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Are cordless tool batteries interchangeable between brands?
No. Every major brand's battery packs are proprietary — a DeWalt pack won't click into a Milwaukee tool, and there's no industry standard. That's exactly why the platform choice matters more than any single tool: your batteries lock you to one brand.
What about within one brand?
Even within a brand, lines don't always share. Milwaukee's M18 and M12 use different packs. Makita's 18V LXT and 40V XGT are separate systems. The friendly exceptions: DeWalt's FlexVolt 60V packs work backwards on 20V MAX tools, and every Ryobi ONE+ battery since 1996 fits every ONE+ tool — the two most buyer-friendly compatibility stories in the industry.
Do cross-brand battery adapters work?
They exist, and they're a gamble. Adapters can bypass the electronic protection the tool and pack negotiate (temperature, over-draw cut-offs), and manufacturers uniformly say they void the warranty. With warranties running 3 to 5 years on the major platforms — and Ridgid's registered Lifetime Service Agreement covering batteries — the warranty is usually worth more than the adapter saves.
The practical rule
Decide the platform once, then buy every tool on it. Use the 3-question picker or the choosing guide, and compare finalists head-to-head like DeWalt vs Milwaukee or Craftsman vs Ryobi.
Common questions
Can I use a Ryobi battery in a DeWalt tool?
Not directly — the packs and rails are physically and electronically different. Third-party adapters exist but bypass protection electronics and void both warranties.
Which platforms share batteries across the most tools?
The "massive ecosystem" platforms — DeWalt 20V MAX, Milwaukee M18, Makita LXT and Ryobi ONE+ — each run one pack across hundreds of tools, including outdoor equipment on several.
Will there ever be a universal battery standard?
Nothing on the horizon: batteries are how brands keep you, so the incentive runs the other way. Plan on one platform.
Next: every platform compared · the 20V vs 18V truth · what Ah actually means
Ready to buy into a platform?
These four are what buyers actually cross-shop — the first three are pro-grade, Ryobi is the DIY value pick. Batteries are the lock-in, so start with a kit on the platform you'll stay on.
| Platform | Voltage | Best for | Ecosystem | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | DeWalt 20V MAX | 20V MAX | Professional | Massive | See on Amazon |
| Milwaukee M18 | 18V (M18) | Professional | Massive | See on Amazon |
| Makita 18V LXT | 18V LXT | Professional | Massive | See on Amazon |
| Ryobi ONE+ 18V | 18V ONE+ | DIY & homeowner | Massive | See on Amazon |
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