DeWalt vs Bosch Power Tools | Which Is Better

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DeWalt vs Bosch

DeWalt and Bosch are two of the biggest names in the power tool industry and are both trusted by DIYers, tradesmen, engineers, and other professionals.

Choosing between DeWalt and Bosch can be difficult, so in this article we discuss their differences to help you make the decision. We’ll delve into the history of these two power tool brands, assess the quality of their products, and the differences between them. We'll look at the pros and cons of each, evaluate their warranties, and compare their prices.

History & Reputation

DeWalt

Since 1924, DeWalt has been a leader in the power tool industry. Founded by Raymond E. DeWalt, the company has grown to become one of the world’s most recognisable brands, with a presence in more than 150 countries. The company’s beginnings were humble. Raymond DeWalt was an inventor who wanted to improve the accuracy and efficiency of woodworking machinery. He decided to focus on the radial arm saw, which was a popular tool at the time. To make the saw more precise, he developed a unique, streamlined version which was patented in 1924 and dubbed the DeWalt Wonder Worker. The Wonder Worker was a hit, and it quickly put DeWalt on the map, becoming the industry standard for radial arm saws. This propelled the company’s growth and in 1929 DeWalt opened its first factory in Baltimore, Maryland. Over the next several decades, DeWalt continued to innovate and expand its product line.

In 1942, the company released the world’s first electric jigsaw and in 1945 the first DeWalt electric drill was released – revolutionary at the time. This was the first of many power tool products to come from the company. In 1960, DeWalt released the first cordless drill made in the United States, which was a huge success, setting the company on the path to becoming one of the top power tool manufacturers in the world. Throughout the years, DeWalt has continued to innovate, release new products, and expand its product line.

Bosch

Since its founding in 1886, Bosch has been a leader in power and hand tools, with a long history of innovation and growth. The company began as a small workshop in Stuttgart, Germany, where Robert Bosch developed the world’s first spark plug. From there, the company grew to become one of the leading global producers of power tools and hand tools. In the early 1900s, Bosch developed some of the earliest power tools, including electric drills, hand saws, and grinders. The company also began to manufacture industrial tools for the automotive and construction industries. By the mid-20th century, Bosch had become one of the most recognised names in the power tool industry, developing products such as jigsaws, band saws, routers, and more.

In the 1970s, Bosch introduced their first cordless power tools, giving users the freedom to take their tools wherever they needed them. This innovation revolutionised the power tool industry and allowed users the freedom to move around the jobsite – without being tethered to a power source, making Bosch one of the most popular brands of power tools on the market. Today, Bosch continues to innovate and produce high-quality tools. The company’s product line includes both cordless and corded tools, ranging from benchtop power tools to industrial-grade tools. With a long history of innovation and quality, Bosch has been a leader in the power tool industry for more than a century.

Range and Power

Browse our range of cordless power tools and you’ll see hundreds of options from both DeWalt and Bosch – the two brands are known worldwide for excellence and durability. This means that, no matter what kind of tool you need, DeWalt and Bosch will usually have several models to choose from.

Bosch is a global leader in power tools, but DeWalt is one of several brands bringing increased power to the market. The best example of this shift is the range of 54v FLEXVOLT cordless tools offered by DeWalt.

The XR FLEXVOLT is a convertible 18/54v battery, which is backwards compatible with your existing 18v DEWALT tools. However, you’ll be able to amplify the voltage to an incredible 54v for a more heavy-duty tool! In fact, the batteries automatically switch voltage when you change tools! Rest assured DeWalt are not intending to replace the existing 18v range, they are simply expanding their range with bigger, more powerful tools.

Bosch is developing a range of 36v power tools accompanied by a range of multi-voltage batteries. These products haven’t yet launched in the United Kingdom but if you want to know when they become available, you can sign up to our mailing list for updates and offers.

Reliability and Warranties

Part of the reason DeWalt and Bosch are market-leading brands is the quality of their products. No matter whether you choose DeWalt or Bosch, you’ll be investing in tools which have been built to last.

However, from time to time, things do go wrong, either during the manufacturing process or when the tool is in use. So, it is worth thinking about the warranty policy operated by each company.

