Power tools · owner-verdict comparison

Makita XFD13 Drill vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Makita XFD13 Drill: 91% of 46 owners recommend it, vs 54% of 56 for the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Makita XFD13 Drill

91%of 46 owners recommend
91% recommend · 2% neutral · 7% don't
Owners praise
  • Exceptional longevity, owners report drills and batteries still running strong after 10, 19, even 20 years of regular use, with some calling them 'hard to kill'
  • Plenty of torque and low RPM for heavy-duty mixing tasks like drywall mud, mortar, concrete, and paint that lighter drills can't handle
  • Strong brand loyalty, owners repeatedly describe themselves as satisfied 'Makita guys' who trust the build quality over other brands
Full owner report →

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904

54%of 56 owners recommend
54% recommend · 37% neutral · 9% don't
Owners praise
  • Massive power for heavy-duty work, owners reach for the M18 specifically for concrete, tapcons, framing headers, and big fence/deck jobs, often describing it as a 'beast' with roughly 3x the power of the M12
  • Do-it-all versatility, if you only buy one Milwaukee drill, owners say the M18 covers everything from home repairs to daily contractor use
  • Auto-stop/kickback protection on the hammer drill shuts the tool off before it wrenches your wrist, which owners repeatedly call out as a standout safety feature
Owners complain about
  • Heavy and bulky compared to the M12, many owners who have both say the M18 sits unused in the truck 90% of the time and they default to the lighter, more ergonomic M12 for daily tasks
  • Chuck and trigger reliability complaints, particularly on the hammer drill, reports of chucks coming loose and triggers/hammer mode intermittently failing to engage
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Makita XFD13 Drill if
  • ✓Tradespeople who mix mud, mortar, or paint and need heavy-duty torque
  • ✓Anyone drilling large holes in tough material like truck frame steel
  • ✓Owners who want a drill that survives decades of daily jobsite abuse
  • ✓Users who value simple brush replacement and easy DIY repairability
Skip it if
  • Buyers wanting variable-speed control on single-speed D-handle models
  • Anyone comparing raw battery runtime against newer competitor platforms
Get the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904 if
  • ✓Contractors drilling concrete, thick steel, or large holes daily
  • ✓Framers and deck builders driving thousands of screws or lags
  • ✓Anyone who wants one heavy-duty system to cover both home and jobsite work
  • ✓Users who value the auto-stop safety feature when hammer drilling or driving lags
Skip it if
  • Buyers wanting a light, everyday-carry drill (M12 owners say it stays in the truck)
  • Occasional DIYers who rarely need extra power and prioritize weight over torque

What Makita XFD13 Drill owners say

“I just picked up a xfd13 drill and it’s much nicer than the black option and not that much bigger/heavier”
— srrmax on Reddit
“xfd13 is really good also but bigger”
— Late_Chemical_1142 on Reddit
“Been downhill ever since”
— rcb4d on Reddit

What Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904 owners say

“The best use i had for the autostop was driving 5/16 lags. It would just touch when they snugged down and shut the drill down. No broken anything or wrists”
— DiarrheaXplosion on Reddit
“My son has the M18 Fuel drill and driver set. Those are beasts.”
— NYOB4321 on Reddit
“So much so that my rotary hammer drill will only work every 2/3 depressions. Very frustrating.”
— thatsmejp on Reddit

Makita XFD13 Drill vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904: frequently asked questions

Is the Makita XFD13 Drill or the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904 better?

Real owners lean toward the Makita XFD13 Drill: 91% of 46 owners recommend it, vs 54% of 56 for the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904.

Who should get the Makita XFD13 Drill?

Owners point the Makita XFD13 Drill at tradespeople who mix mud, mortar, or paint and need heavy-duty torque, and anyone drilling large holes in tough material like truck frame steel.

Who should get the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904?

Owners point the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Drill 2904 at contractors drilling concrete, thick steel, or large holes daily, and framers and deck builders driving thousands of screws or lags.