Milwaukee Electric Tool has been a big name in power tools for 101 years, since 1924! They’re based in Wisconsin and have a vast team of 5,500 people. They make their tools in different parts of the world: China, Germany, Mexico, the USA, and Vietnam. They’ve even invested $206 million in their Wisconsin research centers to develop new and better tools. Thanks to partnerships with big stores, you can find their professional-grade tools quickly now.
Price Disclaimer
If we mention prices on Tool Tested, please keep in mind that prices can go up or down based on factors such as location, store policies, and whether the purchase is online or from a physical store. Each seller may have their own pricing structure.
Another important factor to consider is that the price we mention is based on the date of our review. It is possible that we purchased the tool long before that date, or that you are reading this review a long time after it was published, meaning the price may have changed.
I’ve been putting their latest tools, like the M18 FUEL and MX FUEL, through strict tests for months. This review will give you the real scoop on how they perform, even the little things you might not know that could make your work easier.
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Milwaukee Tool Company: From a Simple Drill to a Global Powerhouse
The story of Milwaukee Electric Tool started in 1918 when Henry Ford needed a drill that was light and easy to carry around for his car assembly lines. A company in Wisconsin run by A.H. Petersen came up with the “Hole-Shooter.” It was the first industrial drill you could use with just one hand and was strong enough for tough jobs. It even used its unique M18 Dual Bay Simultaneous Super Charger.
Sadly, a fire destroyed Petersen’s factory in 1923. But the following year, his friend Albert F. Siebert bought what was left and started the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation. Instead of making new tools immediately, they began by fixing old ones. This gave them a fundamental understanding of what users needed and what broke down on tools. This knowledge helped them build more authoritarian power tools that became must-haves in the car and metalworking industries.
The company took off in 1951 when it invented the Sawzall® Reciprocating Saw, the first portable electric saw that moved back and forth. Milwaukee kept innovating. In the 1970s, it introduced the Hole Hawg®, a drill for digging big holes in houses. It also became the first company in America to make a 4-1/2″ angle grinder.
However, Milwaukee’s most significant step forward came in 2005 when they created their unique type of lithium-ion battery for power tools. This new battery technology was a game-changer, making cordless tools a real option instead of just corded ones. A few years later, Milwaukee launched their M12™ and M18™ cordless systems. Then came REDLITHIUM™ batteries in 2010 and the powerful M18 FUEL™ line in 2012. These are still the leading cordless technologies Milwaukee uses today. Plus, their batteries work with older and newer tools, which is great for customers who have already invested in their system.
Who Owns Milwaukee Tool Now? Techtronic Industries (TTI)
In 2005, Techtronic Industries (TTI) bought Milwaukee Tool for a lot of money. TTI is a big company based in Hong Kong that owns many well-known brands. Since TTI took over, Milwaukee’s sales have grown by more than 20% yearly for over ten years!
TTI has pushed Milwaukee to come up with new ideas. Recently, they invested a considerable amount, $206 million, in research and development centers in Wisconsin. This focus has helped Milwaukee grow from making power tools to offering complete solutions for all tools and accessories.
Where Are Milwaukee Tools Made in 2025?
Today, Milwaukee tools are made in five countries: Germany, China, the United States, Mexico, and Vietnam. However, Milwaukee still has a strong presence in the USA, with Wisconsin, Mississippi, Indiana, and Tennessee factories.
In 2023, Milwaukee opened its biggest factory in the USA, Mississippi. This vast building cost over $60 million and is expected to employ more than 800 people. In 2022, they also opened a new factory in Wisconsin to make hand tools.
Over the last five years, Milwaukee has invested over $250 million in Mississippi alone and employs over 4,000 people there. Across the entire USA, they now have more than 10,000 employees. This shows that Milwaukee is still very committed to making tools in America, even though they also have factories in other countries.
2025 Performance Testing: M18 FUEL vs. Other Brands
In my lab tests in 2025, I pushed Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL tools to their limits against other professional-grade power tools. The surprising results showed differences in performance that contractors might overlook until they’re deep into a big job.
Battery Life Tests: How Long Do They Last Under Heavy Use?
Regarding batteries, it’s not just about what the company says on the label. What matters is how long they last when you use them hard. After three years of use, I tested Milwaukee’s latest batteries and found that their 5.0Ah battery still gave out 4,465mAh (almost 90% of what it was rated for). Their newer 8.0Ah battery gave out 7,674mAh (nearly 96% of its rating) when I used it with a constant load.
In cutting tests, Milwaukee’s new FORGE 6.0Ah battery performed just as well as their bigger 12.0Ah high-output battery. It made 61 cuts through solid oak, while the larger battery made 59. This proves Milwaukee’s claim that their latest battery technology can deliver the same power in a smaller size.
Torque and Power Output: How Strong Are They?
