Cordless tools · Which one do I need
Milwaukee M12 or M18: which to start with
M12 and M18 batteries do not swap, so your first kit sets the direction. Which line fits the jobs you do?
Quick picks who each one fits
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Milwaukee M12 FUEL 1/4 in. hex impact driver kit (3453-22)
Compact M12 impact driver for tight spaces
- Platform: Milwaukee M12*
- Tools in the kit: 1/4 in. hex impact driver*
- Max torque: 125 ft-lb*
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Milwaukee M12 subcompact brushless 2-tool kit (3494-22)
First M12 kit: drill and impact driver
- Platform: Milwaukee M12*
- Tools in the kit: 3/8 in. drill/driver and 1/4 in. hex impact driver*
- Max torque: Drill 29, impact 92 ft-lb*
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Milwaukee M18 brushless compact 1/4 in. hex impact driver kit (2850-21P)
M18 start with an impact driver
- Platform: Milwaukee M18*
- Tools in the kit: 1/4 in. hex impact driver*
- Max torque: 133 ft-lb*
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Milwaukee M18 compact 1/2 in. drill/driver kit (2606-21CT)
M18 start with a drill (500 in-lb*)
- Platform: Milwaukee M18*
- Tools in the kit: 1/2 in. drill/driver*
- Max torque: 42 ft-lb*
Figures are as stated in each product's current Amazon listing; * from the maker's own spec page (see Sources). Yes or No: whether the listing or maker names the feature.
On this page
What we compared and why
- Battery fit. Milwaukee states that M12 batteries fit M12 tools and chargers, and M18 batteries fit M18 tools and chargers. That is the core of the decision.
- The jobs on your list. Small, frequent jobs in tight spaces suit a compact line; heavy drilling and fastening suit the larger one. We compare stated torque of comparable tools.
- Weight in the hand. On overhead and under-sink work, a lighter tool matters. We give Milwaukee's stated weights where it states them.
- Charging both. If you end up with both lines, one charger that takes both batteries keeps the bench simple.
The models compared
| Model | Platform | Tools in the kit | Max torque | Speed | Amazon link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee M12 FUEL 1/4 in. hex impact driver kit (3453-22) | Milwaukee M12* | 1/4 in. hex impact driver* | 125 ft-lb* | 3,600 RPM* | See on Amazon |
| Milwaukee M12 subcompact brushless 2-tool kit (3494-22) | Milwaukee M12* | 3/8 in. drill/driver and 1/4 in. hex impact driver* | Drill 29, impact 92 ft-lb* | Drill 1,550, impact 3,000* | See on Amazon |
| Milwaukee M18 brushless compact 1/4 in. hex impact driver kit (2850-21P) | Milwaukee M18* | 1/4 in. hex impact driver* | 133 ft-lb* | 3,400 RPM* | See on Amazon |
| Milwaukee M18 compact 1/2 in. drill/driver kit (2606-21CT) | Milwaukee M18* | 1/2 in. drill/driver* | 42 ft-lb* | 1,800 RPM* | See on Amazon |
Read at this page's build and converted to one unit by us; sources as in the key above. "Not stated in listing": the listing does not give it. "Listing gives two values": it states two, so we show neither.
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 1/4 in. hex impact driver kit (3453-22)
Who it fits: Fastening in tight spaces with a compact tool; Milwaukee states 1,500 in-lb and a weight of 2 lb, with two batteries and a charger in the kit.
Skip it if: You need to drill large holes; this is an impact driver only.
Milwaukee M12 subcompact brushless 2-tool kit (3494-22)
Who it fits: A first kit for household jobs: a drill and an impact driver that Milwaukee states at 2 lb and 1.7 lb with a compact battery.
Skip it if: Heavy drilling with large bits; Milwaukee states 350 in-lb for this drill.
Milwaukee M18 brushless compact 1/4 in. hex impact driver kit (2850-21P)
Who it fits: Starting on M18 with an impact driver; Milwaukee states 1,600 in-lb for the 2850 driver, and the listing names the M18 and M12 multi-voltage charger in the kit.
Skip it if: You mostly work in tight spaces; a compact M12 driver states nearly the same torque.
Milwaukee M18 compact 1/2 in. drill/driver kit (2606-21CT)
Who it fits: Starting on M18 with a drill: Milwaukee states 500 in-lb for the 2606 drill, against 350 in-lb for the M12 subcompact drill.