DeWalt's policy is that if your product becomes defective due to faulty materials or workmanship within 12 months from the date of purchase, they may replace all defective parts free of charge, or at their discretion, replace the unit free of charge. This can be extended to three years by registering the product on the DeWalt website. The 3-Year Guarantee can’t be extended or transferred; it is only applicable to the first owner of the tool.

Bosch are equally confident in the quality of their products. Register a power tool or measuring tool on the Bosch Pro 360 portal within four weeks of purchase and they will extend their standard guarantee from one to three years.

OK; how do the products compare?

There’s a lot to consider when choosing power tools. High performance is obviously important, but you might also want to think about the tool’s overall size and weight, whether it is supplied with a battery and if it is supplied with accessories.

You may also need to think about whether you can get the tool you want for the price you’re looking to pay. At ToolStore UK, we understand that power tools are a big financial commitment and constantly check our prices to ensure we offer the best price we possibly can, on every product we sell.

In this section, we’ll look at how cordless DeWalt and Bosch products of various types measure up against each other, including:

Cordless Impact Drivers

For this test, we’re going to compare the DeWalt DCF887 Impact Driver with 2 x 5 ah Batteries and the Bosch GDX18V-200 18v Brushless Impact Driver/Wrench with 2x5ah Batteries. The key specifications of these two tools are as follows:

	DeWalt DCF887	Bosch GDX18V-200
Max Torque:	205 Nm	200Nm
No Load Speed	0-3250 rpm	0-3400 rpm
Impacts Per Minute:	0-3800 ipm	0-4200 ipm
Bit Holder:	6.35mm (1/4")	6.35mm (1/4")
Weight:	1.56kg	1.2kg
Hand/Arm Vibration - Impact:	22 m/s²	11.2 m/s²
Sound Power:	107 dB(A)	109.5 dB(A)

The DeWalt Impact Driver provides slightly more torque than the Bosch equivalent, which is also slightly noisier. However, the Bosch GDX18v-200 offers a higher no-load speed and a greater impact rate, which will help trade professionals work efficiently. The Bosch tool is lighter and has a significantly lower rate of vibration too, both of which could make a significant difference to user comfort if working with the tool all day.

READ MORE: DIY - A Beginner's Guide

Cordless Combi Drills

At the time of this product test, DeWalt hasn’t launched a 54v Cordless Combi Drill so we’re going to look at how the DeWalt DCD999H2T 18v Brushless Flexvolt Combi Drill with 2x5ah Powerstack Batteries stacks up against the Bosch GSB18V-110C 18v Brushless Combi Drill with 2x5ah Batteries + L-Boxx.

The key specifications of these two tools are as follows:

	DeWalt DCD999T1	Bosch GSB18V-110C
Max Torque:	112 Nm	110 Nm
No Load Speed:	0 - 2250 rpm	0 - 2100 rpm
Impacts per Minute:	0 - 38250 ipm	0 - 31500 ipm
Capacity in Masonry:	13 mm	16 mm
Capacity in Metal:	15 mm	13 mm
Capacity in Wood:	55 mm	82 mm
Batteries Supplied	2 x 5ah Powerstack	2 x 5 ah

At first glance, there isn’t a huge amount of difference in the performance of these drills. The Bosch GSB18V-110C has an advantage over the DeWalt tool when drilling in wood, but the DCD999T1 is supplied with the new DeWalt Powerstack batteries. These innovative accessories are 25% more compact, weigh 15% less and deliver 50% more power than their predecessors. They’re also compatible with all existing DeWalt 18v XR cordless tools. This might make the DCD999T1 a strong choice for professionals needing a tool for all day use.

Cordless Circular Saws

In the Circular Saw market, DeWalt has a power advantage at the time of writing (March 2023). The DeWalt DCS577T2 54v FLEXVOLT Brushless Circular Saw with 2x 6ah Batteries brings 54v of energy to cutting tasks while the Bosch GKS18V-68C 18v Brushless Circular Saw with 1x5.5ah Battery + LBoxx works with Bosch’s existing 18v batteries. Both machines are fitted with 190mm diameter blades and supplied with a charger.

