bunnings power tools brands

Ever wonder who owns Craftsman tools? How about Milwaukee, Mac Tools, or Skilsaw? It may surprise you to know that only a handful of power tool companies own your favorite tools. That’s right, most tool brands fall under a parent company that also controls additional power tool manufacturers and brands. We break it down for you…with charts!

Stanley Black & Decker (SBD) turned heads when it bought Craftsman Tools in 2017 after Sears closed 235 stores in 2015. The company owns many brands, however. Dating back to 1843 with a man named Frederick Stanley, the company quickly formed its roots. In 2010, it merged with another company that started in 1910—Black and Decker. As of 2017, the company maintains a $7.5 billion business in tools & storage alone. SBD brands include:

As it turns out, TTI owns Milwaukee Tool and a host of other power tool companies. It also licenses the RIDGID* and RYOBI names for cordless power tools (Emerson owns RIDGID). TTI stands for Techtronic Industries Company Limited (TTI Group). Founded in 1985 in Hong Kong, TTI sells tools all over the world and employs over 22,000 people. TTI is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and had worldwide annual sales of over US$6 billion in 2017. Their brands include:

Not anymore. In 2017, Chervon acquired Skil Power Tool Brands from Bosch. This added two big brands to their portfolio: Skilsaw and Skil. Chervon started its power tools business unit back in 1993, launching the EGO brand of cordless outdoor power equipment in 2013. In 2018, the company rebranded Skil (including the logo) and announced new 12V and 20V cordless power tools. Today, Chervon tools and products are sold by more than 30,000 stores in 65 countries. Chervon manufactures the following brands:

First off, Bosch Tools only represents part of the Bosch Group which includes Robert Bosch GmbH and over 350 subsidiaries across 60+ countries. In 2003 Robert Bosch GmbH combined its North American power tool and power tool accessory divisions into one organization, forming Robert Bosch Tool Corporation in North America. The company designs, manufactures, and sells power tools, rotary and oscillating tools, power tool accessories, laser and optical leveling devices, and range finding tools all over the globe. Bosch also manufactures the following tools:

Husqvarna Group manufactures chainsaws, trimmers, robotic lawn mowers, and ride-on lawnmowers. The Group also makes garden watering products as well as cutting equipment and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries. They have a presence in more than 100 countries and employ over 13,000 people in 40 countries. Husqvarna Group also owns the following tools:

JPW owns several large brands including Jet, Powermatic, and Wilton. The company has its headquarters in La Vergne, Tennessee but also has operations in Switzerland, Germany, Russia, France, Taiwan, and China. They sell products in 20 countries throughout the world. Their tool brands include:

Apex Tool Group has its headquarters in Sparks, Maryland, USA and employs more than 8,000 workers. They operate in more than 30 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Annual revenues exceed $1.4 billion on the sale of hand tools, power tools, and electronics tools for the industrial, automotive, aerospace, and construction/DIY markets. The following tool manufacturers belong to APEX Tool Group:

Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), Emerson controls power tool manufacturers and products in the industrial, commercial, and residential markets. While TTI licenses the RIDGID name for power tools, Emerson controls the following tools (among others):

Based in Wendlingen, Germany, TTS or Tooltechnic Systems owns Festool (electric and pneumatic tools), Tanos (not to be confused with the guy who destroyed half the universe), Narex, Sawstop, and now Shaper Tools. TTS is truly behind the scenes as it doesn’t really have appear to have its own website (at least not in the US) or an official logo. In bullet point format, its subsidiaries include:

Yamabiko Corporation started in 2008 and has three core business segments: outdoor power equipment, agricultural machinery, and industrial machinery. Based in Japan, Yamabiko is a global company with major markets in Japan and North America, and a growing presence in Europe and Asia. Tool brands include:

Founded over 100 years ago, ITW manufactures specialized industrial equipment, power tools, hand tools, and consumables. ITW operates in 57 countries with over 50,000 employees. They also have more than 17,000 granted and pending patents. ITW brands include:

Who makes Harbor Freight Power Tools remains a mystery—possibly because they may have switched suppliers in the past. Some have suggested LuTool, a company established in June 1999 supplies their power tools. LuTool has headquarters in Ningbo, China, and a North American office in Ontario, Canada. LuTool is owned by Gemay (Ningbo Gemay Industry Co Ltd) which also has its headquarters in Ningbo, China.

Not to be outdone, others have suggested Powerplus as the manufacturer behind the Drill Master, Warrior, Bauer, and Hercules lines of tools. Powerplus is a division of European company Varo with headquarters in Belgium.

