Kobalt vs DeWalt

Kobalt vs DeWalt: Which is Better? (Ultimate Guide)

Kobalt is the flagship tool brand of Lowe’s, and though it’s not discussed often – it’s a brand worth considering since they offer quality tools at affordable prices.

But how do Kobalt tools measure up to the tools put out by well-known tool manufacturer DeWalt?

In this post, I’ll compare Kobalt vs DeWalt so you can decide which is a better option for your projects. Let’s dig in!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
  • Kobalt and DeWalt both manufacture quality tools, but overall DeWalt’s tools are more powerful, more versatile, more efficient, and more durable. And since they offer so much, they’re more expensive.
  • Kobalt tools are ideal for individuals who do DIY projects here and there but don’t require professional-grade tools.

Who is Kobalt Best for?

Kobalt Tools

Kobalt tools are best for hobbyists and DIYers who just need the essentials and a few supplementary specialty tools in their workshops.

They manufacture both corded and cordless tools, and the average homeowner can pick them up and learn them in no time.

Kobalt is the store brand at Lowe’s, and despite being cheaper their tools are still efficient, easy-to-use, and built to last.

Additionally, many of them contain brushless motors and other high-end components that come with the best tool brands.

Kobalt also puts out a line of mechanic tools, unlike other leading tool manufacturers.

Who is DeWalt Best for?

DeWalt Tools

DeWalt has been manufacturing high-quality tools for decades, and while they’re technically superior to Kobalt tools in most respects, this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, since DeWalt tools are made for contractors, tradespeople, and other professionals.

But this doesn’t mean only pros buy DeWalt tools—many DIYers swear by these tools as well.

It’s just that they can be harder to operate sometimes, and usually they’re much more expensive than comparable products put out by competing brands.

But overall, if you’re looking for the best tools on the market, DeWalt is a good place to start your search.

Kobalt vs DeWalt: Products and Features

Kobalt

Power Tools

As far as power tools go, Kobalt manufactures:

  • Saws
  • Drills & drivers
  • Grinders
  • Jointers & planers
  • Rotary tools & oscillating tools
  • Sanders & polishers
  • Routers
  • Job site blowers

They also offer power tool combo kits and a range of accessories for their various power tools.

Kobalt manufactures a wide variety of saws, including miter saws, table saws, circular saws, reciprocating saws, jigsaws, tile saws, and portable band saws.

For drills and drivers, they offer cordless drills, impact wrenches, hammer drills, impact drivers, ratchet wrenches, and screw guns.

At present, Kobalt offers two grinders: a 5-inch, 24-volt paddle switch brushless cordless angle grinder and a 24-volt sliding switch brushless cordless die grinder.

For the 5-inch angle grinder, it’s possible to purchase this tool with or without the battery (and charger) that power it.

They’re currently putting out one planer: a 3.25-inch, 24-volt handled model.

As far as oscillating tools go, Kobalt manufactures a 17-piece, 24-volt variable speed oscillating multi-tool, as well as a 4-amp variable speed oscillating multi-tool. They also put out a 1-speed cordless rotary tool.

Additionally, they make random orbital sanders, variable speed polishers, variable speed belt sanders, and numerous sanding and polishing disks.

Finally, they manufacture two routers: a corded table router and a 24v cordless, variable speed router.

Hand Tools

Kobalt Hand Tools

At present, Kobalt manufactures more than 1,000 hand tools, including:

  • Sockets & socket adapters
  • Screwdrivers
  • Pliers
  • Chisels & pry bars
  • Cutting & crimping tools
  • Wrenches
  • Hand saws
  • Hammers
  • Nut drivers & keys
  • Ratchets & breaker bars
  • Clamps & vises
  • Grease guns

They also sell numerous tool sets, and many come with more than 100 pieces.

Plus, there are tool sets specifically for households and mechanics.

Kobalt puts out over 700 sockets and adapters, and over 250 wrenches and wrench sets.

They also sell 60 screwdrivers, over 50 cutting and crimping tools, and more than 30 hammers, chisels, and ratchets.

Outdoor Equipment

Kobalt sells a wide variety of outdoor equipment too, and their selection is a lot wider than those offered by competing brands. At present, Kobalt is selling:

  • Lawn & garden hand tools
  • Chainsaws & pole saws
  • Trimmers & edgers
  • Lawn mowers
  • Leaf blowers
  • Snow blowers
  • Pressure washers
  • Wheelbarrows & yard carts
  • Tillers & cultivators
  • Axes & mauls
  • Spreaders & sprayers
  • Lawn & trash bag holders
  • Gardening gloves, seats & pads

Additionally, they sell outdoor power equipment combo kits, as well as numerous parts and accessories.

