Milwaukee vs Makita Sanders and Polishers Compared
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.
Sanding and polishing look simple until you ask what the tool has to do. A sander spends its working life held against a surface for long stretches, throwing off fine dust, running at speed and asking the user to keep steady pressure for minutes at a time. A polisher adds a second demand: it has to hold a controlled speed across a large pad. That is why pad size, motor type and power source matter more here than they might on a drill, and why this page spends time on how each brand's listings describe those things.
The catalog lists 28 Milwaukee models and 30 Makita models under the sander category, and the category includes polishers and drywall sanders as well as sheet and random orbital sanders. Milwaukee prices run from $229 to $878 with a median of $403. Makita prices run from $214 to $999 with a median of about $387. All 28 Milwaukee models are cordless, split across the M12 platform (19 models) and the M18 platform (9 models). Makita's picture is different: only 9 of its 30 models are listed as cordless, spread across LXT 18V (4), XGT 40V (4) and CXT 12V (1), and the rest include corded tools.
The listings differ in how complete they are. Milwaukee has 21 kit listings and 7 bare tool listings, and 57 percent of its models carry a stated kit contents note. On motors, 71 percent of Milwaukee models state a brushless motor, against 100 percent of Makita models. A brushless motor is a motor design that does not use carbon brushes; we describe what the listing says, not how any model performs. Keep in mind that a missing statement in a listing is not the same as a missing feature, so check the full listing before buying.
At a glance
| Milwaukee | Makita | |
|---|---|---|
| Models listed | 28 | 30 |
| Price range | $229 to $878 | $214 to $999 |
| Median price | $403 | $387 |
| Battery platforms named in listings | M12 (19), M18 (9) | LXT 18V (4), XGT 40V (4), CXT 12V (1) |
| Cordless models stating a brushless motor | 71% of 28 | 100% of 9 |
| Most common configuration | kit (21), bare tool (7) | bare tool (7), kit (4) |
| Listings stating batteries, charger or case | 57% | 13% |
| Tool types covered | Sander (28) | Sander (30) |
Kit listings
Milwaukee's kit examples sit on the M12 and M18 platforms and are priced from $259 up to $499, with listed batteries from 2.0 Ah to a pair of 5.0 Ah packs. Makita's kit examples are more varied: a CXT 12V polisher/sander kit at $309, a 40V XGT 8 in. polisher kit at $999, and two corded 7 in. sander/polisher kits at $321.99 and $349 that list motor current of 10 A instead of a battery. Several Makita kit listings do not state what is in the box.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee M18 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless 1/4 in. Sheet Sander with 2.0 Ah Compact Battery
$259 to $349 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 1/4 in. · Battery capacity: 5 Ah
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 3 in. Random Orbital Detail Sander with 3.0 Ah Battery Pack (2-Pack)
$319 to $508 · Kit · Voltage: 12 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M12 · Size / capacity: 3 in. · Battery capacity: 3 Ah
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 6 in. Random Orbital Sander 3/32 in. with M12 5.0 Ah Battery
$329.00 · Kit · Voltage: 12 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M12 · Size / capacity: 6 in. · Battery capacity: 5 Ah
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12-Volt Li-Ion Brushless Cordless 6 in. Random Orbital Sander Kit 3/16 in w 2 M12 XC 5.0Ah & CP 2.5Ah Batteries
$499.00 · Kit · Voltage: 12 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M12 · Size / capacity: 6 in. · Battery capacity: 5 Ah
Makita
Makita 12V max CXT Lithium-Ion Brushless 3 in. Polisher/2 in. Sander Kit, 2.0Ah
$309.00 · Kit · Voltage: 12 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: CXT 12V · Size / capacity: 3 in. · Battery capacity: 2 Ah
Makita 40V max XGT Brushless Cordless Telescoping 8 in. Polisher / Scrubber Kit, 4. 0Ah
$999.00 · Kit · Voltage: 40 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: XGT 40V · Size / capacity: 8 in. · Battery capacity: 4 Ah
Makita 10-Amp 7 in. Corded Variable Speed Sander/Polisher w/ Backing Pad, & Side Handle with 7 in. Compounding Pad
$321.99 · Kit · Size / capacity: 7 in. · Motor current: 10 A
Makita 10 Amp 7 in. Corded Variable Speed Hook and Loop Sander/Polisher w/ Soft Start, Backing Pad, Side Handle and Loop Handle
