Milwaukee M18 Compact Brushless Lineup: Drill Driver, Hammer Drill, Impact Driver and Combo Kit

Introduction

Milwaukee has expanded its M18 range with a set of compact brushless tools that focus on one thing above all else: size. The new lineup covers a half-inch drill driver, a half-inch hammer drill, a hex impact driver and a two-piece combo kit, and the headline claim is simple. These tools are even smaller than the previous compact generations, which were already short and light.

If you work in tight spaces, climb ladders all day, or simply want a lighter tool for repetitive tasks, this release cycle deserves a look. Here is what each tool offers, what the specs say, and which one makes the most sense for your needs.

What We Evaluated

Because all four products share the same M18 battery platform and compact brushless design, the useful differences come down to power, size, speed and price. We focused on torque and RPM figures, tool weight and length, whether each model is sold tool-only or in a kit, and the overall value of the combo option.

M18 Compact Brushless Half-Inch Drill Driver

The half-inch compact drill driver sits at the entry point of the lineup at $139 for the tool only. It weighs 2.3 pounds without a battery, measures 5.7 inches in length, and delivers 550 inch-pounds of torque with a two-speed transmission topping out at 1,700 RPM. It carries the usual clutch settings and a front-mounted LED light, all in a body that is noticeably smaller than earlier compact generations.

That torque figure is not extreme, and this is not positioned as an all-day production drill. What it offers instead is a genuinely compact package for driving and light drilling tasks where a smaller tool is easier to control and carry.

If you prefer to start with a battery and charger included, the kit version pairs the drill driver with a 2Ah M18 battery and a multi-voltage charger at a reasonable step up in price for Milwaukee gear.

M18 Compact Brushless Half-Inch Hammer Drill

The compact hammer drill shares the same core figures: 550 inch-pounds of torque, up to 1,700 RPM, and a claimed 2.3-pound tool weight. The difference is the added hammer functionality, packed into a body that is smaller than the already compact Gen 3 and Gen 4 hammer drills. Milwaukee specs a 5/8-inch capacity, and the tool runs on the same brushless motor with REDLINK intelligence and an all-metal gear case, and it accepts any M18 battery.

This is a tool for small jobs and tight-area work rather than a primary hammer drill for heavy masonry duty. If you occasionally need to anchor into concrete or block but do not want the bulk of a full-size hammer drill, it fills that niche well.

M18 Compact Brushless Hex Impact Driver

The hex impact driver is arguably the most interesting of the three individual tools. It is priced at $149 tool only, weighs just 1.7 pounds, and measures 4.4 inches in length. Despite the compact body, it pushes out 1,700 inch-pounds of torque, 3,600 impacts per minute and up to 4,900 RPM, with a three-speed control that is analog rather than digital.

Those numbers matter when you compare it to the full-size M18 impact driver, which delivers 2,000 inch-pounds and 3,900 RPM but weighs 3.8 pounds, nearly a pound more. The compact model gives up relatively little power while being far easier to slot into tighter spaces, which is exactly the point of this release.

A kit version with a 2Ah battery and charger runs $199, and a hex three-speed version is available separately at $149.

Two-Piece Combo Kit: Best Value in the Lineup

The two-piece combo kit bundles the compact drill driver and the hex impact driver with two 2Ah batteries, a charger and a contractor bag for $239. Given that the two tools cost $139 and $149 separately tool only, the kit is the clear value pick if you need both anyway.

You get the full compact story in one purchase: the smallest drill driver and impact driver bodies in the M18 compact line, matched batteries, and everything ready to work out of the bag. For anyone building out an M18 collection or replacing an older drill and impact pair, this is likely the best bang for the buck in the lineup.

Buying Advice

If you only need one tool, the impact driver is the standout: 1.7 pounds, 4.4 inches long, and 1,700 inch-pounds of torque is an impressive balance of size and capability. If you need both a drill and an impact, skip the individual purchases and go straight for the $239 combo kit.

Keep in mind that the compact design trades away some raw power. The drill and hammer drill both top out at 550 inch-pounds, which is fine for light and medium duty but not a substitute for a full-size model if you drive large fasteners all day. The launch window for this lineup was August 2023, so the tools should be widely available now, either in stock or as pre-orders depending on your region.

Conclusion

Milwaukee’s new compact brushless M18 lineup is a straightforward proposition: the same platform most tradespeople already own, in noticeably smaller and lighter bodies. The drill driver and hammer drill suit tight-area and occasional-duty work, the hex impact driver punches well above its weight, and the two-piece combo kit at $239 is the most economical way to get both core tools with batteries and a charger included.