Power Tool Battery Compatibility Chart (2026) — Which Batteries Fit Which Tools?

Can you use a Makita battery in a DeWalt tool? Will a Milwaukee M18 pack fit a Ryobi drill? If you’ve ever stared at two identical-looking 18V batteries and wondered why one won’t slot into the other brand’s tool, you’re not alone. Every major cordless tool manufacturer uses proprietary connectors — even when the voltage is the same — which means cross-brand battery swaps don’t work without an adapter, outside multi-brand alliances such as AMPShare and CAS.

Quick lookup: Use our free Battery Compatibility Checker to instantly find every compatible battery, charger, and tool for your model.

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This power tool battery compatibility chart cuts through the confusion. Below you’ll find a complete, brand-by-brand breakdown of which batteries work with which tools, which platforms are cross-compatible within the same brand, and where adapters can bridge the gap between different ecosystems.

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Quick Answer: Are Power Tool Batteries Interchangeable?

No — power tool batteries are not interchangeable between brands. Each manufacturer (Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Ryobi, Bosch, etc.) uses unique connector designs, locking tabs, and electronic communication protocols. A Makita 18V LXT battery will not physically fit a Milwaukee M18 tool, even though both run at 18 volts.

However, batteries are almost always interchangeable within the same brand and voltage platform. A Makita BL1850B (5.0Ah) fits Makita’s 18V LXT tools — Makita says over 325 tools are powered by the same battery. The same applies to DeWalt 20V MAX, Milwaukee M18, Ryobi ONE+, and every other platform listed below.

The exceptions are the multi-brand battery alliances (Bosch’s AMPShare and Metabo’s CAS) and battery adapters — third-party devices that let you physically connect one brand’s battery to another brand’s tool. We cover these in detail in our adapter guide.

Master Compatibility Chart: Every Major Brand

This chart shows within-brand compatibility across every major cordless power tool platform available in the UK. Green means direct compatibility, amber means partial or adapter-required, and red means not compatible.

For detailed tool-by-tool compatibility lists, tap any brand name below to visit its full platform guide.

Brand-by-Brand Compatibility Guides

Each guide below covers every compatible battery, charger, and tool in the system — with model numbers, specs, and buying links.

Makita

Makita runs three separate battery platforms, and they are not cross-compatible with each other. The 18V LXT system is by far the largest, with over 325 tools (Makita UK). The newer 40V Max XGT is Makita’s high-power platform for demanding applications. The budget G-Series is not compatible with LXT tools or chargers, despite sharing the same voltage.

Makita 18V LXT Compatibility Guide | Makita 40V XGT Compatibility Guide | Makita G-Series Guide

DeWalt

DeWalt has one of the cleverest compatibility systems in the industry. All 20V MAX batteries fit all 20V MAX tools. Where it gets interesting is FLEXVOLT — these batteries automatically switch between 18V and 54V depending on the tool (sold as 20V and 60V MAX in the US). A FLEXVOLT battery works in DeWalt’s 18V XR tools (running at 18V), but DeWalt lists only FLEXVOLT packs for its 54V tools. Think of FLEXVOLT as backwards-compatible but not forwards-compatible.

If you have older DeWalt 18V tools: DeWalt US sells a DCA1820 adapter that it says “allows for the use of 20V MAX* batteries in most 18V DEWALT® tools” (not FLEXVOLT packs). We did not find it on dewalt.co.uk.

DeWalt 20V MAX Compatibility Guide | DeWalt FLEXVOLT Compatibility Guide

Milwaukee

Milwaukee runs two completely separate systems: M18 (18V) and M12 (12V). They do not cross over — you cannot use an M18 battery in an M12 tool or vice versa. The M18 platform is one of the largest in the industry, with Milwaukee stating “over 325 solutions”, including the professional-grade M18 FUEL range. M12 is designed for compact, one-handed tools.

Milwaukee M18 Compatibility Guide | Milwaukee M12 Compatibility Guide

Ryobi

Ryobi says the Ryobi ONE+ battery fitting has been consistent since 1996, so an 18V ONE+ battery bought today fits ONE+ tools going back that far. The ONE+ system spans over 200 tools including power tools, garden tools, cleaning tools, and even inflators. Ryobi’s separate higher-voltage garden range in the UK is 36V MAX POWER (40V in North America).

