Best Power Tool Combo Kit for 2024

Recommending tools to friends and family has kind of become my job over the past decade or so. Buying a cordless tool combo kit remains the best way to get started. It gets you into a battery platform with a group of core tools to handle a variety of tasks. My recommendations for the best power tool combo kit, however, vary greatly depending on who’s asking. The daily-use tradesman gets a different recommendation from the DIYer or new homeowner just starting out.

The best starter combo kits include more than just a drill and impact driver. YOu also want a saw and maybe even a multi-tool. I also like to see them include a couple of batteries so you can use one while charging the other. Some manufacturers offer comprehensive kits costing $1,000 or more. I don’t often recommend those. Instead, many kits include just 4-6 core tools everyone—from the general contractor to the serious DIYer—needs. Need a new tool kit to get you started? Read on!

Out Top Picks for the Best Power Tool Combo Kit

• Best Overall: Milwaukee 3697-25 M18 FUEL 5‑Tool Kit
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• Best for Contractors: DeWalt DCK695P2 20V Max XR 6-Tool Kit
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• Best Value: Flex FXM601-2B 24V 6pc Kit
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• Best for DIYers: Skil PWRCORE 20 Brushless 6-Tool Kit
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• Best for Homeowners: Ryobi PSBCK06K 6-Tool Kit
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• Best 12V: Milwaukee M12 FUEL 5-Tool Kit
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Best Power Tool Combo Kit Overall

Milwaukee takes the top spot when it comes to getting a kit that delivers all of the key core flagship tools. I have personally used every one of these tools extensively. For professionals just starting out, you get four solid core tools that you can build your reputation around. This Milwaukee Tool combo kit includes the newest 4th-generation 2904-20 hammer drill with Autostop. Also included is the 2953-20 impact driver with tri-LED lighting and 2000 in-lbs of peak torque.

For cutting, Milwaukee includes the 2821-20 SawZall with adjustable shoe and tool-free Quik-Lok blade change. You also get the 2730-20 6-1/2″ compact circular saw with magnesium guard and shoe. I like the Milwaukee 7-1/4″ sidewinder better, but the lightweight nature of this compact saw quickly cuts through two layers of plywood with no stalling—my go-to litmus test for saws.

Topping it all off is a handy LED work light, TWO 5Ah M18 RedLithium batteries, and an M12/M18 combo charger. For $849 this isn’t the cheapest combo kit you can find—but you didn’t ask for that, you wanted the best!

What’s Included:

• 2904-20 hammer drill
• 2953-20 impact driver
• 2821-20 SawZall reciprocating saw
• 2730-20 circular saw
• 2735-20 LED light
• M18/M12 dual-battery charger
• 2 x M18 RedLithium XC5.0 Ah batteries
• Tool bag, various accessories

Best Power Tool Combo Kit for General Contractors

In my opinion, it’s hard to beat DeWalt’s ergonomics. Their 20V XR tools fit well in your hand and deliver plenty of power. While DeWalt FlexVolt Advantage tools might offer a power boost, the company’s standard 20V XR tools continue to provide excellent performance. I love this kit for its blend of no-nonsense tools, and it includes a grinder that every Pro should have in their arsenal. For a contractor just starting out, I can’t see anything better than getting 5 no-nonsense power tools for less than $900.

This particular DeWalt kit includes its capable DCF887 impact driver. You also get the compact DCS367 reciprocating saw, which I find handy for getting into tighter areas. It’s not as compact as a one-handed recip saw, but you get some weight reduction compared to full-size saws. Add in the capable DCD996 hammer drill, DCS570 circular saw, LED work light, and a pair of 5Ah batteries, and you have a very comprehensive starter kit for any contractor.

At around $869, this kit offers an excellent value. It truly gets you ready for just about anything the trades throw your way. I love that DeWalt sells nearly every tool without batteries, making it less expensive to add a wood router, jigsaw, oscillating multi-tool, or just about anything else to your collection over time.

What’s Included:

• DCD996 hammer drill
• DCF887 impact driver
• DCS367 reciprocating saw
• DCS570 circular saw
• LED light
• 2 x 5Ah batteries
• Charger

Best Power Tool Combo Kit for the Money

Value combines what you get for what you spend. When it came to making a recommendation for the best power tool combo kit for the money, I kept the trades in mind. I wanted to suggest a kit that lets you build up your tools over time. In the end, this Flex 6-Tool combo kit delivers the goods like no other. For one, you get five core trade-focused tools that each consistently place at the top of our head-to-head testing.

