The Top Five Makita Tools of 2024: Standout Cordless Picks

Introduction

Makita had a strong year, and the tools that stood out were not always the most obvious ones. This roundup covers the releases that earned real workshop time and kept earning it, spanning sanding, routing, and cutting across the 40V XGT platform. If you are choosing between Makita platforms or simply wondering which new tools are worth the jump, these are the ones that made the biggest impression.

Honorable Mention: Makita 40V Multi-Tool

The new Makita 40V multi-tool finally arrived after a long wait, and it is exactly what many people hoped for, even though it just missed the top five. In practice it is essentially the same tool as the 18V version, so the decision mostly comes down to which battery platform you are already invested in.

Where this tool genuinely shines is sound and vibration. Compared to others in its class, it is arguably the best multi-tool around on those two counts. Some users have a love-hate relationship with the pin-style accessory fitment and the size of the head, but for anyone on the 40V platform wanting a low-vibration oscillating tool, it is an easy recommendation.

Number 5: Makita BO001CG Random Orbital Sander

The BO001CG is a 125 mm (5-inch) random orbital sander that can also take a 6-inch pad. It weighs roughly 900 grams, and the balance and ergonomics are excellent, which matters more than it sounds when you are sanding for long stretches.

The interesting part is the power delivery. Instead of a bulky battery on the tool, it runs off an external battery via a 1.6 m lead, with an optional 5 m lead that comes with velcro straps to hook around your vacuum hose. That means you can run an 8-amp battery sitting on the bench or hung on your belt, effectively creating a cordless sander and vacuum system.

It works great with mesh sanding pads and removes material quickly. Makita’s 18V sanders have historically felt a little underpowered, but this one leaves the 18V random orbital sander for dead. The cord design is not for everyone, but it is far nicer than wrestling with a giant battery attached to the tool.

Number 4: Makita RP001G Half-Inch Router

The RP001G half-inch router arrived somewhat out of nowhere, surprising plenty of people who had been asking for one. It spans 8,000 to 25,000 RPM, and it is a beast of a unit with all the features you would expect from a Makita router.

Compatibility is a real strength here. It accepts standard Makita router accessories from other models, including fences, guides, and track rail adapters, so existing owners do not need to buy a new accessory ecosystem. It also has AWS for automatic dust extraction start-stop, and in use it is genuinely nice to handle. Of the half-inch routers tried, this is the nicest, and it only gets more appealing with bigger projects.

Number 3: Makita 40V Cordless Belt Sander

Cordless belt sanders, and belt sanders generally, rarely get this kind of enthusiasm, but this tool changed that. It has been used far more than expected, and it is now a favorite sander, full stop.

It is a beast of a tool and leaves all other cordless belt sanders for dead, which fits Makita’s long history of excellence with belt sanders. The feature set backs that up: AWS, variable speed, a lock-on trigger, an adjustable front handle, an adjustable front light, and compatibility with all battery sizes.

Two threaded mounting holes are the clever bit. Flip the sander over, clamp it to a bench to use it as a bench sander, or bolt on a fence to give yourself something to work against. It comes with a dust bag and can be hooked to a dust extractor. It is useful for so many things, and that versatility is why it ranks so highly.

Number 2: Makita KS Z3G Circular Saw

The KS Z3G, tested here in the K4G configuration, is a compact circular saw with the most impressive saw base ever put on a tool, polished to a pearlescent finish that looks even better in person than on camera. A plastic plate saver accessory is available to protect it.

Dust handling is the headline feature. In the configured setup, dust blows out the front and straight into a vacuum, making it the most dust-free saw owned to date. It cut an engineered stone benchtop with a segmented diamond blade and left hardly any dust in the air, which matters enormously for anything harmful to the lungs. Without a vac, dust collects inside the body where you can open the back and tip it out, suck it out, or remove the bung and hook a vac directly to the port. Plenty of options.

The blade is small at 125 mm (5 inches), but it is fast, with two speed settings: 5,000 RPM on the slow speed and 7,500 RPM on top. It is made in Japan and is currently only available in Japan, so sourcing one takes some effort. Even so, it is quickly becoming a go-to saw.

Buying Advice

The pattern across these picks is clear: Makita’s 40V XGT platform is where the company’s most exciting development is happening, especially in sanding and dust management. If you are already on XGT batteries, the belt sander and router are the most compelling upgrades. If you are on 18V, the BO001CG’s external-battery design is still worth a look because it works with a battery parked on the bench rather than on the tool.

For the KS Z3G, availability is the main hurdle given its Japan-only status, so check current listings before committing. And for the multi-tool, simply match it to the platform you already own rather than buying into a new one.

Conclusion

Four of the five spots went to 40V tools, which says a lot about where Makita’s focus lies this year, but the number one pick is an 18V tool, saved for its own dedicated rundown. If any of these five match a gap in your kit, they all proved themselves in real use, and the belt sander and KS Z3G in particular show Makita at its engineering best.