Hilti and Makita are just Hilti and Makita. Hilti doesn’t have any subsidiary companies underneath them or a parent company over them. Makita, on the other hand, did acquire the Dolmar brand, bolstering its already-impressive line of outdoor power equipment tools. It’s pretty impressive the market share each of these companies enjoys!

We can’t leave out the popular house brands available at those big-box retailers and home improvement warehouses. Note that many (if not all) of the brands below represent ODM or OEM solutions. That means the tools get specified by the store but executed by another manufacturer. In other scenarios, tools are “offered” to a retailer and then manufactured in bulk upon acceptance of a buyer’s order.

While you may have thought you knew who owned all those power tool manufacturers, consolidation has changed the playing field. By far, Stanley Black & Decker demonstrates the largest buyout pattern. Companies like TTI, Apex Tool Group, ITW, and others also enjoy adding to their numbers.

It goes without saying that anyone that works in the construction industry will end up with a garage, shed or factory full of power tools. But having initially opted for the university path, it wasn’t until nearly nine years into my career that I had any real need to work with my hands or think seriously about buying any power tools. Of course I had collected a range of power tools – either passed down from my grandfather or purchased during one of my frequent trips to Bunnings while working around the house – but I knew they weren’t good enough for me to be able to rely on when working on site.

Having spoken to a few builders and tradesmen who already had a considerable collection, I settled on five major criteria – in order of importance – that I would use to answer these questions and decide which power tools I should buy:

The full range of tools that are available is not the same for each brand. Some smaller or international brands have a limited range or don’t sell their full range in Australia, which obviously makes expanding your collection difficult. Major brands like Makita, DeWalt and Milwaukee have extensive ranges and provide all of the main types of tools you would expect to find available, with differences being in the specialist trades they target. Some of the considerations I made when comparing ranges between brands included:

12V, 18V and 36V – for the work I am likely to perform, I am far more likely to use 18V and 36V tools. The 12V range is less important to me than it might be to an electrician doing fit-off work or someone doing DIY projects around the house.

Tools such as lights, fans, radios, coffee machines, drills, grinders, saws, blowers and vacuums service just about every trade, so it’s unlikely the major brands won’t provide their own version within their range. There are genuine differences between the ranges offered by major brands for tools that focus on gardening, metalwork or demolition. The difference in the range of power gardening tools and 36V tools was a major factor in my decision to select Makita over Milwaukee or DeWalt.

Quite often the most expensive model on offer at Bunnings was not the flagship model. When simply comparing the price for a Makita drill from Total Tools and Bunnings, it seemed like Bunnings’ prices were identical. The drill they were actually selling though was one model down from the flagship model. For the same money I would get a better model if I bought it from Total Tools.

The warranties for tools purchased from Bunnings are not the same as for tools purchased from a tool shop. Some of the tools at Bunnings only came with a DIY warranty and would not be fixed or replaced in the event they failed when used for commercial purposes.

The level of expertise and advice provided by tool shops is generally far superior. Tool shops have strong relationships with sales representatives from all the brands they stock, have regular trade presentation nights and are aware of the full range of tools on offer; regardless of whether they stock them in store or not. In my experience, they are more willing to provide you with brochures, discuss tools they don’t traditionally stock in store, provide additional information or to call the sales representatives to answer detailed, technical questions.

Another obviously key criterion is how the tools perform. Just because a particular brand offers a tool in their range, doesn’t mean it’s going to be any good. Some of the considerations I made when comparing performance between similar tools offered by the different major brands included:

Assuming the tools being used are all top of their range, I wouldn’t expect to see any noticeable difference between the major brands. There are countless YouTube videos comparing Maktia’s best impact driver to DeWalt’s and Milwaukee’s, with very little difference between them. I do think however, that there is a difference in durability between Makita’s entry level impact driver and Makita’s flagship model which is covered more in the Price section below.

Comfort and versatility are big considerations and I do think that there is a noticeable difference between some of the brands with some of their tools. The weight of the tool and how that weight is balanced can have a significant impact on how you feel at the end of the day, as can how you grip the tool and position your body needs to be in to use it. Attachments are also generally provided to improve comfort; such as a side handle for a hammer drill that can be the difference between avoiding a serious wrist sprain or fracture while drilling. While only minor, small differences in design may restrict how you use the tool in tight spaces, off a ladder or overhead.

Each brand provides a variety of battery capacities, with bigger not necessarily being better. Bigger batteries are much heavier and take far longer to charge, so often I would rather swap more frequently between three smaller, lighter batteries than two larger, heavier batteries. Regardless of the brand, tools such as grinders and blowers are going to run batteries down far quicker than fans or drills.