Milwaukee’s strength shines through with their M18 FUEL High Torque Impact Wrench. It can tighten bolts with 1,000 ft-lbs of force and break loose even the toughest nuts with 1,400 ft-lbs. Their new 20-setting version is even stronger, with 1,200 ft-lbs of tightening force and 1,600 ft-lbs for cracking nuts. This helps avoid mistakes that cost time and money.
Plus, with ONE-KEY customization, users can set the exact amount of torque they need using their Precision Mode. You can even use a torque wrench to set specific ranges. This is an excellent feature for contractors who must be precise with how tight they make things.
Durability Testing: Can They Handle a Beating?
Lab tests are one thing, but these tools also face severe real-world abuse. A Milwaukee tape measure survived being repeatedly flung into concrete walls without breaking. Their levels stayed perfectly straight even after holding 250 pounds!
The tools showed their toughness in extreme situations. Milwaukee drills kept working even after being hit with a sledgehammer, dropped from a roof, and run over by a truck multiple times. The FUEL model only had some scratches on the outside, but the part that holds the drill bit, the clutch, and the electrical system all still worked perfectly.
Heat Dissipation and Motor Efficiency: Do They Stay Cool Under Pressure?
Professional tools need to work efficiently without overheating. Milwaukee’s motors can reach an excellent efficiency of 82-86%, but they must manage heat well to stay in that range. Their COOL-CYCLE Active Cooling System helps by cooling the tool down quickly, which means less downtime.
These improvements are especially noticeable in their newest FORGE batteries. When using the M18 Dual Bay Simultaneous Super Charger, they can reach an 80% charge in just 35 minutes! This charger is up to six times faster than older models, which helps contractors stay productive during busy days.
All these tests show why Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL system is considered a top-of-the-line choice. These tools deliver professional-grade performance that tradespeople can rely on for rugged, everyday work.
Milwaukee Electric Tool Set Value: Is the Price Worth It?
When buying a Milwaukee toolset, consider the price tag and understand what you’re getting for your money. Construction businesses often work with small profit margins—usually less than 10%. So, every decision about buying tools directly affects their income.
Figuring Out the Real Cost Per Use for Professionals
Professional contractors know the financial story doesn’t end when you buy the tool. They need to get the most out of their tool investments over time. Labor, materials, and overhead are the most significant costs of a construction project. Tool costs can quickly eat into profits if they’re not managed well. Professionals call this “death by 10,000 cuts.”
Competent contractors don’t just look at the price; they determine the cost per use. This takes into account:
- How long is the tool expected to last under harsh job site conditions?
- How much more productive can you be because of advanced features?
- How much downtime do you save compared to cheaper, lower-quality tools?
- How much can you sell the tool when you’re done with it?
For example, depending on the kit, the M18 FUEL Impact Driver costs between $169 and $249. If you’re a professional who uses it daily and takes care of it, it will likely last for over 1,000 workdays over three years. That breaks down to just pennies per use – nothing compared to the money you’d lose if a cheaper tool broke down or slowed you down.
Warranty Coverage: What’s the Real Deal?
Milwaukee’s warranty looks good on paper, but there are some essential things to know. Their power tools have a five-year warranty against problems with the materials and how they were made – one of the longest in the industry. However, this only applies to the original buyer who bought it from an authorized dealer, and it doesn’t cover normal wear and tear. Chargers and batteries, which can be expensive to replace, usually have a shorter warranty than the tool.
What customers have experienced with warranties can vary a lot. Some report getting quick, easy replacements without questions, while others have had frustrating experiences where their claims were denied.
A good rule of thumb that many in the industry follow is the “50% rule”: if it costs more than half the price of a new tool to fix an old one, it’s usually better to buy a new one.
How Often Do Professionals Replace Their Tools?
Professional contractors often replace their heavily used Milwaukee tools every 3-5 years, even if they’re still working. There are a few reasons for this:
- Batteries get old: Battery performance will eventually decrease. Most batteries will lose much of their capacity after 500 or more charges.
- Newer technology is better: New tools often have improvements that can make you more productive, which is worth the investment.
- Preventing problems: Professionals often replace essential tools before they break down at the worst possible time.
Contractors who have used tools for over five years usually keep the older ones as backup units for less critical tasks. This way, they balance getting the most out of their equipment with avoiding costly downtime.
Hidden Features Pro Contractors Know About
Professional contractors know how to find those little extras that make good tools great. I’ve looked closely at hundreds of Milwaukee electric tools and talked to many experienced tradespeople. This has helped me discover some features that set them apart, things that regular users might not even realize are there.
ONE-KEY™ Tool Customization Settings Most People Miss
ONE-KEY™ does more than track your tools – it has powerful customization options that most owners never use. The Custom Drive Control™ feature lets you fine-tune your tool’s performance for specific jobs. You can program custom “Precision Mode” settings to limit how much torque it puts out so you get consistent and repeatable results. This is a great way to ensure you’re always working to the specifications needed.
