Milwaukee vs Makita Angle Grinders: How Listings Differ
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.
Picture a buyer with a job lined up: cutting, grinding or deburring. They type 'angle grinder' into a catalog search and sort by price. The most common wrong turn comes next: assuming every result is the same kind of tool at a different price. In this catalog the angle grinder category also holds die grinders, some corded and some cordless, in several sizes, and some listings are a tool only while others add batteries. A low price can simply mean the battery is missing, and a high one can mean a kit with two batteries.
This page compares how the listings from two brands differ. Milwaukee has 36 models in the catalog, with prices from $229 to $969 and a median of $402. Makita has 39 models, from $209 to $564, with a median of $254. Those medians are the first clue that the two sides sit in different price tiers, though a median describes the listings, not any single tool.
Platforms and configurations differ too. Of Milwaukee's 36 models, 34 are cordless, 21 on the M18 platform and 13 on M12. Of Makita's 39, only 13 are cordless: 10 on XGT 40V and 3 on LXT 18V. The rest of Makita's listings carry no cordless platform. grinder. A platform is the battery system a tool belongs to, and batteries within one system generally fit that brand's tools in the same system.
A bare tool is listed as the tool only, with no battery or charger. Read each listing's own wording before assuming what ships. Everything below comes from the catalog's listing data.
At a glance
| Milwaukee | Makita | |
|---|---|---|
| Models listed | 36 | 39 |
| Price range | $229 to $969 | $209 to $564 |
| Median price | $402 | $254 |
| Battery platforms named in listings | M18 (21), M12 (13) | XGT 40V (10), LXT 18V (3) |
| Cordless models stating a brushless motor | 97% of 34 | 92% of 13 |
| Most common configuration | kit (25), bare tool (5) | bare tool (8), kit (6) |
| Listings stating batteries, charger or case | 33% | 0% |
| Tool types covered | Angle grinder (36) | Angle grinder (39) |
Kit listings
Kit listings are the larger group on the Milwaukee side, with 25 models, against 6 for Makita. Milwaukee's examples run from $229 to $329 as starting prices and span M12 and M18 platforms with 5 Ah or 6 Ah batteries. One lists 2 batteries, another 1. Several are die grinders rather than 4-1/2 in. angle grinders, so size matters. Makita's kit examples include a corded 7 in. grinder at $209 and 40V XGT kits at $479 and $489 with 4 Ah batteries. Makita's 18V LXT kit lists 5 Ah, and its in-the-box field is not filled in.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/4 in. Right Angle Die Grinder with M12 5.0 Ah Battery
$229.00 · Kit · Voltage: 12 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M12 · Size / capacity: 1/4 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
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lith-Ion Brushless Cordless 4-1/2 in. /5 in. Grinder Kit w/ Two 6.0 Ah Batteries & M18 Grinder
$279 to $786 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 4-1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 6 Ah
Milwaukee M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder with Paddle Switch with 5.0Ah Starter Kit
$329.00 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 4-1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 5 Ah
Makita
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
Makita 40V Max XGT Brushless Cordless 4-1/2/5 in. Angle Grinder Kit, with Electric Brake, AWS Capable (4.0Ah)
$479.00 · Kit · Voltage: 40 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: XGT 40V · Size / capacity: 2/5 in. · Battery capacity: 4 Ah
Makita 40V Max XGT Brushless Cordless 4-1/2/5 in. Paddle Switch Angle Grinder Kit with Electric Brake, AWS Capable (4.0Ah)
$489.00 · Kit · Voltage: 40 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: XGT 40V · Size / capacity: 2/5 in. · Battery capacity: 4 Ah
Makita 18V 5.0Ah LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 4-1/2 in. /5 in. Paddle Switch Cut-Off/Angle Grinder Kit
$219 to $489 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: LXT 18V · Size / capacity: 4-1/2 in. · Battery capacity: 5 Ah
Bare tool listings (tool only)