While not necessarily a consideration that swayed me toward a particular brand, batteries and chargers are definitely a reason for me to stay with one brand. At last count, I have fifteen 5.0ah and eight 6.0ah batteries, with two single, three dual and two quad battery chargers; none of which would be of any use if I bought a Milwaukee or DeWalt power tool.

I found the cost of new power tools an interesting consideration to balance. There is not a great deal of difference in cost between the brands, but there is a difference in cost between the various models offered within a brand’s range. A hundred and fifty dollars difference between a base model and flagship model is not an insignificant difference, especially when multiplied out over ten or twelve tools in a package.

In my experience, when you need to rely on your tools day in, day out, you absolutely get what you pay for. There is no material difference in the performance of a base model tool compared to a flagship tool when working at home in your garage. Yes it may take longer to drill some holes or make the necessary cuts, but the job will get done and likely to the same standard regardless of what tools you are using.

Additional power, torque, electric braking, revolutions per minute etc all make a difference when you are completing the same task for hours, days or weeks at a time. My experience has been that flagship brushless tools last longer and are less likely to require replacement parts over the life of the tool.

As with most things, the more you buy at once, the more you are likely to save. Whether a large upfront investment is possible will obviously be determined by your available budget, but most brands will allow you to customise the packages that are on offer. This is another reason why I recommend purchasing tools from a tool shop instead of Bunnings, as a tool shop is far more likely to offer better packages and to customise packages. End of financial year sales and promotional events offered by tool shops are another great way to save money when buying a number of tools at once.

In the six years that I have been using Makita power tools, I have been incredibly happy with the performance of each and every tool, as well as the service I have received from a variety of Total Tools stores. I have always purchased the flagship models, and am yet to replace any of the tools that I originally purchased; with only minor scheduled servicing and replacement parts being required over that time.

Metcash, which owns 85 per cent of the fast-growing Total Tools retail chain and also runs the Mitre 10 stores, is another beneficiary. It aims to expand the Total Tools network to 130 by 2025, from 94.

Bunnings is in the early stages of rolling out its tools retail stores Tool Kit Depot, basing it on the Adelaide Tools business it acquired in 2020. The first Tool Kit Depot store opened in Western Australia in Belmont in October, and three more were opened in December in WA. A further three are planned in the June half.

Mr Kierath said better technology and longer battery life are speeding up the shift. “Improvements in battery life, power and weight are accelerating the shift to battery-powered tools,” he said.

Power tools giant Techtronic Industries, which owns the Milwaukee and Ryobi brands and is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, on March 3 announced a strong set of results that showed that Australian and New Zealand power equipment sales grew by 32 per cent. Battery-powered equipment sales grew in total by 71 per cent in 2021.

Techtronic, which makes 90 per cent of its profits from power tools, lifted annual profits by 37 per cent to $US1.1 billion ($1.5 billion) in 2021, and says it’s a leader in battery-powered products.

Online sales represented 9 per cent of total sales for Total Tools in the six months ended October 31 in a period where the big cities of Sydney and Melbourne were in extended lockdowns from July until October.

XU1 power tools are manufactured by Ozito, and are marketed as an even cheaper alternative for entry-level users and the perfect tools for one-off jobs. Their range consists of only several of the most popular power tools, are only available seasonally, and are sold exclusively through Bunnings Warehouse.

Bunnings has a market share of around 50 percent in the Australian Do-It-Yourself hardware market, with competing chains including Home Timber & Hardware, Mitre 10 and various independent retailers such as Agora Marketplace and Total Tools around Australia.

Any tradie or self-respecting DIY enthusiast will tell you having the right power tools in your tool box is as important to getting the job done as applying a little elbow grease. Ever tried drilling tiles without a specialist drill bit? Or cut a large tree trunk using a manual wood saw? We hope not. Whether you’re chipping away at it on a construction site or in your own backyard, buying trade quality tools is a must to get the best bang for your buck.

With just under half of Aussies surveyed (47%) stating they enjoy doing DIY projects and 33% admitting to having tried multiple brands of power tools, finding the right product from the start can save you both time and money. Hardware stores are chock-full of different power tools and gadgets claimed to be ‘perfect’ for this and that, but how do you decide which to go for?

That’s where our review can help. Canstar Blue surveyed more than 700 Aussies for their feedback on the power tools (i.e. drill, nail gun, etc.) they’ve purchased and used in the last three years. Respondents rated brands on important factors such as reliability and performance, ease of use, noise levels, value for money and so on. Those which received the minimum survey sample size of 30 responses are featured in our results.

