Best Power Tools 2023

Sep 27, 2023

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Upgrade your saw, drill, or nailer with these award-winning picks.

If your tastes in woodworking equipment run toward heavy hitters, you’ll like the Bora 3.25-hp router motor (PM-6210) and fixed base (PM-6200) that supports it. Its 15-amp motor and high horsepower gives it incredible wood cutting power. But its soft-start feature brings motor speed up slowly and dial-adjust speed control (10,000-20,000 rpm) help you keep it all safely under control by allowing you to match motor speed to bit diameter.

Fixed base PM-6210

We’re reciprocating connoisseurs at Popular Mechanics. But we’re not snobs. We think there's plenty of room in the DIY market for a sturdy little recirprocating saw, as this 4.8-pound power tool demonstrates. We used it to make fast and vibration-free cuts in Douglas fir framing lumber and were pleasantly surprised by its power. The kit (saw, battery, charger) also comes with three blades: metal, wood, and one for tree branch pruning.

We hooked up an 18-gauge finish nailer to this little 36-volt compressor and went bam, bam, bam test firing 2-inch brads as fast as we could pull the trigger. You can fire 8 to 10 of these before the compressor kicks in, and we noticed that the battery only declined a full bar on its scale after firing about three dozen various brads and staples. It takes the same batteries as other Metabo-HPT power tools, and with a 2.5-Ah battery it weighs only 28.6 pounds.

We don't know how much more you can ask of a homeowner-grade power tool than the fact that this 3-pound impact driver easily drives and removes No. 10 x 3-inch construction screws, driving each of them into Douglas fir without a pilot hole. And at this price you get the tool, charger and two 2-Ah batteries. It's hard to beat the price-performance value here.

This tool is called the Restorer, and that is a pretty good description of it. It's a power drum sander, grinder, polisher with adjustable speed output from a leisurely 1000 rpm all the way up to 3200 rpm. If you need to strip paint off of metal or wood, grind the surface off of salvaged lumber before running it through the planer or polish something you just welded together, the Restorer will do it. Just one thing. Use the adapter that comes with it to connect to a shop vacuum because its output is prodigious. You don't want to be breathing in what the drum strips.

Fun is not a normally a word we use to describe the heavy lifting that goes into testing for Tool Awards. On the other hand, there are pleasant little surprises along the way, such as this 4-volt screwdriver that can charge via an adapter plugged into a 120-volt outlet or via a USB cable. We used it to spin in and remove big machine screws, dainty little screws for electrical cover plates and everything in between. Bonus: it comes with 34 bits.

To test Milwaukee's power source we plugged in a 15-amp worm drive Skil circular saw and went to work cutting framing lumber. No problem. Milwaukee says the sine wave of its output is nice and smooth, so we checked it with a Fluke oscilloscope. Score another one for the Milwaukee. Balance and weight also checked out. We plugged in four 5-Ah. Batteries and found the power source weighed only 34 pounds and was easy to carry, thanks to a well-placed handle. What more do you want? Of course, it also charges power tool batteries and has multiple outlet ports for running more than one tool at a time or in sequence.

SawStop has become famous, and justly so, for the technology that stops its table saw blades instantly on making contact with human flesh. This compact benchtop saw is equipped with the company's famous finger-saving technology and is among the best small saws we have ever used due to its power, an easily-installed riving knife and blade guard, and a rack-and-pinion fence that is dead on parallel to the blade.

This 4-volt pistol grip drill-driver delivers surprising versatility and power. Versatility in that its body converts between a pistol grip and inline style, just twist its body to make the conversion. We tested it for power by slipping in a ¼-inch twist drill and made a bunch of holes through a Douglas fir 2 x 4. Yes, the little tool did struggle through those but the fact that it could make them speaks well for it. We also drove No. 6, 1-1/4-inch wood screws into Douglas fir without a pilot hole.

