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How we rank products

The formula is the same on every comparison: official maker specification figures, published weights, and no paid placement.

1. Specs come from official maker specification pages

We enter only figures published on official Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita product pages, and we link that page under every product. If a figure isn't published we show "Not listed" instead of guessing. Official no-load speed is a free-speed figure, not a speed we measured under load. Official tool weight prefers the official tool-only / excluding-battery figure when the official page lists one. Official maximum torque, official chuck size, official blade diameter and official strokes per minute are shown as facts when the official page publishes them, and official torque is not scored, because some official pages omit that specification.

2. Scores use a fixed reference range

Each criterion has a fixed reference range, from a "weakest reasonable" value to a "best in class" value (for example official long-end f-number from 11 to 1.2, or official weight from 3,000 g to 200 g). A product's figure is placed on that range and clamped between 0 and 1, so scores stay meaningful as products are added. Official f-numbers faster than f/1.2 or slower than f/11, official weights below 200 g or above 3,000 g, and official magnifications above 1.00× are clamped at those reference ends. The official figures still appear on the product page. The ranges are listed below.

Drills and hammer drills

  • Official no-load speed · weight 30 · range 600–2000 RPM — The official no-load speed published on the maker's product page, in RPM. When the official page lists a range, we use the highest official figure in that range. Official no-load speed is a free-speed figure, not a measured speed under load. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official tool weight · weight 25 · range 5.5–2 lb (lower is better) — The official tool weight published on the maker's product page, in pounds. When the official page lists a weight excluding the battery, we use that official tool-only figure. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official voltage · weight 25 · range 12–20 V — The official battery-platform voltage published on the maker's product page (for example M12 / 12V max, M18 / 18V LXT, 20V MAX, 40V XGT or 60V MAX). A higher official platform voltage is not automatically the right tool for tight spaces. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official brushless motor · weight 20 · range 0–1 — Whether the official product page lists a brushless motor (Yes) or a brushed motor / no official listing. An official brushless listing scores at the top of this criterion; Not listed scores at the category minimum.

Impact drivers and wrenches

  • Official no-load speed · weight 30 · range 1500–3500 RPM — The official no-load speed published on the maker's product page, in RPM. When the official page lists a range, we use the highest official figure in that range. Official no-load speed is a free-speed figure, not a measured speed under load. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official tool weight · weight 25 · range 6–1.8 lb (lower is better) — The official tool weight published on the maker's product page, in pounds. When the official page lists a weight excluding the battery, we use that official tool-only figure. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official voltage · weight 25 · range 12–20 V — The official battery-platform voltage published on the maker's product page (for example M12 / 12V max, M18 / 18V LXT, 20V MAX, 40V XGT or 60V MAX). A higher official platform voltage is not automatically the right tool for tight spaces. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official brushless motor · weight 20 · range 0–1 — Whether the official product page lists a brushless motor (Yes) or a brushed motor / no official listing. An official brushless listing scores at the top of this criterion; Not listed scores at the category minimum.

Cordless saws

  • Official tool weight · weight 30 · range 14–3.5 lb (lower is better) — The official tool weight published on the maker's product page, in pounds. When the official page lists a weight excluding the battery, we use that official tool-only figure. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official voltage · weight 25 · range 12–60 V — The official battery-platform voltage published on the maker's product page (for example M12 / 12V max, M18 / 18V LXT, 20V MAX, 40V XGT or 60V MAX). A higher official platform voltage is not automatically the right tool for tight spaces. Official values outside the reference range are clamped for scoring only; the official figure is still shown.
  • Official brushless motor · weight 20 · range 0–1 — Whether the official product page lists a brushless motor (Yes) or a brushed motor / no official listing. An official brushless listing scores at the top of this criterion; Not listed scores at the category minimum.

3. Missing official figures never beat published ones

When a scored field is Not listed, it receives the category minimum for that criterion. An unpublished number cannot outrank a published one. We do not use prices or customer ratings, even if a retailer later lists them.

4. What the score cannot tell you

The score cannot tell you how a tool feels in the hand, how it holds up under load, or whether the official chuck, anvil or blade size is right for the work. Official no-load speed is a published free-speed figure, not a test we ran. Official weight is the published mass, not a weight we measured. Use the score to shortlist, then read the pros, cons, safety notes and sources, and confirm the current official specification with the maker and the retailer. When we add hands-on testing notes, we label them clearly.