Best DeWalt Tools of 2024: PowerPack Batteries, Flagship Drills, and a New Battery Platform

Introduction

2024 was a big year for DeWalt. The company launched an entirely new suite of core tools built around a brand new 20V Max PowerPack tabless battery system, refreshed its drilling and cutting flagships, added purpose-built tools for plumbers and electricians, and even previewed a battery platform aimed at replacing gas equipment. This roundup covers the highlights and who each release makes sense for.

The Power Source: PowerPack 8Ah Tabless Battery

Most of the new core tools were built around the PowerPack battery, so it makes sense to start there. Not to be confused with PowerStack, DeWalt’s pouch-cell lithium variant, the PowerPack is an 8Ah tabless design optimized to deliver more power in a smaller package with significantly less heat buildup. Instead of a single tab, the cylindrical cell design routes energy through multiple tabs, creating a larger conductive surface area, more power output, and less resistance.

The battery also features an impact-resistant overmold, and its footprint is identical to DeWalt’s standard 8Ah pack, so it drops into existing workflows. Pricing came in at $229 for a single battery or $329 for a two-pack.

Expect DeWalt to kit many of its flagship tools with these 8Ah PowerPack batteries going forward, which is exactly what most of the tools below do.

Drilling and Driving: DCD1007 Hammer Drill and DCF860 Impact Driver

The DCD1007 1/2-inch 3-speed hammer drill replaces the DCD999. Power jumps from 1,219 to 1,530 max watts out, while the hammer rate stays at 38,250 blows per minute. Top speed drops slightly from 2,250 to 2,000 RPM, but you get noticeably more torque to compensate, along with three speeds, 11 clutch settings, a foot-mounted LED, and the Perform and Protect anti-rotation system, which senses excessive or sudden rotational motion and shuts the tool down to prevent kickback. It is available for $249 as a bare tool and $349 as a kit with an 8Ah PowerPack battery and charger.

The DCF860 impact driver is arguably the bigger story. It steps up from the previous-generation DCF845 on every front: impacts per minute rise from 4,200 to 4,500, speed increases from 3,400 to 3,800 RPM, and torque jumps from 1,825 to a class-leading 2,500 in-lbs. It eclipses the DCF887, 845, and 850 to become the standalone flagship. The 1/4-inch hex chuck accepts bits quickly, nine built-in LEDs surround the collet, and a 20-minute work light mode lights the jobsite. It is also Tool Connect ready for asset tracking with the separately sold chip. The kit with an 8Ah PowerPack battery and charger runs $319, or $199 as a bare tool.

Flagship Cutting: DCS590 Circular Saw and DCS384 Reciprocating Saw

The DCS590 is DeWalt’s new flagship 20V Max circular saw. The brushless motor pushes 1,700 max watts out at up to 5,900 RPM no-load, with a maximum cut depth of 2-9/16 inches at 90 degrees and 2 inches at 45. DeWalt claims up to 368 cuts per charge on the 8Ah PowerPack battery. It is compatible with the Airlock dust extractor or any standard 35mm extractor, and includes a blade brake, LED light, integrated rafter hook, and Tool Connect capabilities. Pricing is $350 as a kit or $250 bare.

The DCS384 20V Max brushless reciprocating saw rounds out the new core lineup. DeWalt calls it its fastest-cutting recip saw, with a 1-1/8 inch stroke at 3,000 strokes per minute and up to 102 cuts per charge on the PowerPack battery. A keyless blade change makes swapping hot blades quick, and a new internal counterbalance mechanism is designed to limit vibration across a variety of materials, an area where previous DeWalt recip saws lagged. The trade-off: it still lacks an orbital mode and variable speed switch, features that have become the norm elsewhere. The 8Ah PowerPack kit costs $349, with the bare tool at $250.

Woodworking Upgrade: DCW620 Plunge Router

The DCW620 plunge router brings a brushless 2-1/4 horsepower motor that handles bits up to 2-1/2 inches in diameter, with a variable speed dial spanning 11,000 to 23,000 RPM. An integrated Airlock dust collection port keeps the work area cleaner, and an anti-rotation system protects against accidental bind-up. The three-position adjustable turret stop speeds up depth adjustments, and the tool-free plunge lock lever lets you engage and disengage the lock without removing your hands from the handle. It is available now for $349 as a bare tool.

