Ryobi Vs. Milwaukee Power Tools: Which One Is Better?

Whether you are a seasoned professional or a DIYer just starting out, having the right tools makes a huge difference. In the hunt for the best tools possible, it is easy to shift focus to the most popular brands on the market. Two of such brands are Ryobi and Milwaukee.

But which one is the better choice for your dollar? If you are more of a DIY type looking for quality at a fair price, Ryobi is the way to go. For professionals that are willing to spend a little more on high-quality, heavy-duty tools, then Milwaukee is the better choice. It really comes down to the intended use as well as how often these tools will be used.

Founded in 1943 by Yutaka Urakami, Ryobi was originally known as Ryobi Siesakusho Co., Ltd. They started out as a producer of die-cast products, though that changed a bit when printing presses started being produced in 1961.

That year was also big for Ryobi as it hit the Tokyo Stock Exchange. By 1968, they began to manufacture power tools and, by 1973, changed its name to the current incarnation that we are familiar with.

Ryobi Limited makes electronics, automobile parts, builder’s hardware, printing equipment, and power tools. It is important to note that, despite being licensed through Ryobi Limited, their power tools, and outdoor equipment are made by and licensed to Techtronic Industries.

Milwaukee, meanwhile, was started in 1924 and was called the A.H Peterson Tool Company after its founder. Based out of Brookfield, Wisconsin, the brand has had a focus on power tools. Even more interesting, they introduced the first lightweight, portable ¼-inch capacity drill for one-handed use. Back then, it was known as the “hole-shooter.”

Milwaukee is also known for introducing the Sawzall to the market. They are not as large as Ryobi, though there is one interesting thing to note. Both Milwaukee and Ryobi are owned by the massive conglomerate Techtronic Industries.

While they also have manufacturing plants in China, Milwaukee also has locations in Europe and the United States. Moreover, they have been expanding their manufacturing footprint going back to 2017. They have since created 600 new jobs across 3 factories in the state of Mississippi alone.

Milwaukee is considered to be a mid-to-high-end brand. They are some of the best products in terms of quality available on the market. Their cordless products tend to have strong durability, long run times, and a lot of features. The caveat here is the cost – you can expect to pay more than you would for Ryobi tools, but the quality difference is there.

Though Ryobi has quite a selection of drills and impact drivers, they can’t quite compete with the number of offerings that Milwaukee has available. Where Ryobi stands out is the quality relative to price. Ryobi is a favorite of DIYers everywhere because of the quality compared to the price.

Despite the smaller selection, DIYers get great bang for their buck with Ryobi. If you are someone who has projects on the horizon but isn’t expecting daily use out of your tools, Ryobi is a great choice. Not only that, but their current selection is also more than enough to get DIYers just starting off well on their way.

Milwaukee stands out with its drill and impact driver offerings for more than a few reasons. For one, they offer a whopping 75 options for drills and drivers, 31 of which are of the cordless variety.

In addition to an already ample selection, Milwaukee makes a quality product. Even if you are a seasoned professional, you will find that Milwaukee provides more than ample durability and quality in its products. The costs reflect a higher-quality product but consider it an investment. You know that with Milwaukee tools, you won’t have to replace them any time in the near future.

Now, which is the best choice?

As much as it is going to sound like a non-answer, the truth is that it all depends on what you need to get out of your tools. The average DIYer typically doesn’t need something heavy-duty when it comes to their power tools. But you never want to go too cheap and wind up with a subpar product.

For sheer value, Ryobi is probably the better choice. Not everyone is looking to spend an arm and a leg on their tools. If you are a professional, you know that spending a bit more on your tools is a worthwhile investment. But most of us are DIYers and amateurs at that.

Ryobi provides a quality selection of power tools for more than affordable prices. You can get started with a reasonable combo kit without having to break the bank to do so.

Milwaukee is better overall, though. When you remove price from the equation, Milwaukee is the better overall brand. Not only do they have a larger selection of tools, but they tend to skew towards high-end quality as well. Milwaukee is simply better in terms of longevity, power, and versatility.

Those who handle regular heavy-duty DIY projects or verge on being a professional would be better suited to go with Milwaukee. Yes, it comes at a heavier financial cost, but more than delivers in quality. Really, you can’t go wrong with either option but Milwaukee gets the overall edge.