The rules behind the answers. These are the details that cause most wrong purchases.
AMPShare 18V, Bosch-powered multi-brand platform
AMPShare is an 18V multi-brand battery alliance built on Bosch Professional 18V battery technology; Bosch says all Bosch Professional 18V batteries since 2008 work with AMPShare tools and vice versa.
- Founded in 2022 by Bosch, Fein and Rothenberger. Partners include Wagner, Ledlenser, Ramset, Klauke, Brennenstuhl and others; the lineup is broader in Europe and launched later in the US/Canada.
- Some partner brands also make tools on other battery systems, so check that a tool carries the AMPShare logo.
- Not compatible with CAS (Metabo) 18V.
Source: Bosch press release: Bosch, Fein and Rothenberger launch battery alliance AMPShare
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX battery platform
Black+Decker's consumer 20V MAX batteries power Black+Decker 20V MAX tools and yard equipment.
- NOT interchangeable with DeWalt 20V MAX even though both use the '20V MAX' name and share a parent company. The packs and tool receivers are different; using one in the other requires third-party adapters.
- Not interchangeable with Craftsman V20.
- Source is a user forum (blackanddecker.com could not be read), so this interface is lower-confidence.
Source: Tools in Action forum thread on DeWalt vs Black+Decker 20V batteries (third-party)
Bosch 12V Max battery platform
Bosch says its 12V Max lithium-ion batteries are 100% compatible with all Bosch 12V Max lithium-ion tools.
- Not interchangeable with Bosch 18V batteries.
- The GAL12V/18V-80 charger charges both 12V and 18V Bosch batteries.
Source: Bosch GBA12V30 product page
Bosch 18V battery platform (incl. CORE18V, PROFACTOR)
Bosch 18V batteries, including CORE18V, are compatible with Bosch 18V tools and chargers and with the multi-brand AMPShare system.
- PROFACTOR tools work with any Bosch 18V battery, but Bosch recommends high-output CORE18V packs (GBA18V60/GBA18V80/GBA18V120) for full PROFACTOR performance.
- Bosch says all Bosch Professional 18V batteries sold since 2008 are compatible with AMPShare tools from partner brands (e.g., Fein, Rothenberger, Wagner) and the other way round.
- Not compatible with Bosch 12V Max batteries. The GAL12V/18V-80 charger charges both.
Source: Bosch GBA18V80 product page
Cordless Alliance System (CAS) 18V, Metabo-based multi-brand platform
CAS is a multi-brand 18V battery system: tools, batteries and chargers from 50+ partner brands (Metabo, Mafell, and others) are described as 100% compatible.
- Mostly a European system. In North America it is mainly Metabo-branded (not Metabo HPT) tools.
- Not compatible with Metabo HPT MultiVolt/18V or with Bosch/AMPShare.
- Partner lists change; confirm the tool carries the CAS logo.
Source: Metabo CAS page
Craftsman V20 battery platform
Craftsman V20 batteries fit all Craftsman V20 cordless power tools and outdoor tools.
- V20 is not interchangeable with DeWalt 20V MAX or Black+Decker 20V MAX, even though Stanley Black & Decker owns all three brands.
- 'V20' means 20V maximum initial voltage; Craftsman lists nominal voltage as 18V.
Source: Craftsman CMCB202 product page
DeWalt 12V MAX battery platform (incl. XTREME)
DeWalt's compact 12V MAX slide-on batteries fit all 12V MAX and XTREME 12V MAX tools.
- Not interchangeable with 20V MAX or FLEXVOLT tools.
- 12V MAX is the maximum initial voltage; DeWalt states nominal voltage is 10.8V, which is how the class is often labeled outside North America.
- Some DeWalt chargers (e.g., DCB115, DCB1104) charge both 12V MAX and 20V MAX batteries.
Source: DeWalt DCB124 product page
DeWalt 20V MAX battery platform (incl. XR and POWERSTACK)
DeWalt's main slide-on battery system; every 20V MAX battery (standard, XR, POWERSTACK) fits every 20V MAX tool and charger, and FLEXVOLT 20V/60V batteries also work in 20V MAX tools.
- XR and POWERSTACK are 20V MAX batteries, not separate platforms; DeWalt product pages say they are compatible with all 20V MAX tools and chargers.
- '20V MAX' is the maximum initial (no-load) voltage; DeWalt states nominal voltage is 18V. Outside North America the same battery family is marketed as DeWalt '18V XR' (same pack, different marketing; reported by ToolGuyd, not a DeWalt page). Chargers are region-specific because of mains voltage (120V vs 230V).
- Not interchangeable with DeWalt 12V MAX batteries.
- Black+Decker 20V MAX and Craftsman V20 batteries are separate systems even though Stanley Black & Decker owns all three brands; they do not fit DeWalt 20V MAX tools without third-party adapters.
Source: DeWalt DCB203 product page; DeWalt DCA1820 support article
DeWalt FLEXVOLT 20V/60V MAX battery platform
DeWalt FLEXVOLT batteries automatically switch between 20V and 60V, so they run both 20V MAX tools and 60V MAX (and 120V MAX) tools.
- Only FLEXVOLT batteries power 60V MAX tools; ordinary 20V MAX batteries do not.
- 120V MAX tools take two FLEXVOLT batteries.
- FLEXVOLT batteries charge on DeWalt 20V MAX chargers.
- Ah ratings (e.g., 9Ah) apply in 20V mode; in 60V mode usable Ah is one-third (watt-hours are the same, e.g., DCB609 = 180 Wh).