Much of their outdoor equipment is battery-operated—another quality which distinguishes Kobalt from competing tool manufacturers.

Lastly, it makes sense that Lowe’s, a popular home improvement store, puts out a wide range of outdoor equipment under the Kobalt brand.

After all, this store is visited frequently by landscapers and gardeners both professional and amateur, and both groups can take advantage of what Kobalt outdoor equipment has to offer.

Storage & Organization

Most tool manufacturers make storage and organization solutions to house their tools, and Kobalt is no exception. Currently, they manufacture:

  • Garage organization solutions
  • Shelves and shelving units
  • Baskets & storage containers
  • Small part organizers
  • Moving boxes & related supplies

If you have numerous Kobalt power tools, hand tools, etc., it’s good to have at least a couple of their storage solutions, as these are built to accommodate their tools.

That said, storage and organization solutions built by other tool brands can hold Kobalt tools just fine.

Batteries

Kobalt sells a handful of powerful 24v batteries, including 1.5-amp-hour, 4-amp-hour, 5-amp-hour, 6-amp-hour, and 8-amp hour batteries.

They also sell corresponding chargers for each of their batteries, and batteries can be purchased with their corresponding charging system or without them.

Premium brands that Kobalt is in direct competition with, like DeWalt, put out powerful batteries too, but the batteries employed by Kobalt’s lithium-ion power tools are exceptionally powerful, long-lasting, and safer.

And for a brand that makes cordless power tools mainly for hobbyists and DIYers, that’s saying a lot!

DeWalt

Power Tools

My DeWalt Miter Saw

DeWalt manufactures all kinds of power tools, including

  • Drills
  • Saws
  • Sanders
  • Screwdrivers & screw guns
  • Grinders & polishers
  • Pneumatic tools (air tools)
  • Impact drivers & wrenches
  • Multi-tools
  • Rivet tools
  • Ratchets
  • Nailers & staplers
  • Routers, planers & jointers

Additionally, they sell rotary and demolition hammers, pipe and tubing tools, cable-cutting and crimping tools, dust management solutions, compressors, specialty tools, and power tool combo kits.

DeWalt currently manufactures a range of cordless drills, including hammer drills, angle drills, drill drivers, pistol-grip drills, and spade-handle drills. They also make a couple magnetic drill presses and drill-related accessories.

DeWalt manufactures dozens of saws too, including circular saws, band saws, chop saws, jigsaws, miter saws, reciprocating saws, scroll saws, table saws, tile saws, and track saws.

They manufacture several sanders as well, specifically orbital sanders, random orbital sanders, drywall sanders, belt sanders, and multi-sanders.

As far as grinders and polishers go, DeWalt puts out angle grinders, bench grinders, die and straight grinders, and standard polishers.

In the pneumatic sphere, they offer air drills, air grinders, air hammers, air nailers and staplers, air ratchets, and air sanders, and they sell a handful of impact drivers and wrenches too.

Hand Tools

DeWalt’s collection of hand tools is extensive too. At present, they sell:

  • Hammers
  • Hand saws
  • Knives & blades
  • Clamps & vises
  • Chisels, punches & files
  • Lasers & instruments
  • Manual fastening tools
  • Ratchets & sockets
  • Pliers & snips
  • Screwdrivers & hex keys
  • Wrenches

In addition to individual hand tools, DeWalt also sells hand tool kits. These sets usually include 1-3 related hand tools and dozens of related accessories.

Some kits have hundreds of pieces, but since the cases are well-designed and built-to-last it’s easy to keep all a kit’s pieces in one place.

Outdoor Equipment

DeWalt puts out a line of outdoor equipment as well, and these tools are mainly used for landscaping and gardening purposes.

Specifically, they manufacture:

  • Chainsaws
  • Leaf blowers
  • Hedge trimmers
  • Lawn mowers
  • Pruners
  • Edgers
  • Pressure washers
  • Brush cutters
  • String trimmers

They sell both electric and gas-powered push lawnmowers, as well as ride-on lawnmowers.

Additionally, they put out numerous outdoor hand tools, such as rakes, spades, hoes, forks, shovels, and scrapers.

And since many of their outdoor systems run on powerful batteries, you can get a lot of work done outside before a battery recharge is necessary.

Storage & Organization

Like Kobalt, DeWalt manufactures storage and organization solutions too, including

  • Mobile tool storage solutions
  • Tool bins & organizers
  • Tool boxes
  • Tool bags, pouches & belts
  • Backpacks
  • Workshop storage solutions

They also sell a variety of storage accessories.