Ryobi powered its way to the top of our ratings in 2021, after earning five-star reviews in most categories, including reliability & performance, ease of use, maintenance & servicing, design and overall satisfaction. It got four stars on value for money, with Ozito the only brand to receive full marks in that category. Runner-up DeWALT managed to receive five stars for ease of use and noise while operating, with Bosch and Makita both scoring five stars for maintenance and servicing.

With each brand sharing top spot honours in at least one category each, and none dipping below a four star rating for overall satisfaction, it looks like it’s a tough market to drill into, with plenty of tools for you to power through.

Exclusive to Bunnings and online via its website, Ryobi specialises in pro-featured power tools and outdoor equipment, including a decent line-up of drills and drivers, priced around the $200 mark. It also offers caulking guns, drain augers, glue guns, biscuit joiners, nailers, staplers, rotary hammers (also priced under $200) and everything else you’d expect to find on a construction site.

For the outdoors, you’ll find budget-friendly loppers, lawn mowers, chainsaws, trimmers and blowers and various tools and accessories to manicure your garden to perfection. Prices for Ryobi tools are mid-range, but the brand does feature some good promotions and discounts worth checking out from time to time, giving both DIY enthusiasts and tradies plenty to get excited about..

For heavy-duty power tools, look no further than DeWALT. The brand claims its products have undergone extensive testing to perform in the harshest environments. DeWALT offers a wide selection of durable power tools suited to various jobs and work sites, including drills, fastening tools, rotary and demolition hammers, saws, grinders and more. There’s also a 12V or 18V ‘Combokit’ for those looking for an all-around solution, or you can opt to shop tools by trade.

DeWALT also offers site equipment such as cameras, thermometers, compressors, laser instruments, lighting, radio and audio equipment. There’s also an outdoor power tool range comprising of lawn mowers, trimmers and blowers to help you tackle any project. DeWALT products are boasted for their exceptional power range, although expect to pay more for that at the checkout. You can shop DeWALT products at Total Tools, Bunnings and online.

Ozito is a go-to brand for many homeowners, DIY enthusiasts and tradespeople, largely because it’s one of the most affordable brands on the market, with a decent selection of products to boot. Ozito offers a Power X Change range comprising of over 70 power tools and garden equipment – all powered by the same battery. It’s a game changer for people short on time and space. In the handheld power tools department, you’ll find the usual, including corded drills and cordless drills (with prices starting from $50) and hammers, angle grinders, laser levels, saws, rotary tools and the likes. Ozito also has a decent range of benchtop tools for metal cutting, welding, tables, and is available online and in most Bunnings stores.

A big name in the home appliances world, Bosch offers a German-engineered range of power tools and safety solutions targeted specifically at tradies. Its range includes Combo Kits for tradespeople and standalone tools like drills, drywall screwdrivers, impact wrenches and drivers, sanders, planers, multi-cutters and more. You can opt to shop tools by trade, with Bosch offering solutions for electricians, metal construction workers, plumbers and heating engineers and joiners and carpenters.

In terms of price, Bosch is firmly in the mid-range, with prices for drills and angle grinders hovering around the $200-$300 mark. You can find Bosch tools at Total Tools, Bunnings and online via its website.

Makita was founded in Japan in 1915 and is claimed to be the first company to have manufactured electric planers. Over 100 years later, and Makita is now a leading manufacturer of power tools for the building and construction, power garden and commercial cleaning industries.

For building and construction, Makita offers a wide variety of drills, impact drivers, nailers, staplers, rivet guns, rotary hammers, and various solutions for cutting, grinding, sanding, polishing and more. For the garden, you’ll of course find lawn mowers, leaf blowers, line and hedge trimmers and so on. Makita power tools are slightly more expensive than competitor brands, but if Makita’s reputation is anything to go by, they’re well worth the price. The brand is sold online and in various hardware stores, including Total Tools, Bunnings and independent retailers.

While only five brands qualifying for our ratings in 2021, there are other options out there if you need something specific for that next project. It’s always a good idea to compare brands on range of tools and prices to make sure you get the best deal. Here are some other well-known power tool brands available.

A German brand, AEG’s beginnings were as an electrical equipment producer in 1883, with the brand now offering a wide-range of products available under its umbrella, including power tools. Featuring air compressors, blowers, drills, generators, grinders, multitools, sanders, saws, screwdrivers and a range of outdoor equipment such as blowers, brushcutters, chainsaws and lawn mowers, AEG offers plenty to help get the job done. With a 12V, 18V and 58V range, in addition to hybrid and petrol models across its range of power tools, AEG also has combo kits on hand if you need multiple tools to get the project started, or finished.

