5 Cordless Power Tool Kits for Building Your First Workshop

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Buying your first cordless drill is easy. The more expensive decision comes afterward: that first battery and charger can influence which impact driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, and other tools make sense to buy next. Once you have several batteries, switching platforms becomes much less appealing.

That makes choosing a cordless power tool kit different from buying an individual tool. You are not just comparing the drills and saws in the box. You are choosing a battery platform that could stay in your garage or workshop for years, so the tools you might buy later matter almost as much as the ones included today.

Tool count can also be misleading. A five-tool kit with two substantial batteries may be more practical than a seven-tool kit with only one. And a work light counts toward the advertised total just as much as a circular saw. These five kits take different approaches to performance, versatility, battery capacity, and platform selection.

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1. Milwaukee M18 FUEL 5-Tool Combo Kit 3697-25

Best for demanding projects

If you regularly tackle remodeling, construction, or heavier DIY work, higher-tier core tools may matter more than getting the largest possible tool count. The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3697-25 concentrates on drilling, fastening, and cutting.

The kit includes an M18 FUEL 1/2-inch hammer drill/driver, 1/4-inch hex impact driver, SAWZALL reciprocating saw, 6-1/2-inch circular saw, and M18 LED work light. It also comes with two M18 REDLITHIUM XC5.0 batteries, an M18/M12 multi-voltage charger, and a contractor bag

Price: From $599
Where to Buy: Amazon

The four primary power tools use Milwaukee’s POWERSTATE brushless motors and REDLINK PLUS electronics. Milwaukee makes performance, runtime, and durability claims for these technologies, but those are manufacturer claims rather than independent test results. The straightforward benefit of this package is that it puts four tools from Milwaukee’s premium M18 FUEL line into one starter kit.

The hammer drill also has an AutoStop mode designed to limit excessive rotation if the bit binds. The trade-off is variety: the fifth tool is a work light, while some competing kits include another cutting or finishing tool instead.

Buyer fit: Choose the Milwaukee 3697-25 if you want a higher-tier set of core drilling and cutting tools and expect to expand within the M18 platform.

2. DeWalt 20V MAX 7-Tool Combo Kit DCK751P1

Best for a versatile home workshop

A homeowner building a workshop from scratch may soon need more than a drill, impact driver, and a couple of saws. Renovation and woodworking can also call for sanding, curved cuts, and precise cuts in tight spaces. Buying those specialized tools separately can add up quickly.

The DeWalt DCK751P1 includes seven power tools: a DCD777 compact drill/driver, DCF787 brushless impact driver, DCS391 6-1/2-inch circular saw, DCS356 brushless three-speed oscillating multi-tool, DCS334 XR jigsaw, DCW210 brushless variable-speed random orbital sander, and DCS387 compact reciprocating saw.

Price: $799
Where to Buy: Amazon

That selection covers a broad range of jobs. The drill and impact driver handle everyday drilling and fastening, while the circular and reciprocating saws cover general cutting and demolition. The oscillating tool helps with cuts in tight spaces, and the jigsaw and random orbital sander add options for woodworking and finishing.

The catch is the battery package. DeWalt specifies one DCB205 5Ah battery and a DCB1102 charger. All seven tools therefore share one supplied battery, making a second compatible battery an obvious future purchase if you plan to switch between tools during a project.

Buyer fit: Choose the DCK751P1 if a wider selection of workshop tools matters more to you than getting multiple batteries in the box. It is especially well suited to a mix of repairs, renovation, woodworking, and general DIY.

3. Makita 18V LXT 5-Piece Combo Kit XT505

Best for entering the Makita LXT platform

Not every workshop needs the latest premium brushless tools. If your projects are occasional rather than daily professional work, a set of core tools on an established battery platform may be a better starting point.

The Makita XT505 includes an 18V LXT 1/2-inch hammer driver-drill, impact driver, reciprocating saw, 6-1/2-inch circular saw, and Xenon flashlight. Makita also supplies two 3.0Ah LXT batteries, a Rapid Optimum Charger, and a tool bag.

