Corded vs Cordless Angle Grinders: What the Catalog Shows
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Prices were listed by the retailer as of Oct 30, 2026 and can change. Confirm the current price and availability on the retailer's page before you buy.
Grinding is one of the harder things you ask of a hand tool. A spinning abrasive wheel bites into steel, masonry or weld seams, throws sparks and dust, and can bind or kick back without warning. The tool has to hold a high wheel speed under load, survive vibration and grit, and stay controllable in one or two hands. That is why the power source matters: it shapes weight, reach, and how long you can keep the wheel working.
This page compares the two ways the catalog lists angle grinders. The cordless side has 64 models with prices from $209 to $969 and a median of $329. They sit on four battery platforms: M18 (21 models), M12 (13), XGT 40V (10) and 20V MAX (4). Of the 64, 38 are listed as kits, 21 as bare tools and 5 do not state a configuration. 92 percent state a brushless motor, though only 27 percent state kit contents.
There are no platforms to choose, since power comes from the wall. Forty-two of the 45 do not state a configuration, and 3 are listed as kits. Brands skew differently as well: Makita accounts for 26 corded listings, while Milwaukee accounts for 34 of the cordless ones.
Keep a few things in mind as you read. A bare cordless tool is listed as the tool only, so a battery and charger would be a separate purchase. Corded listings describe power in amps and cordless listings in voltage, so the two numbers are not directly comparable. And the price ranges overlap heavily, so the cheapest entry point is the same on both sides. The sections below describe what the listings say and leave the choice to you.
At a glance
| Cordless | Corded | |
|---|---|---|
| Models listed | 64 | 45 |
| Price range | $209 to $969 | $209 to $2,782 |
| Median price | $329 | $265 |
| Battery platforms named in listings | M18 (21), M12 (13), XGT 40V (10) | none named |
| Cordless models stating a brushless motor | 92% of 64 | n/a (no cordless models) |
| Most common configuration | kit (38), bare tool (21) | kit (3) |
| Listings stating batteries, charger or case | 27% | 2% |
| Tool types covered | Angle grinder (64) | Angle grinder (45) |
Kit listings
Kit listings show the clearest difference in what a purchase includes. The cordless examples are priced from $209 and list a battery: the Ryobi ONE+ HP kit lists a 4 Ah battery on an 18 V platform and states a charger, while the DeWalt 20V MAX kit lists a 5 Ah battery and a 9,000 RPM maximum speed. The corded examples list wheel size and amps instead: a Makita 7 in. grinder at 15 A with accessories and a Bosch 9 in. model at 15 A with a guard kit. Corded kits bundle accessories; cordless kits bundle power.
Cordless
Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless 4-1/2 in. Angle Grinder Kit with 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger
$209.00 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: ONE+ 18V · Size / capacity: 4-1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 4 Ah
DeWalt FLEXVOLT 60V MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless 4.5 in. to 6 in. Small Angle Grinder w/ Kickback Brake w/ 12 Ah Battery
$299 to $628 · Kit · Voltage: 60 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: FLEXVOLT 60V MAX · Size / capacity: 4.5 in. · Battery capacity: 12 Ah
DeWalt 20-Volt MAX XR Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 4-1/2 in.-5 in. Grinder with 20-Volt MAX Premium 5. 0Ah Battery Pack
$229 to $478 · Kit · Voltage: 20 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: 20V MAX · Size / capacity: 4-1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 5 Ah
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18-Volt Lithium Ion Brushless Cordless 1/4 in. Braking Die Grinder Slide Switch with 6. 0Ah High Output Battery
$279 to $558 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 1/4 in. · Battery capacity: 6 Ah
Corded
Makita 15 Amp Corded 7 in. Angle Grinder w/ Grinding wheel, Side handle & Wheel Guard with 7 in. 24 Seg Diamond Cup Wheel
$209 to $323 · Kit · Size / capacity: 7 in. · Max speed: 6,000 RPM · Motor current: 15 A
Bosch 15 Amp Corded 9 in. Large Angle Grinder with Guard Kit (2 Accessories)
$265.00 · Kit · Size / capacity: 9 in. · Max speed: 6,500 RPM · Motor current: 15 A
DeWalt 13 Amp Corded 5 in. Brushless Tuck-Pointing Grinder Kit
$467.99 · Kit · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Size / capacity: 5 in. · Motor current: 13 A
Which one fits you
Choose Cordless if...
- You want a tool that fits an existing battery platform, since the catalog lists 64 cordless models across M18, M12, XGT 40V and 20V MAX.
- You want a brushless motor, which 92 percent of cordless listings state.
- You want a kit with a battery included, and you are comfortable that only 38 of 64 listings are kits and 21 are bare tools.
- You are working around a median price of $329 and want the option of buying the tool alone if you already own batteries.
Choose Corded if...
- You want to avoid choosing a battery platform at all, since none of the 45 corded listings involve one.
- You do not mind that brushless is stated for far fewer corded models, and no share is calculated for them in the catalog.
- You want a listing that bundles accessories such as wheels, guards or side handles, as some of the 3 corded kits do.
Their listed specs, price and configuration sit next to each other.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, corded or cordless?
By median, corded is lower at $265 against $329 for cordless. The entry price is the same on both sides at $209. Cordless kits also include a battery, so compare what each listing contains.
What does brushless mean on a grinder?
A brushless motor uses electronic control instead of carbon brushes to drive the motor. In the catalog, 92 percent of cordless models state a brushless motor. The share for corded models is not given, though a DeWalt corded tuck-pointing grinder is listed with one.
What do amps and volts tell me?
Corded listings give motor current in amps, such as 15 A on the Makita and Bosch examples. Cordless listings give battery voltage, such as 18 V, 20 V or 60 V. They measure different things, so they cannot be compared directly between the two sides.
Do cordless grinders come with a battery?
Only when the listing says so. Of 64 cordless models, 38 are listed as kits and 21 as bare tools, which are the tool only. The Ryobi kit states a charger and the Milwaukee kit states 1 battery. Check the in-the-box line on each listing.