Milwaukee lists a five year warranty on its electric power tools, and DEWALT, Makita and Ryobi list three years on their cordless lines, according to each maker’s own warranty page. The headline number is only part of the picture, because batteries, heated gear, radios and outdoor equipment often get shorter terms.
Years of limited warranty on cordless tools, top to bottom: Milwaukee, DEWALT, Makita, Ryobi ONE+ 18V, as stated on each maker’s page.
Which brand lists the longest warranty on tools?
Milwaukee. Its page gives five years from purchase for electric power tools, with a list of exceptions. It also says warranty registration is not necessary, and that the manufacturing date is used if you have no proof of purchase.
DEWALT’s page for the USA and Canada lists a 3 year limited warranty against defects in materials or workmanship, plus 1 year of free service and a 90 day money back guarantee on power tools, lasers and nailers. Makita’s page gives three years on lithium-ion tools, batteries, chargers and MAKTRAK storage. Ryobi’s page gives a 3 year limited warranty on ONE+ 18V tools, batteries and chargers, and a 5 year limited warranty on 40V outdoor tools.
What do batteries and chargers get?
Milwaukee excludes cordless battery packs from the five year term and covers them in a separate table: three years, two years or one year depending on the catalog number. Makita and Ryobi put batteries and chargers in the same three year bracket as their tools, and Ryobi’s 40V batteries and chargers also get three years. DEWALT’s page sends readers to a separate warranty page for battery and charger terms, so check that page for the exact pack you buy.
Where do the shorter terms hide?
- Milwaukee lists one year for M12 Heated Gear, Job Site Radios and the M18 Power Source
- DEWALT lists one year for heated gear and 90 days for footwear
- Makita lists one year for every product not named in its three year or two year groups, and two years for the ConnectX backpack power supply
- Milwaukee and DEWALT both list limited lifetime coverage on hand tools, with conditions
Do these terms apply in Canada?
Check before you buy. DEWALT’s article is titled for the USA and Canada and says coverage is meant to be used in the country where the product was purchased. Milwaukee’s page says most sections apply to product sold in the U.S.A. and Canada. The Makita and Ryobi pages we read are US pages and do not state Canadian terms, so confirm on makita.ca and ryobitools.ca.
Who it suits
- Professional tradesperson: a long tool warranty matters most when a tool works every day, so Milwaukee’s five years stands out on paper. Read the exceptions for the exact tool and battery you rely on.
- Crew or fleet buyer: one year terms on heated gear, radios or power supplies can matter across many units, so list these categories separately.
- Serious DIYer: three years from DEWALT, Makita or Ryobi covers many years of weekend use. Keep the receipt, since DEWALT says proof of purchase may be required for returns.
- Someone already on a platform: the warranty is rarely worth switching batteries over, but it is worth reading before adding a new category such as heated apparel.
- First time buyer: compare the battery terms first, because that is the part most likely to differ.
Before buying, open the maker’s own Canadian warranty page and search for the exact model.
