Real data, ranked. No fluff, no filler.
Loyal to Makita teal? Here's the highest-ranked Makita in each of our top-10 lists, from 18V LXT cordless tools to corded grinders and sanders.
Makita owners usually stay on the 18V LXT battery platform, and Makita's corded tools have a strong reputation of their own. This page shows the best Makita in each of our ranked lists, whether it runs on LXT batteries or plugs into the wall. Every pick is scored on the same data as everything else on the site: Amazon star rating, number of reviews, and the features that matter for the job.
13 Makita tools made our top-10 lists, across 13 of 31 categories. Makita scores highest of any brand in 1 of them and is our Best Overall pick in 0. Below is the best Makita in each category, with an honest note wherever another brand ranked higher.
The Makita pick — a brushless 18V LXT jigsaw with a soft no-load start that ramps the blade up gradually for a cleaner starting cut, plus three orbital settings and a straight-cut mode. Bare tool on the LXT platform.
Top score from any brand: the DEWALT DCS334B (92/100), 17 points ahead.
The Makita LXT pick: a 4.8-star multi-tool with a wide 3.2° swing for faster cuts and a slim 2-3/8" grip. Ships with adapters for other brands' blades. Bare tool, so bring an 18V LXT battery.
Top score from any brand: the DEWALT DCS356 Kit (93/100), 15 points ahead.
The Makita pick — a BL brushless motor with Automatic Speed Change that adjusts speed and torque on the fly, plus Active Feedback-sensing Technology that cuts power if the wheel suddenly binds. 3,122 reviews at 4.8 stars.
Top score from any brand: the DEWALT DCG413B (88/100), 3 points ahead.
The highest-rated sander on this list at 4.8 stars across 2,842 reviews. Three fixed speed settings (7,000/9,500/11,000 OPM) switch with a one-touch control, a pad brake cuts down free-spin for a cleaner finish, and Makita rates it for up to 40 minutes of runtime per charge.
Top score from any brand: the DEWALT DCW210B (92/100), 15 points ahead.
A sub-compact 10-3/4" hammer for overhead and tight-space anchor work on Makita batteries. It's the smallest tool on the list, and the least powerful.
Top score from any brand: the DEWALT DCH273B (85/100), 11 points ahead.
A light 3.7 lb Makita with a 1/2 in keyless chuck and an in-line handle that keeps the bit on target. A good fit for accurate, lower-torque drilling in wood and metal.
Top score from any brand: the BLACK+DECKER DR260C (86/100), 23 points ahead.
A pro-grade corded classic — smooth, fast (5,800 rpm), and built to last, with twin LED lights on the cut line. A favorite of tradespeople who don't want a worm drive.
Top score from any brand: the SKIL 5280-01 (89/100), 11 points ahead.
A pro-grade Makita with a big 1-1/4" stroke and a tool-less blade clamp — a longtime favorite of tradespeople for tearing through framing and metal. Sold here in a renewed listing.
Top score from any brand: the DEWALT DWE305 (86/100), 18 points ahead.
The one to buy if you want the whole package. It's the highest-rated grinder on the list at 4.8 stars, and it ships as a real kit: the tool, a diamond blade, five grinding wheels, both a grinding and a cut-off guard, and a case. Labyrinth-sealed motor and a metal gear housing back up the price.
The highest score of any brand in our corded angle grinders list.
The one to buy if you sand for a living or just want the best. It's the highest-rated sander on the list at 4.8 stars, with the widest speed range here (4,000 to 12,000 OPM), a rubberized palm grip that kills vibration, and a hard case. You pay for it, but Makita build quality is why it lasts.
Top score from any brand: the Bosch ROS20VSC (92/100), 6 points ahead.
The pro's pick if you sand dust matters. A 6.5-amp Makita with a through-the-body dust port that hooks to a vacuum, a counterbalance system that keeps vibration low, and tool-less blade changes. Three orbital settings plus a straight-cut mode, and it comes in a tool case.
Top score from any brand: the SKIL JS314901 (91/100), 8 points ahead.
Makita's pro kit: push-button temperature control from 122 to 1,202°F in 50°F steps with an LCD readout, a three-position airflow switch (cool, low, high), and a case with four nozzles. Built for vehicle wraps, tinting, and daily trade use.
Top score from any brand: the SEEKONE SDL-2816 (92/100), 9 points ahead.
Makita's AVT counterweight system cancels much of the hammering vibration, and a torque-limiting clutch protects the gears if the bit binds. A pro-grade D-handle with 40 chisel angle settings.
Top score from any brand: the ENEACRO ENRH3201 (95/100), 16 points ahead.
No Makita product made these lists when we last checked. Here are the best picks from any brand:
No. They're three separate platforms, and each battery fits only its own line of tools. 18V LXT is Makita's largest platform, and it's the one every Makita cordless tool on this page uses.
It means tool only: no battery or charger in the box. For example, XAG04Z is the bare angle grinder. That's the cheaper way to buy if you already own LXT batteries.
Our lists are built from Amazon's best-selling, most-reviewed products, and no Makita drill or impact driver made those top 10s when we last checked. See our cordless drill and impact driver lists for the best from any brand.
Because that's where Makita scores best in our data. Its corded angle grinder, random orbit sander, and jigsaw rank near the top of their lists, and corded tools don't tie you to any battery platform.