Battery platform is a real commitment. Here’s my honest assessment for electricians specifically. Milwaukee M18 FUEL: the clear leader in professional electrician tools. Their cordless cable stripper, conduit bender adapter, and hole hawg-equivalent drills are all excellent. The M18 battery ecosystem is the largest in the industry. If you’re doing heavy commercial work or production residential, Milwaukee is the default choice.
DeWalt 20V MAX (60V FLEXVOLT): excellent for general carpentry and multi-trade work. If you’re on a mixed crew where tools get shared, DeWalt interoperability is valuable. Their FLEXVOLT reciprocating saw and circular saw are excellent. For electrician-specific tools, Milwaukee has more options.
Makita 18V LXT: the reliability reputation is outstanding and the tool quality is excellent. Their impact driver series is extremely well-regarded. The limitation: fewer electrician-specific tools compared to Milwaukee. Honest answer: if starting from scratch, go Milwaukee M18 FUEL. If you’re already in DeWalt or Makita and have batteries, stay there unless you have a specific need Milwaukee meets that your current platform doesn’t.