$349.00 · Kit · Size / capacity: 7 in. · Motor current: 10 A
Bare tool listings (tool only)
Bare tool listings are the tool only, with no battery or charger implied. Milwaukee's examples include an M18 5 in. random orbit sander from $229, a 7 in. variable speed polisher from $329 and an M12 6 in. random orbital sander from $329. Makita's examples span an 18V LXT finishing sander from $214, a 40V XGT 6 in. random orbit sander at $264, a 40V 7 in. polisher from $379 and an 18V 9 in. drywall sander from $689.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee M18 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless FUEL 5 in. Random Orbit Sander (Tool-Only)
$229 to $425 · · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 5 in. · Battery capacity: 6 Ah
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 7 in. Variable Speed Polisher (Tool-Only)
$329 to $608 · · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Size / capacity: 7 in. · Battery capacity: 6 Ah
Milwaukee M18 FUEL18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 15MM DA Polisher (Tool-Only)
$329 to $608 · · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Battery capacity: 8 Ah · Max speed: 5,100 RPM
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 6 in. Random Orbital Sander (3/16 in. Orbit) Tool-Only
$329 to $499 · · Voltage: 12 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M12 · Size / capacity: 6 in. · Battery capacity: 5 Ah
Makita
Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/3 Sheet Finishing Sander, AWS Capable (Tool Only)
$214 to $408 · · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: LXT 18V
Makita 40V max XGT Brushless Cordless 7 in. Polisher (Tool Only)
$379 to $614 · · Voltage: 40 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: XGT 40V · Size / capacity: 7 in. · Battery capacity: 4 Ah
Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 9 in. Drywall Sander, AWS Capable (Tool Only)
$689 to $929 · · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: LXT 18V · Size / capacity: 9 in. · Battery capacity: 5 Ah
Makita 40V max XGT Brushless Cordless 6 in. Random Orbit Sander (Tool Only)
$264.00 · · Voltage: 40 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: XGT 40V · Size / capacity: 6 in. · Battery capacity: 4 Ah
Which one fits you
Choose Milwaukee if...
- You want a catalog where every listed model is cordless, so a battery-powered tool is the default choice.
- You like a lower-voltage option: 19 of the 28 models are on the M12 platform, with 9 on M18.
- You prefer shopping kits, since 21 of 28 listings are kits and 57 percent state their contents.
- You are fine with a mid-range price tier, with a median of $403 and a range from $229 to $878.
Choose Makita if...
- You want every model in the category to state a brushless motor, which is 100 percent of the listings.
- You want a choice between 12V CXT, 18V LXT and 40V XGT cordless platforms, plus corded options listed by amps.
- You are comfortable with a wider price spread, from $214 up to $999, with a median near $387.
- You are willing to open each listing to confirm contents, since 19 of the 30 models do not state a configuration.
sheet sander kit and the Makita 12V CXT polisher/sander kit. It lays out voltage, platform, pad size and listed contents in one view.
Frequently asked questions
How many sanders does each brand have in the catalog?
The catalog lists 28 Milwaukee models and 30 Makita models in the sander category. The category includes polishers and drywall sanders alongside sheet and random orbital sanders, so the counts reflect the whole group rather than one sander type.
Which brand lists more cordless sanders?
All 28 Milwaukee models are listed as cordless. Makita lists 9 of its 30 models as cordless, and the remainder include corded tools described by motor current such as 10 A. Check each listing's power source before comparing prices.
Do the listings say batteries are included?
Only where the listing states it. Milwaukee has 57 percent of models with a stated kit contents note, while Makita has 13 percent. A bare tool is listed as the tool only. If a listing does not state contents, confirm before assuming a battery or charger is in the box.
What do the price ranges look like?
Milwaukee models run from $229 to $878, with a median of $403. Makita models run from $214 to $999, with a median of about $387. Many listings show a price span such as $259 to $349, so the low end is where a model starts, not a fixed price.