Like Milwaukee and DeWalt, Flex now has a fairly deep product line. That wasn’t necessarily the case when they launched. Now, however, the company has everything from cordless hand tools to miters saws, table saws, and even advanced storage systems. With that said, this particular kit gets you started for just $649. If you bought these tools separately, you’d spend over $1,000! Flex also offers a lifetime warranty on its tools and batteries.

What’s Included:

• FX1251 hammer drill
• FX1351 impact driver
• FX2141 7.25-in. circular saw
• FX4111 oscillating multi-tool
• FX2271 reciprocating saw
• FX5111 LED work light
• 2.5Ah and 5.0Ah battery
• 160W rapid charger, tool bag, accessories

Best Power Tool Combo Kit for DIY

I recommend Skil tools to anyone riding that line between DIY and Pro. This particular Skil tool kit includes just about everything except—oddly enough—an impact driver. While you’ll want to pick that up separately, I still like the value presented here (and the fact that it includes a radio!). The batteries can charge devices like your cell phone via USB-C (don’t confuse these with new batteries that be recharged via USB-C). You get both a 2.0 Ah and 4.0 Ah battery. I like that, as it lets you save some weight when using the compact pack on the drill or multi-tool. Kits that only include two full-size packs give you the runtime but at the expense of a heavier tool.

This kit includes a 20V sander and oscillating multi-tool, letting you tackle a variety of DIY projects. Skil also makes circular saws, wood routers, 20V hand planers, and more. I like the variety of tools Skil has in its 20V line. Especially noteworthy, their brushless power tools punch way above their weight class in our testing.

After you buy this $220 kit, be sure to add an impact driver and maybe a circular saw. Then, have fun with all of the available Skil 20V products. From impact wrenches and jigsaws to grinders and rotary hammers, you can do it all.

What’s Included:

• Drill driver
• Reciprocating saw
• Multi-tool
• Bluetooth speaker
• Sander
• Spotlight
• Auto PWRJUMP charger
• 2.0Ah and 4.0Ah batteries, zippered tool bag, accessories

Best Power Tool Combo Kit for Homeowners

The Ryobi One+ HP line of tools remains a perennial best value when it comes to entry-level tools for trades. The exceptional value you get makes it a doubly good purchase for homeowners. While they don’t quite match the build quality you’ll enjoy with brands like Milwaukee, DeWalt, or Flex, Ryobi consistently performs quite well in our head-to-head testing. The company also backs its tools with a 3-year limited warranty. Having tested just about every drill, impact driver, and saw the company makes, I can (and do) recommend them for any homeowner.

This kit stands out for homeowners as it offers a compact assortment of tools that favor ergonomics and simplicity over a more expensive kit that may give you features and capabilities you don’t really need as a typical homeowner. It also opens you up to one of the industry’s largest and widest tool platforms. Want a cordless fan, radio, or upright vacuum? Ryobi has it. Once you get on the 18V One+ platform, you can pick up inexpensive bare tools for just about anything you can imagine. After buying this $379 kit, consider adding an oscillating multi-tool and/or jigsaw.

What’s Included:

• PSBID01 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 1/4 in. Impact Driver
• PSBDD01 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver
• PSBCS02 18V ONE+ HP Brushless Cut-Off Tool
• PSBRA02 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 3/8 in. Right Angle Drill
• PSBRS01 18V ONE+ HP Brushless One-Handed Recip Saw
• PSBIW01 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 4-Mode 3/8 in. Impact Wrench
• 2 x PBP002 compact 1.5Ah Lithium-ion batteries, charger, tool bag

Best 12V Power Tool Combo Kit

I wasn’t sure I should add this to the list—but I truly love lightweight 12V tools. After all, M12 Fuel tools perform about as well (or better) than many first- and second-generation 18V lithium-ion power tools. It’s actually tough to find a comprehensive 12V combo kit; however, Milwaukee comes close. The company has the widest array of 12V tools in the industry, bar none. This particular kit includes a compact CP 2.0 Ah battery and an extended-capacity XC 4.0 Ah pack. That lets you choose between a more compact tool and having extra runtime.

After buying this kit, you may also want to add the M12 Fuel 5-3/8″ circular saw or even a 12V jigsaw. From there, you can add anything—from pin nailers and staplers to planers and even vacuums.

This adept M12 FUEL starter kit runs about $399. I think it’s a great lead-in to a solid brushless 12V system from Milwaukee Tool.

Includes:

• 1/2 In. hammer drill (3404-20)
• Impact driver (3453-20)
• Multi-tool (2526-20)
• LED work flashlight (49-24-0146)
• Hackzall (2520-20)
• M12 XC 4.0 Ah battery (48-11-2440) and M12 CP 2.0 Ah battery (48-11-2420)
• M12 battery charger (48-59-2401)
• Contractor bag

The Nitty Gritty and Other Details

• Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews
• How to Think About Tool Kits
• More Recommendations from Brands We Trust
• Features We Look For

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews as a Reliable Source

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers? That’s not us. I won’t recommend anything unless I’d use it myself. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and my honest opinion of each product.