The key specifications of these two tools are as follows:

	DeWalt DCS557T2	Bosch GKS18V-68C
Voltage	54v	18v
Maximum Cut at 45º°:	50 mm	50 mm
Maximum Cut at 90º°:	65 mm	68 mm
Batteries Supplies	2 x 6ah FLEXVOLT	1 x 5.5 ah

The DCS557T2 will produce up to 170 cuts of 200mm x 50mm softwood on a single charge of the supplied 6ah FLEXVOLT battery, while the GKS18V-68C provides best-in-class performance among 18v . Which machine is right for you might depend on the volume and kind of work you’ll need it to do, especially if you’ll be doing a lot of angled cutting and would benefit from the additional power and battery life offered by DeWalt.

Are DeWalt Power Tools Better Than Bosch Power Tools

Cordless Mitre Saws

As they have with Circular Saws, DeWalt have developed 54v Cordless Mitre Saws which move beyond 18v power and make full use of new battery technology. The DeWalt DCS777T2 54v Flexvolt 216mm Mitre Saw with 2x6ah Batteries is DeWalt’s next generation Mitre Saw. The only Bosch product in our range which can be compared with it is the Bosch GCM18V-216 18v Brushless 216mm Mitre Saw (Body Only).

The key specifications of these two tools are as follows:

	DeWalt DCS577T2	Bosch GCM18V0216
Voltage	54v	28v
Blade Diameter:	216 mm	216 mm
Bore:	30 mm	30 mm
No Load Speed	6300 rpm	4600 rpm
Bevel Capacity:	48°	45°
Maximum Mitre Range	50° - 50°	47° - 47°
Maximum Cutting Capacity	270 x 62 mm	270 x 70 mm
Batteries Supplied	2 x 6ah FLEXVOLT	None

Given the difference in power, the Bosch Mitre Saw performs well in comparison to the DeWalt tool. Because the DeWalt DCS577 runs at a higher voltage, the blade rotates much more quickly. The extra 1,700 revolutions per minute make the tool extremely efficient, enabling cuts to be completed more quickly and smoothly than with most similar tools.

At 18v, the Bosch GCM18V-216 is again a market leader and offers deeper cuts than the closest equivalent 18v models manufactured by DeWalt or Makita.

So, which is better? DeWalt or Bosch?

How you answer that question might depend on a range of factors, including the cost of new tools and how you plan to use them. Cordless tools from Bosch which run on 18v batteries offer some of the best performance in this class but if you’re a trade professional looking to ‘future proof’ your upgrades, DeWalt’s FLEXVOLT technology, which powers both next-generation 54v machines and existing 18v cordless tools could be a great value option.

If you’re assembling a tool kit from scratch, or don’t feel tied to a particular tool brand, you should think about how to get the most from your money. If you already have a mixture of different tools and just need one machine, you should select the model which most closely meets your needs and fits your budget. If you need something which comes in at a lower price point to the products we’ve looked at in this article, or your work doesn’t require quite so much power, then we have a raft of alternatives. These include cordless body only machines, which can be a great value option if you already have batteries and chargers and corded power tools, which bring a lot of power to any job, but lack the portability of battery-powered options.

Both brands also offer an extensive range of Accessories to complement their power tools. DeWalt batteries are changing the game in terms of voltage and size, thanks to the new FLEXVOLT and Powerstack technologies. For their part, Bosch batteries are reliable and offer great value for money. Both brands are also well known for their top-quality drill bits and accessories. You can browse DeWalt drill bits by clicking here and Bosch drill bits by clicking here. Whatever you need to make the most of your power tools, we are here to help.

Shop the full range of DeWalt Accessories by clicking here.

Shop the full range of Bosch Accessories by clicking here.

ToolStore UK can help you choose the right option

ToolStore UK is a family-run business with a tight-knit team, many of whom have worked with us for decades. We understand that investing in new tools is a major financial commitment and we want every purchase made from us to be the right one, at the right price.

We constantly compare our prices to offer the best possible deal to everyone and our people are passionate about what they do. If you need any advice before pressing the ‘Buy Now’ button, you can call us on 03330 043777, or fill out the contact form to send us a message. We even have a shop within walking distance of the Wigan railway stations if you wanted to talk to one of the team in person.