Plumbing and Pipe Tools Worth a Look

DeWalt also aimed several releases squarely at plumbers and mechanical trades. The DCE410 20V Max XR 1/2-inch PEX expander is battery powered and up to 20 percent faster at expansion. The kit includes 1-inch, 1-1/4-inch, and 1-1/2-inch expansion heads, and it remains compatible with DeWalt’s existing 3/8-inch to 1-inch heads. The overall design is optimized for overhead work, with an auto-rotating head for even expansion, a brushless motor, LED work light, and a shoe-mounted rafter hook. Price: $849.

Beyond that, the DCE450 20V Max copper swage tool expands 1/4-inch to 1-5/8-inch soft annealed copper in seconds, reducing the number of fittings and braze joints needed on an HVAC job, with auto-rotating heads and nickel-plated steel jaws. The Impact Connect inside pipe cutter is another standout accessory: it fits inside PVC pipe and uses an impact driver’s quick-connect hex chuck to make internal cuts, with measurements on the side acting as a depth gauge. For about $25, it is a smart addition to any service bag.

Electricians and Framers Get New Options

Electricians finally get the 20V Max hydraulic knockout tool they have been asking for. It delivers up to 11 tons of force in a lightweight inline package, with a 180-degree rotating head for tight spaces, magnetic dies that secure to mild steel for accurate punch alignment, an LED ring for dark areas, and a Tool Connect chip pocket for inventory tracking via the site manager app.

Framers get two new 20V Max nailers, a 21-degree plastic-coated and a 30-degree paper-coated framing nailer, both using an innovative flywheel mechanism that keeps the tool active after the trigger is released for faster firing. DeWalt claims up to 72 percent more sub-flush driving capability, and cordless operation eliminates compressor and hose setup. Optional extended magazines (DZN920 and DZN930) hold two strips of nails, and DeWalt states the nailers can install up to 530 feet of subflooring or 100 feet of wall framing on one 5Ah 20V Max battery.

The Big Bet: PowerShift Battery System

The headline announcement of the year is PowerShift, a new battery platform designed to expand cordless, gas-free jobsite applications. The shown battery is a 554Wh pack weighing 11.5 pounds that fully recharges in under an hour, and based on the FlexVolt compatibility shown, it appears to be a 60V Max system, which would make it a 9.2Ah equivalent pack, roughly 85 percent more capacity than the largest 5Ah FlexVolt battery.

The tool interface is entirely different from DeWalt’s 20V Max and 60V Max platforms, and the focus appears to be replacing gas equipment, with a battery interface design that may also reduce electrical resistance for more efficient energy transfer. Six concrete-sector tools were announced alongside it.

The DCPS7154 plate compactor features a 15.7-inch plate, 3,370 ft-lbs of force, and a folding handle. The DCPS660 rammer offers 2,660 ft-lbs of force with vibration-reducing insulators and a two-handled control layout. For concrete finishing, the DCPS310 backpack vibrator weighs just 25 pounds with the battery included and adds a roll cage and high-visibility harness, while the DCPS320 power pack vibrator sits on the ground to take the weight off the operator and supports remote activation via Tool Connect. The DCPS330 power screed has an adjustable handle with controls mountable on either side, and the DCD150 core drill with the DCPS151 stand includes bindup protection and a compact footprint for close wall or ceiling work, pairing with DeWalt’s 20V Max water supply.

With PowerShift tools and equipment still some distance from launch, the key question is how much behavior change moving from gas to battery will demand from tradespeople. If it makes for a more efficient and productive jobsite, expect battery equipment to keep replacing gas across the board.

Conclusion

DeWalt’s 2024 lineup shows a clear strategy: a stronger battery platform underpinning refreshed flagships, trade-specific cordless solutions, and a serious push to end gas-powered concrete equipment. If you are upgrading this year, the PowerPack batteries and the DCF860 impact driver offer the clearest immediate value, while PowerShift is the platform to watch.