Metabo HPT 18V Flashlight and Work Light: One Cordless Light That Does Both

Introduction

Metabo HPT calls it a torch, but in practice it is a flashlight and a flood light in one compact cordless body. That combination is what makes it interesting: most competing work lights give you one mode or the other, while this one switches between a focused beam and a broad work light with a couple of clicks. It runs on a wide range of batteries from the brand’s lineup, and it is priced as an affordable accessory rather than a major investment.

Who This Light Is For

If you spend time under a car lift, working in engine bays, or moving around a shop where the light source is never quite where you need it, this is the kind of tool that earns its spot. You can set it down, hang it, or carry it as a flashlight, which covers most of the lighting situations that come up during a working day.

It also makes sense for anyone already in the Metabo HPT or Hitachi battery ecosystem, since the light accepts several battery families. Even campers and hunters looking for a versatile cordless light could find a use for it.

Main Strengths

The simplicity is a genuine highlight. One button steps through the modes: the first click activates the flashlight, the second the flood light, then medium, low, and off. No menus, no fumbling.

Runtime is the other big number. With a 4 amp hour 18V battery, the flashlight runs for up to 35 hours, while the work light manages about 13 hours on high, 24 on medium, and 41 on low. On high, the work light puts out 230 lumens, and it holds that output rather than dimming as the battery drains; low mode delivers roughly a third of that.

Mounting flexibility is well thought out too. There is a hanger in the back and a second hook, both stored inside the body, so you can hang the light overhead or set it on a surface depending on the job. A short cable for shop use is included, though the rear connection point did not work reliably in testing.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The light is LED-based, lightweight, and comfortable to carry around, which makes it easy to toss in a bag or set down wherever needed. The warranty is 2 years, which is respectable but not the lifetime coverage some might prefer for a tool like this.

It is also worth noting that other brands offer similar work lights. DeWalt has a comparable model without the flashlight mode, and Milwaukee has a similar option as well. All of them get used under the lift; this one stands out for combining the flashlight mode with a stable base, which may make it a go-to.

Buying Advice

This is an affordable light, not an overpriced one, and the value comes from the mode count and battery compatibility. It accepts Hitachi 14.4V batteries, 18V batteries, Metabo HPT 18V batteries, and the MultiVolt 36V batteries, so it can slot into an existing tool collection without adding a new battery platform.

If you mainly need a broad work light for under-car work, this covers it. If you also want a flashlight mode in the same unit, that is where it pulls ahead of several similar lights from other brands.

Conclusion

The Metabo HPT 18V flashlight and work light packs flexible mounting, long runtimes, steady 230-lumen output, and multi-battery compatibility into a light, affordable package. For shop work, under-car tasks, or even outdoor use, it replaces a few single-purpose lights in one go.