Accessories

Like other tool manufacturers, DeWalt puts out hundreds of accessories to complement their wide variety of tools. Specifically, they make accessories for their:

  • Batteries & chargers
  • Drilling equipment
  • Cutting & grinding tools
  • Fastening tools
  • Saws
  • Multi-tools
  • Sanders
  • Jointing equipment
  • Instruments

Batteries

DeWalt cordless power tools run on different batteries. Specifically, DeWalt manufactures 8V, 12V, 18V, 20V, 24V, 36V, 40V, and 60V batteries for their power tools.

Unlike Kobalt, which only employs 24V batteries, DeWalt employs 36V, 40V, and 60V batteries as well, and these stronger batteries are used to power the DeWalt tools that professional contractors swear by.

That said, just because a power tool requires a heavy-duty battery doesn’t mean a hobbyist or DIYer can’t operate it properly and efficiently. It’s just that hobbyists and DIYers seldom require the tools which run on DeWalt’s more powerful batteries.

Kobalt vs DeWalt: Price

Kobalt

Kobalt tools are generally cheaper than DeWalt tools, but you’ll still find plenty of Kobalt products that cost several hundred dollars.

Kobalt does, however, put out a line of inexpensive hand tools, many of which are essential mechanic’s tools.

At the low end, you’ll find Kobalt power tools that cost $30-$50, and at the high end products that cost $400-$500.

DeWalt

Because DeWalt tools are all-around excellent tools, they command higher prices than other tools.

At the low end, expect to pay $50-$100, and at the high end you may pay a couple thousand for a DeWalt product.

Kobalt vs DeWalt: Quality and Durability

Kobalt

Kobalt tools are capable of achieving quality results consistently, and for the most part they’re built to last.

Granted, Kobalt tools may not always achieve the results DeWalt tools can, but they’ll get the job done quickly, correctly, and with minimal fuss.

DeWalt

When it comes to quality and durability in the tool space, DeWalt is the name most people think of. Their products are known for being of exceptional quality, which explains why they can achieve top-quality results time and time again.

DeWalt tools are similar to the quality of Milwaukee and Makita tools – both of which are some of the best brands you can buy.

Check out these DeWalt comparisons for more helping find the best tool brand for your needs:

Kobalt vs DeWalt: Warranty

Kobalt

Kobalt offers the following warranties:

  • 1-YR limited guarantee
  • 3-YR limited guarantee
  • 5-YR limited guarantee
  • Lifetime limited guarantee

And for tools that come with the batteries that power them, there’s a 5-YR tool & 3-YR battery joint limited guarantee warranty.

Kobalt warranties cover defects related to faulty parts and poor workmanship.

So if your tool has broken down because of normal wear and tear, the cost of repairs probably won’t be covered by the warranty.

Additionally, Kobalt warranties don’t cover damage caused by misuse or abuse, improper maintenance, neglect, or unauthorized repairs/alterations.

If your Kobalt tool is covered by a warranty, all you have to do is bring it to your nearest Lowe’s and they’ll send it out for repairs; if it can’t be repaired you’ll get a brand new replacement.

Lastly, a Kobalt tool’s warranty is only good for the original purchaser; so don’t expect to make good on a warranty if you buy a second-hand Kobalt tool.

There’s also a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. Under this, if you don’t like your product for whatever reason, bring it back with the receipt within 90 days and you’ll get a full refund. There are some exceptions to this policy though, and you’ll need a valid ID to get a refund.

DeWalt

DeWalt offers the following warranties:

  • Limited lifetime warranty
  • 3-YR limited warranty
  • 7-YR limited warranty
  • 90-day limited warranty
  • Full lifetime warranty

Like Kobalt, Dewalt’s warranties only cover defects related to faulty components or poor workmanship.

Therefore, if your DeWalt drill, for example, breaks down because you’ve been using it for years, don’t expect to cash in on the warranty.

DeWalt also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. So if you don’t like your DeWalt product, bring it back within 30 days to get a full refund, provided you have the receipt and a valid ID.

To know more about DeWalt’s specific warranties, visit this page on their site.

Final Verdict

All things considered, both Kobalt and DeWalt manufacture terrific products, but DeWalt’s are generally more powerful, versatile, durable, and efficient, mainly because DeWalt tools are built for contractors, mechanics, and professional tradespeople of all stripes.

Kobalt tools, on the other hand, are better for hobbyists and DIYers, since they do what they’re supposed to do, they hold up for a long time if taken care of, and they don’t cost an arm and a leg.