and stick with it. This means you can use the same batteries and charger across all your devices. It’s convenient and you’ll save a fortune.
Below you’ll find details of the right batteries for the best power tools available in the UK, right now.
Power Tool Batteries – Quick Guide
- Choose one brand & use the same 18v battery & charger across all your power tools.
- Small batteries (2Ah) are lighter & cheaper while a large battery (5Ah) is heavier & costs more but has a longer run time.
- Base your brand decision on range of tools available and value. We recommend Dewalt, Makita & Bosch (Blue) for trade. And Bosch (Green), Black + Decker & Ryobi for DIY.
All our power tool battery recommendations are 18v. Lower voltage tools can feel underpowered. Go bigger and you’re looking at specialist devices with a limited range. It’s important to note that an 18v battery should only be used with an 18v device. The Ah value defines how long the battery will last between charging.
Black+Decker 18v Batteries
Good for DIY and Gardening
Black+Decker power tools are affordable and highly rated for occasional DIY and gardening. As you can see from the details below, the batteries are of good value. For most tools and tasks it makes sense to opt for a couple of smaller batteries in preference to one large. This way, you can keep one charging while using the other.
- Number of Tools in Range: 30+
- Charge Indicator on Battery: No
2.0Ah Black+Decker 18v Battery | 400g | Verdict Price £28
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4.0Ah Black+Decker 18v Battery | 650g | Verdict Price £52
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Black+Decker 18v Charger | Verdict Price £24
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Bosch DIY Batteries
18v Power for All (Green)
Bosch offers two power tool ranges. For DIY the ‘power for all’ range is easily identified by their green colour. There’s a good selection of tools for DIY, garden jobs and even cordless vacuums.
The larger batteries are expensive and heavy. There’s every reason to choose a couple of 2.5Ah batteries in preference to one large battery. This will save you money, give you a longer run time and lighter operation. Plus, you can charge one, while using the other.
- Number of Tools in Range: 40+
- Will fit Bosch ‘Power-for-All’ range – green tools
- Best Value – Two small batteries are cheaper, lighter and quicker to charge
2.5Ah Bosch 18v DIY Battery | 330g | Verdict Price £34
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4.0Ah Bosch 18v DIY Battery | 640g | Verdict Price £76
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Bosch 18v DIY Charger | Verdict Price £28
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Ryobi One+ 18v Batteries
Affordable DIY & Trade
The Ryobi One+ range of power tools is excellent. There are decent budget models right through to tools for the trade with high-end specifications such as brushless motors.
Whether you’ve already invested in Ryobi tools or your thinking about it, what’s clear is that looking forward, you’ll be able to find the right tool for the job at a decent price.
- Number of Tools in Range: 100+
- Charge Indicator on Battery: Large Battery
- Ryobi 5Ah battery is great value
2.0Ah Ryobi 18v ONE+ | 400g | Verdict Price £50
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5.0Ah Ryobi 18v ONE+ | 700g | Verdict Price £79
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Ryobi 18v ONE+ Charger | Verdict Price £40
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Bosch 18v Batteries
Trade Power Tools
The Bosch Pro range (blue tools) are affordable and reliable. Plus, there are big battery options (up to 12Ah). These high powered battery packs are good for static devices, but due to the weight are something of a workout for drills, drivers etc.
There are a couple of Pro battery types. Go for the newer Pro Core (links below). They’re slightly smaller, but importantly have better heat management and therefore should last longer.
- Number of Tools in Range: 60+
- Charge Indicator on Battery: Yes
- Buy multiple 4.0Ah batteries rather than large – They’re cheaper, lighter and quicker to charge
4.0Ah Bosch 18v Pro Battery | 515g | Verdict Price £66
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8.0Ah Bosch 18v Pro Battery | 955g | Verdict Price £170
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Bosch 18v Pro Charger | Verdict Price £60
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Dewalt 18v Batteries
Professional & Trade
Dewalt has an excellent reputation for top-quality power tools. Along with high-end reliability, their batteries are reasonably priced and with over one hundred tools to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find the right kit.
- Number of Tools in Range: 100+
- Charge Indicator on Battery: Yes
- 5Ah battery is the best value
2.0Ah Dewalt 18v Battery | 350g | Verdict Price £38
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5.0Ah Dewalt 18v Battery | 620g | Verdict Price £60
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Dewalt 18v Battery Charger | Verdict Price £25
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Makita 18v LXT Batteries
Huge Range of Professional Tools
Makita has built an excellent reputation with professional tradesmen. The majority of the power tools come with a 3-year warranty giving extra security to the purchase. The wide range means the choice is excellent, covering both specialist and broad needs, for pretty much every trade. Make sure your Makita power tools are designed for LXT battery fit (most are).
Invest in Makita tools and batteries today and you’ll be certain of finding the right Makita power tool for all future jobs.
- Number of Tools in LXT Range: 100+
- Charge Indicator on Battery: Yes
- 5Ah battery is the best value (same weight as 3Ah & 4Ah battery)
1.5Ah Makita 18v LXT Battery | 380g | Verdict Price £42
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5.0Ah Makita 18v LXT Battery | 600g | Verdict Price £70
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Makita 18v LXT Charger | Verdict Price £30
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What Else Do I Need to Know?
Battery Technology
There are three primary battery technologies – Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), Nickel-Cadmium(Ni-cd) and Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-Mh). For power tools, Lithium-Ion batteries are the best option and in most cases have replaced the older alternative technologies.
Lithium-Ion batteries are lightweight, don’t have a memory effect and are quick to charge.
AmpereHours (Ah)
The higher the Ah rating, the longer the battery will last. While a higher Ah rating is nearly always preferable, they’re also more expensive and usually (but not always!) heavier.
Think about the Ah rating as a fuel tank. The bigger the tank, the longer the tool run-time between charges.
Voltage
The voltage of a battery is measured in volts(v). This indicates the strength of the battery. What’s important is that the tool voltage matches the battery voltage.
Different manufacturers offer tool ranges that require a specific voltage. The majority of good DIY and standard trade tools are 18v.
Battery Fit
Stating the obvious, a battery needs to fit the device. Most of the manufacturers only produce batteries for their own brand tools. However, it’s not unusual to find different ranges of power tools from the same manufacturer that require different batteries.
Are non-genuine power tool batteries any good?
Aftermarket batteries, according to owners and testers, don’t perform well. Some may be ok, but the tests we’ve seen show non-genuine batteries running down much quicker than the branded equivalent. Plus, owner feedback suggests they also have a shorter lifespan. Even though they’re sometimes much cheaper, the correct branded batteries will keep your power tools running for longer and will be of better value over time.
How Long Do Power Tool Batteries Last?
A Lithium-Ion battery should last 3 years with regular use. However, most keep going for longer – 5 years is a reasonable expectation. To maximise their lifespan, it’s worth taking a few precautions…
- Store the batteries charged – this is also more convenient
- Recharge from 20%. Avoid letting them drain completely
- Avoid moisture and bumps/drops etc
- Don’t let them get too hot – most important
UK Verdict
In 2023 cordless power tools make complete sense for both DIY & trade.
For DIY, Ryobi & Bosch stand out for a wide range of quality 18v power tools. The batteries are reasonably priced and work across all devices.
Both Dewalt & Makita offer a super wide range of top-notch trade quality 18v power tools. Most professionals we speak with have a favourite, but it’s hard to separate the brands.
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