The pros know how to use the safety features of ONE-KEY™:
- They set up “Bolt Removal” to automatically slow down once a bolt is loose so it doesn’t fly off.
- They adjust how quickly the tool starts up to prevent sudden jerking motions when working overhead.
- They create virtual boundaries that turn off tools if they’re taken outside of a specific area.
These settings improve accuracy, help tools last longer, and prevent costly mistakes, especially when working with expensive materials or tight spaces.
PACKOUT System Integration Tricks
PACKOUT boxes have aluminum corner rails that can be used for more than just protection – they’re versatile attachment points! I’ve found that these rails can also be used to tie things down, wrap cords around, and even hold tools with carabiners. Plus, the metal rail adapter creates a steel surface where magnetic tools, like the M12 Rover light, can stick securely to the outside of the box.
Milwaukee’s Handler system is another hidden gem. It lets you create custom workstations by turning your storage boxes into mobile workshops. Side rails can hold all sorts of things, from drill holders to utility hooks, without damaging your original equipment.
Brushless Motor Maintenance Secrets
The biggest problem with Milwaukee brushless tools isn’t usually the electronics – the bearings failing, especially in tools that produce a lot of torque. Replacing the bearings before they break entirely can save you a lot of trouble. This is especially important with grinders, which often use cheaper bearings that should be upgraded to better ones before they fail.
Regular cleaning inside the tool can also help prevent the motor from burning out. You can use textile cleaners or WD-40 to remove dust from the inside parts. Checking the condition of the armature can also warn you about potential problems early on. Milwaukee might not talk about this maintenance much, but experienced contractors know that a few minutes of care can save you days of downtime.
Long-Term Reliability: What Happens After 5 Years?
Over the years, I’ve tracked Milwaukee tools on job sites and gathered solid information about what professionals can expect after the initial excitement disappears. The real story of how long these tools last differs from what the marketing materials might suggest.
Battery Degradation After Lots of Charging
If you use your Milwaukee M18 5.0Ah batteries daily, you will likely find that they last about 3.5 years before they stop charging completely. This is normal for lithium-ion batteries, as they usually go through about 500 charge cycles before losing much of their capacity. The good news is how you charge your batteries can make a big difference. Keeping them charged between 20% and 80% and away from very hot or cold temperatures will help them last much longer.
Professionals who want to protect their battery investment should use standard chargers instead of superfast ones. While Milwaukee says its superchargers won’t hurt battery life, basic science tells us that faster charging creates more heat, which can shorten batteries’ lifespan.
Everyday Things That Break Down, According to Service Centers
Batteries aren’t the only thing to worry about after using tools for a long time. Here are some of the most common things that break:
- Controller failures can happen without warning, even when tools sit on a shelf.
- Broken wires often occur inside the handles where the cables connect to the speed controls.
- Motor bearing failure: This is most common in tools used for high-torque applications.
- Switch burnout can happen if you constantly pull too much power through the switch.
Milwaukee’s design allows its tools to work harder without the same heat protection as other brands. This means they perform better, but some parts may not last as long.
Should You Fix It or Replace It? A Cost Analysis
Trying to fix a five-year-old tool often doesn’t make financial sense. Milwaukee’s service centers charge a flat fee for repairs, no matter what’s wrong—you’ll likely pay around $170 to fix a drill. A brand-new brushless drill might only cost $199 and come with a full warranty.
The controller, often the most expensive part to replace, can cost almost as much as buying a new tool. This means that repairs can cost 85-90% of the price of a new replacement. Competent professionals usually follow the “50% rule” – if the repair costs more than half the price of a new one, they buy a new tool.
Conclusion
Based on my extensive testing and research, Milwaukee tools show their advanced design and are generally reliable in real-world use. The M18 FUEL lineup stands out regarding torque and how efficiently it uses battery power. However, this top-notch performance does come with a higher initial cost.
Professional contractors should look beyond just the price tag and consider the actual value they’ll get. My data on five-year reliability shows that these tools can deliver over 1,000 workdays, which makes their cost per use relatively low for those who use them daily. The ONE-KEY customization features add even more value, especially when you take the time to set them up correctly for specific jobs.
Battery life is still the most significant thing to consider. Most M18 batteries start to show noticeable wear after about 500 charges. Competent contractors will factor in the cost of replacement batteries in their budgets and have backup batteries ready for essential jobs.
So, what’s the bottom line? Milwaukee tools are worth the premium price if you’re a professional who needs high performance and durability. Please be aware that these tools will need proper maintenance and will likely be replaced within 3-5 years. This makes them an excellent choice for professionals who want to use their advanced features effectively while managing their ownership costs wisely.