Weighing just 4.6 pounds with a 2-Ah battery, you might think this 20-volt 23-gauge pin nailer can't cut it. Think again. While it's true that it fires a headless wire pin that is so fine, you have to double check that it's there, it does fire the fasteners just about as fast as you can pull the trigger. We fired 1-inch headless pins into Douglas fir framing; the tool works with fasteners as short as 5/8 in. to as long as 1-1/2 in.

Here's what you get with Bosch's new oscillating multitool: accurately dial-adjusted speed (8,000-20,000 oscillations per minute), power to get the job done (with a fresh wood blade chucked in, it buried the blade to its full depth almost instantly) and control due to a well-shaped handle and weight distribution. Anything else? Its Starlock accessories click on and off easily.

This is a respectable little cordless drill. By "respectable" we mean that we chucked in a 7/16-inch twist drill and made full depth holes in a pressure treated 4 x 4. Yes, the drill did struggle toward the bottom of the hole, but it made it. We then chucked in a 1/4-inch twist drill and made some holes in 1/4-inch steel. Yes, we noted some struggle but the drill did everything we asked of it in our testing. We’ve seen similarly priced and powered drills stopped dead in their tracks by these tests. If you’re looking for a capable and inexpensive cordless drill driver, you’d do well to consider this.

Bosch has long held a commanding position in jig saws because it has paid sustained attention to this power tool and done so in a way that other manufacturers have not. That institutional expertise explains why this jig saw cuts wood and metal so smoothly and easily, without vibration or even a lot of noise. It's also equipped with a dust blower, a work light, and tool-free access to install and remove blades. In all, it's a great saw.

Equipped with the 2.5-Ah battery with which we tested it (it's sold bare), this 4-1/2-inch angle grinder weighs just 5 pounds—a flyweight in the world of these tools. We found its light weight and lack of vibration make it perfect for small cutting and grinding jobs. Amateurs and industrial users alike appreciate that. Also notable: the grinder's guard rotates easily and without tools. Its well-designed slide switch easily locks on and off.

Ridgid's shop vacuums have done very well in our tests, and its newest 18-volt model is no exception. We see it as a great fit for the homeowner or professional. The 3-gallon vacuum has plenty of reach owing to is 6-foot hose and cordless portability. Both amateurs and professionals will appreciate that it's reasonably quiet and has more than enough power for typical cleanup.

Among the more pleasant surprises in the Tool Award tests is this lightweight (7.2-lb.) cordless circular saw that is spunky, easy handling and safe, owing to an electric brake that stops the blade the moment you release the saw trigger. It has a a 2-1/8-inch depth of cut and enough power to crosscut Douglas fir framing lumber and pressure-treated lumber. Its work light is also great, illuminating the cut line. Bonus: it's a kit, so you don't have to shop separately for the 4-Ah battery. It comes with it.

If you don't use a circular saw in your daily work, what do you need in such a tool? Lightweight, power, and safety­–the same things pros need. This Ryobi delivers. We ripped and crosscut Douglas fir framing lumber and were pleased with its power, light weight and an electronic brake that stops the blade instantly. The 6-1/2-inch saw's cut depth of 2-1/4 inches is plenty for typical jobs and its 24-tooth carbide blade is ideal for framing lumber.

If you need contractor-duty power in a cordless saw, this is a good choice. We crosscut typical Douglas fir framing lumber, ripped and crosscut 2 x 10 pressure treated. Our final test was to push it as hard as we could at full cut depth (2-5/8 inches) in pressure treated southern pine 4 x 4. We were pleased by its power and handling in all the cuts. Its blade brake halts the blade instantly which is handy for stop-start cuts while increasing safety.

Standing just 4-1/2 inches tall, this 18-volt sander is one of the lowest profile sanders we know of, about equal to those powered by compressed air. That's handy when sanding inside a piece of furniture. It's also very light weight; with a 4-Ah battery it weighs 3.6 pounds. It sands very quiety and nicely with six speeds. Its dust collection, via a screw-on bag is about as good as we’ve seen on any sander, cordles or corded.

