This Milwaukee M18 cordless drill/driver chart has been my go-to whenever questions about their different models and tiers come up. So, I thought I’d share it.
The image above is clickable in case you need a larger version.
There are 4 tiers of tools. There’s the brushed motor compact drill, which I’d bet is most often purchased as part of a combo kit, a new version of the compact brushless drill, a new higher-powered brushless hammer drill, and the the top-tier M18 Fuel brushless drill and hammer drill. There are also One-Key versions of the Fuel tools.
Following is a quick rundown of all the current models and what sets them apart from each other.
Prices and links are to the 2-battery kits. But, keep in mind that there are usually promos going on. The “standard” kit prices and links were chosen for baseline comparison purposes only.
For example, the M18 Fuel hammer drill kit is regularly $299, but there’s also a holiday season promo where you can get the same drill in a combo kit with an impact driver and Packout tool box, for the same $299.
Milwaukee M18 Compact Drill, 2606
Milwaukee’s “compact” brushed motor drill/driver can be found separately, and is one of the core tools in their non-brushless combo kits. It’s reasonably spec’ed, and has a modern design.
- 1/2″ all-metal ratcheting chuck
- 500 in-lbs max torque
- 0-450/0-1800 RPM
- 7.2″ length
- Weighs 2.9 lbs (tool only)
- Kitted with CP1.5 battery (2606-22CT)
Price: $179
Buy Now(Kit with 2 batteries via Acme Tools)
Milwaukee M18 Compact Brushless Drill, 2801
Step up to the compact brushless model, and you get the same torque rating, a small bump-up in lower gearbox speed, and a tool that’s smaller and lighter. The brushless motor is more efficient, and so you should see longer runtime. Plus, the drill is kitted with 2.0Ah batteries, giving you an even further boost in runtime.
- 1/2″ all-metal ratcheting chuck
- 500 in-lbs max torque
- 0-500/0-1800 RPM
- 6.5″ length
- Weighs 2.45 lbs (tool only)
- Kitted with CP2.0 battery (2801-22CT)
Price: $199
Buy Now(Kit with 2 batteries via Acme Tools)
See Also: $99 1-battery Holiday 2018 Special Buy
Milwaukee M18 Brushless Hammer Drill, 2902
If you want more power and the ability to drill into masonry, but don’t want to step up to M18 Fuel, that’s where the new Milwaukee brushless hammer drill comes in.
Its torque rating is nearly 50% higher than the compact brushless drill, but the brushless hammer drill is only a little longer and heavier. It’s also a little faster in the lower speed gear setting.
The kit is bundled with XC batteries, and the “XC effect” should partially contribute to the increased torque over the compact brushless model.
It’s bundled with an auxiliary handle for greater control and safety.
- 1/2″ all-metal ratcheting chuck
- 725 in-lbs max torque
- 0-550/0-1800 RPM
- 28,800 BPM
- 7″ length
- Weighs 3.05 lbs (tool only)
- Kitted with XC4.0 battery (2902-22)
Price: $229
Buy Now(Kit with 2 batteries via Acme Tools)
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Gen 3 Drill, 2803
Stepping up to M18 Fuel, you get greater torque and speed, and a slight reduction in length compared to the brushless hammer drill. The drill/driver is only a tiny bit heavier. It’s also bundled with 5.0Ah batteries.
- 1/2″ all-metal ratcheting chuck
- 1200 in-lbs max torque
- 0-550/0-2000 RPM
- 6.9″ length
- Weighs 3.2 lbs (tool only)
- Kitted with XC5.0 battery (2803-22)
Price: $279
Buy Now(Kit with 2 batteries via Acme Tools)
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Gen 3 Hammer Drill, 2804
I don’t know how, but Milwaukee managed to make the new M18 Fuel Gen 3 brushless hammer drill the same length and weight as the non-hammer drill/driver. Its specs are the same, except for the hammer drilling function, which delivers around 11% more beats per minute than the non-Fuel brushless model.
- 1/2″ all-metal ratcheting chuck
- 1200 in-lbs max torque
- 0-550/0-2000 RPM
- 32,000 BPM
- 6.9″ length
- Weighs 3.2 lbs (tool only)
- Kitted with XC5.0 battery (2804-22)
Price: $299
Buy Now(Kit with 2 batteries via Acme Tools)