Ryobi ONE+ 18V Compatibility Guide | Ryobi 36V MAX POWER Compatibility Guide

Bosch AMPShare, Metabo CAS & HiKOKI

Bosch Professional (Blue) 18V tools anchor AMPShare — Bosch’s own multi-brand battery alliance, launched in 2022 with founding partners Fein and Rothenberger. This is separate from the Cordless Alliance System (CAS), which is led by Metabo and built around Metabo’s 18V battery. We found no statement from either alliance that their batteries are interchangeable, so treat them as incompatible. Within each alliance, partner brands share one battery — the closest thing to cross-brand compatibility in the industry.

Important: Bosch Green (DIY) batteries are not compatible with Bosch Blue (Professional) batteries, Bosch says.

HiKOKI (formerly Hitachi) uses a clever Multi Volt system where the same battery delivers 18V or 36V depending on the tool — similar in concept to DeWalt’s FLEXVOLT.

CAS Alliance Compatibility Guide | HiKOKI Multi Volt Guide

Einhell, Parkside, WORX & More

Budget and mid-range brands each run their own closed ecosystems:

Einhell Power X-Change covers more than 350 tools at 18V and is popular for DIY use across Europe. Parkside (Lidl’s own brand) runs a 20V system with surprisingly capable tools for the price. WORX PowerShare uses 20V packs that combine for its 40V and 80V tools. Stanley FatMax, Black+Decker and Craftsman each publish battery compatibility for their own range only; we found no maker statement that their packs fit each other’s tools.

Einhell PXC Guide | Parkside 20V Guide | WORX PowerShare Guide | Stanley/Black & Decker 20V Guide

Cross-Brand Compatibility Chart

The chart below shows whether you can use batteries between different brands. Direct means it works out of the box. Adapter means a third-party adapter is available. No means it’s not possible, even with adapters.

For full details on any adapter pairing, see our complete battery adapter guide.

What You Need to Know About Battery Adapters

Battery adapters are plastic housings that bridge the physical gap between two different connector designs. They’re cheap (typically £10–£25 on Amazon) and require no wiring or modification — you clip your battery into the adapter, then clip the adapter into the tool.

They work well for: light to moderate tasks like drilling, driving screws, and using LED work lights. Most adapters handle the power transfer cleanly for tools that don’t draw sustained heavy current.

They’re less ideal for: high-draw tools like angle grinders, circular saws, and rotary hammers running at full load. The adapter adds a small amount of electrical resistance, and the battery’s BMS (battery management system) may behave differently in a tool it wasn’t designed for.

Safety note: Adapters bypass the electronic communication between the battery and tool. This means features like overload protection and temperature monitoring may not work as intended. Buy quality adapters from reputable sellers, and don’t leave adapter setups unattended while charging. For the full picture, read our battery adapter safety and compatibility guide.

Why Can’t Power Tool Batteries Be Universal?

It’s a question every tradesperson has asked: if batteries are all just lithium-ion cells at 18V or 20V, why can’t they all be the same?

There are three reasons. First, connector design — each brand uses unique physical connectors (slide rails, locking tabs, pin layouts) that prevent cross-brand use. This is partly for safety (ensuring the right electrical connection) and partly commercial (keeping you in their ecosystem).

Second, electronic communication. Modern batteries don’t just supply power — they talk to the tool via a data pin. The battery tells the tool its charge level, temperature, and cell health. The tool tells the battery when to cut power. This communication protocol is proprietary to each brand.

Third, business incentive. Once you own three Makita batteries, you’re much more likely to buy your next tool from Makita than to start a second battery collection.

That said, things are slowly changing. The CAS (Cordless Alliance System) now lets multiple brands share one battery format, and Bosch’s AMPShare alliance does the same for its partner brands. Universal batteries are still a long way off, but the direction of travel is clear.

How to Read a Battery Compatibility Chart

If you’re checking whether a specific battery fits a specific tool, here’s what to look for:

1. Match the brand first. In almost every case, you need a battery from the same brand as the tool. A DeWalt battery fits DeWalt tools. A Makita battery fits Makita tools.

2. Match the voltage platform. Within the same brand, you must match the voltage system. Milwaukee M18 batteries only fit M18 tools — they won’t fit M12 tools, even though both are Milwaukee. Similarly, Makita 18V LXT batteries won’t fit 40V XGT tools.