Price: From $499
Where to Buy: Amazon

Makita specifies 480 in-lbs of maximum torque for the hammer drill and 1,460 in-lbs for the impact driver. The circular saw reaches 3,700 RPM, while the reciprocating saw runs at up to 2,800 strokes per minute with a 1-1/4-inch stroke. The charger uses a fan to cool the battery during charging, and Makita lists a 30-minute charge time for the supplied 3.0Ah batteries.

One distinction is worth keeping in mind: Makita identifies the XT505’s motor type as brushed. Treat this as an LXT starter package, not as a kit with the same motor technology as Makita’s newer brushless models.

Buyer fit: The XT505 makes sense if you specifically want to build around Makita LXT and would rather start with two batteries and essential drilling and cutting tools than pay more for a premium brushless kit.

4. Ryobi ONE+ 18V 6-Tool Combo Kit PCL1600K2

Best for homeowners building a DIY collection

A weekend DIYer has different priorities from someone who takes tools to a jobsite every morning. Premium equipment may be hard to justify if most projects involve shelves, furniture, occasional repairs, and home maintenance.

The Ryobi ONE+ PCL1600K2 includes a drill/driver, impact driver, 5-1/2-inch circular saw, reciprocating saw, oscillating multi-tool, and LED work light. It also comes with two batteries, a charger, bag, and accessories.

Price: From $379
Where to Buy: Amazon

The batteries serve different purposes: the kit pairs a compact battery with a 4.0Ah pack. The smaller pack can make a drill or impact driver more comfortable to handle, while the larger one is better suited to jobs where additional runtime matters.

Ryobi’s wider ONE+ platform is another reason to consider the kit. The company advertises more than 300 products compatible with its 18V battery system, extending beyond workshop tools to outdoor equipment, inflators, lighting, and cleaning products.

Buyer fit: The PCL1600K2 suits homeowners who want one battery platform for a wide range of occasional projects. If you expect sustained heavy-duty use, compare Ryobi’s higher-tier HP brushless tools and professional-focused alternatives before committing.

5. RIDGID 18V 5-Tool Combo Kit R96255

Best for two substantial starter batteries

A cordless kit can include plenty of tools and still be inconvenient if it lacks enough batteries to keep more than one ready to use. Moving a single battery between a drill, impact driver, and saw can interrupt a project, and often leads to another purchase.

The RIDGID R96255 includes a drill/driver, impact driver, reciprocating saw, circular saw, and LED work light. It also comes with two 4.0Ah 18V batteries, a charger, tool bag, and accessories. Rather than pairing one larger battery with a much smaller secondary pack, RIDGID supplies two equal-capacity 4.0Ah batteries.

Price: $350
Where to Buy: Mercari

That is useful when a project calls for frequent tool changes. You can leave one battery on a drill or impact driver and use the other in a saw. Battery capacity alone does not determine a tool’s power or exact runtime, but two substantial packs make the kit more flexible from day one.

RIDGID also offers a Lifetime Service Agreement for eligible tools, batteries, and chargers. Coverage is not automatic: eligibility depends on the purchase, and qualifying buyers must register within 90 days and submit proof of purchase. Check the terms for the specific kit and seller before counting on that benefit.

Buyer fit: Consider the R96255 if you value getting two useful-capacity batteries with your first kit and want to build around RIDGID’s 18V platform.

Which kit should you buy?

Look beyond the number on the box. Check which tools are included, how many batteries you get, which tools use brushless motors, and what else you could add on the same platform.

Milwaukee is the strongest fit here for buyers prioritizing higher-tier core tools for demanding work. DeWalt offers the broadest selection of power tools in this group, but only one battery. Makita provides an established LXT starting point with two batteries, while Ryobi emphasizes DIY variety across a large ONE+ ecosystem. RIDGID stands out for including two 4.0Ah batteries.

Choose the kit with the tools you will use now and the battery platform you will still want as your workshop grows.

[ Cover Image from Pexels | Cottonbro Studio ]

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