Bare tool listings are tool only, with no battery or charger stated. Milwaukee has 5 of these and Makita 8. Milwaukee's examples start at $229 to $329 and cover M12 and M18 die grinders and a 4-1/2 in./5 in. angle grinder, with max speeds of 8,500 to 20,000 RPM. Makita's start at $229 for an 18V LXT die grinder and reach $329 for a 40V XGT die grinder, with 40V XGT 4-1/2 in. to 5 in. grinders at $254 and $284. Each is listed with a brushless motor except the LXT die grinder, which does not state one.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/4 in. Straight Die Grinder (Tool Only)
$229 to $379 · · Voltage: 12 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M12 · Size / capacity: 1/4 in. · Max speed: 20,000 RPM
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 2-3 in. Variable Speed Die Grinder Paddle Switch w/One-Key (Tool-Only)
$329 to $608 · · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 3 in. · Battery capacity: 5 Ah
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/4 in. Extended Grinder (Tool Only)
$249.00 · · Voltage: 12 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M12 · Size / capacity: 1/4 in. · Max speed: 20,000 RPM
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder with Variable Speed & Paddle Switch (Tool-Only)
$279 to $969 · · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 4-1/2 in. · Max speed: 8,500 RPM
Makita
Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/4 in. Compact Die Grinder (Tool-Only)
$229.00 · · Voltage: 18 V · Battery platform: LXT 18V · Size / capacity: 1/4 in. · Max speed: 26,000 RPM
Makita 40V Max XGT Brushless Cordless 4-1/2/5 in. Angle Grinder with Electric Brake (Tool Only)
$254.00 · · Voltage: 40 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: XGT 40V · Size / capacity: 2/5 in. · Max speed: 8,500 RPM
Makita 40V Max XGT Brushless Cordless 4-1/2/5 in. Paddle Switch Angle Grinder with Electric Brake (Tool Only)
$284.00 · · Voltage: 40 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: XGT 40V · Size / capacity: 2/5 in. · Max speed: 8,500 RPM
Makita "40V max XGT Brushless Cordless 1/4"" Slide Switch Die Grinder, Variable Speed, with Electric Brake (Tool Only)"
$329.00 · · Voltage: 40 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: XGT 40V · Size / capacity: 1/4 in. · Max speed: 29,000 RPM
Which one fits you
Choose Milwaukee if...
- You want a broader choice of cordless platforms: 21 listings sit on M18 and 13 on M12, and 34 of 36 models are cordless.
- You are comfortable at a higher price tier: the median is $402 and listings reach $969.
- You want a brushless motor stated in the listing: 97% of Milwaukee models say so.
- You want a kit with batteries: 25 listings are kits, and some state 1 or 2 batteries.
Choose Makita if...
- You want a lower price tier: the median is $254 and the lowest listing starts at $209.
- You are drawn to the XGT 40V platform: 10 cordless models sit on it, alongside 3 on LXT 18V.
- You want a brushless motor stated in the listing: 92% of Makita models say so.
- You would consider a corded grinder: only 13 of 39 Makita models are cordless, so corded options appear, such as a 15 amp 7 in. kit.
kit, and check size, platform and contents line by line.
Frequently asked questions
Which brand has more angle grinder listings?
Makita has 39 models in this catalog and Milwaukee has 36, so the counts are close. The mix differs: Milwaukee has 34 cordless models, while Makita has 13, and Makita's other listings carry no cordless platform.
Do the listings state a brushless motor?
Mostly yes. Brushless is stated in the listings for 97% of Milwaukee models and 92% of Makita models. A brushless motor is a design without carbon brushes. The listing's wording, not the brand, tells you whether a given model has one.
Does a kit listing always include a battery?
Not necessarily. Only some kit listings fill in the in-the-box field, for example stating 1 battery or 2 batteries. Others, including several Makita kits, leave it blank. Bare tool listings are tool only, with no battery or charger stated.
How do the price ranges compare?
Milwaukee listings run from $229 to $969 with a median of $402. Makita runs from $209 to $564 with a median of $254. Some prices are ranges that start at the lower figure, so open the listing for the exact option.