3. Capacity (Ah) doesn’t affect compatibility. A Makita 2.0Ah, 5.0Ah, and 6.0Ah battery all fit exactly the same tools. Higher Ah means longer runtime, not different compatibility. You can always use a bigger battery — it just adds weight.

4. Check for within-platform exceptions. Most platforms have perfect within-platform compatibility (any battery fits any tool in that system). The main exceptions are very old tools in platforms that have changed connectors over time, or dual-voltage systems like FLEXVOLT that are backwards-compatible but not forwards-compatible.

Voltage Explained: 18V vs 20V — What’s the Difference?

This causes endless confusion, so let’s clear it up. 18V and 20V are effectively the same thing.

A lithium-ion cell has a nominal voltage of ~3.6V and a full-charge voltage of ~4.2V (the 4.0V figure is the “20V MAX” marketing peak, not the cell’s true maximum). Five cells in series gives you 18V nominal / 20V maximum. Brands like Makita, Milwaukee, Bosch, and Ryobi label their batteries at the nominal 18V. Brands like DeWalt, Stanley, Black & Decker, and WORX label theirs at the maximum 20V.

Nominal voltage alone does not tell you how two tools compare in power. When you see “20V MAX” on a DeWalt battery, read it as 18V nominal, with 20V as the maximum initial voltage (DEWALT’s definition).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Makita battery in a DeWalt tool?

Not directly — the connectors are completely different. However, you can use a Makita to DeWalt battery adapter (around £15 on Amazon) to bridge the gap. The adapter changes the physical connector so the Makita 18V LXT battery can slot into a DeWalt 20V MAX tool. It works for most light to moderate tasks, though high-draw tools like grinders may see reduced performance.

Are DeWalt 20V and 18V batteries the same?

If you mean DeWalt’s own 20V MAX system — yes: DEWALT gives “20V MAX” as the maximum initial voltage of an 18V-nominal battery, and in the UK the same range is sold as 18V XR. All 20V MAX batteries are interchangeable with all 20V MAX tools. If you mean DeWalt’s old 18V NiCad system — no, those are completely different and won’t fit 20V MAX tools. DeWalt US sells a DCA1820 adapter for using 20V MAX batteries in most older 18V DeWalt tools; we did not find it on dewalt.co.uk.

Will a higher Ah battery damage my tool?

No. You can safely use a 6.0Ah battery in a tool that came with a 2.0Ah battery. The tool only draws the current it needs — a bigger battery just means longer runtime. The only downside is extra weight.

Do battery adapters void my warranty?

Makita’s UK consumer guarantee excludes damage from non-Makita parts or accessories, and Milwaukee’s excludes non-approved accessories or parts; neither names battery adapters, and we could not obtain DEWALT’s UK exclusions. If a tool fails while using an adapter, the maker could refuse a warranty claim. The risk is not merely theoretical. An adapter sits between the pack and the tool and breaks the electronic link the two are designed to use, so the pack’s overload, over-discharge and temperature protection may not do what it is supposed to do under load or on charge. No manufacturer named on this page approves a cross-brand adapter, and several state that use of non-approved accessories voids the warranty. Treat adapters as unsupported, and never leave one charging unattended.

What is the CAS (Cordless Alliance System)?

CAS is a partnership between multiple power tool brands that share the same 18V battery connector. It is led by Metabo and built around Metabo’s 18V battery, and is separate from Bosch’s AMPShare alliance; we found no statement from either that their batteries are interchangeable. A battery from any CAS brand works in tools from any other CAS brand — it’s the closest thing to universal battery compatibility in the power tool world. See our full CAS compatibility guide for the complete brand list.

Are Ryobi batteries compatible with other brands?

Not directly. Ryobi ONE+ batteries only work with Ryobi ONE+ tools. Some third-party adapters exist for Makita-to-Ryobi and DeWalt-to-Ryobi conversions, but adapters letting you use Ryobi batteries in other brands’ tools are less common.

Is 20V MAX the same as 20V?

Yes. “20V MAX” is a marketing term used by DeWalt, Stanley, Black & Decker, and others. The “MAX” refers to the maximum (peak) voltage of the fully charged battery. The nominal (working) voltage is 18V — identical to what Makita, Milwaukee, and Bosch call their 18V batteries.