Sinking 3-inch No. 10 wood screws and 4-1/2-inch-long lag screws is all in a day's work for this thoroughly pro-duty impact driver, we found. A small switch on its front operates its electronic speed and torque control to help you set the tool to drive large and small wood screws, sheet metal screws and lag screws. The ring light behind its chuck is bright enough to help you see in an unlighted or poorly lighted attic, basement or under a deck.

The improved version of the Switchdriver is the perfect problem solver for anyone who spends a lot of time drilling pilot holes and driving mounting screws. Press the chuck-release button above the trigger and quickly rotate the chuck for drilling or driving. To drive a screw, press the digitally-controlled switch at the top of the tool and select a number 1 through 9, for less or more driving force. Press the adjacent button with a drill icon on it to drill a hole. The design is ingenious.

Not only is this tool a great belt sander in its own right, owing to its speed, power and compact size, but it's an obvious tool addition to anyone already on Milwaukee's formidable platform of 18-volt tools. We tried the machine on red oak (a pallet, no less), white pine, and lauan plywood. It performed flawlessly on each.

The DCD805 ran at a sprint through our cordless drill test, pumping out 160 holes drilled with a 1-inch spade bit and did so without sign of thermal stress. It didn't even feel warm after we were done. Even with the hefty 5-Ah battery we installed on it (it's sold without a battery) it weighs a relatively modest 4.2 pounds. Bonus: although it's light weight, it still manages to pack a hammer function for masonry drilling.

Dynamite can make a faster hole, but this Milwaukee hammer drill is a lot more precise–and quieter, too. With a remarkably slim handle and modest weight (5 pounds) the Milwaukee hammer drill is a massive hole-blasting monster, producing 204 1-inch holes before its battery quit. And for your money, you get an outstanding impact driver, a genuinely rugged carrying case, charger and two whopping 5-Ah batteries.

The PBLDD01's hole-drilling performance is not as fast as a contractor-duty tool (it did hang up many times at the bottom of the hole) but the fact that a DIY-grade hammer drill can reliably make 49 1-inch holes through framing lumber without much complaint is pretty remarkable. In terms of value, it's hard to beat because it comes with an equally spunky impact driver.

If you’re looking for a great balance of weight and power, the Ridgid is a good choice, weighing 3.8 pounds with a 2-Ah battery. It made 51 holes (a respectable number, given its small battery) and with 23 clutch positions, it gives you more control than comparable products.

We’ve learned one thing from testing track saws in the last year: we like them a lot! And there is certainly a lot to like in this easy-handling 18-volt saw from Ryobi, a power tool priced for homeowners and hobbyists but capable of doing very smooth, straight and accurate cuts. The kit version of the saw comes with a two-piece 55-inch track, a 4-Ah battery and charger. It's more than enough capability to help you knock off a plywood shelving project or tackle something else that's fun to build.

The FX2141R-1J is a standout for cutting heavy lumber (that is, lumber thicker than that typically used to build houses). This may be industrial lumber used to support mine shafts and excavations, for example, or to build pressure-treated retaining walls. The Flex's power makes it superior for this "toughest of the tough" cutting. Its balance and geometry help you settle quickly on the cut line, and it's got more than enough power to see any cut through. Bonus: the Flex's work light is one of the best we’ve seen.

Tough love. That describes Makita's latest reciprocating saw. Which is 10.8 pounds of 40-volt sawing fury. If you’re remodeling, you’re going to love the way this thing chews through framing lumber, all types of pipe, and solid steel. Its counterbalanced drivetrain (Makita calls it Anti Vibration Technology) smooths out the normally harsh sawing action of these tools, both in linear sawing mode and in the aggressive orbital mode. Its speed is dial adjusted up to 3000 strokes per minute.

Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. When he's not working on his own house, he volunteers with Sovereign Grace Church doing home repair for families in rural, suburban and urban locations throughout central and southern New Jersey.

Brad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Growing up he worked on a farm, where he learned to weld, repair, and paint equipment. From the farm he went to work at a classic car dealer, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Today, when he's not testing tools or writing for Popular Mechanics, he's busy keeping up with the projects at his old farmhouse in eastern Pennsylvania.

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