AEG power tools are available to purchase at select hardware stores, including Bunnings, with Onsite Trade Solutions available in select areas, which allow AEG retailers to come to you (when it’s COVID-safe), saving you from running down to the shops when a tool breaks halfway through the job.

Well-known within the power tool market, Black & Decker offers a wide variety of tools to choose from. With a history that stretches back over 100 years, Black & Decker’s range of tools includes traditional power tools such as drills, sanders, saws, grinders and multitools, in addition to garden tools such as lawn mowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers and hedge trimmers. You can even pick up workbenches, lights and vacuum cleaners to help with all aspects of the job. Black & Decker is reasonably priced within the market, with a number of combo kits available for when you need additional batteries or tools.

Black & Decker tools are available directly from the website, or through hardware stores such as Bunnings, with help guides and blogs also available via the Black & Decker website if you’re stuck for inspiration.

Designed for the worksite, Milwaukee offers a number of sturdy power tools built to get the job done. From drills to saws, and polishers through to lasers and specialty tools, Milwaukee aims to be the go-to for any and every job you may come across. With a heritage dating back almost 100 years, Milwaukee additionally offers workwear, tool storage as well as traditional hand tools, with the brand also unveiling the MX Fuel Equipment System across some of its more heavy-duty tools, allowing for better performance and run-time, while also cutting down on noise and maintenance issues.

The types of power tools you need will depend on the job at hand and your capabilities – whether you’re a semi-professional or rookie. If you don’t know where to start, our survey revealed the 10 most common tools purchased by Aussies are:

The philosophy that you get what you pay for applies to most things and even more so to power tools. There’s really no point cutting corners on price and finding yourself with a sub-par tool that’s not up to the job or that will flop half way through. You’re best to invest a few more bucks on a product that’s robust and that comes with extra power and functionality, which will make your job a hell of a lot easier. In fact, our survey found that price was the most important purchasing factor for Aussies (40%), narrowly beating out features and capabilities (i.e. power, accessories etc.) at 39%, and brand name, third (17%).

Bottom line is − do your research. Look for power tools with a good enough power output and that come with various functions, accessories and safety measures. Use our review as a starting point, but the best way to ensure you’re getting the best power tool for your needs, is to speak to a professional.

The seed of 48 Tools was planted in 2016 when Darren was looking for a way to wall mount his 18V power tool batteries and there wasn’t an existing product to do so.

Being in the building game his entire career he noticed that as more and more tools became battery powered, everyone had a lot of these 18-volt batteries sitting around in their cars, trailers and workshops with no way of storing them.

Under the notifications Bunnings will exclusively supply Ryobi products in its stores. Other hardware stores will no longer be able to supply Ryobi branded power tools or power garden equipment. Bunnings will also not acquire some power tool and power equipment brands from competitors of Techtronic which Bunnings considers are the same or duplicate to Ryobi products.

"While Bunnings is a dominant retailer in the supply of power tools and Ryobi is a brand which a number of retailers have promoted over the years, there is not one power tool or power garden equipment brand which dominates the market. There are also a number of well established brands of power tools and power garden equipment which compete with Ryobi which non-Bunnings retailers" supply.

"Under the arrangement, Bunnings will continue to offer a range of power tool brands in its stores and will retain discretion over which brands of power tools it stocks."

Started in 1924, Milwaukee has been one of the most innovative brands in delivering high-quality and professional tools, sets, kits, and accessories. Through the years, Milwaukee continues its legacy and develops progressive strategies including the introduction of the One-Key™ system that integrates with your smartphone to provide greater customisation to the tool. Today, we call their greatest achievement "portable", "cordless", or "battery-operated" tools.

Get the job done and select from our vast range of Milwaukee power tools and accessories. Whether you"re in the plumbing, electrical, automotive, or construction trade – all the essentials for your next Milwaukee combo kits are here.

We even carry an excellent selection of Milwaukee angle grinders, angle drills, impact driver drills, nailer guns, blowers, and more. Grab our latest deals on Milwaukee circular saws, band saws, and blades to suit, plus chainsaws and chainsaw chains. Milwaukee multi-tools, multi-tools accessories, inspection cameras and accessories, lasers & accessories, and more are also available. If you need more time and power, go with our huge line of Milwaukee M12, M18, and MX FUEL products.

Need portability? Check out our huge line of Milwaukee cordless tools, including impact wrenches, polishers, ratchets, riveters, or even crimpers and presses, and more.

Whether you’re replacing your batteries or just want to add a few more battery packs and chargers to your collection, be sure to check out our massive collection of Milwaukee tools.