Skip it if: You want two batteries; the listing names one battery and a hard case.
The rule that decides it
Milwaukee answers the question in its battery FAQ: all M18 batteries are compatible with M18 tools and chargers, and all M12 batteries are compatible with M12 tools and chargers. The two lines do not share batteries. Milwaukee does sell one charger that takes both, the M18 and M12 multi-voltage charger (48-59-1812), which Milwaukee says accepts all M18 and M12 batteries. So owning both lines means two sets of batteries, but it can mean one charger.
The torque surprise
You might expect the M18 tools to state far more torque than the M12 ones. For impact drivers, Milwaukee's own figures say otherwise:
| Tool | Line | Torque Milwaukee states | In ft-lb (our conversion) |
|---|---|---|---|
| M12 FUEL 1/4 in. hex impact driver (3453) | M12 | 1,500 in-lb | 125 |
| M18 1/4 in. hex impact driver (2850) | M18 | 1,600 in-lb | 133 |
| M12 subcompact 3/8 in. drill/driver (3494 kit) | M12 | 350 in-lb | 29 |
| M18 compact 1/2 in. drill/driver (2606) | M18 | 500 in-lb | 42 |
For driving screws, the M12 FUEL impact driver states about 94 percent of the M18 driver's torque. For drilling, the gap is larger: the M18 compact drill states about 43 percent more torque than the M12 subcompact drill, and it has a 1/2 in. chuck rather than 3/8 in. Torque is not the whole story (runtime and sustained load depend on the battery), but the figures show where the lines differ most: in drilling, not in driving.
Weight
Milwaukee states the M12 FUEL impact driver at 2 lb, and the M12 subcompact drill at 2 lb and impact driver at 1.7 lb with a compact (CP) battery; the 3453 page does not say whether its 2 lb includes the battery. Milwaukee's pages for the two M18 tools here do not state a weight in the text we read, so we do not compare them; the listings' shipping weights include the case and charger and are not tool weights.
Battery sizes: CP, XC and HD
Milwaukee's FAQ defines its battery classes: CP packs are the most compact and lightest, XC packs balance size, power and runtime, and HD packs are the largest, for high power and the longest runtime. The M12 kits here come with CP 2.0 batteries. When you add batteries later, the class tells you more than the Ah figure alone about size and weight in the hand.
Which one if...
- Household jobs: hanging things, furniture, fixtures, under sinks: M12. The kit tools are light and the driver states nearly the M18's torque.
- Drilling large holes, decks and framing, or long sessions: M18, for the higher drill torque and 1/2 in. chuck.
- Automotive work: both lines have ratchets and impact wrenches; see cordless ratchets and impact wrenches for lug nuts.
- Not sure yet: in our view, a first M12 two-tool kit covers most household jobs; adding M18 later means a second set of batteries but, with the multi-voltage charger, one charger.
For Milwaukee against DEWALT as systems, see DEWALT 20V MAX vs Milwaukee M18.
Reading the table
Cells with a mark come from Milwaukee's pages linked under Sources. Milwaukee's site lists the 2850 and 2606 tools but no longer lists the 2850-21P and 2606-21CT kits, so for those two rows the torque and speed come from the tool's own page and the kit contents from the listing. The 3494-22 row gives both tools' figures. Speeds are the top figure Milwaukee states; the 3453's 3,600 RPM is in its fastest mode.
What this page does not tell you
We have not used these tools and we do not rank them. We do not state runtimes, which depend on the battery and the job.
Sources
- Milwaukee M18 batteries and chargers page, FAQ on M18 and M12 compatibility and CP, XC and HD packs (milwaukeetool.com)
- Milwaukee M18 and M12 multi-voltage charger 48-59-1812 (milwaukeetool.com)
- Milwaukee M12 FUEL 1/4 in. hex impact driver kit 3453-22 (milwaukeetool.com)
- Milwaukee M12 subcompact brushless 2-tool combo kit 3494-22 (milwaukeetool.com)
- Milwaukee M18 1/4 in. hex impact driver 2850-20 (milwaukeetool.com)
- Milwaukee M18 compact 1/2 in. drill driver 2606-20 (milwaukeetool.com)