Best Power Tools of 2023: Top Picks Worth Using Into 2024

Introduction

Not every tool on this list arrived on shelves this year, but each one earned its place through real use: a mix of strong performance, smart design, and genuine value. Some are full-price picks that justify every dollar, while others are clearance and used-market finds that punch far above their cost. If you are building out a cordless setup in 2024, these are the tools worth starting with.

Makita XU06 LXT 18V Top Handle Chainsaw

Makita makes several dual-battery chainsaws, but the XU06 is the single-battery LXT top handle model, and its small size is exactly what makes it so useful. It is noticeably smaller in person than photos suggest, yet it carries a decent amount of power for trimming and pruning work, with solid battery life to match. Do not expect it to fell massive branches on a regular basis; for routine yard work, though, it gets the job done comfortably.

The main catch is pricing. New, tool only, it runs well over $200, which is hard to justify for a saw this size. On the used market, however, these show up new in box for around $100 to $130, which is where this saw becomes a genuinely great buy.

Metabo HPT C18DB 6-Inch Circular Saw

The Metabo HPT C18DB is a brushless 6-inch circular saw with one standout feature: the shoe. It is smooth to the point that making cuts feels noticeably easier, because the saw simply slides along whatever surface or material you are working on. The honest downside is that it is not the most powerful saw in its class, and you will feel the lack of muscle on larger cuts. Pairing it with a MultiVolt battery rather than a standard 18V pack helps it considerably.

Where this saw shines is value. It goes on clearance regularly for around $40 to $45 brand new, well below competing budget brands, with better build quality and a lifetime warranty backing it up. It is the kind of tool you can keep in the truck without worrying about it.

Makita XOB02 Sheet Sander

The XOB02 is Makita’s cordless sheet sander, and it has proven to be a smooth, quiet performer. Compared to its main cordless rival, it runs noticeably quieter and smoother, and it finishes work a little faster too. The battery sits at an angle in the body, keeping it out of the way of your hand, which is a thoughtful touch for a tool you hold for long stretches.

The paper changing system is fussy, with a two-step clamping process instead of the quick single-lever release you find elsewhere, and it would benefit from a brushless motor. It is also fairly expensive for a sander. But if sanding is a regular part of your work, dropping the cord on this compact tool is absolutely worth it.

Makita GW25 XGT Impact Wrench

The GW25 is the pin detent version of Makita’s XGT impact wrench lineup, with a hog ring variant also available. For anyone who regularly removes tires or works on mini bikes and go-karts, it is a big step up from the LXT model: more power, more features, a smoother feel in use, and a more sensitive trigger.

It is expensive for the new XGT platform, and it lacks the IP rating that some competing tools offer. Deals do surface though, with new-in-box units appearing around $150 on the used market, and prices should fall quickly as newer models arrive. If you can wait for a deal, it is worth picking up.

Milwaukee Cordless Inflator

If you own a fleet of vehicles, this one deserves a permanent spot in the garage. Milwaukee’s cordless inflator is simply the best on the market, with no real comparison. It handles heavy-duty truck tires as if they were nothing, runs faster than the competing DeWalt and Makita units, and has a better cooling fan, so you can work it harder and longer. It was even designed around high-capacity 12Ah batteries, and battery adapters let you run other brands’ packs in it.

It can run on batteries or plug in via an extension cord, a genuinely flexible design with heavy-duty build quality. Sales bring it down to around $200 with two batteries and a charger, and the 5-year warranty outlasts the 3-year coverage offered by rivals, which matters when something fails around the three-and-a-half-year mark.

Makita GD01 Impact Driver

Sometimes the older version is the better buy, and the GD01 proves it. Having tested the newer Japanese and US versions, the first-generation GD01 stands out as the most powerful, the easiest to use, and the most feature-rich of the bunch, while later iterations went backwards in some respects and cost more.

At around $80 tool only on the used market, it is easily one of the best impact drivers you can buy right now. It pairs naturally with Makita’s XGT hammer drill platform if you want a matching set.

Makita XGT Hammer Drill

The first-generation XGT hammer drill is a genuinely heavy-duty tool, and in hammer drill mode it works absolutely brilliantly. The honest caveat is weight: this is not the best drill for everyone because it is heavy, and Makita does not readily offer a non-hammer version. The kit only comes with the hammer drill, while the plain drill driver is available tool only at well over $200.

If you need serious drilling and hammer-drilling capability and do not mind the heft, it is an excellent performer. If you want something lighter and easier to handle, keep reading.

Metabo HPT DS18DDX Drill

For those who do not need a hammer drill, the Metabo HPT DS18DDX is the compact option that nails the fundamentals. It spins fast with plenty of RPM, has enough power to pull out of your hand if you are not careful, and feels just right in terms of size and balance. It will not match a heavy-duty hammer drill on brute force, but for everyday drilling and driving it covers what most people actually need.

The best part is the price: these turn up on the used market for around $40 all day long. For that money, it is a fantastic drill and one of the easiest recommendations in this whole lineup.

Metabo HPT WH18DC Impact Driver

If you buy just one tool from this entire list, the WH18DC is the pick. The 18V triple-hammer impact driver from Metabo HPT is easily one of the best tested this year, and the kit packaging makes it exceptional value: around $120 gets you the tool, two batteries, a charger, and a hard case, all backed by Metabo HPT’s lifetime tool warranty.

It is the impact driver you simply cannot go wrong with, blending strong performance with a price that undercuts far too much of the competition.

Makita XHU08 Hedge Trimmer

The XHU08 is the top-end LXT hedge trimmer from Makita, and it impresses on two fronts that matter most: it is remarkably quiet, and it cuts like butter, silky smooth with tons of power. On a large property of about seven acres, it trimmed the entire grounds on just two 5.0Ah batteries, which is seriously impressive endurance.

It is not cheap. The kit with two 5.0Ah batteries runs around $400, and a lower price would make this an even easier call. But as a replacement for a gas trimmer, it is one of the best tools of the year and well worth the investment for anyone with serious acreage.

Makita XWT12 3/8-Inch Impact Wrench

Rounding out the list is a cheap, endlessly useful little tool. The Makita XWT12 is a brushless 3/8-inch impact wrench, available in teal or black, and while bench testing shows it is actually one of the weakest impact wrenches on the market in raw torque, that misses the point. For assembling small things, working on bikes, or driving small 3/8-inch sockets, it is super handy, and its long, thin body reaches into tight spaces that shorter, stubbier competitors simply cannot get into.

It also includes a bolt removal mode that stops the tool once it senses no more resistance, so fasteners do not go flying. New-in-box units sell for between $50 and $70, and with some deal hunting you can get two for around $100. For the money, it is a must-have that has not let down once.

Overall Buying Advice

A clear pattern runs through these picks: value is about timing as much as brands. Clearance finds like the Metabo HPT circular saw and drill, used-market deals like the GD01 and XWT12, and kit-priced tools like the WH18DC deliver far more capability per dollar than headline prices suggest. On the premium end, the XHU08 hedge trimmer and Milwaukee inflator justify their cost through performance and durability that cheaper rivals cannot match. Check warranty terms too; a 5-year or lifetime guarantee can tip the scales more than any spec sheet.

Conclusion

From yard work to automotive jobs to fine finishing, these eleven tools cover a surprising range of tasks while remaining genuinely pleasant to use. Some are worth buying new at full price, others reward a little patience on the used market, and a few, like the WH18DC impact driver kit, are simply no-brainer purchases. Match the tool to the work you actually do, watch for deals, and any of these picks will serve you well into 2024 and beyond.