Milwaukee M18 Cordless Drill/Driver vs Milwaukee M12 Fuel Installation Drill Driver

Buy the M18 Compact Brushless if you want one drill that handles deck screws, hole saws and lag bolts, and you already own or plan to own other M18 tools. Buy the M12 Fuel Installation Drill/Driver if your work is cabinets, outlets, fixtures and tight overhead spots, where its swappable chucks and short body beat raw power. The M18 has more torque and a bigger battery platform; the M12 has more reach and control. Owners of both praise the build, and the M12's five-year tool warranty is the longer of the two.

• Choose the M18 Compact Brushless if you need real torque for framing, decking and large fasteners, or you want to share batteries with a full 18V lineup.
• Choose the M12 Fuel Installation Drill/Driver if you mostly drive small fasteners in tight spaces and want interchangeable chucks plus two batteries in the kit.