Source: DeWalt FLEXVOLT battery system page
EGO POWER+ 56V ARC Lithium battery platform
EGO 56V ARC Lithium batteries are compatible with all EGO 56V tools and chargers.
- EGO sells standard (BAxxxxT) and ARC Lithium MAX (BAxxxxX) 56V batteries. Both belong to the 56V system, but check EGO's page for any tool-specific battery recommendations.
- BA2800T works with all EGO chargers (Standard, Rapid, 320W, Dual-Port, Turbo), per EGO.
Source: EGO BA2800T product page
Makita 18V LXT battery platform
Makita's 18V LXT slide-on batteries power the 18V LXT line, and X2 (36V) LXT tools take two 18V LXT batteries.
- Makita's current 'B' batteries (BL1840B/BL1850B/BL1860B) are labeled 'Compatible only with Star Protection tools, indicated by the Star Symbol and/or Yellow Battery Receiver under the tool.' Check older LXT tools for the star mark.
- X2 LXT tools (e.g., XSH06Z) need two 18V LXT batteries installed at once.
- Not compatible with Makita 40V max XGT tools. Makita's ADP10 adapter only lets an XGT charger charge LXT batteries; it does not let LXT batteries run XGT tools.
- The DC18RC charger also charges Makita 14.4V lithium-ion batteries, but 14.4V batteries are a different class from 18V LXT.
Source: Makita BL1850B product page
Makita 40V max XGT battery platform
Makita's 40V max XGT batteries work only within the XGT system of tools and chargers.
- Not cross-compatible with 18V LXT: XGT batteries do not fit LXT tools and LXT batteries do not fit XGT tools.
- Makita's ADP10 adapter lets a 40V max XGT charger charge 18V LXT batteries. That is charging only, not tool compatibility.
- XGT batteries need XGT chargers (e.g., DC40RA).
Source: Makita BL4040 product page; Makita ADP10 page
Metabo HPT / Hitachi 18V slide battery platform
Metabo HPT 18V tools accept any Metabo HPT/Hitachi 18V slide battery plus MultiVolt batteries.
- Older Hitachi-branded 18V slide-style lithium batteries are part of the same system.
- Not compatible with German Metabo / CAS 18V batteries.
Source: Metabo HPT cordless tools page
Metabo HPT MultiVolt 36V/18V battery platform
Metabo HPT MultiVolt batteries run 36V MultiVolt tools and also work in Metabo HPT/Hitachi 18V slide-type tools.
- Metabo HPT says the 36V lineup accepts MultiVolt batteries. Ordinary 18V slide batteries are not listed as working in 36V tools.
- MultiVolt capacity is quoted in pairs: e.g., BSL36A18 is 2.5Ah at 36V and 5.0Ah at 18V.
- Metabo HPT (formerly Hitachi Power Tools, North America) is a different battery system from German Metabo/CAS 18V, despite the shared parent company (Koki Holdings).
Source: Metabo HPT cordless tools page; BSL36A18 tool card
Milwaukee M12 battery platform
Milwaukee M12 REDLITHIUM batteries power all M12 tools (150+).
- M12 packs are stick-style batteries that go into the tool handle; they do not fit M18 tools, and M18 packs do not fit M12 tools.
- Milwaukee's 48-59-1812 multi-voltage charger charges both M12 and M18 batteries.
Source: Milwaukee M12 REDLITHIUM CP2.0 battery page
Milwaukee M18 battery platform (incl. REDLITHIUM, HIGH OUTPUT, FORGE)
Milwaukee states that all M18 batteries are compatible with M18 tools and chargers, including REDLITHIUM, HIGH OUTPUT and FORGE packs.
- Not interchangeable with M12 batteries or with Milwaukee MX FUEL (equipment-class) batteries.
- FORGE batteries work on any M18 charger, but the advertised fast charge needs the M18 Dual Bay Simultaneous Super Charger (48-59-1815).
- Large HIGH OUTPUT/FORGE packs work in every M18 tool but add size and weight to compact tools.
Source: Milwaukee M18 Batteries & Chargers page (FAQ)
RIDGID 18V battery platform (incl. MAX Output, MAX Output EXP)
RIDGID says its 18V batteries are '100% compatible' with all RIDGID 18V batteries, tools and chargers.
- Not compatible with Ryobi ONE+ even though TTI makes both brands.
- MAX Output and MAX Output EXP are higher-power RIDGID 18V packs, not separate platforms.
Source: RIDGID 18V 4.0 Ah MAX Output battery page
Ryobi 40V battery platform
Ryobi's 40V batteries power the Ryobi 40V line of mostly outdoor equipment (85+ products).
- Not compatible with Ryobi 18V ONE+ tools or batteries.
- The Ryobi 40V page does not state cross-compatibility with other systems; assume 40V packs work only in Ryobi 40V products.
Source: Ryobi 40V 4Ah battery page
Ryobi 18V ONE+ battery platform (incl. HP, EDGE)
Ryobi says any 18V ONE+ battery works with any 18V ONE+ product, with compatibility going back to 1996 (300+ products).
- HP batteries and tools are part of ONE+; HP batteries communicate with HP brushless tools for more performance, but standard ONE+ batteries still fit HP tools.
- Not compatible with Ryobi 40V tools or batteries.
- Ridgid 18V is a separate system (both brands are made by TTI); the batteries are not interchangeable.
- Some older tool-only models (e.g., PSBDD01B) are now listed as discontinued.
Source: Ryobi 18V ONE+ collection page