Pro Tool Reviews has been in business since 2008 writing tool reviews and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Many of our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools will perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review hundreds of individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year. We also frequently consult with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

The result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize every time we pick up and test a tool.

How to Think About Tool Combo Kits

With so many combo kits on the market, how do you decide which one to even look at? I wrote earlier about finding kits that come with “core tools.” Core tools include a cordless drill, impact driver, circular saw, and reciprocating saw. Most brands also tend to throw in a small work light. Others may swap out the reciprocating saw or circular saw for an oscillating multi-tool, impact wrench, or grinder. Manufacturers never seem to include the exact same tools in their kits, and that’s OK. You can always add any missing core tools over time.

In general, I tend to look for the smallest combo kit each brand offers that includes (where possible) those core tools. Sometimes, a brand offers a really good deal on a comprehensive tool combo kit. That’s often a great starting point for Pros, so I like those as well. I’m talking about $1000 and up kits that really get you a lot of tools to jumpstart your journey as a contractor or tradesman. Just make sure you don’t buy tools you don’t need or have much use for.

Remember, once you get onto a stable and reliable battery platform, you can add bare tools later (tools without batteries and a charger). That gives you a great way to grow your tool collection efficiently and without as much cost as constantly buying kits.

Best Power Tool Combo Kits By Other Popular Brands

Bosch GXL18V-496B22 4pc Combo Kit

I love the ergonomics of Bosch power tools and this kit has a nice cross-section of products. Picking up a Bosch, I often wonder why I don’t reach for these tools more often.

This kit include a drill, impact driver, and compact reciprocating saw. The Bosch 18V impact driver continues to impress and almost (almost!) makes this feel like a 5-tool kit. Run out and pick up the Bosch circular saw as soon as possible to round out this system. For $349, you really can’t go wrong if Bosch is your brand.

What’s Included:

• DDS181A 18V Compact Tough 1/2 In. Drill/Driver
• GDX18V-1600 18V 1/4 In. and 1/2 In. “The Freak” Bit/Socket Impact Driver
• GSA18V-083 18V Compact Reciprocating Saw
• GLI18V-300 18V Articulating LED Worklight
• 2 x 18V Lithium-Ion 2.0Ah batteries, charger, tool bags

Craftsman V20 6-Tool Power Tool Combo Kit

At $299, this V20 cordless combo kit from Craftsman gives a solid base from which to build your system. The tools and batteries include a 3-year limited warranty, so you get some peace of mind. This kit also includes both a 6.5-inch circular saw and a reciprocating saw. You also get the expected drill and impact driver along with a handy oscillating multi-tool and LED light. Finally, Craftsman includes a pair of compact 2Ah batteries.

Included Tools:

• Craftsman V20 CMCD700 drill
• CMCF800 impact driver
• Craftsman V20 CMCS300 reciprocating saw
• Craftsman V20 CMCS500 6-1/2″ circular saw
• CMCE500 oscillating multi-tool
• Craftsman CMCL020B 140 lumen LED worklight
• 2 x 2Ah batteries, charger, storage bag, and accessories

Kobalt 4-Tool 24V Max Brushless Combo Kit w/Soft Case

Following their XTR power tools line, the Kobalt 24V brushless tools provide excellent power and affordability. We’ve tested them all and find them to compete well with similar tools from Ridgid, DeWalt, and Flex. A bargain at $299, these tools include a 5-year limited warranty, and you get a really nice starter set of cordless power tools. Included are a full-size reciprocating saw and a brushless impact driver and drill. They even toss in an articulating LED light. The 4Ah extended runtime pack should provide plenty of use, but plan to pick up a spare.

Regardless of where you stand on the Kobalt vs Ridgid debate, both brands seem destined for Pros looking for value solutions. The available tools Kobalt offers (through Lowe’s) also make it easy to upgrade over time.

Included Tools:

• Kobalt 24V brushless drill driver
• Kobalt 24V impact driver
• 24V brushless reciprocating saw
• 300 lumen pivoting LED work light
• 24V Max 2.0Ah battery
• 24V Max 4.0Ah Ultimate Output battery, charger
• Soft tool case + accessories

Makita XT507PT 18V LXT Brushless 5‑pc Combo Kit

While very expensive, this brushless kit from Makita gives you a well-rounded jump start with some top tools. From there, you can build up to create a truly robust Makita arsenal. I particularly like that Makita included the XDT16 which held the top spot for years as our best impact driver. At $874, this Makita combo kit doesn’t present much value, but it does deliver serious performance. Makita also has some larger kits—much larger, in fact—if you want to splurge. Aside from being one of the most expensive kits you can buy, it hits all my key metrics.

