Yes — with an important caveat. DeWalt FLEXVOLT batteries are backwards compatible with all DeWalt 20V MAX tools, but standard 20V MAX batteries cannot be used in FLEXVOLT 60V or 120V tools. Here’s the full breakdown.
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The Short Answer
FLEXVOLT batteries work in 20V MAX tools. Standard 20V MAX batteries do not work in 60V MAX or 120V MAX tools. This one-way compatibility is by design — FLEXVOLT batteries automatically switch their voltage depending on which tool they’re inserted into. In the UK the same system is sold as 18V XR and 54V XR FLEXVOLT.
How FLEXVOLT Auto-Switching Works
DeWalt says FLEXVOLT batteries automatically switch voltage when you change tool: in an 18V (US: 20V MAX) tool the pack operates at 18V, and in a 54V (US: 60V MAX) tool it operates at 54V, with a lower amp-hour rating. We have no DeWalt statement on how the cells are switched internally.
For example, the DeWalt DCB606 FLEXVOLT battery (DCB546 in the UK) is rated at 6.0Ah at 20V or 2.0Ah at 60V. The total energy (watt-hours) stays the same — you’re trading voltage for capacity or vice versa.
Which Batteries Work in Which Tools?
20V MAX tools accept both standard 20V MAX batteries (DCB200 series) and FLEXVOLT batteries (DCB606, DCB609, DCB612). Runtime depends on the pack’s amp-hour rating at 20V — for example 6.0Ah for the DCB606 and 12.0Ah for the DCB612.
60V MAX tools require FLEXVOLT batteries only. DeWalt’s 54V tool manuals list only FLEXVOLT packs — for example the DCS578/DCS579 manual lists DCB546, DCB547, DCB548 and DCB549.
120V MAX tools (108V in the UK) take two FLEXVOLT batteries: DeWalt says a FLEXVOLT pack operates as a 54V battery in a 108V (two 54V batteries) product. Standard 20V MAX batteries are not listed for these tools.
Do They Use the Same Chargers?
Mostly. DeWalt lists the DCB115, DCB118 and DCB1112 among its 20V MAX and 60V MAX chargers, and the DCB118 manual says it is “designed to charge DeWALT 20V Max* lithium-ion and FLEXVOLT battery packs”. Battery lists differ by charger and manual edition — the DCB115 manual we checked lists the DCB606 but not larger FLEXVOLT packs — so check your charger’s manual.
What About DeWalt 12V MAX?
DeWalt’s 12V MAX batteries (10.8V nominal; 12V is DeWalt’s maximum initial voltage) are a separate platform. Some DeWalt chargers charge both 12V MAX and 20V MAX packs (for example the DCB1104), but we found no DeWalt statement that 12V packs fit 20V MAX or FLEXVOLT tools, and no DeWalt adapter between them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a DeWalt 20V battery in a 60V tool?
No. Standard 20V MAX batteries cannot power 60V MAX tools. You need a FLEXVOLT battery, which automatically switches to 60V when inserted into a 60V tool.
Can I use a FLEXVOLT battery in my 20V MAX drill?
Yes. DeWalt says FLEXVOLT batteries are backwards compatible with its 18V XR (US: 20V MAX) range; in those tools the pack operates as an 18V (20V MAX) battery.
Are DeWalt 20V MAX and 20V MAX XR batteries interchangeable?
Yes. XR-branded packs are part of the same 20V MAX battery platform (in the UK the whole range is sold as 18V XR), and DeWalt’s charger manuals list standard and XR packs together.
Will FLEXVOLT batteries damage my 20V MAX tools?
No. DeWalt says a FLEXVOLT battery operates as an 18V (20V MAX) battery in an 18V product, and lists FLEXVOLT packs as compatible with its 18V XR range.
Is it worth buying FLEXVOLT batteries for 20V tools?
If you only use 20V MAX tools, standard 20V batteries are more cost-effective. FLEXVOLT batteries make sense if you own (or plan to buy) any 60V or 120V tools, since they work across your entire DeWalt cordless range.
Related Guides
- Every DeWalt 20V MAX Battery Compared
- Every DeWalt 20V MAX Tool and Which Batteries Fit
- DeWalt 20V MAX Charger Compatibility Guide
- DeWalt POWERSTACK vs Standard Battery
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How we compile this guide
We cross-reference compatibility details against manufacturer specifications where available, official tool manuals, and the physical standards that govern fitment (bore sizes, arbor diameters, voltage platforms, connector types). We prioritise primary sources over retailer listings, flag anything we can’t confirm, and re-verify the data on a regular cycle. Where we give a buying recommendation, we tell you the reasoning — not just the link. More on our method →
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