Makita PF400MP Pump Attachment vs Milwaukee M12 Stick Pump: Which One Moves Water Faster?

Introduction

When flooding hits, the difference between a nuisance and a disaster is often how fast you can move water. Two cordless options approach that problem very differently: the Makita PF400MP, a pump attachment that piggybacks on an existing power head, and the Milwaukee M12 stick pump, a compact all-in-one unit. Both are built around the batteries you may already own, but their output numbers are not close, and that shapes who each one is for.

What the Makita PF400MP Is

The PF400MP is a pump attachment rather than a standalone tool. It mounts onto Makita power heads, and the same attachment works across the 18V, 36V and 40V platforms, so whichever system you already run, you can clip it on and start shifting water. Drop the intake into the water and it comes out of the 25mm (one inch) outlet with real force, as long as your hose matches that inner diameter.

It is a simple unit: a clamped outlet fitting that screws off easily, an intake strainer held by a single screw, and tiny legs under the intake that let it keep sucking even when it is not quite sitting on the bottom. It weighs about a kilogram, and it is short, roughly 700mm long, so it stows without fuss.

Real-World Pumping Test

The attachment was tested under genuinely demanding conditions, pushing water through 23 metres of hose and lifting it nearly two metres up to the top of a fence line, which it managed comfortably. On a four amp-hour battery it kept performing through repeated runs, and even on its lowest speed it emptied a small pit holding roughly 30 litres in about 30 seconds. That is serviceable pace for cleaning out small spaces and shifting meaningful volumes of water, not just trickling.

Flow Rates and Head Height Compared

The headline numbers depend on which power head you pair it with. The 40V setup moves up to 150 litres per minute with a 15 metre head height. The 36V configuration is close behind at 145 litres per minute, and even the basic 18V setup manages 120 litres per minute with a 14 metre head. Lower speeds scale sensibly: the mid setting on the multi-speed units sits around 140 litres per minute, and the two-speed 18V unit runs about 100 litres per minute on its faster setting.

The Milwaukee M12 stick pump plays in a different league. It moves 34 litres per minute with a 4.6 metre head, roughly one-fifth of the volume of the 40V Makita setup and less than half its head height. Even the 18V Makita configuration moves nearly four times the water and lifts more than twice as high. The trade-off is the M12’s compact, grab-and-go nature, which suits small jobs where 34 litres a minute is plenty.

Maintenance and Everyday Practicality

Keeping the PF400MP running is straightforward. One screw secures the intake mesh; remove it, give it a twist, and you can rinse out sand or silt inside. Try to avoid sucking up grit in the first place: resting the pump on a block so the intake sits above the muddy bottom helps, and the little legs keep it drawing even in shallow water. It can pull from a starting depth of 20 millimetres, dropping to about 10 millimetres once running, which makes it effective for the last awkward centimetres of flood water.

One regional caveat worth checking: in New Zealand, the 40V configuration with this attachment is not technically approved under electromagnetic regulations because the serial number range falls below the required threshold, even though the locally published manual does not mention it. If you are outside that market, this likely does not apply to you, but verify locally before buying.

Buying Advice

If you already own a Makita power head, the PF400MP is a very practical flood-response tool: light, compact, and genuinely fast at moving water. Choose it for draining garages, pits and driveways during heavy rain events. If your needs are smaller and occasional, the Milwaukee M12 stick pump is easier to live with day to day, but expect roughly a fifth of the throughput. Neither tool is built for deep, whole-property inundation; if the water is over the level of your car, both will struggle to keep up.

Conclusion

The Makita PF400MP is the stronger water-mover by a wide margin, especially on the 36V and 40V power heads, and it earns its place as an emergency flood tool. The Milwaukee M12 stick pump remains a tidy option for small, quick jobs. Match the tool to the volume of water you actually face and you will be happy with either.