What’s Included:

• Makita XPH14Z Brushless 1/2″ Hammer Drill
• XDT16Z Brushless 4-Speed Impact Driver
• XSR01Z 36V X2 Brushless Rear Handle 7-1/4” Circular Saw
• XRJ05Z Brushless Recipro Saw
• DML815 LED Flashlight
• DC18RD Dual Port Charger
• 2 x BL1850B 18V 5.0Ah batteries, charger, tool bag

Masterforce BOOST 20V Brushless 5-Tool Combo Kit

The Masterforce BOOST 20V brushless 5-tool combo kit includes 4 really solid and powerful tools along with a nice lantern-style LED work light. At $500, it gets you into the Masterforce family of 20V brushless tools and lets you upgrade over time as you expand your system. For those near a Menards, you really can’t go wrong with these tools—many of which we’ve tested and found to be similar in performance to Ryobi, Ridgid, and Kobalt brushless power tools.

What’s Included:

• Masterforce BOOST Hammer Drill
• Masterforce 20V BOOST Impact Driver
• BOOST 20V Reciprocating Saw. (with orbital action)
• Masterforce 20V 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw
• Cordless LED work light
• 2 x 5.0Ah batteries, charger, tool bag

Ridgid R96263 18V 6-tool Combo Kit

This Ridgid 6-tool combo kit provides plenty of core 18V tools for $649. It also gives you a 3-year warranty supplemented with a lifetime service agreement. You get a full-size 7-1/4-inch circular saw, impact driver, orbital-action reciprocating saw, and a solid hammer drill.

Ridgid continues to represent one of the best values among brands clearly at the Pro level. Performance isn’t as high all-around as we see with Milwaukee and Makita, but there are some bright spots to go along with solid mid-level performance. As this tool has no brushless tools, you may be tempted to look at Ryobi HP brushless kits as an alternative with even more options. We also hope Ridgid adds new kits specifically made to work with their Ridgid Max Output batteries.

Included Tools:

• Ridgid R86115 brushless hammer drill
• R862311 impact driver
• Ridgid R8657 7-1/4″ circular saw
• R8647 brushless reciprocating Saw
• Ridgid R86042 4-1/2 in. slide switch angle grinder
• Ridgid R86240 brushless oscillating multi-tool
• R840040 4.0 MAX Output Ah battery
• R840020 2.0 MAX Output Ah battery
• Charger, Tool bag, accessories

Features to Look For When Buying a Power Tool Combo Kit

Get the Right Tools

Make sure you get all of the tools you need. Or, at the very least, budget to add a tool or two if the tool combo kit doesn’t include it. I like core power tool kits that include a hammer drill, impact driver, and circular saw. When starting out, you want to ensure you cover the basics, and those three tools cover a multitude of tasks. My Pro-level kit recommendations go a little further, adding a reciprocating saw and multi-tool. While my DIY tool combo kit recommendations might substitute a smaller circ saw or one-handed recip saw, I like my Pro kits to go full-size.

12V vs 18V Tools

Having written an entire article about this, I also made a specific 12V recommendation for both Pros and DIYers who like more compact tools. Milwaukee’s M12 platform offers the largest selection. Just keep in mind that their larger M12 kits tend to include older compact tools, which I no longer recommend.

To add to the issue, 12V tools from Ridgid, Makita, and several others are no longer available. That leaves DeWalt and Skil as your primary options. Bosch, while having some solid 12V tools, doesn’t maintain that line very well and hasn’t expanded it as far as I’d like to see. Of these, I like the breadth of tools Milwaukee offers, while Skil may get you more value and even better performance in some of the larger kits.

Included Batteries

I mention batteries just to ensure you understand how to think through what might be included in your kit. I love compact battery packs for portability. Impact drivers, in particular, benefit from anything that lowers weight without sacrificing performance. The best kits include both a compact battery and a full-size pack. Regardless of what batteries are included, you want to ensure you have enough runtime to swap out packs throughout the day. That typically means I want to have two packs at minimum.

Warranty

Next to batteries and tool selection comes the warranty and support for a brand. I like to see at least a 30-year warranty. It’s also hard to ignore the draw of lifetime warranties offered by Flex and Ridgid (with registration). The bottom line is that some brands make warranty and support a bit more difficult, so stick with the majors, and you should be able to support your products for longer.

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